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 37
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a member of the K. of H. Mr. Ford owns an in- terest in two brick buildings and other town prop- erty in Atkins.
J. T. Fowler is one of the prominent members of the Pope County bar, and is a living example of the fact that the profession of law has attracted the best talent of the country. He is the junior member of the well-known legal firm of Bradley & Fowler, and as he has resided in this county from his birth, which occurred June 17, 1852, the peo- ple of this section have had every opportunity to judge of his character and qualifications, and have for him the highest regard and respect. His father, Pinkney Fowler, was born in South Caro- lina, and during the Rebellion was a soldier for the Confederate cause and lost his life at the battle of Elk Horn, Mo. J. T. Fowler resided on a farm until seventeen years of age and obtained a fair education, only, in the common schools. In 1874 he began making his own way in the world as a clerk in the establishment of Russell & Bro., of Russellville, remaining with them during the winters and teaching school during the summers for two years. He then embarked in merchandising in partnership with J. L. Shinn, which connection lasted harmoniously for five years, Mr. Shinn be- ing, during this time, a silent partner. At the end of three years Mr. Fowler was enabled to buy out Mr. Shinn's interest in the business, pay- ing $5,000 for his share, which he earned during the three years, as his capital'at the commencement of his business amounted to only $300. They car- ried a general mercantile stock, and here Mr. Fow- ler continued until 1886, when he sold out his business and moved to Carden's Bottom, Ark., where he followed the same calling for four years. and became the owner of 1,000 acres of fine bot- tom land. In 1890 he disposed of his stock of goods at this place and returned to Russellville, also disposing of his landed estate for $33,000. it being the largest land and property sale ever made in this section of the State. During the last five years of his mercantile life he gave considerable attention to the study of law, and upon his return to Russellville he began practicing, and this bas been his chief calling up to the present time. He
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devotes the same untiring energy to this pursuit that made him so successful in mercantile life, and is proving himself to be a talented and thoroughly competent attorney. He is the owner of real estate in Pope County to the amount of 980 acres, besides his law office-a fine brick business building, cen - trally located in the town of Russellville. His res- idence is in the pleasantest part of town, and is commodious, substantial and pleasant. Besides this, he has four good tenement houses and a store building, which he rents. He has dealt extensively in horses and mules, and has $10,000 in stock in the Citizens' Savings Bank at Russellville. His property is now valued at about $60,000, the entire amount having been accumulated through his own exertions. He is very careful in all business trans- actions, has always been an untiring worker, and these in connection with strictly honorable princi- ples have placed him in his present most hon- orable position. He had one brother and two sisters. The brother is in the stock business in California, one sister is married, and lives in Se- dalia, Mo., and the other resides in Russellville. Mr. Fowler was married in 1880, the maiden name of his wife being Sallie Carden, a daughter of Maj. Carden, of this county. Mr. Fowler has shown his approval of secret organizations by be- coming a member of the I. O. O. F., and as an up- right, honorable, and public-spirited citizen, has not his superior in this section of the State. He is liberal in his contributions to enterprises which he deems worthy, and is ever found ready to lend a helping hand to the poor and distressed.
J. F. Fronaberger, farmer, Atkins, Ark. This name is not unfamiliar to the citizens of Pope County, for he who bears it has been a resident of the same for many years, and is one of the most esteemed and respected citizens. He was born in Lincoln County, N. C., in 1826, and was the son of John and Anna (Blackwood) Fronaberger, both natives of North Carolina. The parents removed to Arkansas in 1851, settled in Pope County, and there reared seven children: J. F., P. J., Jane, J. L., Mary, Barbara and Margaret. J. L. and Jane are living in Missouri, the former in Taney County engaged in farming, and the latter in Scott
County, a widow. The others are living in Arkan- sas. Barbara married George Cupp, a farmer, and resides in Polk County; Mary resides in Pope County, and is the wife of Robert Bearfield, a farmer, and Margaret resides in Pope County and is the wife of J. T. Claunch. J. F. Frona- berger came to Arkansas in 1850, followed farm- ing in this State for two years, and then crossed the plains to the gold regions of California, where he remained for eighteen years engaged in mining. Although he made thousands of dollars, on account of the high price of everything, he saved only $2,000 to return to his home in Arkan- sas. He has paid as high as 75 cents per pound for flour, and other things in proportion. He re- turned to Arkansas, and in 1874 was married to Miss Sarah Scott, daughter of William Scott, of Pope County. To them have been born five chil- dren, three now living, John, Joseph and Anna. Jacob died in infancy, and the fourth child also died while young. Mr. Fronaberger is now the owner of 320 acres of land, and has sixty-five acres under cultivation. He raises some cotton, but mostly corn and wheat and devotes some time to stock-raising, principally cattle and hogs. Mr. Fronaberger is one of the most prosperous farmers in Galla Rock Township. In polities he is a stanch Republican. He and Mrs. Fronaberger are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are active workers in the same.
Allen S. Garrison is a proper representative of the energetic and successful business men of Pope County, Ark., which element has done, and is do- ing, so much for the advancement of the material interests of this section. He was born in Yell County, Ark., November 17, 1852, to William H. and Mary A. (Turner) Garrison, who were born, reared and married in Tennessee, the last named event taking place in 1847. Eleven children, eight of whom are living, were born to this union: Fran- cis J., Allen S., Susan A., Samuel J., Rachel T., William G., Columbus R., Abraham P., Sarah J. (deceased), Masonri (deceased), and Thomas J. (de- ceased). In 1848 the father moved to Arkansas, and settled in Pope County, but the following year purchased and settled on land in Yell County.
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The father learned the trade of a machinist in his youth, but afterward studied medicine, and prac- ticed some twelve years, the latter part of his life, dying in Logan County in 1884, an earnest mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a Mason, and during the Rebellion, he served on the river for "Uncle Sam." His widow still re- sides in Logan County, Ark., and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church also. Allen S. Garrison was married June 9, 1878, to Miss Cy- rinthia Rook, a native of Mississippi, born June 19, 1857, a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Wil- son) Rook, the latter also being Mississippians. To Mr. Garrison and his wife six children have been born: Arthur T., Nancy E., Sherman, Ger- trude, Daisy (deceased), and Susan F. (deceased). Mr. Garrison has been in the saw-milling business for some twenty-one years, and is a member of the mill and lumber firm of Forrest, Turner & Co., and is the owner of three mills, one on Illinois Creek, one at Mill Creek and the other near Mount Hope Church. In 1883 Mr. Garrison engaged in merchandising, at Mill Creek Station, as manager for the store of Forrest, Turner & Co. The ca- pacity of the mills are some 20,000 feet per day, and besides this the firm owns some 800 acres of land, with 250 under cultivation, and the rest good timberland. Mr. Garrison is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and socially, belongs to Russellville Lodge, of the A. F. & A. M., and Russellville Lodge No. 47, of the K. of P. While a resident of Logan County, Ark., he was magis- trate of Delaware Township during 1876-77.
Daniel B. Granger, attorney, Russellville, Ark. Mr. Granger, a prominent attorney at law at Rus- sellville, Ark., is among those who contribute to the strength of the Arkansas bar. He is a native of Allegany County, N. Y., was born on January 28, 1836, and is the sixth in order of birth of a family of ten children born to Girden and Nancy (Flanigan) Granger, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was a mechanic and erected a great many buildings, be- sides engaging in various other enterprises. He was justice of the peace for many years and made his home in New York, until his death in 1876,
when nearly seventy-six years old. The mother died in 1884 at the age of eighty-three years. She was for many years a member of the Free Will Baptist denomination, but later, united with the Methodist Church at Wiseoy, N. Y., where she died. The paternal grandfather, Peter Gran- ger, was born in Vermont, and was a carpenter and builder by trade. The maternal grandfather, James Flanigan, was a native of Ireland, and born near Londonderry. He was an educated gentleman, and came to America in early life, lo- cating at Norfolk, Va. Later he moved to Har- per's Ferry, Va., then to Yorktown, Penn., and af- terward to Allegany County, N. Y., where he died at the age of seventy-eight years. Daniel B. Granger was reared to his father's trade, attended the common schools of New York, and also pur- sued his studies and readings at the home fireside under his father's direction. In 1855 he went to Fairmont, Va. (now West Virginia), and there be- gan reading law under Hon. E. B. Hall. In December, 1856, he returned to Allegany County, N. Y., and embarked in mechanical pursuits and photographic business until the latter part of 1860, when he went to La Grange, Mo. In the summer of 1861 he was a member of the La Grange (Union) Home Guards, and in the fall of 1861 he entered the employ of S. N. Marshall, suttler of the Third Missouri (United States) Cavalry Volnn- teers, commanded by Col. John M. Glover, and remained with this command until 1862. He then entered the Thirty-sixth Missouri (United States) Infantry Volunteers, (then being raised by Col. H. C. Wormoth at Rolla, Mo.) as first lieutenant of Company A., and served in this capacity, prin- cipally engaged in recruiting service, until the latter part of October, 1862, when the regiment was consolidated at St. Louis, Mo., with the Thirty second Missouri Infantry Volunteers com- manded by Col. Manter, at which time Mr. Granger was on detached duty in charge of fur- loughed men and recruits and the barracks at Rolla, Mo. When the consolidation of the Thirty- sixth and Thirty second regiments of Missouri Infantry took place the position of first lieutenant of Company A was filled by the muster in of
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another person, and Mr. Granger declining to "promote backward," by accepting a similar position in Company K of the consolidated regi- ment, he then returned to the employ of Mr. Mar- shall in the suttler business and continued in this until the spring of 1863. He then left the army at Pilot Knob, Mo., and went to Carthage, Ill., where he engaged in merchandising. Subse- quently in June, 1865, he went to Little Rock, Ark., and on June 15 of that year engaged in the collecting business, and began practicing law, hav- ing continued his law readings until that time. He was licensed to practice in the Supreme Court of Arkansas November 3, 1865, and the next spring in the United States Circuit Court at Little Rock, Ark. He remained in Little Rock until May, 1873, and then removed to Russellville, Pope County, Ark., where he has since been in the active practice of his profession. During this time he has been an earnest adherent to the principles of Democracy, but has never been a candidate for office. He has been elected by the bar, and served as special circuit judge on several occasions, and is at present city attorney for Russellville, having served in that position since June 1, 1SS7. He was married on the 10th, 1866, to Miss Alice C. Wills, of Palmyra, Mo., the daughter of Claiborn C. and Amelia Wills. To this union were born four children-two sons and two daughters-viz. :
Lizzie Belle, Edward Jennings (died in infancy), Amelia Alice, and Harrison Wills (who died at the age of sixteen months). Mr. Granger and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church at Russellville. Mr. Granger during his residence in Arkansas has been a frequent contributor to the local press, and in 1874 edited the National Trib- une published at Russellville, in the interest of what was known as the "Baxter" movement in the celebrated " Brooks and Baxter war," and was a strong advocate of the adoption of the present constitution of Arkansas. He is a member of Rus- sellville Lodge No. 47, of the order of K. of P., and was the first chancellor commander of that lodge. He is now special deputy grand chancellor for that lodge and a member of the Grand Lodge of the State. He owns both farm and town prop-
erty. In 1878 he erected his residence, and in 1886 he had this remodeled and improved.
Capt. J. M. Harkey, a prominent citizen of Russellville and Senator for the Fourth Senatorial District, was born in North Carolina on June 11, 1832, and was the eighth of eighteen children born to David and S. Elizabeth (Shinn) Harkey, both natives of North Carolina. David Harkey, famil- iarly known as "Old Uncle Davy " Harkey, was born in Montgomery County on June 29, 1797, and died at Palmer, Tex., on June 10, 1884. He moved from North Carolina in December, 1839, and settled within a mile and a half of the present flourishing town of Russellville, Ark., then a wild prairie waste, with only one or two families living within its present corporate limits. He married Miss S. E. Shinn, who preceded him to the grave in 1859, and by whom he had eighteen children- seven sons and eleven daughters-seventeen of whom, by a kind Providence, he was permitted to rear to manhood and womanhood. At the time of his death, which occurred when he was about eighty- seven years of age, he had 121 grandchildren, ninety-nine of whom are now living, and eighty- three great-grandchildren, sixty-eight of whom are living. He was a worthy and exemplary member of the Lutheran Church for many years, or until about his eightieth year, when, in consequence of there being no church sufficiently near him in his new home, with no probability then for one in the near future, and regarding it as an indispensable. duty devolving upon him to attach himself to some organized religious body, he connected himself with the Christian Church, of which he was a de- vout and worthy member until the time of his death. Many of the old citizens of Pope County well remember "Old Uncle Davy " Harkey, his noble, generous nature and disposition, his social, friendly relations with all, and his kindly welcome to those who visited his hospitable home. He had one son, Silas Monroe, who volunteered for the Mexican War and who was taken sick and died at San Antonio, Tex., on his way to Buena Vista. He had two sons, Dr. George W. Harkey and Capt. James M. Harkey (our subject), who are now liv- ing at Russellville. The former is a physician of
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some prominence, though not pursuing his profes- sion as a business, and is a local preacher in the Christian Church, and the latter we will learn more of farther on. "Uncle Davy" has five daughters living in Pope County, namely: Mrs. John M. Bradley, Mrs. J. E. Shinn, Mrs. A. Reed, Mrs. G. A. Reed and Miss Vina Harkey. He has three sons and four daughters living in Texas: John, Jacob and Henry Harkey, and Mrs. W. H. Mc- Keever, Mrs. William Davis, Mrs. Joel Epps and Mrs. H. S. Maddux. Capt. James M. Harkey was reared to the duties of the farm and had limited educational advantages. He planted fourteen sea- sons for his father. At the age of twenty-two years he began farming for himself, and was mar- ried in 1855 to Miss Elizabeth P. Walker, a native of Pope County. In 1859 he engaged in the drug business at Dover, and was thus engaged at the outbreak of the war. In 1862 he enlisted in the army, but was petitioned to return by the citizens, as a druggist. In the spring of 1863 he again en- tered the army, assisted in raising a regiment, and was elected second lieutenant of Company B, Caf- fee's regiment. He participated in the battles of Arkansas and Missouri, and in the fall of 1864 he was promoted to the rank of captain, serving in outpost duty in Southern Arkansas until the ter- mination of hostilities. He at once resumed farm- ing, in which he continued until 1868, and then came to Russellville where with his brother, G. W. Harkey, he started a drug store in that town. For many years this firm thrived, and prospered, as Harkey Bros., and had a good jobbing trade, put- ting up many of their remedies as Harkey's Ague Pills, Chill Tonic, Liver Medicine, Pile Remedy, Eye Tonic, Diarrhea Cordial, Granger Liniment Vegetable Liver Pills and Cough Syrup, all pro- prietory medicine and belonging to the firm, which they still prepare and sell wholesale throughout Western Arkansas. During that time, the firm erected two brick buildings, but on March 20, 1890, they sold out the business and the store- house, but continue the manufacture of the above named remedies. Capt. Harkey bought a farm of 220 acres near town, has 100 acres under cultiva- tion, and has a very pleasant home, owning also
other lands elsewhere. He is a raiser of blooded horses, and has a stallion "Coldeck," one of the best horses of this section, and seven brood mares. He has a good stock farm. He is one of the promì- nent men of the county, is a prosperous merchant and a good citizen. He was nominated by the Democratic party as State Senator for Pope and Johnson Counties, and was elected on September 1, 1890, by a majority of 1,368 votes. He was chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of Pope County for many years, and has done much by his honesty and integrity to strengthen that party locally. The family are members of the Christian Church. Capt. Harkey has been a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity since his twenty-first year and has been district deputy grand master for many years. He was also most puesant grand master of the Grand Council of the State of Arkansas, and served two years as worthy grand patron of the Grand Chapter Eastern Star of the State, and is now district deputy grand patron of the Twelfth Dis- trict. To his marriage were born five children, one of whom is deceased: Alice P., Mary Scathie, Charley D. (who was scalded to death at the age of three years), Reuben M. and Floy Lee. Alice P. Harkey is thirty years old, is married and has four children; Mary Scathie Harkey is twenty-two years old, married, and has one child; Reuben M. Harkey is nineteen years old, and is now attending medical college; Floy L. Harkey sixteen years old, is now in Glasgow, Ky., at school. Capt. Harkey was twice taken prisoner during the war. The first time he was soon exchanged; the second time he was led out with a rope around his neck to be hanged. While his captors were tying a rope to the limb of a tree he gave the sign of distress as a Mason, and was rescued by a second lieutenant of Federal troops, who was a Mason and a friend. Mr. Harkey says: "He said he was raised in Indiana, but I have forgotten his name and post-office address; I would be very glad to meet him in some Masonic lodge or Grand Lodge. I would most assuredly tell him that the latch string of my door hangs on the outside, and I would be glad if he would pull it and walk in at any time and sup with me and I with him. If I meet him no more
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in this world I hope to meet him where parting will be kuown no more."
Starling G. Harris. It is a fact well recognized among all intelligent people that a thorough edu- cation and advanced acquaintance with books of learning are of great material benefit to man, no matter in what channel of life his path may lie. The career of Mr. Harris is a striking illustration of this truth, for although his early educational opportunities were not of the best, yet he has at all times been a thoughtful reader, and has made a practical use of the knowledge thus gained. He was born on March 16, 1842, in the State of Georgia, and in the month of March, 1875, became a resident of Pope County, Ark., settling on land that is now known as Colony Mountain. He was reared to a farm life in his native State, and in 1862 began doing for himself. In June of that year he enlisted in the Confederate Army, becom- ing a member of Company A, Thirty-eighth Georgia Regiment, afterward taking part in the engage- ments at Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, Gettysburg, the Wilderness (where he was wounded, and on this account was transferred to the State Troops, being commissioned second lieutenant of Dyer's battal- ion). He remained in the service until the close of the war, then returned to his home in De Kalb County, Ga., and there was engaged in milling for about one year. At the expiration of this time he went to Blount County, Ala., and after farming there for about three years moved to Birmingham, in which place he was engaged in the timber busi- ness for some three years. Since then he has resided on his present farm. His first purchase was fifty acres of land, to which he has added from time to time, until he now has 310 acres of good farming land which he has nicely improved with good resi- dence, barns and other necessary buildings, a fine young orchard, which is already producing enough fruit for family use, and substantial fences. Nine- ty-five acres are under cultivation, and in 1885 he erected thereon a good grist-mill and cotton-gin, which he has operated successfully. He is now erecting a building in which he intends to open a general mercantile business, and expects to have everything in working order by October 15.
He was married on November 11, 1867, to Eliza Jane Bagwell, with whom he lived for eighteen years, when she departed this life October 18, 1885, leaving besides her husband five sons and three daughters to mourn their loss. May 12, 1886, Mr. Harris remarried, his wife being Mrs. Martha F. Mason, a daughter of James M. and Mary Tate of this county, the latter being now a resident of Johnson County, Ark. The names of the children by his first wife are as follows: Charley V., Lavo- nia V., Ettie L., Oscar G., Gordon P., Sallie A., Albert J. and John C. Lavonia is the wife of Ri- ley Leavell, and resides in Johnson County, and Charley V. is clerking for the firm of F. C. Jones & Co., of Bellville, Yell County, Ark. Mr. Harris and his family are members of the Baptist Church, and he belongs to the A. F. & A. M., and is a Democrat. His parents were John and Sarah (Brown) Harris.
William Stanhope Harris, farmer and stock- dealer, Russellville, Ark. Farming has been Mr. Harris' principle occupation thus far through life, and the energetic and wide-awake manner in which he has taken advantage of all methods and ideas tending to the enhanced value of his property has had a great deal to do with his success. He is a native-born resident of Pope County, his birth occurring on August 21, 1852, and is the son of Adolphus and Margaret R. (Hoffman) Harris, na- tives of North Corolina. To the parents were born four living children, who are named in order of birth as follows: William S., Sarah A. B. (wife of G. T. Brown, who is residing at Potts Station), L. D. (residing in Cannon County, Tex.), and Josephine (wife of A. M. Shinen, deceased). The parents emigrated from North Carolina to Pope County, Ark., in 1851, purchased eighty acres of unim- proved land, and the father carried on agricultural pursuits in connection with cabinet-making. He is deceased. The mother is now residing with the subject of this sketch. William S. Harris started out to fight life's battles for himself at the age of twen- ty-one years, and as he had been trained from early boyhood to the duties of the farm, it was quite natural, perhaps, that he should select agricult- ural pursuits as his chosen calling. He also held
G
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the office of constable of Wilson Township, Yell County, during the years of 1886 and 1887, re- maining in that county from 1877 to ISSS. He then came to Pope County, Ark., and began stock- raising and stock dealing in which occupation, to- gether with farming, he continues at the present time. He is the owner of fifty-five acres of land in Wilson Township, Yell County, and has forty of this improved. He raises principally cotton and about one and one third bales to the acre. He is thrifty and enterprising, and a man of excellent judgment.
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