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 40
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1880, and was book-keeper for J. M. Harkey & Bro., for about nine years. Since residing in Arkansas, the Captain has been quite active in political af- fairs, and was elected assessor in 1876, which po- sition he filled until 1880. In 1888 he was elected treasurer, and re-elected in 1890, thus illustrating his popularity. He has been one of the leading citizens of Russellville and takes a deep and active interest in all laudable enterprises. He owns a pleasant residence and other town property. He was treasurer of the city for some time. Mrs. Peeler, who was a member of the Missionary Bap- tist Church, died in 1884, and in 1886 the Captain married Miss Lavina R. Gray, a native of Tennes- see. They had one child, who died, but the Capt- ain has reared three orphan children. The fam- ily are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Peeler is a high Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge No. 274, Chapter 76, and Palestine Com- mandery No. 7, K. T., all at Russellville. Capt. Peeler has been master of the Blue Lodge, treas- urer of the Chapter, and is now banner bearer of the Commandery. He is also of the Order of East- ern Star Masons, of which he is secretary. He is a member of the K. of P. No. 47, Russellville, of which he is a past chancellor and represented the lodge in the Grand Lodge at Pine Bluff in 1889. He represented the Commandery in the Masonic Grand Conclave at Pine Bluff in 18SS.
James P. Plott, farmer, Holly Bend, Ark. Mr. Plott owes his nativity to Tennessee, his birth oc- curring in Giles County in 1848, and is now fol- lowing a calling that has for ages received individ- ual efforts from many worthy individuals, and one that always furnishes sustenance to the ready worker. His parents, George and Margaret (Wil- kerson) Plott, were born in Cabarrus County, N.C. They removed from that State to Tennessee, where they resided for several years and then, in 1872, they came to Pope County, Ark., settling in Holly Bend. There the father died in 1SS9, at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. His widow still sur- vives and is living with her son, William P., who besides our subject, is the only child she has living in Arkansas. William P. was married in 1888, to Miss Lulu Walraven, daughter of William Wal-
raven, of Pope County. James P. Plott resides with his brother, William P., and still enjoys single blessedness. He is the owner of 315 acres of land, 105 acres under cultivation, in the Holly Bend of Arkansas River, and this is one of the finest tracts of land on the river. Mr. Plott came to Arkansas when twenty-four years of age, and in 1873 he went to Western Texas, where he was engaged in stock business for three years. He also ran a saloon in Sipe Springs, Comanche County, of that State for two years. He then returned to Pope County, Ark., where he is to-day one of the most successful and prosperous farmers.
Joseph Potts, farmer, Potts Station, Ark. The father of our subject, Kirkbride Potts, was born in the Keystone State but in his youthful days re- moved to New Jersey, and from there to Missouri in 1820. After residing in the last named State for a few years he came to Arkansas and was mar- ried there in February, 1828, to Miss Permelia Logan, a native of Wayne County, Mo. Their union resulted in the birth of nine children-seven sons and two daughters. The mother of these died in August, 1878, and the father in November of the next year, when seventy-six years of age. Joseph Potts, one of the above-mentioned children, was born November 27, 1831, in Pope County, Ark., and here he obtained his growth and received his education. During the war he enlisted in the Confederate Army, Capt. Scott's company, Brook's battalion of cavalry, and his first engagement was at Elkhorn, Ark. After that he was sent east of the Mississippi River, and was wounded and capt- ured at the bloody battle of Corinth. He was sent to Vicksburg and exchanged in 1863. After this he was sent to the hospital at Clinton, Miss., where he remained three weeks and was then sent to Grenada to join his command. He was in the battle at Baker's Creek, and he and his whole com- mand were captured the next day at Black River. They were put on boats, sent up the Mississippi River, and when about twenty miles above Memphis, during the night, he and his brother, Richard, and another man, jumped overboard and swam ashore. Thus Mr. Potts made his escape and made his way to Pope County, Ark., where be remained until
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September, 1863, or until Dardanelle was captured by the Federal troops. He then joined the Con- federate Army in Perry County, Ark., and was in the Mark's Mill engagement under Gens. Fagan, Shelby and Marmaduke against Gen. Steele of the United States Army. His command was disbanded at Arkadelphia, and after surrendering at Little Rock, he returned home in June, 1865. He began farming and in this occupation he continued until 1872, since which time he has been station agent and postmaster at Potts Station. He still owns his farm of 200 acres and of this he has 125 acres under cultivation. He is now fifty-eight years of age and is single in life. He is a Democrat in pol- itics and has always been a liberal contributor to schools, churches and, in fact, to all enterprises for the good of his country.
James Potts, assistant cashier of the Citizen's Savings Bank at Russellville, Ark., was born at Galla Creek, now Potts Station, in this county in 1847, and was the tenth in a family of eleven chil- dren, born to the union of Kirkbride and Permelia A. (Logan) Potts, the father a native of Pennsyl- vania and the mother of Missouri. The elder Potts was a descendant of one of the old and highly- esteemed families of Pennsylvania where many are still living. The father was reared in New Jersey, went to Illinois when seventeen years of age, from there to Missouri, and in 1828 to Arkansas, where he settled in Pope County on the same 160 acres he made his home for fifty years. He was a very active citizen and at one time was a Government agent in the transfer of Indians from Arkansas to the Nation. He established the post office of Galla Creek, and was postmaster from that time until his death. The post-office is now changed to Potts Station. He made three trips to California, the first for gold in 1849, and twice drove stock to California from this State. He kept a hotel and stage stand, cleared about 200 acres of a good farm, and besides was the owner of other land at the time of his death which occurred in 1878. He had limited educational advantages, attending school only three months, but he was a close ob- server and student, and thus became a well- informed man. He was one of the best known
men in the State. The mother died in 1877. Two of their children died in infancy before the birth of our subject, and two sons were killed in the Confederate Army. After this, for fifty years, there were no deaths in the family. James Potts became familiar with the duties of farm life at an early age, received a primary education in the com- mon schools, and finished the same by attending Hamilton College in Kentucky. He began life as a surveyor, serving in that capacity in Pope County for nine years, and in 1882 was elected county clerk, which position he filled in a creditable man- ner for six years. In 1890 he engaged in the banking business and is a thoroughly capable and experienced banker. He was married in 1877 to Miss Ada Bradley, a native of this county and the daughter of John M. Bradley, a pioneer of North Carolina. To this union were born six interesting children: Loraine, Le Vanche, Sallie, Jim, Grace and Mary.
Dr. J. H. Potts, physician, Atkins, Ark. Dr. Potts, whose face is familiar in the homes of the sick and afflicted of Pope County, was born at Galla Creek, in 1849, and is the youngest living child born to Kirkbride and Permelia A. (Logan) Potts. [For further particulars of parents see sketch of James Potts. ] He entered the medical department of the University of Louisville, Ky., in 1873, and graduated from the same two years later. He at once located in Atkins, where he was among the first physicians. He was married in 1879, to Miss Lucy Williamson, of Missouri, and the fruits of this union have been three children: Joe, Clara and an infant, named Tennie. Dr. Potts is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Galla Rock Lodge No. 172, Atkins Chapter No. 77, and is secretary of the last. He is a practical and very successful agriculturist, is very public spirited, and is ever ready to advance any good cause. In his profession he has been very successful, and has built up a paying practice, which is steadily on the increase. He is pleasant and agreeable in his manners, and is a gentleman one desires to meet. He is the owner of an excellent farm of 280 acres, and has 140 acres of this under cultivation. He also has a comfortable home in Atkins.
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
W. H. Poynter has passed the uneventful life of a farmer, and has continued steadily to "pur- sue the even tenor of his way" until he is now ranked among the leading men of his calling in Pope County. He possesses advanced and pro- gressive views regarding agricultural affairs, and has always been very desirous of keeping out of the beaten path in which his forefathers trod. He was born in this county, September 8, 1847, and in the town of Dover, in and about his father's hotel, he was reared to manhood. He enlisted in the Confederate service in 1863, joining Company A, Hill's regiment, Cabel's brigade, and was in several hard battles, among which were Poison Springs, Mark's Mill, Prairie de Ann and others. At the close of the war he returned to his home in Dover, and as his father had died during the Re- bellion, he began working at the carpenter's trade, in order to support his younger brothers and sis. ters, which business he followed until 1876. In 1872 he purchased thirty-three acres of land, lying one mile from Dover, which he improved, by clear- ing it of timber and reducing it to a state of culti- vation, and this start formed the nucleus to what is now a substantial fortune. As his means in- creased he continued to purchase land in the county, and at one time was the owner of at least 1,200 acres. He now owns 600 acres, principally in the valley, of which 325 are in a good state of cultivation, and is valued at $10,000. He has the finest residence in the township, consisting of a handsome, two-story frame building, and contain- ing ten rooms. He also has large and commodious barns and other buildings, and his principal crops are corn and cotton, of which he has a large and promising crop. His marriage to Miss Dosie Tucker occurred January 27, 1869, she being a daughter of Russell Tucker, of Dover. Their union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Sallie C. (who has been attending the Searcy Female College, and has already obtained a good scientific education; she is an accomplished musician, and during her vacation is giving in- struction on the piano to quite a large class), Della is next in order of birth, then comes Anna, Sid- ney, Nora and Guy. One child, Maudie May,
died when about four months old. The family worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Poynter is a Democrat in politics.
J. A. Rachel is another example of what energy, industry and perseverance, when intelligently ap- plied, will accomplish in connection with agricult- ure. He was born in Virginia on May 10, 1834, to Alexander and Mary (Wren) Rachel, the latter a distant relative of Christopher Wren. The parents were also Virginians, and the father was born about 1787, and was there afterward married. To them eight children were born, of whom J. A. was the fifth child, and five of the family are now liv- ing: E. A., E. G., Martha J., Elizabeth and J. A. Those deceased are William A., Sarah and Lucy. The father of these children was a participant in the War of 1812, and about 1837 moved from Vir- ginia to North Carolina, where he made his home until his death in 1882. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was his wife, who died in 1854. J. A. Rachel emigrated to Arkan- sas in 1854, and settled in Pope county, where he was married November 7, 1867, to Miss Martha A. Shinn, whose birth occurred in this county Decem- ber 2, 1843. She is a daughter of John and Ma- linda (Harkey) Shinn, and has borne her husband the following children: Dora M., Nora E., Walter, Edward, Cora M., William E. (deceased), and two that died unnamed. In 1862 Mr. Rachel joined the Confederate Army, enlisting in Company H, Hill's regiment, Cabel's brigade, and served until the war closed, when he returned home, and began working at the blacksmith and wagon-making busi- ness, having previously learned the trade at Jack- son's Hill, N. C., in 1852. By industry and good management Mr. Rachel has become the owner of 485 acres of land, his home place consisting of 245 acres, with seventy-five acres under cultivation, forty acres of the other tract being under the plow. He has an orchard of about 100 apple trees on his home place, and about 600 trees on his other farm, besides a good many peach trees and a fair sized vineyard. On the farm on which he is residing is a twenty-two-inch vein of coal, but it has never been developed. Mr. Rachel has served three years as deputy sheriff of the county, and socially
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POPE COUNTY.
he is a member of Dover Lodge No. 17, of the A. F. & A. M. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.
John A. Rankin is accounted a prosperous farmer, and like the majority of the native-born residents of this county he is progressive in his views and of an energetic temperament. He was born on March 5, 1844, to W. W. and F. (Davidson) Rankin, the former a native of Tennessee, and the latter of Virginia. They were married in the latter State, and became the parents of four sons and three daughters, of whom the following are living: John R., William H. (see biography), J. H., Sarah, Mary E. (wife of J. C. Keogle), and Martha and Alex. (deceased). Mr. Rankin removed to Arkan- sas about 1830, and in Pope County, Ark., iol- lowed farming until his death, which occurred in 1874. He was a member of the Old School Pres- byterian Church, was sheriff of the county when he first settled here, and was a soldier in the Mex- ican War. His wife died in 1881, a member of the same church as himself. John R. Rankin was brought up to a knowledge of farm life by his father, and this has been his chief calling up to the present time. He has a fine tract of farming land comprising 342 acres, of which 215 are in a good state of cultivation, and on this he erected in 1884 a large frame residence, and this handsome home, with its beautiful surroundings, makes a de- sirable place of abode. In 1872 Miss Exaline Al- bright, a Tennesseean, born in 1852, became his wife, which marriage has resulted in the birth of seven children: Macey, Mary J., Lawrence, Lener, Mattie, Nora and Pearl. In 1862 Mr. Rankin en- listed in Company C, Arkansas Cavalry, serving as a private- soldier in the Confederate Army until 1865. He is a member of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church, and his wife is a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church.
W. H. Rankin, a prominent planter and a member of the firm of Rankin & Rodgers, livery- men at Russellville, was born three and a half miles west of Russellville, in 1846, and was the sixth of seven children born to the marriage of W. W. and F. (Davidson) Rankin, the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of Virginia. The
grandparents on both sides were from Ireland, and the paternal grandfather was a pioneer of Tennes- see. W. W. Rankin was a successful agriculturist, and was one of the earliest pioneers of Arkansas, having emigrated to that State in 1832. He located in Pope County, entered land near the mouth of Illinois Bayou, and carried on agricult- ural pursuits until about 1850. Two years later he went to California, followed mining for three years and was quite successful. In 1855 he re- turned to Arkansas, and the following year re- turned to the Golden State with a herd of cattle. The same year he came back to Arkansas, and in 1857 made another trip to California, with cattle. Few people realize the hardships of these trips across the plains. Returning to Pope County, Mr. Rankin bought another farm near Russellville and there made his home until his death. At the out- break of the war he enlisted in Capt. Scott's com- pany, and was in the battle of Pea Ridge or Elk Horn, where his horse was shot from under him, and falling, crippled him. He then came home, but after a time joined again, but was soon discharged on account of disability. He died on January 13, 1874, and the mother died on March 17, 1880. During the entire time of this worthy pioneer's life in Arkansas he was active in all worthy en- terprises, and was a worthy Democrat, doing much for that party. He was elected the second sheriff of the county. He and wife were members of the Old School Presbyterian Church. On the mother's side two brothers came to Pope County, Ark. : Sam and Bob Davidson. The latter settled at and bought the Dwight Missionary Station, four miles west of town. There he was postmaster until 1852, and for a time that was the only post-office in the county. He died on the plains in 1852, while on his way to California. W. H. Rankin was reared in Pope County and had but limited educational advantages, growing up during the war, when schools were obliterated in that county. He began for himself when twenty-one years of age as a farmer on rented land, and followed this until 1874, when he bought a farm of 80 acres, bot- tom land, to which he has added and now owns 240 acres, with 53 acres in the uplands and 220
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
acres under cultivation. This is one of the best farms in this section and all about the place indicates that the owner is a man of judgment and progressive spirit. In 1884 he moved to Russellville, where he has since erected a com- fortable and commodious house. In 1887 he bought out the livery stable of the town, and has since been running the same. He is the owner of of twenty-five head of horses, and has suitable vehicles, etc., for the use of the public. He keeps a good barn and is doing an excellent business. By his marriage, which occurred in 1870, to Miss Maggie Oates, daughter of Franklin Oates, an old settler of this region, there were born seven in- teresting children: Lillie, Nannie, Fannie, Ruth, Elbert Hill, Frank and Thomas. Mr. Rankin and family are members of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church. Mr. Rankin has shown his ap- preciation of secret organizations by becoming a member of the K. of P., No. 44, and the K. of H.
Thomas P. Reed, pioneer planter, is well and favorably known to the majority of the residents of this locality, for he has been a resident of this section since 1857, and has been prominently identified with the farming interests hereabouts. He was born in North Carolina on August 7, 1823 to Coonrod and Martha (Love) Reed, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Virginia. They were married in the former State, the father following the occupation of farming there, and their union was blessed in the birth of four sons and four daughters, of which family three are now living: H. C., Thomas P. and Nancy (widow of W. A. Cayle). John, Elizabeth, James, Mary and Martha are deceased. The father of this family passed to his long home in 1833, and he and his wife, who died in 1855, were members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Thomas P. Reed was mar- ried in North Carolina in 1844 to Miss Matilda Love, a native of the Old North State, but in 1861 he was called upon to mourn the death of his wife, she having borne him four children: Sandy, Martha (wife of B. Berryman), Susan (wife of William Harvill), and Milas (at home). In 1862 Mr. Reed enlisted in the Confederate Army, becoming a member of Company F, and was in
the cavalry until the close of the war. He was married again in 1862, his second wife being Mrs. Mary I. Winfield, widow of E. B. Winfield, by whom she became the mother of one son, George. Two children have been born to her union with Mr. Reed: Lenna (wife of W. R. Bowen), and Albert W. Mr. Reed is the owner of 135 acres of land, forty of which are under cultivation. He held the office of justice of the peace of this town- ship for several terms, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His farm is now well improved, and his principal crops are cotton and corn.
William J. Reynolds, assistant cashier of the People's Exchange Bank at Russellville, was born in Pope County, Ark., in 1846, and was the sec- ond of ten children born to William and Josinor (Matthews) Reynolds, both natives of Tennessee. The parents came to Arkansas in 1839, and are still residents of this State, living at Atkins. Will- iam J. Reynolds was educated in the common. schools of this county, and when twenty-one years of age, started out to fight his way in life as a mer- chant, engaging in business with his father at Do- ver. They continued in business at that place until 1871, under the title William Reynolds & Son, and then moved to Atkins, where they continued for three years. Our subject then became assistant station agent and operator at Russellville, contin- ued in that capacity for five years, and then was at Clarksville one year, filling the same position. After this he returned to Pope County, and in the fall of 1880 was elected circuit and county clerk, which office he held for one term (two years). He was then station agent until 1885, and was then appointed postmaster at Russellville, continuing in that position until May, 1889. In March of the following year, on the organization of the above mentioned bank, he was elected to his present posi- tion. Mr. Reynolds was married on the eighteenth of April, 1871, to Miss Sarah R. Lewis, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter of Dr. J. O. Lewis, who came to Pope County in 1859, dying here the following year. Mr. Reynolds is a mem- ber of the various degrees of Masonry, Blue Lodge No. 274, Chapter No. 76 and Palestine Com-
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mandery No. 7, all of Russellville. He has been secretary of the chapter for nine years, and re- corder of the commandery for five years. He owns,a neat cottage in Russellville which he erect- ed in 1889, and is one of the representative citi- zens. He has been a member of the Board of Aldermen of many years.
Ben K. Rodgers, Jr., is the junior member of the firm of J. B. Evans & Co., dealers in general merchandise at Russellville, Ark. This firm is well known and highly honored throughout this section, for the members composing it are men of principle, who endeavor at all times to follow the teachings of the Golden Rule. Mr. Rodgers was born in West Point, White County, Ark., November 3, 1868, and with his parents emigrated to this coun- ty when twelve years of age, the former being a successful dealer in general merchandise. It may truly be said that the subject of this sketch was reared to mercantile life, for, as soon as old enough he was put to work in the store, and on this ac- count did not receive much schooling. At the age of thirteen years he left home by consent of his parents, and from that time up to the present has been doing for himself. He entered a store in Little Rock, as cash boy, which position he filled for thirteen months, at the end of which time he came to Rus- sellville and obtained a position as clerk in the grocery store of P. L. Bottoms & Son, where he remained one year, then entered the general mer- cantile establishment of Humphrey & Evarts, in which he was a clerk for four years. Since that time he has been a junior member of the firm. Upon Mr. Humphrey selling his interest in the store, the other members of the firm purchased this interest, and now do an annual business of $20,000. They are also extensive cotton dealers, shipping annually about 800 bales. In addition to this, Mr. Rodgers is associated with Mr. Rankin in the livery business, under the firm name of Rankin & Rodgers, theirs being the only establish- ment of the kind within a number of miles. They keep an excellent class of horses and vehicles, and their annual business amounts to between $4,000 and $5,000. Mr. Rodgers was married on August 15, 1889, to Miss Minnie Rye of Fort Smith, Ark.,
a daughter of J. C. Rye, one of the prominent grocers at that place. Mr. Rodgers has never joined any church, but his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of this place. He is a Democrat, and socially belongs to Lodge No. 535, of the K. & L. of H. of this place, in which he holds the office of treasurer. He is one of the self made men of the county, and is a very promi- nent and enterprising young business man. He has the respect of all who know him, and has established a reputation for square dealing which has become widespread. He is liberal in his sup- port of worthy enterprises.
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