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 43
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veyors with whom he remained one year. He then entered the railroad shops at Huntsville and there learned his trade as engineer and machinist. After spending seven years in the shop he then went on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad as an engineer for fourteen years, was then on the Mobile & Ohio for one year and was then for a time on the Great Western. Later yet he was on the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad for five years. In 1877 he came to Pope County, settled at Rus- sellville and at once began the erection of his pres- ent business in partnership with Harker & Ter- rence, whom he soon bought out. He began with a grist-mill and became the owner of the first steam- mill in town, the same having three run of stones. He put in a wool carding machine in 1879, and now has a durable machine. He started the gin on a small scale in 1882, and now has, perhaps, the sec- ond best gin in the State. He has sailor elevators to move cotton, a Thomas' direct steam press, with a capacity of thirty bales of cotton per day. During a four months' season, and during 1889-90 he ginned 1,000 bales. In 1885 he added a planing- mill, and has since put in new and improved planers. In 1887 he put in an. engine of sixty-horse power. The building occupies a couple of acres of land and is valued at about $15,000. In 1879 Mr. Smith erected his present residence, and is also the owner of five tenant houses. He owns a farm of 260 acres in two tracts, all good timber, and is a thorough, wide-awake and enterprising citizen. He was mar- ried in 1858, to Miss Sarah Harris of Alabama, and to this union were born six children-a son and five daughters-all living: Mary Frances, Georgia A., Willie Lulu, Sarah K., all of whom are married, and Robert and Ida May. Mr. Smith is a member of the Christian and his wife and children are members of the Baptist Church. He showed his appreciation of secret organizations by becoming a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the K. of P. He is a member of all the orders of Masonry.
R. H. Smith, machinist and foundryman, and a member of the firm of Smith & Little, was born in North Carolina, in 1838, and was the fifth of eleven children born to William and Catherine (Burkhead) Smith, both natives also of the Old Tar State. The father was a farmer, but also carried on the trades of blacksmith and wagon- maker. He came to Arkansas in 1854, settled in Pope County and started a shop six miles north- west of Russellville. There he had a good trade, and made wagons for most of the county. He also bought 256 acres and to this he added from time to time until he became the owner of large tracts of land, much of it river bottom land. He cleared much of this land and here resided until his death, in 1887, at the age of eighty-two years. He had always enjoyed good health. The mother died about the same time. Our subject has three sisters and one brother residing in this county. He followed farming until the breaking out of the war, and then flung aside his implements of peace to take up the weapons of warfare. He enlisted in Company E, Fifteenth Arkansas Regiment, and was in the battle of Elk Horn, but soon went east of the Mississippi River, where he participated in the battles of Farmington, Corinth and Port Gibson, and was taken prisoner at the latter place. He was retained at Alton prison for six weeks, and was then exchanged at City Point, after which he came home. Later he enlisted again, was captured and confined at Little Rock, where he was at the time of the surrender. Returning home he en- gaged in farming, followed this for several years, and was very successful. He bought 350 acres and soon had 100 acres under cultivation. About 1875 he began the mill business, at Mill Creek, and had a good outfit and an excellent trade. This he sold in 1884, and at once started his foundry and machine shop, manufacturing stoves. The firm also do a general repairing business, employ two men and sometimes more, and are the owners of the foundry which is a good building. Mr. Smith was married in the fall of 1859, to Miss Martha Shinn, who is the daughter of Littleton Shinn, a pioneer of this locality. Of the following, named nine children born to this union six are
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now living: Jesse Lee, Mary F., Sarah Ellen, Lenora (deceased), Oeata (deceased), Thomas (de- ceased), Mattie, Florence and Franklin. Mr. Smith has a farm of 150 acres and a residence in town. Aside from his foundry enterprise, he is also en- gaged in the grocery business in partnership with R. C. Brown, and they are erecting a two-story brick building. Mr. Smith is a good business man and is successful and prosperous.
James L. Tate. Not without justice Mr. Tate is conceded to be among the prominent and suc- cessful agriculturists of Pope County, Ark., for he is, and has been, meeting with substantial success in pursuing his calling. He was born in Johnson County, Ark., February 24, 1849, and although he received but little early education on account of the opening of the war, he has since become one of the well-informed and intelligent men of the county. He remained on his father's farm until he was nineteen years of age, after which he began renting land for himself, and in 1877 bought the land where he now lives, from the Railroad Com- pany. This he immediately settled on and com- menced improving, being now the owner of 167 acres, fifty-five of which are in a good state of cul- tivation. This is mostly valley land and very pro- ductive, and as he has made every endeavor to bring his land into a fine state of cultivation, he has one of the finest places in the county for its size. It is all under good fence, and in addition to this he tills 350 acres adjoining, devoting it to the raising of cotton, corn, oats and wheat. His cotton yields from two-thirds to one bale of cotton to the acre, and corn averages about forty-five bushels. He raises large numbers of mules and other stock for his own use, which are admirably housed during the winter months, and he has an excellent frame residence. He has a young orchard of about 200 apple trees, besides peach, cherry and plum trees in abundance. He is up with the times in regard to cultivation, having the latest improved farming utensils, and in addition to his residence he has five houses for tenants, each with necessary outbuildings. On December 28, 1868, he was mar- ried to Miss Emeline Jones, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Salma (Hise) Jones, of Johnson County,
but formerly from Northeastern Georgia. Mr. Tate and his wife have four children: Oscar S., Mary Ann, Mattie M. and Dora Jane. Mr. Tate has felt the loss of an early education, and is try- ing to give his children every opportunity. He and his family worship in the Primitive Baptist Church, and he is a liberal supporter of churches, schools, etc. He and his wife are noted for their hospitality and are honored citizens of this county.
Van Tomlinson is one of the largest land own- ers and most prominent farmers of Dover Township, Pope County, Ark. He was born in Pulaski County, Ky., August 20, 1833, and when three years of age was brought to this county by his parents, Charles and Susan (Wood) Tomlinson, who were also born in Pulaski County, Ky., and at the time of the birth of the subject of this sketch were residing in the town of Somerset, where the father was keeping a hotel and managing a dry-goods store. He was sheriff of Pulaski County for a number of years, but upon coming to Arkansas he purchased and entered Government land, which he immediately began improving and cultivating. He died in 1873, his wife having departed this life some four years previously, having borne him four sons and four daughters, the only member of which family now living being Van. He received the education and rearing of the average farmer's boy of that day, his advantages, of course, were very meager, and when he was fifteen years of age his father went to California in search of gold, and he was left to care for the family. This he continued to do until he was eighteen years of age, when he, too, went to the "Eldorado of the West," but re- mained only a few months, when he returned home. Previous to this, however, he had purchased eighty acres of land and was doing for himself, his father allowing him all he could make after the wants of the family were supplied. He improved his eighty- acre farm and sold it some fifteen years afterward, then purchasing 200 acres in the same neighbor- hood, which he has since finely improved and still owns. He is now the owner of 300 acres, on which is erected a good frame residence, besides houses for his tenants. All his buildings are excel- lent, and cotton and corn are his principal crops,
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fifty-five acres being devoted to the former, which promises a good crop. He is interested also, to some extent, in stock-raising. In June, 1865, he was married to Miss Margaret Hobbs, a daughter of James Hobbs, of this county, by whom he has four children: Charles, Mary A., Nora J. and Mattie May. The eldest son was married in Au- gust, 1888, to Miss Jeffrie Henderson, who died in May, 1890. Mr. Tomlinson is a Democrat, and, although not a member of any church, he is very liberal in his support of all churches, benevolent enterprises, etc., and is especially interested in schools. He is very pushing and enterprising, and his example of earnest and sincere endeavor to suc- ceed in life is well worthy the imitation of the ris- ing generation.
J. B. Turnbow, farmer and miller, Caglesville, Ark. Mr. Turnbow is a native of Arkansas, born in October, 1855, and is the son of John and Cath- arine (Noles) Turnbow, both natives of Tennessee, in which State they were married. The parents came to Arkansas about 1852. To their marriage were born eleven children. J. B. Turnbow started out to fight life's battles for himself when twenty- one years of age, and engaged in farming on rented land. He was married in 1877 to Miss Oretha Hamilton, a native of Arkansas and the daughter of Hugh Hamilton and wife, formerly a Miss Vanghan. In 1883 Mr. Turnbow purchased 160 acres of land and built a good frame addition to his house. Since then he has cleared about forty- five acres and is now erecting a good house. In 1890 he purchased a third interest in a saw-mill. which he operates in association with Mr. Shrone and Mr. Hamilton. The capacity of the mill is from 8,000 to 10,000 feet of pine lumber per day. Mr. Turnbow still carries on his farm on which he raises principally corn, cotton and oats, his land averaging twenty-five bushels of corn or two-thirds of a bale of cotton to the acre. He also raises considerable stock, including mules, horses and hogs. He was the youngest of the following named children: Elizabeth, Caroline, Martha, Dona, Tennessee, Lou, Margaret, William, Andrew and Cross. His marriage resulted in the birth of six children: Martin Luther, James Walter, Lou
V., Robert L., Bertha (deceased) and Ona. The father of our subject died in 1886, and was a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which the mother was also a member. J. B. Turnbow was elected constable in September, 1890, and possesses all the requisites necessary to fill that position in an able and efficient manner. He is a Mason, a member of Scottsville Lodge, and he and wife are members of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church, of which Mr. Turnbow is deacon.
William J. Voss, farmer, Hector, Ark. This enterprising citizen of Jackson Township, Pope County, Ark., was originally from Tennessee, his birth occurring in Lawrence County, September 2, 1839, and is the son of Robert and Charlotte (Mitch- ell) Voss, natives also of the Big Bend State. They were the parents of fifteen children, who are named in the order of their births, as follows: Wiley, Allen, Caroline (deceased), Rebecca (wife of James Beard), William J., Joseph (now in Tex- as), Sarah (wife of James Walters), Mary (deceased), John, Newton, Emeline, and four others deceased. William J. Voss received a very limited education, his whole schooling consisting of three months in a free school in Middle Tennessee, but he is a man of observation, and this, with his experience, has gained him a good business education. He was married, in 1857, to Miss Susan J. Pennington, a native of Tennessee, whose parents, Jacob and Ara- minta (Harrison) Pennington, were both natives of Tennessee. Four children were born to this union: Emeline (wife of Hugh Mansker), Frank P., Laquincy and William Robert, all living. Mr. Voss and family left Tennessee and emigrated to Arkan- sas, in 1858, settling in Pope County, but after- ward removed to Yell County, thence to Searcy County, where his wife died, in 1868. In 1869 Mr. Voss purchased 120 acres of land in the last named county, and improved seventy-five acres, but sold it all in 1881. He then purchased his present property, consisting of 160 acres, with eighty acres under cultivation. This he has further improved by putting up new and substantial build- ings, erecting two new houses on his farm, which has more than trebled in value under his manage- ment. Later he added forty acres more to his farm.
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In 1869 Mr. Voss was married to Miss Mary T. Williams, a native of Arkansas, and the daughter of John and Mary (Simms) Williams, the former a native of Tennessee, and the latter of Alabama. To Mr. and Mrs. Voss have been born ten children. nine of whom are living: James A. (deceased), Philander M., John Morris, Victoria Ellen, Nathan- iel S., Sally, Wiley A., Aranna May, Joseph L. and Benjamin Harrison. Mr. Voss was conscript- ed in the Confederate Army, but enlisted in the Federal Army, in Company D, Second Arkansas Cavalry, under Col. Phelps, and served from 1864 to the close of the war. He was detached from his regiment near the close of the war, and has never been discharged. After cessation of hostili- ties Mr. Voss resumed agricultural pursuits, and this he has continued up to the present time. He is engaged in stock-raising in connection with ag- ricultural pursuits, and is wide-awake and enter- prising. He keeps a good grade of stock, and in the management of everything connected with his farm he displays excellent judgment and thor- oughness. Mrs. Voss is a member of the Baptist Church.
Judge Jeremiah G. Wallace, judge of the Fifth Judicial District, is a native of Fulton County, Ky., born January 2, 1850, and was sixth in a family of seven children born to James and Mary E. (Goldsby) Wallace. The father was also a na- tive of the Blue-Grass State, and was an agricult- urist by occupation. He was married in Tennessee, and died in the year 1858, in Kentucky. The mother died in 1853. Both were members of the Baptist Church. The paternal grandfather, An- drew Wallace, was born on the Emerald Isle, and was immediately brought to America by his parents, who were Calvinists. They came to this country about 1792, settled in the Palmetto State, and here Andrew grew to manhood, and was married. At 1 the age of twenty-three years he went to Kentucky, and later moved to West Tennessee, where he re- mained until 1860. He then came to Arkansas, located in Pope County, and there his death oc- curred in 1873. He and wife were also members of the Baptist Church. The maternal grandfather, Edward Goldsby, was a native of North Carolina,
and died in North Carolina. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. Judge Jeremiah G. Wal- lace was reared by his grandparents, with whom he came to Arkansas, and his educational facilities were not of the best, for he never attended school more than about nine months altogether. After the war he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until about eighteen years of age, after which he taught school in Polk County for about three years, and also clerked for some time. He began the study of law while teaching, and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1873. In the fall of 1875 he re- turned to Dover, opened an office for one year, and then went to Ann Arbor, entering the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan, from which he graduated in the spring of 1877. From there he returned to Dover, and in the spring of IS7S he came to Russellville, where he has remained ever since. In 1882 he was elected prosecuting attorney, and re-elected to this position in 1884. He was candidate for circuit judge in 1889, and was elected to that position on September 1, 1890. Success is the best test of merit in this life, and Judge Wallace is in every way a successful man. He is a stanch and willing friend, a compliment that is equal to any that may be paid him in these days of selfish and sordid ambitions, and he is a self-made man, what he has won in the way of this world's goods and personal achievements being wholly due to his own good fighting qualities. He was married in the spring of 1878 to Miss Mirand Berry, a native of Leeds, England, and the daugh- ter of Joseph Berry, who came to America about 1859. To the Judge and Mrs. Wallace were born six children: Mabel, Mary Elizabeth, Catherine, Lewis A., Grace and Robert. Mrs. Wallace is a member of the Episcopal Church. Judge Wal- lace is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the K. of P. and the K. of H. He is the owner of a fine farm, seventy-five acres under cultivation and 600 in timber, and has a residence in town. He is a close and attentive student to his profession, and his recent election to the office of circuit judge of the Fifth Judicial District shows the estimation i in which he is held by the people of this and ad- joining counties.
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Dr. D. J. Warren, Atkins, Ark. The name of Warren is one of the most influential in Pope County, Ark., and Dr. Warren, among its most tal- ented physicians, has obtained a reputation plac- ing him in the front ranks of the medical fraternity. His parents, Charles and J. (Jones) Warren, were natives of Tennessee. The father was a stone- mason by trade, and died in April, 1832. The mother moved to Mississippi in 1845, and resided there until her death in 1852. Our subject's pa- ternal grandfather, Burris Warren, was a native of England and came to America in colonial times. He was a soldier in the Revolution and in the bat- tle of Bunker Hill he received a slight wound, although he continued to fight for independence until the close of the war. He had but one broth- er and he was also in the Revolutionary War, but on the other side. After the war Grandfather War- ren lived in North Carolina for some time, married, and settled in Middle Tennessee, where he died about 1842. He was the father of about five chil- dren. Dr. D. J. Warren was born in Tennessee in 1828, but moved with his mother to Mississippi, where he resided until 1852. He then came to Arkansas, settled in Conway County, and there en- tered and bought land which he cultivated for a number of years. He was married twice, first in 1855 to Miss Nancy Eubanks, a native of Arkan- sas, and daughter of James Eubanks, who em- migrated from Alabama to Arkansas at an early day. Mrs. Warren died December 7, 1858. Dr. Warren's second marriage occurred January 1, 1861, to Miss Mary A. Bernard, a native of Pope County, and the daughter of Wilson Ber- nard. Mr. Bernard was born in the Buckeye State, but came to Arkansas at a very early day. He settled in the woods on the river bottom, culti- vated the soil, and during the war went to Texas, where his death occurred. The mother's maiden name was Appleton and she died in 1877. They were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. The father assisted in removing the Indians from : this section. He had seven children, and for a time he employed a teacher for them. One daughter in Texas, another in California, and our subject's wife are the only ones now living. Dur-
ing the late unpleasantness between the North and South, or in the fall of 1861, Dr. Warren enlisted in Company C, Tenth Arkansas Regiment Infant- ry, and was in the siege of Port Hudson where he was advanced to the rank of first lieutenant. He was captured at that place, sent to the military prison at Johnson's Island, Ohio, and retained until the sur- render of Gen. Lee, a period of two years. The Federal Government gave transportation to Little Rock and he walked the balance of the way. Dr. Warren began the study of medicine in 1858, at- tended lectures in Cincinnati during 1859-60, and was assistant surgeon for fifteen months in the army before he was promoted to the rank of lieu- tenant. On his return to Pope County he at once began the practice of medicine. In 1873 he was one of the first to locate in Atkins and soon bought forty acres near town. In 1881 he bought six acres in town, and erected a residence on it. He is now the owner of 240 acres of land, and has 175 acres under cultivation, also an additional tract of eighty acres of good timber. The Doctor with four oth- ers, erected the school-house at Atkins, and he has done much to advance the cause of education. To Dr. Warren's second marriage were born five chil- dren, two living: Joicy (was born April 8, 1868, and died August 7, 1871), Rhoda (was born Decem- ber 9, 1869, and received her education at Arka- delphia and Blue Mountain), Andrew T. (was born September 7, 1872), and Tabitha (was born March 11, 1874). The family are members of the Bap- tist Church. Dr. Warren is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity.
W. G. Weimer, proprietor of the Weimer Drug Company, and cashier of the Citizens Savings Bank at Russellville, owes his nativity to Johnson Coun- ty, this State, and was born in 1864. He was the youngest in a family of five children born to A. W. and Mary (Towell) Weimer, natives of Germany and Tennessee, respectively. The father came from Germany when a child, resided for some time in the Keystone State, and then moved to Iowa about 1838. Later he came to Arkansas, where he was married. He was a physician and had an ex- tensive practice over about thirty miles. He was killed in the spring of 1865. The mother is still
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living. W. G. Weimer was educated in the Van- derbilt University at Nashville, Tenn., and gradu- ated from the same in 1884. He at once began the drug business in Russellville, starting with a stock of several thousand dollars, all paid, and soon had a good trade. In 1887 he started the Weimer Savings Bank, the first along the railroad with the exception of those at Little Rock and Van Buren, and in 1890 he bought out Harkey Bros'. drug business, moving to his new quarters shortly after- ward. He carries a stock of fresh drugs valued at $8,000, and does both a wholesale and a retail business. This establishment is very attractive and complete in every particular, and the pre- scription department is in the hands of exper- ienced pharmacists. On April 1, 1890, the Weimer Savings Bank was incorporated and became known as the Citizens Savings Bank, with W. G. Weimer as cashier. The bank occupies a por- tion of the drug store, was incorporated with a $50,000-capital, and is doing an extensive business. Mr. Weimer is now sole owner of the drug store. He also owns extensive farm property in Yell County, rich bottom lands, all tillable and con- sisting of 600 acres with 512 acres under cultiva- tion. This, one of the finest tracts of land in the State, was bought in January, 1890, at a cost of $21,400 and Mr. Weimer has placed several thou- sand dollars worth of improvements on it since then. On this farm he also runs a general store, carries a stock of goods valued at $3,000 and does an annual business of $12,000. He has a cotton gin and mill and in Russellville he owns a business block. He has in all ways contributed to the growth of Rus- sellville, and is one of the best citizens. He is an A. F. & A. M. and K. of P. at Russellville, and also a Knight Templar.
C. D. Weir, farmer, Moreland, Ark. Since his residence in this county, the reputation which Mr. Weir enjoys has been not only that of a substan- tial and progressive farmer, but of an intelligent and thoroughly-posted man on all public affairs. He is a native of Georgia, born in 1861, and moved with his mother to Arkansas in 1870, settling in Pope County, where the mother bought eighty acres of land. C. D. Weir was reared to manhood
on the farm in Pope County, and is thoroughly familiar with all the details of farm life. He re- ceived a good, practical education in the common schools, and in 1878 selected as his companion in life Miss Sarah F. Crites, who was born in 1862, a native of Arkansas. This union was blessed by the birth of five children, viz .: Jesse L. (deceased), Lewis L., Levada L., Oscar and Homer, the last four living at home with their parents. After his marriage Mr. Weir continued his farming interest on rented land for six years, after which he pur- chased eighty acres and was engaged in improving this for some time. This he at last sold and in 1890 he purchased the tract upon which he now resides, consisting of 180 acres, 105 acres of which are under cultivation. Mrs. Weir was one of three children born to Jesse and Olive C. (Stennett) Crites, the children named in order of birth as fol- lows: Lee Anna (deceased), Sarah F. and Lucinda. Mr. and Mrs. Weir are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and are held in high esteem by all. Mr. Weir's farming operations are conducted in a manner indicative of a progressive, thorough agriculturist, and his future prospects are indeed bright.
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