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 46
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by all the evidences of a high civilization and, "by the sweat of their face," by toil and privations, made a new country to "blossom as the rose," while upon the hillsides, the cross roads and in the valleys, the church and the school-house have been erected, and the whole county filled with a happy and prosperous people. To accomplish these great changes, time has been required, and surely and rapidly the grand old men and women, who in their prime entered the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their heritage are passing away. The number now remaining who can relate the inci- dents of the first settlement is small indeed.
The pioneer days are looked back upon as a happy, careless period, when people were so few that they valued each other more and would not be outdone in hospitality. The barbecue, which most of the people of the county attended merely to see one another and have a good time, has largely passed away. The marksmen, and every man was a marksman then, had their shooting matches, where the steadiest nerves and clearest eye won a beef, or some money. Almost every family had its whisky or peach brandy to refresh the guests who visited them, although many of the same persons lived to see public feeling place liquor among the forbid- den things. There is quite a colony of Germans in this county.
The earliest schools were "pay schools," held in private houses or other convenient, at times quite primitive places, by itinerant pedagogues. The old school system was not a success, for the common-school idea did not become popular until within the last twenty years, and the public school lands were, by the state of public sentiment, al- lowed to amount to almost nothing in the shape of revenue. It was largely the wealthy who could educate, and they hired private tutors to fit their children for foreign colleges and academies; or an occasional professional teacher would open a school to prepare students for higher schools. Education was a luxury which poor whites could not have, and as for the negro the idea was not entertained. Education, too, was purely literary, such as it was in many other parts of the country. The practi- cal and industrial phases of it are just beginning
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to be fully appreciated; the realization gains ground that industrial and practical education, not the liter- erary alone, is the key to all successful permanent progress. None in all the South have been quicker to adopt such progressive ideas and put them in practice than the leaders in the educational move- ments of Johnson County. The last published edu- cational statistics of this county are as follows: Enumeration-white, 6,034; colored, 212; total, 6, - 246. Enrollment-white, 3,948; colored, 114; total, 4,062. Number of districts, 77; number report- ing enrollment, 62; number voting tax, 71; num- ber of teachers employed, 83; number of school- houses, 77; value of school-houses, $14,139. The sum of $15,000 to $20,000 is expended on the schools of Johnson County yearly. There is a good balance of school fund in the county treas- ury unexpended. The schools are well organized and thoroughly equipped, and for the most part they are exceptionally well taught.
Amidst all the good things bestowed on this county by nature, its people have not forgotten God as the giver of all. Numerous churches are scattered all over the territory, ministered to by consecrated men, the members of which have ample opportunity for exemplifying in their con- duct the maxims which guide their lives. From a comparatively early period religious societies have been prosperous here. It is not known that there was any but infrequent preaching before about 1835. There were early families, members of which affiliated with the Primitive or Hard Shell Baptists, the Missionary Baptists, the Methodists, and the Disciples or Campbellites. Now nearly every neighborhood has its church-house, Meth- odists, Presbyterians and Baptists predominate, though there are a few of other Protestant denom- inations and some Catholics scattered throughout the county. Sunday-school work is being prose- cuted with vigor.
Johnson County was formed by the Legis- lature, November 16, 1833. Its southern bound- ary was defined November 2, 1835. Its eastern boundary was defined October 5, 1836. The line between Johnson and Franklin Counties was de- fined December 14, 1838, and on the same date of
1848. The line between Johnson and Pope Coun- ties was defined February 19, 1859, and again March 27, 1871, and was re-established March 6, 1875, and changed March 9, 1877. The first courts of this county were held at Old Spadra, a part of the time in Alston's store. The seat of justice was permanently located at Clarksville, and the first court there was held in the fall of 1837 in a building on the site of Pennington's store. Later courts were held in a building where the Floyd residence now stands. The "square" was devoted to county uses, and in its center a frame court- house was erected about 1838 or 1839, so old cit- izens say, which did service until it was destroyed by fire in May, 1872. A stone jail was built about the same time, a little back from the street, on the south side of the square. This was in use for many years until torn down. At the January term, 1872, Thomas B. Paine, jail commissioner, re- ported to the county court that, in pursuance of in- structions, he had sold the old county jail lots to John C. Hill, and had purchased new jail lots from Francis M. Paine and wife. The sale was made for $75 and the purchase for $125. The county court-house was burned March 2, 1872, and on that day it was ordered by the county judge that Robert F. Naylor be appointed a commissioner to procure "suitable rooms for clerk's office, court-rooms and rooms for grand and petit juries and to repair and fit said rooms for their respective purposes and to report his expenditures and procedings at the next April term of the county court." Mr. Naylor seems not to have completed this at the expected time, for it was not until the July term that he made his report to the effect that he had rented the rooms above M. Rose's store for court-room, and clerk's office, and the adjoining room for a jury-room, at $20.50 per month for all of them. November 19, 1874, the court appointed John M. Armstrong commissioner for the purpose of building a county jail, and authorized to prepare a plan and let the contract for the erection of the same. At the July term, 1873, the clerk had presented a copy of a re- port made by the grand jury to the Johnson Circuit Court at its March term, that year, recommend- ing the building of a jail. At the January term,
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1874, the petition for a jail had been by the board of supervisors continued to next session. At the April term, 1874, the consideration of the jail pe- tition had been again postponed. So late as the October term, 1874, the jail cause had been dis- continued by the board. The order of November, 1874, seems to have been a spasmodic and unpro- ductive movement. At times since, the grand jury has recommended the building of a county jail, but no active steps have been taken to that end, and the records do not bear another similar order. Johnson County confines its prisoners in the State penitentiary at Little Rock.
April 18, 1872, it was ordered by the court that a new court-house be erected at the seat of justice, and John S. Houston was appointed commissioner of public buildings, and required to submit to the county court at its adjourned session, May 10, fol- lowing, a plan of the building to be erected, and a statement of the dimensions thereof, and of the material of which it was to be constructed, and an estimate of its probable cost. May 10 it was or- dered that the commissioner of public buildings for the county of Johnson proceed without delay to complete, with detailed drawings and specifica- tions, the plans of a court-house adopted by the court. After the completion of said drawings and specifications the commissioner was required to give notice for at least thirty days in three news- papers, soliciting proposals to build said court- house agreeably to the plans and specifications adopted by the court. After the expiration of the thirty days' notice, the commissioner was instructed to open and carefully consider all proposals offered, and award the contract to such bidder as might, in his opinion, secure the early completion of the building, and protect the best interests of the county. July 3 the commissioner of public build- ings presented to the court proposals by different parties to build the court-house, and it appearing that some parties had put in their bids or proposals for currency and for bonds, and other parties for currency alone, it was ordered that further time be granted, and the commissioner notify those that had put in their bids in currency alone to again put in their bids in bonds. At the October term
Mr. Houston reported that the lowest bid was that of A. J. Millard and R. S. King, of Little Rock, who entered into a contract for the erection of the building as follows: "This article of agreement made and entered into this second day of Septem- ber, 1872, by and between the honorable county court, of Johnson County, Ark., as party of the first part, and Willard & King, of Little Rock, Ark., as principals, and W. A. Stuart, E. M. Phil- lips, Benjamin Thomas and D. P. Upham, of Little Rock, as security, as party of the second part- witnesseth that the party of the second part agree, and hereby bind themselves to furnish all the ma- terials and labor necessary to erect and finish com- plete the two- story brick court-house building to be erected for the party of the first part at Clarks- ville, Johnson County, Ark., according to the drawings and specifications prepared therefor by John D. Edwards, architect, Little Rock, Ark., and which are signed and made a party of this agreement, for and in consideration of the sum of $30,875, said amount to be paid as hereinafter provided. The party of the second part also agrees that the work shall be commenced on or before the first day of February, 1873; that it shall be in strict conformity to the drawings and specifi- cations, and that the whole job shall be pushed on to completion as rapidly as possible consistent with its own durability and safety, and shall be fin- ished, complete in every particular, on or before the first day of December, 1873. It is mutually agreed that the work shall be under the supervision and direction of Col. John S. Houston, duly ap- pointed by the court as commissioner of public buildings, or his successors in office. It is further- more mutually agreed that if the party of the first part shall at any time desire any changes in either the quantity or quality of the work, they shall be acceded to and executed by the party of the second part without in any way violating or vitiating this contract, but the value of all such changes must be agreed upon and endorsed upon this contract before going into execution, or no allowance will be made for them by either party. In consideration of the prompt and faithful performance of the foregoing terms and conditions, the said party of the first
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part agrees and hereby binds himself to pay to the said party of the second part the aforesaid sum of $30,875, to be paid in the following manner, to wit: $5,000 when the foundation walls are ready for the first tier of joists; $5,000 when the second tier of joists is in place; $5,000 when the walls are finished and the roof framing is done and up; $4,000 when the floors are laid and partitions built and roof entirely finished; $3,000 when the cornice and outside work of the building are completed; $2,700 when the plastering is finished and the sashes are in; $6,175 when the building is completed ac- cording to this contract and specifications herewith attached. It is hereby understood between the parties of the first and second parts, that each and every payment to be made as above enumerated will be in bonds of Johnson County, State of Ar- kansas, under and by virtue of an act passed by the Legislature of the State of Arkansas, and ap- proved March 28, 1871, authorizing the county courts of the several counties of the State of Ar- kansas, to issue bonds to build a court-house and jail in the above mentioned counties. In witness whereof we have bereunto affixed our signatures and seals this twentieth day of September, A. D. 1872." This contract was accepted by the court, and a bond for its fulfillment was entered into, signed by A. J. Millard, R. L. King, W. A. Stu- art, E. M. Phillips, Benjamin Thomas and D. P. Upham. Col. Houston resigued the position of commissioner of public buildings, February 14, 1873, and was succeeded by R. S. Crampton. At the October term, 1873, the time for the completion of the court-house was extended to June 30, 1874. When completed the structure was duly accepted by the county. It is one of the best and most ex- pensive court-houses in the State, solid, artistic and convenient, and reflects great credit upon the county of whose enterprise it is a monument. The indebtedness incurred by the issue of county bonds to meet the expenses of its erection was paid promptly, and with comparative ease. The sev- eral political townships into which the county is divided are named Howel, McKennon, Pittsburg, Perry, Hickey, Piney, Pilot Rock, Spadra, Sher- man, Prairie, Ward, Grant, Stonewall, Horsehead,
Batson, Low Gap, Mulberry, Hill, Lee and King.
The following officers of Johnson County have begun to serve at the dates mentioned, and re- mained in office until the accession of their suc- cessors: Judge-George Jamison, 1833; J. P. Keesie, 1835; J. L. Cravens, 1836; J. B. Brown, 1838; Samuel Adams, 1846; M. Rose, 1848; J. B. Brown, 1850; C. B. Perry, 1852; H. A. Powers, 1854; C. B. Perry, 1856; A. D. King, 1858; W. T. Hyten, 1860; S. H. Laster, June, 1865; A. M. Ward, 1866; Elisha Mears, 1868. Board of Su- pervisors-1872-74; J. G. Connelly, 1874; W. G. Taylor, 1878; J. B. Porter, 1880; J. G. Connelly, 1882; J. B. Porter, 1884; J. G. Connelly, 1888- 90. Clerk-Thomas Janette, 1833; William Fritz, 1835; A. M. Ward, 1836; J. G. Connelly, 1854; A. M. Ward, 1850; J. G. Connelly, 1860; C. C. Reid, November, 1865; J. B. McConnell, 1866; R. F. Naylor, 1868; Edwin Greene, March, 1870 (R. F. Naylor, clerk of the circuit court); J. M. Thompson, 1874; Q. B. B. Poyner, 1884; D. N. Clark, 1888-90. Sheriff-S. F. Mason, 1833; A. Sinclair, 1834; W. J. Parks, 1835; A. Sinclair, 1838; W. M. H. Newton, 1842; J. M. Hamilton, 1846; C. B. Mann, 1850; M. D. Griffith, 1856; Samuel Farmer, November, 1857; J. F. Hill, 1858; W. L. Cravens, 1864; J. M. Laster, June, 1865; E. N. Griffith, 1866; P. Hixen, 1868; R. S. Crampton, 1872; L. N. Swaggerty, from Decem- ber, 1873; J. M. Armstrong, 1874; E. T. McCon- nell, 1878; W. S. Jett, 1884-90. Treasurer- M. Rose, 1836; A. Lewis, 1838; William Adams, 1840; R. A. Latimer, 1842; A. Smith, 1844; L. Armstrong, 1846; W. S. Swigart, 1848; M. A. Hill, 1850; William Fritz, 1852; J. Conway, 1856; William Fritz, 1858; T. Baskin, 1860; T. Powers, September, 1865, William Hamlin, 1866; J. R. Laferry, 1868; H. Jacobs, 1872; A. J. Clark, 1874; R. Houston, 1876; J. B. Wilson, 1880; W. G. Taylor, 1886-90. Coroner-J. P. Keesie, 1833; R. S. MeMiken, 1835; A. L. Black, 1836; A. Brown, 1838; B. G. Clark, 1840; D. Hargraves, 1842; Charles Dennings, 1844; Joseph Stewart, 1846; J. Arbaugh, 1848; Lewis Matthews, 1852; James Carlisle, 1854; Lewis Matthews, 1856; James Ballard, 1858; P. Sanders, 1860; A. South-
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erland, 1862; W. Reed, 1864; J. C. Jones, 1866; J. C. Leek, 1868-72; Samuel Fleming, 1874; J. B. Lee, 1876; F. R. McKennon, 1882; J. T. Sykes, 1886-90. Surveyor-Augustus Ward, 1835; W. A. Anderson, 1836; J. W. Ryan, 1838; John Ward, Sr., 1840; D. G. Harris, 1842; Alfred Allen, 1844; W. D. Dropper, 1846; V. Wallace, 1848; B. M. Davis, 1850; W. P. Clark, 1858; V. Wallace, 1862-64; B. M. Davis, 1866; A. R. Young, 1868; Edward Greene, from March, 1870-72; S. H. Thompson, 1874; G. R. Daniels, 1878; Ezra Adkins, 1880; J. C. Bunch, 1884; J. M. Kelly, 1886; Ezra Adkins, 1SS8-90. Assessor-J. F. Hill, 1864-66; E. N. Griffith, 1868; L. Sykes, January, 1870; L. Robinson, 1872; J. R. Price, 1874; J. M. King, 1878; J. W. Huddleston, 1882; J. T. Pat- terson, 1884; Reuben Matthews, 1886; J. M. King, 1888-90. Officers elected September 1, 1890 for 1890-92-J. H. Basham, judge; J. N. Clark, cir- cuit clerk; John H. Powers, sheriff; W. G. Tay- lor, treasurer; J. T. Sykes, coroner; W. C. Boyle, surveyor; J. M. Kelly, assessor; H. L. Bunch, county clerk. State Senators representing John- son County have been as follows: J. Williamson, 1836-38; S. Adams, 1840-43; M. Rose, 1844-46; W. A. McClain, 1848-51; M. Rose, 1852-55; W. W. Floyd, 1856-59; A. M. Ward, 1860-62; Ben T. Embry, 1862; William Stout, 1864-65; Ben T. Embry, Confederate Legislature, 1864; J. E. Crav- ens, 1866-67; J. N. Sarber, 1868-71; Thomas A. Hanks, 1873-74; C. E. Toby, 1874-77; John F. Hill, 1879-81; Ben T. Embry, 1883-85; G. T. Cazort, 1887-89; Senator elect, J. M. Harkey. Representatives in the Lower House-E. B. Al- ston and Samuel Adams, 1836-38; E. A. Pace and M. Rose, 1840; William Gray and William Mc- Clain, 1842-43; J. B. Wilson, W. W. Floyd and John B. Brown, 1844-45; W. M. H. Newton, Sam- uel Farmer and Samuel Turner, 1846; John H. Strong and S. Farmer 1848-49; O. Basham and S. Farmer, 1850-51; O. Basham and V. Wallace, 1852-53; H. G. Butts and J. G. Watson, 1854-55; W. H. M. Newton and H. G. Wilson, 1856-57; S. Farmer and W. H. M. Newton, 1858-59; J. E. Cravens and L. Robinson, 1860-62; L. B. Howell and W. H. Connelly, 1862; J. Rogers and A. P.
Melson, 1864-65; W. H. Connelly, Confederate Legislature, 1864; John W. May and J. S. Green, 1866-67; W. W. May, 1868-69; W. G. Harris, 1871; John N. Sarber, 1873; A. D. King, 1874; J. S. Green, 1874-75; A. S. MeKennon, 1877; Louis Felton, 1879; F. R. McKennon, 1881; J. W. May, 1883; Isaac McCracken, 1885; T. P. King (succeeded by M. A. Moore), 1887; J. W. Coffman, 1889; representative elect, J. W. Coffman. John- son County is in the Fourth Congressional District, composed of Johnson, Crawford, Franklin, Sebas- tian, Logan, Scott, Yell, Perry, Garland, Saline and Montgomery Counties, and represented by Hon. J. H. Rogers, of Fort Smith.
The Fifth Judicial Circuit is composed of Johnson, Yell, Conway, Pope and Franklin Coun- ties. The judges of this circuit have been, J. J. Clendenin, from December 28, 1840,; W. H. Field, from December 24, 1846; J. J. Clendenin, from September 6, 1854; Liberty Bartlett, from November 12, 1854; E. D. Ham, from July 23, 1868; Benton J. Brown, from September 30, 1874; W. W. Mansfield, from October 31, 1874; Thom- as W. Pound, from September 9, 1878; W. D. Jacoway, from October 31, 1878; G. S. Cunning- ham, from October 31, 1882; J. E. Cravens, from October, 1889; J. G. Wallace, judge elect. The prosecuting attorneys have been, R. W. Johnson, from December 29, 1840; George C. Watkins, from January 11, 1845; J. J. Clendenin, from February 17, 1849, to September, 1854; J. L. Hallowell, from September 8, 1858; Samuel W. Williams, from May 10, 1860; Pleasant Jordan, from Septem- ber 7, 1861; Samuel W. Williams, from July 6, 1863; John Whytock, from December, 19, 1865; R. H. Dedman, from October 15, 1866; N. J. Temple, from August 15, 1868; Arch Young, from August 24, 1862; Thomas Barnes, from April 23, 1873; J. P. Byers, from October 31, 1873; A. S. McKennon, from October 14, 1878; J. G. Wallace, from October 31, 1882; H. S. Car- ter, from October 30, 1886; Jeff Davis, prosecut- ing attorney elect. Some of Arkansas' most dis- tinguished lawyers have appeared in the Johnson Circuit Court, and the resident attorneys of the county have from the first taken high rank. The
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list of resident lawyers at this time embraces the names of J. E. Cravens, present circuit judge, A. . S. McKennon, J. W. Coffman, R. C. Reding, J. H. Basham, county judge elect, J. W. May, W. T. Hunt, Thomas B. May, E. D. W. Blythe, John N. Sarber, C. B. Wilson, J. D. Hunt and J. P. Bus- ter.
The following-named residents of Johnson County hold or have until recently held com- missions as notaries public: F. L. Parrington, T. B. Blakley, R. C. Reding, J. H. Basham, J. M. Quaile, J. M. Thompson, R. E. L. Gray, J. N. Brown, W. F. Hunt, J. E. Watson, F. R. Mc. - Kennon, W. A. Whitemore, W. L. King, Charles A. Jones, E. A. Kline, Thomas Stevenson, Frank T. Diers.
The Fourth Congressional District comprises the counties of Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Se. bastian, Logan, Pulaski, Scott, Yell, Perry, Gar- land, Saline and Montgomery. The present repre- sentative is Hon. J. H. Rogers, Democrat, of Fort Smith.
The Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad, oper- ated as a part of the Gould system, crosses this county in a general direction east and west, with stations named Coal Hill, Hartman, Montana, Spadra, Clarksville, Cabin Creek (Lamar Post- office), Knoxville and Piney Station (Berlin Post- office). Following the construction of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad, navigation of the Arkansas was abandoned, and the abandonment has had the effect of rendering steamboating on the upper Arkansas impracticable at this day, not- withstanding that for half a century before there had been no other highway for the commerce of country. As a consequence, if relief is to follow from a monoply of freight traffic, it must come from one or more lines of railroad, the direction of which would render the resources of the interior of the county available as well as afford access to other markets, and therefore render competition practicable. It is not improbable that at least one such road-from north to south-will soon be built. A road has been chartered under the title. of Kan- sas City, Bentonville & Southeastern Railroad, which, commencing at a point dividing Missouri
and Arkansas, is to connect with the New Orleans, Natchez & Fort Scott Railroad at Clarksville, this county, and which will be a link in a chain of roads, the object of which is to connect Kansas City with New Orleans, by way of Bentonville, Springdale, Clarksville, Dardanelle, Hot Springs, and Hamburg, this State, and by way of Natchez, Miss.
The several post offices in Johnson County are named as follows: Batson, Berlin, Clarksville, Cline. Coal Hill, Davis, Eubanks's Mills, Fort Douglas, Grace, Hagarville, Harmony, Hartman, Hunt, Knoxville, Lamar, Ludwig, Lutherville, Melson, Montana, Mount Levi, Ozark, Ozone, Powers, Smed- ley Spadra and Zadock. Berlin Post-office is located at Piney Station, Lamar Post-office at Cabin Creek. Clarksville and Coal Hill, money order offices, are the two largest towns in the county. Of these post- offices, Coal Hill, Hartman, Montana, Spadra, Clarksville, Lamar (Cabin Creek), Knoxville and Berlin (Piney Station), are on the line of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad; the others are con- veniently distributed throughout the county. The less important points are some of them the centers of considerable trade, and all are supplied with churches and schools within accessible distance. Clarksville is the seat of justice; Coal Hill is the principal center of the county's coal industry; Montana is a point destined to become noted for its coal; Spadra is the seat of extensive coal opera- tions. Cabin Creek and Knoxville are promising lumber manufacturing points and local trade cen- ters. Clarksville, the county seat of Johnson county, is situated on the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad, 101 miles from Little Rock, and on Spadra Creek, four miles from the Arkansas River. It is located on a level plat of land, with overhanging cliffs and ridges on the east and west, and the valley of Spadra Creek opening to the north and south. It has a population of 1,000, with business houses in proportion, and public improvements commensurate with its importance, including a handsome college building, erected by popular subscription. The town has been incor- porated since early in its history, and its charter was extended February 5, 1859. In common the
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citizens are Southerners who keep fully abreast of the times. There are only a few of them who are wealthy, but as a whole they are in origin and equipment of a class whom it is not common to meet at interior western towns. And if at a vent. ure an explanation were sought for their continu- ance at so remote a point, it would no doubt be found in the fact of the county affording the only natural gateway entrances to the Ozarks, it appear- ing to be only a question of time when Clarksville is to become a town of 10,000 to 15,000 inhabit- ants. On the social and moral side of the commu- nity the distinction is also to be made of a united sentiment in all matters pertaining to schools and churches. The Methodists, Cumberland Presby- terians, Catholics and people of other religious denominations have houses of worship or hold regular meetings. The school population, white and colored, is about 400. Local commerce is aided by the recently organized Bank of Clarks- ville, Coal Hill is about centrally located in the best part of the railroad lands, and contains the principal office of the land department of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad Company. It was incorporated January 8, 1880.
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