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 49
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
-
297
JOHNSON COUNTY.
John R. Hickey is a man who has attained con- siderable prominence in the affairs of Johnson County, Ark., for he is a man of excellent parts and has shown good judgment and tact in the management of his farm, in connection with which he operates a cotton-gin. He is a Tennesseean, born in 1824, a son of James and Nancy (Baker) Hickey who removed from their native State of Tennessee to Arkansas in 1831, settling first in what is known as Bullfrog Valley, so called after an Indian chief of that name. They lived at this place for about four years, then came to the farm on which the subject of this sketch is now living on Little Piney Creek. At the age of twenty-one years John R. Hickey began doing for himself, and soon after enlisted in E. W. Patrick's com- pany, Yell's regiment, and served in the Mexican War until its close, taking part in the battle of Buena Vista, the hardest battle of the war. At the end of twelve months he and his company were discharged, the term of enlistment having expired, and he returned to his home. In 1849 he was married to Miss Margaret Macon, who was born in Arkansas in 1834, to Abner and Elizabeth (Vaughn) Macon, by which lady he became the father of the following children: Alvin H., James M. (deceased), Sarah Elizabeth, C. M., Malinda A., G. A., William J., A. N., Nancy J. and John M. Mr. Hickey's first purchase of land was 280 acres, 100 acres of which he improved and upon which he built a house, barn, other farm buildings, a school-house, and a church. This tract of land he afterward sold, and now conducts a farm of forty acres, in connection with which he is doing a ginning and milling business, his mill being run by water power. The capacity of his gin is six bales per day, and that of his mill eighty bushels of corn. . Upon the opening of the Rebellion he enlisted in Capt. Hughey's battalion, and served until the war closed, when he returned home. He was quartermaster- sergeant of his company, and was in a number of important battles, among which may be mentioned the fights at Blackburn and Prairie du Chien. He was married to his present wife in 1882, she being Mrs. Polly A. Murray, relict of Henry Murray.
R. C. Highfill is noted for the enterprise and energy which he has displayed in the management of his farm, and his earnest and sincere endeavors to make a success of the talents which have been given him, are well worthy of imitation. He was born in West Tennessee, August 6, 1828, and, be- sides acquiring a practical education, he became thoroughly familiar with the duties of agricultural life on his father's farm. At the age of twenty years he began doing for himself, renting a farm in Dallas County, Ark., for three years, but at the end of this time removed to Missouri and made a purchase of 160 acres of land on which some im- provements had been made. After remaining on this farm for eighteen years he came to Johnson County, Ark., and bought 160 acres of land near where he now lives, which he owned, improved and cultivated for eleven years, but has since resided on his present farm of 452 acres, about one-half of which is rich bottom land. His house and barns are substantial buildings, and near the former is an excellent apple and peach orchard. He was mar- ried in 1848 to Miss Elizabeth Rodgers, of Tennes- see, and by her has three daughters and two sons, all of whom are married and settled near the old homestead. Mr. Highfill is a Baptist, in which church he has held the office of deacon for many years, but his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a stanch Republican in his political views, and during the Rebellion was a member of the Union Army, enlisting in 1882, and serving until the close of the war, taking part in the battles of Prairie Grove, Clerington, and many skirmishes. He was a member of Company A, Eighth Missouri Cavalry. His home is a hospit- able and pleasant one, and, as he and his wife are liberal in their support of worthy enterprises, such as churches, schools, etc., and are charitable to the poor, they have won the admiration and respect from all who know them.
Marcus Hill is a Tennesseean by birth, born in the year 1826, and, so far as his occupation in life is concerned, he has followed in his father's foot- steps, and is a worthy and upright tiller of the soil. In 1831 he came with his parents, Mark and Rachel Hill, to Johnson County, Ark., from Tennessee,
298
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
and here he arrived at man's estate, but on ac- count of the newness of the country received rather meager educational advantages. He commenced earning his own living in 1847, but put aside his farming implements to enlist in the Mexican War, and after serving for about ten months was honor- ably discharged. In 1863 he enlisted in the Con- federate Army, and was on active duty until the close of the war, when he returned home, and re- sumed farming, being now in good circumstances, financially. He was first married to Miss Eliza Jones, a daughter of F. K. and Sarah E. Jones, by whom he became the father of the following children: James, W. A., R. S., Lafayette, Emeline and E. L. The first named three are dead. The mother of these children was called from the scene of her earthly labors in 1860, and Mr. Hill was afterward married to Miss Melissa Thomason, to which union the following child was born, J. D. (who died at the age of fourteen years). Mr. Hill's third union was to Miss Susan Davis, she being a daughter of W. A. and Winnie Hill, and in time their family numbered eight children: M. A., J. H. (deceased), W. O., E. A., L. N., W. R., Maggie and P. K. Mr. Hill has always been a very strong Democrat, and he and his family are earnest mem- bers of the United Baptist Church. As a citizen Mr. Hill has always been public spirited and law- abiding, and as he at all times endeavors to do what he considers right, he is meeting with a just reward, and has the utmost confidence and respect of all who know him.
A. B. Hillmantle is a man who is noted for the enterprise and energy he has displayed in the management of his farm, and although it contains only 200 acres, 120 are under cultivation, admira- bly tilled, and yield abundant and excellent crops. He was born in Shiawassee County, Mich., in Jan- uary, 1855, being a son of J. N. and Margaret (Clees) Hillmantle, both of whom were native Ger- mans, the father coming to this country alone, and the mother with her parents. At a later period the paternal grandfather came to this country also, and died in Michigan about 1862, his wife having pre- viously passed from life in Germany. A. B. Hill- mantle was the third in a family of ten children-
five sons and five daughters-and all with the ex- ception of three are living, and are residents of Michigan, with the exception of A. B. One brother, J. M., is a tailor of Traverse City, and another brother, Alex, is farming with his father in that State; Susan is married to Thomas Dyer, a farmer of Michigan; Hannah is the wife of George Wisler, and Louis and Rose are still single. A. B. Hillmantle is the only one of the family in Arkansas, having come here in January, 1878, and was here married to Miss Anna Henry, a daughter of G. C. and Mary Henry, their ution taking place in 1879. They now have three children: J. N., Louis H. and Bessie B., who are bright and prom- ising. Mr. Hillmantle is the owner of considerable property, and has done well in his adopted State, so well in fact, that here he expects to make his home for the future. His farm is rented out, and his attention is devoted to merchandising at Hart- man, his stock of general merchandise being valued at about $6,000. He also owns residence property in the town worth $500. He is one of the substan- tial citizens and business men of Hartman, and the post-office, which is kept in his store, is managed by G. C. Henry, who is postmaster, and the father- in-law of Mr. Hillmantle. The latter and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.
H. H. Holland is a Georgian, born in Decem- ber, 1840, and like the majority of the natives of that State, he is progressive in his views and of an energetic temperament. His parents, Gilbert and Mary Ann (Mitchell) Holland, as well as his grandparents, were born in Tennessee, the mar- riage of the former occurring in that State, but soon after the event they removed to Georgia, and from there came to Johnson County, Ark., in 1S43. Their family, in time, numbered five sons and five daughters, the subject of this sketch being the fourth in order of birth. His father died in 1852, but he continued to make his home with his mother until he attained his majority, when he began life for himself as a farmer. He was mar- ried in 1871 to Miss Caroline Rogers, a daughter of Joseph Rogers, of Logan County, and unto them two children were born: Fanny and William B. Mr. Holland owns 170 acres of land, with
299
JOHNSON COUNTY.
ninety under cultivation, two miles south of Hart- man in the river bottom, the income from which is liberal. He enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861, in Capt. Howell's artillery company, under Gen. Cooper, and was on active duty west of the Mississippi River all the time, participating in the fight at Newtonia, Mo., in October, 1862, being also at Fort Wayne, Cabin Creek, and in a number of other engagements. His company was dis- banded in Texas in the spring of 1865, after which he returned to Johnson County, Ark., and here has since resided, his occupation being that of farming. Although his early opportunities were not good, be is one of the best informed men of this section, which result has been brought about by reading and contact with business life, and he is a liberal contributor to worthy enterprises. His mother is still living at the age of eighty-three years, and is making her home with her son, J. M. Holland, in Hunt County, Tex.
Seth J. Howel is a very highly esteemed old resident of Clarksville, Ark., and during the long term of years that he has resided in this section he has never been known to do a dishonest act, or to willfully defraud his fellow-man. He was born in Logan County, Ky., in 1810, to John Howel, who came to Arkansas on January 2, 1837, and died in Yell County ten years later, being a resident of the town of Danville at that time. Seth J. Howel was educated in Kentucky and from 1840 to 1863 he sold goods at Pittsburgh on the Arkansas River, but moved, at the close of the war, to Little Rock, and farmed near that place. He was married in 1831 to Miss Willis, of Kentucky, but while a resident of Little Rock in 1867. she left him a widower with two children to care for: John, who is now a stock-raiser of Madison County, Tex., and Sarah, widow of Mr. Jordan, of that place. Mr. Howel was married, a second time, in 1870, to Mrs. Willis, a widow of the brother of his first wife, and in the spring of the same year came back to Clarks- ville and erected the residence in which he is now spending a serene old age. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and throughout his life he has been quite an active politician, being deeply interested in all the im-
portant movements of the times. He was a dele- gate to the State Constitutional Convention in 1874, and is an earnest advocate of Prohibition, and has done much to aid the cause of temperance in his town. He is the first man who drove a coach on this road, and also the first one to bring a Troy coach to the town. On his arrival in this place in 1837, there was but one house in what is now the flourishing town of Clarksville, and as he has re- sided here the greater part of his life, he has seen almost the entire growth and development of this section. He was in the coach mail business from Little Rock to Fort Smith for twenty years, the name of his partner being Peter Hanger.
A. G. Hughes belongs to that sturdy, independ- ent and honorable class, the farmers of Johnson County, Ark., and as he has been engaged in fol- lowing the plow from youth up, he has become the owner of 160 acres of excellent farming land, and of the 140 acres that he has under fence he has 125 acres cleared. He was born in Tennessee in 1834 to Sumler and Katie (White) Hughes, the former of whom was born in the Old North State and the latter in Tennessee. After attaining his majority A. G. Hughes continued in his father's em- ploy until the opening of the war, when he enlisted as a private in Company F, Jackson's regiment of cavalry, and was afterward a participant in the bat- tles of Corinth, Franklin, Vicksburg besides a number of other engagements of minor importance. He was captured at Corinth, but managed to effect his escape, and was there also wounded in the knee by a spent ball. After his return from the war he followed farming, first on his father's land, af- terward on rented land, then made a purchase of sixty- five acres, to which he has since added thirty- five acres, and of which he is still the owner. He came to Arkansas in 1880, and purchased the land above mentioned, to which he has since added forty acres of fine and fertile bottom land. He raises, corn, wheat, cotton, oats and red top grass, and is now giving considerable of his time and attention to the culture of fruit. He has averaged on his land thirty-five bushels of corn and 1,000 pounds of seed cotton to the acre, a fact that speaks well for the fertility of his property. He was married
Soobiaon
300
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
in 1862 to Miss Sallie Smothers, a native of Ten- nessee, born in 1843, a daughter of Tom and Sal- lie (White) Smothers, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of South Carolina. Mr. Hughes and his wife have four children: John W., Thomas S., Katie and Malinda, all of whom are at home with their parents. The entire family are worthy members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Hughes is a deacon. He at all times takes a great interest in church and edu- cational matters, and for many years has been a teacher in the Sunday-school, and for the past three years has been assistant superintendent. He is a man of unblemished reputation, and is well known for his shrewd and practical views of life and for his many amiable traits of character. So- cially he is a member of the K. & L. of H.
P. R. Jett is a merchant of Knoxville Station, but was born in Tennessee on September 30, 1844, being a son of T. R. and Margaret C. (Utley) Jett, the former born in Virginia March 15, 1815, and the latter in Tennessee, January 23, 1820, their union taking place in Benton County, Tenn., in 1843, and resulting in the birth of four children: P. R., W. S., P. H., and Dee L. (wife of G. K. Choat). Mr. Jett was surveyor of Yell County, Ark., for four years, and by calling was a lawyer and school teacher, following the latter occupation in Prairie and this county, and the former in Pope and Johnson Counties. The father removed from Tennessee to Arkansas in 1849, and during his residence in Prairie County took quite an active part in politics, and was a warm friend of Thomas C. Hindsman, a member of Congress. His wife is is still living in this county. P. R. Jett was married in this county in 1869 (September 30), to Miss M. J. E. Craig, who was born in Kentucky, September 20, 1845, and came with her parents to Arkansas in 1859. Mr. Jett and his wife have had eight chil- dren born them: Minnie, Maggie, Viola D. and S. P. living and four deceased. Mr. Jett was a sold- ier in the Civil War, being a member of Company A, First Arkansas Cavalry in 1863, and was in the battles of Corinth and Vicksburg. He was with Gen. Price on his raid, was on active duty until the close of the war when he returned home and en-
gaged in farming, a calling he followed until 1887, when he engaged in merchandising, carrying a general stock of goods. He has a pretty and com- modious frame dwelling-house, and he is otherwise well fixed to enjoy life. He and his wife have been members of the Baptist Church since 1873, and until 1889 he was clerk of the church. He was elected justice of the peace of this township in 1878, and in this capacity has served, ever since, and for some twelve years has been a school di- rector also. He is a member of Knoxville Lodge No. 370, of the A. F. & A. M. and also belongs to Knoxville Lodge No. 30, of the I. O. O. F.
Dudley S. Jones is a native of Person County, N. C., born on April 14, 1830, but is now one of the first citizens of Stonewall Township, Johnson County, Ark., where he is actively and success- fully engaged in agricultural pursuits. His par- ents, Clayton and Mary (Johnson) Jones, were born in North Carolina and reared a family of three sons and three daughters, of whom Dudley S. was the eldest, five being now alive. When he was twenty-one years of age Dudley S. Jones rented part of his father's farm, but at the end of two years moved to Arkansas, purchasing a farm of eighty acres near Spadra, which he im- proved and upon which he remained until Febru- ary, 1860, when he sold out and bought his present farm of eighty acres, of which he has fifty acres improved and under cultivation. He continued to make purchases of land at different times, so that he was enabled as his four children married, to give each forty acres, and is now the possessor of 260 acres, his home farm consisting of 160 acres. He has 200 acres improved with substantial buildings and has 100 acres near Clarksville. His land is devoted to the raising of cotton, corn and oats. forty acres being this year given to cotton, and twenty-eight acres to corn. He is also interested in raising horses of a good grade, and in fact, is thoroughly up with the times in every branch of his business. Near his residence is a good apple and peach orchard which is well kept, and every- thing about his place indicates thrift and energy. Mr. Jones was married August 19, 1855, to Miss Elizabeth Dunning, a daughter of John Dunning,
1
JOHNSON COUNTY. 301
this county, and the result of their union is three sons and one daughter: John T., Henry W., Mary R. H. and James C., all of whom are married and settled on adjoining farms. Mr. Jones is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian, and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been a dea- con of his church for twenty-two years, and socially is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and in his political views is a Democrat. He has always been noted for his liberality, and for his broad and comprehensive views on all subjects.
Henry Kauffeld is a native of Germany, born in 1842, and came to America in 1854, settling in Shelby County, Ohio, where he followed the occupation of farming until the opening of the war, when be enlisted under Fremont as his body guard, being a member of the Benton Cadets. For disability he was discharged in 1862, and here was married in 1865 to Miss Elizabeth Zorn, who was born in Ohio in 1845. He began tilling his eighty- acre farm which was improved, and on account of his health came to Arkansas in the fall of 1883 and in this climate he has been greatly benefited. Upon reaching this State he purchased 160 acres of land which he has improved by clearing and repairing, and by building additions to his house and other buildings, he now has a desirable place of abode. To himself and wife ten children were born, eight of whom are now living: Annie M. (wife of Frank Doepel), Mary S., Christian E., Henry J., Martha A. and Caroline M. (twins), William V. F. and Jacob Henry, who is the eldest of the children. Mr. Kauffeld held the office of road supervisor in Ohio for several terms, was township trustee sev- eral terms and township assessor two years. Since coming to Arkansas he has been repeatedly solicit- ed to run for justice of the peace, but refused until 1888, when he was elected, and in 1890 received sixty-six out of seventy-five votes in his township. He is now serving as a member of the school board of which he is clerk. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he has held the office of trustee for three years, and he is considered one of this church's most faithful workers. He is now turning the most of his attention to the culture of fruit, for which his land is admirably adapted, and
raises large quantities of apples, peaches and grapes.
J. M. Kelly has been a resident of Johnson County, Ark., for the past forty-six years, and like most of the noted figures of American history, he was reared upon the farm. His birth occurred in Missouri in 1837, to Daniel and Elizabeth (Monroe) Kelly, the former a native of Alabama, and the latter of Missouri, their marriage taking place in the eastern portion of the last named State. Of a family of eight children born to them the follow- ing are living: Rachel M. A., Lydia Priscilla, and J. M. (who was the youngest of the family). After coming to Arkansas the family settled in what is now known as Hagarville, which was then but a settlement without a name, but soon after went to Little Piney, where Mr. Kelly rented land and be- gan tilling the soil. When the subject of this sketch was about fifteen years of age his father be- came crippled from a fall from a horse, and he then became the mainstay of the family, his slender shoulders being the only barrier between the fam- ily and utter want. He carried on his father's business until he was twenty three years of age, at which time he was married to Miss Rachel L. Stewart, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Joseph and Almira (Rogers) Stewart. Mr. Kelly, in 1872, purchased a claim and homesteaded 160 acres of land where he now lives, of which he has about 45 acres improved with fair buildings. His principal crops are cotton, corn, and some oats and wheat, and of the former raises from one-half to two-thirds of a bale per acre, and from twenty-five to thirty bushels of corn. He also gives some at- tention to fruit raising and the propagation of stock. He and his wife have a family of six chil- dren living: Jordina (wife of C. L. Bacchus), Ira Albert and Ida Alice (twins. the latter the wife of W. T. Curtis), Laura (wife of J. W. Harmon), Hester H. (wife of S. M. Curtis), and Sarah C. Upon the opening of the Rebellion Mr. Kelly helped to swell the ranks of the Confederate Army, becoming a member of Company C, Fourteenth Arkansas Infantry, of which he was elected orderly- sergeant, it being afterward consolidated with other regiments, and became the Twenty-first
-
302
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
Arkansas Infantry. Mr. Kelly took part in the battle of Pilot Knob, and numerous minor engage- ments and skirmishes, in the above mentioned battle receiving quite a severe wound in the face. In 1886 he was elected to the office of county sur- veyor, serving one term, but in 1890 was elected county assessor, and for some time has also held the office of school director of the Fifth District fifteen years. At the time that he became director the district was a very large one, containing four log structures, which, as Mr. Kelly says, would make a shade but not a shelter. By his efforts the district was divided, so that now, instead of hav- ing a two months' school each alternate year, they have seven or eight months each year, and have, in all probability, as good school-houses as there are in the State. Mr. Kelly has always taken a deep interest in the cause of education, and the present excellent state of the schools of this section has been brought about largely through his efforts. He is interested in all matters pertaining to the public weal, and is an upright citizen in every respect.
Jonathan King has followed the occupation of planting for many years in Pittsburg Township, Johnson County, Ark., but is a native of Tennes- see, his birth occurring on October 7, 1828, to William and Nancy (Berry) King, who were born in Sullivan County, Tenn., and were married in Dickson County, of the same State, their union resulting in the birth of eleven children -nine sons and two daughters-of which family six members are now living: Jonathan, William S., Newton J., Thomas J., Sidney A. and Mary I. (wife of Larkin McCarley). Those deceased are: Harney, James E., Benjamin D., Leander L. and Francis J. The father of these childen removed to Arkansas in 1836, and settled on a tract of land in Johnson County, which he improved greatly, and on which he resided until his death in 1861, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, his wife also belonging to that church, and dying in 1875, Jonathan King was married in Sullivan County, Tenn., April 11, 1850, to Miss Elizabeth A. Hall, born in Sullivan County, January 2, 1830, to S. D. and Jane (Stevens) Hall, who were born in Ten-
nessee, and became the parents of six children, tive now living: Elizabeth A. (Mrs. King), Hugh C. (deceased), Eleanor J. (wife of William Boy), James F., Samuel S., and Sarah R. (wife of N. P. Chedister). Mr. Hall died in Tennessee, in 1842, and his widow in 1888, both members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. King have eight children living: Eleanor F. (wife of John C. Burch), William S., Tennessee R. (wife of Samuel L. Southerland), Belvadurah E., J. L., James P., Sarah T., Nancy J. and Adeline E. (deceased). Mr. King was a soldier in the Confederate Army during the war, enlisting in the cavalry in 1862 under Col. Hill, and taking part in the battles of Little Missouri, Poison Springs, Mark's Mill and Pilot Knob. In the last named battle he received a gunshot wound in the right side of the head, the ball entering just back of the ear, and coming out at the cheek bone. He was paroled at Richmond, Va., April 28, 1865, immediately returned home and once more turned his attention to farming, be- ing now the owner of 260 acres of good land with 150 under cultivation, on which is an excellent young fruit orchard of apple and peach trees. In 1884 he built an excellent frame residence, and has it nicely finished both inside and out. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.