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 51
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in the spring of 1857, after which he went to La Fayette County, Ark., where he was engaged in the practice one year. In January, 1859, he located at Spadra, Ark., where he continued his practice, also building a cotton-gin and grist-mill. He sold his mill, after operating it four or five years, and purchased 150 acres of woodland, of which he now has 100 acres under cultivation, situated on Ar- kansas River, three miles southwest of Spadra. The Doctor was married May 6, 1863, to Miss Martha A. Maddox, a daughter of John G. Mad- dox. She was born in Georgia, and has borne her husband two children: Martha J. (born February 22, 1864), and John J. (born February 16, 1871), the latter being now a student in the Cumberland University of Lebanon, Tenn., from which he ex- pects to graduate. Dr. Montgomery is the oldest practicing physician of this county, and, as above stated, has been very successful. He was with the Federal recruits three months, stationed at Darda- nelle during the year 1864, under Col. Fuller, as a recruit. The Montgomerys are of Scotch de- scent, and their old homestead, in Sumner County, Tenn., is now in possession of the Doctor. The house is a two-story brick, with a cellar under- neath, 25x60 feet, and was built in 1804. It is said that Aaron Burr staid one night with Grand- father Montgomery in that house soon after it was built, and the old clock which the latter purchased in 1797 is still in the house and is a good time- keeper.
Robert R. Moreland is a prominent planter of Pittsburg Township, Johnson County, Ark., but his birth occurred in the Palmetto State on Sep- tember 17, 1833, to W. E. and Mariah (Stribling) Moreland, both of whom were born in the Old North State, in 1802 and 1806, respectively. They were united in marriage in South Carolina in 1824, and unto this union were born ten children-eight sons and two daughters-three of whom are now living: L. M., W. H. and Robert R. The chil- dren that are deceased are T. F., B. F., Thomas, J. C., A. J., Frances V. and Virginia. The father emigrated from South Carolina to Arkansas in 1834, and settled in this county where he entered land, also purchasing a tract, and made a large
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farm on which he lived, and made many valuable im- provements until his death in 1863, his widow pass- ing from life in 1880. The paternal great-grand- father emigrated from Ireland and his wife from Scotland, their union taking place in North Caro- lina. Of a family of five sons born to them, all served in the Rebel Army during the Rebellion, and all came through alive with the exception of A. J., who died of measles. In this county Mr. Moreland was married in 1857 to Miss Adelia Mad- din, by whom he became the father of four chil- dren, R. E. and J. D. being the only ones alive. T. B. and a child that was unnamed are deceased. Their mother died in 1867, having been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Robert R. Moreland was married to his second wife, Tennes- see Hogin, in 1868, she having been born in this State in 1839, to P. G. and Margaret Jackson. His second union has resulted in the birth of four children: Mary I., Lillie A., Ann and Maud (de- ceased). In 1861 Mr. Moreland became a member of Company B, Hill's regiment, and served until the close of the war, when he returned home, his time since then being occupied with farming. He was elected justice of the peace of this township in 1880, and has served faithfully and well ever since. He is the owner of 320 acres of good land with 150 under cultivation, on which is a good frame house, barns and other buildings. His orchard, consisting of apple, peach, pear and plum trees, is excellent, and he has also a good vineyard. He is, as was his worthy wife who died in 1882, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and he is strongly in favor of all public im- provement.
M. M. Nichols is one of the largest land owners of Johnson County, Ark., and in addition to this is the owner of an excellent mercantile establish- ment which brings him in a handsome income annu- ally. He was born on his father's plantation, in South Carolina, and when about seven years of age he was taken to Cass County, Ga., but his early scholastic opportunities were of the most meager description. After he had married, and when his children were old enough to enter a school, he had them review their lessons to him at night, and in this
way obtained sufficient education to enable him to successfully transact all his own business, both ag- ricultural and mercantile. He remained in Georgia until twenty three years old, at which time he left home and secured a position as overseer at the Choctaw Mission, at Fort Coffee, Ind. Ty., and this position he retained, at a good salary, for two years, at the end of which time he went to Law- rence County, Mo., where he worked for wages on a farm for one year. At the expiration of this time he came to Johnson County, and almost im- mediately, or in 1858, he purchased eighty acres of land on which he settled and which he cultivated until 1862, when he enlisted in Col. Hill's regi- ment of Arkansas Cavalry, and after Lee's sur- render he was discharged at Marshall, Tex., having participated in a number of engagements, among which were Oak Hill, Holly Springs, and many others of less importance. He was also in the commissary department for some time, and during his entire service did not receive a wound. At the close of the war he returned to Arkansas to find his farm laid waste-buildings torn down and burned, and hogs, of which he had 400 head when he entered the army, were slaughtered or driven off, nothing, in fact, was left but the bare land. He met his wife and two little ones at Roseville, and near that place he rented land for two years, then returned to improve his place, but instead sold it soon after and purchased the property on which he is at present residing. He again engaged in the stock business, but at the present time deals prin- cipally in horses and mules. He devotes but little attention to the culture of cotton, but corn receives considerable attention at his hands. He first pur- chased forty acres of this farm, but from time to time, as he was able, he added to it and now has 410 acres of as good farming and stock-raising land as there is in the township. His residence and all outbuildings are all excellent, and on this land he has also a good store building, in which is a stock of goods well calculated to meet the wants of the citizens hereabouts. Clover, timothy and red top grow luxuriantly on his place, and cotton could also be raised in paying quantities did Mr. Nichols so desire it. In 1887 he and his son
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opened a mercantile establishment at Coal Hill, consisting of a general stock of goods, but it is now conducted by his son-in-law, B. F. Pyron (see sketch). Although Mr. Nichols does not care to state what he considers the value of his property, it has been learned from other sources that $60,- 000 approximates very closely the amount. He was born on June 16, 1826, and was married December 15, 1858, to Miss Louisa J. Lee, daugh- ter of Russell Lee, of this county. They have four sons and four daughters: Manus M. (a phy- sician of Morrillton, Ark., married to Cynthia Hol- man, by whom he has two children), Amanda J. (wife of B. F. Pyron, of Coal Hill), George N., Elva I., James Malvin, Emily N., Margaret W. and William A. Mr. Nichols has given his chil- dren liberal educations, for he has often felt the need of a better knowledge of books, and decided that his children should not want in that respect. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has taken an active interest in the Sunday-school for years. He is treasurer in Spring Hill Lodge of the A. F. A. M., and in pol- ities is a firm Democrat, at all times supporting the measures of that party. He is a man who has always made the most of his opportunities and has at all times tried to raise something that was salable and wanted by the public. He says that no man is so far from market as the one that has nothing to sell, hence he has always tried to keep near some wide- awake and pushing town. He is a man who reads a great deal, is a deep thinker, and is accordingly one of the well-informed men of this section, his family, as well as himself, commanding respect from all. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Tusi- neur) Nichols, were South Carolinians by birth.
Joseph A. Nourse has for many years been fol- lowing the occupation of planting in Johnson County, but was born in Logan County, Ky., Sep- tember 15, 1828, to Ralph E. and Rebecca (Jenir- son) Nourse, they being born in Kentucky in 1800 and 1805, respectively. They were married on Blue-Grass soil, and to their union seven children were born, only two, Joseph A. and Alney, being now alive. Mr. Nourse settled on a farm in John- son County, Ark., in 1836, improving it in an ad-
mirable manner, and making it one of the most valuable pieces of property in this section of the country. He was called from the scene of his earthly labors in 1851, and his widow in 1882, both being worthy Christians, the former a member of the Presbyterian Church, and the latter a Baptist. Joseph A. Nourse was married in this county in 1852 to Miss Elizabeth Hamilton, a native of this county, born in 1833, a daughter of William Ham- ilton. Mr. Nourse and his wife are the parents of five children, but only two are now living: James and Walter A. William M., Georgiannah and Mamie are deceased. In 1864 he enlisted in the Confederate Cavalry during the Rebellion, but after he had served for six months peace was declared, and he once more returned to the peaceful pursuit of farming, and has since been thus occupied. By the sweat of his brow he has become the owner of 160 acres of good farming land, and the 100 acres which he has under cultivation he devotes to the raising of the cereals. His residence is substantial and commodious, his other buildings being like- wise, and near his residence is a good orchard of apple, peach, pear and plum trees, besides which he has an excellent vineyard. He and his wife are upright people in every respect, are worthy mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and are well known throughout this region as charitable and hospitable people.
Thomas B. Paine is a prominent pioneer settler of Lamar, Ark., but was born in Giles County, Tenn., January 9, 1825, to G. W. and Mary (Han- ners) Paine, who were born in North Carolina and Tennessee in 1801 and 1803, respectively, the former being a farmer and wagon-maker by occupation. They were married in Lincoln County, Tenn., in 1819, and of nine children born to them two are now living: T. B. and Francis M. The father served three years as judge of Union County, Ill., having moved to that State from Tennessee in 1833 and to Arkansas in 1844, settling in Johnson County, where the father passed from life in 1864, his widow following him to the grave in 1872, she being a member of the Hardshell Baptist Church. Thomas B. Paine was married in this county, Sep- tember 26, 1844, to Miss Ruth Houston, who was
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born in Shelby County, Ohio, October 28, 1824, a daughter of John M. and Ruth (Stroud) Houston, who were born in North Carolina and Georgia, May 26, 1787, and March 25, 1790, respectively, their marriage occurring in Dickson County, Tenn., in 180S, and resulting in the birth of twelve children, only two being now alive: Mrs. Paine and Robert. Mr. Houston was a tiller of the soil and in 1837 came to Arkansas, settling in Johnson County, where he died in 1861, having been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which his wife was also a member, her death occurring in 1858. To Mr. and Mrs. Paine nine children have been born, the following being alive: Louisa (wife of J. G. Blair), Bettie R. (wife of A. Er), Mattie C. (now postmistress of Lamar), and Harry L. ; John W., Thomas H., Robert V., Mary C. and Anna are deceased. Mr. Paine has been school commissioner ten years, constable six years, county judge one year, justice of the peace of his township six years, mail contractor eight years, and postmaster of La- mar four years. He owns 120 acres of good land with 100 under cultivation, on which are good buildings of all kinds. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and are worthy and honored citizens of this section. Mr. Paine's paternal grandfather, John Paine, was a first cousin of the noted Thomas Paine of Ten- nessee.
Thomas B. Patty (deceased) came to this county from Tennessee, when a small boy, and was here reared on a farm, his educational advantages in his youth being fair. He commenced life for himself as a poor boy, but by earnest and persist- ent endeavors he was the owner of a finely im- proved little farm of forty acres at the time of his second marriage in 1848. He was first married to Miss Rachel Courtney, who died leaving no issue, after which he wedded Miss Merilla A. Davis of Johnson County, Ark., but a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Severe and Margaret Davis, who were born in Tennessee and North Carolina, respectively. They came to this State and county, when Mrs. Patty was only two years of age, and here she attained womanhood and was given the advantages of the common schools. At
the time of her marriage she was seventeen years of age, and she has been actively employed on the farm ever since. After residing on their farm of forty acres until 1851, they sold out and bought the forty acres on which Mrs. Patty is now living, which they improved and added to until Mr. Patty, at the time of his demise, was the owner of 160 acres and had 75 acres under cultivation, improved with a good residence, barn and orchard. Mrs. Patty's son now resides with her and works a part of the farm, but all is under her direct control and supervision. She has shown that she is in every respect perfectly capable of succeess- fully managing her affairs, and is proving a good financier and a thorough business woman. She and her husband were happily mated, and were earnest members of the Baptist Church.
Judge J. B. Porter is recognized as a man of sound judgment and practical ability, and his practical sagacity, and keen insight into the mo- tives and methods of men, have been of great benefit to him in the different official capacities in which he has served. He was born in Johnson County, Ark., February 22, 1839, to Thomas B. and Mary (Covington) Porter, both of whom were born in Tennessee, where they were married. In 1836 they removed to Arkansas, and for a long time were engaged in farming in Johnson County, their family of six sons and three daughters (four born in Tennessee and five in Arkansas) be- ing as follows: Jane E., John W., Amanda T., Eliza, J. B., James C. C., Thomas B., William F. and Edmund L. The mother of these children died on October 20, 1858, and in October of the following year Mr. Porter married Mrs. Elizabeth Beluh, widow of Rainey Beluh, but he was so un- fortunate as to lose this wife also in May, of the following year. In March, 1861, a Mrs. Chauncey became his wife, but after a wedded life of five years she, too, passed away and was succeeded by Miss Phoebe Boyer as the wife of Mr. Porter. The latter died on December 24, 1883, being then seventy nine years of age, having lived on the place where he settled from October, 1836, until his death. His last union resulted in the birth of one child. Victory, wife of J. C. Payne, a farmer, by whom
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she has four children. They reside in Johnson County, Ark., and Mrs. Payne's mother lives with her. Judge J. B. Porter was the fifth one of the family, and was the first one born after the removal of his parents to Arkansas, he and three brothers and two sisters being the only ones of the family that are living. On January 5, 1860, the Judge was married to Miss Nancy C. Baskin, and to their union the following children were born: Mary E., Dora A., John T., William, James R., Augustus F., Una S., Guy C., Amy B., all of whom are single, but Mary, who married C. F. Ogilvie, a son of James Ogilvie. John T. is a clerk in Cravens & Cravens store at Hartman. Judge Porter is the owner of 150 acres of land, 60 of which are under cultivation, and besides this prop- erty has a half interest in a cotton-gin and grist- mill. In November, 1861, he enlisted in the Con- federate Army, becoming a member of Company C, First Arkansas, Mounted Rifles (Churchill's regiment), and prior to going east of the river in 1862, was in the fight at Pea Ridge, and afterward took part in nearly all the principal engagements in which the Army of Tennessee participated. He received a flesh wound at the battle of Frank- lin, Tenn., and soon after this was furloughed home. While there he was captured by the Fed- erals and was taken to Little Rock, where he was kept until June 10, 1865, reaching home on the 19th of the same month. He immediately engaged in farming, and in 1880 was elected connty judge, re-elected in 1884 and 1886, but prior to that had been justice of the peace for about eight years. In 1890 he was nominated on the Union Labor ticket for representative to the Legislature, but was defeated. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he is a free contributor to schools, churches and all pub- lic enterprises. He is an elder in his church, has been a school director for many years, and he is a man worthy of all honor and esteem, for, as above stated, he is upright in every worthy particular. He had two brothers killed in the Confederate Army, Thomas B., May, 1862, at Corinth, Miss .; James C. C., August, 1862, at Richmond, Ky.
James M. Prim, one of the early settlers of John-
son County, Lee Township, came to this country with his widowed mother when he was about twen- ty-four years of age, he being the eldest of her seven children. A large share of the support of this family devolved upon him at an early age, and after coming to this county and township in 1841, he began farming on rented land, but in a few years bought a tract of land, upon which he is now residing-200 acres, 80 acres of which are in a good state of improvement. In his youth he never received over sixteen days of schooling, but at odd times he picked up sufficient education to admit of his transacting the ordinary affairs of business. In 1842 he was elected to the position of justice of the peace, and in that capacity served for fourteen years, making a faithful and efficient officer. His marriage, which occurred in 1844, was to Miss Maranda Patty, a daughter of Eli and Rebecca Patty, natives of Tipton County, Tenn., who be- came the parents of ten children that grew to ma- turity. Mr. Prim was born on April 28, 181S, in Tennessee, near Nashville, but went with his father to Alabama, Limestone County, where he died about the time Mr. Prim was fourteen years of age, and although he has as a farmer, followed in his father's footsteps, he at one time gave some attention to wagon-making. His land, aside from that which he has under cultivation, is heavily covered with timber, and on the same are some valuable stone quarries. His crops are principally corn and cotton, and near his residence is a good bearing orchard. He and his wife have a family of five sons and three daughters, all of whom are married, but the two youngest sons who are still residing with their parents. The others are settled near the old homstead. Although Mr. Prim is seventy-two years of age he still cultivates a por- tion of his land, and he and his wife are well pre- served and in the enjoyment of good health. They are well pleased with their home in Arkansas, and desire no better place in which to pass their de. clining years.
F. M. Puckett is a man who has made his own way in life, and the property of which he is now the possessor has been earned by the sweat of his brow. He is a Tennesseean by birth, born in
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1845, a son of George and Nancy (Ishell) Puckett, they being also Tennesseeans, and he is one of a family of ten children born to them, eight of whom are now living: Caledonia (wife of Ed League), Francis M. (the subject of this sketch), Serena (wife of John Walker), Lafayette, Nancy (wife of John Burton), Pirteman, Lillie (wife of J. C. Cantwell), and Napoleon. In 1861 Mr. Puckett enlisted in Company F, Twenty-fifth Tennessee Infantry, and served the Confederate cause for four years. He was wounded on four different oc- casions: Mill Springs (where he was wounded in the left arm), Perryville, Murfreesboro (where he was wounded in the left arm near his former wound) and Chickamauga. He also took part in the engagements at Knoxville, Bean Station, and was in the Wilderness campaign until the surren- der at Appomattox Court House. In 1868 he came to Arkansas and settled on Little Piney, where he homesteaded eighty acres of land, upon which he cleared thirty-five acres and built a house, barn and other buildings. On selling out in 1880 he purchased the farm on which he is now living, which consists of 200 acres, and here he has made many valuable improvements in the way of clear- ing, seventy five acres being under cultivation, upon which he has built a good double house, out- buildings, fences, etc. About ten acres of his land are devoted to fruit, from which he has obtained about 7,500 bushels of fruit, principally peaches and apples. All his orchard has been grown from seed, and scions in the last four years. Corn yields about twenty-five bushels to the acre, and cotton one-half bale. Mr. Puckett has served four years as justice of the peace, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, he having been for many years a teacher in the Sunday-school. Mr. Puckett and his wife have four children: Serena, Mary, George and Betsey.
B. F. Pyron is the efficient general manager for the firm of Nichols & Son, dealers in general merchandise at Coal Hill, Johnson County Ark. He was born in the State of Mississippi, and was reared to manhood on a farm, his educational ad- vantages being quite limited, from the fact that for several years prior to his death Michael Pyron, his
father, was a cripple. He was the next to the youngest of the family, and it devolved upon him to support his mother, thus his school days were cut short. After his mother had passed to her long home he came to Arkansas with the idea of bettering his condition, and as his means were quite limited he rented and operated a farm for one year. At the end of this time he was married to Miss Amanda J. Nichols, a daughter of M. M. Nichols, senior member of the firm of Nichols & Son, and as Mrs. Pyron was a lady of fine education she assisted her husband in his studies, as he was very desirous of learning. At the end of a few years he was sufficiently posted to transact any ordinary mercantile business. After his marriage he con- tinued to rent land for one year, then purchased a claim which he improved by erecting a comfortable residence thereon, and clearing the land of its tim- ber. During the five years that be owned this property he had succeeded in clearing fifty acres of timber, but after disposing of it, he moved to Coal Hill, where he was appointed assistant post- master, and at the same time entered the mercantile business, by putting in a stock of groceries in the post-office building. After continuing in this bus- iness for about two and one-half years he sold his stock of goods and entered the employ of R. S. Davis as clerk in his general mercantile establish- ment. Here he remained for four months, at the end of which time he became general manager for Nichols & Son, of Coal Hill, a position he still fills in a very efficient manner and at a good salary. He has the utmost confidence of his employers and is what might be called a self-made man, in the fullest sense of the term. Mr. Pyron was born on March 6, 1859, and was one of twelve children born to his parents, all of whom are living with the exception of two sons, who were killed during the Rebellion. His marriage to Miss Nichols took place in October, 1SS0, and to their union three sons and one daughter have been born. Mr. Py- ron and his wife are members in good standing of the Primitive Baptist Church, and are ardent work- ers for all movements which they believe to be right, and have the respect and esteem of all who love the pleasure of their acquaintance.
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Thomas H. Reynolds. Not without justice is Mr. Reynolds conceded to be one of the pros- perous farmers of the county, for he is the owner of an excellent farm of 160 acres on Mulberry Mount, in Low Gap Township, this being one of the finest fruit regions in the world. The twenty- three acres that are under cultivation, are princi- pally devoted to the raising of fruit, and he has on exhibition this year some of the finest apples the State can produce. The Roman Beauties that he had on exhibition at the Fort Smith fair measured fifteen and one-half inches in circumference, his other exhibits being in proportion. He began at the stump to make his farm and has, by industry and economy, accumulated a comfortable compe- tency. He was born in this county in September, 1847, to William and Elizabeth (Baskin) Reynolds, both natives of Arkansas, their marriage taking place in Johnson County. The father was a farmer, and reared his sons to that occupation. The fam- ily born to himself and wife is as follows: Five sons and three daughters, three sons and one daughter being now alive, Thomas H. being the eldest of the family. His father died in 1864 and his mother the following year. The paternal grandfather was born in Tennessee, and at a very early day came to Arkansas, being pioneers of this section of the country, and among its most suc- cessful and substantial citizens. The maternal grandfather was born in Ireland. Thomas H. Reynolds was married in Arkansas, to a daughter of Blunt Wood of Johnson County, their union taking place in 1868, and to them twelve children have been born: Fanny E., William B., Abram N., Oscar L., Lou E., Altona, Millie M., Cora M., Ethel H., Ada E., and two that died in infancy unnamed. Fanny married George Moore, a farmer of this county. William B., Abram N., Oscar L. and Altona are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he is a liberal contributor to schools and churches, and to the welfare of the public.
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