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 52
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S. H. Robins is a planter, living in Pittsburg Township, Johnson County, Ark., but was born in Murray County, near Dalton, Ga., April 11, 1840,
to W. A. and Mary (Allred) Robins, who were born in Georgia, May 5, 1810, and in South Carolina, July 28, 1819, respectively, their marriage taking place in Hall County, Ga., and resulting in the birth of six children, four of whom are living: Sarah J. (wife of J. C. Bayley), S. H., W. E. and Mary L. (wife of J. P. Sebastian). Henry A. and Martha T. are deceased, the former dying at Hampton prison hospital, July 18, 1865, and the latter in early childhood. The father was a volun- teer in the Florida War, was a farmer and land trader, and died in Whitfield County, Ga., May 3, 1874, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and the Masonic order. His widow survives him, and is a resident of Texas, her home being with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Sebastian. She is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. S. H. Robins was principally edu- cated in the common schools of Georgia, and was married in Tilton, Whitfield County, of that State, October 21, 1866, to Miss Mary A. Osborn, a na- tive Tennesseean, born October 9, 1848, a daugh- ter of J. K. and Eleanor (Kinneman) Osborn, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respect- ively. Mr. and Mrs. Robins have two living chil- dren: Artho L. and Ettie. Edgar A., Olin K., Lula and Ella are deceased. In 1861 Mr. Robins left school, and enlisted in Company B, Phillips Legion of Georgia, Volunteer Infantry, and was under Gen. Floyd in the Sewel Mountain and Hawk's Nest campaigns, after which he was sent to the coast of South Carolina, soon to join Gen. Longstreet's corps in Virginia, and was in the bat- tles of Second Manassas, Boonsboro, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Brick Church, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Knoxville and the Wilderness. In the last named engagement he received a gunshot wound in the left knee. After seven months he rejoined his command, and was captured April 6, 1865, near Appomattox. He was then carried a prisoner of war to Newport News prison, and after two months he was sent to Hamp- ton, where he was finally released, July 19, of the same year. He then returned to his home, and embarked in the timber business in Tilton, Ga. He then finished his education, married, and emi-
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grated to Arkansas in 1872, and settled in John- son County, where he taught school two years, having followed that occupation in Georgia. He is the owner of 123 acres of land, with 50 un- der cultivation, a portion of which is underlaid with coal. He has a good house, outbuildings, three acres of orchard and four acres in fine meadow. He and Mrs. Robins are earnest mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The characteristics of the original Virginia stock seem to be well defined in posterity. They are of English-French and Irish blood, fearless and frank in speaking what they believe to be the truth, zeal- ous in any undertaking. None have been im- mensely rich, none have died extremely poor. It has been more their mission to build church and society than to acquire wealth. Few have been aspirants to office, many have filled important posts. The most prominent in State are of North Carolina, and the most prominent in church are of Georgia. Their political affiliations, have ever been Democratic; their religious creed is about equally divided between Methodist and Baptist. No matter what their employment, they love the farm and books, and after the age of sixty years the men die very suddenly, though they may live to be old. In youth agile, of medium weight, and will not sacrifice principle for friendship or popu- larity. Some of the same family spell their name with two b's, while the others prefer only one.
W. W. Rogers is a young gentleman who has rapidly and surely made his way to the front among the energetic business men of this community, and although only thirty-six years of age he has, by attending strictly to each minor detail of his call- ing, built up a trade that is second to none in this section. He was born in this county January 16, 1854, being one of fourteen children-six sons and eight daughters-born to Josiah and Harriet (Smith) Rogers, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Missouri, their marriage taking place in Arkansas. In 1861 they removed to Texas, where Mr. Rogers engaged in stock-raising, but in 1867 returned to Arkansas and settled in Johnson County (now Logan), where he bought a good farm on the Arkansas River and followed tilling the soil
until his death, which occurred in July, 1878, his wife's death occurring two years earlier. Mr. Rogers was captain of a company of Home Guards in Texas during the war, and was a man whose reputation during a long and varied career remained unblemished. W. W. Rogers was married Novem- ber 12,1874, to Miss Anna Truscott, a daughter of J. J. Truscott, of Illinois, and in time a family of six children gathered about their board: Arles A., Vera, Escur E., Durand D., Burus B. and Zeral Z. The eldest five are attending school near their home. During the years 1876-77 Mr. Rogers was in the mercantile business with Rogers & Hunt at Clarks- ville, and during this time they did a yearly busi- ness of $18,000 on a capital stock of $8,000. In the last named year Mr. Rogers sold out and became a traveling salesman for the firm of Scharff, Bern- heimer & Co., of St. Louis, Mo., remaining in their employ during the spring and summer of 1888. In September of that year he bought out the firm of A. A. Burleson & Co., at Hartman, the stock at that time being worth $1,500, has since increased it to $6,000, and is now doing a very prosperous business, in connection with which he also buys and ships cotton, and will in this year, in all prob- ability purchase from 350 to 400 bales. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he belongs to Palatine Com- mandry No. 7, of the A. F. & A. M., at Russellville. He is one of the county's most highly esteemed citizens, and as a business man has been exception- ally prosperous. His brother Emanuel is a clerk in his store, and besides this he has another brother and five sisters living.
William R. Rogers is a well-known and suc- cessful planter of Johnson County, Ark., and by hard work and good management has become the owner of a fertile farm of 320 acres, 200 acres being under cultivation, one-half of which is river bottom land and very fertile. On this land he also has a good cotton gin and grist-mill, the income from each being quite liberal. Mr. Rogers was born in this county on October 10, 1842, being a son of John and Elizabeth (Collier) Rogers, who were born in North Carolina and Dickson County, Tenn., October 4, 1805, and 1813, respectively,
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their marriage being consummated in Clarksville, Ark., in 1839. Five sons and two daughters were born to them: R. A., William R., John, Thomas H., Winfield S., Rebecca F. and Isabel. The mother of these children passed from life March 6, 1873, after which the father married Miss Salina Johnson, who had been previously married to William Collier, being at the time of her marriage to Mr. Rogers the widow of this gentleman, by whom she had become the mother of four children, two living: Rev. H. C. (a minister of the Christian Church, living in Sebastian County), and W. F. Collier (a farmer of Johnson County). Her union with Mr. Rogers was not blessed with any chil- dren, and of the latter's family only R. A., Will- iam R. and W. S. are living, the latter being mar- ried to Rutilla Tigart, of Logan County, where he is engaged in farming. R. A. was married in February, 1868, to Miss Elizabeth Rogers, a daughter of Josiah Rogers, of Logan County. He is the owner of 440 acres of land in Prairie Town- ship, Johnson County, but is employed as a clerk in the store of J. W. Mays of Clarksville, Ark. He and his wife have six children. William R. Rogers was married in 1887 to Mrs. M. J. Aggus, widow of Isaac Aggus, her maiden name being Alterson, and when she married Mr. Rogers she was the mother of two daughters: Mary and Mag- gie. She has one daughter by Mr. Rogers, Pearl. In July, 1862, Mr. Rogers enlisted in the Confed- erate Army, Company B, Col. Morgan's regiment, and did service in his own State altogether, a por- tion of the time being under Gen. Price and the rest of the time under Gen. Cabel. In July, 1865, he was discharged at Little Rock, after which he returned to Johnson County, where he resumed the occupation of farming. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and besides being a liberal contrib- utor to schools and churches he gives of his means to everything pertaining to the general welfare of Johnson County.
early education was received in Miami County, but in 1838 he came with his parents, David and Eliza (Carter) Ross, native Pennsylvanians, to Arkansas, and settled with them in Johnson County on the Little.Piney. From here he volunteered for serv- ice, in the Mexican War, but before being mustered into service received injuries which incapacitated him for duty. In 1847 he began farming for him- self, and as he had obtained an excellent start in life, he was married in 1854 to Miss Jane Love- lady, a native of Alabama, and a daughter of Joseph and Mary Lovelady, both native Missis- sippians. The same year of his marriage he went to California, where he was engaged in mining for four years, then returned to Arkan- sas, and purchased eighty acres of land from the Government, which he improved with buildings, and by clearing twenty-five acres. He then sold this property and purchased eighty acres on Big Piney in Pope County, but after he had erected thereon a good house and barn, and had cleared ten acres, he disposed of this also. He next made a purchase of 80 acres, and homesteaded 160 acres, upon which he cleared about 70 acres, fenced the entire tract, and erected new buildings of all kinds. His principal crops are corn, cotton, wheat and oats, and will average twenty bushels of the former, one half bale of the second, and average crops of wheat and oats. He also raises fruits in abund- ance. Not only is his farm a valuable one for agricultural purposes, but it is underlaid with coal, three different wells on the place showing veins from six to ten inches thick. Considerable of his attention is given to veterinary surgery, the study of this science being pursued under Prof. Flanni- gan, a graduate of that science. His practice ex- tends over four counties: Johnson, Pope, Logan and Van Buren, also a part of Conway, and in his practice he has been very successful. He served first in the Confederate Army during the Rebellion in Col. Lemoine's regiment, being in the battles of Fort Pillow and the Gunboats. His regiment was afterward disorganized, and he returned home, where he was captured by Hunter and pressed into the Federal service, in which he remained until
W. C. Ross is an Ohioan by birth and possess- es in an eminent degree the intelligence, pluck and perseverance characteristic of the natives of the Buckeye State. He was born in 1824, and his , the close of the war. He was wounded at Memphis
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and Farmersville. Of a family of six children born in his parents, he is the only one that sur- vives, four of the eight children born to himself and wife are living: J. U., J. B., Ellen (wife of Charles Vollever), and California (wife of John Boly).
A. J. Snelson. Among the representative farm- ers of the county none are more favorably known, or more highly respected for his many noble qualities of mind and heart than Mr. Snelson. He was born in Pope County, Ark., in 1862, to John and Cynthia (Davis) Snelson, both of whom were born in Ten- nessee, and came with their parents to Arkansas in an early day, their marriage taking place here in 1861. The father enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1862, was stricken with paralysis while on the march from Camden, left behind his command, and soon passed from life. After the war his widow married L. W. Pitts, of Johnson County, but a na- tive of Tennessee, and bore him ten children. The subject of this sketch was the only child born to his parents, and has always followed farming as an occupation; but in connection with this has also given his attention to teaching school for the past ten years, and is one of the successful and popular educators of the county. In February, 1885, he was married to Miss Frankie Laster, a daughter of Gen. Robert Laster of Johnson County, and by her has three children: Arthur, Airy Laster and Robert M. Mr. Snelson is the owner of one-half of the old homestead of Gen. Laster, his wife's father, the place being equally divided between his wife and her sister, who is the wife of J. M. McPherson, they being the only heirs of the General. The land of which Mr. Snelson is the owner comprises 128 acres, and on the 100 acres that are under cultivation, he raises cotton and corn. He is a wide awake and pushing gentleman, and has won a reputation for thoroughness that is second to none in the county. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and are liberal in the giving of their means to worthy causes.
F. G. Srygley is a member of the general mer- cantile firm of Srygley Bros., of Coal Hill, which company is also engaged in the real estate business.
Mr. Srygley was born in Alabama in 1847, and was the second of nine children born to J. H. and Sarah J. (Coats) Srygley, both of whom were born in Alabama, the father a farmer by occupation. He came to Arkansas in 1887, and now resides at Coal Hill. F. G. Srygley was reared on a farm, and after attaining his majority followed that oc- cupation for two years for himself, and in 1871 began merchandising at Falkville, Ala., and has been an active business man ever since. Since 1885 he has been a resident of Coal Hill, Ark., and is already identified with the interests of the place. His brother, F. D., came here at the same time as himself, but the firm when first established was Oden & Srygley. The gentlemen composing the firm erected a large store-house, 22x80 feet, and filled it with a large stock of general merchandise, which they began disposing of at such reasonable rates, and in such an honest manner that they now command a large trade. In January, 1890, Mr. Oden retired, and the firm now comprises the two above mentioned brothers also another brother. F. W. Srygley. Their stock of goods is valued at about $8,000, their annual sales amounting to $30,000. They own four good farms, and have about 150 acres of cleared and cultivated land. They also own Oden's addition to Coal Hill, origi- nally about 400 lots, but have sold 100 lots and still own the balance. They have erected many build- ings, some of which they have sold and some rent. F. G. Srygley was married in 1871 to Miss Susan L. Oden, a daughter of Elias Oden, of Alabama. To this union five children have been born: Leander, Edna, Dora, Della and Ethel. Mr. Srygley was called upon to mourn the death of his wife in April, 1890. He is a member of the Christian Church, as are also his eldest two children. He is a Mason and a member of the K. of P. He has been active in school work, and has been a school director at Coal Hill since his residence here.
J. S. Utley is the tenth child of eleven children born to his father and mother, Seth and Bathsheba (Woods) Utley, and first saw the light of day in Benton County, Tenn., in February, 1833, his parents being born in North Carolina and South Carolina, respectively. They were married in
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Tennessee, where they lived for a number of years, coming to Johnson County, Ark., in 1847, and here resided until their deaths in 1866. J. S. Utley was married to Luvenia A. Collier in 1868, she being a daughter of Jerry Collier, of Johnson County. A family of eleven children has been born to their union, and of the six sons and five daughters, one son and the four daughters are living: John W. (deceased), Seth (deceased), Thoma (de- ceased), Josie E., Lou V., Austin W. (deceased), Tha- lia B., Mary, Edna, and twins that died in infancy not named. In June, 1861, Mr. Utley enlisted in the Con- federate Army, in the First Battallion of Arkansas Cavalry, under Col. Brooks, and did service west of the Mississippi River, being in the fight at Wil- son Creek, where he saw Gen. Lyon after he was killed. He was also at Pea Ridge, Poison Springs and Jenkins' Ferry, and was discharged at Fulton, Ark., in June, 1865, after which he returned to his home in Johnson County, where he resumed his occupation of farming, and has followed that ever since, being now the owner of 160 acres of fine farming land, of which 100 acres are under culti- vation, this land being situated on the Arkansas River, at the mouth of Piney. He owns and operates the ferry across the mouth of Piney. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., and both he and his wife are members of the Missionary Bap- tist Church. He has been a citizen of Johnson County for forty-one years, and is one of the most prosperous men in this section, and extremely lib- eral in giving of his means to causes pertaining to the general welfare of the community.
William H. West has been following the occu- pation of merchandising at Coal Hill for some time, and by honest dealing with his patrons he has built up a patronage second to none in this section. He is a native of the county, born in 1853, being the fourth of six children born to Joshua and Eliza (Quire) West, who were born in Alabama, the father a farmer by occupation. He came to Ar- kansas early in 1850, and for a time resided in Franklin County, then settled in Johnson County and here died in the month of February, 1866, his widow still surviving him. William H. West was reared on the farm and after the death of his
father the management of the farm fell to him as he was the eldest son. In 1878 he opened a mer- cantile establishment at Coal Hill and although he at first kept groceries he later added a general stock of goods, and here in 1883 erected his large store building, 42x64 feet and has now in it a stock of goods worth $5, 000, his annual sales being large. He has erected and owns eighteen residences in town and his own home is handsome and commo- dious. He was married in 1878 to Miss Louisa McPherson, of this county, a daughter of Lewis A. McPherson, an old settler from Alabama. Mr. West is in every respect a self-made man, having made what property he now has by his own exer- tions. He has been one of the aldermen of Coal Hill for a long time, and in his political views is a stanch Democrat, supporting at all times the men and measures of that party.
W. A. Whitemore is one of the rising young business men of Coal Hill, Ark., and is progressive and enterprising in his views and industrious in his habits. He is the present efficient book-keeper for the firm of J. R. Brown, of this place. He was born in the city of Memphis, Tenn., Novem- ber 4, 1858, his early educational advantages being good, and in that place he resided until he attained man's estate. His father, J. P. S. Whitemore, held the commission of captain during the Rebell- ion, and died while serving the Confederate cause, having been a successful practicing physician while a civilian. His wife was a daughter of Abraham Smith, and upon the death of her husband was left with two children, both sons, the elder being W. A., and the younger, Edward S., who has a good property at Hartman, in this county. W. A. Whitemore began business for himself in 1876, in partnership with his brother, under the firm name of Whitemore Bros., but after a short time W. A. entered his grandfather's hotel as clerk, and later became collector in the Brownsville Sav- ings Bank; in 1879 he became a clerk in his grand- father's store in Memphis. May 20, 1880. he moved to Johnson County, Ark., and settled at Hartman, there being in the employ of J. D. Houston, then in railroad office, then in charge of A. B. Burleson's store, then with the Cravens &
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Co., where he remained for seven years, and in that time was twice appointed notary public. He next went to Coal Hill, where he entered the serv- ices of Mr. J. R. Brown in his present capacity as book-keeper. His marriage, which occurred on December 28, 1887, was to Miss Lois E. Oliver, and has resulted in the birth of two children, -a son and a daughter: Mary Lois and William Thomas. Mrs. Whitemore is a daughter of Prof. W. K. Oliver, of Hernando, Miss., and she as well as her husband is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Whitemore belongs to the K. of L., and is liberal in his support of churches, schools, etc. He has accumulated a good property near Hartman, of well-improved land. Mr. Whitemore's grandfather lived at Hart- man up to the time of his death, which occurred in his seventy-eighth year. He has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he held the position of presiding elder. The name of Rev. Z. H. Whitemore will long be re- membered throughout this section of the country, and he was also widely known in Tennessee. His wife is still a resident of the town of Coal Hill, and makes her home with her grandson, the sub- ject of this sketch. She was born in 1812 or 1813, but still retains the use of all her mental faculties. Mr. W. A. Whitemore became ac- quainted with his wife in Hartman, when she was a girl of twelve years. She afterward went back to her native State of Mississippi, where he entered Grenada College and afterward became one of the successful teachers of her county. About six years after her return to Mississippi, Mr. White- more visited her, and on his second visit, she came with him as his bride to Arkansas. Mr. White- more is the inventor of a shot and show case which was patented in 1889, and by the sale of territory he hopes to receive a good return for his labors. He is at present engaged in the hotel business at Coal Hill, being admirably assisted by his estimable and intelligent wife, who is a pleasant, accommodat- ing hostess. Mr. Whitemore is one of the wide- awake and progressive business men of the county.
Darius Willett has won his way to the front ranks among the energetic farmers of Johnson
County, and owing to the attention he has always paid to each minor detail of his work he has accu- mulated a fair share of this world's goods. He was born on Blue-Grass soil April 15, 1824, to Griffith and Rhoda (Styles) Willett, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of New Jersey. Darius Willett was reared to a farm life in his native county of Nelson, and although his advan- tages were quite limited, he yet obtained sufficient knowledge of the "world of books" to enable him to teach school. At the age of twenty-one years he began working for himself for wages, which life he continued until he was twenty-three years of age, at which time he went to the Lone Star State and engaged in farming and distilling. In 1862 he came to Lawrence County, Ark., where he purchased a farm of 300 acres, but upon this he resided for only eight months, when, on account of the unsettled state of the country he returned to Nelson County, Ky., where he re- mained during the remainder of the war. In 1865 he returned to his farm in Arkansas, and was actively engaged in its cultivation for twelve years, at the end of which time he sold out and came to Johnson County, settling on the farm where he is now living, one and one-half miles west of Clarks- ville, which now amounts to 241 acres of fertile and valuable land, 175 acres being improved with a good frame house, excellent barn and other necessary farm buildings, and is now making arrangements to erect a new barn in the spring of 1891. His principal crops are oats, corn and cot- ton, all of which can be raised in abundance, and he also has a small strip of tame-grass meadow which yields well, timothy and red top doing exceptionally well. Mr. Willett was born April 15, 1824, as above stated, and when twenty-eight years of age was married to Miss Mary A. Carter. of Marion County, Ky., who died about three years after her marriage, leaving two children: Mary Ann and Henry David. In 1863 Mr. Wil- lett's second marriage was consummated, his wife. Miss Virginia Kirlley, being a native of Taylor County, Ky. About four years after their mar- riage this wife also departed this life, leaving a son and daughter: Robert H. and Virginia. The third
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union was to Miss Mary Wadley, of Lawrence County, Ark., formerly of Tennessee, a daughter of Dr. D. S. Wadley. They have five children: Susan, Maggie, Lewis, Callie and Bascum. The family worship in Christ Church, in which Mr. Willett holds the office of elder. He has always been a man of progressive views, and is justly considered a man of sterling worth and strict integrity, striving at all times to " do as he would be done by."
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