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 56
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
Alexander S. Bennett, a prominent citizen of Roseville Township, was born in Bradley County, Tenn., August 20, 1845, and is the son of Henry K. and Mary A. (McDonough) Bennett, the father a farmer by occupation. Alexander S. was trained
to farm labor from an early age and received his education in the common country schools. He re- mained under the parental roof until sixteen years of age (1861) and then enlisted in Company B, Sixth Georgia Regiment Infantry, and served until the close. He was paroled at Greenville, N. C., after which he returned to his father's home in Georgia, whither the latter had moved in 1857, and there attended school for one year. After this he worked on the farm until 1869, and then came to Arkansas, locating in Roseville Town- ship, which has been his home until the present. On his arrival here he rented land for two years and then clerked in a general merchandise store for James Sewell until 1875. The same year he entered into partnership with C. F. Wood, and they bought out the business of Mr. Sewell, his former employer. After continuing this business for two years, Mr. Bennett sold out his interest and again engaged as clerk for Mr. Sewell, who had again established himself in business. Here he worked for two years. He then began clerking for S. M. Quinn, of Paris, and became general manager of his general merchandise store at that place, continuing one year. He then returned to Roseville and entered business in the firm name of A. S. Bennett & Co., and thus continued for three years, or until the close of 1882. At that date he sold out, entered the service of C. F. Wood at Caulksville, this county, and acted as general man- ager in his store for a year. Previous to this, in 1874, he was married to Miss Emma Wood, of Roseville, and they have two children: Mary W. and Joseph D., both of whom are attending the public schools of Roseville. In 1877 Mr. Bennett purchased a tract of land containing 200 acres lying near the village of Roseville, and of this he has 110 acres under a good state of cultivation, three good dwelling-houses on it, substantial out- buildings, etc. On October 1, 1889, he entered the employ of the railroad company as their agent at Roseville as receiving and forwarding agent from this place to Altus, the nearest point on the road. Mr. Bennett and his wife are deeply inter- ested in educational matters, and are determined that their children shall have the best that is to
2)
339
LOGAN COUNTY.
be obtained. The daughter has attended the Paris High School, and both the son and daughter are receiving instruction in music. Mr. Bennett has been a member of the school board at Roseville since his first arrival in this county. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Bennett is secretary of the board in this conference. He has also been steward in the church for some time. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Roseville Lodge No. 83, and in poli- tics is Democratic. He is one of the best business men of the place as well as one of the most re spected citizens.
W. R. Bevens, groceryman, Booneville, Ark. The grocery trade constitutes a leading feature of the commercial fabric of the town of Booneville, being extensively engaged in, and conducted with ability and success. Prominent among those iden- tified with it is Mr. W. R. Bevens. This gentle- man was born in Fulton County, Ark., June 17, 1851, and was one of four children born to Andrew and Mary (James) Bevens, the father a farmer by occupation. The father and mother both died in Missouri, in 1856, on the same day, and of pneu- monia. They were buried in the same coffin. Of their four children, only one besides our subject is now living, Hester (wife of James A. Dibel). Those deceased were James and Houston. The maternal grandfather, James S. James, came to Arkansas in 1849, and brought our subject with him, when the latter was but a small boy. W. R. was reared to the arduous duties of the farm, and was married in Jackson County, of this State, in 1873, to Miss Jen- nie Patrick, who bore him nine children, four now living: Latha, Oscar M., Boswell M. and Chand- ler. Those deceased were Hattie, Luther, Archie C., Nellie, and one died unnamed. Mr. Bevens owns forty acres of well-improved land, and is one of the thrifty, enterprising men of the county. In 1888 he engaged in the grocery business, and this he has since followed successfully. He is upright and honorable in his dealings, and has achieved by positive merit a high position.
George W. Biggs, farmer, Paris, Ark. Lo- cated in the midst of one of the finest agricultural portions of Logan County, the farm that Mr.
Biggs owns and occupies is conceded to be among the best in this vicinity. This is saying not a lit- tle, for on every hand may be seen superior places, whose ownership indicates thrift and prosperity. Mr. Biggs inherits his natural ability for agricult- ural pursuits, for his father before him followed that calling, and is prosperous and progressive. The parents, Preston and Priscilla (Betts) Biggs, were both born in Jefferson County, Tenn., and there they grew to mature years. They were mar- ried, however, in Hamilton County, and the fruits of this union were seven children-six sons and a daughter. The parents removed from Tennessee to Logan County, Ark., in 1870, bought land, and there the father tilled the soil. He is still living and engaged in the same pursuit. The mother died on January 22, 1887. George W. Biggs, the eldest of the family, was born in Hamilton County, Tenn., in February, 1848, and when twenty years of age was married to Miss Mary E. Barbee, daughter of Lewis Barbee, of Tennessee. She was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., but reared in Hamilton County, where she remained until 1870, when Mr. Biggs removed to Arkansas. He located on land bought in Logan County, and is the owner of 160 acres with 100 acres under cultivation. His union resulted in the birth of eleven children: Sarah J., Louisa C., William S., Mary E., Calvin A., Tilden, Martha (died in November, 1887), George W., Ader M., James S. and Benjamin. Sarah married John S. Storts, a farmer, and they have two children, viz. : Arla May and Delmer D. Lonisa C. married Thomas Wear, a farmer, and they have an infant son. Mr. Biggs is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and he and wife are both members of the Baptist Church. He gives liberally of his means to schools, churches and everything pertaining to the general welfare of the community, and is one of Logan County's most highly respected and successful farmers.
M. J. Bowers, postmaster at Paris, Logan County, Ark., and a representative citizen of the same, was born in Johnson County, of this State, in 1853, and of the seven children born to his parents, he was next to the youngest in order of birth. His father, William Bowers, was a native
340
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
of the Old Dominion, and was a farmer by pursuit. He came to Arkansas at an early day, and was married in Newton County, to Mrs. Sabary Barnes, nee Christy, a native of Tennessee, who came to Arkansas in 1835. She was a widow, and the mother of two children by her first marriage, she being a descendant from Cherokee Indians. The family moved to Johnson County, Ark., about 1845, and there the father died when M. J. Bowers was a small child. The latter was reared by an elder sister, after the death of his mother in 1862, who moved to Logan County, Ark., in 1838. He was well educated in the common schools of the county, and in 1874 entered the high school at Magazine, where he remained for three years. Then in connection with farming, he began teach- ing school and continued at this until 1886. In 1887 and 1888 he was deputy sheriff of the county, and for two years he was half owner and manager of the Paris Serpent, which he made a vigorous Republican paper. On July 25, 1889, he was ap- pointed postmaster at Paris. He was married in 1877, to Miss Ellen S. Anderson, a native of this State and county, and a daughter of Capt. C. P. Anderson, of Magazine. This union resulted in the birth of seven children: Etta, Lillie June, Ezra James and Ellen Edna (twins), Charles Den- nis, Freda May and Powell Clayton. Mr. Bowers owns a farm adjoining the town of Paris, in which he resides, and he is one of the county's best citi- zens. He is a member of the Paul McCobb Lodge No. 65, K. of P.
Henry P. Bowerman, merchant, Booneville, Ark. Among the names which have acquired prominence on the wings of Booneville's prosperity, is that of the subject of this sketch, who is one of the prominent business men. He was born in the Lone Star State, Hunt County, in May, 1850, and was the son of J. P. and Matilda M. (Grady) Bow- erman, the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of Marshall County, Ky. The parents were married in Kentucky, in 1842, and the fruits of this union were ten children-six sons and four daughters-the daughters all deceased, two dying in Texas, one in Kentucky, and one in Arkansas. The names of the six sons, in order of birth, are as
follows: John J., William H., Henry P., David L., Elijah F. and Peter Lee., all now living. The parents removed from Tennessee to Kentucky at an early day, and from there to Texas, in 1847. In 1866 they moved from the last named State to Sebastian County, Ark., and the father died in Logan County, of that State, in 1886. The mother died in Fannin County, Tex., in 1889. When eighteen years of age Henry P. Bowerman started out for himself as a farmer and blacksmith, and in 1871 was married to Miss Maggie Meek, daughter of John S. and Naomi Meek, of Sebastian County, where our subject and wife were married. To this union were born ten children: Mary E., Sarah T., Ellen S., Alice J., Ida A., William H., James L., Mittie Lee, Bessie Pearl and Amos B., all single and living with their parents. Mr. Bower- man is the owner of residence property in Boone- ville, worth about $300, and he is now engaged in merchandising in that city, carrying a stock of goods valued at about $1,200. He is also a har- ness and saddle-maker by trade, and runs this in connection with his store. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 247, and he and wife are both members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He has always been a liberal contributor to schools, churches and all laudable public enter- prises.
H. C. Brown, farmer and carpenter, Paris, Ark. Mr. Brown, a man well known and highly esteemed in the community where he makes his home, was originally from Georgia, his birth occurring in that State in 1854. His father, Danason Brown, was born in the Palmetto State, and the mother was born in Georgia. H. C. Brown received his early educational training in his native State, and in 1869 he moved to Mississippi. At the age of twenty-one years he began for himself as a tiller of the soil, and this he continued until 1879, when he removed to Paris, Ark., and there was engaged in the carpenter business. From there he removed to Waldrop, Scott County, where he continued the last named occupation for about four years. Returning to Paris in 1885, he remained there until 1889, and was one of the prominent citizens of that community. In 1876 he was married to
05.131
341
LOGAN COUNTY.
Miss Susan Raybury, by whom he had three chil- dren: Viola, John H. H. and Ethel. Mrs. Brown died in 1887, and Mr. Brown was married the sec- ond time, in 1889, to Mrs. Martha Mcveigh, a na- tive of Georgia, and daughter of B. T. Freeman, who was a native of Georgia. Mr. Freeman was an ex-lieutenant in the Confederate Army, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He died on February 21, 1873. His wife, Jane (Whitlock) Freeman, was a native of South Carolina. She died on September 30, 1875. Mrs. Brown's first marriage occurred in 1877 to Mr. J. B. Mcveigh, a native of Arkansas, by whom she had four chil- dren, only one, Addie M., now living. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church South, and he is also a member of the Farmer's Alliance, but has never affiliated with any other secret organization. His father, Danason Brown, with his wife, Mary Brown, are yet living in La Fayette County, Miss., the former a member of the Masonic fraternity, and both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Rev. William Bunch, a pioneer planter living ing Boone Township, was born in Dickson County, Tenn., on November 14, 1817, and is one of the honored and esteemed citizens. His father, Tarle- ton Bunch, was a native of Virginia, born in 1783, and he was married in South Carolina to Miss Mary Beaver, a native of South Carolina also born in 1783. Six children were the fruits of this union, one besides our subject now living: Mary who was born in Perry County, Tenn., April 23, 1820, and who is the wife of James Simons. The father was a farmer by occupation and also carried on the blacksmith's trade. He died in Tennessee on August 26, 1852. He was a member of the Bap- tist Church for forty years, as was also the mother whose death occurred on September 10, of the same year. William Bunch was principally reared on a farm, and in 1843 he began learning the tan ner's trade, which he continued to follow until 1857. He was married in Decatur County, Tenn., in 1838, to Miss Jane Mays, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter of Abraham and Rebecca (Rhodes) Mays. Of the ten children born to that union seven are now living: Susan, Nancy J. Mary E., Julian,
Martha I., William H. and David H. Those de- ceased were Louvicy J., Tennessee and George A. The mother of these children died November 7, 1862, she was a member of the Baptist Church. On April 30, 1865, Mr. Bunch was married in Hop- kins County, Tex., to Miss Mary E. Eledge, a na- tive of Cannon County, Tenn., born in 1838, and the result of this union was five children: Isaac S. J., Catherine P., Lucy A., Joseph E. J. and Eliza (deceased). Mr. Bunch has been a Baptist minister since December 19, 1859. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, Sugar Creek Lodge No. 205, and is a liberal and willing contributor to all movements of importance. He is the owner of 320 acres of good land, with 183 acres under cul- tivation. He emigrated from Tennessee to Arkan- sas in 1857, settled in this county, and here he has resided ever since, respected and esteemed by all. He is now a member of the National Farmers' Al- liance at Glendale, Boone Township, Logan County, and, although over seventy-three years of age, is enjoying comparatively good health.
Rev. Sterling Burton, farmer, Chismville, Ark. Mr. Burton owes his nativity to Tennessee, his birth occurring in that State in 1832, and is a son of Squire and Rebecca (Roy) Burton, natives also of that State. The parents moved to Arkansas in 1852, and there passed the remainder of their days. Sterling Burton was reared in Tennessee, and received a rather limited education in the com- mon schools. In 1851 he began farming for him- self, and that he has made a success of this occu- pation is not for a moment to be doubted, when a glance is cast over his fine tract of land. He en- listed at the breaking out of the war, and was in service until peace was declared, at which time he found himself without means to start again. How- ever he was not discouraged, and went to work with renewed vigor, meeting with the success usually following hard and persistent efforts. He was united in marriage to Miss Lillie A. Weaver, a na- tive of Arkansas, in 1866, and to this union were born the following children: Charles, John, Fran- cis A., Rebecca J., Sarah R., Eugene, Price, Rob- ert L. and Ida. Mr. Burton has affiliated with the Democratic party ever since he first commenced
342
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
to vote, and is a strong adherent to the principles of that party. He and Mrs. Burton are members of the Church of Christ.
Dr. W. H. Butler, physician, Paris, Ark. One of the most familiar and welcome faces in the home of the sick and ailing of Logan County is that of Dr. Butler, who administers to the physical wants of his fellow-man, in a highly satisfactory and suc- cessful manner, as his many patients, now living, can testify. The Doctor was born in Henderson County, Tenn., in 1829, and was the fourth in a family of eleven children born to Henry and Fran- ces Hopkins (Webb) Butler, the parents natives, respectively, of Tennessee and Virginia. The pa- ternal grandparents were of English-German de- scent, and the maternal grandparents were natives of the Old Dominion and of English descent. Henry Butler, father of subject, was a farmer, and resided in Tennessee until his death, in 1845. The mother received her final summons in 1871. Her people were among the oldest settlers of Ruther- ford County, Tenn. Both parents were members of the Primitive Baptist Church. It fell to Dr. Butler's lot to grow up with a farm experience, and his early education was received in the common schools. At the age of twenty-four years he was elected bailiff of his county, and served for five years in that capacity. In 1858 he began mer- chandising, continued this for one year, and then began the study of medicine, reading with some of the prominent physicians. He began practicing at Camden, Tenn., in 1862, in partnership with Dr. R. B. Travis, continued with him for a year, and then went to Kentucky, thence to Illinois, where he remained until October, 1868, graduated in the the medical department, University of Nashville, in 1869, then went back to Gibson County, and from there to Arkansas, locating in Logan County, at Ellsworth. He bought 180 acres of land, and farmed in connection with his practice; moved to Paris the spring of 1887, and is owner of property near this town. He was married in 1855 to Miss Susan J. Todd, of Tennessee, who died on May 12, 1856. His second marriage was to Miss Amanda A., daughter of Silas Travis, of Tennes- see. She died in 1868, leaving three children:
Lilly Irene, Flora Jane and Frances Josephine, all deceased. In 1869 Dr. Butler was married to Miss Louisa A. Walker, of Gibson County, Tenn., and twelve children were born to this union, four of whom are living: Sarah T., Susan Diana, Mar- tha Morton and Benjamin C. Eight died in in- fancy. The family are members of the Primitive Baptist Church, in which the Doctor is an elder. His farm is good valley land, with eighty acres under cultivation, six acres in strawberries, two acres in vineyard, and two acres in apples. He has cleared and improved his place, and now has one of the best homes in the county.
Edmond G. Butler, planter and nurseryman, Paris, Ark. Mr. Butler was born on July 21, 1839, in Tennessee, and is the son of Henry T. and Frances (Webb) Butler, the former a native of Vir- ginia and the latter of North Carolina. The par- ents were married in Georgia, and to this union were born eleven children-five sons and six daugh- ters-four of whom are now living: Martha (wife of Robert Taylor), Tabitha, William H., and Ed- mond G., who is the youngest. The father died in Tennessee in 1845, and the mother died in 1871. Both were members of the Baptist Church. Ed- mond G. Butler was reared in his native State, and in 1864 was united in marriage to Miss Diana Sturdivant, who was also from Tennessee, her birth occurring in that State in 1842. Her parents, Jesse and Elizabeth (Smith) Sturdivant, were na- tives of North Carolina and Georgia, respectively. The father is now living in Paris, Logan County, Ark., but the mother died a number of years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Butler were born fourteen children-six sons and eight daughters-seven now living: Johanna (wife of S. R. Rodgers), Alice (wife of J. D. Hays), Francis, Eunice, Donna, Albert and Jesse. Those deceased were Thomas, Joseph, Edmond, Laura, Cleveland, Ruth, and one died in infancy. Mr. Butler was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in Company H, Twenty-seventh Regiment Infantry in 1861, and serving until 1864. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Shiloh, re- tained in St. Louis for three months, and was then permitted to go home. He never returned to the army. After the war he followed farming until
343
LOGAN COUNTY.
1885, when he embarked in the nursery business. He moved from Tennessee to Arkansas, and in 1872 settled in Lawrence County, where he re- mained until 1873, at which date he came to Logan County, farming until 1885. He moved to Short Mountain in December, 1886, and continued the nursery business, and has nine and one-half acres in all kinds of fruit. He is the owner of 460 acres of good land, and has 280 acres of this under cul- tivation. He has been school director six years. Mrs. Butler is a member of the Christian Church.
Hon. Jacob Buttram, farmer, Sugar Grove, Ark. Mr. Buttram is one of the representative men of the county and is thoroughgoing and progressive in his ideas. He was born in Tennessee in 1825, and in 1848 started out to fight life's battles for himself as an agriculturist. The following year he was wedded to Miss Josephine Wilson, a native of Tennessee, born in 1826, and the daughter of George Wilson. The same year of his marriage Mr. Buttram removed to Scott County (now Logan) and bought eighty acres of land, to which he has since added until he now has 320 acres, 140 acres of which are under cultivation. Upon this he has erected six houses, dug wells, planted several or- chards and made many and vast improvements. To his marriage have been born eight children, only one of whom is now living: Margaret (wife of James Henderson). In 1863 Mr. Buttram was elected representative of Scott County, which office he held until the close of the war. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, Sugar Creek Lodge No. 205. He was made a Master Mason in Boone- ville Lodge in 1859, and was one of the charter members of Sugar Creek Lodge in 1868, being worshipful master of the same for twelve years. In 1878 Mrs. Buttram's death occurred. She was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In 1879 Mr. Buttram took for his second wife Mrs. Emma R. (Barnett) Logan, who was born in Alabama in 1842, and who is the daughter of Thomas and Nancy Barnett. Her first husband was James Logan, Jr., and by him she had one child, a daughter, J. E. Logan, who was born in 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Buttram were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. About
1868 Mr. Buttram erected a gin run by horse- power, but this was afterward changed to a steam gin, which he conducted until 1878. He secured the first post-office in Petit Jean Township, and was appointed the first postmaster, which office he held for about six years. This office took its name from the fine grove of sugar maple trees in the yard of Mr. Buttram. This gentleman has always been a liberal contributor to all public enterprises, was in- strumental in building two churches, schools, halls and other public buildings. In order to secure a trading point in the valley of Petit Jean, Mr. But- tram gave forty acres, in the year 1884, for the purpose of laying off a town, the nearest point at which goods of any kind could be bought being at Magazine, eight miles distant. Four stores now supply the wants of the people in the vicinity of Sugar Grove, as the little town is now called. Mr. Buttram has been steward in the Methodist Epis- copal Church South for thirty years, and is a man well and favorably known all over the county. His parents, Noah and Ann (Huffaker) Buttram, were both natives of Kentucky, in which State they were married, and the father was a successful tiller of the soil.
C. A. Callan, farmer and postmaster, Dela- ware, Ark. Mr. Callan, who is classed among the successful and enterprising citizens of Logan County, owes his nativity to Alabama, born in in 1845, and is the son of George A. and Matilda (Davis) Callan. Our subject started out to fight life's battles for himself in 1867, and in that year, was married to Miss Elvira Johnson, a native of North Carolina, born in 1843, and the daughter of Robert A. and Nelvina Johnson. To Mr. and Mrs. Callan were born seven interesting children, viz. : Cicero A., Eugene, Matilda, Venia, Sarah, Caley and Albert. The mother of these children died in 1886. In 1869 Mr. Callan bought forty acres of land and afterward added, at one time sixty- five acres and at another twenty acres of railroad land, improving the whole tract by clearing fifty acres and fencing. His buildings are all of a first-class order, and he has about six acres in or- chard. He has also erected a good house, barn, etc., for his tenants. His land will yield two-
344
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
thirds to three-fourths of a bale of cotton, or thirty-five to fifty bushels of corn to the acre. Mr. Callan was appointed postmaster in 1873, and he has continued to discharge the duties incumbent on this office ever since. Under his management the business has increased to over four times what it was when Mr. Callan first took charge of the of- fice, receiving now, at each mail, about forty pounds. During the late struggle between the North and South, his sympathies were with the Confederate Cause and he enlisted in Company D, Col. Hill's regiment Cavalry, serving from 1863 until the close of the war. He was in the battle of Mark's Mill, Poison Springs, and many minor en- gagements. During 1878 and 1879 Mr. Callan served as constable, and filled that position in a very satisfactory manner. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In Novem- ber, 1889, Mr. Callan was married to Miss Annie McAllister, a native of Arkansas, born in 1865, and daughter of Larkin L. and Ninerva McAllister. She is a member of the Missionary Baptist 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.