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 57
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Dr. T. S. Cope, merchant, Driggs, Ark. Dr. T. S. Cope has been a resident of Logan County, Ark., since 1880, and not only enjoys an excellent reputation as a business man, but is held in high esteem as a citizen. He is straightforward and up- right in all his dealings, and his motto is "Honor- able representations and fair treatment to all." Dr. Cope owes his nativity to Franklin County, Tenn., born in 1844, and his parents, John and Jane (Sargent) Cope, were natives of Kentucky, where they were reared. They moved from the Blue-Grass regions of Kentucky to Tennessee, re- sided there for a number of years, and then re- moved to Montgomery County, Mo., in 1849. There the father's death occurred in 1852 and the mother's in 1883. Dr. T. S. Cope chose Miss S. A. Bur- nett, daughter of John Burnett, a farmer of this county, as his life companion and they were mar: ried in 1879. One child, T. A. Cope, was born to this union. In 1880 they removed from Osage County, Mo., to Logan County, Ark., and here Dr. Cope engaged in the practice of medicine, con- tinuing the same up to 1889, when he abandoned his practice to engage in merchandising. He has
a good stock of dry goods and groceries, also cloth- ing, and is postmaster, the post-office being in his store. He handles a $5,000 stock, and is doing a good business. Aside from this he is the owner of forty acres of land with good buildings, etc., and besides his store building and residence he is the owner of three lots in Driggs and property in Burnett Springs, the summer resort on the top of Flattop Mountain. He is the only one of his family now in Arkansas, as his brothers and sisters are all in Missouri. Dr. Cope is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife are members of the Free-Will Baptist Church. The Doctor is a liberal contributor to schools, churches, and in fact all worthy movements.
S. T. Carolan, planter and merchant, Carolan, Ark. This prominent and enterprising citizen was originally from Alabama, his birth occurring in Lawrence County on January 19, 1852, and is a son of W. P. and Hannah A. (Sealey) Carolan, na- tives of South Carolina, the father born on March 18, 1800, and the mother in 1807. Of their large family, eleven only lived to be grown: Will- iam B., J. H. T., S. T., and the following are now deceased: Phillip, J. H., Elizabeth, Sarah, J. W., Thomas P., Hannah S. and Robert. The father moved from the Palmetto State to Alabama, and from there to Arkansas in 1854, settling in what is now Little River County. He was sheriff of Morgan County, Ala., one term. His death oc- curred in this county in 1875, and both he and wife were members of the Primitive Baptist Church. She died in 1877. S. T. Carolan passed the principal part of his youthful days on the farm, and was married in this county in 1874 to Miss Alice Edwards, a native of Mississippi born on September 24, 1852, and the daughter of Lewis Edwards. Her parents both died in Alabama. To Mr. and Mrs. Carolan were born four children- three sons and one daughter-Walter E., John W., Samuel E. and Mamie. Mr. Carolan owns 730 acres of good land, and has 300 acres under culti- vation, his principal crops being corn and cotton. In 1878 he built a steam cotton-gin, and in 1SS9 he built a new gin and corn-mill, in which he has put new machinery. The capacity of this gin is
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eight bales per day. He also has a half interest in a cotton, saw and corn-mill combined with a Mr. Oliver, of this county. In 1877 Mr. Carolan em- barked in the mercantile business at Carolan, and carries a stock of goods valued at about $4,000. He was appointed postmaster in 1878. Mrs. Car- olan is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
J. C. Catner, farmer and merchant, Chismville, Ark. Owing to the fertility of the soil in Logan County, Ark., and by energy, industry and economy Mr. Catner has become one of the wealthy citizens of the county. He was born in Hot Springs Coun- ty, Ark., on April 22, 1846, and is the son of Mor- rison and Malinda (McCoal) Catner, natives of Illi- nois. The parents were married in Hot Springs County, and to their union were born eight chil- dren-six sons and two daughters-who are named in the order of their birth as follows: William, Joseph, Morrison, J. C., Malinda, Grant, and the other two died in infancy. The parents removed from Hot Springs to Logan County, Ark., in 1848, and there they reside at the present time. Of the above-mentioned children J. C. Catner is the eldest now living. In 1864 he enlisted in the United States Army, Company I, Second Arkansas Cavalry as a private, and served until peace was declared. He then returned to his home in Logan County, engaged in tilling the soil, and was married in 1868 to Miss M. E. Stanley, daughter of G. W. C. and Adaline (Hudson) Stanley. Their eight children are named as follows: Georgian, Antonia, Mary, Sallie B. and Sydney B. (twins), James, Maret and Maset (twins). Georgian married V. L. Estes, a merchant of Greenwood, Sebastian County. Mr. Catner is the owner of 1,300 acres of land in Lo- gan County, and has about 400 acres under culti- vation. He has also been occupied in merchandis- ing at Chismville, where he has a stock of general merchandise worth $6,000, and he has a store at Greenwood. He does an annual business of about $30,000 at the first mentioned place, and he is also doing an immense business at Greenwood. He is one of Logan County's most successful business men and highly respected citizens. He is one among the heaviest dealers in the county. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He|
lost his wife in January, 1884, and in 1889 was married to Miss Laura Baker, daughter of James Baker.
Benjamin H. Caulk, farmer, Caulksville, Ark. In all communities and in every condition of life there are those who succeed in whatever they undertake, whether of a professional, agricultural or commercial nature, and among this class is Mr. Caulk, who is one of the progressive and substan- tial farmers of the county. He is the owner of 190 acres of land, and has 100 acres under cultiva- tion, all the result of his own industry and perse- verance. He is a native of this county, born in 1833, and is the son of George and Nancy (Fort) Caulk, probably natives of Missouri. They moved from New Madrid, Mo., to what is now called Logan County, Ark., at a very early period and before the State was admitted into the Union. In 1834 they removed from Arkansas to Missis- sippi, and there the father died two years later. After this his widow returned to Logan County, Ark., with her children (1838), and there received her final summons in 1848. Of the seven children born to his parents-four sons and three daughters -Benjamin H. was the youngest in order of birth. He was married in September, 1859, to Miss Martha Davis, daughter of Ned Davis, and one child, a boy named George, was the only issue of this union. Mrs. Caulk died in January, 1861. The following year Mr. Caulk enlisted in the Con- federate Army in Capt. Tittsworth's company, under Maj. Gibson, and was in active duty west of the Mississippi. The principal battles in which he took an active part were Poison Springs and the Mark's Mill fight. He surrendered with Col. Bryant near old Fort Wichita in the Chickasaw Nation, after which he returned to his home in Logan County, resumed farming, and this has been his principal occupation since. He was mar- ried, the second time, in 1870, to Miss Nancy A. Ledgewood, daughter of Lansom Ledgewood, and to them have been born seven children-four daughters and three sons: Minnie Lee, Martha L., Robert, Hattie, Adaline, Archie and one child died in infancy. Minnie married Irk Riley in 1888, and they are now residing in Logan County,
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where Mr. Riley is engaged in tilling the soil. George, the son by the first wife, married Miss Louisa Carpenter, daughter of Owen Carpenter, and they have three children. He is also engaged in tilling the soil. Robert Caulks, brother of the subject, founded the town of Caulksville, and was the first to begin work in the place. The Caulks family being the oldest settlers in the county, the town was named for them. Our subject being reared in Logan County during its pioneer days, his educational facilities were not of the best, but this he has improved very materially by study and observation. In educational and all other worthy movements he takes great interest. He is a mem- ber of the A. F. & A. M.
Thomas Cauthron, planter and ginner, Boone- ville, Ark. Mr. Cauthron is possessed of those advanced ideas and progressive principles which seem to be among the chief characteristics of those of Arkansas nativity. He was born in what is now Logan County, October, 16, 1836, was taught the duties of farm life in boyhood, and was married in 1855 to Miss Nancy Anderson, a native of Arkan- sas, born in 1838, and the daughter of Pinkney Anderson, a pioneer settler of this State. Five children were born to this marriage: Charles C. Walter P., Edward, Thomas R., and Nancy H. (who is now the wife of R. E. Rorie, of McKinzie, Tenn.). Mrs. Cauthron died in 1864, and was a member of the Christian Church. In 1867 Mr. Cauthron was married to Mrs. N. J. Cornelius, widow of Austin Cornelius, who bore him five children, four now living: John E. (deceased), Robert M., Eleanor S., Samuel S. and Joannah. During the late unpleasantness between the North and South, or in 1863, he enlisted in Company B, Second Arkansas Regiment, Infantry, and served in the Union Army until the termination of hostili- ties. In February, 1864, at an election held in his regiment, and also in a number of precincts in his county (Scott), he was elected to represent that county in the Legislature, and served under what was known as the Murphy Government. After re- turning home he resumed agricultural pursuits, which has been his occupation ever since. In 1873 he was appointed by Gov. Baxter, president of the
Board of Registrars of Sarber (now Logan) County, and in 1874 he was elected clerk of the circuit court of Sarber County, which office he filled for two years. At the end of this term he declined to be- come a candidate for re-election, and returned to his farm. He built a steam cotton gin and corn- mill combined, the capacity of the gin being eight bales per day. His fine farm, consisting of 300 acres, with seventy-five under cultivation, is kept in the best of condition, and everything about the place indicates to the beholder that an experienced hand has been at the helm, figuratively speaking. Mrs. Cauthron received her final summons in 1888. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyte- rian Church, of which our subject is also a mem- ber, he being an elder in the same. He is a Ma- son, and a member of Blocker Lodge No. 247, of Booneville. His father, Col. Walter Cauthron, was a native of Georgia, born in 1797, and was a farmer by occupation. He was married in Red River County, Tex., in 1822, to Miss Bashiba Wil- son, a native of Tennessee, born in 1803. They became the parents of nine children-five sons and four daughters -five of whom are now living: C. W., Charles, Thomas, Parthenia (widow of Rev. Mr. Burns of Hood County, Tex. ), and Lucindia (wife of Maj. M. T. Tatum, of Greenwood, Ark.). The father emigrated from Illinois to Arkansas in 1821, and settled on Walnut Prairie, Sevier County, Ark. While a resident of Scott County, Ark., he was county and probate judge, in 1852. He died in Logan County, Ark., in 1877, and was a member of the Christian Church, of which his wife was also a member. She died in 1849.
A. M. Chitwood, farmer and miller, Prairie View, Ark. Mr. Chitwood is still another of the many prominent citizens of Logan County, Ark., who owe their nativity to Tennessee, his birth oc- curring in 1844, and is the son of Russell B. and Sarah (Moore) Chitwood, both natives also of the Big Bend State. The parents moved to Arkansas about 1851, entered eighty acres of land, erected a house and other necessary buildings, and bere the father was engaged in tilling the soil for some time. He then sold out and started a tan yard, which he conducted for about six years. A. M.
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LOGAN COUNTY.
Chitwood began working for himself in the fall of 1861, and made his first purchase of land in 1872. This he soon sold, and in 1S77 he purchased eighty acres of railroad land, upon which he cleared about fifty acres, built a double house and other build- ings, and set out orchards, etc. In 1886 he ex- changed his land for a gin and grist mill, which he ran for two years, when he sold it and purchased land, 106 acres at Prairie View, where he now re- sides. He also purchased one-half interest in a saw-mill, which he ran one year, and then after selling that mill, purchased the mill he now owns near Blaine Post-office. In 1890 he purchased eighty acres of timberland, where his mill is lo- cated. The mill is equipped with a 30-horse power boiler and a 25-horse power engine, and is estimated to cut 10,000 feet of lumber per day. Mr. Chitwood has improved his home place by erecting good substantial buildings, and by mak- ing many other important changes. He raises from thirty to thirty-five bushels of corn, or one- half a bale of cotton to the acre each year. In 1863 Mr. Chitwood was married to Miss Mary A. Tompkins, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter of Carroll Tompkins. To them were born three children, who are named as follows: Russell B. and Dora Isabel (twins) and Mary Luetta. Mrs. Chitwood died on January 13, 1874. Mr. Chit- wood was justice of the peace and constable of Ellsworth Township for six or eight years. In July, 1879, he was married to Mrs. Emily L. Grif- fins nee Wilkur, a native of Arkansas, and the daughter of B. T. Wilkur. Seven children were born to this marriage: Cora L., Arthur, John A., Berry B., Sarah M., Wilbur N., and one unnamed. In addition to his other enterprises, Mr. Chitwood is the owner of a shingle machine, which has an estimated capacity of 18,000 per day.
John G. Chitwood, postmaster, Prairie View, Ark. In including in this work the sketches of prominent business men of Logan County, none are more deserving of recognition than that of John G. Chitwood. He was born in Hamilton County, Tenn., in 1846, and his parents, R. B. and Sarah (Moore) Chitwood, were natives of the same State. In 1851 the parents moved to Logan
County, Ark., and there the father's death occurred in 1879. The mother is still living, is seventy- one years of age, and makes her home with our subject at Prairie View, Ark. John G. Chitwood was reared in his native county, and received bis education in the common schools. He started out for himself as a school teacher in 1865, and this was his principal occupation for many years. In 1875 he was married to Miss Mattie J. Bennett, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Hirchs) Bennett, and to this union were born the following children: Do Se, Zena, Russell G., Mary A., Utha, and Luna (who is deceased). Mr. Chitwood is a stanch Republican in his political views, and Mrs. Chit- wood is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she has been a worthy member for many years. Four of the children are also members of the same church. Mr. Chitwood is a thoroughgoing business man, and with the correct business principles and efficiency with which this business is conducted, it can not fail to contribute largely to the convenience of a community, and to its own established prosperity.
J. A. Corley, a prominent planter of Johnson Township, is a native of North Carolina, born on October 11, 1839, and is a son of James and Martha (Williams) Corley, natives also of North Carolina. The father was a farmer by occupation, and was married in his native State. Of the nine children born to this union, the following grew to maturity: J. A., William Y., James P., John E., George T., Pauline E. (wife of James R. Lee), and Susan F. Mobeley (wife of A. Mobeley). The father emigrated from North Carolina to Missis- sippi, and thence in 1856 to Arkansas, settling in Logan County, where he bought and improved a tract of land. He was a soldier in the late war, was a member of the Baptist Church, and died in Fort Smith in 1864. His widow died in 1868. She was a member of the same church. J. A. Corley was married in Logan County, Ark., on December, 28, 1865, to Mrs. Mary A. Moore, a native of Ar- kansas, born on July 15, 1843, and five children are the fruits of this union: Lucy E., Lucinda C. (wife of L. C. Rodgers), John L., E. P. and Ves- tile A. On March 10, 1863, Mr. Corley enlisted in
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
the First Arkansas Infantry, Company H, and served until the close of the war. Afterward he returned to his home, began tilling the soil, and this he has continued successfully ever since. He is the owner of 120 acres of good land, and has 60 acres under cultivation, his principal crops being corn, cotton, wheat and oats. He has a good frame house and barn, and everything about his place indicates a thrifty owner. Mrs. Corley's parents, John and Martha C. Johnson, were born in North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. They were married in the last named State, and to them were born eleven children, nine of whom are now living: Lucy A. (deceased), Henry C. (deceased), Martha J., Malinda, Armitta, Greene L., Angeline A., Clarissa, Arminta, Wadie E. and Samuel J. Mr. Moore emigrated from Tennessee to Arkansas at an early day, settled in this county, and there followed farm- ing. He received his final summons on January 1, 1862, and the mother in May, 1874. (There is something wrong with this sketch, but the publish- ers are not to blame, as the subject who tried to correct the sketch failed to clear up the discrepen- cies).
J. P. Corley, ginner, miller and farmer, Paris, La. Mr. Corley, one of the substantial citizens of the county, whose name is almost too well known to need any comment, was born in Mississippi, on October 14, 1846. His parents, James and Martha (Williams) Corley, were natives, respectively, of Alabama and North Carolina. The father was a farmer by occupation, and was engaged in this pursuit in Mississippi until 1858, when he came to Arkansas, settling in Logan County. He died in 1863-4, while a soldier in the army. The mother is also deceased. Both were members of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church. Of their children, eight in number, six are now living: J. P., Jesse A., W. Y., John E., Susan F. (wife of L. Mobeley), Pauline E. (wife of J. R. Lee), G. T., Leroy F. (deceased), and Mary E. J. P. Corley attained his growth principally in Arkansas, receiving his education in that State, and was married in Lo- gan County, Ark., in the year 1868, to Miss Mary F. Cunningham, a native of Mississippi, born in 1849. Seven children have been born to that
union, six now living: James W., M. E. (wife of Frank Lee), Henry E., Emma, Lena A. (deceased), Rufus A. and Winford A. The mother of these children died in 1882. She was a member of the Baptist Chuch, and an estimable lady. Mr. Cor- ley built a steam cotton-gin in 1889, with a capacity of eight bales per day, and he is the owner of sev- enty-seven acres of land with fifty acres under cultivation. His principal crops are corn and cot- ton, and last year he ginned 180 bales of the last named article. In 1882 he built a nice frame house, has a good barn and has a fine fruit orchard consisting of 100 apple and 50 peach trees, also fifty grapevines. He is a member of the Primi- tive Baptist Church, and donates liberally to all public enterprises of a laudable nature.
J. H. Council, farmer, Ellsworth, Ark. No worthy reference to the affairs of this county would be complete without mention of Mr. Council, who, among others, is engaged in tilling the soil. His parents, Howard and Lucinda (Gallaherd) Council, were both natives of Tennessee, and of the five children born to their union, two besides our sub- ject are now living: Howard, residing in Sebastian County, Ark., and Benjamin S., of Logan County. J. H. Council was taught the duties of farm life when but a boy, and when twenty years of age he started out for himself as a farmer, continuing in that occupation until coming to Arkansas. He was married in 1846 to Miss Elizabeth Rogers, a native of Tennessee, born in 1832, and the daughter of James and Elizabeth Rogers. The fruits of this union have been ten children, seven now living: Howard, Cleopatra (wife of J. E. Bennett), Can- dacy (wife of Frank Selph), Charley, Virginia (wife of George Deen), Rufus and Ida. Mr. Council came to Arkansas in 1850, located in Clarksville, Johnson County, where he remained until 1852, and then removed to what is now Logan County, where he entered 160 acres of land. He cleared eighty acres, built a good house, stable, dug wells, and set out a good orchard. To the original tract he has since added forty acres. His land is un- usually productive, and he raises corn, wheat, oats and some cotton. In 1862 he enlisted in the Con- federate service, Company B., Sixteenth Arkansas
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Infantry, and afterward, at the reorganization of the army, after the battle of Corinth, he was trans- ferred to the cavalry service. He was engaged in the battle of Elk Horn, Corinth, and in the Price raid through Missouri, during which time he was captured and sent to Rock Island, Ill., where he was retained about five months. He was then sent to Richmond for exchange a short time previous to the evacuation of that city. He was wounded in the leg at Corinth. Mr. Council is a member of Pleasant Mound Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of which he has been treasurer for several terms. Mr. Council lost his wife in 1882. She was a member of the
Presbyterian Church. In 1884 Mr. Council mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Self, a native of Tennessee, born in 1826, and who has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church the greater portion of her life. Mr. Council is a member of the Pres- byterian Church, of which he is elder, and he is a gentleman highly esteemed by all.
B. F. Cowley, farmer and ginner, Booneville, Ark. Mr. Cowley was originally from Alabama, his birth occurring in 1835, and he is the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Renegar) Cowley, both natives of Tennessee, where they were married about 1831. Of the five children born to this union, two besides our subject are living: David M. and Margaret (wife of J. R. McLemore). Those deceased were Mary H. and James. When twenty-three years of age B. F. Cowley started out to fight life's battles for himself as an agriculturist. He was married at that age to Miss Margaret Boshart, a native of Alabama, born in 1837, and the daugh- ter of L. D. C. C. and Margaret (Barton) Boshart. To this union seven children were born, all of whom are living: Maud, Caledonia E. (wife of David Tiffin), David H., Robert G., Mary (wife of John Swint), George and Charley. Mr. Cowley followed tilling the soil in Alabama until 1881, when he came to Arkansas and settled first near Ozark, Franklin County, where he remained two years. In 1883 he came to Logan County, pur- chased 450 acres of land, on which he has since made many and vast improvements. In 1885 Mr. Cowley erected a steam gin, seventy saw stand, with an average capacity of six bales per day. His
principal crops are corn and cotton. Iron of a good quality has been found on his farm, but no attempt has been made to develop the mine. Mr. Cowley is thorough in all that he does, and is a man of sound judgment and progressive ideas.
George L. Craven, miller and ginner, Blaine, Ark. This prominent and very successful miller and ginner was originally from Georgia, in which State his parents, W. M. and Sarah (Dobbins) Craven, were also born. His birth occurred in 1857, and when eleven years of age he removed with his parents to Texas, they being at the present time residents of that State. In 1877 George L. came to Arkansas and engaged in the saw mill business (without friends or money), which he continued for three years, when he purchased a third interest in a saw-mill in Yell County. In 1880 Mr. Craven was married to Miss Caledonia McAllister, a native of Yell County, Ark., born in 1858, and the dangh- ter of L. T. McAllister. To this union have-been born three children: Luella May (born in 1880), Claude Eugene (born in 1882), and Ruby Ruth (born in 1885). In 1884, together with his part- ner, Mr. J. W. Blevins, Mr. Craven came to Logan County and erected a saw mill, planer and shingle- mill at Wild Cat Hollow, where they remained about two years. They then removed to Delaware Township and remained there also two years. In 1889 they removed to Blaine, in Shoal Creek Town- ship and taking another partner, Mr. H. S. Cline, they added new machinery and divided their estab)- lishment, placing a saw-mill one and one-half miles south of Blaine Post-office. To their planing-mill. they have added a gin and steam press and an- other planer, re-saw and corn-mill, and have con- nected the two establishments by a tram road one and one-half miles long, upon which they run an engine of their own construction. The capacity of their saw-mill is 25,000 feet per day, and is run by a sixty-horse power engine, having gang edgers, etc. The capacity of their flooring planer is about 6,000 feet per day, and their surfacing planer about 20,000 to 30,000 per day. The capacity of the shingle machine is 18,000 per day, the capac- ity of the corn-mill is 120 bushels, and the gin 12 bales per day (using direct steam press), and 40.
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