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 67
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ate States Army. He was soon after taken sick, but upon recovering he joined another command and operated in Arkansas and Missouri, taking part in a number of skirmishes. He was married in 1869 to Miss Tabitha Ellen, daughter of Bay- liss B. and Nancy Brashear, who came to Scott County, Ark., from Alabama, at an early day, Mr. Brashear dying here some years ago, his widow surviving him, a resident of Sebastian County. Mrs. Dollens was born in Alabama, and has become the mother of nine children. Mr. Dollens has resided on his present farm since be- fore the war, and is now the owner of 640 acres of land, about 200 of which are cleared. He was justice of the peace for some years, is a member of Waldron Lodge No. 132 of the A. F. & A. M., and also belongs to the Farmers' Alliance.
Thomas M. Duncan, the circuit clerk of Scott County, Ark., is a gentleman of wide experience, who has been actively interested in politics from his youth up. He was born at Fort Smith, Ark., in 1864, being the eldest of five children born to Samuel K. and Isabella (Gilbreath) Duncan, the former born in Kentucky and the latter in Arkan- sas. During the Rebellion Samuel K. Duncan came to Arkansas and located at Fort Smith, but after a very short residence there, came to Scott County, and has since been a resident of Waldron, near which place he has been engaged in wagon- making. Thomas M. Duncan was reared in this county and until he was fifteen years of age he was a regular attendant at school. At that age he entered the office of the circuit court clerk, and until 1887, served as deputy, being then appointed by the Governor to fill the office left vacant by the death of Clerk J. C. Gilbreath. At the special election he was elected to the position, re-elected in the fall of 1888, and again in 1890, which fact speaks louder than words can do as to his ability as an official. He is a consistent Democrat, has always been an active worker for that party, and has always been deeply interested in the current issues of the day. Socially he belongs to Waldron Lodge No. 132 of the A. F. & A. M. He is bound to rise in the world, for he is industrious, intellectual and honest, and of strictly moral habits.
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
Charles A. Finley is a merchant of the town of Waldron, Ark., being a member of the firm of Finley & Hendricks, and by birth is a Tennesseean, born in Carroll County, in 1865, to Smith P. and Minerva (Bennett) Finley, they being also Ten- nesseeans, the father being a farmer and mechanic by occupation. They were married in their native State, and to their union eight children were born, seven of whom are now living: Mattie (wife of J. B. Thomas), C. A. (the subject of this sketch), John W., Sindey W., Ada (wife of T. B. Dinwid- die), Robert A., Norma G., Dollie, and one that died unnamed. The father and mother of these children are still living, in Tennessee, and both are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the former being a member of the Masonic order of Macedonia. Charles A. Finley came to Arkansas in 1886, and settled in Crawford County, where he was engaged in the dry goods business until January 1887, but moved the same year to Fort Smith. After traveling for Dyke Bros. until June, 1889, he became a salesman for the Holmes Dry Goods Company, acting as their traveling salesman a part of the time, about nine months out of the year being spent as salesman in their store. He has been a resident of Waldron, and soon after coming here formed a partnership with a Mr. Hendricks, and here has since been in the grocery business, and is, deservedly, doing well. He is an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church, and, socially, belongs to the K. of P. He is a young man of exemplary habits, and as he is in- dustrious and pushing, he is bound to make his mark in the world.
Hon. Lorenzo D. Gilbreath. No name is justly entitled to a more enviable place in the history of Scott County, Ark., than the one which heads this sketch, for it is borne by a man who has been use- fully and honorably identified with the interests of this county, and with its advancement in every worthy particular. He owes his nativity to John- son County, Ark., where he was born on October 30, 1827, being the eighth of twelve children born to Hugh and Rachel (McKinzie) Gilbreath, both of whom were born in Illinois, and came to Ar- kansas about 1825, locating on a large tract of
land in Johnson County, where the father died after about twenty years. He was a large land owner, made many improvements on his property, but a short time prior to his death he moved across Spadra Creek and there on a farm, passed from life. The subject of this sketch was reared to a farm life, but received but few educational advan- tages in his youth. In 1848 he was married to Miss Catherine James, a native of Arkansas, and daughter of Joseph James. a pioneer of this region from Kentucky. After his marriage Mr. Gilbreath moved to the Fourche River in Scott County, and entered 120 acres of land on which he lived for eight years, making, in the meantime, many valu- able improvements. After serving as justice of the peace for some time he was, in 1858, elected county clerk and moved to Waldron to take charge of the office, being continuously re-elected there- after until 1874, when he resigned. During the war he took the county books and record to Sedalia, Mo., for safety, returning after the war and serving until the above mentioned date. He was nominated by acclamation by both parties for representative, was elected in the fall of 1873 and served with faithfulness and ability for two ses- sions. He has served with distinction in other capacities, but for some time has been living in retirement. In 1873 he was admitted to the Polk County bar, while on a visit to that county, and was actively engaged in the practice of law for many years, but is now doing only a small business in the probate court of the county. After his return from the Legislature in 1874 he was elected attorney of Scott County, and during his four years' service in this capacity he was instrumental in the advancement of the value of county scrip. In 1887 he erected a pleasant cottage, three-quar- ters of a mile south of Waldron, it being on a valu- able tract of land comprising 1,000 acres of which he is the owner. In 1884 he joined the Church of Christ, and soon after began preaching in that church. In 1888 he erected a church in Waldron, at a cost of $1,000, and paid $110 for a good bell. He has always been a progressive, public-spirited citizen, and would give life to any community in which he might settle. In addition to the other
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S.A. Gilbreath
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responsible offices he has filled, he was elected mayor of Waldron in 1885, being the first one of the place.
J. M. Glass is a thoroughly posted and intelli- gent man on public matters, and as a tiller of the soil is progressive and enterprising. He is a Georgian, born on February 3, 1827, to Thomas and Elizabeth (Bearden) Glass, they being also born in that State. The father was a farmer by occupation, and to his union with Miss Bearden, whom he married in Clark County, Ga., seven children were born, four of which family are now living: Thomas N., C. C., W. J. and J. M .; Dicey A., Jane and an infant are deceased. Both parents died in Georgia, members of the Christian Church, the birth of the former occurring in 1795. and the latter in 1810. In the State of Georgia, J. M. Glass was married in 1847 to Miss Lucy A. Rucker, who was born in Wilkes County, Ga., in 1828, and of a family of five sons and seven daugh- ters born to them, nine children are still living: C., J. M., William N., Almeda V. (wife of James Fleming), Louisa (wife of A. B. Black), Narcissa (wife of Pierce Jones), Lou E. (wife of L. King), Millie and B. L. J. M. Glass emigrated with bis family from Georgia to the State of Arkansas in 1870, and settled in Sebastian County, where he lived some eighteen months, after which he came to Scott County, where he is now resid- ing. He has been successful in his operations, and is the owner of 400 acres of fine land, of which 150 acres are under cultivation. On this land is a good horse-power cotton-gin, which has a capacity of three bales per day. Mr. Glass is a worthy and upright citizen, and his wife is an ear- nest and consistent member of the Christian Church. Mr. Glass formerly owned what was called Glass' Mills, consisting of water, merchant and saw mills on the Chickamauga River, where the famous battle was fought. He owned 326 acres of land on that river, and this is being surveyed and will lie in the United States Park, now being es- tablished on the Chickamauga battle-field.
former being reared in Washington County on a farm. At the age of eighteen years he went to Cal- ifornia and after remaining in that State for several years he returned to Arkansas, and settled in Se- bastian County. His wife was a daughter of Jo- seph R. Smedley, a native of England, who was sent as a missionary to this county by the Mission- ary Baptist Church, his field of labor being prin- cipally in the Indian Territory. The immediate subject of this sketch is the second son in a family of eight children born to his parents, and although his opportunities for acquiring an education, up to the age of eighteen years, were very limited, he, at that time entered a very good school at Hartford, in which he took an academic course. He supple- mented this by an attendance at Buckner College, where he remained for three years, at the end of which time he started out for himself as a school- teacher, to which calling he has since given his attention. He became an instructor in the graded school of Waldron in September, 1890, with the end in view of bringing the school to a higher state of perfection, and preparing the students for col- lege work, and has, in conjunction with Prof. Hen- : derson, established a normal class, which he hopes will be well patronized, and profitable to the school and an honor to the county. He was born in Se- bastian County, Ark., September 23, 1864, and was married October 8, 1890, to Miss Johnnie Tankers- ley, a daughter of Dr. O. D. and M. E. Tankersley, of Clarksville, Johnson County, Ark. She was given the advantages of the Clarksville school, and is a well-educated lady. She has three sisters, one of whom is the wife of Dr. C. E. Frost, of Sa- lem, Ark., the other two being at home attending school. Her father has been a practicing physi- cian for many years, but is now retired. Mr. God- dard met his wife while taking a three years' course in Hendricks College, at Atlus, which is one of the leading educational institutions of the State. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of which they have been members since they were fifteen and twelve years of age respectively. Mr. Goddard is a licensed minister of the church, and socially is a member He
Prof. Samuel F. Goddard of Scott County, Ark., is a son of C. E. and N. T. (Smedley) God- dard, both of whom were born in this State, the ; of Mansfield Lodge of the A. F. & A. M.
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is highly esteemed by the people of Waldron and vicinity, and has the reputation of being one of the leading educators of the western part of the State.
Hon. James P. Hall is one of the well-known farmers of this region, in connection with which work he operates a good cotton-gin, of which he is the owner. He was born in Tennessee on Novem- ber 11, 1839, a son of Alex F. and Sarah S. (Fos- ter) Hall, who were also born in Tennessee. Al- though his opportunities for acquiring an educa- tion were poor, James P., by self-application, be- came a well-informed young man and in the con- duct and management of his farm has always shown the best of judgment. After starting out in life for himself at the age of eighteen years, he worked for wages for four years, then enlisted in Company C, Fifteenth Arkansas Infantry, and for four years served in the Confederate Army. He took an active part in the battles of Shiloh, Mis- sionary Ridge, Ringgold Gap, Chickamauga, the campaign through Georgia, Jonesboro and at Pu- laski, Tenn., where he was taken prisoner and finally discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio in May, 1865. He then returned to his home in Arkansas, where he moved in 1859, and during a short resi- dence in Booneville, Logan County, Ark., he was engaged in the mercantile business. At the end of five years he sold out and moved to this township, where he engaged in farming, $200 in debt, as his business venture in Booneville had proven a failure. He began improving the land, for which he went in debt, and now has an excellent tract of land comprising 300 acres, on which is a good house and barn, an excellent cotton-gin, considerable stock and a good orchard. He and his wife, whom he married in February, 1867, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is steward and trustee. His wife, formerly Miss Louisa P. Bailey was born in Georgia, and has borne her husband seven children-two sons and five daugh- ters. Mr. Hall is a Mason and a liberal supporter of public enterprises. In September, 1880, he was elected to the State Senate, serving four years, and he has also been justice of the peace for sev- eral years. He is a highly-esteemed resident of this county, and is in every respect a model citizen.
James C. Hall, Jr., farmer, Boles, Ark. All his life Mr. Hall has followed, with substantial suc- cess, the occupation to which he was reared, and in which he is now engaged-farming. The owner of a landed estate of 480 acres, he is also one of the township's leading agriculturists, and as a man, no less than as a citizen, he is highly esteemed. He was originally from Alabama, was reared on a farm, and, owing to the breaking out of the war, his ed- ucation was rather limited. His father, James C. Hall, Sr., was a cripple for many years, and as a result our subject was compelled, at an early age, to take charge of the farm, where he remained un- til twenty-one years of age. He served three years in the army, and on this account he never obtained the education he wished, nor that his father de- sired him to have. His mother, Jane (Oliver) Hall, was a native of North Carolina, while his father was from South Carolina. The latter was killed by bushwhackers, during the war, although a cripple and unable to take an active part in the service. James C. Hall, Jr., enlisted in Company H, Nine- teenth Arkansas Regiment, under Capt. G. W. Featherston, and was in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Arkansas Post, Chickamauga, Tunnel Hill, Marietta, Franklin, Nashville and Bentonville, N. C. At Arkansas Post he was taken prisoner, and con- veyed to Camp Douglas, where he was held for three months. After being exchanged he returned to his command. At Marietta, Ga., he was wound- ed in the right hip, and was off duty for six months. He was discharged at Greensboro, N. C. Previous to the war, in the fall of 1860, his father, with his family, had moved to Arkansas, and bought a farm near Waldron, in Scott County. Returning to Waldron after the war, he remained and assisted his mother on the farm for four years, and during that time he was married (1868) to Miss Sarah Hayes, of Waldron, who died in 1878, leaving two children-a son and a daughter, the former named Robert M., and the latter Elizabeth J .; both were married; the daughter in December, 1887. The son resides at Boles. After his marriage Mr. Hall bought a tract of land and moved to this township. This farm contained 160 acres, and to this he has added from time to time until he now
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has 480 acres of good farming land, about 200 acres being under cultivation. He has a good house, all necessary farm buildings, and the place is well fenced. His principal crops are corn and cotton. He has good orchards of apples, peaches and pears, which are doing well. Mr. Hall was born January 5, 1843, and was married in January, 1880, to Miss Margaret Hollis, of this county. They have four children-three sons and one daughter: James F., Dora R., Thomas J. and Oscar L. Mr. Hall is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M.
Benjamin F. Hanes, is another prominent and successful farmer of Lewis Township, Scott County, whose name is synonymous with the farming in- terests of the county. He was born in Tennessee, November 7, 1829, to Jonathan and Harriet (Lewis) Hanes, the former born in North Carolina, and the latter in Tennessee, their marriage taking place in Wayne County of the last named State in 1823, and resulted in the birth of this family: John L. (born November 25, 1824, died April 1, 1864), James W. (born July 17, 1827, died November 26, 1855), Elizabeth B. (born February 24, 1832, died July 16, 1884), Claiburn P. (born June 19, 1835, died May 8, 1868), William H. (born May 12, 1838, died April 20, 1889). The parents removed from Tennessee to Washington County, Ark., in 1832, but from there came to Scott County, in 1847, and here the father resided up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1876, at the home of his son, Benjamin F. The mother passed from life in Montgomery County, Ark., in 1855. The immediate subject of this biography is the only one of his father's family now living. He was married in 1853, to Miss Nancy D. McMullen, a daughter of Joel and Eliza McMullen, and by her became the father of two children: John F. (born March 3, 1857), Mary V. (born March 15, 1859). The mother died in 1861, on the place where Mr. Hanes now lives, she being a worthy member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, at the time of her death. Two years later Mr. Hanes was married to Miss Martha J. Belshey, by whom he had one child, Carroll D. (born January 1, 1867).
This wife, who was a member of the Baptist Church, died in January, 1868, after which Mr. Hanes married his third and present wife in December of the same year, her maiden name being Lucinda J. Fish, daughter of John and Cynthia (Hicks) Fish. This wife has borne him six children: Sierra N. (born December 13, 1871), Joel C. (born January 25, 1875), Charlie G. (born January 23, 1879), Louie C. (born May 31, 1882), Cyntha A. (born July 23, 1886), Carrie B. (born October 4, 1889), all living. Mr. Hanes was conscripted into the Confederate Army, in 1862, but on account of disability was discharged at the end of four months, and in 1864, removed to Fayette County, Ill., where he remained until 1869, when he returned to his home in Scott County, where he is still living. He owns 160 acres of land, with 40 acres under culti- . vation, and his principal crops are corn, oats. wheat and some cotton. Socially Mr. Hanes is a member of Reed Lodge No. 163, of the A. & F. A. M., at Mansfield, and in his political views is an enthusiastic Republican, and is one of Scott County's first settlers, and most highly respected citizens. He is a liberal contributor to schools, churches and all laudable public enterprises, and is especially liberal in giving to the Methodist. Episcopal Church, of which his wife is a worthy member.
William C. Hawkins, farmer, Boles, Ark. The subject of this sketch is a native of Indiana, born February 14, 1833, and is the son of Raleigh and Harriet Hawkins. He passed his boyhood and youth on a farm in Tennessee, whither his parents had moved when he was quite small, and a few years later they located in De Kalb County, Ala. There William C. remained until he was twenty- three years of age, when he left home and went to Mississippi. He there purchased a tract of land and remained on the same for about three years. In 1860 he came to Arkansas, settled in this county, and bought 160 acres of land, which he improved for two years. He then enlisted and entered the Federal Army, Second Kansas Cavalry, was sta- tioned at Van Buren, where he remained until transferred to Little Rock. At the close of the war he returned to his farm, but soon after sold
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
the place and bought his present property, which then consisted of 200 acres of land. To this he has added 220 acres and now has one of the finest farms in this township, about 200 acres being un- der cultivation. His principal crops are corn and cotton. He has this year seventy-five acres in cot- ton, which are yielding three-fourths of a bale to the acre, and seventy acres in corn, with a yield of sixty-five bushels to the acre. Everything about his place indicates a thrifty and progressive owner. Mr. Hawkins was married in 1854 to Miss Sarah M. Blanchard of Alabama, and they had two chil- dren, both sons. Mrs. Hawkins died about six years after her marriage. One of the sons died in youth, and the other, A. D. Hawkins, is married and resides near his father. In 1867 Mr. Hawkins ยท was united in marriage to Mrs. Martha Scott, daughter of M. Scott, of Texas. They have four living children-three sons and a daughter: Will- iam C. (married to Miss Elizabeth Duly and resides in this township), George B., Raleigh and Kansas M. The last three named are at home with their parents. Mrs. Hawkins is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a lady of culture and refinement. Mr. Hawkins is a stanch Republican in his political views, and is a member of Landmark Lodge No. 464, A. F. & A. M.
George W. Helms is an agriculturist by calling, and the success which attends his efforts is well merited, for no one is more thoroughly interested in his calling, or gives it greater attention. He was born in Franklin County, Ark., in 1849, and by his father was reared to farm life, his oppor- tunities for an education being quite limited on ac- count of the opening of the Rebellion. In 1869 he began doing for himself, working on rented land in his native county, but the fall following his marriage, which occurred in August, 1869, he took a piece of Government land as a homestead, on which he settled and began improving. He immediately put up a good log house and other buildings, and here made his home until 1881, when he sold the place and came to Scott County, and immediately purchased the farm on which he is now making his home. It contains 160 acres of land, 60 of which are in a good state of cultiva-
tion, and on this valuable land he has a good frame residence, tenant houses, stables, sheds, etc. His orchard, although young, is in a good bearing condition, and furnishes the family with an abun- dance of fine fruit. His farm is well cultivated, the principal crops being cotton, corn and oats, the yield of all being good, his last year's profit being over $700. His wife, who was formerly Miss Mary Ann Pledger, was born in Georgia, but was reared -in Franklin County, Ark. She has borne her husband three sons and five daughters: James, John, Acie Jane, Rosella F., Mattie, Georgie, Myrtle and Manie. James and Acie Jane are married and live near their parents. The other members of the family live at home and are attending a good district school in the vicinity. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and Mr. Helms is a member of the Farm- ers' Alliance and is a Democrat, politically. He is liberal in his support of worthy movements and has the reputation among his neighbors of being a pushing, enterprising gentleman and a success- ful farmer.
Prof. Calvin Henderson has been wonderfully successful as an instructor of the young, and as principal of the high school of Waldron he has won the praise and commendation of friend and foe alike. He was born in North Carolina Novem- ber 19, 1859, to William and Lydia (Gwilliams) Henderson, the former a worthy and fairly suc- cessful tiller of the soil. Calvin's early educa- tional advantages were very poor, but at the age of eighteen years he determined to remedy this defect, and accordingly entered an academy in which he remained for about one year, fitting himself to enter college, which he did in 1878 at Dahlonega, Ga. This institution was the North Georgia Agricult- ural College, and from it he was graduated in 1882, after leaving which he took up the study of law at Dallas, Ga., and was admitted to the bar in 1885. Preferring school work to the practice of his profession, he, in 1886, came to Yell County, Ark., and after being engaged in teaching in that county for about three years he went to Hart- ford, in the schools of which place he acted as principal. He then came to Waldron, and here he
4.
Borad
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SCOTT COUNTY.
and Prof. S. E. Goddard have established a high school, with normal, commercial and musical de- partments, which are well attended and in a pros- perous condition. It is the design of the teachers and board of directors to make the high school of Waldron second to none in the western part of the State, and to say that they have already succeeded would be but a simple statement of the facts. The school has already a good reputation abroad, and is liberally patronized by those at a distance. The course of study, while not complete, is very thor- ough, and on finishing a course in this institution the students are well fitted to make their own way in the world. Prof. Henderson is an active mem- ber of the Baptist Church and an efficient teacher in the Sunday-school. He is a member of the Kappa Chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity, Dah- lonega, Ga.
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