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 71
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bloody combats. To himself and wife nine chil- dren were born, and of the three that are living the subject of this sketch is the eldest. He spent bis school days in Madison County, Ark., but in . 1848 went with his parents to Texas, where, dur- ing his youth and early manhood he experienced many of the hardships, dangers and privations of pioneer life. He made his home on his father's farm until twenty-two years of age, then worked for himself in Parker County, Tex., until 1867, when he and his family came back to Arkansas and located on a farm on Clear Fork of Fourche River, in Scott County, this farm being his present place of abode. He is the owner of 200 acres of fine land, and is one of the most practical and success- ful agriculturists of Blansett Township. He was married, in 1862, to Miss Nancy Catherine Whisen- hunt, daughter of John Whisenhunt, her birth occurring in Georgia, August 24, 1840. A family of twelve children have been born to them, all of whom are living save two: James W. (who died when twenty-two years of age), and Ira Seamon (who died when a child). Those living are James M., Thomas S., Flora A. M., Sarah F., Calvin W .. Lillie S., Disa P., William T., Nancy J. and John S. Mr. Slover has been married twice, first when twenty years of age to Miss Mary Martin, of Texas. She was born May 29, 1835, and died in Scott County, Ark., having borne three children: Malinda Jane, John Samuel and William T., the last named having died at the age of two years. The present Mrs. Slover is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and politically he is a Democrat. He is a thorough-going citizen, and is ever ready to aid good causes.
Dr. James H. Smith, an energetic practitioner, is recognized throughout this State as a friend of, and laborer in, the cause and advancement of the medical profession, and has acquired a flattering reputation as a physician. He was born in Wilson County, Tenn., in 1813, to Harris and Nancy S. (Flood) Smith, who were born in Buckingham County, Va., in 1791 and 1796, respectively, re- moving with their parents while young, to Wilson County, Tenn., where they were married. About 1821 they went to Wayne County, Tenn .. but a
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year later returned to Wilson County, moving a short time after to Lawrence County, only to re- turn to Wilson .County, once more. They after- ward removed to De Kalb County, where they both passed from life, the former a farmer by oc- cupation and a soldier in the War of 1812. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. The paternal grandfather, George Lump- kin Smith, was a Virginian, but in an early day he removed to Wilson County, Tenn., where he be- came a well-to-do farmer, was widely known, and where he passed from life. The maternal grand- father, Thomas Flood, was a Virginian, also, and an early resident of Wilson County, Tenn., where he became a well-to-do farmer, and spent the rest of his days. He was of English descent, a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and upon his death, left a large number of descendants in Tennessee. Dr. James H. Smith is the eldest of seven children (four now living) born to his parents, and was brought up to farm life. What knowledge he now has of books, was obtained in his youth by the light of the fire at home and by attending school a short time after he was eighteen years of age, his tuition being paid by doing odd jobs of work, but although his road was an up-hill one he, in this manner, became a well-educated young man, and soon became sufficiently posted to enable him to teach school, after which he found his way much easier. In 1834 he went to Lawrence County, Ala., and in 1835 he was married to Miss Eliza, daugh- ter of Maj. Joel and Jane Denton, who were born in East Tennessee, the former dying in Scott County, Ark., and the latter in Alabama. Mrs. Smith was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., in 1852, and died in Alabama, a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and leaving five children. The Doctor's second marriage took place the same year to Elizabeth, a sister of his first wife, her death oc- curring in Waldron, in 1882, she being also a church member. In 1882 the Doctor's third marriage was celebrated, his wife, Mrs. Margaret S. Money, being a daughter of Joseph G. and Margaret Gibson, the former a Georgian and the latter born in South Carolina, their marriage taking place in the former State, where Mrs. Gibson died. Mr. Gibson mar-
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ried a second time and moved to Texas, where he passed from life. Mrs. Smith was born in Geor- gia, and went to Texas with her father, where she was married to Mr. William T. Money, who died in Texas in 1865. She came to Arkansas in 1866. In 1834 the Doctor went to Alabama, and about 1841 began the study of medicine, attending, dur- ing 1845-46, the Louisville Medical Institute of Kentucky, after which he at once entered upon his practice in Alabama, where he continued until 1856, when he removed to Scott County, Ark., and settled five miles west of Waldron, and with the exception of from 1863 to 1867 he resided there un- til 1881, since which time he has been a resident of Waldron, but is not a very active practitioner at the present time. He is quite well to do, and be- sides owning some valuable town property, be has over 500 acres of land. From 1860 to 1862 he was county and probate judge of Scott County, and in 1876 was elected to the State Legislature, serving one term and being chairman of the committee on roads and highways. He is a charter member of Waldron Lodge No. 132, of the A. F. & A. M., and he and his family are members in good standing of the Missionary Baptist Church. Dr. Smith is one of the oldest and most universally known physi- cians in Western Arkansas, is universally loved and is in every respect worthy the universal re- spect shown him. His surviving children are: Nancy J. (wife of Capt. John Rawlings), and George Walker. Joel Flood was killed while on picket duty near Fayetteville, in 1862.
James C. Stanford is a merchant in the village of Cauthron, and by birth is a Georgian, having first seen the light of day in that State June 20, 1842. He is the youngest of five sons and four daughters born to William and Sarah (King) Stan- ford, both of whom were born in Georgia. James C., when a lad, received very limited educational advantages, as his father died when he was thirteen years of age, and he was placed in charge of the home farm, as his older brothers had left home to make their own way in the world. In 1862 he en . listed in the Confederate Army, becoming a mem- ber of Company H, Eighteenth Georgia Regiment of Infantry, and was in the battles of Fair Oaks,
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Malvern Hill, Manassas, Boonesboro, Fredericks- burg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Knoxville, Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, seige of Richmond, and Farmersville, Va., where he was taken prisoner, being released on June 28, 1865, from Fortress Monroe, and at the battle of Chancellorsville was severely wounded. Although there were five brothers in the Confeder- ate Army, all came through safely and are now the heads of families. The eldest brother, Franklin, was in the Mexican War; one resides in Alabama, and the others are near the old home in Georgia. When James C. returned from the army he again went to work on his mother's farm, and there re- mained until 1869, when he left there and came direct to Waldron, Ark., and here has since made his home. He homesteaded some land, nicely im- proved it, and of 170 acres of which he is the owner, four miles northwest of Waldron, he has eighty acres under cultivation, on which are a good house, barn and other necessary buildings. There is also an excellent orchard on the place, and the land is also well fenced. In January, 1887, Mr. Stanford moved from the farm to the village of Cauthron and opened a general mercantile store, and besides the store building and the lot on which it stands he has thirty-six acres on which his residence is situated. He keeps a stock of goods worth $2,000 and his annual sales amount to about $6,000. He is quite extensively engaged in buying cotton, which he ships to Fort Smith, and is otherwise interested in the progress and development of this region. He was married March 7, 1867, to Miss Sarah E. Taff, a daughter of W. H. Taff, a farmer of Barto County, Ga., and by her has the following children: Will- iam T. (who is a teacher and is giving his leisure time to the study of law), Acril J. (who is also a teacher, and he and William were educated in the State University), John F., Nellie L., Franklin A. and James B. The family worship in the Method- ist Episcopal Church South, Mr. Stanford being a steward in the same. He is a Democrat in politics, and is liberal in the support of schools, churches, etc. He came here with no means but has now a good property.
is one of the most influential in Scott County, Ark., and Dr. Sullivan among its most talented physicians, has obtained a reputation placing him in the front rank of the medical fraternity. He is also associated with the drug interests of Waldron and as a business man is doing well. He was born in Tennessee in 1849, being the fifth of twelve children born to Nathan and Mary (Ross) Sullivan, the former born in Tennessee and the latter in Alabama. The father was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South for forty- two years, his services for his Master being prin- cipally in the State of Tennessee, where he was presiding elder of his district for many years. He died in 1880, after a useful and well-spent life, his widow still surviving him. The paternal grandfather, Rev. Jocob Sullivan, was a pioneer of Wilson and Warren Counties, Tenn., from North Carolina, but was a native of Maryland. He preached the gospel in Tennessee until his death in 1866 at Mount Zion, in Tipton County, at the age of eighty eight years. The maternal grandfather, William Ross, was one of the early settlers of Shelby County, Tenn., at which time there were but three houses at the present site of Memphis. He became a large land owner on the Hatchie River and on this land passed from life in 1867 or 1868. Dr. J. O. A. Sullivan spent his youth in Gibson County, Tenn., and received his education in Andrew College. In 1863 he became a member of Company G, Twelfth Tennessee Cav- alry, Confederate States Army, and was in the battles of Fort Pillow, Memphis and surrendered at Greensboro, N. C. After his return home he began the study of medicine in 1867 under the pre- ceptorship of Dr. J. J. Crisp. After a thorough preparation he entered the medical university of Tennessee, from which he graduated in 1868, after which he at once began practicing in Gibson County. He was married in February, 1869, to Miss Georgiana McLeary, a native of Tennessee, and daughter of James and Addie McLeary, their births occurring in North and South Carolina, re- spectively. Both parents were of Scotch descent, the maiden name of the mother being Blair. Her
Dr. J. O. A. Sullivan. The name of Sullivan , ancestors became well known during Revolu-
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tionary times, her mother's family being well- known people of South Carolina. In 1874 Dr. Sullivan and his wife came to Arkansas and settled in Waldron, where he began practicing, in con- nection with which, in 1881, he opened a drug es- tablishment, but soon sold out, only to re-engage in the business in 1887, his establishment being well fitted up and excellently managed. He has always been active in school work; for years has been a director. He is also deeply interested in the political affairs of the country, and has always worked for the success of the Democratic party. He is now serving his second term as secretary of the County Medical Society and is a member of the board. Socially he belongs to Waldron Lodge No. 93 of the I. O. O. F., and in the Grand Lodge of the State he holds the rank of grand guardian. He also belongs to the A. F. & A. M. Dr. Sulli- van lost his estimable wife in 1878, she having borne him three children: Lester Lee, Lenora Adella, and Josie (who died at the age of twenty- two months). His second marriage took place in 1878, his wife being Miss Ella Harris, a native of this State, and daughter of Virgil Harris, a Ten- nesseean, who removed to Texas in 1832 and a few years later to Arkansas, dying in Waldron in May, 1889, when seventy-nine years of age. The Doc- tor and his present wife have six children: Mary Emma, Andrew N., Clara, Robert Toombs and Stonewall Jackson (twins) and Ada. The Doctor is the owner of a fine farm of 400 acres in Faulk- ner County, of which 60 acres are under cultiva- tion. He also has a good home in Waldron, which he erected in 1879, and besides this owns other valuable town property.
William M. Taylor, farmer, Cedar Creek, Ark. Another prominent and successful agriculturist of Cedar Creek Township, and one whose name is synonymous with the farming interests of the county, was born in Tuscaloosa County, Ala., and was reared on a farm, receiving a limited educa- tion in the common schools. He enlisted in the army when a young man and served until its close. He started out for himself as a tiller of the soil, when nineteen years of age, bought land in his native county, and in 1855 was married to Miss
Nancy E. McMillan, of Alabama. They have five children-four sons and one daughter. The eldest daughter is married and resides near the old homestead. The remainder of the children are at home. After the war, Mr. Taylor came to Arkansas, settled in Johnson County in 1870, and after remaining there for two years moved to Cedar Creek Township, where he now lives. In 1888 he bought his present property, and is now the owner of 453 acres of valuable land. He has a comfortable dwelling-house, and has made many and vast improvements. His principal crops are corn and cotton. He has this year (1890) forty-two acres of cotton, which will yield one-half bale to the acre. and his average corn crop will be from thirty- five to fifty bushels to the acre. Mr. Taylor was born on June 3, 1836, and is prominently identi- fied with the county in more than one particular. He is the owner of valuable timberland, consist- ing of oak, gum, ash and walnut.
G. W. Turner, liveryman of the firm of Tur- ner & Huie, of Waldron, Ark., is a Tennesseean by birth and bringing up and has inculcated in him the sterling principles of the better class of citizens of that State. He was born in 1844, the second of ten children born to Jesse and Elizabeth (Price) Turner, they being also Tennesseeans. The grand parents on both sides were among the very earliest settlers of that State, and there braved the dangers and privations of pioneer life to make homes for their children. Jesse Turner was one of the worthy tillers of the soil, and after first emigrat- ing from his native State he located in Missouri, and, in 1867 came to Arkansas, where he died in 1870. G. W. Turner removed to Missouri with his parents, and also came with them to this State, acquiring a fair education in the common schools of these States. In 1862 he joined Company H. Gordon's regiment of Missouri Infantry, under Gen. Shelby, and afterward took part in the bat- tles of Springfield, Cape Girardeau, Prairie Grove. Helena and others. After the war he returned to Missouri, where he was engaged in freighting on the plains from Atchison, Kas., to New Mexico. making one trip. He then came to Arkansas and settled in Woodruff County, but nine years later
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located at Augusta, running teams to adjoining towns. Since 1873 he has been a resident of Scott County, and was first engaged in farming and teaming from Fort Smith to Waldron, a calling he continued to follow for thirteen years. In 1887 he opened a livery stable at Waldron in connection 1 with Mr. Huie, and now has a stable well stocked with horses and vehicles, at all times in good con- dition and ready for use. In addition to this prop- erty he has a good farm of 160 acres two miles north of the town, of which 40 acres are under cultivation, and several lots in Waldron. He was married in January, 1870, to Miss Abigail Schrim- sher, of Mississippi, she being an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Turner has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for years, and as a man of business has shown marked ability. He and Mr. Huie are the successors of Turner & Hard. They have fifteen head of horses, suitable hacks and buggies for the use of traveling men, and they also have the mail contract for carrying daily mail to Mansfield, which contract was secured July 1, 1888, and will continue two years longer. Both these gentlemen are honest and fair in their dealings and fully deserve the patronage of the public.
W. R. Vaughn is a Kentuckian by birth, born in 1830, and like the majority of those who claim that as the State of their nativity, he is pushing, enterprising and wide awake. He is one of the following family of children: Elisha, Sally, Phoebe, Rebecca, William R. (the subject of this sketch), John, Reuben, Benjamin, Eliza, Irene, Stephen and Obadiah, of whom only William R., Obadiah and Reuben are now living. They are the children of Obadiah and Nancy (Vaughn) Vaughn, who died when William R. was about fourteen years of age, the former being a farmer by occupation, and served under Gen. Jackson in the War of 1812. After his father's death William R. began working as a farm laborer, and in 1850 was married to Miss Susan Yandell, a daughter of William and Molly A. Yandell, immediately afterward removing to Scott County, Ark., where, in 1865, he unfortu- nately lost his wife, she leaving him with six chil- dren: George R., William O., James A., Stephen
H., John Z., and one that died unnamed. Of these children only Stephen and John survive. In 1866 Mr. Vaughn took for his second wife Mrs. Luvicy (James) Jones, relict of James Jones, and daughter of Clayburn and Jennie James, but in 1887 this wife also passed from life, having borne Mr. Vaughn six children: Sarah F., Jessie V., Cansady, Isaiah, Benjamin F., and one that died in infancy unnamed. Of these children all are dead except Sarah, Jessie, Cansady and Isaiah. By his second wife Mr. Vaughn acquired 160 acres of land, of which about 60 are improved, and on which he raises corn and cotton, the former averaging fifteen bushels and the latter one-half bale to the acre. In May, 1888, he was married a third time, his wife being Mrs. Nancy E. (Rogers) Jones, widow of William H. Jones, who died in 1881. To them one child has been born, Riley Harrison. Mrs. Vaughn is a member of the Free- Will Baptist Church, of which Mr. Vaughn was also formerly a member. His youngest son by his first wife, John Z., was born in Arkansas, in 1862, and at the age of eighteen years began for himself, marrying, a year later, Miss Louisa Cruse, who was born in Georgia, in 1859, a daughter of S. P. and Melissa (Lamm) Cruse. John Z. and his wife have now a family of five children: Stephen F., John Lawson (de- ceased), Reuben, Jesse Lee and Alena Bell. Mrs. Vaughn died on February 6, 1890, an earnest mem- ber of the Free-Will Baptist Church. Her husband, on July 20, 1890, married Miss Louisa Jones, who was born in Arkansas, in 1872, a daughter of W. H. and Nancy E. Jones.
Carey N. Vise, farmer and ex-sheriff. One of the neatest and best kept farms in Hickman Town- ship is that owned and operated by Mr. Vise, con- taining 600 acres, about 200 of which are under cultivation, well improved, the rest being timber- land. On this land is an excellent young orchard, and in connection with his farming operations Mr. Vise is also engaged in stock-raising. He was born in Georgia, the eldest of six children born to John S. and Esther (Vise) Vise, both of whom were born in the Palmetto State, the mother's death occurring there in 1859. Mr. Vise afterward mar- ried again, taking for his second consort Miss
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Eliza M. Mason, by whom he became the father of one child. He served in the Confederate Army during the Rebellion, being in Capt. Robert Boyce's company of artillery, and taking part in the battles of Manassas, Antietam, Rappahannock Station and Jackson, Miss. After the war he fol- lowed farming in Georgia until 1874, when he came to Arkansas, his son, Carey N., having pre- viously come here, and settled on a farm two miles from Waldron, on which place he died in 1883. Carey M. Vise was born in 1846, and was educated in the schools of South Carolina. He entered the Confederate Army at the age of sixteen years, being in a company of light artillery, commanded by Capt. Boyce and T. S. Jeter, and was in the same engagements in which his father partici- pated. He was captured at Asheville, N. C., but the war closed a few days later and he was re- leased. In the winter of 1867 he came to Ar- kansas, soon after purchasing 120 acres of land, fifteen miles west of Waldron, on Jones Creek. He was married in December of the same year to Miss Sarah A. Young, of South Carolina, and on the tract which he first purchased he lived for a long time, although he purchased other land and made numerous valuable improvements. Since 1882, however, he has made the town of Waldron his home, where he has a pleasant and comfortable residence. He has always been interested in pol- itics, and for the last eighteen years has held office. He was assessor six years, justice of the peace, four years, and in 1882 he was elected sheriff of the county, a position he held by re- election until 1890. His children are as follows: Willie, Beatrice, John, Melissa, Charlie, Sadie and Benjamin.
Sidney Wilson is one of the most influential men in Scott County, Ark., and he ranks among its most talented and successful lawyers. He was born in the Buckeye State, in 1835, being the eld- est of five children born to Sterns and Clarissa (Gilder) Wilson, both of whom were born in Vir- ginia, and removed to the State of Ohio during the early history of that region, being residents there- of during the Black Hawk War. During this time they moved to Chicago, and owned a farm in what
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is now a portion and part of that city, but in 1846 removed to Iowa, only to return to Illinois a short time after. He passed from life in Kansas, in 1878, his widow dying in 1880. Mr. Wilson was a drum- mer boy in the War of 1812, and was a drum-major in Taylor's command during the war with Mexico, but after taking part in the battle of Monterey, re- turned home on account of sickness. He became a substantial farmer, and was also something of a musician. Sidney Wilson was educated in the Chicago Catholic College, and in the academy at Wheatland, but in 1857 gave up all other branches to take up the study of law, and in 1860 was ad- mitted to the bar. In 1862 he went to Montana, soon after the Fairweather boys had discovered Alder Gulch, at Virginia City, and helped to make the first road from Red Buttes to the head- waters of the Yellowstone River. He had many encounters with the Indians, in one of which he was wounded. He has prospected in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada, and while in Mon- tana went 400 miles north to British America, and was at the Coutney Mines for three months, during which time the miners had frequent trouble with the Indians. In 1866 he went to St. Joseph, Mo., and was engaged in freighting goods across the plains to Salt Lake City and Montana until 1869, when he located in St. Clair County, where he taught two terms of school. He was admitted to the bar of Osceola, March 25, 1868, but prior to that had been admitted at Troy, Kas., in 1867. In 1869 he moved to Hermitage, Mo., where he entered on the practice of law. He has been ad- mitted to county, circuit and supreme courts, prac- ticed in the various places in which he has lived, and has had all kinds of cases. His many changes of residence have been made on account of ill health, but his health has been comparatively good since locating in Scott County, Ark., in the development and progress of which county he takes great in- terest. He served as prosecuting attorney of Hick- ory County, Mo., for four terms, his first appoint- ment being received in 1870, his elections taking place in 1872-73-74. He resigned in the spring of 1876, and moved to Lake City, Colo., and in September of the same year was admitted to the
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Supreme Court of that State. He was also admitted to the bar in New Mexico, in April, 1879. In 1880 he went to Scott County, Mo., but two years later returned to Colorado, and after residing at Aspin until 1883, he came to Greenwood, Ark. Since 1884 he has been a resident of Waldron, and has been a leading practitioner of Scott County ever since. He prospected for minerals soon after com- ing here, and discovered the prospects for coal oil, and afterward became one of the stockholders of a company organized for its development. In 1889 he formed his present partnership with B. F. Wolf, and has since been associated with him. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1872, and his wife, whom he married July 18, 1857, in Illinois, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her maiden name was Zerilda Harwood, a native of Indiana, and she has borne Mr. Wilson three children: Clara Isabelle (wife of J. J. Smiley, an engineer and bridge builder; he is now in Tam- pico, Mexico, where he has charge of harbor con- struction; his home is in Kansas City, Mo.), Hattie and Allie (the other two, now living with their parents).
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