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 72
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Benjamin F. Wolf is an eminent lawyer of the well-known firm of Wilson & Wolf, of Waldron, Ark., and although he has been a resident of the State in which he is now residing since 1867, he was born in the State of Tennessee in 1845, being the youngest of eleven children born to Henry and Nancy (Kinchelow) Wolf, the former a Virginian and the latter a native of Tennessee. Henry Wolf was a carpenter by trade, and upon his removal to Arkansas in 1867 he settled in Crawford County, where he followed his calling until his death, nine years later, his wife passing from life the same year, both having attained an advanced age. Mr. Wolf was a prominent politician while a resident of McMinn County, and during 1856 was sheriff of that county. The boyhood days of Benjamin F. Wolf were spent in his native State, his edu- cation being obtained in a high school. At the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, he put aside personal considerations to enlist in the Confederate Army, and became a member of Company A, Third Tennessee Infantry, and was in many of the battles
in which the Army of Virginia took part, among which may be mentioned Manassas. In 1862 he joined an independent company and was later at- tached to Forrest's command. He was captured near Calhoun, but after a very short time was re- leased. He was in many engagements in Tennes- see, and did much scouting and special duty. He was in the battle of Chickamauga, and after the battle of Missionary Ridge while at home on fur- lough and sick in bed, he was captured, but was soon after released, and shortly after rejoined his command, with which he served until the close of the war. After the termination of the war he re- turned to his home and began teaching school, and during this time, at odd moments, pursued the study of law. After closing up his father's accounts he came with him to Arkansas, and after residing in Crawford County until 1876, he went to Texas, where he remained three years. He then returned to Arkansas, and in the town of Mount Ida, Montgomery County, began the practice of law. In 1881 he came to Scott County, and lo- cated in Poteau Valley, being formally admitted to the bar in 1885, soon after taking up his resi- dence in Waldron. He owns some good town property, is a wide awake and enterprising gentle- man, and as a lawyer is a deep thinker, keen and practical in his views and the thorough master of his profession. He was married in 1876 to Miss America Cavinous, of this State, but she died in 1880, having borne one son, John (who is dead). His second marriage took place in 1882 to Mrs. Matilda Bird, a native of Arkansas, and a daughter of Z. Hembey, a pioneer of this county and a resident of Poteau Valley. Mr. Wolf is a mem- ber of the A. F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. fra- ternities.
Albert S. Wood. There is a number of men who are prominently identified with the mercantile interests of Scott County, Ark., but none of them is more deserving of mention than Mr. Wood, who, although not old in years, is yet a substantial business man. He was born in Mississippi in 1856, to John T. and Delilah (Nations) Wood, they be- ing also Mississippians, the former an honest and progressive tiller of the soil. Their marriage,
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which occurred in their native State, resulted in the birth of ten children, their names being as fol- lows: Albert S., Victoria (who died some years since), Daniel, Alice, J. Booker, Kate, Thomas, Stanford, Joseph and Nora. John T. Wood en- listed in the Confederate Infantry in 1861, and was on active duty until the close of the war. He first removed from his native State to Texas, and from that State came to Arkansas, in 1859, set- tling in Sevier County, but in 1868 came to Scott County, and is here now residing. He is a mem- ber of Cauthron Lodge No. 385, of the A. F. & A. M., and ever since residing here has proved himself a man of progressive views and public spirit. Albert S. Wood came to this State with his parents when a small boy, and was principally reared on a farm, but besides being an attendant of the common schools near his home, he was given the advantages of the schools of Fayetteville in 1884 and 1885. He has taught school, and farmed up to 1888, when he engaged in the mercantile business at Gipson, Scott County, Ark., and in May, 1889, was appointed postmaster of the place. He has done an exceedingly prosperous business, and has become well known for his honest, upright dealing with his patrons and for his interest in the welfare of this region. He is junior warden of Cauthron Lodge No. 385, of the A. F. & A. M., and also belongs to Poteau Lodge No. 27, of the I. O. O. F.
M. Q. Workman is of that sturdy and inde- pendent class, the farmers of Arkansas, and no follower of that calling is possessed of more gen- uine merit and a stronger character than he whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He was born in North Carolina, May 6, 1834, being a son of M. P. and L. C. Workman, they being North Carolinians also, the former born in -, and the latter in 1813. They were married in their native
State, and the same year that their son, M. Q. Workman, was born, M. P. Workman died, and after some years his widow married S. S. Plum- mer, by which gentleman she became the mother of eight children: Sarah A. (widow of Henry Eater), M. J. (wife of Mitchel Cross), L. C. (wife of William Condrey), L. S. (wife of Joseph Singel- tery), A. B., M. C. (wife of Henry Cauthron), M. H. (wife of W. H. Marr), and J. E. The mother is now living in Scott County, Ark., and she, her husband and all her children are members of the Baptist Church. The subject of this sketch was married in Catoosa County, Ga., in 1861, to Miss M. E. Pack, a Georgian, born in 1838. To them two children have been born: J. A. and W. M., but in 1863 they were left motherless. Two years later Mr. Workman married, a second time, Miss P. J. Smith, a native of North Carolina, born in 1843, becoming his wife, and in time, the mother of seven children, of whom are living: S. A., T. W., Ervin and J. P. J. L., H. W. and one that died in infancy are those not living. Mr. Workman was a soldier in the Rebellion, and in 1862 en- listed in a company of infantry, serving in Georgia Regiment until the close of the war. He received one severe wound, a ball entering his left jaw and coming out on the right side of the mouth, cutting his tongue in two, which wound was received at the battle of Peach Tree Creek. After the war he returned home, and engaged in farming, which calling has been his occupation ever since. He owns 166 acres of land, with 70 under cultivation, his crops being corn, cotton, oats and wheat. In 1870 he emigrated from Georgia to Arkansas, and settled where he now lives, where he has done well, and where he expects to make his future home. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and socially, he belongs to Cauth- ron Lodge No. 385, of the A. F. & A. M.
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
CHAPTER XX.
POLK COUNTY-LOCATION AND BOUNDARY-TOPOGRAPHY, STREAMS, SPRINGS AND WATER SUPPLY- TIMBER-SOIL-FARM PRODUCTS-PUBLIC LANDS-MINERALS, GOLD, SILVER, MANGANESE, ETC .-
HORTICULTURE-VINEYARDS-NATIVE WINE-LIVE STOCK-U. S. SIGNAL SERVICE-CLI-
MATE-PROPOSED RAILROADS-TAXABLE WEALTH-WILD ANIMALS-SETTLEMENT -PIONEER SETTLERS-FIRST MILLS-PIONEER CABINS-COUNTY ORGANIZA- TION-COUNTY SEAT-PUBLIC BUILDINGS-COUNTY OFFICERS-ELEC- TION RETURNS-POPULATION-CIRCUIT COURT-LEGAL BAR -CIVIL WAR-DALLAS AND OTHER TOWNS-DALLAS HIGH SCHOOL-EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES- RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
"We will revive those times, and in our memories preserve and still keep fresh, like flowers in water, those happier days."-Richter.
HE county of Polk, in the State of Arkansas, lies on the western tier of counties, and is bounded north by Scott County, east by Montgomery and Howard Counties, south by Howard and Sevier Coun- ties, and on the west by the In- dian Territory. According to the Government survey of the public lands it comprises all of Town- ships 1 to 4, inclusive, south of the base line, in Ranges 28 to 32, in- clusive, west of the fifth principal meridian, and all of Townships 5 and 6 south of the base line, in Ranges 31 and 32 west, and also that part of Township 6 south, lying in fractional Range 33 west, containing in all an area of 876 square miles, or 560,640 acres. A more definite description of the county is as follows: Beginning on the base line at the northeast corner of Town-
ship 1 south, in Range 28 west; thence south on the range line to the line dividing Townships 4 and 5 south; thence west on the township line to the line dividing Ranges 30 and 31 west; thence south on the range line to the township and correction line between Townships 5 and 6 south; thence east on the correction line to the line dividing Ranges 30 and 31 west; thence south on the range line to the line dividing Townships 6 and 7 south; thence west on the township line to the western boundary of the State; thence north on the State line to the base line; thence east on the Fourche la Fave Mountain Ridge to the place of beginning.
Polk is in the same latitude as Montgomery County, a description of which is given in this volume, and it lies mostly in the ninety-fifth degree of west longitude. Its altitude above sea level in the vicinity of Dallas, the county seat, is about 1,400 feet, and fourteen miles north of west from Dallas, Rich Mountain rears its lofty summit about 2,700 feet above tide water, making it the highest point of land in the State. The surface of the
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county is both hilly and level. A mountain range, known as the Fourche la Fave, running the entire length of the county, divides Polk from Scott County on the north. Through this range are two gaps, or accessible passes -- Eagle or Foren- through which are wagon roads, and the grade is not too great for railroads through either. Rich Mountain, one of nature's curiosities, lies directly and immediately south of the western part of the Fourche la Fave range, and extends westward into the Indian Territory. This mountain has phenomenal features worthy of especial mention. On its summit are several hundred acres of rich lands, nearly level and very productive, resembling river-bottom land, both in soil, timber and vegeta- tion. Beech and linden, and all the other kinds of timber found on the bottoms of this region of the country, grow on the top of this mountain. Good cold springs of freestone and chalybeate water are also found there. The altitude being so great, a blanket covering is necessary to keep a person com- fortable on the warmest summer nights, and the days are very pleasant, not excessively cold even in winter. Several families live on this mountain, and have rich and valuable farms. Frequently they can enjoy the sunshine and look down on the clouds that are showering the lands below.
The Kiomiche Mountain touches the county on the west, and through it are several nearly level passes, by which the Indian Territory is reached. South of Dallas, in the central part of the county, are the Silver Mountains, comprising a large pro- portion of the area of the county. Their conical shaped peaks, all covered with forest trees, with their beautiful foliage, are the loveliest of scenery as beheld from the valleys or lower lands.
The county is well watered with as fine mount- ain streams as the world affords. The north cen- tral and northeastern part of the county is drained by the Ouachita or Washita River, which flows in an easterly direction into Montgomery County. This river has several tributaries, all beautiful streams of water, clear as crystal. The southeast- ern part of the county is drained by the head- waters of Caddo Creek and the Clear Fork of the Little Missouri, flowing in a southeasterly direc-
tion. The southern portion is drained by the head- waters or streams of the Saline and Cossatot Rivers, and the Rolling Fork of Little River. The western part of the county is drained by Mountain Fork and other streams which flow westerly into the Indian Territory and thence into Little River. Big Creek drains a small portion of the northwest- ern part of the county and flows thence into Poteau River. The dividing ridge between the waters that flow northwardly and eastwardly by way of the Ouachita and its tributaries, and the waters that flow in all other directions from the county, extends a distance east and west near Dallas, mostly south- east thereof. The Fourche la Fave and Rich Mountain range form the dividing ridge or water- shed between the Arkansas River on the north and Red River on the south.
South of this mountain range, twelve miles in extent, is the Ouachita River Valley, which reaches to Dallas. Of this region Col. Thompson, of the Arkansas Forest and Farm, recently published the following: "One hundred miles north of Texar- kana, eighty five miles south of Fort Smith and eighty miles west of Hot Springs on the west- ern border of Arkansas and over 1,400 feet above the Gulf of Mexico, surrounded by the Cos- satot, Fourche and Rich Mountains, where the Cossatot, Ouachita, Poteau and the Mountain Fork of Little River all have their birth, winding their way by the four points of the compass to the ocean, it was here we found Dallas Park, a land fit for the home of the gods, where fruits, flowers, cereals and grasses are unexcelled anywhere in this broad land. The park is about twelve miles broad and eighteen miles long, but at present only about ten per cent is under cultivation, the remainder in timber of various kinds, all of fine growth. . Water is abundant and as pure as ever dropped from the clouds, though mineral springs of various kinds are frequently found, some having been noted for years for their curative properties and visited by people from the low lands of this State, Louisiana and Texas. With easy access, the region would soon become, among health and pleasure seekers, as the many now celebrated mountain resorts of the East. From one spur of
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the Cossatot, near the town of Dallas, we saw over forty springs, all within the space of an acre or so." There are good mineral and fresh-water springs throughout the county, and the water in the streams is so clear and pure that it is used by some families for domestic purposes. Good well water, except on the mountain tops, can also be procured at moderate depth. Springs flow also from the mountain tops.
The county was originally covered with a dense growth of timber, and as only a small portion of its area has been cleared there are still very ex- tensive forests of the best of pine, several varieties of oak, hickory, sweet and black gum, some wal- nut, cedar and other varieties. None of the tim- ber has been cut and shipped away. A few small saw-mills which saw lumber only for home use exist in the county. As soon as this section of country shall be traversed with railroads to give an outlet, a great industry in the lumber business will spring up. In the valleys along the streams the soil is alluvial, deep and exceedingly fertile, and on the higher lands it is composed of humus, sand and clay, and it produces well wherever the land lies level enough for cultivation. Even on the mountain tops plateaus of very productive land are found. In some places on the gently in- clining hillsides where the surface is so completely covered with small stones that strangers (without seeing the crops) would comdemn them as worth- less, heavy crops of corn are grown. Cotton, corn, oats and wheat are the chief products raised. With proper cultivation the bottom lands will pro- duce a bale of cotton per acre, and the uplands from a half to two-thirds as much; of corn the bottom lands could easily be made to produce from thirty to sixty bushels, and the uplands a less amount in proportion to their strength. However these results are seldom obtained, because scien- tific farming has not been adopted except by a very few individuals. It is said that clover and the tame grasses do well here, but as yet they have not been raised to any extent either for hay, pasture or for fertilizing the lands. The wild range where the stock lives the year round without care, is depended upon for pasture, and as the lands
continue to produce fair crops with the old methods of cultivation, no extra efforts are made to raise more. Transportation-outlets by rail for the surplus products-is the thing most needed for the development of the resources of this part of the State.
There are nearly 200,000 acres of land yet in Polk County subject to homestead entry, and im- proved lands can be purchased for from $3 to $8 per acre. Mineral lands or such as are known to contain minerals are not subject to homestead en- try. Prof. J. Van Cleve Phillips of St. Louis, an eminent geologist, spent several weeks in Polk County in 1885, examining and investigating the geological formation, and afterward published the following: "Having been over portions of Pulaski, Saline, Hot Springs, Garland, Montgomery, Polk, Sevier and parts of adjacent counties, and studied the topography and ores so far as discovered, I am led to the conclusion that these counties include the central part of what will eventually prove to be the richest nickel, tin, silver and gold fields on the continent; that the metals here stored up have direct relationship to the coming population of the Mississippi Basin, where it will have 300 to the square mile; that mining parties who propose to develop these silver veins, must go to work to make silver mining a practical and permanent in- dustry, and that the town which will be most bene- fited by this industry will be where the most practi- cal knowledege of nickel, tin, silver and gold mining and reducing these ores are made a daily discussion and study."
Since the above was published several mines have been opened in Pope County, among which are those best known as the Worthington Mines, located about two and a half miles south of Dallas, and the Burns Bros.' Mines, situated twelve miles southeast of Dallas. The former produces gold and silver, and the latter manganese. At the Worthington Mines, Mr. Lee Worthington owns eight or ten claims, Mr. Clarence Swartout six, Martin Durham and others each several claims, and the Silver Leaf and Copper Queen mining companies have three claims each. Assays of the ores taken from the Worthington Mines give good
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results, all the way from $15 to $200 of gold and silver per ton. The silver predominates. At these mines three tunnels and their cross-cuts measuring 100 feet each have been made.
Burns & Bro. claim for their mines the best and purest manganese in the world, having had it as- sayed in large quantities by the best assayists in both Europe and America, it running all the way from fifty to seventy-six per cent of metallic man- ganese, and in some instances there being no phos- phorus and no sulphur, and only one per cent of silica and two per cent of earthy matter. As these mines are not yet in operation the quality only, and not the extent of the manganese, is known. Seven different mines have been opened where the quality has been found to be excellent, and from all ap- pearances the quantity is abundant. Manganese, gold and silver, iron and other valuable minerals exist in other parts of the county than these men- tioned here. The owners of the mining claims so far as taken, are now doing the work thereon an- nually required by the Government in developing their mines, are taking care of the ores excavated, and awaiting the ingress of railroads, when they expect to obtain a rich harvest in fully operating their mines, and reducing the precious metals for the world's markets.
Pertaining to horticulture in Polk County, Judge Thad. M. Carder, of Dallas, one of the lead- ing horticulturists, thus writes:
"There is seldom a failure of apples. The trees grow well, and but few die from the effects of the grub, when properly cared for. There being no market, but little attention has been given to the orchard until the past few years. Young or- chards are at nearly every farm house now. Peaches grow large, but are not a sure crop, say, as an aver- age, two crops in three years. Plums are not a sure crop. Pears and quinces do well; all small fruits that have been cultivated give entire satisfaction.
" This is the home of many varieties of grapes. The Ouachita. or Mountain grape, about the size of the Concord, grows wild on the mountain. The few vineyards that have started have given entire satisfaction, not a failure in eight years; large fruit and a fine flavor, no blight, mildew or insects,
but few leaf rollers. The varieties that give the best satisfaction that have been tried, are the Concord, Ives Seedling, Hartford Prolific, Dela- ware, Norton's Virginia, Summerville and Amber. The east-face hill land is the best for all fruit crops. Nearly any of the ridges are rich enough without any fertilizer. Strawberries grow wild wherever protected from stock. The few that have cultivated the strawberry have received ample reward for their labor in large and finely flavored berries and an abundant yield."
Since the above was written a largely increased interest in the growing of fruits has been mani- fested. Thousands of young apple trees have been recently planted, and many have planted extensive vineyards. James Owens, of Dallas. is probably the largest apple-grower in the county. Among the varieties of this excellent fruit that succeed best in this part of the country are Kentucky Red, Lim- ber Twig, Red Pippin, Shannon, Winter Pear- main, Northern Spy and Arkansas Black. Grape culture has already been made a specialty, and an association for the better culture of the vine has been organized. Thad. M. Carder, M. J. Hop- kins, W. Nall and J. F. England, of Dallas and vicinity; T. J. Tate, W. C. Smith and O. T. Alli- son, in the neighborhood of Cove; S. C. Bates and M. V. Lee, at Egger post-office; James S. Standridge, on Big Fork, and about thirty others constitute the members of the association, and are the leading vine growers. All of these have from 150 to 7,000 vines each. Judge Carder has 7,000 vines under cultivation, about half of which are old enough to bear. There are 129,500 grapevines growing in vineyards in the county, none of which contain less than half an acre, and nearly all of them were only three years old in the fall of 1890. This industry is confined mostly to the localities of Dallas and Cove. A considerable quantity of native wine has already been manu- factured, and much will be made in the near fu- ture.
Judge Carder also writes the following quota- tion: "Range or wild grass. Stock run at large, plenty of grass in the spring or summer. Beg- gar lice and peavines in the fall. Cattle and
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
horses do well on the range from April to October, and sometimes later, owing to the fall. Some cat- tle go through the winter without feed. There is a large amount of wild land in the mountains, and in fact all over the country, that will likely not be enclosed for many years. Hogs run at will and thrive on the mast and vegetables and roots, and but few hogs are fed, only those that are intended for bacon, and many kill their meat from the woods. The acorn crop seldom fails."
The number of domestic animals assessed for taxation in Polk County in 1889 was as follows: Horses, 2,284; cattle, 11,931; mules and asses, 909; sheep, 3,505; hogs, 17,861. This is a very good showing in the raising of live stock in a rural county so far from railroad markets. The exten- sive range, mild climate, many streams and other favorable conditions make the county a very favor- able place for raising live stock to advantage.
There is a United States signal service station at Dallas, with Judge Thad. M. Carder, as super- intendent. The tower on the mountain a short dis- tance south of the Judge's residence, is 1,892 feet above the sea, and 480 feet above the common level surrounding it. The average temperature at Dal- las, for the year 1889, was fifty-nine degrees, and the rainfall was forty-one and a half inches. This shows that the climate is mild, and that the rain- fall, even though in a montainous country, is amply sufficient.
The Texarkana & Northern Railroad, with Fort Smith as its objective point on the north, must pass through Polk County when completed. On the southern end of this line the cars are running from Texarkana to Red River, and work is being done to finish the road several miles farther north, to reach the pine timber, and the probability is that ere long it will be built to its northern terminus. The line of another proposed railway known as the Memphis, Little Rock & Indian Territory, passes east and west through the county. Not until these railways, or others in their stead, are constructed, will the resources of Polk County become fully de- veloped.
The taxable property of Polk County was assessed in 1889, for taxation, as follows: Real
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