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 77
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Dr. Wiley S. Stinnett, physician, Eagle Hill. Ark. Few, if any, industrial or professional pur- suits have within the last few years made such
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rapid strides as that of the profession of medicine, and among the leading physicians of Polk County, Ark., who have availed themselves of all new ideas and put them in practice, may be mentioned Dr. Stinnett. He was born in Marion County, Tenn., on September 7, 1826, and is the son of Hiram and Sarah (Walker) Stinnett, natives of Pike County, Tenn., and Botetourt County, Va., respectively. When a girl the mother was taken to Marion County, Tenn., by her parents, and there when grown she was married to Mr. Stinnett. In 1836 Mr. and Mrs. Stinnett moved to De Kalb County, Ala., thence in 1845 to Polk County, Ark., and settled in a wilderness on Mountain Fork. There they received their final summons, the father in 1865 at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother in 1862 at the age of fifty-four. The father was an extensive and successful farmer, and in his political views was a Democrat. He was the son of Marion Stinnett, who was a native of South Carolina and a farmer. The latter served in the War of 1812 and was in the battle of New Orleans. He died in Tennessee. Of the ten children born to his parents Dr. Stinnett is the elder of the two now living. His brother, Silas M., is a farmer and resides on the old homestead. Dr. Stinnett was educated in Marion County, Tenn., and De Kalb County, Ala. After growing up he turned his attention to farming, and this occupation he has continued to the present day. On June 20, 1846, he joined Col. Yell's regiment in the Mexican War, and was near when Col. Yell was killed. He was in the Buena Vista battle, and was discharged from the service on June 20, 1847, at Camargo, Mexico. He returned home by New Orleans. He then commenced to teach school in this county and car- ried this on in connection with farming for ten years. At the same time he read medicine, and in connection with tilling the soil has practiced his profession ever since. He has been very success- ful, and has a lucrative practice. During the late war be was not a secessionist, and remained out of the ranks on account of being justice of the peace in the county, but he was elected captain of a com- pany of militia in the county. He was elected justice of the peace in 1854, and held the office
twenty-five consecutive years or until he positively refused to serve any longer. On August 29, 1849, he married Miss. Malinda S. Winton, daughter of George Winton, one of the first settlers of the county, coming here from Tennessee as early as 1832. To this union were born eight children, three of whom are now living: George M. (a farmer of this county), Ben F. (also a farmer of this county), and Anna Belle (wife of H. A. Learned). Those deceased were Frances M., Hi- ram M., Helen M., Martha C. and G. G., all of whom lived to be grown except the last nained. Dr. Stinnett is a member of the Christian Church, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Mountain Meadow Lodge No. 218, and has been master of his lodge a number of times. He is decidedly a Republican in politics.
Hon. Benjamin F. Thompson is not only one of the successful and substantial farmers of Polk County, Ark., but he is also respected and esteemed for his many admirable traits of character. His life has been a useful one, and he has at all times endeavored to follow the teachings of the Golden Rule. He first saw the light of day in Morgan County, Ala., in 1836, being the ninth of twelve children, ten now living, born to the marriage of Benjamin W. and Keziah (Jackson) Thompson, both of whom were born in South Carolina, the former in 1793, and the latter in 1801. They were reared and married in their native State, and from there moved to Morgan County, Ala., where Mrs. Thompson died on August 17, 1873, Mr. Thompson passing from life two years later, both members of the Missionary Baptist Church for many years. . He was a successful farmer, a soldier in the War of 1812, and was with Jackson at New Orleans. His father, Benjamin Thompson, was a Virginian, who died in North Carolina, a farmer by occupation. He was a Revolutionary soldier for five years, and was of Welsh descent. The maternal grandfather, John Jackson, removed from South Carolina to Alabama, in which State he died just before the subject of this sketch was born, a farmer by calling, and a soldier in the War of 1812. Hon. Benjamin F. Thompson obtained a fair education in the common schools during his
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boyhood, and was brought up to a knowledge of farm life by his father. In August, 1861, he joined Company H, Twelfth Alabama Infantry, and was in the battles of Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, seven days' fight around Richmond, Sharpsburg, Gettysburg, and many others. He was never captured, but at the battle of Gettysburg was wounded in the left shoulder. He surrendered in Northern Alabama, being unfit for further service after he received his wound. He farmed in Alabama until 1877, then came to Polk County, Ark., and in 1873 was mar- ried to Mrs. Eliza A. Wright, daughter of William and Mahala Joplin, Mississippians, who came to Polk County, Ark., in 1856, where the father died before the war, a farmer, his widow still surviving him. Mrs. Thompson was born in Mississippi, and has borne her husband nine children, one be- ing deceased. Since 1871 Mr. Thompson has lived on his present farm of 400 acres, 100 acres of which are cleared. This is one of the finest farms in this section, and is the result of honest and persistent toil. In connection with farming he is engaged in stock-raising to some extent, in which branch of industry he has met with good success. In 1886 he was elected on the Demo- cratic ticket to the State Legislature, and served one term, being on several important committees. He is a member of Dallas Lodge No. 128, of the A. F. & A. M., and for some years was senior warden. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and his wife is a Methodist. His place is supposed to be the first one settled in the county, about seventy five years ago, by Jacob Wild, at which time the country was very sparsely settled, the woods being inhabited by Indians and wild animals of all kinds.
James Brit. Watts. In former years, the life of a farmer was considered a laborious one, but in this progressive age, with such improvements in machinery, he can do his work with half the dis- patch or labor as in the time of his father, and, in fact, works but little harder than the average man who strives to make a living. Besides all this, he is independent, which is one of the much sought- for conditions of life. Mr. Watts is a successful
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farmer, who has kept fully apace with the times, and has reached the conditions of life mentioned above. He was born in Cherokee County, Ala., in 1843, a son of Daniel D. and Frances (Philips) Watts, the former born in North Carolina, and the latter in Cherokee County, Ala., their marriage taking place in the last named State, where they are still living. The father was a farmer, and served in the Rebellion until the battle of Chicka- mauga, where he was disabled for life. His father, Levi Watts, was born in North Carolina, and died in Marshall County, Ala., a German by descent, and a farmer and Indian trader. The mother's father, Brit Philips, is still living, in Blount County, Ala., a farmer. James Brit Watts was the second of nine children, and as he was com- pelled to labor hard on his father's farm in his youth, he received but little schooling. In 1861 he joined Company C, Forty-eighth Alabama In- fantry, being in the same company with his father, and served until the close of the war, surrendering with Gen. Lee. The most of the time he acted as color bearer, and as such was in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Chickamauga, Knoxville, Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Gaines' Mill, Newmarket, Bermuda Hundred, South Petersburg, Gettysburg, Antietam, being in all about thirty- two general engagements. He was twice wounded, and was captured three times, but soon managed to effect his escape each time. After the war he re- turned to the farm in Alabama, and was there mar- ried in 1867, to Miss Martha J., daughter of Will- iam J. and Eliza Medford, who came to Polk County, Ark., in 1870, and here are still making their home. Mrs. Watts was born in Cherokee County, Ala., and has borne her husband nine children, eight of whom are living. In 1867 Mr. Watts removed to Drew County, Ark., but at the end of one year went to Desha County, and two years later, or in 1870, came to Polk County, and for six years has resided on his present farm of 335 acres, of which 120 acres are cleared. He has improved his farm greatly, and his buildings and fences are all in good repair. This property has been earned by his own efforts, for which he de- serves much credit. He was postmaster of Big
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Bend for some years, but otherwise has not as- pired to office. He belongs to the Primitive Bap- tist Church.
The following description of the military career of Mr. Watts is here given in his own graphic lan- guage and style:
"I wish to state a few words in regard to the battle of Gaines' Mill. I will say that I was a sharpshooter and a scout from Company C, Forty- eighth Alabama Infantry up till the battle of Gaines' Mill, and our battalion of sharpshooters charged the Federal sharpshooters and drove them back in their breastworks, wherein myself and comrades were so near the enemy that it seemed like it was almost impossible for us to make our escape. While thus exposed to the heavy fire from the artillery and rifles of the Federal lines, our boys were coming in a full breast at a charge bayonets and yelling, but my comrades were re- pulsed and retired, to rally and come again, which they did, but were repulsed again. All this time myself and comrades were in forty yards of the Federal breastworks, pouring a fire upon them with our Whitney rifles. In about five minutes I looked back and saw the Confederate line charging with determination. This charge was the third charge of the Confederates. As they charged within fifteen steps of my rear I saw the last man in my old Company C fall; his name was John Barton; he was first lieutenant of Company C, Forty-eighth Alabama. In this engagement we had six of as good southern soldiers to fall with our flag as ever lived. When my lieutenant fell forward with the flag he raised himself up as high as possible and waved his flag. I could not stand it any longer, so I rose up and made a few leaps backward and seized our colors. At that moment my lieutenant spread himself flat to the ground. He had received a deadly shot. At that moment as he sank down his dying words were to 'stamp the flag on the Federal works.' As I seized the flag and leaped forward to stamp it on the Federal works the flag- staff was shot in two, but I regained hold of the fractured end and ran forward. In a few leaps I reached the Federal works and planted my staff within three feet of the Yankee line. At that
moment a Yankee captain seized hold of our flag and while myself and the Yankee captain were de- fending ourselves from each others blows, tussling over the flag, one of my comrades shot and killed the captain, and in another instant my comrade fell, shot dead. In another moment I was yelling and waving our colors for my boys to rally to the old Forty-eighth flag. At the same time I heard Major Carrie cry out to the Forty-seventh Alabama to rally to the aid of the flag of the Forty-eighth, for it was stamped upon the Federal works. So the boys raised a terrible yell and here they came with bayonets presented. Then came the death struggle while I held the banner. It was a hand-to-hand fight, but quickly over. I was the only man left in Company C, Forty-eighth Alabama Rogiment. After this, and from that very hour, I was chosen as color-bearer for the Forty-eighth Alabama Reg- iment. I was the only man left in Company C, and there had six brave boys fallen from under that flag at this battle. Besides this the Forty-eighth had lost three men over half of her number. It seemed like the solemn hour had come, for we left home with 127 men in Company C, and now was cut down to one man only. We were the winners of the victory. The regiments that suffered in this battle were the Forty-eighth, Forty-seventh and Fifteenth Ala- bama, the Third, Fourth and Fifth Texas, and the Third Arkansas. We were fighting against odds- five to one. Besides the Federals were mixed troops of negroes, Indians and New Yorkers, and they all fought at the point of the bayonet.
Capt. W. M. Williams lumberman and farmer of Ransom, Ark., is doing a thriving business. He was born in Jackson County, Ala., in 1842, to Thomas and Margaret (Boze) Williams, the former born in East Tennessee, in 1805, and the latter in Alabama, in 1814, their marriage taking place in Jackson County, of the latter State, their home be- ing also there until 1847, when they came to Mont- gomery County, where Mrs. Williams succumbed to the destroyer, Death, in 1853, her husband fol- lowing her to the grave in 1885, passing from life in Polk County, Ark., where he had made his home since 1872. Both he and his wife were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he
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was a successful farmer, a soldier in the Florida War, and socially was a member of the A. F. & A. M. Thomas Williams, his father, died in Jackson County, Ala., about 1846, a farmer. The mater- nal grandfather of W. M. Williams, was Benja- min Boze. The subject of this sketch was the fourth child in a family of four sons and three daughters, three children now living, born to his fa- ther's first marriage. The latter's second union was to Elizabeth Baggs, who with four sons and three daughters, in a family of ten children sur- vives him. W. M. Williams received but a few months' schooling in his youth, and in July, 1861, joined Company F, Fourth Arkansas Infantry, in which he served as lieutenant and captain until July, 1862, when he lost his right leg by the blow- ing up of a steamboat. This ended his military career and he returned home, having been an act- ive participant in the battles of Pea Ridge and Corinth. He followed farming exclusively until 1867, then engaged in saw-milling on the Caddo River in Montgomery County, afterward at Mount Ida until 1874, when he came to Polk County, and followed the same calling in the west part of the county for a few years. The following five years he gave his attention to farming, and in the mean- time was elected assessor of Polk County, a posi-
tion he held twelve years, being a resident of Dal- las. In October, 1888, he again engaged at his present stand, three miles northeast of Dallas, where he is doing a good business. He is the owner of 120 acres here and 160 acres on Mount Fork, which property he has acquired by honest and persistent toil. He was postmaster of Ransom for a short time and for four years was internal- improvement commissioner of Montgomery County, also holding the position of treasurer of the coun- ty three years, when he resigned to remove to Polk County. He was married first in 1867 to Perlina, daughter of George Gordon, who came from Mississippi to Montgomery County, Ark., in an early day, in which county he died about 1865. Mrs. Williams was born there and died at Dallas on November 13, 1881, having borne six children, four of whom are living. Jane L. Litton, a daugh- ter of Samuel J. Litton, became Mr. Williamis' second wife, she being a native of Mississippi, and by Mr. Williams the mother of one child. Her fa- ther was born in Mississippi, and moved first to Texas, and then to Polk County, Ark., where he is still living, engaged in farming. He lost his wife in Texas. Mr. Williams and his wife are church members.
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CHAPTER XXI.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY-LOCATION-BOUNDARY-AREA-DESCRIPTION, RESOURCES AND PRODUCTIONS- SOIL-STREAMS-FREESTONE AND MINERAL SPRINGS-WATER POWER-TIMBER-MINERALS-LIVE- STOCK RAISING-STATISTICS-FRUIT-GROWING-THE GRAPE AND ITS PRODUCT-DIVERSIFIED FARMING - SETTLEMENT - EARLY SETTLERS-SLAVES-PUBLIC LANDS - FIRST TAX BOOK-PRESENT TAXABLE WEALTH-COUNTY ORGANIZATION- EARLY RECORDS- COUNTY SEAT-COMMISSIONERS TO LOCATE COUNTY SEAT-MUNICIPAL TOWN- SHIPS-COUNTY BOUNDARY LINES-COUNTY BUILDINGS-COUNTY OFFI- CERS-POLITICAL STATUS-ELECTION RETURNS-POPULATION- CIRCUIT COURT-FIRST COURT SESSIONS -- FIRST GRAND AND PETIT JURIES - CIVIL WAR PERIOD - TOWNS - SCHOOLS-RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS-ETC.
" Oh! the waves of life danced merrily, And had a joyous flow, In the days when we were pioneers, Fifty years ago!"
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ONTGOMERY is one of the counties of Ar- kansas which lie in the west central part of the State, and is bounded north by Scott, Yell and Gar- land Counties, east by Garland and Hot Springs Counties, south by Clark and Pike Counties, and west by Polk County, the latter separat- ing it from Indian Territory. It also lies in north latitude 35°, and west longitude 94°, having a climate of equitable temperature, with- out the extremes of heat and cold which characterize the lower and higher latitudes of the country. The area of the county is about 920 square miles, covering, as
it does, according to Government survey, portions of Township 1 north, and Townships 1 to 4. inclus- ive, south of the base line, and portions of Ranges 21 to 27, inclusive, west of the fifth principal mer- idian. Of this vast area only a small percentage has been settled and cleared for cultivation.
From a well-written article prepared by a well- posted citizen, and published recently in the Mont- gomery County Herald, the writer is enabled by permission of the publisher, and from information from other sources, to give the following descrip- tion of the county, its resources, etc. :
The surface of the country is highly diversi- fied and picturesque, being variegated with mount- ains, foot-hills, uplands and valleys. All the val- leys which margin the numerous water courses flowing through the county are characterized by a deep, rich, alluvial soil, very prolific, and easy of cultivation, invariably yielding ample and very
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gratifying returns to the agriculturist who avails himself of the treasures contained in the broad acres spread out by nature as an inviting field and home for the enterprising husbandman from every land and clime. While lands contiguous and in closest proximity to the many streams are the most desirable for agricultural purposes, there is still a large area of choice uplands susceptible of culti- vation, and which, with proper tillage, produce excellent crops of cotton, tobacco, all the cereals, esculent roots, and vegetables indigenous to this latitude. All the varieties of land and the differ- ent kinds of soil they contain are easily cultivated, and only require seasonable and judicious manage- ment to yield handsome returns for the labor ex- pended by the careful and industrious farmer, whose livelihood depends upon utilizing our natural farming resources to the best advantage. Nature, with a lavish hand, has provided the means for acquiring a competency by the hardy tiller of the soil, and if he fails to attain what is within his reach, it is not the fault of a bountiful Providence.
The Ouachita River which flows from west to east through the north-central portion of the county, is the most important water course. There are several tributaries of this river which water a large portion of the county, all of which are bordered by the richest arable lands. South Fork running eastwardly through the central portion of the county by way of the county seat, is the largest of these tributaries, and along its banks are some of the finest farms in the county. The Caddo, which flows southeasterly and drains the southern por- tion of the county, is also an important stream, and a finer one is rarely met with, the water being soft and clear as crystal, margined by farming lands of the richest quality, some of which are in a high state of cultivation. Streams of less note -the Mazarn, Brushy Fork, Williams Creek, Col- lier's Creek, Walnut Fork, Twin Creek, Gap Creek and numerous others-all rapidly flowing streams, form quite an item in the general estimate of the agricultural and grazing facilities, besides affording a vast motor power for driving the heav- iest machinery for milling and all kinds of manu-
facturing purposes. There are so many bold streams crossing the country in all directions that every neighborhood could have its own mills and factories if enterprise and capital were only brought to bear in that direction. These mountain streams have great fall, and, consequently, are very rapid in their flow from head to source. The water power which can be utilized in running machinery is immense, and when transportation facilities are furnished our almost unlimited forests of valuable timber that cover the wild, uncultivated lands, will be made a source of wealth to the lumbermen and manufacturers who have the enterpise to avail them- selves of so important a factor in the natural re- sources of Montgomery County. There are nu- merous springs of good water within the county, but well water is generally used for domestic pur- poses. The later is usually obtained in great abundance, except on the mountains, at a depth of from twenty to thirty feet. The following are noted mineral springs: Mayberry Springs, Crys- tal Springs, seventy-five in number; Ryder's Blood Springs, fifty in number, and Iron's Sulphur Springs, six in number. Ryder's White Sulphur Springs, said to be the finest and coolest sulphur water in the county, were recently purchased by Gen. William D. Ryder of Kansas City, who in- tends making them an attractive resort in the near future. Besides the above there are many others of minor notoriety.
The almost illimitable forests of choice timber, as yet comparatively undisturbed, are a source of fabulous wealth, and are destined, at no remote period of time, to subserve the interest of man. Only the lack of adequate means of transportation for marketing the lumber which can be manufact- ured in immense quantities prevents this timber from being utilized and made a source of revenue of paramount importance. Here are found every variety of oak, gum and hickory, besides pine, ash, walnut, elm, cedar, locust, birch, cherry, and many other kinds of forest trees of tall, thrifty growth, well adapted to lumbering, building and manufact- uring purposes. No finer timber for cabinet work, in the manufacture of all kinds of furniture, can be found in the State or elsewhere. With the con-
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struction of the several railroads through the county, now in contemplation and partially located, timber resources will be made available, and found to be an element of wealth hardly inferior to any other of the natural resources of the county. There are a few small saw-mills in the county which cut a sufficient supply of lumber for domestic purposes, but none for shipment.
While it is a conceded fact that Arkansas, or that portion of it embraced within the great mineral belt that traverses the State and extends into the Indian Territory, has immense mineral resources, it is no less true that Montgomery County possesses the richest mineral fields yet discovered. There is not a locality in the State where developments have yet been made at all commensurate with what are clearly warranted by the indications and discoveries of valuable ores. Some mining operations have been carried on in Montgomery County, more with a view to speculating in mining property than to develop paying mines. Silver-bearing ores consti- tute the leading ores of a great [portion of this county, which are found as float mineral; also in blanket, contact and fissure veins. Argentiferous galena, gray copper, chloride and bromide of silver have been discovered here in various localities, and in many places have been struck in paying quanti- ties. Some mines have been in successful opera- tion, the output of gold and silver-bearing quartz being sufficient to more than pay the expense of mining from the very grass roots, the ore increas- ing in both quantity and quality as the work pro- gresses. It is a lamentable fact that the greater portion of the labor expended in mining enterprises in Montgomery County has been misdirected, consequently the results attained have been very meager. Parties without experience or practical knowledge of mining have hitherto conducted all operations here, and it is not at all surprising that no tangible results should follow the efforts of such unskilled labor. When men of business capacity, backed by capital, take hold of some of the best properties, all the indications point to the conclusion that the situation will be entirely differ- ent, and that good paying mines will be rapidly developed. Speculating in undeveloped mining
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