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 78
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properties is a thing of the past. All the enter- prises now in contemplation and already in prog- ress, are destined to result in lasting benefit to the mining interests of the entire county. Large de- posits of manganese said to be of the finest quality also exist in Montgomery County.
The facilities which this county affords, in common with numerous other counties of the State, for raising live stock can hardly be sur- passed by any locality in the country. The differ- ent varieties of nutricious grasses which grow luxuriously, furnish both summer and winter range for stock, thus involving little expense in raising animals for market. Only in the event of an unusually severe winter is it found necessary to feed grain to stock running on the range. The mast, which is generally produced in great abun- dance, is sufficient to fatten all the pork for home consumption, besides furnishing a large quantity for sale. The soil is well adapted to the growth of timothy, red-top, bermuda, blue grass and clover, but as yet these tame grasses have not been culti- vated to any considerable extent. The clear rapid streams which abound afford an abundance of pure water for live stock, and with all these advantages there is nothing to hinder stock-raising from being a great source of profit even without railroad facil . ities at home as the stock can easily be driven to railroad lines.
The following statistics prove very conclusively that this industry is being developed. In 1886 the number of animals within the county assessed for taxation was as follows: Horses, 1,189; mules and asses, 574; cattle, 8,080; sheep, 1,332; hogs, 7,884. In 1889 the number assessed was as fol- lows: Horses, 1,677; mules and assess, 616; cattle. 11,215; sheep, 2,337; hogs, 13,883. This shows the gain in the three years to be 488 horses, 42 mules and asses, 3,135 head of cattle, 1,005 sheep and 5,999 hogs. As a further evidence of pros- perity the records show that in 1886 there were 646 pleasure carriages in the county, and in 1889 the number had increased to 896, a gain of 250- and all this notwithstanding the cry of "hard times."
All the varieties of fruit and grapes grown in
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
this latitude can be raised here in great abundance and the highest state of perfection. Lands not so well adapted to the raising of grain are found to be excellent for orchards and vineyards, and the fruit and grape-growing industry has proven highly remunerative to all who have engaged in it. While Montgomery County has not made a specialty of fruit growing, like some other counties of the State, it can make a creditable display in that line. The growing of grapes especially, and the manu- facture of wine bids fair to become a great indus- try in the county.
The farmers of this county are wisely adopting a system of diversified farming, instead of confin- ing themselves exclusively to the raising of cotton for the market. While farmers in other counties, more especially those cultivating the bottom lands along the banks of our navigable rivers, can make a specialty of cotton raising and find it profitable, Montgomery County farmers prefer a variety of crops, such as can be quickly raised, to one that requires the entire year, or nearly so, to get it off their hands. Most of the lands here produce ex- cellent crops of cotton, but our farmers realize that grain, vegetable and stock farms are more profita- ble and self-sustaining than a farm devoted en- tirely to cotton growing, with its grain bins and smoke-houses in St. Louis or Chicago. Hence diversified farming is superseding the old cotton- growing specialty to a considerable extent.
The settlement of the territory now composing Montgomery County began early in the decade of the thirties, but on account of its being far from river communication in the early days, and far from railroad facilities in the latter, the settlement has always been slow and gradual, and as yet only a small percentage -as has been stated-has been settled and cleared. The settlements are confined mostly to the lines of the streams where the best lands are located. Prominent among the early settlers were Granville Whittington, Andrew Boles (the first county judge), Henry Brewer, John Boggs, Samuel Cunningham, James Hutson, James Gaston, David Mayberry, Robert MeConnell, Jesse Ollier, George Pointer, Benjamin Polk, Frederick Salyers, George Fisher (the first clerk), and J. I.
Mcclendon, all of whom settled in the original municipal township of Sulphur Springs, embrac- ing the north-central and northwestern part of the county. Mr. Granville Whittington came from Boston and settled in 1835. Ira Bowlin, Dennis Carroll, Lewis Carroll, J. W. Embry, James Fair, Benedict Harroll, John H. Jeffrey, James May, Taylor Polk, Charles Smith, Elisha Tweedle, and John Shipp, were the prominent early settlers of Caddo Cove municipal township, which embraced the southern portion of the county. T. H. Bled- soe, Cornelius Cane, Solomon Kerby, Joseph Lamb, Ira K., and G. K. Robinson, Isaac Ship- man and Jefferson Cunning were among the lead- ing pioneers of Mountain Township, which em- braced the eastern part of the county, including also that portion since set off to Garland County.
The pioneer settlers came mostly from the southern States bordering on the Atlantic and the Gulf, Kentucky, Tennessee, and some from Mis- souri. Jefferson Collier and George P. Mckinney, two very old citizens, were among the first persons born in what is now Montgomery County. A few of the early settlers brought slaves with them, and others procured slaves after coming. In 1845, as shown by what appears to be the first tax book of the county, there were fifty-four slaves therein. Of these fifteen were owned by Lewis Carroll, and seven by Taylor Polk, both of Caddo Cove Town- ship. There were twenty-one persons then in the county owning slaves-several having only one each. The pioneer settlers all wore homespun clothing, and many of the citizens still continue to manufacture much of their wearing apparel. The hum of the spinning wheel and the clatter of the shuttle in the loom is still heard in many a house- hold.
The tax book of 1889 shows that of the total acreage of the county, which is about 590,000, only 108,051 was owned by individuals and sub- ject to taxation. Of the residue, however, a con- siderable amount is owned by homesteaders who have not as yet "proved up" and received their titles. Perhaps two thirds or more of the whole area of the county is public Jand subject to entry. Much of this, however, is in the hills and mount-
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ains, and not suitable for cultivation. There is also a large amount of fairly good land yet subject to entry by homesteaders.
The tax book of the county for the year 1845, consisted of ten sheets of paper the size of " fools- cap," sewed together. The whole number of tax- payers was 205, and the amount of taxes charged for State purposes was $59.72, and for county pur- poses $369.76 making a total of $429.48. The number of taxable polls was 190, and the amount of taxable property was $42,869. In 1889 the real estate of the county subject to taxation was assessed at $231,457 and the personal property at $329,804, making a total of $561,261 as the taxable wealth of the county. There were also 1,521 taxable polls.
Montgomery County was organized under the provisions of an act of the General Assembly of the State approved December 9, 1842, out of territory taken from Hot Springs County. It seems, how- ever, that the county was not fully and actually organized until some time in 1844. No record of the county court has been preserved prior to July, 1845, and only a part of the record of the July term of that year is preserved. At this term the commissioners previously appointed to select a site for the county seat, made their report, having se- lected the site where Mount Ida now stands. The report was accepted and approved so far as it related to the location of the site, but rejected as to the matter it contained about laying out the site into town lots. Robert McConnell was then ap- pointed commissioner to let the contract and su- perintend the erection of a "log building" to "temporarily accommodate the holding of courts." The original name given to the county seat was Montgomery, and the tract of land on which it was located was entered at the land office at Washington in Hempstead County, for the county, by Robert McConnell, who was paid $10 for go- ing to Washington for that purpose. The names of the commissioners who located the county seat, were William C. Hall, Charles Maddox, Robert McConnell and J. J. Mclendon, and each was paid the sum of $3 for his services.
Soon thereafter the town of Montgomery was surveyed and laid out into lots and streets by the
county surveyor, in obedience to orders from the county court. A sale of town lots was ordered to be made in 1847, and subsequently the commis- sioner of public buildings was authorized to sell the remaining unsold lots, from time to time, under prescribed stipulations. The county seat contin- ued to be called Montgomery until July, 1850, when the county court changed the name to Salem, and in October of the same year the court changed the name to Mount Ida, which it now bears.
Among the first duties of the county court, after its organization, was the subdivision of the county into municipal townships and road districts. Accordingly the county was subdivided into the following named municipal townships: Sulphur Springs, Caddo Cove and Mountain. Each town- ship was subdivided into road districts. Some changes in the boundary lines of the county have been made since its organization, and a consider- able portion of the original county was set off to Garland, when that county was organized, in 1873. The following is a correct description of the bound- ary lines of the county, as now located:
Commencing on the township line at the corner of Sections 4 and 5, in Township 1, north of the base line, and Range 22, west of the fifth princi- pal meridian; thence west on the township line to the line dividing Ranges 22 and 23 west; thence south on the range line to the corner between Sec- tions 12 and 13, in Township 1, north, Range 23 west; thence west on section lines to the dividing ridge of the Ouachita Hills or Mountains; thence following the dividing ridge of these mountains in a southwesterly direction until it intersects the base line in Range 27 west; thence west on the base line to the line dividing Ranges 27 and 28 west; thence south on the range line to the line divid- ing Townships 4 and 5 south; thence east on the township line to the line dividing Ranges 22 and 23 west; thence north on the range line to the line dividing Townships 2 and 3 south; thence east on the township line to the corner between Sections 33 and 34, in Township 2 south, Range 21 west; thence north on section lines to the corner of Sec- tions 9, 10, 15 and 16, in Township 1 south, Range 21 west; thence west on the section line to
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
the corner of Sections 8, 9, 16 and 17, in Township 1 south, Range 22 west; thence north on section lines to the place of beginning.
The formation of municipal townships has undergone many changes since the organization of the county, it being now subdivided into town- ships or precincts named as follows: South Fork, Washita, Polk, Big Fork, Caddo, Missouri, Parks, Gap, Caney, Mazern, Crystal, Bear, Mountain, Leverney, Sulphur Springs and Center. The coun- ty buildings consist of only a small-though suffi- ciently large-two-story frame court-house, with a hall and county offices on the first floor, and the court-room on the second. When it was erected, which was several years ago, the old one-story court-house, which had been used for many years, was moved south of the public square, where it has since been used as a school-house and church. Its use for church purposes has been discontinued since the erection of the new Methodist Church.
Following is a list of the names of officers of Montgomery County from its organization to the year 1890, together with dates of terms of service:
Judges-Andrew Boles, 1844-46; J. S. Har- ris, 1846-48; H. Graves, 1848-50; J. B. Garrett, 1850-52; Andrew Boles, 1852-56; Thomas Farr, 1856-58; W. J. Willoughby, 1858-62; J. A. Free- man, 1862-64; G. Whittington, 1864 to November; N. W. Cabler, from November, 1864, to August, 1865; C. R. Kymes, from August, 1865, to March, 1867; N. W. Cabler, from March, 1867; M. Us- sery, 1868-72; * * J. H. West, 1874-78; * J. B. Fulton, 1878-84; A. S. Logan, 1884-86; Silas P. Vaught, 1886-90.
Martin Mondy and then John Cook were judges for a short time before Garrett.
Clerks-George Fisher, 1844-46; J. I. Mc- Lendon, 1846-48; J. Fleming, 1848-50; J. S. Fleming, 1850-52; E. L. Hughes, 1852-54; D. A. Woolard, 1854-60; J. A. Stall, 1860-64; J. J. Laird, 1864-65; D. S. Campbell, 1865-67; G. D. Goodner, 1867-68; Z. I. Cotton, 1868-72; G. W. Gray, 1872-74; G. D. Goodner, 1874-90.
Sheriffs-N. F. Robinson, 1844-46; James Hudson, 1846-48; J. H. May, 1848-54; J. B. Garrett, 1854-60; W. C. Simpson, 1860-65; T.
L. Martin, 1865-68; William Reeves, 1868-72; G. H. Speers, 1872-74; J. B. Fulton, 1874-76; H. S. Goodner, 1876-82; George W. Golden, 1882-90.
Treasurers-J. M. Fleming, 1844-46; J. Col- lins, 1846-48; D. Farr, 1848-50; James A. Stall, 1850-56; J. F. Fleming, 1856-60; A. Jones, 1860-68; H. H. Williamson, 1868-72; W. W. Sanders, 1872-74; W. M. Williams, 1874-75; O. H. Overstreet, 1875-78; J. A. Watkins, 1878-82; J. M. Anderson, 1882-84; S. M. Smith, 1884-90.
Coroners-A. Langsford, 1844-46; S. Cun- ningham, 1846-48; J. McKinley, 1848-50; D. W. Stockton, 1850-52; V. Isenhour, 1852-58; J. M. Amerson, 1858-60; M. Isenhour, 1860-62; Will- iam Smith, 1862-64; J. Standridge, 1864-68; C. W. Cearley, 1868-72; S. Standridge, 1872-74; H. S. Autrey, 1874-76; Q. C. Rowton, 1876-78; J. A. Coffman, 1878-80; W. J. Hay, 1880-82; N. B. Rifle, 1882-84; Joseph Shirley, 1884-86; C. H. Greene, 1SS6-88; Frank Gross, 1888-90.
Surveyors. - J. M. Harris, 1846-48; J. J. Mc- Lendon, 1848-50; A. Boles, 1850-52; R. S. Burk, 1852-56; Robert Burk, 1856-60; R. S. Burk, 1860-62; Robert Burk, 1862-64; R. S. Burk, 1864-66; J. Cogburn, 1866-68; L. Melson, 1868- -74; H. R. Collier, 1874-78; L. Melson, 1878-80; W. H. Highsmith, 1880-88; H. R. Collier, 1888- 90.
Assessors-N. A. Penland, 1868-72; Stephen Muse, 1872-74; C. Snider, 1874-76; J. F. Rob- ins, 1876-80; G. B. Willis, 1880-86; J. N. Wasson, 1886-88; G. B. Willis, 1888-90.
Delegates in State Conventions-A. M. Cling- man represented the county in the State conven- tion held March 4 to 21, and May 6 to June 3, 1861, for the purpose of considering the question of the secession of the State from the Union. J. C. Priddy and R. Lamb represented the county in the constitutional convention held January 4 to January 23, 1864, and J. C. Priddy represented Montgomery and Perry Counties in the constitu- tional convention held January 7 to February 18, 1868. Nicholas W. Cable represented Montgom- ery County in the last constitutional convention- held July 14 to October 31, 1874. .
State Senators-S. W. Rayburn, 1846-50; J.
mit and social s
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W. Crow, 1850-52; M. Bozeman, 1852-54; W. F. S. Barkman, 1854-58; W. H. Hammond. 1858- 60; J. F. Fagan, 1860-62; F. Leach, 1862-64; E. H. Vance, 1864-66; J. M. Smith, 1866-68; D. P. Beldin, 1868-74; O. D. East, 1874-78; C. A. Gantt, 1878-82; Jesse A. Ross, 1882-84; G. W. Baxter, 1884-88.
Representatives in State Legislature-Gran- ville Whittington, 1846-48; James Hudson, 1848- 50; H. A. Whittington, 1850-52; R. S. McFar- lane, 1852-54; W. Satringfellow, 1854-56; Henry Heffington, 1856-60; D. A. Woolard, 1860-62; C. G. Hurt, 1862-64; J. C. Priddy, 1864-66; G. K. Robinson, 1866-68; J. V. Harrison and J. H. Demby, 1868-70; J. F. Lane and J. J. Sumpter, 1870-72; L. D. Gilbreath, J. J. Sumpter and George G. Latta, 1874-74; H. H. Barton and J. J. Sumpter, 1874-75; Alfred Jones, 1875-76; Will- iam R. Cubage, 1876-78; J. H. Demby, 1878-80; A. C. King, 1880-82; John A. Watkins, 1882-84; William P. Birch, 1884-86; N. H. Harley, 1886- 88.
For representation in the State Senate Mont- gomery County has always been districted with other counties, and the counties composing the senatorial district have been frequently changed. The district now consists of Montgomery and Gar- land Counties. Prior to 1868 Montgomery Coun- ty was represented singly in the Lower House of the General Assembly, after which she was repre- sented in a district with other counties up to 1874, and since the latter date, under the new constitu- tion, she has been represented singly. F. Leach represented Hot Springs, Montgomery and Saline Counties in the Senate of the special session of the Confederate Legislature held at Washington in Hempstead County, from September 22 to October 2, 1864; and at the same time and place C. G. Hurt represented Montgomery County in the Lower House.
The political status of Montgomery County is fully shown by the votes cast for the several candi- dates at the following elections: At the September election, in 1888, James P. Eagle, Democratic can- didate for governor, received 769 votes, and his opponent, C. M. Norwood, 426 votes. At the pres-
idential election in the same year, the candidates for President received votes as follows: Cleveland, 806; Harrison, 161; Streeter; 2, Fisk 1.
The full returns for the county, at the Septem- ber election in 1890, are as follows: For governor, James P. Eagle, 851; N. B. Fizer, 372; for seere- tary of State, B. B. Chism, 882; J. M. Pittman, 316; State treasurer, R. B. Morrow, 884; T. J. Andrews, 316; auditor of State, W. S. Dunlop, 880; O. S. Jones, 318; attorney-general, W. E. Atkinson, 884; T. P. Chambers, 313; commissioner State lands, C. B. Myers, 884; C. M. B. Cox, 313; commissioner of agriculture, M. F. Locke, 869; G. B. Farmer, 304; superintendent of public in- struction, J. H. Shinn, 882; T. M. C. Birming- ham, 315; associate justice Supreme Court, M. H. Sandels, 885; W. R. Coody, 312.
Judicial officers : for circuit judge, R. D. Hearn, 941; prosecuting attorney, James D. Shaver, 918.
County officers: for representative, G. Witt, 803, L. Melson, 434; county judge, W. O. Diffle, 864, G. W. Hughen, 331; circuit clerk, J. S. Nelson, 1,141; coroner, J. R. Bates, 945; William Webb, 32; sheriff, J. N. Wasson, 749, W. P. Birch, 465; county treasurer, S. M. Smith, 1,167; assessor, G. R. Miller, 1,193; county surveyor, H. R. Col- lier, 993.
The population of Montgomery County at the end of the several census decades since its organization has been as follows: 1850, 1,958; 1860, 3,633; 1870, 2,984; 1880, 5,729. These figures show that from 1850 to 1860 the popula- tion nearly doubled, and from 1860 to 1870 it ma- terially decreased, while from 1870 to 1880 it nearly doubled again. The population of 1890, under the new census, will soon be published, and will show a material increase since 1880, though probably not so great as from 1870 to 1880, for the reason that in 1880 there was a considerable mining population in the county that has since moved out. It will be interesting, however, to compare the figures of the new and forthcoming census report with the foregoing. The colored population of the county in 1860 was 92, in 1870, 120, and in 1880 it was 258. The 92 colored peo-
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ple in the county in 1860 were slaves, who, in con- sequence of the emancipation proclamation and subsequent legislation obtained their freedom.
The first term of the Montgomery Circuit Court, as shown by the record, convened on Monday, March 17, 1845 (it being the third Monday of the month), with Judge John J. Clendenin presiding. The first business of the court was the empaneling of the following first grand jury of the county: Granville Whittington, foreman; John Baggs, James Jeffrey, Daniel McHuddleston, David May- berry, David Sigman, Silas Baker, Edward Ship- man, Jesse Royls, John Mckinley, Benedict Har- rell, Isaac Denton, E. D. Holloway, Willis Webb, John Hawkins and Samuel Cunningham, "sixteen good and lawful men of Montgomery County." George C. Watkins, the attorney-general, was ab- sent, and James C. Curran was appointed attorney- general pro tem. The first case on the record was State of Arkansas vs. Levi Meredith, on an in- dictment for murder; the next case was Isaac Tweedle vs. Malinda Tweedle for divorce; the third was State vs. Job Harrell for perjury; then followed two cases for assault and battery, and one more for divorce. All these cases were continued and the court adjourned. At the time provided by law for the holding of the September term of court following, the judge did not appear, and no fur- ther holding of the circuit court was had until March, 1846, when the judge appeared, opened court, and proceeded to business, his first decree being the granting of a divorce to Isaac Tweedle. The other cases above mentioned were again con- tinued, and several new cases were filed.
The first petit jury in the county was empanneled at the September term, 1846, of the circuit court. Their names were Henry Raper, Uriah Coots, George Hall, Levi Coots, G. W. Sanders, J. W. McConnell, Jesse Royls (?), James Laxton, Fred Salyers, Allen Wempel (?), James McConnell and V. Isenhour. [The names are so poorly written on the record that it is difficult to decipher them, hence some of them may not be exactly correct. ]
When Montgomery County was organized it became a part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit or District. The districts have frequently been
changed since. It now belongs to the Eighth District, composed of the counties of Montgomery, Polk, Howard, Sevier, Little River, Pike and Clark. The present judge is R. D. Hearne, of Arkadelphia, and the present prosecuting attorney is W. M. Green, formerly of Dallas. The resident attorneys, constituting the legal bar of Mont- gomery County, are John A. Watkins, G. Witt, A. C. King, W. P. Birch, S. P. Vaught and John Van Steenwyk.
Being a rural county, with a small rural popu- lation, and without railroads and large towns, the number of crimes committed in the county has been comparatively small. No one has ever been legally executed within the county for the offense of crime. The citizens are law abiding, and the laws are easily enforced. The circuit court holds two terms annually, and five or six days each are sufficient to keep the docket clear. The small bar and small amount of litigation are indicative of the peaceful attitude of the citizens in general.
Upon the approach of the Civil War of 1861- 65, the people of Montgomery County, with a very few exceptions, were in favor of the Southern cause, and a liberal percentage of them joined and served in the Confederate armies. Toward the close of the war, when the Federal Army con- trolled the greater portion of the State, a few men, some of whom deserted from the Confederate Army, went out of the county and joined the United States forces. During the war a few raids were made into the county by small bodies from each of the contending armies, and the guerrillas prowled about to some extent, and a few individ- uals were killed, but little or no damage was done to property. Aside from the few individuals that were killed the county well escaped the ravages of war, and when the struggle was over the people had no more trouble such as was the case in many portions of the State following the close of the war. The people here did not suffer the priva- tions endured in many other sections of the coun- try, as they manufactured their own clothing, and in the main raised their own provisions.
The writer of the article heretofore referred to as published recently in the Montgomery County
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
Herald, desriptive of the county, etc., gives the following truthful description of the "principal towns and mining camps " in the county :
Bear City is situated near the eastern border of the county, and about sixteen miles from Hot Springs. The population is composed mainly of miners and others interested in the reduction of the gold and silver ores so generously distributed by nature in the hills and mountains surrounding the town, which, however, have proved to be of a refactory nature, besides being condemned by the State geologist as non-paying, the effect of which has been disastrous in the extreme to the growth and prosperity of the camp until very recently.
Bear contains numerous hotels, prominent among which are the Grand Central, W. H. Trigger- son proprietor, and the Golden Wonder and Ozark, of which Mr. Joseph Bartenschlaeger and Col. C. F. Britsch are the respective hosts. The last two named are now doing a good and steadily increas- ing business, consequent upon the large influx of visitors since the testing of the ores by the new process began at the plant recently erected. Bear's "Model Garden" is located on a part of the grounds of the Ozark Hotel, and Col. Britsch, its owner and designer, has reason to be proud of the many flattering compliments that visitors pay his fine vegetables and plants, who, by reason of its fame, never fail to make a tour of the garden.
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