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 80
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living at the present time: Lydia E. (wife of Thomas White), Charles W. (of Texas), Harrison R. (the present surveyor of Montgomery County, and one of its best educators), Alfred M., Marga- ret (wife of William Robinson), Arzelia G. (wife of A. F. Maner), Matilda F. (wife of William Reece), Nancy J. (wife of Milton Robins), Ruthy Eleanor (wife of Franklin L. Cash) and Cynthia L. (wife of John J. Peart of Illinois). John W. Collier died at Camden while serving in the Confederate Army. Charles also served the Confederate cause. Mr. Collier was reared in the wilds of this county, and is probably more familiar with the early his- tory of this county than any other one of its citi- zens. As an illustration of the expedients to which the early settlers were sometimes obliged to resort Mr. Collier tells of how his mother at one time " knit a pair of socks, from the wool which she picked from the head of a buffalo, and sold them to a merchant for a pair of cotton cards. Cards at that time sold for $10 a pair. The merchant's name was William Barkman. My father was the first settler on Collier's Creek. He shot a buffalo from his camp-pole, and I now live within a mile of the same place."
Henry S. Goodner, general merchant and farm- er, residing near Mount Ida, Ark., is justly con- ceded a place among the enterprising, influen- tial men of worth in this community. He was born in Wayne County, Tenn., in 1827, to John C. and Susanna (Smith) Goodner, who were born in Tennessee in 1801 and 1804, respectively, and until the subject of this sketch was twelve or thir- teen years of age they resided in different parts of West Tennessee, moving then to Tippah County, Miss., where they made their home until 1851. They then became residents of Montgomery Coun- ty, Ark., settling near where Oden now is, at which place they spent the rest of their lives, Mr. Goodner dying in 1872 and his wife in 1863, the former be- ing a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and a farmer by occupation. His father, Henry Goodner, was born in Germany, and when a young man came to the United States, and was probably married in Maryland, his death occurring in Ala- bama, a tiller of the soil, having been a soldier in
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the War of 1812. The maternal grandfather, John Smith, was in all probability born in the Old North State, and died in Wayne County, Tenn., a worthy agriculturist. The immediate subject of this. sketch is the second in a family of five sons and one daughter, and his youth was spent in la- boring on his father's home place. He was given the advantages of the common schools, near his home, and in the State of Mississippi was married in 1848 to Miss Miriam, daughter of George and Nancy Willhite, who died in Tippah County, Miss., Mr. Willhite also being a farmer. Mrs. Goodner was born in Alabama, and has become the mother of fourteen children, five sons and seven daughters living. In 1851 Mr. Goodner came to Montgom- ery County, Ark., and has since been a resident of Polk Township, where he owns a fine farm of 300 acres, 90 acres under cultivation. For the past six years he has been engaged in merchandising also, and is accounted one of the substantial busi- ness men of this section of the country. In June, 1862, he joined Company I, Grimstead's regiment of Arkansas troops, and was in the engagements at Prairie Grove and at the evacuation of Little Rock. He was then furloughed home, where he was capt- ured in December, 1863, but after being released, was again captured in September, 1864, at Fort Gibson, Ind. Ty., and was kept in the stock- ade at Tyler, Tex., until after the war. Since then he has been with his family in Arkansas. He served some years as justice of the peace, and in 1876 was elected sheriff of Montgomery County, being re-elected in 1878 and again in 1880. Since then he has given his attention to his own business affairs, with the above mentioned results. Socially he is a member of Mount Ida Lodge No. 140 of the A. F. & A. M.
W. B. Goodner, M. D., has been a resident of this section all his life, for he was born in Polk Township, of Montgomery County, in 1857, to James M. and Elizabeth (Logan) Goodner, the former born in Waynesboro, Tenn., in 1833, and the latter in Clark County, Ark., in 1836, their marriage being consummated in Montgomery County, where Mrs. Goodner died in 1377, and Mr. Goodner is still residing, a well-known citizen.
He served through the Rebellion in the Confeder- ate Army as a commissioned officer in the Trans- Mississippi Department. For a number of years he has been a member of the Baptist Church and the A. F. & A. M. His father, John C. Goodner, came to this county from Tennessee in an early day, and here spent the latter part of his life as a farmer, having previously been a tanner. He was of German parentage, and passed from life after the close of the Civil War. The grandfather, Will- iam Logan, was a pioneer farmer of Clark County, Ark., was of Scotch descent, and passed from life prior to the war. Dr. W. B. Goodner is the second of nine children, six now living, and spent his youth on his father's farm, his education being re- ceived at Bellefonte. At the age of twenty-one he began the study of medicine, which he continued for several years, and in 1883 commenced practic- ing at Mount Ida, where he remained for nearly two years, during which time he acquired a good practice. Since then he has resided at Black Springs, where he has acquired an excellent repu- tation as a practitioner of the "healing art." He was married in 1878 to Lucy, daughter of H. S. and Laurena Goodner, who are residents of Polk Township. The Doctor's wife was born in that township, and she has borne her husband one child, a daughter. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and for one year, from 1886 to 1887, the Doctor was postmaster at Black Springs. He has been president of the board of medical examiners of Montgomery County for six years.
Dr. W. W. Hargrove is a practicing physician and surgeon and farmer of Oden, Ark., was born in Tippah County, Miss., in 1844, to James W. and Martha Ann (Poole) Hargrove, who were born in Alabama and Mississippi, respectively, their marriage taking place in the last named State, from which they moved to Texas about 1849. In 1851 they came to Madison County, Ark., and in 1861 to Montgomery County, where Mr. Hargrove died in 1863, his widow passing to her long home in Scott County, Ark., in 1886, a worthy member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Hargrove was a farmer, a son of Lindsey Hargrove. Dr.
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W. W. Hargrove was the eldest in a family of five sons and four daughters, but as he was put to work on his father's farm at an early day, he re- ceived but little schooling. In 1863 he joined Witherspoon's battalion and operated in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, taking part in the engage- ments at Jenkins' Ferry, Pine Bluff, Poison Springs and Mark's Mill. His regiment was dis- banded at Corsicana, Tex., at the close of the war, after which he returned to Arkansas and began farming in Scott County, where he made his home until 1877, when he took up the study of medicine with Dr. J. W. Smith, remaining with him for about three years, since which time he has prac- ticed with success, and has a good and paying practice. He was married in 1866 in Montgom- ery County to Miss Nancy A., daughter of Leonard and Axey E. Jackson, natives of Tennessee, who first moved from their native State to Missouri, thence to Clark County, Ark., and then to Montgomery County, where the mother is still living, the father having died in Scott County in 1886. Mrs. Har- grove was born in Missouri. She has borne her husband ten children, of whom nine are living. In 1885 Mr. Hargrove came here from Scott County, and of a farm of 120 acres of which he is the owner, he has eighty acres cleared and under cultivation, well supplied with good build- ings. He was justice of the peace in Scott County for some time, and he and his wife are Methodists.
Isaac P. Hollifield is a well-known farmer re- siding near Black Springs, Ark., but he first saw the light of day in Murray County, Ga., in 1844, being the eldest of nine children born to the mar- riage of Jacob Hollifield and Lucretia Gordon, both of whom were born in North Carolina, the former in 1814, their marriage taking place in Murray County, Ga., where they lived until 1869, at which time they became residents of Pulaski County, Ark., and later of Garland County. Since 1873 the fam- ily have made their home in Montgomery County, and although the mother has passed to her long home, Mr. Hollifield still resides here, a farmer. He has been justice of the peace some years, has acquitted himself with credit while holding this office and as a man and citizen is substantial and to be
relied upon. His father, Isaac Hollifield, was born in Europe, and when a young man, came to the United States and spent the rest of his days in the Old North State, where he passed from life. John Gordon, the maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a North Carolinian, who passed from life in Georgia, having spent many years as a farmer of that State. Isaac P. Hollifield was given a limited early school education, and in 1869. while still a resident of Georgia, he was married to Miss Missouri, daughter of Ellis and Permelia Sloan, who were born in Tennessee and North Carolina respectively, and in 1881 came from Georgia to Montgomery County, Ark., where, up to the present time, they have made their home, Mr. Sloan being one of the honest "sons of the soil." Mrs. Hollifield was born in Whitefield County, Ga., and has borne her husband six chil- dren, one son and two daughters now living. In 1869 Mr. Hollifield came to Conway County, and in 1870 to Clark County, but has been a worthy and fairly successful agriculturist of Montgomery County since 1872, being a resident of bis present farm of 105 acres for the past twelve years. Of this farm he has fifty acres cleared, and his place is considered one of the neatest and best kept in this section. He is a member of New Hope Lodge No. 42, of the A. F. & A. M., and he and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
William A. Hopper has now reached the age of sixty-three years, and although he has been a suc- cessful farmer, he is now living retired from the active duties of life. He was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., in 1827, to James and Celia (Hil- liard) Hopper, who were born in North Carolina, married in Tennessee, and spent their lives in the last named State, dying since the war, both mem- bers of the Primitive Baptist Church. Mr. Hopper was a son of John Hopper, who died of measles at New Orleans while serving in the War of 1812. William A. Hopper is the eldest of their nine chil- dren, and was reared on a farm, obtaining a com- mon-school education. He was married in Lincoln County, Tenn., in 1848, to Julia, daughter of John Basinger, who passed from life in that county. Mrs. Hopper was born in Lincoln County, and
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died in 1875, having become the mother of eight children: Barsheba J. (wife of W. C. Middleton), James M. (of Texas), John F., George W., Celia Ann (wife of Mr. Hewin, of Pike County), Joseph H. (of Texas), Alex Marion and Mattie (the last two named dying when young). Mr. Hopper's second marriage took place in 1876, his wife being a daughter of Joshua and Phoebe A. Williams, who were born in Tennessee and Arkansas, respectively. Mr. Williams died in Murfreesboro, Ark., in 1866, and his wife in Montgomery County in 1888. Mrs. Hopper was born in Pike County of this State, and has one daughter. She and her husband have an adopted son also whom they have reared from infancy, he being now nine years of age. His name is Benjamin L. In 1849 Mr. Hopper came to Clark County, and settled on Caddo Creek, and in 1851 moved up the Caddo to Montgomery County, where he has lived ever since. He has improved three farms, and is one of the leading agriculturists of this region, being the owner of about 1,000 acres of land, 300 of which are cleared, the results of his own efforts. After the war he followed the occupation of merchandising in con- nection with farming until a few years since, when he was compelled to abandon business on account of ill health caused by paralysis. During the early part of the Rebellion he served in McNairy's regi- ment for about three months, the same length of time being spent in the latter part of the war in Oosley's battalion. He is a member of New Hope Lodge No 42, of the A. F. & A. M., belongs to the Farmers' Alliance also, and is a member of the Christian Church, both his wives being members also.
Robert J. Housley enjoys the reputation of be- ing, not only a substantial and progressive farmer, but an intelligent and thoroughly posted man in all public affairs. He is well known for honorable, upright dealing, and no man in this section of the country bears a better reputation than he. He was born in Hamilton County, Tenn., February 14, 1840, to George W. and Sarah J. (Elder) Housley, they being born in Jefferson and Meigs Counties, Tenn., respectively, their marriage tak- ing place at Decatur, Tenn. After living in that
neighborhood for some time they moved to Hamil- ton County, and from that place came to Mont- gomery County, Ark., in 1871, the father's death occurring here in 1884, at the age of sixty-three, and the mother's in 1856, when sixty-five years old, both being members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Housley was a clerk in this church, was a Democrat in his political views, and, being a Mason, was buried with Masonic honors. Dur- ing the war with Mexico he .was a volunteer, and started for the scene of action, but the war ended before he reached that country. He was a farmer and merchant, and was at one time the owner of 1,700 acres of fine land on Savannah Creek. He was of English extraction. His marriage was blessed in the birth of eight children, of whom Robert J. Housley was the eldest. He spent his school days in Hamilton County, Tenn., and was an attendant of the Academy on Waldon's Ridge. At the age of sixteen years he left home and came to Arkansas, and since that time has resided near Cedar Glades, in Montgomery County. He has an excellent tract of land comprising 360 acres, and, although he has 150 acres cleared and under cultivation, the rest is in woodland. In Septem- ber, 1862, he joined the First East Tennessee Cavalry, and served until the close of the war, be- ing in the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Knoxville, and Marion, Va., where he was wounded by a spent ball, but not seriously. He was at Greenville when John H. Morgan was killed. After the war he was absolutely without means, with the exception of a good constitution and the determination to make a success of his life, and first began operating a gin and mill as a means to this end, his efforts meeting with the above mentioned results. On October 2, 1859, he was married to Miss Sarah I. Freeman, daughter of John A. Freeman, a Hamilton County, Tennes- seean, who died July 14, 1887. Of a family of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Housley, five are now living: John W. (a merchant of Hot Springs), James N., Montie T. (wife of James Q. Ryan, a farmer of this county), Joseph J. and William M. On April 17, 18SS, Mr. Housley was married to Miss Nancy E. Bird, of Scott County,
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Tenn., and by her has one child, Ada Pearl. Mr. Housley has been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church since 1860, and socially belongs to Henderson Lodge No. 147, of the A. F. & A. M. He is a Democrat, has been justice of the peace six years, notary public five years, and postmaster since 1883.
Jesse Irby, a farmer of Caddo Township, Montgomery County, Ark., was born in Madison County, Ala., in 1840 to Dudley G. and Elizabeth (Vaughn) Irby, the former born in Virginia in 1809, and the latter in Kentucky in 1823, their marriage occurring on Blue-Grass soil. After residing some years in Alabama they returned to Kentucky, where Mr. Irby died in 1873, and his widow in 1878, she a member of the Christian Church. He was a farmer, and for four years was sheriff of Union County, having previously been county and pro- bate judge. He was a soldier in the Florida and Mexican Wars, and was a member of the I. O. O. F. His father, William Irby, was born in Pitt- sylvania County, Va., served in the Revolutionary War, and died a farmer of Madison County, Ala. John Irby, his father, was born in Scotland and died at his son's birthplace in Virginia. William Vaughn, Mrs. Irby's father, was of German origin and died in Union County, Ky. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of seven sons and three daughters, three sons and two daughters now liv- ing, and he is the only one that resides in this county. He never received a day's schooling in his youth, but at the age of eighteen years he left his home in Kentucky, and started out to seek his fortune, in time reaching Northeastern Arkansas, where he worked as a farm hand until the opening of the war, then returned to Kentucky, and joined Company D, Second Kentucky Cavalry, his first engagement being Sacramento, Ky. At the capt- ure of Fort Donelson he was one who made his escape with Gen. Forrest, but in May of the same year was captured at Farmington, Miss., and was in prison at Alton, Ill., until October, 1862. He afterward joined Gen. John Morgan's command, and was with him on his famous raid into Indiana and Ohio. He was captured at Buffington Island, Ind., and for about two months was a prisoner at
Rock Island, after which he served as forage mas- ter for Gen. Breckinridge until the close of the war. In 1866 he went to Texas, but soon after re- turned to what is now Clay County, Ark., and in 1868 was married to Isabelle, daughter of James and Elizabeth Miller, who were born in Decatur County, Tenn., from whence they removed to Greene County, Ark., at which place Mr. Miller's death occurred in 1865, his widow still residing there. Mrs. Irby was born in Greene County, and of the eleven children she has borne her husband, six are living. Soon after his marriage Mr. Irby returned to Texas where he lived until 1880, then moved to the Chickasaw Nation and in 1889, to his present farm of 198 acres in Montgomery County, of which he has 120 acres cleared. He was deputy sheriff and constable in Cook and Greyson Counties, Tex., and for two years served as a ranger on the frontier. During bis residence in the Chickasaw Nation he was a licensed Indian trader for four years and learned to converse read- ily with the Chickasaws. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and belongs to the Christian Church.
James F. Jeffrey. This worthy agriculturist is the son of John H. Jeffrey, who during his resi- dence here from 1839 until his death in 1884 was prominently identified with the county's interests, and his memory is cherished by a host of friends and acquaintances who survive him. He was mar- ried here to Miss Harriet R. Flemming, both of whom were born near Tuscaloosa, Ala., he in 1822 and she in 1826, her death occurring in 1862, both being members of the Missionary Baptist Church. After the death of his wife Mr. Jeffrey was after- ward married twice. He was a farmer and tanner by occupation, was a member of the A. F. & A. M., and for a short time served in the Confederate Army. His father, James Jeffrey, was of Cherokee Indian blood, was one of the early settlers of Mont- gomery County, Ark., but resided here only a few years, when he went to Caldwell County, Tex .. there dying in 1860, having been with Crockett in the Florida War. . James Flemming, the maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was also one of the early settlers of this region, and in an early day served as clerk of this county. He was
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a tanner and teacher by occupation, and passed from life in this county in November, 1860. James F. Jeffrey was born in this county in 1847, being the third of nine children. He was reared on a farm with but few educational advantages, and in 1863 joined Company F, Tom Gunter's regiment of Cabel's brigade of cavalry, and was afterward in the infantry in Southern Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, taking part in the battles of Mark's Mill, Poison Springs, Jenkins' Ferry and others. He surrendered at Marshall, Tex., at the close of the war, and returned home. In January, 1870, he was married to Mary E., daughter of Dr. George W. and Sarah Gray, the former a Georgian, who came to this county just prior to the war, Mrs. Gray dying in Clark County, Ark., while en route. Dr. Gray now lives in Comanche County, Tex., a successful medical practitioner. Mrs. Jeffrey was born in Georgia, and of twelve children born to herself and husband, ten are living. Since his marriage Mr. Jeffrey has lived on his present farm of 240 acres, of which he has 150 acres under cultivation, all being obtained by his own energy and perseverance. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is one of the well-known and substantial farmers and citizens of this county.
Benjamin Johnson, Jr. By attending strictly to his chosen calling, that of farming, Mr. John- son has done much to advance the reputation which Montgomery County enjoys as a prosperous farm- ing community. He was born in Newton County, Miss., in 1842, to Dr. Benjamin and Clarinda E. (Fowler) Johnson, the former born in Alabama, in 1813, and the latter in New Jersey, in 1818, their marriage occurring in Newton County, Miss., where they lived until 1854, after which they settled in Calhoun County, Ark., and in 1858 in Montgom- ery County, and although they first settled on Wal- nut Fork, they are now residing on the waters of the Mazarn. From 1859 to 1861 they lived in Pike County. Dr. Johnson has been a practicing physician since 1858. He was clerk of Newton County, Miss., for some years, and served nearly two years and three months in the United States cavalry, operating in Arkansas part of the time, ;
but a portion of the time was assistant surgeon in the hospital. His father, Henry Johnson, was of Irish descent, a Methodist minister, and died in Mississippi. The immediate subject of this sketch was the second of a family of four sons and four daughters, was reared on a farm, and received the advantages of the common schools. He came to Arkansas with his parents in 1861, and from here enlisted in Company C, Fourth Arkansas Infantry, Confederate States Army, and fought at Murfrees- boro, Chickamauga, and many other battles. He was captured at Chickamauga, and was imprisoned at Camp Douglas until the close of the war, nearly two years. He then returned to Montgomery Coun- ty, and engaged in farming, marrying, in 1877, Samantha, daughter of David and Anna Basinger, who were formerly residents of Kentucky, but af- terward lived in Indiana, Illinois, and came from Missouri to this county, before the war, where both died, the father being a farmer and merchant. Mrs. Johnson is a native of this county, and has borne her husband six children. The first year after his marriage Mr. Johnson lived at Caddo Gap, and since then on his present farm, on Collier's Creek, which consists of 264 acres. He also successfully manages a general mercantile store and a black- smith and wood-work shop. Mr. Johnson has served as justice of the peace in this township two years, bailiff four years, and since he established the post-office of Plata he has been its postmaster. Socially he belongs to New Hope Lodge No. 42, of the A. F. & A. M., and has held several offices in this lodge.
John W. Martin. The life record of him whose name appears above has been one of more than usual interest and his career has been of such benefit and influence to the people, not only of Montgomery County, but throughout the State, that a sketch of his life will be of more than pass- ing interest. He was born in this county on April 28, 1850, to Thomas L. and Rachel (Cooper) Mar- tin, who are supposed to bave been born in Wayne County, Tenn., the father's death occurring in this county in 1876, when about fifty years of age. His widow still survives him and is a resident of this county. They were married in Tennessee, and
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in the winter of 1849 came to Arkansas, locating on a farm in what is now Mountain Township. As a tiller of the soil he was very successful, and as a merchant he was one of the first in the county. He served in the Fourth Arkansas Cavalry, United States Army, during the Rebellion and was on act- ive service the greater part of three years. He was taken prisoner at his mill on Blakeley Creek, and was kept in captivity at Camden, for about one month, during which time he suffered untold hard- ships. Soon after the war he was elected county sheriff, a position he held three years, was justice of the peace quite a number of years, and at his death was buried with Masonic honors. His wife, who is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, bore him ten children, the subject of this sketch being the third of the family. He spent his school days at Cedar Glades, but the · war interrupted his studies in a great measure, and after the war in 1871, he turned his attention to farming, a calling he followed exclusively until 1882, when he opened up a mill on a small scale. John W. Freeman was a joint owner with him in this mill, which was a saw-mill, but at the end of three years Mr. Martin became sole proprietor and is now the owner of a good grist-mill and cotton- gin. His plant is one of the best in the county and his farm, which comprises 213 acres, is valu- able land. He is now building a handsome resi- dence, and everything about his place shows that a man of thrift, energy and intelligence is at the helm. In 1878 he was elected to the office of jus- tice of the peace, and served by re-election three terms of two years each. He was married in 1871 to Miss Nancy Thornton, who died in 1878, leav- ing him with three children to care for, two of whom are living: Boss W. and Martha L. James died when about seven years of age. In 1879 Miss Sarah J. Brown, daughter of William Brown, of this county, became Mr. Martin's second wife, their union resulting in the birth of two children: Laura Elizabeth and Dora Alice. Mr. Martin is a member of Henderson Lodge No. 147, of the A. F. & A. M., and politically is a Republican. He at all times supports laudable enterprises, and is one of the leading men of the county. He be-
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