USA > Arkansas > Biographical and pictorial history of Arkansas. Vol I > Part 52
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JONAS MARCH TIBBITTS 279 .
THE CELEBRATED ALFRED W. ARRINGTON:
A strange compound of frailty and greatness -advent in Ar- kansas as a Methodist divine - two brilliant young lawyers attracted by him - crim. con. drives him from the Methodist church - takes refuge in the Christian church - leaves that and embraces deism and skepticism - reads law and takes a seat in the front rank at the start 280, 281 The most fascinating rhetoric combined with convincing logic - elected to the legislature - writes a series of pamphlets called " South-west Desperadoes" and weaves the names of celebrities in his works of fiction - makes a national fame - studious, erratic, grave, frivolous, great, and vicious. ... 281, 283 " HONEST ALF. WILSON ":
Nativity, education, lineage -struggles heroically against ad- verse winds -admitted to the bar -elected prosecuting attorney - succeeds himself - attorney for the Branch Bank at Fayetteville-large collections - race between Johnson and Oldham for congress in 1846- elected to the legisla- ture 284, 285
: Memorable contest for the senate - Sebastian elected - United States district attorney eight years - rewarded with $3,000 extra compensation - the war sweeps his fortune away - heroic struggles to rebuild it - prominent candidate for governor - wit and humor. 285
HON. JOHN M. WILSON. 286
HON. SAMUEL H. HEMPSTEAD:
Birth and education - a protege of Thomas H. Benton - United States district attorney under Polk's administration -Solici- tor-general - an able lawyer, his fame rests to a great extent on his lucid and able exposition of the laws of descent .... JUDGE W. S. OLDHAM:
Birth and education - came to Arkansas in 1835 - bank attor- ney - legislator -speaker of the house - elected justice of the supreme court - political, preferable to judicial life - animated contest for congress in 1846 - defeated by Col. Robt. W. Johnson -defeated aspirations - moves to Texas - in the Confederate senate. 288, 289
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HON. GEORGE W. PASCHAL:
Came from Georgia, settled in Van Buren in 1837, married an Indian beauty in Georgia - restless, nervous - soon estab- lishes a reputation - sorrowful romance - brother under an assumed name -the trouble passes away - the brother said to be the best lawyer- elected to the supreme bench in 1842 - hurdle race for congress - moves to Texas and wins national fame
289
JAMES M. CURRAN:
Birth, lineage, education - poor and nobly ambitious - re- lated by blood to Ireland's great advocate, John Philpot Curran - family relation - parents die and leave him an orphan at an early age - Townshend Dickinson raises him - reads law - a miser in nothing but the economy of time - marries Sophia Fulton, the daughter of Governor Fulton - his sister-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wright - thoroughly devoted to his profession, he fell a martyr to its relentless demands - brilliant, able, profound, at thirty-three.
291
JUDGE WILLIAM WALKER:
Birth, lineage, education - a mercantile apprentice several years - goes to New Orleans- sows a few wild oats - mounts the deck of a coasting steamer - goes to Florida - tires of the land of flowers - becomes staid and stationary at Lewisburgh, in Arkansas - reads and becomes a fine law- yer -- the exuberance and effervescence of superabundant youth - a heroic dose of roseate fiction prepares him for the cold, prosaic demands of life, and ultimates in a fine lawyer 294, 295 Marries the daughter of the celebrated Major Wharton Rec- tor - a terror in forensic conflicts, when his prejudices and passions are aroused. 295, 296
JUDGE CHRISTOPHER C. SCOTT:
Birth, lineage, education, family history 296, 297 Goes to Alabama, engages in mercantile pursuits and loses his inheritance - necessity an inexorable teacher - law, first, studied as an accomplishment, second, as a science and neces- sity -one of those storm-clouds which sometimes shadows the best of men crosses his peaceful career, and he is forced to take the life of a fellow-mortal - one of the causes celebres in Alabama - moves to Arkansas and settles in Cam- den - his commanding talents - elected judge of the cir- cuit - appointed and elected judge of the supreme court - succeeds himself - ripe judicial fruit - died in 1859, uni- versally regretted -summary of his character and ability as a judge. 297 to 300
HON. ELBERT H. ENGLISH:
Birth, lineage - raised a farmer's boy - academic education -
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commenced life without fixed purpose - taught school - became a silversmith, followed it several years- weakness, the frailty of greatness - studied medicine - then law-two terms in the legislature of Alabama - came to Arkansas in 1844, where his promotion was rapid - codified the statutes - reporter - elected chief justice in 1854, and again in 1860 - summary of his character as a jurist and man .... 301 to 303 HON. WILLIAM B. FLOYD:
Birth, descent, family connection and history - came to Ar- kansas in 1841 - elected to the legislature - elected judge, declined to succeed himself - elected to the house in 1852, to the senate in 1856. 303, 304 Member of the secession convention - drafted the ordinance of divorce from the government 303, 304
HON. THEODORE F. SORRELLS:
Birth and descent - soldier in the Mexican war - prosecuting attorney two terms - elected judge - elected to the legis- lature - again elected judge - eccentric and no danger of the verdict being set aside. 304, 305
GENERAL CHARLES W. ADAMS:
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Prefatory -the reformation in central Europe - Leo X, and the Papal throne - Henry VIII, of England, throws off the Papal yoke - the Church of England succeeded the Romish church as the established religion -the Puritan and Pil- grim denied freedom of religious thought, and action under the reigns of Henry VIII, Elizabeth and the bigoted James I-Calvinistic faith of the Puritan, as hostile to the estab- lished as to the Romish church - persecution drove them to Holland - Germany and the Swiss Cantons - the name of Pilgrim. 306, 307 The ancestors of General Adams came with the Pilgrims to New England - birth and education - a truly self-made man - cashier for the Branch Bank at Helena - admission to the bar-attorney for the bank - elected judge - trial of the celebrated Martha Washington conspirators . ... 307 to 309 A whig, member of the secession convention of 1861 - his position defined. 309, 310 The peace congress meets in February, 1861 - all eyes turned to this convocation of notables - bitter disappointment . . . 310, 311 Chase, Seward and the higher law doctrine - the secession ordinance - adheres to the south - quarter-master in the army - colonel of the Twenty-third Arkansas infantry - brigadier-general's commission won at Missionary Ridge - -- assigned to command the northern division of the trans-
Mississippi department - partnership with General Pike .. 312, 313 Summary of his character 313
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HON. SAMUEL WRIGHT WILLIAMS: PAGE.
Birth, descent and education - owes much to his father's dis-
cipline and careful training - rural life . .313 to 315
Stern resolves ardently followed up - he becomes a lawyer - talented brothers - attorney-general - seduced from alle- giance to democracy in 1856 - member of the military board -recruited the Seventeenth Arkansas regiment of in- fantry - prostrated with hemorrhage and compelled to resign. 315, 316 Elected to the State senate - services as judge - impatient of opposition - inflicts wounds that sometimes do not heal - bears no malice and forgives readily - his handwriting above criticism - wonderful memory - ready debater ..... 317, 318 HON. FREEMAN W. COMPTON:
Birth, descent, education - curriculum at the law school - first law school in the United States - removes to Arkansas - becomes a large planter - decides the swamp-land cases -- elected to the supreme bench - the professional ethics of that day an unknown quotient now- elected the second time to the supreme bench - estimate of his judicial worth. 319, 320 Wit and humor - rock and rye and the old red-tape Maryland judge. 321 to 323 Social habits of the west compared with those of the east - the potent logic of rock and rye. 322, 323 CAPTAIN WILLIAM J. DYER:
Birth, family connection, education - locates in Yell county, Arkansas, in 1855-an unfortunate but sternly justifiable tragedy - joins the Confederate army and is elected captain - the author's early companion -letter to the author - author's reply - battles of Fishing Creek, Shiloh, Harts- ville - wounded and left for dead on the field - summary of his character. 323 to 328
HON. BEN. T. DU VAL:
Birth, lineage, education - law studies - presidential elector in 1852 - wages war against know-nothingism - secures the passage of the bill creating Sebastian county -- member of the legislature - paymaster-general of Arkansas troops - quartermaster-general - elected attorney-general - counted out by radical rascality - a far-seeing politician, always in the councils of democracy. 328, 329
HON. WM. M. HARRISON:
Birth and education - merchant's apprentice - school-teacher - professional career - elected to the State senate - elected to the house - a staunch Union man - flees to avoid perse- cution - eminently conservative - elected circuit judge - a whig while that organization lasted -then a republican, but disgusted at the excesses of that party he became a
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democrat - elected supreme court judge - summary of his character. 329 to 331 Gov. WM. R. MILLER:
Birth, lineage, education - always a popular favorite - clerk of his county - auditor many years - reads law - admission to the bar - twice elected governor - in 1886 again elected auditor. 332, 333
OSCAR L. MILES:
Nativity - education - splendid college record - brilliant fu- ture invitingly before him . 333, 334
THOMAS B. LATHAM:
Birth, education, descent - amusing episode. 335, 336
HON. SAM. W. PEEL:
Two colonies settle at Batesville, Arkansas, in 1814 and 1815-
distinguished citizens - birth, education and official career, 336, 337 SOL. F. CLARK:
Birth, lineage, education-heroic struggles against adversity- the rugged discipline of honest poverty wedded to energy and ambition gives the world its best men - long a canal boy - finally achieves a fine education and becomes professor in a college - studies law - comes to Arkansas - favors railroad enterprise - avoids politics - a bold, original, inde- pendent thinker - denies allegiance to the mysticism of theology . 337 to 339
HON. THOMAS FLETCHER:
Birth - meagre educational advantages - life on the farm - a whig-elected sheriff-elected to the legislature-did not commit the overt act of treason, but gave "Jeff. Davis" solid chunks of comfort - felt serious misgiving when the Feds. squatted in Little Rock, and took " leg bail "- candi- date for governor - United States marshal - universally esteemed 340, 341
HON. JOSEPH WARREN HOUSE:
. Lineage, birth, great difficulties heroically overcome -- reads law and is admitted to the guild - elected to the legislature, then to the constitutional convention of 1874, then to the State senate - a formidable competitor for. congress - United States district attorney for the eastern district of Arkansas 341, 342
. HON. M. W. BENJAMIN:
Birth, education, lineage from the Pilgrims - member of the · legislature-solicitor-general - leads the forlorn hope of the republican party. 342, 343 HON. GEO. P. SMOOT:
Birth, lineage, education - a fine lawyer-a bold, original thinker - in the southern army . 343 to 345
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HON. C. B. NEAL: PAGE.
Birth, education - teaches school - accountant in chancery -- admitted to the bar - locates in Greenwood - elected to the legislature - service in the Confederate army - elected the second time to the legislature - summary 345 to 347 HON. JOHN B. MCDONOUGH:
Birth and education - distinction at college - carries off the prize-reads law and is admitted to the bar - elected to the legislature - summary of his character. 347, 348
THOS. P. WINCHESTER:
Birth, lineage, education - summary 348, 349
COL. ELIAS C. BOUDINOT:
Historical summary of the Cherokee Indians - birth - educa- tion of the Cherokee-the celebrated Cherokees Stand Waitie, John Ridge, John Ross - assassination of Boudinot's father - taken to New England and educated - reads law - cele- brated speech in defense of Stand Waitie 349 to 351 Chairman of the central democratic committee -edits the True Democrat -secretary of the secession convention of 1861 - enters the Confederate army - elected to the Confed- erate congress - opposes John Ross - represents the south- ern Cherokees in the treaty of 1866 - many years spent at Washington in their interest - tobacco factory confiscated - injustice of the government - ultimate relief granted by · congress - lectures on the aboriginal inhabitants - advo- cates a wise and enlightened policy for the Indians -fine argument before the house-committee on territories. 351 to 357
Hopothleyoholo .. 357, 358 Sequoyah, the Cadmos of his race, invents the Cherokee al- phabet 358, 359
PLEASANT JORDAN, BY SAM. W. WILLIAMS:
Birth and education - neglect in preserving our southern his- tory. 359
North Carolina scenery - Lawrence Orr .. 360
- Joe Brown - Jordan, a self-made man - elected State's attor- Dey - great popularity 361
Genial, kind, charitable, a charming companion - a beautiful and touching episode 362
HON. W. C. BEVENS. 362, 363
COLONEL JAMES R. PETTIGREW :
Birth and education - admission to the bar - ventures in democratic journalism - a soldier in the lost cause - elected to the legislature - journal clerk - appointed on the Utah commission - death. 363, 364
JUDGE H. F. FAIRCHILD:
Birth and education, lineage not known - too little attention
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paid by our Pilgrim descendants to heraldry and family history .. ... . 365, 366 Rapid advance in his profession - better adapted for the office of jurist than advocate - views of the law as a science - cool, dispassionate - a whig, but mild and conservative - appointed chancellor by Governor Conway .366, 367 Elevated to the supreme bench - Union in sentiment - neu-
tral during the war - death - summary of his character ... 367, 368 GENERAL HINDMAN:
The designs of the Creator, as manifested in the economy of the universe, considered - unceasing change a primal law on which the universe is based - no such thing as death in the economy of God 368, 369
"Tom Hindman," moulding and leading public opinion yes- terday, is forgotten to-day. 369
Three States compete for the honor of his nativity. 369, 370
Letters from prominent parties in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, leaving his nativity and early history in doubt - summary of his history and character, both as civilian and soldier, by General Govan. 370, 371
Letter from President Davis 372, 373
Letter from John Ingram to the author . 373
Great debate between General Hindman and Governor Foote - rebellion in the democratic ranks 373, 374 Assassinated 374
GOVERNOR SIMON P. HUGHES:
Birth, nativity, lineage - a thrifty farmer's son - comes to Pulaski county in 1844, and worked on a farm - attends school and accomplishes an education - returns to Arkansas in 1849, and again becomes wage-earner on a farm ..... . . 374, 375 Exciting race for the office of sheriff - the moral and physical
heroism of the untried boy leads to triumph 375, 376 Reads and enters on the practice of law - loyal to the south in her contest - joins her armies and fights her battles .. . 376, 377 Elected to the convention of 1874, and acts a prominent part .. 377 Mission to Washington - attorney-general -. governor. ... 378
WOOLSEY RANDAL MARTIN:
Persecutions of the Romish church drove the Huguenots into exile ... 378
Birth, nativity, and splendid lineage of the young man - his
phenomenal progress through the curriculum of the schools, 378, 379 The University of Alabama repeals her statute, to admit the youth - the legislature of Alabama passes an enabling act to enable the youth to bridge the inconveniences of minor- ity 379, 380
The author's passion for noble youth. 380
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A. H. GARLAND: PAGE.
Character differs widely from all other celebrities in our local history . 380
Birth, education, and admission to the bar - associated with
Ebenezer Cummins and finds an outlet for his talents - a unionist, a secessionist, as the tide ebbs and flows-the many offices held by him - the Richelieu and Talleyrand of Arkansas politics 381, 382 Reaps rewards brought about by others - the art of political booming 383
The popular heart played on and hero-worship inspired by this wonderful growth in politics 384
Unrivaled in discovering the ebbs and tides of popular cur- rents - an agnostic, he has no opinion until public senti- ment has crystallized 384, 385
Refuge during the Sherman-Davis discussion in the senate .. 385
His popularity in the north until embarked in the Pan-Elec- tric fiction 386
Grave charges and congressional investigation - synopsis of the Pan-Electric business. 387
Evidence of this swindle 388, 389
Gift of Pan-Electric stock to members of congress by Mr. Gar- land's associates in the business 389
Mr. Garland's opinion as to the validity and bona fides of the Pan-Electric patent 390, 391
The Pan-Electric comedy 391
Senator Vest deceived and his money taken in - opinion of experts as to the worthless character and fraud embodied in the Pan-Electric patent 392, 393
Abortive efforts of the Pan-Electric schemers to force the Bell Telephone Company to compromise 393
The name of the United States improperly lent to the Pan- Electric adventurers - it worms its circuitous way through the department of justice. 393, 394
The president of the Pan-Electric lets the cats out. 394
A chunk of Looney's genius exchanged for a block of stock, 395
BLAKELY DECATUR TURNER 396
HON. CHARLES A. LEWERS 396, 397
HON. U. M. ROSE:
Birth, nativity, and early obstacles manfully encountered and overcome - his inheritance swept away. 397
Chancellor of the State- author of the Digest - not an office- seeker 398, 399
His great energy, industry and incorruptible integrity. 399
HON. JOHN T. JONES:
Birth, nativity, education -elected judge-My " First Court ", 399, 400 " My First Court " can't be digested, it must be read - not
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originally intended for publication - the author took advan- tage of the judge. 403
A wealthy planter-a good judge-elected to the United States senate. 404
President of the Patrons of Husbandry in the United States .. 404
GOVERNOR HENRY M. RECTOR:
Birth, nativity, education - distinguished family connection. . 404
The antagonistic ideas of the Pilgrim and the Cavalier as to the transmission of blood and character, considered .. 406, 407
The governor's inheritance in Arkansas - works on a farm in boyhood - United States marshal - in the State senate - resolute character. 407
Practices law - begins to feel his political oats and the domi- nant regimé see it 407, 408
Elected to the legislature over large opposition majority - elected to the supreme court bench -in this a "tub thrown to the whale" 408
Boldly and defiantly leads the revolt in the democratic party- aided by Hindman, successful, and is elected governor .... 40S
Inaugurated governor -reply to the secretary of war. 409
Secession - military boom - put forty regiments and battal- ions in the field . 409
Political legerdemain in the convention cuts off two years of his term. 410
Offers his services to the Richmond government -lukewarm support of Garland - gets nothing - goes as a private to practice what he had preached. 410, 411
In the convention of '68 opposes odious restrictions - his promising sons 411
WILLIAM L. MOOSE. 411
GOVERNOR ELISHA BAXTER:
Birth, lineage, education - mercantile experience - failure as a farmer led him to Arkansas 412
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Kind nature breaks him as a merchant - works for wages. .. The Moses that led Arkansas out of the wilderness - republics ungrateful - a slaveholder - opposed to the institution - a whig - twice elected to the legislature over large democratic majorities- a conscientious Union man, he attempted the difficult ground of neutrality - found it unpleasant - the temper of the times and people considered. 414
Noble declension of a command in the Federal army -leaves home 414, 415 Captured in Missouri - sent to Little Rock - is indicted for treason against the rebel government, and things look serious - breaks jail and defeats the jurisdiction 415
Is stun and accepts a command in the Federal army -his great weakness in this considered and palliated. 416
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Appointed chief justice-resigns to accept a seat in the U. S. senate - is refused admission .. 416, 417 The republican party loses its cohesive power and puts two tickets in the field - Baxter declared elected .. 417
Conservative and honest course as governor, the salvation of Arksansas - leads to the Brooks-Baxter war. 417 His conservatism results in the constitution of 1874 - declines the democratic nomination for governor 418
JOHN C. AND C. W. ENGLAND :
Birth, lineage, education - great energy - fine capacity of the brothers. 418, 419 HON. C. W. SMITH :
Is entering on a phenomenal, brilliant and promising career - a graduate in the literary and law departments of the University - elected probate, then circuit judge - his use- ful career lies invitingly before him, and he is enrolled as one of the author's young pets 421
HON. JOHN R. EAKIN :
Birth, lineage, education - remarkably proficient - graduate from the University of Nashville - took no part in the war - in the legislature of 1866 - in the constitutional con- vention of 1874 - chancellor in 1874 - succeeded himself in 1876 .. 422, 423 Elected associate justice of the supreme court in 1878 - died suddenly in 1885 423
Summary of his character 424 THE WOOD BROTHERS :
J. B. and Carroll D. Wood - early family history -- rapid rise of J. B. to high distinction, after admission to the bar 425
The highest order of moral courage evinced by Carroll D. - heroic struggles to acquire an education. 425 Is admitted to the bar - rapid and phenomenal flight. 425, 426 HON. ROBERT W. CROCKETT:
Birth, lineage, education -a heavy crop of wild oats 427, 428
Runs away and goes to sea - returns and recruits another crop of wild oats which found expression in the Lopez fillibuster expedition to Cuba -- sent to the military institute to learn discipline 428
" Bob" settles down to business - becomes a lawyer - an edi- tor - four years in the Confederate army - prominent aspi- rant for the office of governor 429
GENERAL PAT. CLEBURNE:
Early history in Ireland - a froward youth - joins the British army in Ireland - is released and flees to America - settles in Helena. 429, 430
Admitted to the bar - shot in an unfortunate street fight be-
tween " Tom Hindman " and Dorsey Rice. 430
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He lived much within himself - proudly sensitive - honorable - good judge of men - rapid promotion in the Confederate army -killed at Franklin. 432
HON. B. B. BATTLE:
Family history - education - graduates in the law depart- ment of Cumberland University - a Confederate soldier - war record. 432 to 434 In the legislature - thrice elevated to the supreme bench .... 434
JUDGE THOMAS BOLES:
Birth, education - ancestral roots in two hemispheres - a farmer boy - a Douglass democrat -- Unionist during the war -elected judge of the fifth circuit without seeking the office 435
Elected to the fortieth, forty-first and forty-second congresses, and secures important legislation for Arkansas - receiver of the land office - United States marshal. 436
JUDGE ELLIOTT:
Birth, education -a lawyer - moves to Texas - in partner- ship with Gov. Ireland. 436
Exciting episode at a war meeting in Texas - joins the army . -army record - moves to Arkansas - elected judge - an estimable lady denied Christian burial -Judge Elliott pro- nounces the funeral oration. 437, 438
HON. J. W. TOOMER:
Birth and lineage - rapid advance in letters - a young Con- federate soldier with bitter experiences. 438
Discharged - rejoins the army - effects of army life - goes to school and reads law after the war- elected to the State senate- an accomplished speaker. 438
Dies young. 440
HON. JOHN S. LITTLE:
The history of this young man is remarkably phenomenal an index cannot outline it, read it 440 to 442
JUDGE W. F. HILL:
Birth, lineage - "The Cowboy of the Brazos "- a soldier boy from the beginning to the end of the fight - army record, 442 School history after the war - a thorough and ripe scholar - a graduate of Cumberland University in literature, and law, 442, 443 Remarkable performance in authorship - elected probate judge, and developed remarkable skill in rejuvenating the finances of a once rotten borough. 443
These talents led him to the succession - a political boomer on the hustings - scholarly attainments - an independent thinker 444
JUDGE ISAAC C. PARKER:
Such men come to the surface under the ægis of our free insti- tutions 444
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Birth, lineage, education - a poor farmer boy, hewing and carving his own way - a self-educated man and lawyer - city attorney - presidential elector - State's attorney - judge of the State circuit court. 415
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