USA > Arkansas > Johnson County > Johnson County, Arkansas, the first hundred years > Part 10
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Many members of the Girls' Clubs, under the supervision of the County Home Demonstration Department, have made ex-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
cellent records. Those given here were for 1921:
Viola Stegall won a canning contest including all the Southern States. This was conducted in four sections covering the United States, by the Hazel Atlas Glass Co. of Wheeling West Virginia.
In a sewing contest Alma Kraus won a first State Prize and Margaret Jones and Robbie Blackburn, each hold second State Prizes.
A Judging Team, consisting of Berneice McBee, Orilla Ogilvie and Viola Stegall won honors in County contests.
Viola Stegall has for two years held the district Scholarship in The College of the Ozarks, for the best all-round club record.
Helen Partain has a scholarship in the Russellville Agricul- tural School for the District Gardening record.
HISTORY OF THE PRESS IN JOHNSON COUNTY
The records of early newspapers in Johnson County are not quite clear.
That there was a printing press within the county as early . as 1840 is signified by the appearance of the funeral notice re- produced on the opposite page. C. C. Colburn, late of Ozark, said that his father, F. N. Colburn and his uncle, S. G. Colburn, were partners in a newspaper published in Clarksville in the '40's, called "The Clarksville Sun." This was probably in 1844. When one elderly gentleman was asked if this paper were a weekly, he answered, with a smile, "Yes, quite weakly."
From the old Masonic Lodge Book at Morrison's Bluff it is learned that a Committee on Resolutions concerning the death of a member in 1848 requested that a copy of the same be sent to the "Clarksville Standard."
The obituary of Col. William Gray who died in 1850 was pub- lished in the Clarksville Union.
Thus it seems that there were at least three newspapers in Clarksville while it was yet in embryo. The project seemed to have been abandoned for a period however, since the next weekly we learn of was issued in 1866 from the press of James Fitch who was a Federal Register of votes. He called his paper "The Clarksville Forum." Now the soldier boys who had re- cently come home from the war, took issue with the attitude of his paper and their only recourse to their pent-up plaints was to
The friends and acquaintances of Mr. Abra- hạm Clark, arc respectfully invited to attend The FUNERAL of his sister HARRIET CLARK,. from his residence, above the steam saw-mill, To-morrow Earning, at 3 o'clock. Religious exercises by the Rev. Mr. Henderson, may be expected. Saturday, Oct. 17, 1840.
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publish a newspaper themselves. As early as 1867 a company had been formed, a press purchased and an office fitted up. Their weekly they called "The Clarksville Democrat". Major Harold Bourland was Editor-in-Chief while J. S. Gray was Assislani Editor and Publisher. The life of both these papers was of short duration, perhaps two years or less.
In the spring of 1872 E. T. McConnell fitted up a printing office and began, with Edward Jamison as the Editor, the pub- lication of "The Clarksville Enterprise." The editions cover- ing 1873-4 Mr. McConnell has kept and they are vastly interesting now. The Enterprise was. discontinued in 1875. After the suspension of this paper, Edward and Latta Jamison followed almost without intermission with the issuing of "The Vanguard."
The machinery from the office of the Vanguard was later moved to Conway, and there was published for the first time the "Arkansas Traveler". Edward Jamison soon died and then Opie Reed and Werner purchased the outfit and after moving to Little Rock continued the former publication. Mr. Reed later took up his residence in Chicago, and with him went the name of his paper, if nothing more, for long years after, he was still the editor of the "Arkansas Traveler".
Then came the day in the first week of March, 1876 when the Clarksville Herald was established. The editor was a well informed gentleman from Memphis, Tenn., whose name was R. C. Hite. Since that first issue the title of one of Clarksville's newspapers has always been Herald. A prefix or an affix has sometimes accompanied the word, but the original name has al- ways been present. As early as 1883, Mr. Hite's paper was changed to the "Laborer's Herald," but it was only a short time until the old title "Clarksville Herald" was again restored.
Sometime in the early eighties O. C. Ludwig moved a press from Springdale, Arkansas to Clarksville and began to spread the news with "The Arkansan." In 1884 E. T. McConnell and F. L. Pennington purchased a new outfit and issued the "Clarksville Register." This machinery was moved sometime later to Paris. Arkansas.
"The Western Journal" was started by J. W. Adams in 1886. This was published daily for a short time.
J. R. Tolbert purchased the "Arkansan" from O. C. Ludwig and changed the name to "Brothers of Freedom."
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
In '86 or '87, E. T. McConnell, R. C. Hite and Jas. S. Gray formed a company and consolidated the "Clarksville Herald" and the "Western Journal" and called the paper the "Herald- Journal." This company purchased the equipment of the "Dardanelle Immigrant" and brought it to Clarksville. They sold stock and almost every business man in Clarksville held shares. After a time O. C. Ludwig purchased controlling interest, and con- sequently he became the chief editor-and a good one. After a few years, some time in the last decade of the past century A. M. Ward and Ed. Harley became the owners of this paper which had continued under their management for several years when Mr. Harley died and then exclusive management passed into the hands of Mr. Ward. The "Herald-Journal" had undergone an- other christening and was now called the "Johnson County Herald."
In 1914 Mr. Ward was appointed Receiver of the U. S. Land Office at Little Rock by Pres. Wilson and moved to that city.
A son of Mr. Ward, William T. Ward, then became the edit-
or. But a year later he fell a victim to pneumonia and died.
Prof. J. W. Sallis then purchased the plant from Mr. Ward and became the editor and publisher of the paper.
In June, 1909 Fred Vore, a gentleman with much news- paper experience, came to Clarksville and installed a new paper which he called the "Clarksville Democrat." After two years R. B. Holbrook from Springfield, Mo. became the owner of this publication. A fire on the night of Feb. 5, 1912 destroyed both the plants of the Democrat and the Herald, they being in the same block, east of the McConnell corner. Neither paper missed an issue. The Democrat was printed in Russellville and the Herald in Little Rock until other machinery and equipment could be installed. In October 1914 Mr. Holbrook sold to G. L. Wright, of Minneapolis, Kansas, and in January 1915, Todd Ellis of Rus- sellville moved to Clarksville and became associated with Mr. Wright in the publication of the "Democrat."
On August 1, 1918 Prof. Sallis sold the "Johnson County Herald" to Messrs. Wright and Ellis who consolidated the two papers and continued the publication under the name "Herald- Democrat" until March 1, 1920, when J. W. Sallis, C. M. Thread- gill and J. W. Sallis Jr. purchased the plant and continued the publication of the paper under the firm name of Sallis, Thread-
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THE PRESS
gill and Sallis, publishers. The "Herald-Democrat" is at present the only paper published in Clarksville. Prof. Sallis is Editor and Business Manager, C. M. Threadgill, Foreman of the Me- chanical Department. They together with John W. Sallis, Jr., Miss Lucy Sharyer, machine operator, and J. R. Ransom, com- pose the efficient plant force of the "Herald-Democrat."
In 1887 Robert Moffit and Samuel Mays established a press at Lamar and subsequently introduced into that city the first newspaper. They entitled it "The Lamar News."
Lack of information necessarily limits the facts concerning the names of owners and the dates of the establishment of pub- lications known to have been issued in Lamar, but names of some of these papers were, "Farmer's Sentinal," "Baptist Banner," and the "Lamar Leader". G. E. Bennett was for several years the Editor and Publisher of the last mentioned.
Knoxville for a year, was the home of the "Knoxville Demo- crat".
COAL HILL NEWSPAPERS
The following article, relative to the story of the Coal Hill press was contributed by Steve H. Logan, who, in the past was at various times connected with the newspaper business in that lown:
The first paper to be published at Coal Hill was a five column folio called the "Arkansas Valley" which made its first appearance on Nov. 3, 1885. Robert Stonecipher was Editor and Publisher. He had moved the printing press from Van Buren where he had previously published the "Van Buren Daily Optic." It was a small outfit consisting of a five-column army press and a few fonts of type.
About the first of March this paper was sold to an English- man named James Cox who had just arrived in this country from London, England. Mr. Cox was an exceptionally fine writer and had been a reporter on one of the London dailies for several years. But he knew nothing of the mechanical part of a printing office so this work was done entirely by Steve H. Logan. He only publish- cd the "Arkansas Valley" about three months, going from Coal Hill to St. Louis where he died a few years later worth a million dollars. The outfit left by Cox was purchased by Srygley Bros. who in 1886 rented it to a man named Stone from Clarksville
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
and Sam Crawford from the Indian Territory who published "The Coal Hill Lancet" for a few months.
In November 1888 the "Coal Hill Monitor" was launched by M. H. Burnham who with a Washington hand-press and some old type published the paper for about six months with the assist- ance of Nobe Connelly and Robt. Foster. Mr. Burnham was succeeded as Editor and Publisher by Ben Grigsby who issued a splendid weekly. In the spring of 1890 the paper fell into the hands of Messrs. Taylor, Austin and John R. Hill. Neither of them knowing the newspaper business they employed "Buck" Blythe of Clarksville to do the work. Mr. Blythe at that time was publishing the "Phonograph" at Clarksville which he sus- pended and changed the name of the Coal Hill paper to the "Coal Hill Phonograph." After a few months the paper was sold to J. R. Tolbert and S. S. Wellborn of Clarksville. Mr. Tolbert had been Editor of the "Arkansas Economist" published at Clarks- ville. The name of this paper was now changed to the "Coal Hill Banner."
On May 16, 1891 "The Arkansas Spy" appeared with Steve H. Logan as publisher and Jack Buster as Editor. The "Spy" sus- pended in July 1892.
Sometime in the fall of 1893 "The Coal Hill Inquirer" appear- ed with Percy McGraw of Altus as Editor and Publisher but the life of this publication was of short duration.
In February 1896 the "Democrat" made its appearance with Fred Jacques and Steve Logan as Publishers. "The Democrat" had the best equipment of any newspaper up to that time that had been brought into the county, having been the one used by Jacques in publishing the "Democrat" at Ft. Smith. This press was later moved to Mena, Arkansas. Fred Jacques was a French-Canad- fan from New Watford, Canada. He had published the "Daily Democrat" at Grand Island, Nebraska and the "Ft. Smith Daily Democrat." He was one of the best all-round newspaper men in the country.
In September 1896 S. W. McClure moved his paper from Charleston, Arkansas to Coal Hill and began the publication of "The Coal Hill Times." This paper suspended soon afterward.
In July 1897 W. C. Boyd moved the "Rustler" from Ozark to Coal Hill where he published it for a short time.
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INDUSTRIES
In 1898 the "Coal Hill Record" was published by Ben Grigsby for a few months.
"The Phoenix" was published by Steve Logan from January 1901 to March 1902.
All the above mentioned newspapers were Democratic with the exception of the "Rustler" which was Populist.
INDUSTRIES
COTTON
Primarily cotton was the only industry of the county that brought enough money to finance the necessities of the people and today it still remains the principal asset. There is always a sale for this crop. Only once since the period of the Civil War have the markets refused cotton. This was during the fall and winter of 1914 and 1915 following the beginning of the World War in Europe. At which time the "Buy a bale" movement was inaugurated throughout the United States, and thereby, most of the people who depended entirely on this crop for their supplies for the coming year were kept from want. Johnson County, however, would not have suffered much had the crop failed to sell at all, since she has other flourishing industries, such as the coal mines, peach crops, etc.
The principal crop of this staple is produced in the river bottoms. The creek lowlands are close seconds, however, and since the modern fertilizers are so extensively used, the uplands are almost equal to either of the former, thus giving to the upland farmer a diversified selection for a planting, since so many crops not adapted to the low lands will grow to perfection on the red clay hills through the middle section of the county.
The black wax soil of the river bottom lands holds the moisture and it is possible to grow an excellent crop of cotton there even in a dry season. Still, cotton can always be depended upon, despite weather conditions. £ It fluctuates with the weather but is never an entire failure. There is approximately 12,000 bales raised each year in the county, averaging an aggregate of three quarters of a million dollars per season.
COAL
The Coal industry has grown in the last twenty years to be one of the leading factors in this county. Not only does it represent hundreds of thousands of dollars during a year but it
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
makes a surplus of money in the county all during the year. The mines usually begin for the season early in July and run almost continuously until the latter part of January, with a payroll of approximately $100,000 per month. During the period of the World War they operated continuously.
There is more than a half million dollars brought into the county each year from this source and more than that during the war period of 1917.
During the year 1917 an average pay is estimated to have been $150,000.00 per month, and an average number of tons mined per month during this year was 26,781.
The Spadra anthracite field is the principal industrial center of the county, which is at this time represented by twenty or more mines. Some of them are among the best equipped in the southwest. Especially is the Fernwood Mining Company at Jamestown, near Clarksville, up to date in equipment and op- eration. They have their own electric plant, which operates the mines and furnishes lights for the camp houses. They also maintain a modern water filtering plant which insures pure drinking water for the little village of employees near the breaker.
Along the vein nearer the surface, which lies north of the main field, in the Shady Grove neighborhood, are at this time some half dozen "Strip Pits", which are proving quite satisfactory and profitable, following a period of experiment. By "strip pit" it is meant that the soil overlying the vein of coal is stripped away by the use of steam shovels.
Johnson county is represented by several tipples in the bituminous field which is shared by Franklin county.
In the anthracite region a few names must stand out as pioneer prospectors throughout the years. The first of which must be the Stiewell brothers and Kemps. The next period be- ginning with the present century, John W. Powers, J. W. Coff- man, R. D. Dunlap, Cooper H. Langford, Fremont Stokes, W. F. Collier, M. M. McWilliams, S. Laser, Thomas and Nat Clark, C. L. Pyle, James K. Gearhart and others. And after a few years more, other names became frequently connected with the coal mining business-J. E. Nichols, J. B. King, M. L. Mardis & Sons, M. A. Lucas, Earl Johnson, Lee King, D. W. Dunlap, A. F. Ward, R. D. Dunlap, Jr., Dowdy Brothers, Kinney Brothers, J. V. Her- ring, Louis Werner, W. R. Eustice, Walker Laster and others,
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INDUSTRIES
In the soft coal field, the name of Stiewell again heads the list, with Rafter, Hill, Mitchell, Douglas, Pennington and Laster. There have been many others associated with the industry in this section but other information has not been gathered at this time.
PEACHES
The peach crop of the county has grown to be a profitable factor, claiming third place in the industrial life of the county. The crop, however is not a dependable one, since there is seldom two successive favorable years. Nevertheless, the revenue from a successful season is sufficient to supplement the non-productive years.
The county has claimed but few "Big Orchards". A. F. Ward was connected for a time with outside capital in peach growing on a large scale. J. A. Best possesses another of the extensive orchards, known as the "Best Farm". G. D. Crawford, who operates a small canning factory in connection with his peach crop, has perhaps the largest individual orchard in the vicinity of Clarksville. Cazort Brothers of Lamar has at this time the largest orchard in the county.
Almost every farmer has devoted some part of his farm to the culture of Elberta peaches. The income from this source will, in productive seasons, reach an aggregate amount of half a million dollars.
SAW MILLS
The saw mills in the lumber regions have for almost all the years of civilization, had a place of essential prominence in the county. Dotted, as it were, here and there over the country, they turn out many thousands of feet of this common product of lumber each year and still the growth of timber in the virgin state is apparently little more than scratched. The forests of the great short leafed pine are still plentiful, also the prevalent oaks. The pines give us the best building lumber; the oaks for furniture, hardwood floors, wagon timber and barrel staves, while the gum log is ripped into strips and fashioned into baskets.
LUMBER
The county has, as does every locality, a few lumber com- panies, The Ladd & Strong Lumber Company is an extensive affair located at Clarksville. They maintain a planing mill in
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
connection with the yard proper and in the mountains, at Silex, they have their own timber and saw mills.
The Arkansas-Indiana Lumber Co., of which G. L. Cummins is inanager, is an industry of considerable magnitude, with a planing mill in connection with their extensive yards. Until a few months ago they operated a Basket Factory also. Other lumber yards are owned by Hugo Oberste, Hartman; Gus Hill, Coal Hill; and J. W. Harris, Lone Pine.
OTHER INDUSTRIES
Basket Factory-The Basket Factory of Clarksville is the largest in the northern part of Arkansas and one of the largest in the state. This industry is now owned and operated by a com- pany composed of A. F. Ward, Jr., Harry Mowery and Jim James. It is called "The Clarksville Basket Manufacturing Company".
An idea of the amount of business done by this company may be gathered from the fact that they shipped during the first ten days of the year, 1921, nine car loads of bushel baskets.
Clarksville Cigar Factory-This industry has been a fixture since 1913 when Charles L. Wetsel conceived the idea and began the work. The following year he sold to Hoyt Brothers, who have since that time operated the place quite successfully. Their brands are "Hoyt's Special", Hoyt's Genuine", "Verdict", "Lord James" and "Common Sense."
Clarksville Bottling Works-This beverage mixing and bottling plant was first introduced at Clarksville by Cooper Lang- ford, who operated it only a few months, selling to Edgar Garrett, who built it up to one of the largest in this part of the state. Mr. Garrett operated the plant until 1920, when it was purchased by a company composed of F. G. Garrett, Todd Ellis and Elbert and Roy Garrett, who installed modern machinery, increasing the capacity of the plant to 1000 cases per day.
Grain Elevators-The Laser Grain Company, formerly mill- ing flour, meal and stock feed is at this time only producing meal and chops. This company succeeded Chas. Allbritten, who suc- ceeded his father in the milling business. This industry was established by the Senior Mr. Allbritten in 1890.
The Lamar Rock Quarry-The blue-gray granite quarry, which was operated for thirty-five years by Wm. Birse, is today the property of G. T. Cazort, who has abandoned the original
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INDUSTRIES
slope for digging and immediately beside the old opening has scooped out another, which is now furnishing much crushed stone for the building of highways and as a base for concrete material.
Another Quarry, operated by the Young Construction Com- pany a few miles from Lamar over near the river has the past two years done a flourishing business by furnishing stone for the east and west highway in course of construction.
Stave Mills-The stave mill owners have done a flourishing business in this county for a number of years. These transient little plants being moved from one neighborhood to another over the county distributes a continuous flow of cash money among the citizens, often-times in remote places.
The largest operating mill owner in the county is J. B. Hall. J. M. Bryant, who is a resident of Johnson county and is an ex- lensive stave mill owner, operates all his big plants, in Madison and Newton counties. Two or three small capacity affairs are all that he has in this county, though he has a saw mill near the head of Spadra Creek and purchases the entire output of two other saw mills. These staves are hauled to Clarksville and shipped to outside markets.
OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT
Gas was found in paying quantities in Johnson County on Saturday, November 19, 1921, at a depth of 2300 feet. The drill hole is five miles northwest of Clarksville on a farm, known as the Pierson place. The flow measured approximately seven and a half million cubic feet.
The Johnson County Oil and Gas Co., of which Dr. W. R. Hunt Sr., is the president, are the initial promoters. The In- diahoma Refining Company of Okmulgee, Oklahoma were the drillers and also have an interest in the well.
The well was capped after a few days and will lie dormant until the company is ready to drill again, at which time this well will furnish fuel for further prospecting. Also later Clarksville and other points expect to have it piped for fuel. At a depth of 1200 feet an oil sand was passed through in this well, and oil was bailed out. Other wells in the future are expected to determine the exact extent of both the gas and the oil.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
BANKING INSTITUTIONS
The Bank of Clarksville was organized in 1889, with J. C. Hill pres., Dr. A. M. McKennon vice-pres., C. L. Pyle cashier. Since the organization the following have been the presidents: J. C. Hill, M. A. Lucas, R. S. Davis, W. F. Collier and T. E. May.
The Johnson County Bank, of Clarksville, was organized in 1901. The officers were, Dr. C. E. Robinson pres., W. J. Basham vice-pres., A. N. Ragon cashier, D. W. Dunlap assistant cashier, and R. D. Dunlap, Sr., Sam Laser, Cooper Langford and J. H. Powers directors. In 1910 the capital stock of this bank was in- creased to $100,000.00 and merged into the First National Bank, with a Federal depository for five counties, Pope, Yell, Logan, Franklin and Johnson. The officers were, A. N. Ragon pres., W. J. Basham vice-pres., R. D. Dunlap, Jr., cashier. A. F. Ward, M. M. McWilliams, D. W. Dunlap, Sam Laser, Thomas, Nat and Garland Clark have all been active in this institution.
The Farmers National Bank, of Clarksville, was organized Jan. 17, 1920, with R. A. Morgan pres., J. M. Taylor and F. Q. Poynor vice-presidents, and W. E. King cashier.
The Bank of Lamar was organized Mar. 30, 1903. Officers: WV. A. Cazort pres., G. D. Huddleston and J. A. Nation vice-presi- dents, and J. O. Ragon cashier. Sometime later P. F. Winning- ham became the president, W. H. Wilson and J. M. Metcalf vice- presidents, J. O. Ragon cashier. Others connected with this insti- tution have been J. S. Winningham, J. W. Hawkins, A. E. Caroth- ers and W. G. Weeks.
The Blue Stone Bank of Lamar was organized Sept. 6, 1910, with G. T. Cazort pres., G. T. Huddleston, J. R. Cazort, W. A. Cazort, J. H. Simpson, W. G. Weeks and J. I. McClerkin.
The Bank of Spadra became an institution July 11, 1904, through the efforts of C. H. Langford who was the first president, with F. Q. Poynor as cashier. This bank was moved to Hartman in 1910 and the name changed to Bank of Hartman. Geo. Mc- Cann became the cashier. In December 1915 C. H. Langford and others sold controlling interest to W. F. and H. W. Collier. W. F. Collier became the president, with F. Q. Poynor cashier. On Jan. 14, 1920, this bank again changed hands, and A. B. Banks is the president and Roland W. Doty cashier.
The Citizens Bank of Coal Hill was established Nov. 25, 1909, with A. D. Reynolds pres., A. G. Hill cashier, G. D. Ferguson, C. C. Flake and W. A. Hill directors.
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