JACKSON COUNTY was organized in accordance with an act of the legislature of the Territory of Arkansas, approved November 5, 1829.* As then constituted it embraced nearly all of what is now Woodruff County. The latter was cut off in 1862. By the act creating Woodruff, and other acts, the county has been reduced to its present limits, as given in subsequent pages of its history.

In 1832 the site for the permanent seat of justice for the county was chosen at a place called Litchfield, which was on the Jacksonport and Augusta road, at the crossing of Village Creek, a point some two or three miles southeast of the present town of Newport. Here the county seat remained until 1839, when it was removed to Elizabeth, a point on the northeast side of White River, about midway between the present sites of Jacksonport and Newport; there it continued until 1852, when it was removed to Augusta, which is now the county seat of Woodruff County. The next year, 1853, it was changed to Jacksonport, and there has since remained. It is predicted that its next and final removal will be to Newport, the largest town in the county, and the one having the greatest transportation facilities.

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A small frame court-house was erected at Elizabeth, but no county building was constructed at either of the other places where the seat of justice was fixed until after it was removed to its present location, and not there until early in the 70's, when the present court-house was erected. This house was built by Col. J. A. Schnable, the original contract being for $40,000. It is claimed, however, that it cost twice that amount by the time final payment was made. It is a very substantial two-story brick structure, large and commodious, with halls and offices on the first floor, and courtroom above. A serviceable fire-proof vault, costing, together with its burglar proof safe and other [p.833] furniture, about $2,800, has recently been attached. Near the court-house stands a small, frame jailer's residence and a safe and complete stone jail with iron cells.

The county poor farm, consisting of forty acres, on which the paupers are supported, lies five miles north of Jacksonport.

The following is a list of the names of officers of Jackson County, with the dates of their terms of service annexed, from its organization to the present time:

Judges: Hiram Glass, 1830-32; E. Bartley, 1832-33; J. Robinson, 1833-35; D. C. Waters, 1835-36; John Rodby, 1836-38; D. C. Waters, 1838-40; O. M. Stephenson, 1842-44; John Robinson, 1844-50; J. H. T. Webb, 1850-52; A. J. Langford, 1852-54; J. C. Johnson, 1854-56; H. D. Casey, 1856-58; J. C. Kirkpatrick, 1858-62; A. J. Langford, 1862-68; T. J. Randolph, 1868-72; J. W. Stayton, 1874-78; J. W. Phillips, 1878-84; W. H. Jago, 1884-86; M. M. Stuckey, present incumbent, first elected in 1886.

Clerks: J. C. Saylors, 1830-33; A. M. Carpenter, 1833-35; P. O. Flynn, 1835-36; J. C. Saylors, 1836-40; W. J. Haggard, 1840-42; Garlen Silvey, 1842-44; W. J. Haggard, 1844-46; A. Crow, 1846-48; A. H. Logan, 1848-52; W. R. Jones, 1852-54; D. C. Perry, 1854-56; C. W. Board, 1856-58; R. R. Kellogg, 1858-68; William Akers, 1868-71; M. McCannany, 1871-74; F. R. Hargrave, 1874-76; H. C. Lowe, 1876-78; R. W. Bandy, 1878-84; J. J. Walker, present incumbent, first elected in 1884.

Sheriffs: Isaac Gray, 1830-35; James Robinson, 1835-38; Isaac Gray, 1838-42; J. Robinson, 1842-44; J. H. T. Webb, 1844-46; J. J. Waddle, 1846-50; G. Silvey, 1850-54; R. Hudson, 1854-56; A. H. Logan, 1856-62; J. R. Jelks, 1862-64; L. R. Clay, 1864-66; J. R. Loftin, 1866-68; R. Kinman, 1868-72; H. N. Faulkinbury, 1872-74; J. R. Loftin, 1874-82; T. S. Stephens, present incumbent, first elected in 1882, and served continuously since.

Treasurers: G. W. Cromwell, 1836-40; B. Bailey, 1840-42; J. Webb, 1842-44; J. C. Pugh, 1844-46; J. R. Frost, 1846-50; John Cowdry, 1850-52; L. R. Clay, 1852-54; A. H. Logan, 1854-56; W. F. Mason, 1856-60; P. S. Wisdom. 1860-64; W. F. Young, 1864-68; A. J. Greenhaw, 1868-72; G. Brandenburg, 1872-74; W. S. Shuford, 1874-78; W. H. Heard, 1878-80; W. S. Shuford, present incumbent, elected in 1880, reelected and served continuously since.

Coroners: M. Copeland, 1830-32; Hiram Glass, 1832-35; J. Matthews, 1835-36; Samuel Matthews, 1836-38; Sam Allen, 1838-40; R. Montgomery, 1840-42; J. Williams, 1842-14; A. Crow, 1844-46; James Patten, 1846-48; I. Hamilton, 1848-50; L. R. Clay, 1850-52; J. G. Newbold, 1852-54; Charles McKinney, 1854-58; C. H. Jackson, 1858-60; J. L. Quinn, 1860-62; W. J. Sweat, 1862-64; A. J. Greenhaw, 1864-66; W. H. Watkins, 1866-68; J. J. Green, 1868-72; George Gordon, 1872-74; R. O. Duffer, 1874-80; W. D. Shackelford, 1880-82; R. O. Duffer, 1882-84; R. W. Wallace, 1884-86; F. Harrison, 1886-88; Thomas Nance, present incumbent, elected in 1888.

Surveyors: John Robinson, 1832-35; Hall Roddy, 1835-38; William Scruggs, 1840-42; J. Gibson, 1842-44; H. H. Pongur, 1844-46; William Hughes, 1846-48; Jesse Oats, 1848-50; John Towey, 1850-52; B. Ford, 1852-54; J. Mullins, 1854-56; J. C. Mullins, 1856-58; J. M. Mullins, 1858-60; John Glass, 1860-62; J. R. Siddell, 1862-64; Ignatius Sprigg, 1864-68; B. F. Chandler, 1868-72; C. E. Brizzell, 1872-74; M. Hawk, 1874-76; W. P. McDonald, 1876-78; F. Simmons, 1878-88; T. W. Jamison, present incumbent, elected in 1888.

Assessors: William Brian, 1868-71; W. J. Scott, 1871-72; F. W. Lynn, 1872-74; J. G. Bandy, 1874-76; G. C. Buford, 1876-80; J. R. West, 1880-84; J. S. Jones, 1884-88; F. R. Dowell, present incumbent, elected in 1888.

Footnote

Never present.

Representatives in constitutional conventions: John Robinson, 1836; J. H. Patterson, 1861; John Box, 1864; W. H. Pickett,* 1868; Franklin Doswell, 1874.

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R. Tidwell was the first representative of the county in the council, and Morgan Magness and [p.834] C. S. Manley the first representatives in the house of the Territorial legislature. This was in 1831.

The votes cast in Jackson County for the candidates for governor and for president at the late elections will show its political aspect. They were as follows: At the September election, 1888, for governor, James P. Eagle (Dem.), 1,808; C. M. Norwood (Com. Opp.), 1,200; at the November election, 1888, for president, Cleveland (Dem.), 1,555; Harrison (Rep.), 842; Streeter (U. L.), 82; Fisk (Pro.), 5.

At the approach of the Civil War of 1861-65, the people of Jackson County were found to be almost unanimously in favor of secession and the proposed Southern Confederacy. The delegate elected to represent the county in the State convention, held at Little Rock in March, 1861, was instructed to vote for secession of the State from the Federal Union. Eleven companies of infantry and cavalry and McCown's battery, about 1,200 men in all, were organized within the county for the Southern army.

The companies were originally commanded, respectively, by Capts. A. C. Pickott, Harvey Wilson, O. Percell,—–Orm, J. H. Hunter, M. M. Bateman, Robert Anthony, A. C. Hooker, J. H. Patterson and others. No Federal troops were raised here, and no fights worthy of mention took place within the county's boundaries. It was held alternately and over-run by the contending armies, and much property was destroyed. A few little skirmishes took place between scouting parties, and a few individuals were killed. The citizens suffered considerably for the want of provisions, and shared alike with those of adjoining counties, the hardships of "cruel war." Numerous Union soldiers have settled here since the war, the effects of which struggle are rapidly passing away.

The first terms of the courts held in the county were early in 1830, at the house of Thomas Wideman, at the place now called Irwin, a flag station on the Batesville & Brinkley Railroad, five miles south of Newport. At this point the organization of the county was completed, and the courts continued to be held there until the seat of justice was established at Litchfield, in 1832. Hiram Glass was the first county court judge, and J. C. Saylors the first clerk of the courts. Judge Thomas P. Eskridge convened the first term of the circuit court on Monday, May 3, 1830, and finding no business he immediately "adjourned to court in course." The next term began on the first Monday of November following, when the first grand jury was empaneled. This jury, after a short deliberation, reported "no business found," and were then discharged. No such report has ever been made since. At the third term of this court the grand jury found three indictments–the first against a man for bigamy, the second against a man and woman for adultery, and the third against a man for vagrancy. In the first case the defendant was "too much married," in the second the defendants were "not enough married," and the third proves that there were "tramps" (vagrants) then as well as now. Judge Eskridge continned on the bench until 1835, when he was succeeded by Judge Archibald Yell, who in 1837 was succeeded by Judge Lewis B. Tully.

The county court of Jackson County convenes on the first Mondays, and the probate court on the second Mondays of January, April, July and October, and the circuit court on the fourth Mondays of April and October of each year.

The legal bar of the county consists of the following named attorneys: William R. Jones, Franklin Doswell, Joseph M. Bell, J. W. Stayton, Joseph W. Phillips, L. Minor, W. A. Monroe, Isaac T. Davis, M. M. Stuckey, O. W. Scarborough, J. M. Stayton, Gustave Jones, C. F. Greenlee and F. M. Lamberton.

The county's criminal record is comparatively small. One white man and two negroes have been legally executed since the close of the Civil War for the crime of murder, and two colored men have been taken from the jail and hanged by a lawless mob. During the war period a number of murders were committed by roving bands of soldiers and others, who took advantage of the circumstances of the times.

Footnote

Statistics mostly from last Conference minutes.

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The leading religious denominations within Jackson County are the Methodist Episcopal, South, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Christian. [p.835] The Methodists have three stations–Newport, A. M. Branson, pastor, with a membership of 115; Jacksonport, W. E. Rutledge, pastor, membership about ninety, and Auvergne, W. R. Foster, pastor, with a membership of sixty-three; also Tuckerman circuit, E. M. Davis, pastor, and Weldon circuit, R. M. Manley, pastor. The former of these circuits embraces two or more appointments with an aggregate membership of sixty-three; and the latter, three or more appointments, with an aggregate membership of 112. Sevon Sunday-schools are reported with these church organizations.*

Of the Baptist Church organizations there are Pleasant Valley at Auvergne, Elder J. I. Martin, pastor, with a membership of seventy-four; Oak Grove, Elder John Ball, pastor, membership nineteen; Hickory Grove and Litchfield, Elder F. M. Brannon, pastor, membership, respectively, eightytwo and eighteen, and Pleasant Hill, the latter having only a small membership. All of these belong to the White River Valley Baptist Association.

There is only one Presbyterian Church organization in the county, the one located at Newport. It was organized January 29, 1882, by Rev. Dr. Long of Batesville. The present pastor is Rev. Richard B. Willis, of Searcy, and the membership is nineteen.

Of the Christian Church, there are within the county the following named organizations: Shiloh, Surrounding Hill, Grand Lake, one at McCullough's School-house on Departee Creek, Robinson's Chapel, Hopewell, one in Richwood Township, one eight miles southeast of Newport, one three miles east of Tuckerman, and Swifton; the whole having an aggregate membership of about 500. Elder Ritcherson preaches at Shiloh, Surrounding Hill and Robinson's Chapel; Elder S. Bowman at Hopewell; Elders Townsend and Mills at and near Swifton, and Elder J. G. Connor at a point three miles east of Tuckerman.

In addition to the foregoing there is one Episcopal Church in the county, located at Newport. Rev. Coursan, of Little Rock, officiates as rector.

The educational facilities of Jackson County are best shown by the following statistics, taken from the report of the State superintendent of public instruction, for the year ending June 30, 1888: Scholastic population–white, males 1,746, females 1,565, total 3,311; colored, males 567, females 548, total 1,115. Number of pupils taught in the public schools–white, males 1,122, females 928, total 2,050; colored, males 407, females 382, total 789. Number of school districts 31; number reporting enrolinent 24; number voting local tax 20; number of teachers employed, 71; average monthly salary of teachers–first grade, males, $50; females, $45; second grade, males, $42.50, females $37.50; third grade–males, $35, females $30. Amount expended for the support of the free schools–teacher's salaries, $18,015.47; treasurer's commissions, $465.35, total $18,480.82. These statistics, if full and correct, would show that only a little over sixty-one per cent of the white, and a little over seventy per cent of the colored scholastic population, were taught in the public schools; this, however, is not correct for the reason that the number of pupils attending school in seven of the thirty-one districts were not reported at all. The State school system is very defective. A school law should compel full and complete statistical reports showing all of its operations, proving itself adequate to meet the demands of the cause of education. The wages paid teachers is sufficient to secure good talent, and the amount of money expended for the public schools, if properly applied under a more efficient school system, would bring about better results. Jackson County, however, makes a far more favorable showing in respect to her schools than many other counties within the State.

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Anvergne Academy is a private enterprise, and was established in 1885 at the progressive town of Auvergne, by the request of the leading citizens of that place and vicinity. The Academy building, which is a large two-story frame, was erected in 1885, by D. W. Bristol, of Beebe, under the management of Dr. G. D. Clements and R. M. Laird. The property was purchased June 22, 1888, by D. L. Paisley and A. L. Blake, now the principals [p.836] of the faculty of the Academy. The town of Auvergne is high and rolling, free from mud and malaria, and the school is strictly moral, but not sectarian. It is open to both sexes. More extended mention of this institution is made in subsequent pages.

The settlement of the territory now composing Jackson County began some time prior to 1830, the date of its organization, but by whom or just when the first settlement was made can not be definitely stated. The following named persons who composed the first grand jury of the county were, as a matter of course, prominent pioneers here; Nicholas Copeland, Dudley Glass, Jesse Gray, Jacob Haggerton, Michael Haggerton, Silas T. Glass, Samuel Stokes, Joseph Haggerton, Elijah Bartley, Holloway Stokes, John Teague, John Flannery, Jacob Flannery, William Melton, John James, Martin Copeland, Martin Bridgeman and Redding Stokes, Some of these, perhaps, lived in that part of the county since cut off in the formation of Woodruff County. John Wideman, at whose house the first courts were held, the Copelands and Newton Arnold, were the first settlers in the neighborhood of what is now Irwin Station, on the Batesville & Brinkley Railroad. George Hatch and a Mr. Daugherty were the first to locate at Newport.