Pope County - Goodspeeds Bio and Hist.

Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas

POPE COUNTY, ITS SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, RESOURCES AND PROSPECTS–ITS TIMBER AND ITS STREAMS–ITS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND MINERALS–ITS POLITICAL TOWNSHIPS AND THEIR AREA–COUNTY ORGANIZATION–THE SEVERAL SEATS OF JUSTICE–COUNTY BUILDINGS–POPE COUNTY'S CIVIL LIST–JUDGES, CLERKS, SHERIFFS, CORONERS, SURVEYOUS–THE POPE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, ITS OFFICERS AND LAWYERS–REPRESENTATIVES IN SENATE AND LOWER HOUSE AND IN CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS–COUNTY POLITICS–THE DWIGHT MISSION AND THE CHEROKEE SETTLEMENT–BEGINNING AND PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT–LAND ENTRIES IN POPE COUNTY PRIOR TO 1845–EDUCATIONAL HISTORY AND SCHOOL STATISTICS–RAILWAYS–INCORPORATED TOWNS, VILLAGES AND POST-OFFICES–OLD NORRISTOWN AND OTHER ONCE IMPORTANT POINTS–CHURCHES–THE WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD–THE PRESS.

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Commodore Perry Woodard, merchant, Gravelly Hill, Ark. This successful and popular business man was born at Danville, Ark., on March 21, 1866. His father was a merchant, and, having a large stock of general merchandise, sold out a few years ago, and later was appointed postmaster at Gravelly Hill, which position he holds at the present time. He allowed his children to have all they could make in legitimate work, and, as a consequence, Commodore P., at the early age of ten years, hired himself out to a mail contractor, carry ing the mail from Danville to Ola. For his services he received 50 cents a day, and since that time he has clothed and taken care of himself, being no expense to his father. When not employed in this way he worked for farmers in the vicinity. He continued in the mail service until fourteen years of age and then entered the schools at Danville, where he continued his studies until eighteen years of age, working during vacations to pay his way. In 1884 he hired to J. C. Carter to clerk in his store at Bragg, then a country place, but about eighteen months afterward a post-office was established, and the place given its present name. There he remained eighteen months, after which he returned to Danville, and hired as a clerk to the firm of Runyan & Briggs of that place. Six months later he went to Dardanelle to attend the high school, but after being there a few months he was recalled home by the sickness of his father. He then again entered the employ of Runyan & Briggs, with whom he remained six months, after which he went to Bellville, and clerked for W. L. Heck six months longer. From there he went to Rover, clerked for J. W. Gladden six months, and then returned to Danville, where he entered the employ of Briggs & Capshaw, continuing with this firth for fourteen months. During that time he was married to Miss Minnie Elms, daughter of Elizabeth Elms, of Danville. Later he moved to Gravelly Hill, formed a co-partnership with L. L. Briggs, and has since made this place his home. The firm carries a well-assorted stock of goods, consisting of dry-goods, groceries, hats, caps, boots, shoes, harness, saddles and assorted hardware and queensware. During the past nine months their sales [p.192] have amounted to about $4,000. To Mr. and Mrs. Woodard have been born one child, a son named Olga M., whose birth occurred on July 25, 1889. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he is a Democrat. He has held the position of assistant postmaster at two different times, and at two different offices, and is now notary public.

Bounteous nature loves all lands. Beauty wanders everywhere, Footprints leaves on many strands, But her home is surely there.–Falconer.

POPE COUNTY is situated north of the Arkansas River, which is its southern boundary. It is bounded on the north by the counties of Newton and Searcy; on the east by Van Buren and Conway Counties, and on the west by Johnson County and the Arkansas River. It has an area of about 512,000 acres. The surface of the county is considerably broken, one-third of the area being mountainous and billy, one-third level and one-third alluvial. The entire southern portion of the county is underlaid with a bed of coal, and the "black diamonds" have been dug out in liberal quantities in many localities; but thus far coal has been developed only for local consumption. Of timber there is an abundance in the county, of all the valuable varieties, including white oak, pine, cypress, together with red, black and post-oak, while the river and railroad transportation afford the best of shipping facilities. There are about twenty saw-mills in Pope County. They cut about 15,000,000 feet of lumber per year, which is worth $8 per 1,000 feet or $120,000 for the aggregate amount. From the production of cotton and lumber this county realizes $680,000, which equals $37.44 for each inhabitant. The money derived from these sources ought of itself to enrich the country. Iron is also known to exist here, but no effort has been made to ascertain if it is in any considerable quantity. Large quantities of very fine building stone are found at a depth of from one to two feet. This stone is used for the construction of chimneys and for laying the foundations of buildings, but, as the supply seems to be inexhaustible, the day is not far distant when it will be used for building purposes.

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The northern portion of Pope County, about [p.194] sixteen miles in width, is mountainous, the elevation pushing down from the north on the eastern border, in the shape of a foot, eighteen or twenty miles. The mountainous portions of the county include all of Allen, Freeman, North Fork and Independence Townships and portions of Liberty and Martin Townships. The only valley lands in the townships named are those of Indian Creek and the Big Piney, in Allen Township, and the valleys of the North Fork, in North Fork Township, and the Middle and East Forks of the Illinois Bayou, in Independence Township. The valleys of these creeks are generally narrow, but rich and productive. The creeks wind from one side to the other, cutting the valleys into tracts of land of from eighty to 120 acres, occupied by small but thrifty farmers. The Crow Mountain is formed by the land at the headwaters of Gum Log Creek, rising to an altitude of 200 to 250 feet. It is from three to four miles wide and about ten miles long. It sets on a line from the northwest to the southeast. It breaks abruptly off a mile northwest of the town of Atkins, its rugged bluffs and cliffs presenting a majestic view from that point. This mountain is flat on top, and the plateau is pretty densely populated. The county court long ago stablished a political township, embracing and running with this mountain, called Gum Log Township.

Perhaps there is not a county in the State that has a better supply of running water than Pope County, affording the greatest abundance for stock in the dryest seasons. Besides the Arkansas River, which belts the entire southern boundary, the principal water-courses of the county are Big Piney, Illinois Bayou, Point Remove, Galla Creek and their tributaries. Big Piney is a water-course of considerable magnitude. It is 100 miles in length or longer. It rises far back in the Boston Mountains, in the counties of Newton and Madison, and empties into the Arkansas River, about two miles west of the Pope County line. It courses from the northwest to the southeast, entering Pope County on the west about eight miles south of the northwest corner. It then turns north, running a little west of south, along the entire western border of the county, to a point within about six miles of the Arkansas River, when it turns abruptly to the west, running due west, or nearly so, for about four miles. Crossing the county line, it continues its westerly course in Johnson County for about three miles, when it makes another abrupt turn to the south, and empties into the Arkansas River, in Johnson County, about two miles west of the line dividing the counties of Pope and Johnson. Indian Creek, a tributary of Piney, is a stream about eleven miles in length. It heads at the north boundary of the county, about two miles east of the western border, and runs due south eight miles, then flows to the west three miles, emptying into Piney near the county line. The next principal water-course in the county is the Illinois Bayou, which is formed at the base of the mountain, near the center of the county, east and west, and about five miles north of the center, north and south, by the confluence of the waters of the North Fork, Middle Fork and East Fork. The North Fork, which is really the parent stem of Illinois Bayou, heads in the mountains, at the extreme northern boundary of the county, and about the center east and west, coursing due south through the mountains, dividing the center of the county for sixteen miles to the base of the mountains, where it is intersected by the waters of the Middle and East Forks. The Middle Fork has its source in Searcy County, near the northeast corner of Pope County, and the East Fork in Pope County, at the eastern border, about four miles south of the northeast corner. These streams run convergent from the northeast to the southwest, coming together in the mountains, about fourteen miles south of the northern boundary. Continuing their southwesterly course for four miles, they abruptly turn northwest, hugging the base of the mountain for about three miles, to where they intersect the waters of the North Fork, which has its course due south, at which point it may be said the Illinois Bayou proper begins. Then, as if to compromise between the directions of these streams, the Illinois Bayou adopts a southwesterly course, running almost on a parallel with Piney, from six to eight miles east, emptying into the Arkansas River five miles southwest of Russellville.

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[p.195] Big Piney and the Illinois Bayou supply the entire western half of the country with pure sparkling water for stock. Besides, these streams have numerous tributaries which, throughout the year, afford plenty of water for stock, convenient and accessible to all that portion of the county west of the center north and south. Point Remove, a tributary of the Arkansas River, rises in the Boston Mountains at the headlands of Little Red River in Van Buren County, and empties into the Arkansas River in Conway County below the Pope County line. This stream is noted for its slight fall, its slow running waters, its meanderings and its fertile, wide and extended valleys. It enters Pope County on the east, about six miles south of the base of the mountains, and opens up a wide and productive valley onto the valley of the Arkansas River in this county. Hecker's Fork, a tributary of Point Remove, rises in this county, near the eastern border, in the Oak Mountain, and runs due south from the base of the mountain about six miles, emptying into Point Remove. Gum Log, a tributary of Point Remove, rises about the center of the county, runs a little south of east about twelve miles, emptying into Point Remove, near the line dividing Pope and Conway Counties.

The Crow Mountain constitutes the headlands of Galla Creek, which drains the country south of the mountain to the Arkansas River. It is a short stream and runs through a flat but densely populated ountry, and affords stock water in good supply. From this view of the principal water-courses and their windings, it will be seen that there are few counties that have so many clear running streams as Pope County, or whose waters are more equally distributed. While the western half of the county is better watered than the eastern, it can not be truly said that there is any place in Pope County where there is any very great scarcity of water or inconvenience to it, even in the dryest seasons. Wells are relied on chiefly for drinking water. The average well is from twenty to thirty feet in depth and it is very rare to find a well forty feet deep. The greatest abundance of pure water is obtained at these depths; the cost of sinking a well is from $1.50 to $2 per foot. In the mountainous portion of the county springs are quite common.

There are about 512,000 acres of land in Pope County, only about half of which is occupied. There are about 75,000 acres of railroad land, 20,000 acres of State land, 5,000 acres of school land, and 169,000 acres of Government land, aggregating 269,000 acres, which leaves 243,000 owned and occupied by the people. The Government land, which in a technical sense constitutes the public domain, is subject to homestead; but in the broader sense the railroad, school and State land might be said to constitute part of the public domain, for it is all unoccupied and for sale. The railroad lands sell at from $2 to $7 per acre, the State land at $1.25 per acre, and the school land, to the highest bidder, at not less than $1.25 per acre. Land belonging to individuals can be bought, bottom lands from $15 to $30 per acre, river bottom lands from $25 to $50 per acre, and uplands from $5 to $10 per acre. The mountain lands are all subject to homestead, except such as belong to individuals, which can be bought remarkably cheap.

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This county is a "sand formation." This term is here used in contradistinction to calcareous formation. The soil in the valleys, and especially the river valleys, is alluvial, and has a sandy subsoils. In the hills or uplands the soil is a sandy loam, and in the mountains it is a clay loam, with clay subsoils. Silica and alumina enter into the composition of the soil in about equal proportions, silica slightly predominating in the valleys, and alumina in the mountains and uplands. The mountains and uplands are more retentive of moisture than the bottoms, but this is partially due to the difference in the character of their subsoils. The soil of this country possesses all the chemical ingredients necessary to the wants and growth of plants, but each particular character of soil excels in the growth of certain species. The valley lands excel in the growth of corn and cotton. The clay loams are unequal for the production of wheat, beans, peas, cabbage, turnips, etc., and fruits of all kinds; the sandy loams in the production of peanuts, rye, oats, sweet and Irish potatoes, strawberries, [p.196] peaches, melons and perennial pastures. The river bottoms, the richest soil of the country, are owned usually by large landholders, who live in the uplands, their farms being worked by tenants and "share-croppers." All the colored people of the county engaged in agriculture are found on the river. Land rents from $5 to $6 per acre. The production of cotton and corn constitutes the exclusive industry. No thought is given to the production of fruit or any other luxuries of life. Though Pope County is naturally a fine stock country little thought is given to stock-raising. Cotton holds away and shuts out all other enterprises. The planters produce a bale of cotton to the acre for which they realize on an average $40. They usually plant what they deem a sufficient acreage of corn to supply their farms. If the season is favorable they have an abundance of corn, and if unfavorable they have a scarcity. With favorable seasons they can raise from sixty to seventy-five bushels of corn per acre.

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The people in the uplands are generally thrifty and prosperous. Their farms are small, consisting, usually, of from forty to 160 acres. The occupants are the owners. There are few renters in the uplands in any portion of the county. They are in the valleys, especially on the large river farms. The general comforts of life are more equally distributed among the people residing in the uplands than among any other class. Owning their homes, they produce their own consumptions, have their little orchards and variety of luxuries so essential to the comfort and happiness of a people. They have good society, church and educational facilities. The uplands are exceedingly healthy. Improved uplands sell from $5 to $10 per acre. There are a great deal of these uplands subject to homestead. The finest openings for industrious people of small means are the mountains. The lands are rich and fertile and can be homesteaded or bought at low prices. Stock can be raised with but little attention. There is no country that nature has done more for. It is as fine an apple, peach and grape country as can be found anywhere. Grapes grow almost spontaneously. The peach and the apple in size, beauty and flavor grow to perfection. The chief industries of the people are corn, wheat and fruit culture and stockraising. The soil is retentive of moisture, and the drouth seldom affects the mountain district. The mountains are also noted for honey. The Big Piney is one of the most beautiful streams of water in the State. Rising far back in the mountains, in the lime formations, its waters are peculiarly clear and crystal-like, and is an excellent stream for fish. It is fordable on horse except in times of high water, but footmen can pass over it dryshod only in the dry seasons. The valleys are wide and productive and some of the best farms in the county are situated on this stream. It is claimed that the land here is stronger for the supposed reason that it contains more lime than the soil in other portions of the county. While the Illinois Bayou is not as long as the Piney, it is about the same breadth; its valleys are wider, more extensive and continuous. The valleys of the Piney are more like a basin from the fact that every few miles the hills close in on both sides of the stream. On the contrary, Illinois Bayou is not closed in by the hills shutting out the valleys except in one place, and for but a short distance, and forms one continuous valley of rich and fertile lands, extending the full length of the county north and south, splitting the center to the base of the mountains, thence extending a little west of the center to the Arkansas River. Its valleys produce from three-fourths to a bale of cotton per acre, and from forty to seventy bushels of corn per acre, and grow oats, rye and all kinds of grasses well. They are of about the same productive capacity as the valley of Piney, and this is the most cheerful and delightful farming country in the county. The valleys of Indian Creek are rich and fertile but narrow, except at its mouth where the mountains draw back, forming a basin called Leonard's Valley, which is rich and productive. The most attractive of these creeks is the North Fork. Its valleys are wider than the others, and the creek is not so shifting. Its farms are larger, and its farmers are a well-to-do class of people, and have good society, church and school facilities. It will thus be seen that the county's principal crops are [p.197] cotton and corn. Cotton produces well; on hill lands 700, on bottoms, 1,400 pounds of seed cotton to the acre; the average yield of corn is from 20 to 50 bushels, of wheat from 8 to 16, of oats from 18 to 30, of rye from 25 to 30 bushels, pots-toss, both Irish and sweet, from 200 to 300, turnips 300, and field peas 40 bushels per acre; tobacco produces about 200 pounds; timothy, 2,000 pounds; redtop, 2,000 pounds; millet and Hungarian grasses, 3,000 pounds to the acre, and sorghum yields about 100 gallons of syrup on average land. All varieties of fruit are successfully cultivated. Peaches are a sure crop; apples do well, and grapes will produce anywhere in the county.

In the matter of health, Pope County compares favorably with other sections. The lands, as a rule, are high uplands, with no swamps or stagnant pools, and are easily drained. All who have any practical regard for the laws of health, in their modes of living, are rarely sick. The diseases of the country, as a rule, are easily controlled. Following is the testimony of one of Russellville's leading physicians: "I have lived a resident of this county since 1854, and have been a practicing physician for thirty-four years past of that time, having had a large and varied experience. The diseases met with here are mostly of malarial origin, prevailing more during the summer and fall months than at any other time. Those who live in the bottoms along the water-courses suffer the most, while the residents of the uplands are comparatively exempt. Epidemics are almost unknown, as a rule, and, when they do prevail, are generally mild and easily managed. Whooping-cough and measles, with a case of mumps now and then, constitute the entire catalogue of epidemic diseases in this country. Among the inflammations, pneumonia is the most prevalent during the winter and early spring months, but it does not prevail to a great extent, and taken in time, is easily managed. Not one physician in ten will average, one year with another, more than six or eight cases in any one season, at least that has been my experience." There are, in different localities in the county, fine chalybeate springs, valuable for the health-producing qualities of their waters, which have been found especially effective in various chronic diseases. With additional railway facilities, these springs will, some of them, in time, doubtless be developed into popular resorts.

Following are the names of the several political townships into which the county is divided. The figures in connection with the name of each township represent the area of that township in square miles: Allen, 50; Bayliss, 17; Clark, 28; Convenience, 20; Dover, 50; Freeman, 51; Galla Creek, 18; Galla Rock, 21; Griffin, 32; Gum Log, 14; Holly Bend, 17; Independence, 96; Illinois, 40; Lee, 18; Liberty, 120; Martin, 59; Moreland, 20; North Fork, 62; Sand Springs, 11; Valley, 29; Wilson, 32.

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At the close of the year 1825, the then Territory of Arkansas consisted of the counties of Arkansas, Conway, Chicot, Crawford, Crittenden, Hempstead, Independence, Izard, Lawrence, Miller, Pulaski and Phillips. Conway had been erected as recently as October 25 of that year. Lovely County was erected October 13, 1827, and was abolished October 17, 1828. Five days later part of the Indian purchase was added to Conway County. More than a year after the wiping out of Lovely County, Pope County was formed principally from Conway. An old record book of deeds containing the evidence of real estate transactions in Lovely County, in 1828, is among the curiosities of the Pope County clerk's office. Pope County was erected November 2, 1829. In 1840, Yell County was formed out of Pope, by making the Arkansas River the line from the month of Petit Jean up to the crossing of the Miltary road at the Dardanelle Rock; thence to the point of Magazine Mountain; thence with said mountain westward; and not until 1853 did Pope County relinquish to Yell all her lands south of the River. This concession was made under an act of Legislature passed January 5, 1853. Part of Conway County was attached to Pope January 6, 1853. The line between Pope and Newton Counties was defined January 10, 1853. Part of Van Buren County was attached to Pope January 12, 1853. The line between Pope and Van Buren Counties was defined February 17, 1859; the line between Pope and Johnson Counties, October 19, 1859, and [p.198] March 27, 1871. The line between Pope and Conway Counties was defined May 28, 1874. The line between Pope and Johnson Counties was re-established March 6, 1875, and changed March 9, 1877.

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The temporary county seat of Pope County was established at John Bolinger's, on the Arkansas River, near Hon. John R. Homer Scott's "Scotia" farm, and the courts were held there in 1829-30. One early court was held at the old Dwight Mission, on Illinois Bayou. Some time in 1830 the county seat was established at old Norristown and remained there about ten years. No county buildings were ever erected at Norristown. The courts were held in a small frame building leased for the purpose, and prisoners were confined in the jail of neighboring counties. The first court-house at Dover was a log structure. It was repaired and improved from time to time and served the county until some time during the war, when it was burned. Courts were for a time held in churches, until the erection of the brick courthouse, which stands there still, now in use as a school-house, it having been sold by the county to Dover for the nominal price of $100. There is also at Dover a now useless log jail. The construction of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad built up Russellville and Atkins and drew away from Dover the local commerce that had made it the business center of the county. The removal of the seat of justice to some point on the railroad followed as a most natural consequence. July 21, 1886, upon the petitions of C. S. Bell and 1,500 others and L. D. Ford and 2,100 others, legal voters of Pope County, it was ordered by the county court that an election be held September 6, 1886, at which the following questions should be submitted to the people: First, shall the county seat be removed or changed? Second, shall the county seat be removed from Dover to Russellville? Third, shall the county seat be removed from Dover to Atkins? Each of these petitions contained a proposition to build a court-house at the town mentioned therein in case the county seat should be removed thereto, and the people of Russellville and Atkins proposed for their respective towns to execute a good and sufficient bond for the use of Pope County, payable to such commissioners as might be by the courts appointed to erect without cost to the county a comfortable and convenient building suitable and sufficient for all county purposes and donate the same to the county. The court appointed R. O. Morton, W. M. Bell and Joseph Howard, commissioners, to whom said bonds should be made payable for the use of Pope County, and ordered that said bonds should be filed with the clerk of the court. This election did not result in a choice of a new location for the county seat, though there was a majority for removal from Dover. At the October term of the county court, 1886, T. M. Neal and others, after due notice, filed their petition contesting said election, and the court, upon hearing, sustained the contest and set aside the election, and J. L. Shinn and others, as contestees, appealed to the Pope Circuit Court. The time for holding the Pope Circuit Court, as fixed by law, was the first Monday (the first day) of November, 1886; but the court was not opened until the third day (Wednesday), when the circuit judge appeared and proceeded to open and hold the court. On the fifth day of said month M. L. Davis was elected special judge, and on the twelfth he proceeded to try the contest upon the amended petition of the contestants and demurrer of the contestees thereto, and sustained the demurrer and so rendered judgment; and thereupon ordered an election to be held March 19, 1887. Such an election was then held, and a majority of the voters of the county voted to locate the county seat at Russellville, the ballot standing 1,399 for Russellville as against 1,271 for Atkins. In July, 1886, J. L. Shinn presented to the county court a deed conveying to Pope County "all that portion of Lot 13 beginning on Oak Street on the east and running back west to a point parallel with a line running through the center of Lot 18; also the east half of said Lot 18; also Lots 19, 20 and 21, all of said lots being in Block ‘K’ in J. M. Shinn's Addition to the town of Russellville." At the same time Mr. Shinn offered another site, but the one above described was chosen and accepted by the county court, April 1, 1887. It was ordered [p.199] that the county court-house and jail should be built on this site, and J. M. Haney, M. H. Johnson and L. D. Ford were appointed commissioners to inspect said structures and receive them in behalf of the county when they should be finished. July 5, 1887, J. L. Shinn, R. J. Wilson, W. G. White and others represented to the court that they were preparing to erect the jail and court-house in compliance with the obligation of their bond, filed with the county clerk August 17, 1886, and that they had procured and then tendered to the court for the temporary use of the county, while the buildings should be in course of erection, free of cost or rent to the county, suitable apartments for the holding of the courts and the safe keeping of the records of the county, located on the second floor of R. J. Wilson's brick building at the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets in Russellville. This proposition was referred by the court to the commissioners above mentioned, who were instructed to meet at Russellville July 9, 1887, and inspect the apartments so tendered and report to the court, July 12, whether they were suitable and safe for the temporary use of the county. The report of the commissioners being favorable, on July 25, 1887, it was ordered that "the clerk of the circuit court and ex-officio clerk of the county and probate courts and recorder of Pope County remove his office and the records, papers and seals therein contained from Dover to said apartments so tendered;" and it was further ordered that thereafter the county court and all other courts of record of Pope County be held "at said temporary courthouse" until the completion of the permanent court-house.

May 16, 1888, the commissioners reported to the county court the completion and acceptance of the new court-house and jail, as follows: "The undersigned commissioners, heretofore by this court appointed to examine and receive the new courthouse and jail, proposed to be erected for the use of the county at Russellville, in said county, by the citizens of said town, the erection of which was secured by the bonds of J. L. Shinn and others, respectfully report that, pursuant to the order of this court heretofore made, they have examined and received said court-house and jail erected for Pope County pursuant to said bond, and find that said court-house and jail are well and substantially built in compliance with the terms of said bond, and we for said county accept the said court-house and jail as being in full compliance with the requirements of said bond and recommend that the obligors on said bond be discharged from liability thereupon." The court accepted and acted upon the recommendation of this report and ordered that the county offices and the various courts should be removed to the new court-house, and that the next, and all other terms of the county court, and of all other courts of record of the county be there held. The county buildings are among the finest in the State, and reflect great credit upon the many enterprising citizens who contributed toward their erection.

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Pope County civil list is as follows:

1829-30–Andrew Scott, judge; Twitty Place, clerk; H. Stennett, sheriff; W. Garrott, coroner; W. Mitchel, surveyor.

1830-32–S. K. Blythe, judge; E. A. Pace, clerk; J. J. Morse, sheriff; F. Heron, surveyor.

1832-33–Thomas Murray, Jr., judge; E. A. Pace, clerk; J. J. Morse, sheriff; S. M. Hayes, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor.

1833-35–Isaac Brown, judge; R. T. Williamson, clerk; W. W. Rankins, sheriff; S. S. Hayes, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor.

1835-36–J. J. Morse, judge; J. B. Logan, clerk; S. M. Hayes, sheriff; W. C. Webb, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor.

1836-38–Benjamin Langford, judge; J. B. Logan, clerk; S. M. Hayes, sheriff; J. R. H. Scott, treasurer; J. Baker, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor.

1838-40–B. Johnson, judge; J. Ferguson, clerk; S. M. Hayes, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; E. Baker, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor.

1840-–W. Bryan, judge; J. Ferguson, clerk; S. M. Hayes, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; E. Baker, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor.

1842-44–Isaac Brown, judge; J. R. H. Scott, clerk; S. M. Hayes, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; R. R. Fleming, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor.

1844-46–Jesse Mallory, judge; J. R. H. Scott, clerk; J. W. Jones, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; [p.200] M. Tackett, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor.

1846-48–David West, judge; J. R. H. Scott, clerk; J. W. Jones, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; J. S. Banker, coroner; J. H. Brearley, surveyor.

848-50–A. J. Bayliss, judge; William Stout, clerk; J. Hickey, sheriff; J. H. Patterson, treasurer; J. S. Banker, coroner; J. H. Brearley, surveyor.

1850-52–A. J. Bayliss, judge; William Stont, clerk; J. Hickey, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; J. Bradley, coroner; J. A. Brearley surveyor.

1852-54–A. J. Bayliss, judge; William Stont, clerk; R. H. Howell, sheriff; G. R. Davis, treasurer; J. S. Banker, coroner; J. Ferguson, surveyor.

1854-56–Cabel Davis, judge; R. H. Howell, clerk: J. L. Linton, sheriff; W. S. Johnson, treasurer; J. S. Banker, coroner; J. W. Miller, surveyor.

1856-58–N. D. Shinn, judge; R. H. Howell, clerk; J. L. Linton, sheriff; W. S. Johnson, treasurer; J. A. Bradley, coroner; J. W. Miller, surveyor.

1858-60–N. D. Shinn, judge; R. H. Howell, clerk; J. L. Linton, sheriff; D. M. Hornbeak, treasurer; J.

A. Bradley, coroner; J. W. Miller, surveyor.

1860-62–N. D. Shinn, judge; R. H. Howell, clerk; D. C. Brown, sheriff; W.S. Johnson, treasurer; W. A. Walker, coroner; J. W. Chambers, surveyor.

1862-64–J. B. Brooks, judge; A. J. Bayliss;clerk; J. B. Erwin, sheriff; W. S. Johnson, treasurer; L. Macomb, coroner; J. W. Miller, surveyor.

1864-66–J. B. Brooks, judge; A. J. Bayliss, clerk; G. B. Fondren, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; L. Macomb, coroner; J. Brearley, surveyor. (During this term W. A. Strickland was judge; W. H. Williams was sheriff, James Bradley was coroner, and J. W. Stout was surveyor, from July, 1865.)

1866-68–Cabel Davis, judge; A. J. Bayliss, clerk; J. Petty, sheriff; S. R. Parker, treasurer; L. Macomb, coroner; J. W. Miller, surveyor;

1868-72–W. T. Brown, judge; W. H. Hickox, clerk; J. W. Stout, sheriff (J. F. Clear from March, 1870); John Hughes, treasurer; J. A. Bradley, coroner; L. M. Hale, surveyor; J. F. Clear, assessor (J. H. Martin from July, 1870).

1872-74–E. H. Poe, clerk; J. B. Erwin, sheriff; W. L. D. Ewing, treasurer; William White, coroner; James Potts, surveyor; C. E. Toby, assessor.

1874-76–Frank Thach, judge; H. A. Bayliss, clerk; Joe Petty, sheriff; S. R. Parker, treasurer; J. P. Langford, corober; James Potts, surveyor; G. W. O. Davis, assessor.

1876-78–Frank Thach, judge; A. J. Bayliss, clerk; R. B. Hogins, sheriff; S. R. Parker, treasurer; C. N. Beuefield, coroner; James Potts, surveyor; W. M. Peeler, assessor. (Judge Thach died and R. B. Wilson was elected in March, 1878. Treasurer Parker died and F. C. Falls was elected in September, 1877.)

1878-80–R. B. Wilson, judge; A. J. Bayliss, clerk; R. B. Hogins, sheriff; F. C. Falls, treasurer; J. W. Jones, coroner; James Potts, surveyor; W. M. Peeler, assessor.

1880-82–E. C. Bradley, judge; W. J. Reynolds, clerk; R. B. Hogins, sheriff; F. C. Falls, treasurer; D. R. Grant, coroner; James Potts, surveyor; A. R. Robinson, assessor.

1882-84–E. C. Bradley, judge; James Potts, clerk; J. W. Quinn, sheriff; Joe Petty, treasurer; D. R. Grant, coroner; W. R. Hale, surveyor; A. R. Robinson, assessor. (P. J. Rollow from March 13, 1884.)

1884-86–J. S. Linzy, judge; James Potts, clerk; J. W. Quinn, sheriff; George Baird, treasurer; G. A. Jamison, coroner; W. R. Hale, surveyor; P. M. Austin, assessor.

1886-88–J. T. Bullock, judge; James Potts, clerk; John R. Young, sheriff; Joseph Petty, treasurer; James H. Shinn, coroner; W. R. Hale, surveyor; J. A. Hickman, assessor.

1888-90–J. T. Bullock, judge; R. B. Hogins, clerk; John B. Young, sheriff; W. N. Peeler, treasurer; D. R. Grant, coroner; A. Q. Davis, surveyor; J. A. Hickman, assessor.

1890-92–G. W. Berryman, judge; G. E. Howard, clerk; J. T. Bullock, circuit clerk; W. J. Johnson, sheriff; D. R. Grant, coroner; J. I. Simpson, assessor; W. M. Peeler, treasurer.

page 201

Pope County is in the Fifth Judicial District, composed of the counties of Pope, Yell, Johnson and Conway. The judge is Hon. J. E. Cravens, of Johnson County; the prosecuting attorney is H. S. Carter, of Dardanelle. Hon. J. G. Wallace, of Russellville, was elected judge, and Jeff Davis, of Russellville, prosecuting attorney, September 1, 1890, to succeed the officials above mentioned. The court opens on the first Mondays of April and November. It is in the Second Congressional District, [p.201] composed of the counties of Pope, Cleveland, Lincoln, Grant, Jefferson, Arkansas, Monroe, Prairie, Lonoke, Woodruff, White, Faulkner, Conway, Van Baren, Stone and Cleburne, represented by Hon. C. R. Breckinridge. Pope County was represented in the Constitutional Convention of 1836 by Thomas Murray, Jr.; in the constitutional Convention of 1861 by William Stout; in the Constitutional Convention of 1864 by William Stout; in the Constitutional Convention of 1868 by Walter W. Brashear; and in the Constitutional Convention of 1874 by John R. Homer Scott.

In the Territorial and State Legislatures this county has been represented thus: Upper House (Territorial), session of 1831, by Isaac Hughes; 1833, by John Williamson; 1835 (journals of this session missing); 1836-38 (State) with Johnson, by J. Williamson; 1840, with Conway, by J. Williamson; 1842-43, with Conway, by J. Williamson; 1844-45, with Yell, by J. Williamson; 1846, with Yell, by J. Williamson; 1848-49, with Yell, by J. Williamson; 1850-51, with Yell, by J. Williamson; 1852-53, with Yell, by G. W. Lemoyne; 1854-55, with Yell, by G. W. Lemoyne; 1856-57, with Johnson, by W. W. Floyd; 1858-59, with Johnson, by W. W. Floyd; 1860-61, special; 1861-62, with Johnson, by A. M. Ward; 1862, with Johnson, by Ben T. Embry; 1864-65, with Johnson, by William Stout; Confederate Legislature, 1864, with Johnson, by Ben T. Embry; Sixteenth Legislature, 1866-67, with Johnson, by J. E. Cravens; 1868-69, with Searcy and Conway, by Z. Keeton; 1871, with Searcy and Conway, by A. D. Thomas; 1873, with Searcy and Conway, by A. D. Thomas; 1874, with Searcy and Conway, by J. R. H. Scott; 1874-75, with Johnson, by C. E. Toby; 1877, with Johnson, by C. E. Toby; 1879, with Johnson, by John F. Hill; 1881, with Johnson, by John F. Hill; 1883, with Johnson, by B. T. Embry; 1885, with Johnson, by B. T. Embry; 1887, with Johnson, by G. T. Cazort; last session, with Johnson, by G. T. Cazort; J. M. Harkey is Senator elect. Lower House (Territorial)–session of 1831, by Andrew Scott; 1833, by W. Garrett; 1835 (journals of this session missing); 1836-38 (State) by M. G. H. Teevault and J. J. Moose; 1838, by B. H. Martin and A. C. Sadler; 1840, by John Bruton and C. G. Sadler; 1842-43, by M. T. Logan and P. Tackett; 1844-45, by James B. Logan; 1846, by J. B. Anni**** and James Bruton; 1848-49, by J. M. Shinn and J. J. Stirman; 1850-51, by J. G. Bruton and C. E. Toby; 1852-53, by J. S. Bowden and James Bruton; 1854-55, by James Brunot and William D. Poe; 1856-57, by W. A. Barker and J. S. Bowden; 1860-61, special; 1861-62, by J. S. Bowden; 1862, by John McFadden; 1864-65, by Robert White; Confederate Legislature, 1864, by John McFadden; Sixteenth Legislature, 1866-67, C. E. Toby; 1868-69, with Searey and Conway, by W. W. Brashear, J. R. Hall and H. W. Hodges; 1871, with Searey and Conway, by A. D. Thomas; 1873, with Searcy and Conway, by Benton Turner, Y. B. Sheppard and J. F. Stephenson; 1874, with Searcy and Conway, by L. W. Davis and J. S. Venable; 1874-75, by N. D. Shinn; 1877, by L. W. Davis; 1879, by E. L. McCracken; 1881, by H. C. Howell; 1883, by N. W. Kuhn; 1885, by C. E. Toby; 1887, by W. L. Sibley; last session, by W. L. Sibley. Lawrence Russell was elected September 1, 1890.

The following hold, or have until recently held, commissions as notaries public in Pope County: E. C. Bradley, J. S. Bailey, H. L. Rayburn, John W. White, J. T. Bullock, John A. Erwin, H. M. Carden, H. Cohen, G. W. Berryman, Thomas J. Russell, A. M. Gibson, Robert Chastine, J. D. Cleveland, J. E. Joyner, Eugene Moore, James H. Shinn, John Boanes, J. J. Lester.

There are more than 3,600 voters in this county; about one-third are Republicans. The Democratic ticket has not been defeated in this county since reconstruction, except in 1884, it was partially defeated by a combination of the Labor and Republican parties.

page 202

When the old Dwight mission station was established on Illinois Bayou, north of the river, in Pope County, the Rev. Cephas Washburn, a Presbyterian minister, took charge of it. The Cherokee settlement, under their chief, Black Hawk, then extended for five miles down the river, and at some distance from it. The settlement was like a town, of five miles in length. Each Indian family had [p.202] its wigwam and patch of land, containing from one to five acres attached. All these patches adjoined each other, so that it was one continued field, composed of patches of a few acres, in the midst of which was a wigwam or cabin, in which the families resided. This accounts for the young growth of timber which has been cleared within the memory of some of the present inhabitants.

page 203

The first explorers and temporary occupants of what is now Pope County were hunters and trappers. They conveyed information of its many beauties and advantages to the posts and older settlements. Most of the earliest settlement was along the Arkansas River and in some of the interior valleys. The pioneers were, in the main, men of worth and determination. Their work was in a wilderness, where they were often compelled to combat savage beasts, and sometimes fiercer men. Perhaps some made but a brief tarry, and then pushed on into a newer field, leaving no descendants here. The majority, however, have left a record in the county's history, and the names of many are in the lists of county officials to be found elsewhere in these pages. Many reared large families, whose descendants may look backward now and think with pride of the skill and endurance displayed by their ancestors in laying the foundations upon which modern Pope County stands. Never were there more honest or more hospitable people than these pioneers who broke the forest and began to open the way before advancing civilization. While such a life as theirs might not satisfy the present generation, they seem to have been suited to it. Were some of the refined and cultured people of to-day suddenly taken back to the log cabin of their forefathers, what a contrast would be presented to them between the old order of things and the new. Open-hearted, generous hospitality, instead of formality and suspicious welcome then prevailed; personal inconvenience was not then thought of; a desire to assist others rather than himself characterized the average early settler, and to a thoughtful mind it is indeed a serious question, whether or not, with all boasted advancement and progress, people of to-day are superior to their ancestors in those nobler elements of moral courage, deference to others and the consideration of the community before the individual. The life of the pioneers was anything but dull, though, as a rule, not one in ten saw a newspaper more than once or twice a year, and the only news that reached them from the East was brought by the last newcomer, by some traveler through the country, or perhaps, by letters, that did not arrive until about three weeks after they had crossed the Mississippi. Notwithstanding such deprivations, their very surroundings and the life they lived furnished excitement that exactly fitted them, and if any people filled well the place assigned them in life, the founders of Pope County did. The following reference to the pioneer epoch is from the pen of Hon. John R. Homer Scott, of Russellville: "I look back to the good old days with wonder, astonishment and sadness at the change. No bolts or bars, no locks or keys, no shotguns, pistols or bowie-knives were then necessary to guard against the evils which, in this day and age beset as on every hand. Killing, stealing, incendiarism and other heinous crimes, of the most atrocious and heartrending description, as constantly portrayed through the public press of the present day, were then almost unknown and unheard of, to shock our sensibilities, and cause sorrow, trouble and distress. But all was peace and quiet, and the hearthstone and fireside, the sanctuary of domestic happiness, love and enjoyment. The people were united and cemented in the strongest ties of friendship and brotherhood. There were then no scandalous misrepresentations or bitter partisanship; no animosities, rancors, envies or jealousies, private or political; no desire or animus to pull neighbors down or traduce character. But each and everyone seemed intent upon an honest and laudable ambition and pursuit, which might result in the betterment of his own or his neighbor's happiness, welfare and prosperity. Would to God that such a state of affairs as was embraced in our early pioneer code yet existed, for honesty, integrity, morality and virtue, as distinguishing and prominent characteristics, marked the advent of the early original settlers of the long ago–that we might again realize and enjoy the [p.203] blessings and satisfaction which were once so very pleasant, even amid primeval forests and dense and lofty canebrakes, and have with us again as then, at all times, such grand, congenial and noble men for fellowship as Uncle Davy Harkey, Ransom and Madison Shinn, George W. Lemoyne, David West, John Wilson, John and Mathew T. Logan, Dr. Thomas Russell, Dr. J. McFadden, Dr. G. R. Davis, Dr. J. H. Brearley, Samuel Norris, Benjamin Langford, George Williams, John, Robert T., John L. and D. F. Williamson, Mahlon and John M. Bewley, Richard S. Witt, E. W. Duval, Thomas Murray, L. N. Clarke, J. L. Cravens, Kirkbride Potts, Stephen D. Lewis, William Rankin, James, Thomas and Philip Madden, Jesse and Thomas May, Dick Adams, John Howell, John and James Brewton, Andrew Scott, James and William Carden, Daniel Gilmore, A. J. Bayliss, Sam Hays, Hillary Herring, Abram and John I. Smith, William Parks, Charles and Josiah Perry, John Bradley, the Howells, Bernards, Jamisons, Logans, Sullivans and many other dear old friends fondly remembered, but now no more, whose smiles, presence, company and counsel once served to enliven, cheer and gladden our hearts. Peace to their ashes."

page 204

Ever since the war there has been a constant stream of home-seekers flowing in this direction from other States as well as from other counties in this State, which has added greatly to the wealth and general prosperity of the county. New towns are growing up in communities where a dozen years ago the solitude was almost unbroken by the presence of man. Railways, not alone in the county, but in all parts of the New West, have contributed largely to this advancement. All parts of the county are now settled, and schools and churches are everywhere. The increase in population has been gradual, yet quite steady, and at this time the county seems fairly well peopled. Notwithstanding this, many magnificent acres remain unoccupied, to which the attention of all who wish to settle in a fertile land, a genial climate and a moral community is directed, and a cordial invitation is extended by the citizens here to all who may wish to occupy these lands and unite their fortunes with theirs. Following are the names of those who are recorded as having entered land in Pope County previous to 1845. The orthography of the names as given in the records has been preserved and in a few instances may differ from the modern orthography of the same family names: 1833–Stephen D. Lewis; 1834–Samuel Norris, John J. Morse, John Drennen; 1835–Thomas Russell, Alexander Madden, Mary N. Norris, George Poplin; 1836–Joseph H. Brearley, Kirkbride Potts, Augustus W. Scott, Robert Davidson, Andrew Scott, John R. Homer Scott, Francis Logan, Jr., Burr H. Zachary, James Allen, Thomas Butler, Keziah Mason, Isaac Hughes. J. Clark, Willis J. Wallace, William I. Albright, L. C. Howell, Sheldon Wooster, James and Philip Madden, Peter Thornberry, Eliza Evans, David Slinkard, James Madden; 1837–Samuel Norris, English J. Howell, Jesse May, John Burkhead, William G. H. Teevault, Cyrus F. Smith, Robert Davidson, Samuel Davidson, Levi G. Spear, J. D. Rose, Alfred Wallace; 1838–Wilson and Barnett, James Tittsworth, Robert Tweedy, Kirkbride Potts, Isaac W. McConnell, Joseph Potts, Thomas Russell, Ellen P. Bryan, John R. Bryan, James Allen, Thomas, James and Philip Madden, Humphrey P. Rose, Persis Lovely, Aaron Clark, Thomas Butler, Bartlett Zachary; 1839–Joseph P. Ring, Thomas Campbell, James Campbell, Moore & Blaisdell, Richard H. Blaisdell, Willbourn and Thompson, A. Barnett, John Aplin, William G. Barnett, William Aplin, Polly Roberts, William L. Wharton, Richard T. Banks, James Menifee, William H. Boyer, B. H. Thompson, Joseph Chandler, Elisha W. Owens, James J. Tweedy, Benjamin Moore, James Hollyfield, Jesse Bernard, Vincents J. Hutton, Abram Bernard, John E. Metcalf, R. J. Blounts, Elizabeth Carter, James Carder, Daniel Gilmore, Joseph Parr, George W. Carter, Carter and Pattillo, Blake H. Thompson, Littleton Pattillo, John F. Burns, Aaron Clark, P. H. Smithson, William J. McCormack, Robert A. Logan, Isaac N. McConnell, Elizabeth Ewing, Cyrus Ewing, James A. Howell, Thomas A. Howell, Joseph D. Combs, David A. Logan, Jesse May, Johnson Gibson, Moses Hough, Robert Davidson; [p.204] 1840–Samuel Norris, Haines A. Howell, Amasa Howell, James A. Howell, English J. Howell, Nicholas Beatty, Thomas J. Dart, Aaron Clark, Thomas Russell, Coke B. Darnell, Thomas H. Andrews, William A. Logan, Benjamin D. R. Shinn, Josiah S. R. Honeycutt, Cyrus Gibson, Elizabeth Parkett, Dempsa Taylor, Nancy Clark; 1841–Owen Williams, Epbraim Lemley, Thomas J. Dare, William A. Logan, Charles Himina, James Bruton, Thomas B. Wade, Robert B. Ross, John Bruton, Adam Ross, Jephtha Johnson, Ellis A. Garduer, James McCoy, Isaac Brown, William A. Barker, Lewis Potter, Edmond Tyler, Benjamin Langford, John Rowland, Nathan B. Rowland, Robert S. Buley, John L. Goates, John Petrie, George P. Williamson, John Logan, Meredith Webb, John A. Bryan, William Bryan, Richard Young, John Williamson, William Phillips, Philip C. Hollidger, William O. Bryan, David S. Williamson, Augustus N. Ward, William Ennis, James G. Williamson, Alexander D. Crews, John S. Williamson, Ellen P. Bryan, William Bryan, Horatio Bernard, Henry Phillips; 1842–Henderson Benefield, John Sullivan, Peter Pleas, Joseph D. Tate, Joshua A. Hearne, Garrett Pleas, John Harkey, Robert McAnulty, Leonard Maddox, Samuel H. Howell, James M. Shinn, James L. Hardaway, Samuel Battenfield, John Battenfield, Elijah T. Timmons, Richard A. Bryan, David F. Williamson, Robert T. Williamson, George M. P. Williamson, Richard Ennis, John E. Shinn, John 8. Williamson, James Allen; 1843–Joseph C. Johnson, Horatio Bernard, William O. Bryan, Samuel H. Balch, Nathaniel D. Shinn, William L. Poynter, Calvin Virdan, Caleb Davis; 1844–W. A. Saphamore, George H. Feeter, William A. Logan, Joel Jones, William S. Johnson, A. Cochran, Miranda Tackett, James F. Hill, Candez Reynolds, Stephen Matthews, R. D. Ashmore, Samuel C. Strickland, Samuel Maloney, John H. Williams, A. A. Price, John S. Williamson, Elijah Pruitt, John Howell, James E. Harville, Moses W. Harville, James G. Williams, Samuel M. Hays, William H. Logan, R. W. Jamison, William C. Dixon, John Ewbanks, William J. Farriba, Robert Edmiston, Joseph Wilson, R. Cunningham, Adam Ross, George Rushing, Sarah Hays, William M. Mason, John Wilson, Tristram Rye, William Rye, Enoch Wood, Jesse Dunlap, Samuel Leonard, Hiram A. Linzey, Isaac Brown. In 1879-80 Pope County participated with Faulkner and Conway Counties in a quite extensive German immigration.

page 205

During pioneer times in this county there was a small class of men who with propriety might have been called itinerant school masters. One of these would find a settlement where enough children lived within a reasonable distance to constitute a small school. Visiting parents and guardians, he would organize a subscription school, usually agreeing to teach a term of three months for a stipulated price per pupil. After having obtained enough subscribers to support a school of from fifteen to thirty pupils, this traveling educator would begin his school, board around with his patrons, teach for the time agreed upon, and then pass on and find another settlement where he would in like manner organize and teach another school, thus keeping himself almost always employed. An old surviving pioneer says that, though they were all strangers, these pedagogues were usually honest and gave satisfaction as teachers. As they kept constantly on the move, it was seldom that one of them was employed twice in the same settlement. By the time the settlers could afford a second term of school, the first teacher had passed beyond recall, and his place would be filled by another stranger. This county had to depend upon subscription schools entirely until the establishment of the present free-school system. Some of the parents sent their children away for educational advantages. The public schools of Arkansas are a post bellum organization. Prior to that epoch, the educational facilities of Pope County were very limited and primitive. The scarcity of population rendered permanent schools impracticable, and a small log cabin, 18×20 feet in size, would accommodate all the children within a radius of six to ten miles, and a teacher did not have to be far advanced educationally to secure a school. The school-houses served also as a place of public worship. Now Arkansas has a well organized public school system with a State superintendent [p.205] of public instruction, and a county examiner in each county. Provision is made in the Constitution of the State for the support of public schools, requiring an annual tax of twenty cents upon each $100 of taxable property, to be levied and collected for that purpose, in addition to a per capita tax of one dollar upon each adult male inhabitant. The territory of each county has been laid off by the respective county courts into convenient school districts, which are managed by three directors elected by the electors of the district. In addition to the amount raised by State tax, each school district, by vote, can levy a tax not to exceed fifty cents upon the $100 for the support of its school. A large portion of the districts vote the full amount allowed by the law, paying in the aggregate for this laudable purpose seventy cents on the $100 of taxable property together with a poll tax of one dollar. In towns and densely populated neighborhoods this enables the schools to be kept open for nine months in each year.

Pope County has made great advancement under the operations of this law, and her public schools are in a flourishing condition. New districts have been added almost every year, until now there are about 100. About the same number of teachers are employed, and the county has nearly fifty school-houses. There are over 7,000 children of the school age in the county, of whom not 600 are colored. The latter are taught separately. New school-houses are being built in nearly all parts of the county, and an almost unanimous desire is manifested by the citizens to build up and protect that bulwark of the people's intellectual advancement–the public free-school. In the Russellville Graded School are enrolled nearly 400 pupils. Prof. A. E. Lee, principal, is filling his second term with marked acceptability. His assistants are Profs. M. H. Baird and R. A. Ross, and Miss Teeter of Ohio, Miss McClure of Virginia, and Miss Lillie Rankin of Russellville. There are about 300 pupils enrolled in the Atkins School. Prof. J. H. Fry is principal and also county examiner. Mr. T. D. Bullock is teacher in the intermediate department, and Miss Scarlett in the primary department. Dover also has a good public school. Its last principal was Prof. J. E. Howard, 1889-90, who was elected county clerk at the September election, 1890. These schools are carefully graded and thoroughly equipped.

The Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad was completed through Pope County in 1872-73. It has stations in this county at Atkins, Russellville and several other convenient points. This railway has done much to develop the county and advance its best interests. It has had an influence upon settlements, the growth of towns, and in removing the center of trade and the seat of justice from the interior of the county to the Arkansas Valley. Russellville is on this line of railroad and has one of the largest and most fertile districts in Arkansas or any other State tributary to her, which promises shortly to be further opened up by a line of railway from Kansas City to Hot Springs, thus crossing the State transversely to the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad, and making Russellville the distributing point for an immense area of as rich and fertile territory as presents its upturned face to the beams of Phoebus.

page 206

The following are the names of the several post-offices in Pope County: Allegan, Appleton, Atkins, Augsburg, Caglesville, Dover, Economy, Freeman, Gum Log, Hector, Holly Bend, Laurel, London, Moreland, Pearl, Northwood, Potts Station, Russellville, Santos, Scottsville, Silex Smyrna. Atkins, Dover and Russellville are moneyorder offices. Several of the places mentioned are business and trading points of importance. Three of them are incorporated towns. Russellville is a flourishing little city of about 1,500 inhabitants, situated in a lovely, fertile valley between the Crow and Norristown ranges of mountains, for healthfulness and picturesque scenery hard to be surpassed. The town is immediately on the line of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad, seventy-five miles from Little Rock. The place is beautifully laid out. The streets are wide and run at right angles and are lined with shade trees, which present an appearance of comfort and tranquility during the long summer days. The sidewalks are paved with flagging, of which there is an abundant supply near the town. The buildings [p.206] are in the most part constructed of wood, but, with the exception of a few which look like old family relics, they are constructed after modern designs, and some of them are really beautiful and attractive. The dwellings generally are comfortable and conveniently arranged and display a refined taste in keeping with the high culture and progress of the inhabitants. The principal business houses are of brick, and some of them are decided ornaments in an architectural way and would be an honor to any city in the State. Russellville is one of the principal business towns in the county and is the county seat. It is an old town, having been settled as far back as 1840. The town has made rapid improvement since the completion of the railroad in 1872-73, and is now one of the most prosperous in this part of the State. The past few years have marked many improvements in the aspect and commercial importance of the place. The population has largely increased, the town has spread over a mile of territory, and numerous broad streets have been laid out and many handsome and commodious business houses and residences have been erected. Russellville is justly famous for its freedom from contagious or serious local diseases. The moral and social status of the people is not surpassed in the State; her educational facilities are of the best; the public school building, a handsome two-story edifice, is one of the largest and finest in Western Arkansas. The city is under excellent municipal control, and strict sanitary measures are enforced. Its scrip is worth 100 cents on the dollar and it has no outstanding debts. In the matter of churches, Russellville is well to the front. It has seven religious denominations represented, as follows: Christian, Methodist South, Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Primitive Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian and Presbyterian, the latter denomination possessing as yet no church building.

page 207-208

An advantage possessed by Russellville is the wealth of the coal district surrounding it, one of the Ouita Coal Company's mines being distant just two miles west, and undeveloped coal fields a short distance southeast, so that it is exceedingly favorably situated respecting manufacturing, fuel (either wood or coal) being cheap and abundant; and its present and prospective transportation facilities surpass those of any other town between Little Rock and Van Buren, possessing as it does the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad, and the Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad, the latter road connecting Russellville with the Arkansas River four miles distant. The seat of justice of Pope County was located at Russellville in 1887, and the county buildings were erected by the citizens of the town, and, together with the land on which they stand, presented by them to Pope County. Russellville was incorporated June 7, 1870. The following named persons have been mayors: B. W. Cleaver, L. S. Poe, J. E. Battenfield. A. E. Luker, G. E. Burney, J. B. Erwin, J. H. Battenfield, S. N. Evans Robert H. Jamison, J. A. Erwin, J. E. Richards, J. W. Russell. Several additions to Russellville, known as J. L. Shinn's addition, J. M. Shinn's addition, S. M. Shinn's addition, Luker's addition, Russell's addition and Torrence's addition, have been platted with a view to furnishing cheap and comfortable homes, inducing an increase of population, and extending the visible limits of the town as well as enhancing its real estate interests. J. L. Shinn's addition is the largest and most important, embracing most desirable territory and affording opportunities to home-seekers seldom equaled. It is probable that Mr. Shinn has done more than any other one man to build up Russellville's interests. During recent years the capitalists of Russellville have to a considerable extent turned their attention to manufacturing. Perhaps the most important industry is that of the Melrose Manufacturing Company, of which J. L. Shinn is president; J. M. Haney, superintendent, and J. E. Battenfield, secretary and treasurer, and which gives employment to from fifty to seventy-five operatives. Incorporated in 1882, the annual business has shown a decided rise each year. The plant is situated on the line of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad, and occupies a one-story brick building 52×252 feet in dimensions, with a boiler-room 24×50 feet. The officers of the company are business men of recognized ability. Rope and twine are manufactured. L. M. Smith's flouring-mill [p.207] has a capacity of about forty barrels of flour per day. In connection with this mill is a carding factory, one of the best in the State, which prepares the raw wool for the making of all kinds of woolen goods. Under the same management are a planing-mill, re-sawing machinery, a fruit-box manufactory, and a cotton-gin which can gin and bale twenty-five bales of cotton per day. Brown, Settle & Co.'s foundry and machine shop is one of the most profitable enterprises of the city. They work a large force of hands. The Russellville Canning & Evaporating Company have an extensive plant here, and employ a large force putting up berries, fruits and vegetables. This enterprise will be an inducement to farmers to devote more time to the cultivation of these products than heretofore. Another important enterprise is the wagon and plow factory of Luker, Davis & Co., with a capacity of over 400 wagons a year. The Citizens' Savings Bank was organized under the name of the Weimet Savings Bank, in 1887, with a capital of $10,000, and conducted as a private bank by W. G. Weimer, its founder, until April 1, 1890, when it was reorganized by a stock company with a capital of $50,000. It is the oldest bank in Russellville, and has been very successful since its opening. It does considerable business with surrounding counties, and contemplates early reorganization under the national banking system. Its officers are G. W. Harkey, president; R. F. Roys, vice-president; W. G. Weimer, cashier; James A. Potts, assistant cashier. The People's Exchange Bank was organized March 22, 1890, with R. J. Wilson as president; John M. Harkey, vice-president; John W. White, cashier, and W. J. Reynolds, assistant cashier. Its directors are R. J. Wilson, W. J. White, J. M. Harkey, W. H. Hill, W. M. Oates and Charles S. McKinney. The People's Exchange Bank does all branches of general banking business. About December 1, 1890, it will move into its new three-story brick building, on the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets, which, when completed, will be one of the handsomest bank buildings in the State. Besides those mentioned, the principal business interests of Russellville may be thus summarized: General stores, J. L. Shinn, White & Son, Morton & Co., R. M. Oates & Co., J. B. Everte & Co., R. H. Tate,R. J. Wilson, T J. Russell & Bro., M. Jacobson, Wooten & Oates; grocers, Perry & Son, C. C. Winn, Smith & Brown, Bernard Bros., Tucker & Son,M. L. Gardner; butchers, Baird Bros.; liverymen, Rodgers & Rankin; stationer, W. W. Brashear; wagon-makers, C. C. Lukes, J. A. Jamison; dentists, J. W. O'Kelly, H. Sherman; hotels, White House, Judd House, Central House, Buck House, Bottom House; lumber dealer, G. E. Howell; mill and gin, A. E. Luker & Co.; printers and publishers, Democrat Printing Company, Methodist Herald establishment; physicians, R. M. Drummond, J. W. Pruitt, J. M. Yancey, W. H. Hill; druggists, Weimer Drug Company, J. W. Wells; cigar manufacturer, A. C. Lawton; photographer, J. H. Ganner; milliners, Mrs. Webb, Mrs. Perry; jeweler, H. C. Wilkey; furniture, J. A. Erwin & Co.; hardware, Love & Roys Hardware Co. Russellville is no "mushroom" town. The natural causes that build up all cities have been at work here from the first, and the place has never had a "boom," so called. Its growth has been strong and vigorous. Its business men as a class have had life-long training in their special pursuits, and to their sagacity and enterprise the future of the town may be safely entrusted. Russellville dominates a magnificent surrounding country. The Arkansas River bottoms for miles are tributary to its trade, while it supplies the interior country to the north for miles, the people bringing in their cotton, and trading in exchange. In view of these manifest advantages, it requires no prophet to look even a few years into the future and see a busy little city of 5,000 or more on the foundation which has been laid so deeply and so well. The second town in the county in size is Atkins, situated on the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad, twelve miles from Russellville, and prettily located at the foot of the Crow range of mountains. From the summit of a spur of Crow Mountain, and within a mile of the town, a picture of rare loveliness stretches out over forest and field as far as the eye can reach, and on all sides are fertile farms. The town is only five miles from the famous Arkansas River bottoms, [p.208] where everything grows so abundantly. The health of the town is excellent; chills and fever are rarely ever known. Atkins has a large mercantile trade and is a shipping point of large quantities of cotton. Considerable live-stock is handled here. The manufacture of wagons and carriages has been a leading industry. Atkins was incorporated October 23, 1876. The following named additions to the original town plat have been platted: Reynolds', Beeson's and Cahill's additions. The gentlemen here mentioned have served the town as mayor: J. F. Darr, W. H. McCullough, James Cagle, William Reynolds, M. Kirtley, J. A. Westerfield, W. A. Wilson, A. M. Gibson. Following is a list of the principal business interests of Atkins: Lester & Riggs, general merchants; A. J. Sisney, furniture dealer; A. Arnn, tinner; W. S. Hinton & Son, druggists; W. A. Galloway, druggist; A. J. Croom, general merchant; Matthews & Matthews, grocers; Bledsoe & Ford, druggists and grocers; J. F. Darr, general merchant; E. A. Darr, general merchant; J. C. Darr, general merchant; Reynolds Bros., hardware dealers; M. F. Cleveland, general merchant and furniture dealer; Avera Bros., grocers; C. Bell, general merchant; E. Epstein, general merchant; Paul Reiss & Co., grocers; J. U. Dunn, dealer in meat; W. S. Jones & Co., grocers; Weaver & Son, wagon manufacturers; Beckham & Hammond, blacksmiths and wagon-makers; the Scerlett House and Leatherwood House, hotels; Weaver & Son, proprietors of saw-mill, planing-mill and grist-mill; M. Alewine, cotton-gin and grist-mill; J. H. Potts, J. H. Westerfield, J. M. Yandall, R. B. Whiteside and D. J. Warren, physicians; B. F. Wilson, dentist. The Methodist Episcopal, the Baptist, the Cumberland Presbyterian, the Methodist Episcopal South and the Catholic Churches all have organizations and hold regular meetings at Atkins. Some of their houses of worship are very fine buildings. The population of this town is about 1,000. Dover, long the county seat of Pope County, was incorporated December 3, 1852, and its incorporation lapsed some years ago. It was once the seat of Dover College, an educational institution of more than local celebrity. In the period "before the war" it grew to be a town of considerable importance. The principal business men since the war until a few years ago were W. C. McKune, Petty & Hollinger, Scott & Howell, West & Brown, Young & Hale and Bayliss & Young. The leading business men of the present time are T. M. Neal & Co., Dan C. Brown, I. L. Hicks, general merchants; John R. Homer Scott, steam saw-mill, grist-mill, planing-mill and cotton-gin; W. A. Baird, druggist; H. Kirchhof, hotel keeper. The town has three church organizations: Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist. Brown's and Davis' additions and West Dover were platted some years ago.

There were towns and villages in this county which do not now exist or do not exist under their former names. The chief of these old towns was Norristown, once the county seat, which came within a vote or two of being chosen as the capital of Arkansas. It was nearly opposite the present site of Dardanelle. At the time, F. Saugrain set up his store at Dardanelle, Samuel Norris opened another on the north bank of the river. It survived the Saugrain store and had a monopoly of trade on both sides of the river for a few years subsequently. Norristown was founded in 1837, and was for a time the county seat of Pope. This influenced a number to locate there, among whom was a young man, from a store in Little Rock, by the name of George Williams, who purchased several lots in Norristown, opened a store, boarded for a few years, then married a woman of the Haney family. Subsequently, in the days of Norristown's decadence, be was a pioneer merchant at Dardanelle. Nothing remains to mark the site of this once ambitious settlement. Other once promising places have also disappeared before that irresistible march of civilization, which destroys that it may build up, making the interests of the few contribute to the welfare of the many, and compelling the present to yield tribute to the future.

From an early day religion has had a strong hold on the people of Pope County. Churches of nearly all popular denominations are to be found within the county limits, and Sunday-schools are almost as plentiful as day schools. The principal church organizations are mentioned elsewhere.

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[p.209] Some of the most celebrated lawyers of Arkansas have practiced at the bar of Pope County, and the resident attorneys have long taken rank with the best in the Fifth Judicial District. The circuit judge and prosecuting attorney elect are both Russellville lawyers–Hon. J. G. Wallace and Jeff Davis. The oldest member of the local bar is Judge L. W. Davis. Col. Dan B. Granger has practiced here nearly twenty years, and he and Judge R. B. Wilson are partners. W. S. Moore was a later partner of Mr. Granger's. Hon. Lawrence Russell, recently elected to represent Pope County in the State Legislature, is the only member of the bar who is both a native of the State and a graduate of an Arkansas educational institution. Other members of the bar are Horace Bradley, J. E. Joyner, John D. Cleveland, J. J. Lester and E. C. Bradley.

In the Civil War, Pope County did its part promptly and nobly, at first espousing the cause of the State, and later the cause the State espoused. The following companies organized in this county did brave service: Capt. John R. Homer Scott's, Capt. Thomas J. Linton's, Capt. B. T. Embry's, Capt. Caleb Davis', Capt. James A. Stout's, Capt. John Randall's, Capt. E. B. Harrell's, Capt. J. L. Adams', Capt. David Rye's (afterward Capt. A. H. Scott's), and Capt. Dan C. Brown's. The only incident of importance in connection with the war, other than the organization and equipment of the above mentioned companies, which took place in this county, was the skirmish at Williamson's Camp Ground, three miles north of Russellville. In the latter part of the war, after the Federals were in possession of Little Rock, some of the citizens of this county did service for the Union cause in Capt. E. W. Dodson's, Capt. James Clair's, and other ompanies. The period for the close of the Civil War to the adoption of the present State Constitution was a dark one in the history of Arkansas. Political interests were practically in a state of anarchy, and all business interests were consequently seriously affected. In all of the ills of this period, Pope County suffered more or less, and all classes of her people gladly hailed the brighter and more prosperous era that has come since. Now they know no South, no North. The development of the country and the upbuilding of its interests are the dearest objects of their solicitude.

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The first newspaper published in Pope County was established at Dover, in 1869, by Capt. H. P. Barry. It was called the Dover Transcript, and lived but a few weeks. The next venture was at Russellville, where, in 1870, B. W. Cleaver and J. K. Perriman started the Russellville Herald, a four-column folio. In about a year the Herald was suspended, and in 1871 the National Tribune was established by J. H. Battenfield. In 1872 the office of the National Tribune was totally destroyed by incendiaries. A new outfit was immediately purchased, and the publication of the paper was resumed, but a few issues having been missed. In 1873 the Tribune was edited by Judge L. W. Davis, and in 1874 by David P. Cloyd, after which it suspended. In 1875 a stock company was organized, which purchased the National Tribune material, and established the Russellville Democrat, with J. E. Battenfield as editor and B. F. Jobs as business manager. In 1881 Mr. Battenfield resigned the editorship of the Democrat, and was succeeded by B. F. Jobe and John R. Homer Scott. They edited the paper until 1882, when W. L. Morris succeeded them. In January, 1883, Mr. Morris resigned, and Rev. H. B. Milner mounted the tripod. Mr. Milner retired in about twelve months, and was succeeded by Mr. J. F. Munday. He continued as editor until 1887, when he resigned, and was succeeded by B. F. Jobe, who has had editorial charge of the paper ever since. In 1877

D. O. Bell established the Atkins News. It passed through several hands, Ernest Jennings, J. E. Joyner, O. C. Ludwig, John A. Woolen and W. W. Gill having at different times been its editors. Some time in 1883 its name was changed to the Pope County Reflector, and its publication was continued by Gus and W. W. Gill. In 1886 the paper was moved to Dardanelle. In November, 1881, the Biblical View, a paper published in the interest of the Christian denomination, was issued at Russellville by J. Tolbert Garland. It died in three [p.210] months. The Arkansas Evangel, edited by Rev. B. R. Womack, was moved from Dardanelle to Russellville in March, 1882, and was issued from the office of the Democrat. It was taken to Morrilton in 1883. Our Paper, a bi-monthly in the interest of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, wa**** l****unched January 1, 1884, at Russellville. It lived but a few months. January 15, 1884, Prof. J. H. Shinn, of Russellville, recently elected superintendent of public instruction of the State of Arkansas, commenced the publication of the Arkansas Teacher, a monthly devoted to education. The paper was issued regularly for a year, and removed from Russellville to Little Rock. The Revivalist, a religious monthly, was established at Russellville by R****. H. B. Milner and W. M. Robison, in June, 1885. It suspended January 1, 1886. In August, 1887, Eugene Moore established the Mail at Atkins, which ****e published until May, 188****, when the paper passed into the hands of a stock company, known as the Atkins Printing Company. Me****. Ben G. Sevier and George L. Sti****ier managed the paper for a few months, it finally passing under the control of Mr. Robert W. Leigh, manager of the Morrilton Printing Company, who leased the office. It is still under his management. The Methodi**** Herald, a journal whose title sufficiently indicates its character, is issued at Russellville, weekly. Now in its second volume, it is well printed and well conducted under charge of W. J. M****lly, editor and publisher.

Ben H. Allen. In sketching the life of this gentleman it is but just to say that his good name is above reproach, and that he has won the confidence and esteem of all who know him. As a tiller of the soil he has been quite successful, and is still following that calling. He was born in North Carolina, February 10, 1838, to William and Nanny (Crump) Allen, both of whom were born in North Carolina, the father being an agriculturist by occupation. Their marriage took place in their native State in 1835, and resulted in the birth of ten children, nine of whom are now living, the subject of this sketch being the eldest. The other members of the family living are Frank, Bettie (wife of J. J. Micenhimer), Lucy (wife of John Thompson), Sallie (wife of J. Burns), Cara (wife of Phil Randel), Fannie (wife of G. Lanier), and Maggie (wife of Mr. Bennett); George is deceased. About 1856 the father of these children was judge of Stanly County, and was magistrate for a number of years. He died in 1885, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, also a Mason. His wife died in 1870, a member of the same church as himself. Ben H. Allen was married in 1869, to Miss Bettie Howell of Pope County, and to this marriage two children have been born: Minnie and Battie. He was called upon to mourn the death of his wife in 1874, she being a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and in Stanly County, N. C., he was married, in 1877, to Miss Eugenic Randel, by whom he has four children: Bennie, Randel, Samuel and Loy. Mr. Allen is a well-to-do farmer, and is the owner of 320 acres of land, of which 155 acres are under cultivation. He emigrated from North Carolina to Arkansas in 1859, and has since been a resident of Pope County. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Second Arkansas Cavalry, and served as a private soldier on the Confederate side until 1865, taking part in the battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Jonesboro and Nashville. Since the war he has devoted his time to farming, and not only is his land valuable for farming, but it is also heavily underlaid with coal. Mr. Allen and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of Russellville Lodge No. 254, of the A. F. & A. M.

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M. H. Baird, a prominent educator of Pope County, was originally from Georgia, his birth occurring in 1845, and was the second of eight children born to William and Christian (Campbell) Baird, natives of Tennessee and Georgia, respectively. The father was a farmer and lived in Alabama nearly his entire life. He came to Arkansas in 1868, settled near Russellville in Pope County, and there resided until his death in 1888. The mother is still living and makes her home with a daughter in Russellville. M. H. Baird was [p.211] reared in Alabama, where he had fair advantages for an education, and when seventeen years of age he enlisted in the Confederate Army, Company G, Nineteenth Alabama Infantry, in the Western Department. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga and all the engagements of the Georgia campaign with Johnston. After this he was with Hood and surrendered at Greensborough, N. C. Returning to Alabama, he was engaged in the boot and shoe manufacturing business until 1868, when he came to Arkansas with his parents. He then followed farming for a year or two, attended school a year in Russellville, and in 1870 taught his first term of school in Conway County. Since then he has been almost constantly engaged in teaching, principally in Pope County, and is one of the most popular and successful educators in that county. He is now teaching his fourth year as first assistant of the Russellville public school, and has been connected with the public schools of Pope County since 1870. The first county teachers' association was organized in Pope County in 1872, and our subject was elected secretary, serving in that office in every institute or association since. He has been a most earnest advocate of the free-school system since its adoption. Mr. Baird was married in 1875 to Miss Mary Quinn, a native of Arkansas and the daughter of Robert Quinn, one of the early pioneers from South Carolina. Mr. Baird owns a fine farm of 120 acres one, mile and a half east of town, and has seventy-five acres of this under cultivation. He also owns a comfortable residence in town. To his marriage have been born three children–a son and two daughters: Della, Daisy and Max. The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Baird has been an earnest worker in the Sunday-school, having organized many schools in various parts of the county. He is now a teacher in the school. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Russellville Lodge No. 247, is an Odd Fellow, Chosen Friends No. 36, and is a member of the K. & L. of H., No. 535. The Professor is a stanch Democrat, and is a consistent worker for that party.

William A. Baird is one of the self-made and influential men of Dover, Ark. He was born in Cherokee County, Ala., December 2, 1863, and in 1869 moved with his father to Arkansas, his early education being completed in the high school of Russellville, under the instruction of Prof. J. H. Shinn, now State superintendent of public instruction. His father, William Baird, was a farmer of Cherokee County, Ala, but was born in East Tennessee. William A. was reared on his father's farm, and at the age of nineteen, having obtained a sufficient education, he began teaching in the common schools, and carried on this calling in connection with farming for two years, when he was elected to the honorable and trustworthy position of county treasurer, a position he filled with marked ability for two years. He was then chosen one of the county examiners of schools, but at the expiration of two years he embarked in the drug business, at Dover, which he has successfully continued up to the present day. Starting on a small capital, he has steadily increased his business, until now his annual sales amount to $6,000, and he has acquired the reputation and title in his town of being a "hustler." Outside of his business, he is the owner of considerable property, in the north part of the town, besides other property, and, as he has, at all times been strictly honorable and endeavors to please his patrons, his success is fully merited. On January 14, 1886, he was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Maggie West, a daughter of D. P. and Katie West, of Dover. To Mr. and Mrs. Baird two children have been born: Porter L. (born October 19, 1886), and George H. (born December 12, 1888). Mr. Baird is a member of the Christian Church, and his wife is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is a member of the Union Labor party, and has always shown himself to be public spirited and liberal in the support of worthy enterprises.

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E. A. Bell, merchant, Potts Station, Ark. This prominent and most successful business man owes his nativity to Lincoln County, N. C., his birth occurring in 1847, and is the son of Alexander and Mary (Oates) Bell, natives also of the Tar Heel State. The father was one of the early settlers of North Carolina, and was a farmer by occnpation. [p.212] He removed with his family to Pope County, Ark., in the year 1851, purchased land and continued agricultural pursuits. His wife received her final summons in 1881, and he followed her to the grave in 1884. The paternal grandparents were natives of the Emerald Isle and the maternal grandparents were pioneers of North Carolina. E. A. Bell was reared principally in Arkansas, received his education in that State, and in the fall of 1863 ****e enlisted in Company F, St****rmon's battalion under Gen. Joe Shelby, and was principally in State service. He was discharged at Louisburg in June, 1865, after which he returned to his home in Pope County, and was engaged in farming. In the fall of 1865 Miss Rebecca Dickey, daughter of Alexander Dickey of Pope County, became his wife, and the fruits of this union were four children: William S., Martha C., one deceased, and Macy H. He was engaged in farming until the year 1882, when he moved to Potts Station on the Fort Smith & Little Rock Railroad, and there he has been engaged in merchandising ever since in partnership with his brother, Calvin Bell, under the firm name of Bell & Bro. They have a operative trade and are pushing, enterprising business men. Our subject still carries on his farm by hired help, and is one of the county's best citizens. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. He and Mrs. Bell are members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and is a liberal contributor to all worthy movements.

William T. Blackford has had an active career as a merchant, and by his advanced and progressive ideas has done not a little for the mercantile interests of this section. He first saw the light of day in White County, Ill., January 2. 1858, being born to A. J. and F. E. (Honn) Blackford, who were also born and reared in that county. In 1872 William T. Blackford moved from Illinois to Jackson County, Ark., with his parents, and here began the battle of life for himself at the age of twenty-two years. Although he was not given much of a chance for acquiring an education, he has since remedied this defect in a great measure by contact with the world, by business life of activity, and by thoroughly reading up the general topics of the day. In 1884 he opened a general mercantile establishment at Scottsville, Ark., and this together with farming, which is his principal occupation, has received his attention up to the present time. He owns and controls about 266 acres of fine land in Pope County, the proceeds of which, together with his $3,000 stock of general merchandise, amounts to a handsome annual income. He was married in 1881 to Miss F. E. Sherrell, a daughter of Sam and Ellen Sherrell, and in time the following family of children gathered about their board: A. J., Harry, Oscar C. and Minnie A., the first two named being deceased. Mr. Blackford has always been a faithful and zealous Democrat, and at all times strives to promote the interests of his party.

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James C. Bonds is one among the substantial farmers of Pope County, and is a man of recognized worth and progressive spirit. He was born on the farm on which he now lives, two and a half miles west of Dover, January 24, 1837, to Robert and Mary E. (Dickson) Bonds, who were born in Dickson County, Tenn., in 1811 and 1814, respectively. In 1834 they came to Arkansas, and settled on the farm on which James C. is now living, where they reared their family consisting of three sons, James C., Robert C. and Hugh D., and one daughter, Sarah A. A., of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, and the only one now living. Although his early opportunities were very limited, he obtained such an education as to enable him to carry on the business of the farm successfully, and being reared from his earliest youth to a knowledge of the business he has been successful. The year following his father's death, which occurred in 1852, he went to California, and was engaged in farming and mining for nine years, but with no very favorable financial result, and in 1866 ****e returned home and once more began following the plow on the old homestead, where he has remained up to the present time. In his early days he walked three miles to school, the same being held in a log building erected for the purpose of holding meetings and schools, and his first teacher was Andrew J. Bayliss. This building was about one [p.213] mile north of Dover at the grave yard. Logs split in halves formed the seats, and the cabin was without windows. The books used were mostly the old blue-backed speller or elementary spelling book of Webster. The year of his return from California, Mr. Bonds married and settled down to life on his mother's farm. At the end of three years she divided the land among her three sons for farming purposes, although she was still the owner, and each paid rent for the use of the same. She afterward deeded her place, which consisted of 240 acres to her four children, and until her death, which occurred in 1877, made her home with her son, James C. The latter has since purchased 160 acres adjoining his land, and on this farm he raises cotton, corn, oats, hay, potatoes, etc., diversifying the crops as much as possible. His marriage, which took place on November 21, 1866, was to Miss Lavina Elizabeth Rye, a daughter of Tristram and Peggy G. Rye, who were among the earliest settlers of this county. To Mr. Bonds' union the following children have been born: Jessie Viola and Je****nia Leda (twins, born September 4, 1867, the former being married to Samuel W. Winingham of this county, and the latter to Prof. J. A. Evans also residing here), Maggie A. (was born June 27, 1869, and was married to P. F. Winingham, a dealer in general merchandise at Morrilton), and Mary E. (born February 24, 1873, still residing with her parents, and is president of the Young People's Christian Endeavor.) The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Bonds holds the office of ruling ****lder. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the K. of H. and the Farmers' Alliance; in the former he has filled every station in the lodge. He is Sunday-school superintendent, a Democrat, and as he and his wife are hospitable and kindly, they are highly respected in this community. Mr. Bonds' grandfather, Drury Bonds, and wife Sarah came to this country in 1834. The family consisted of the following children: Dobert, James G., Drury K., Sara**** E., Mary and George J. The latter and Drury K. became ministers of the gospel. The grandfather built the first water-mill in Pope County, it being two and one-half miles west of the town of Dover, and consisted of a cotton-gin and grist-mill. He died in 1855, and his widow in 1863. Robert Bonds, the father of the immediate subject of this sketch, became associated in the general mercantile business with John Wilson and T. J. Paxton immediately after coming here, and continued thus associated a number of years.

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Rev. J. J. Bowden, farmer, Moreland, Ark. Mr. Bowden, who is familiarly known as "Uncle Jacky Bowden," was born in Georgia, January 22, 1814, and is the son of John and Anna (Blackburn) Bowden, both natives also of Georgia, and of English and German descent, respectively. The father was born in 1751, and was married about 1796. He and wife emigrated from Georgia to Tennessee, and here they received their final summons, the father dying at the age of ninety-five, and she at the age of sixty-five years. Their family consisted of fifteen children, eight sons and five daughters of whom grew to mature years. Two died in infancy. Those living are named as follows: Polly, William, Feriba, James, Anna, Jane, John S., Jackson J., Charles, Newton, Wiley, Lucinda and Allen. The paternal grandfather of these children emigrated from England to America at an early day, and fought for independence in the Revolution. When about six years of age Rev. J. J. Bowden emigrated with his parents to Tennessee, and there remained until 1844, when he moved to Arkansas. While a resident of Tennessee he met and married Miss Salina Lay, a native of Georgia, who bore him six children, two of whom are now living, one in Texas, and the other in Conway County, Ark. After coming to Arkansas Mr. Bowden settled in Gum Log Valley, but afterward purchased eighty acres of land on Crow Mountain, where he resided six years. He afterward purchased 300 acres at Gravel Hill, and gave eleven acres of this to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, the land, at the present time, being valued at $100 per acre, upon which he has expended on his own account, and out of his own pocket, at least $500. Later he sold this farm, and retired to his farm at Gravel Hill, where he now resides, and where, despite his increasing years, he still carries on his occupation of farming, [p.214] thungh in a limited way, having rented most of his land to tenants. When Mr. Bowden first located on his present farm, the country was thinly settled, and in all the country from Cross Plains to Dover there were bat two families. On Crow Mountain, where there are now about 200 families, there were at that time just two families. Mr. Bowden joined the church in 1828, and has always taken a deep interest in church work. When leaving Tennesses he brought letters from his church, which he deposited in Gum Log Valley, in what is now known as David Chapel, where he assisted in erecting the first church edifice in Valley Township, and probably the first in Pope County. Mr. Bowden was licensed to preach in 1848, by Dr. A. Hunter; ordained a deacon by Bishop Paine in 1852, and ordained an eider by Bishop Early in 1857. His first ministerial work was on Crow Mountain, where he organized and erected the first church. In 1865, after the close of the war, owing to the unsettled condition of affairs, Mr. Bowden was called upon to take in hand the organization of the churches of Dover circuit, on which there were twenty four appointments, and to which it was difficult or impossible to sand a regalar itinerant. Mr. Bowden found the churches in a dem**** condition, but undertook the work, which be successfully accomplished in about a month, preslding over that circuit only a year. He organized the Sunday-school at Gravel Hill, or Bowden Chapel, directly after the war, and also assisted in the organization of several others. He went to Little Red River in 1849, where Methodism had never penetrated, and established a church, which has grown from the seed thus sown to a flourishing circuit. His first wife dying in 1852, Mr. Bowden was married, in August of the same year, to Miss Narci**** E. Bowley. daughter of R. S. Bewley, of Pope County. The fruits of this union were ten children, three of whom died in infancy. The remainder are all married, with the exception of one son and a daughter. They are named as follows: Robert S., Benjamin B., Charles D., George A., Anhans C., Miles E. and Sallie F., all but one of whom are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. From 1845 up to the beginning of the Civil War, in which he took no part, Mr. Bowden was militia captain. He was appointed postmaster at Moreland post-office in 1866, which position he held for three or four years. He joined a temperance organization at Dover in 1867, and as this is a subject in which he takes a great interest, temperance organizations have been established all over Pope County. Although in his seventy-seventh year and somewhat deaf, Mr. Bowden can read ordinary print without the aid of glasses. He lost his wife in 1885. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church also, and was an active worker in the same. Despite his old age, he raised, the present year, with his own hands, two and one-half bales of cotton, thirty bushels of corn and forty bushels of sweet potatoss, besides he preached nearly every Sunday.

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C. L. Bowden, farmer, Allegan, Ark. Among the successful agriculturists of Pope County, whose merits are such as to entitle him to representation in the present work, is Mr. Bowden, the subject of this sketch. He is a native-born resident of Arkansas, his birth occurring in 1850, and is a son of Hon. John S. and Elizabeth (Reynolds) Bowden, both datives of the Big Bend State, where they were united in marriage. They emigrated to Arkansas about 1840, settled in Marion County, where they remained for about two years, and in 1842 came to Pope County, settling in Gum Log Township. From there they afterward removed to Valley Township, where they entered and bought 200 acres of land, and the father had about ninety acres of this cleared at the time of his death, which occurred in 1865. He was a prominent man and was a member of the Legislature three terms. Both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the twelve children born to their marriage, eight are now living: Mrs. Ann Mullens, Mrs. Caroline Brashear, James H., Allen, Charles L., W. Franklin, Mrs. Bell Doughit and Margaret. Charles L. Bowden, subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in Pope County, and in 1869 began working for himself as a tiller of the soil. On Christmas of that year he was married to Miss Margaret L. Ashmore, daughter of [p.215] James and Denia (Mathews) Ashmore, both natives of Tennessee. Mr. Bowden purchased eighty acres of land in 1872, and of these he soon cleared twenty-five acres, and erected an excellent frame house, outbuildings, etc. Later he bought ninety acres more, improved about fifteen acres of this, and now altogether has about eighty-five acres under cultivation. He is one of the thoroughgoing, enterprising citizens, and a man of good, sound judgment. To his marriage were born nine children: Denia (wife of R. J. Barrett), Minnie May (deceased), John S., William J., Frank O., Clifton H., George R., Virgil R. and Emory. Mr. and Mrs. Bowden are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee, and he is also a member of the Sunday-school board. During an average season

Mr. Bowden's farm will yield twenty-five bushels of corn, or one-half a bale of cotton to the acre.

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Hon. Walter W. Brashear, postmaster at Russellville, and a prominent citizen and planter of Pope County, Ark, was born in Marion County, Ark., in 1839, and was the eldest of eleven children born to M. M. and Sallie L. (Vaughan) Brashear, the father a native of the Blue-Grass State, and the mother of Tennessee. The father was a farmer by occupation, and came to Arkansas in 1838, locating in Marion County, where he remained until 1847. He then came to Pope County, settled in the northern part on 120 acres, and being something of a speculator became the owner of several tracts of land. In 1862 he entered the Federal Army as a recruiting officer of the Second Arkansas Cavalry, continuing in that duty and ranking as major until August, 1864, when he was killed in an engagement in Searcy County. The mother is still living in this countywith her daughter. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which the father was also a member. The father was a very progressive and active citizen, and was something of a lawyer as well as a tiller of the soil. Walter W. Brashear was early initiated into the duties of farm life, and his educational advantages were limited to the common schools of Pope County. At the age of twenty-one years he started out for himself as a farmer, but just previous to his twenty-first birthday he was married to Miss Mary Reckley, a native of Tennessee, who lived but three years, leaving two children, both of whom are grown and married. The eldest one, Sallie, became the wife of Wiley Duvall and resides in this county, and the second, Melvina, is the wife of Henderson H. Pigg, a farmer of this county. During the Civil War Mr. Brashear entered the First Arkansas Cavalry, Company L, Federal Army, under Col. M. La Rue Harrison. He was captured near Prairie Grove, Ark., December 9, 1862, and was kept a prisoner three months, and upon his return to his command he was commissioned quartermaster-sergeant, filling that position until peace was declared, and operating principally in Arkansas. He was wounded near Prairie Grove. He was mustered out at Fayetteville, Ark., on August 23, 1865, after which he returned home and resumed farming. He was married, the second time, in July, 1865, to Miss Nancy W. Brewer of Arkansas. On his return to Arkansas Mr. Brashear purchased 200 acres of land in the geographical center of the county and made many improvements adding about sixty acres. He has 125 sores under cultivation and has erected two tenant houses. Mr. Brashear has always been active in the county's improvements, and has always been a vigorous and conscientious Republican. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1868, and was a member of the Lower House of the General Assembly in that year. He has been justice of the peace of Moreland Township for eighteen years, and was appointed postmaster at Russellville under President Arthur. Upon the election of Grover Cleveland he resigned, but was again appointed on March 27, 1889, by President Harrison. This is a distributing office for fifteen offices, is an office of the third grade and is being elevated in business. To Mr. Brashear's second marriage were born thirteen children, nine of whom are living: Mary E. (married A. C. Bowden and died in 1888, leaving one daughter), Mortimore (died at the age of three years), Maggie (became the wife of O. H. Dunn), Victoria (became the wife of Cinclair Perry, and resides with our subject). [p.216] Lincoln (died at the age of two years), Martha Lue. Adam C., Ford, Ursly, Warren, Lillian, Thomas and Mama are the others. Mr. Brasbear was baptized in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in February, 1840. and has been an active member since. He was a delegate to the general conference in Cincinnati in 1880, and to many local conferences. Mrs. Brashear and the children are members of the same church. Mr. Brashear is a Mason, a member of Blue Lodge No. 274, Chapter No. 76, and Palestine Commandery No. 7, all of Russellville. He has been master of the Blue Lodge and secretary of the chapter. He assisted in the organization of Cross Plains Lodge and was its first master.

D. C. Brown, merchant of Dover, Ark. In the preparstion of this brief outline of the life history of one of the most worthy residents of Pope County, appear facts which are greatly to his credit. His intelligence, enterprise, integrity as well as many other worthy qualities, have acquired for him a popularity not derived from any factitious circumstances, but a permanent and spontaneous tribute to his merit. He was born in Randolph County, N. C., April 12, 1837, and with his father, Samuel Brown, a mechanic, came to Arkansas, when five years of age, and as he was compelled to labor on a farm in his youth, he received only the advantages of the common schools near his home. At the age of twenty-one years he began doing business for himself, entering the general mercantile store of D. James as a clerk, and after remaining there two years, he severed his connection with this establishment and went to Clarksville, where he entered the store of B. F. Hershey, two years also being spent here, at the end of which time he had been elected sheriff of Pope County, and in August, 1860, gave up his clerkship and entered upon his duties as a public official, which position he filled in a highly satisfactory manner for two years. He then resigned his office to enter the Confedernie Army as first lieutenant of Company A, Williamson's battalion of Arkansas Volunteers, and was sent to Mississippi, where in the fall of 1862 he was discharged on account of disability resulting from sickness. In December of the same year he had recovered sufficiently to re-enlist, and was elected first lieutenant of Company A, Hill's regiment, Arkansas Cavalry, and was immediately placed on active service, and was in the battles of Pine Bluff, Poison Springs, Mark's Mills, and was with Price on his raid in Missouri in 1864. While on that raid near Dover he was promoted to the rank of captain, after which he took part in the battles of Pilot Knob, Boonville, Jefferson City, Independence, Fayetteville, afterward going to Camp Monroe, where they remained for some time. They

were dismounted near Spring Hill, Ark., and were assigned to duty in Gen. Roan's infantry regiment, and were marched to Camp Magruder, La., thence to Shreveport and afterward to Marshall, Tex., where they were discharged. Mr. Brown then returned home to find his property scattered and everything laid waste. After teaching a three months' term of school on Big Piney Creek he returned to Dover and entered into partnership with D. P. West in the mercantile business, but this partnership was dissolved by mutual consent after a few years. Since that time Mr. Brown has been in business alone. Although he began with a very small capital at the close of the war he has accumulated a good property, and is the owner of a tract of land comprising eighty acres, lying near the town. He was married on January 10, 1858, to Miss R.E. Hagins, of Dover, but she and their infant child died while Mr. Brown was in the army. He was remarried on February 7, 1866, to Mrs. A. J. Rankin, of Dover, and one child, a daughter named Marie, blessed their union, she being now the wife of J. A. Miller, of Russellville. Mr. Brown and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which he holds the office of Sunday-school superintendent. He is chaplain in the A. F. & A. M. lodge of Dover, is a Democrat politically, and at all times gives liberally of his means in the support of worthy enterprises.

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J. J. Brown (deceased) was one of the most successful and progressive farmers of Pope County, Ark. His father and mother were born in Alabama and came to this county, and at a very early [p.217] day settled in Martin Township with their parents. The early educational opportunities of the subject of this sketch were very limited, yet he improved his opportunities to the best of his ability, so that he was enabled to transact all necessary business connected with his farm. He entered the army when but sixteen years of age as a private, and served three years, but during this time was promoted to first lieutenant. Upon his return home, at the close of the war, he rented and worked his father's farm, which had been laid waste during the war. During this time he was married to Miss Sallie L. Rushing of Dover Township, who proved to him a helpmate indeed. They lived together for twenty-one years in perfect harmony, and it was as much by the help of his wife as by his own perseverance and energy, that he made so great a success of his life. He pur chased lands at different times until he at one time was the owner of 1,000 acres, which land was in his possession at the time of his death, on which he still owed $1,000, which sum of money Mrs. Brown has since paid, so that she is the owner of the place, free from all incumbrance. She has about 350 acres under cultivation, which she rents out, but as she is an intelligent and shrewd business woman, she has personal supervision of her property. Mr. Brown was reared in the Baptist faith, and although not a member of any church, was a moral, upright man in every worthy particular and had the thorough good-will and respect of his fellow-men. He was born on March 9, 1844, and died in 1888, his marriage having taken place in 1867. He and his wife became the parents of four children: Joseph O., Maggie B., Willie G. and I. J. The eldest son, Joseph, is attending school at Dover, and is now twenty-two years of age. Maggie is married to Edward Truitt, and is living in Newton County, Ark., and all the children have received good educational advantages. Mrs. Brown was born in this county August 15, 1848, but on account of the war she attended school but little in her girlhood. She has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since before her marriage, and is in every respect a worthy, Christian lady, being conscientions, charitable and kindly in disposition. The buildings on her farm are among the best in the county, and it is also improved by a fine peach and apple orchard, and, in fact, everything about the place bespsaks thrift and intelligent industry.

Dr. J. W. Bruton. As a man of business Mr. Bruton's name and fame is co-extensive with Pope County and the surrounding country. He has been closely identified with every interest of this section, and as a merchant has built up a large and paying business by his ability and foresight. He was born in Pope County, Ark., on January 15, 1837, to James and Sallie (Angel) Bruton, who were born in Kentucky and Tennessee in 1796 and 1806, respectively, the former passing to his long home in 1862, and the latter in 1854. James Bruton was a minister of the Baptist Church, and represented Pope County in the State Legislature for three terms, being one of the leading citizens of this section during his day. J. W. Bruton has spent the most of his life in Pope County, and, notwithstanding the fact that his early advantages were poor, he has by self application become a well-posted and intelligent man. Upon attaining his majority he began making his own way in the world, and after devoting considerable time to the study of medicine he, in 1865, began practicing that profession, but in 1886 was compelled to give up this calling on account of failing health. He then threw open to the public a general mercantile store at Appleton with a stock of goods worth about $2,000, and this calling he has continued with flattering success up to the present time. Dr. Bruton is also a minister of the gospel, and first began preaching the doctrines of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1878. He was married in October, 1858, to Miss Jennie Montgomery, a daughter of John C. and Matilda (Grayson) Montgomery, by whom he became the father of these children: Elliot R., James H., Elnora V. (deceased), Viola E., Theora A., Nettie L. and Mittie M. Dr. Bruton volunteered in the Confederate Army in 1862, but was discharged at the end of three months on account of ill health.

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James Bruton, father of Dr. J. W. Bruton, as a minister was elected chaplain of the State Senate [p.218] of Arkausas in 1854, and filled the position with credit to himself, giving satisfaction to all interested. He organized very nearly all of the Baptist Churches that existed in Pope, Conway and Johnson Counties before the war. He moderated the convention that constituted the first Baptist association in that part of Arkansas. Politically he was ever a firm Democrat, and as a legislator he was always earnest, working for the interest of the people. His name will be long remembered by the older citizens of Arkansas. John C. Montgomery, father of Mrs. Jennie Bruton, held the office of clerk of Monroe County, Ark., for eight successive years, and until his death. He was a prominent man in said county. Dr. J. W. Bruton's children are as follows: Elliot R. Bruton (was married to Mr. J. J. Williams, who is in the mercantile business at Appleton, Ark.), James Homer Bruton (is a young man with good business qualifications, who has written much for different newspapers; he is a merchant of Appleton, Ark.), Viola E. Bruton (married John A. Lewis, Esq., a prominent lawyer of Appleton).

A. P. Bryan. Pope County, Ark., is one of the most fertile counties of the State, and in this highly productive region Mr. Bryan has resided from his birth and has become well known to the inhabitants of this section. His birth occurred November 8, 1845, to Darius and Susan (Hamilton) Bryan, the former being a native and farmer of North Carolina, but was married in this county, his union resulting in the birth of seven sons and three daughters, the following members of the family being now alive: Miranda R., (wife of L. D. Cannon), L. D., A. P., James, Algianun, Robert, Belle Z. (wife of James Grantham), and William E. Nora is dead. Mr. Bryan came to this State at a very early day and for several years was constable of the township in which he settled. He became well known and highly honored throughout this section. He and his wife both died of small-pox in February, 1876. A. P. Bryan has always been a resident of Pope County, and for the conscientious discharge of every duty in every relation in life no man is more worthy of respect and esteem than he. In 1868 he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy A. Mullins, a native of the State of Georgia, born in 1845, and in due course of time a family of six children gathered about their fireside, their names being as follows: Eliza E., Charles D., Elizabeth, Finis, William F. and George W. By hard work and good management Mr. Bryan has become the owner of 252 acres of land, 90 of which he has succeeded in putting under cultivation, and on which he has erected a substantial frame residence and good barns. He also has an excellent orchard of apple, peach and plum trees and a good vineyard. He is a member of Russellville Lodge No. 1353 of the K. of H.

Amos Bullock has given his attention to farming throughout life, and as a result of his years of hard labor he now has a good home and is well fired financially. He was born in Weakley County, Tenn., in 1842, to W. J. and Mary A. (Wallace) Bullock, who were born in Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively, their removal to Arkansas taking place about 1857. They "pitched their tent" in Pope County, Ark., and here the father resided until his death in 1883, of typhoid fever. He and his wife reared a large family to honored manhood and womanhood, their sons numbering nine and their daughters two. Owing to their large family, and the rather hard time they had to properly feed and clothe their children, the latter did not

receive much of an education. In 1869 Amos began doing business for himself, and as above stated has devoted his life to farming. He was first married in 1868 to Miss Lydia F. Rowland, a daughter of G. W. and Lavina (Candle) Rowland, and to their union these children were born: Mary L. (who died at the age of seven), and Sarah E. (who passed from life at the age of eight). Mr. Bullock's second marriage took place November 23, 1871, Mary E. Ross, a daughter of Melton H. and Rachel (Brown) Ross, becoming his wife. In 1862 Mr. Bullock enlisted in the Confederate Army, and served until the war was over. He has been justice of the peace for six years, and on September 1, 1890, was elected for another term by the Democratic party, of which he has always been a member, as are his eight brothers.

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Jackson T. Bullock, clerk of the circuit court, [p.219] Russellville, Ark. Mr. Bullock, the present efficient incumbent of the office of clerk of the circuit court, is a man of sober, sound judgment, progressive ideas, and one who attracts the regard of all who approach him. He was originally from Weakley County, Tenn., his birth occurring on September 22, 1855, and was the sixth of eleven children born to William J. and Mary Ann (Wallace) Bullock, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Tennessee. The parents were married in the last named State, and the father followed agricultural pursuits until 1856, when he came to Marion County, Ark., and from there to Pope County in the following year. His death occurred in this county in 1883. The mother is still living on the old homestead, three miles north of Dover. The paternal great-grandfather of our subject, William Bullock, was an Englishman, and came to the United States about the time of the Revolutionary War. He settled in Virginia, and followed farming there until his death which occurred when our subject's father, William Jefferson Bullock, was an infant. Amos Bullock, grandfather of our subject, was born in the Old Dominion, emigrated to Tennessee at an early day, followed farming, and there his death occurred about 1858. Jackson T. Bullock's educational advantages were limited, for he attended only the common three months' schools. He began teaching at the age of seventeen years and followed that as his principal occupation until the age of thirty-one when he was elected county judge. He taught many years in one school and was a popular and very successful educator. He held the office of county judge for two terms (four years), and on September 1, 1890, he was elected circuit clerk of the county. He has ever been an active worker for the Democratic party. He was married on October 1, 1882, to Miss Winnie Price, a native of this county and daughter of Allen A. Price, one of the early settlers of Tennessee. The fruits of this union were four children: Zola May (who died at the age of seven months), Allen Jefferson, Tillie and Mary Frances. Mr. Bullock is a Mason, of Scottville Lodge No. 112, and was master of that lodge for five years. He has taken the chapter degrees. Mrs. Bullock is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bullock is the owner of a small farm, has forty acres under cultivation, and has a pleasant home in Russellville.

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George Byerly, farmer, Atkins, Ark., was born in Germany in July, 1819, and has all the prominent characteristics of those of German birth, being thrifty, industrious and enterprising. He is the son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Schmidt) Byerly, natives of the old country, who emigrated to America in 1836. The parents located in Clarke, Ind., bought land and there tilled the soil until their deaths in 1848. Of the six children born to their marriage, five were sons and one a daughter. The daughter, Mary, married a man by the name of Caufman, and is now deceased. The sons were named Michael, David, George, Paul and John. The last named died in Louisville, Ky., several years ago. David went to Boston, Mass., on a visit and died while there, and Michael died in Indiana about 1878. George Byerly removed from Indiana to Louisville, Ky., about 1848, but prior to this, in 1843, he was married to Miss Margaret Edlin. He became disgusted with farming in Indiana, being obliged to sell corn at 12½ cents and wheat for 37½ cents per bushel, after going a distance of eight miles to market, and after moving to Kentucky he engaged in hack driving in Louisville, accumulated some money, and then moved to Arkansas in 1854, pausing for about two years in Conway County before permanently locating in Pope County. He here bought land and has been engaged in tilling the soil ever since. He now owns 820 acres of land and has 210 acres under cultivation. He has also 112 acres in Conway County. When the war broke out he had seventy-five head of cattle, twenty-four horses and mules and 2,000 bushels of corn, all of which were appropriated by the Union troops, Mr. Byerly never receiving a cent of money for his property. To his marriage were born ten children, five of whom are now living: John, Michael, America, Mary and Georgia. John is married and resides in Logan County, where he is engaged in the drug business at National Springs; Michael is clerk in a dry-goods store in Morrillton; America resides in Morrillton and is the wife of [p.220] Richard Brooks who is the owner of a large amount of real estate; Mary married Calhoun Strong, a prosperous merchant of Morrillton, and Georgia married James Collins, a farmer of Pope County. Mr. Byerly has retired from active business, and is living in Atkins where he is honored and esteemed. He is now seventy-one and his wife seventy years of age. Both are church members, he of the Methodist and she of the Regular Baptist Church. They are liberal contributors to all laudable enterprises, and are among the leading citizens of the community.

A. J. Collins, farmer, Holly Bend, Ark. Pope County, Ark., is acknowledged by all to be one of the best agricultural portions of the State, and as such its citizens are men of advanced ideas and considerable prominence. A worthy man among this class is found in the person of Mr. Collins who was born in the Old Dominion, Botetourt County, in March, 1840. He removed from Virginia to Alabama in 1861, and there he was occupied in repairing telegraph line and was engaged in the same business in Mississippi and Tennessee until 1871. After that he had charge of a gang of section hands on the M. & C. R. R. for two years. He then returned to Mississippi, bought land and was engaged in farming until 1880. In 1865 he was married to Miss Matilda Feagin, daughter of Thomas Feagin, of Mississippi, and to them were born ten children, viz.: William F., A. J., J. D., Minnie J., Fanny Ann, George S., Lily D., Lulu May, Luther J. and Ann Elizabeth. Three of these children are deceased: Lulu May, Luther J. and Ann E. William F. and A. J. are residing in Texas, but the other children are at home with their parents. Mr. Collins lost his first wife in September, 1885, and was left with eight children to care for. In January, 1886, he was married to Miss Mary J. McMasters, daughter of Jonathan McMasters of Mississippi. Our subject returned to the last named State on purpose to marry Miss McMasters, having formed her acquaintance some years before while in that State. To the last union were born two children: Anna Eliza and Luther Franklin, the latter deceased. Mr. Collins now owns 120 acres of good land situated in Holly Bend Township, Pope County, and near Holly Bend post-office, and has sixty-five acres under cultivation. He and Mrs. Collins are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Collins was one of twelve children, eight now living, two besides our subject residing in Arkansas, born to the union of John D. and Nancy (Perry) Collins, both natives of Virginia. The paternal grandparents were of Irish and the maternal of German descent.

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William L. Crow, farmer, Caglesville, Ark. Mr. Crow is a man of decided intellectual ability, and his progressive ideas and energetic, wide-awake manner of taking advantage of all now methods have had not a little to do with his success in life. He was born in Jackson County, Ark., in 1865, and is one of twelve children, five of whom are living, born to Stephen and Tempy A. (Boyd) Crow, the father a native of South Carolina, and the mother of Georgia. The children besides our subject now living are Mrs. Sarah L. Benton, Mrs. Mary A. Sherrell, Mrs. Miley D. Pearson and Mrs. Dulcina Howard. The parents moved to Arkansas in 1860, settled in Jackson County, where they purchased 120 acres of land, of which they cleared about seventy acres, and then sold out and came to Pope County in 1872. There they purchased 120 acres of land, homesteaded eighty acres more, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1887, the father had cleared about sixty acres. The mother is still living. At the age of nineteen years William L. Crow removed to Russellville, remained there for nearly two years, and then went to Center Township, where in connection with farming he taught school, engaging in the latter occupation about six months each year. He is sole heir to his father's estate, in which his mother holds a life interest, and he has made many improvements, erecting barns, cribs, and clearing land. His principal crops are corn, cotton and oats, and he is also engaged in stock-raising. Mr. Crow is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, is vice-president of Pope County Sunday-school Association for Center Township, and is also vice-president of the Singing School Association for said township. He has been secretary of [p.221] the Sunday-school Association three terms, secretary of the home Sunday-school for seven or eight years, and superintendent of the same for a year. At a special election he was made justice of the peace in 1888, and was re-elected to that position in 1890. He has been chairman of the township convention, and is a member of the Democratic central committee of Pope County. Mr. Crow has been on the staff of the Russellville Democrat for ten years as correspondent and reporter, and by a system of short-hand of his own, is able to report speeches, etc. This he has frequently done for the Democrat, and also writes for the Pope County Mail, and for the City and Country, an Ohio publication, devoted to farming interests. He has also reported for other papers on special occasions. At the present time Mr. Crow is turning his attention to frui-traising, having planted 1,200 apple and some peach trees, and now has an orchard of about 300 trees. His land is nicely adapted to fruit-raising, all varieties thriving in this section.

John C. Darr, merchant, Athens, Ark. Prominent among the successful business concerns of Athens stands the mercantile establishment conducted by Mr. Darr, who is one of the city's most enterprising and popular business men. He was born in the Tar Heel State, Lincoln County, in 1833, and of the six children born to his parents, Henry R. and Ann (Blackburn) Darr, he was second in order of birth. He attained his growth on the farm, was educated in the country schools, and at the age of eighteen years he left his home to learn the trade of plasterer and bricklayer. After finishing his apprenticeship, in 1858, he came with his family to Arkansas and settled in Pope County. In 1859 he went to Mississippi, remained there for one year, and then returned to Pope County, where he was residing at the breaking out of the war. He enlisted in Dodson's company, and was in a number of skirmishes in Arkansas, but was soon taken sick and discharged. After a time he joined Company E, Gordon's regiment, Cabell's brigade (cavalry) and served in the Trans-Mississippi Department, and on outpost duty. He was in several skirmishes in Louisiana, was in the battles of Poison Spring and Marksville, was at Jenkins' Ferry, but not in battle, and was in nearly all the engagements of Price's raid through Missouri. He was captured near Pisgah Church in Pope County in the winter of 1864, was sent to the military prison at Little Rock, and was released at Gen. Lee's surrender. He then came home and for a year was in bad health, and on this account went to Texas where he remained until 1871. He went to Hot Springs in 1871, and was engaged in mercantile business there until spring of 1874. While residing in Texas he was engaged in contracting and building and erected many of the first buildings in Waco and Jefferson. In 1874 he came to Atkins, and at once engaged in business with his brother, J. F. Darr, the partnership continuing until 1881, when they separated, and Mr. Darr has been in business alone ever since. Mr. Darr now occupies a large building, 25×100 feet, with warehouse, and owns another building which he erected, 26×120 feet, for a storeroom. He carries a full line of general merchandise of about $11,000, and does an annual business of about $35,000, buying cotton and doing a plantation supply trade. In 1880 he erected a neat residence in town and owns considerable other town property besides a farm of 260 acres which he rents. He was married in 1871 to Miss S. D. Wilson, of this county, a daughter of James Wilson, who is one of the old settlers of this section. It was in honor of the latter's grandfather, who came here at an early day, that Wilson Township was named. To this union were born six children, four of whom are living and two dead: Emmett L., Claude W., John E., Lizzie and. Annie (twins). Annie died at the age of six months, and the first born child died unnamed. Mrs. Darr, who died in 1883, was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian hurch. Mr. Darr was married the second time in 1885 to Miss M. E. Scarlett, who was born and raised in this township (Wilson).

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E. A. Darr, merchant, Atkins, La. This popular and very successful business man was originally from North Carolina, his birth occurring in 1835, and was the third in a family of six children born to Henry R. and Ann (Blackburn) Darr, both [p.222] of whom were natives also of North Carolina. The father was a farmer, was quite a prominent citizen, and held several county offices of trust. He died in his native S