S. W. Alexander, manufacturer and dealer in hard wood lumber,
railroad ties, wagons, agricultural implements, car material,
etc., at Corning, Ark., was born in Hancock County, Ind.,
October 17, 1835, his parents, James and Mary (Mac Michael)
Alexander, and his grandparents, on both sides,
being natives of Orange County, N. C. They all emigrated
at an early day (about 1828) to Indiana where they died.
The great-grandfather was in the Revolutionary War, and
fired the first cannon in that service. James Alexander
remained in Hancock County, Ind., until the spring of 1857,
when he emigrated to Polk County, Iowa, where he was living
at the time of his death, in 1882. His wife died in 1872,
have borne five children: John C., Julia A., Simeon W., James
A. and Louisa. Mr. Alexander was a farmer by occupation.
Simeon W. Alexander, our subject, was reared and educated in
his native county, and from childhood has been familiar
with farm life. On reaching his majority he was married,
and emigrated to Illinois, locating in Cumberland County,
where he was engaged in the saw-mill business until 1859,
when he removed to Polk County, Iowa, but returned to
Illinois in December, 1863, and there resided until
the fall of 1869. In the fall of that year he sold his
mill and returned to Iowa, where he remained until 1886, being engaged
in both lumbering and farming on an extensive scale. He owned 400 acres
of good land and on coming to Clay County, embarked in the
lumber business, putting up a large saw-mill. He still continues
this business and employs a great many hands. He owns about 2,400
acres of land in Clay County, some 1.000 of which will make
fine farming land when improved. He also has one of the best
houses in the county, situated in Corning. October 23, 1856,
he was married to Miss Mary Faster, a native of
Indiana, by whom he has seven children: William
(in Dakota). Lucy M., Cora (wife of T. J. Conway,
of Chicago). Charles W., Addie, Freddie and Edward.
Mr. Alexander is a member of the I. O. O. F., and
is one of the public spirited men of Clay County, always
being ready to advance the interests of the people.

J. H. Allen, stockman and farmer of Clay County, Ark., was
born in North Carolina in July, 1828, being the eighth of
nine children born to Isaac and Sarah (Hawkins) Allen, who
were born in North Carolina and Virginia,
respectively, the latter being a daughter of a
Revolutionary patriot. Both parents died on their home
farm in North Carolina. J. H. Allen attended the
public schools for some time and remained at home
until twenty-four years of age, being engaged in overseeing
the farm until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he
gave up this work and began operating a grist
mill. In November, 1866, he came to what is now Clay
County (then Randolph County), and settled twenty-five
miles from Pocahontas, in which locality he rented land
for some time. He then purchased 380 acres
of wild land two miles west of Knobel, on which he
immediately began to make improvements. At the present
time he has 150 acres under cultivation, well
improved with good buildings, orchard, fences, etc.
He has added 120 acres to his original purchase, on
which he raises a large number of horses, cattle and
hogs each year. He has devoted most of his cultivated
land to corn and stock for his cattle and horses, but
this year (1889) has put in about fifty acres of cotton.
He has always been quite active in politics, and has held
the office of justice of the peace for ten years,
and has been school director a number of years. In 1853
he married Miss Margaret Wagner, who was born in North
Carolina, and by her had five children: William, John,
Isaac, Henry, and Albert, all of whom are dead. In 1871 he
married Miss Nancy Demaree, a native of Illinois, and to
them were born three children: Amanda, Jesse and David,
all now living at home.

Capt. John J. Allen was born in Lee County, Ga., on the 2nd
of July, 1841, and is the son of Edward M. and Mary J.
(Knight) Allen. The father was born in the "Palmetto State"
in 1819 of Scotch-Irish parents, and was a mechanic
and ginwright, making machines by hand. He was taken to
Georgia when small, and was there reared to manhood.
During the Indian troubles in the Southern States,
especially in Florida, Mr. Allen participated as a private,
and received in payment for his services a land warrant
for 160 acres, and in 1853 chose the land on which Capt.
John J. Allen now resides. Prior to this, however, he
took a trip through Texas, Arkansas. Mississippi and the
Indian Territory, making the journey on horseback, a
distance of 3.000 miles. He then returned to Georgia,
and the following year (1853) located in Arkansas,
the nearest post-office at that time being sixteen
miles distant, and the second nearest (Pocahontas)
fifty miles distant. The families of McNiel, Nettles,
Wooter, Singleton, Copeland, Sexton and White, were the
only ones within a radius of ten miles. Wild animals
roamed the country at will, and Indians were also
very numerous. Schools were almost unknown,
and Mr. Allen assisted in building many of the first houses.
John G. Taylor, a Missionary Baptist minister, came with
Mr. Allen to the State, and preached the first sermon in
Northeast Arkansas. The latter opened thirty acres of land
the first year, which was heavily covered with timber.
He was a slave owner, and served for twelve months in the
Confederate army under Price, holding the rank of captain,
when he resigned on account of his age. He died in 1877.
His wife was born in Jasper County, Ga., about 1822,
and was there married to Mr. Allen, by whom she became
the mother of ten children: William A., John J., Elizabeth J.,
Edward M., Thomas M., living to be grown,
and the following dying in infancy: Martha, Stapie, and
two infants. Mrs. Allen died in 1860, and Mr. Allen then
married Sarah J. Palmer, who bore him five children:
Robert, Georgia L., George W., Willie, and Odus. Capt.
Allen, our subject, has resided in Arkansas since twelve
years of age, but spent his entire school days in Georgia.
He was reared on the farm on which he is now residing,
and remained at home until his marriage at the age of
eighteen years, when he was engaged in farming
until 1861. Then he enlisted in Company H, Fifth Arkansas
Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war,
participating in many battles: Helena, Fredericksburg,
Boonville, Lexington, Newtonia, and many others of less note.
He enlisted as a private, but was promoted to captain,
and was then transferred to the cavalry, serving two years.
After coming home he engaged in farming, and in 1868 opened
a mercantile establishment at Scatterville, and followed
this occupation in connection with ginning for four years.
He then removed to Tilton, where he was occupied
in business until August, 1888, since which time he has
been one of the successful business men of Rector. He has been
a large speculator in land, and in addition to his farm,
runs a stave factory and saw-mill. His farm
comprises about 4,000 acres, and he has 2,200 acres in
Greene County, besides considerable land in other districts,
all of which is the result of his own labor. He was married
to Miss Permelia L. McNiel, a daughter of Neil McNiel.
She was born in Clay County, Ark., and she and Capt. Allen
are the parents of five children: Mary L., James B., Minnie
A., Myrtie, and Charles A. In 1872 Mrs. Allen died, and Mr.
Allen then married Nancy O. McNiel, a sister of his first
wife. Their children are: George M., Gertrude, Harry P.,
Carrie, and Leonard W. Capt. Allen has never been
a political man, the highest office he ever held being
that of notary public. He is one of the best known men
in the county, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., the
Knights of Pythias, and the Masonic fraternity, and
has long been connected with the Missionary Baptist Church.

Joshua Bare, farmer and stock raiser of St. Francis Township,
is a fair sample of what can be accomplished by industry and
perseverance. Although starting life with a limited amount of
this world's goods, he is now one of the substantial farmers
of the county, and is the owner of 240 acres of land
in the home place, with 160 acres cleared, on which he has
good buildings. Aside from this he is the owner of another
tract of land in the township, one and a quarter miles from
the home place, consisting of 160 acres of timber land.
He also possesses some 320 acres in the St. Francis bottoms,
with about 100 acres cleared, and has an interest in 205 acres
of other lands, all the result of industry and good management.
Mr. Bare was born in Crawford County, Ind., December 13, 1833,
and is the son of Jacob Bare and Nancy (Copple) Bare, the
latter of German descent. The father was born in Virginia
but was reared in Indiana. After marriage he settled in Crawford
County of that State, where he followed farming until about
1843, when he moved to Illinois and settled in Jefferson County.
He resided there up to 1868, when he came to Arkansas, and
located in what is now Clay County. Here he died in February,
1877. He served as sheriff and deputy sheriff in Indiana,
and was quite a prominent man. Joshua Bare was reared in
Jefferson County, Ill., and came to Arkansas in 1855,
locating in Clay County, but what was then Greene County,
and entered eighty acres of land. He then bought eighty
acres near Brown's Ferry, resided there about fifteen years,
after which he sold this, and bought the place where he now lives.
He has been four times married; first, to Miss Susan Williams;
then to Nancy Brown, who bore him one daughter, Peggy A.,
wife of John Nettle; his next marriage was to Mrs. Nettle,
a widow, who bore him four children: Clarissa (wife of
Wiley Thomas), Joshua, Bettie and Arabella. Mr. Bare's fourth
marriage was to Mrs. Marietta Sarver, a widow, and the daughter
of Jacob Sarver. Three children were born to this union: Jacob,
Mattie and John Harry. When Mr. Bare first came to the
State it was a comparative wilderness, and for about eleven
winters he was engaged in trapping. He has killed bear,
wolves, wild cats, lots of deer, turkey and small game.
He would average about $200 worth of furs annually at
that business. Mr. Bare has been a member of the I. O. O. F.
for thirteen years. Mrs. Bare belongs to the Christian Church.
An interesting volume might be written of many of Mr.
Bare's hunting expeditions, but space will permit mention of
only the following: In 1867, one of his neighbors, Billy Maner,
a single man, had struck camp some seven miles south of where
our subject lived, in a wild locality on Old River. Mr. Bare
went on one occasion to spend the night with him, but found
the unsuccessful hunter without food. Starting the next
morning with a determination to return only after he shot
something, he traveled some distance, occasionally
seeing game which could not be secured. Later on, while
not far from camp, he killed two wolves, and being of a
humorous disposition, the thought was suggested to pass
off this meat upon the unsuspecting Billy as venison.
Bringing a portion of the animal to headquarters (together
with a squirrel), and assuring him that a large buck
had been killed, the mess was eaten by the victim of Mr.
Bare's joke, with a casual remark as to its toughness, etc.
Subsequently the truth was told. Imagination rather than
words can picture the result of such a revelation. In 1876
a three-days' hunt was indulged in by Mr. Bare, two of his
nephews and a little negro boy. Starting with a cart and a
yoke of oxen, they drove into a bottom farm, proceeding
horse-back until about a mile from their camping ground,
when fresh bear tracks were discovered. Before very long
an effort to secure bruin was commenced, and proved
fruitful. While waiting for help to remove the animal
(which weighed about 400 pounds) a large buck was
killed by Mr. Bare. These furnish but mere instances
of his good fortune with the gun and rifle.

W. F. Barnes, undertaker and furniture dealer, of Corning,
Ark., has been in business here since August, 1888, when he
purchased his stock of goods of Mr. Bishop and continued at
that stand until June 1, 1889, when he moved to his present
location. His establishment is a two-story frame building,
40×20 feet, now under process of erection, which will, when
finished, be commodious and substantial. Mr. Barnes success
in this line has been due to his energy and enterprise, and
his establishment is now one of the leading concerns of this
kind in the county. He was born in Lawrence County, Ill., in
1856, and was the eldest in a family of eight children
born to John and Jane (Thompson) Barnes, who were Kentuckians
by birth, but emigrated to Illinois in their youth, where they
grew to maturity and met and married. The father settled with
his parents in Lawrence County in 1826, and afterward became
a successful farmer and teacher of that region, following
these occupations for many years in that State. He died
in 1885, but his widow is still residing in Illinois. The
paternal grandfather was an early settler of Illinois,
where he also makes his home. Mr. Barnes was early inured
to the duties of farm life, and during his youth also
attended the common schools of Lawrence and Wabash Counties,
Ill. He engaged in farming for himself in that State and was
married there in 1882 to Miss Ella P. Price, a native of
that county. Her parents, Joseph and Hannah (Dart) Price,
were born in Ohio and Kentucky, respectively, and
are now residing in Illinois. In 1887 Mr. Barnes came
to Corning, Ark., and until 1888 worked at the carpenter's
trade, but has since been engaged in his present business.
Politically he is a Democrat, and always supports
the principles of that party. He belongs to the K. of H.
and the I. O. G. T., and he and wife are members of the
Methodist Church. They are the parents of two children:
Opal V. and Verna D. Mr. Barnes has done well financially,
is the owner of some valuable town property, and predicts
a bright future for Corning.

Zachariah T. Bearden was born in Montgomery County, Tenn.,
September 29, 1849, and is the son of John and Prudence
(Majors) Bearden. John Bearden was born in Montgomery County,
Tenn., and is of Irish-English parentage. He received a fair,
common-school education, later followed farming and
emigrated to Clay County, Ark., in 1851. The county was called
Greene County at that time, but was afterward changed to Clay.
At that early day there were but six families in an area ten miles
square, and all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer
life were experienced by Mr. Bearden. Schools were taught on the
subscription plan, and church was held about once a month in old
log cabins. Mr. Bearden was a slave owner but generally preferred
white labor. He was the owner of a large farm,
but was broken up during the war. He died May 10, 1888, being
seventy-six years of age. During life he was never an office
seeker, but was elected by the people, without solicitation,
to the office of county treasurer. Mrs. Bearden was also reared
in Tennessee, grew to womanhood there, and was married in that
State. Nine children were the result of this union:
Richard E., Isom K., Judge H., Zach. T., Samuel J., Susan U.,
William J., Robert W. and Mary E. Mrs. Bearden died
in this county, August 16, 1877. Grandfather and Grandmother
Bearden died in Tennessee; she was a native
of North Carolina. Grandfather and Grandmother Majors were
natives of West Virginia, and at an early day emigrated to
Tennessee. Zachariah T. Bearden came with his parents to
Arkansas when two years of age, settling in Greene County,
and there remained assisting his father on the farm until
twenty-one years of age. His educational advantages were
rather limited, but by self study he became a well informed man.
At the age mentioned he began business for himself by hiring on
at a cotton gin by the day, and later followed clerking. He
then bought a tract of land and carried on agricultural
pursuits for nine years. January 2, 1873, he married Miss
Elizabeth Harber, a native of Dyer County, Tenn., and the
daughter of G. A. Harber. The fruits of this union were
five children, four now living: Drewy D., George O.,
John S. and Ethel M. The one deceased was named Dora L.
Mr. Bearden engaged in the mercantile business at his
present stand in 1882, building the second house in
Rector, and has been occupied in merchandising ever
since. He is also interested in a large timber business.
He carries a stock of merchandise valued at about $3,000,
and also buys and exchanges cotton. He is a Democrat in
his political views. Mrs. Bearden is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

B. B. Biffle, sheriff of Clay County, and one of the
representative citizens of this section, is a native of
Humphreys County, Tenn., where he was reared and where he
received a fair education in the common schools.
He is the son of William and Martha (Skelton) Biffle,
the grandson of Nathan Biffle, and the great-grandson
of Jacob Biffle, who came from Germany many years ago.
To William Biffle and wife were born six children, B. B.
Biffle being the eldest. He left his native county at
the age of twenty-one years, or in 1879, and made his way
to Clay County, Ark., where he started a store
in Greenway, and, although a young man, he was the first
to engage in merchandising at that place. After that,
in connection with his store, he was for some time occupied
in running a stave mill, but in September, 1888,
he was elected to the office of sheriff, and then closed
out the milling and stave business, to give his undivided
attention to his official duties. He fills that position
in an able and efficient manner, and to the satisfaction
of all concerned. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
of the Blue Lodge and Chapter. For his companion in life he
chose Miss Ella Turner, daughter of Thomas Turner, of Tennessee.
He and Mrs. Biffle are members of the Methodist Church.

Sylvanus Bishop, wagon-maker, painter and farmer, is a son
of Stephen M. and Caroline (Bunnell) Bishop, and was born
in Crawford County, Penn., March 1, 1841. His parents were
also born in that State, and in 1837 emigrated to Indiana, but,
after remaining there a short time, returned to Pennsylvania.
About 1844 they again came to Indiana, where they made
their home until 1880, then moving to Peabody, Kas., where Mr.
Bishop died in 1886. His widow still survives. To them were born
fifteen children, eleven of whom are living: Jefferson, Sylvanus.
Stephen W., Adeline, David, Elmira J., Merriman, Silas, Delilah,
Monroe and Daniel S. Sylvanus Bishop attained his growth in Indiana,
and in 1861 enlisted in Company E, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry,
and served until the close of the war, participating in the following
engagements: Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamanga, Liberty Gap and others.
At the battle of Shiloh he was wounded by a gun-shot in the left
arm. At Stone River he was captured, but succeeded in making
his escape and, after a time, was discharged for disability,
owing to the effects of small-pox, which he had contracted
in the service. From that time until 1877 he was engaged in
learning and working at his trade in Indiana, and then came
to Clay County, Ark., and has since resided at Corning. He
owns a small farm adjoining the town, which is in a good
state of cultivation and well improved, and this he conducts
in connection with carrying on his trade. In January, 1886, he
was married to Miss Mary E. Benedict, a native of
New York State, by whom he has five children: Anna M., John L.,
Amy W., Elsie V. and A. McDonald. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop are members
of the Baptist Church, and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
He has been a school director for about eleven years, and is
interested in all public enterprises. For some ten years he
was engaged in the undertaker's business, his profits
amounting to about $1.500 per year. He now gives
his attention to his shop, and is doing well. His son,
John L., is an intelligent young man, and is one of the
first teachers in the county.

James Blackshare. Among all classes and in every condition of
life where the struggle for a livelihood is going on, where
will independence be found more clearly demonstrated than in
the life of the honest, industrious farmer? Mr. Blackshare,
who has followed agricultural pursuits for the past fifty-two
years, and who has never missed a crop during the years thus
spent, is a fair example of the independent tiller
of the soil. He was born in West Tennessee, in 1824, and
is the son of Rev. Jacob and Mary (Berry) Blackshare, the
father a native of Tennessee, born in 1802, and the mother
born in 1799. James Blackshare was left motherless at the
age of ten years, and May 27, 1847, he was united in
marriage to Miss Sarah A. Dines, who bore him five sons:
William S., a member of the firm of Blackshare & Co., in the
manufacturing of staves and in the general milling business,
is married and the father of six children; Robert B. (deceased),
left a widow and five children; Sidney A. (deceased), left a
widow and five children; James T., lives on a farm
near Boydsville, is married and the father of three sons,
and Jacob L., farmer near Boydsville, is married, and the
father of two sons and two daughters. The mother of these
children died in 1857. March 14, 1858, Mr. Blackshare took
for his second wife Mrs. Ruth E. Evans, of Tennessee,
and in the fall of the same year he and family moved to
Clay County (then Greene County), Ark., and settled on
the farm where he is now residing, three miles northeast
of Boydsville, which consisted of eighty acres, to which
he added eighty more. To his last marriage
were born six children, three of whom survive at the present:
Mary F., wife of Dr. John J. Prince, and the mother of one
daughter, resides at Bethel Station, Tenn., where her husband
follows his profession and is also engaged in merchandising;
John S., a merchant at Rector, married and
the father of one child, a daughter; Ora A., the wife of A.
J. Burton, and the mother of three children, two daughters and
a son, is now living near her father, where her husband is occupied
in farming; Ira E., died in his sixteenth year. Mr. Blackshare
came to this State with his wife and seven children in two
wagons, drawn by oxen, being the owner of seven or
eight head of cattle, six or eight head of horses, and about
$200 in money. The first winter before there were gins introduced
into the country, the cotton, which they picked with their fingers,
was made into clothing for the family. There were no mills then
except little hand mills, which were only used to grind corn,
and were called corn crackers. They would crack
the kernel into about four pieces. A few years later Mr.
Blackshare raised a little wheat and ground it in the same
mills and "sarcht it;" this consisted of a box with a muslin
cloth over it, opened at one end, on which
was dropped some of the meal, and then by a rocking motion
the bran was forced to the top and back through the opening at
the rear, while the fine flour passed through the muslin into
the box. At that time their trading
was done by exchanging pelting and furs for salt, sugar,
coffee, etc., at Cape Girardeau, Mo., 100 miles distant,
to which place they made their trips with ox teams about
once a year. Mr. Blackshare has not taken a drink
of liquor of any kind, or a chew of tobacco, for over
forty years, or since joining the church, and has always
been willing to render aid, as far as he
was able, to all laudable enterprises. He and wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr.
Blackshare was township magistrate for four terms
of two years each, and was also county treasurer for two
terms. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is one
of the representative men of the county.
He is now the owner of 340 acres of land, after having supported
his family and settled nine children at an expense of $14,000,
and does not owe a cent.

W. S. Blackshare, of the milling and stave manufacturing firm
of W. S. Blackshare & Co., is a native of Tennessee, born
in November, 1849, and came to Clay County, Ark., with his
father, James Blackshare, when a boy of nine years. Here
he grew to manhood on a farm, and in 1878 he was appointed
by Gov. Garland to the office of sheriff of the county, and
for two years he was county treasurer, having also filled
that office for several incumbents. He was deputy sheriff
for four years, and is considered one of the leading business
men of the county. He is the owner of about 200
acres of land on his home place, which adjoins the town of
Boydsville, and has about 1500 acres in the country, and
has the best buildings to be found in the county, all erected by
himself. The house is a two story frame, 16 × 40, with a one
story L fifty feet long and sixteen feet wide,
and a porch running the entire length of the L. He also has
a very large cistern under cover. He has two large frame
barns, one 30 × 40, two stories high, and the other 30 ×
50 feet, also two stories high, with
out-sheds on the sides. On his farm on the Cache he has
built another house on the same plan as his home place,
and he is also building a good barn there. He was married
to Miss Emily S. Cox, who lived but eighteen months after
marriage, and died in 1871, leaving him a son, Arthur Lee,
who is attending the home school. For his second
wife Mr. Blackshare married Miss Mary A. Ellis, daughter of
Rev. Ira O. Ellis, who came here from Mississippi, where
his father, Rev. Reuben Ellis, was an itinerant preacher
in the Methodist Church, South, Mrs. Ira O. Ellis is still
living in Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Blackshare
were born these children: Ezra O., Annie (who is dead),
Edgar M., Angie, Lena and Jennie. Mr. Blackshare belongs
to the I. O. O. F., and is also a member of the Masonic
fraternity, into which order he was initiated about the
time he was twenty-one years of age. In his political
views he affiliates with the Democratic party. In 1871
he engaged in the mercantile business at Big Creek, with
his father, buying out the interest of Judge Royall, paying
$500 on time for the goods, and in 1878 removed
to Boydsville. This business he continued until January,
1888, having in the meantime several partners; first the
firm was J. & W. S. Blackshare, then for eight years he was
in company with his brother, R. B. Blackshare,
under the firm title of W. S. Blackshare & Co., and was
then with Judge Royall for three years, the firm title
continuing the same. In 1888 he disposed of his stock to
A. L. Blackshare, who now conducts the business
in the same building. In connection with his seventeen
 years at merchandising, Mr. Blackshare devoted some of
his time to farming, and is at present junior partner of
Royall & Blackshare, real estate dealers. He is a pleasant,
genial gentleman, a good conversationalist,
and has a host of warm friends. He is a splendid man
physically, and although forty years of age does not look a day
over thirty.

A. L. Blackshare, of Boydsville, another prominent and much
respected citizen of Clay County. Ark., was born in Tennessee,
in 1856, and came to Clay County, Ark., in 1880. He followed
agricultural pursuits for two years, and in 1885 bought out
the stock of Mrs. Ella Blackshare, widow of
R. B. Blackshare, and began business in Boydsville. This he
continued for two years, and then sold out to J. S. Blackshare,
after which he purchased the stock of W. S. Blackshare & Co.,
and is now engaged in that business, under the firm title of
A. L. Blackshare. Aside from this he is also
occupied in milling and manufacturing, under the business
title of Blackshare & Blackshare. In 1886 he was elected to
the position of treasurer of the company, and was re-elected
in 1888. Miss Ada Berton, a native of Arkansas, and the
daughter of Robert Berton, became his wife,
and to them were born two children, one now living: Robert
Bascom. The other child. Ernest, died at the age of one year.
Mr. Blackshare is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Larry Boshers. This successful young planter and stockman,
of Clay County, of which he has been a resident for seventeen
years, is well and favorably known to the many citizens of
Kilgore Township. He was born in the State of
Tennessee, in 1862, being the seventh of fourteen children
of Henry and Tabitha (Stewart) Boshers, who were also originally
from that State, the former being a planter by occupation,
and there he died. After his death his widow came to Clay
County, Ark., and here died on her farm, in 1882.
Larry Boshers was early taught the rudiments of farm life,
becoming still better acquainted with that calling as he grew
to manhood, and is now considered one of the enterprising,
thorough and reliable young agriculturists
of the county. In 1880 be made his first purchase of land,
which amounted to forty acres, in a raw state, and has since
added from time to time to this tract, until he now has a
valuable farm consisting of 480 acres, with
175 under cultivation, the rest being well adapted to raising
stock, to which Mr. Boshers gives considerable attention. He
devotes seventy-five acres to the culture of cotton each year.
He votes with the Democratic party, is a member of the Agricultural
Wheel. and, personally, is held in high esteem by all who
know him. Miss Jennie Montgomery, a native of Clay County,
became his wife in 1880, and died in 1884, having borne two
children. both deceased. Her parents were Daniel and Polly
Montgomery.

Giles Bowers, carpenter and builder of Boydsville, and one of
the successful business men of that village, is a native of
North Carolina, and remained in his native State until twenty-
seven years of age. He was engaged in gold mining until the
breaking out of the late war, when he enlisted in the Forty-
ninth North Carolina Infantry, in April, 1862, and served
until the termination of hostilities. He was in Gen.
Lee's army, in Gen. Matt. W. Ransom's brigade, and
participated in the seven days' fight at Richmond, at Gen.
McClellan's defeat, and was in all the fights and campaigns
before Richmond. He was at the second battle of Bull Run,
Antietam, Fredericksburg, and was captured
at Five Forks and placed on Johnson Island. Ohio, as a
prisoner of war, being discharged there from June 18, 1865.
He then returned to North Carolina, remaining until the spring
of 1868, when he came to what is now Clay County, and, settling
on a farm, tilled the soil until 1879. He is the owner of 120
acres of land, with about seventy acres
under cultivation. In the last mentioned year he opened up
a carpenter shop, having learned the trade in previous years,
and has erected the principal part of the buildings in Boydsville.
At one time he was a member of the firm of Bowers & Toombs,
and later of the firm of Bowers & Downs. Mr.
Bowers also manufactures seats and desks for church and school
purposes. He has been married twice: first, to Miss Elizabeth
Almond, of North Carolina, who bore him ten children, eight of
whom survive and are named as follows: Josephine, wife of James
Mooning, and the mother of two children, is now living on a
farm in Sharp County; John W. is engaged in business in
Boydsville; Flora J., married to C. M. King, a farmer of Clay County,
is the mother of three children; Nancy A. is at home with her
father; Kittie Belle, wife of James W. Dobbins, a farmer near
Boydsville; Frederick C., Giles L. and Brantly H. The mother
of these children died in September, 1885. For his second
wife Mr. Bowers chose Miss Maggie J. Matthews, who survived
only seventeen months after marriage, and left a child,
which followed its mother to the grave but a month later.
Mr. Bowers is a Republican, and is somewhat active in politics,
having done valiant work for that party. Although not a member
of any church, he works in harmony with all good people for
the benefit of the community and for
his fellow men.

W. D. Bowers. Among the extensive industrial enterprises which
form the basis of Clay County's importance and prosperity
is the stave and head factory located at Corning, in which Mr.
Bowers has worked for ten years, and of which he has been
foreman two years, working his way up to that
position from a mill-hand. His native State is Ohio, his
birth having occurred in Harrison County in 1851, and his
parents were also from that State. They were Jacob and Lavina
Bowers, nee Downs, the father being a tiller of the soil and
successful in his calling, which occupation he
continued to follow until his death in 1881. His wife is still
living and makes her home in her native State. W. D. Bowers,
like the majority of youths, bent his energies to learning
the occupation in which his father was engaged, and also
acquired a good education in the public schools of Harrison
County. After the late Civil War he joined the regular
army of the United States, and was stationed at different
points in the South, but in 1879 he came to Corning, Ark.,
and began working in the mill in which he is now employed.
His wife, whom he married in 1879, and who was formerly Miss
Lenora Powell, was born in Tennessee, and was a daughter of
B. C. Powell and wife, also of that State, the former now
residing near Austin, and the latter deceased. In 1883 Mr.
Bowers lost his excellent wife, she having borne him two
children, one of whom is living, Floyd. In 1886 Mr. Bowers
was married in Union County, Ill., to Miss Mary Stew art,
a native of Indiana. Her parents. Henry and Jane
(Pollock) Stewart, were Ohio people, who moved first to
Indiana and from there to Cape Girardean County, Mo., where
they opened up a farm in 1874, and later kept a hotel at Doniphan.
Here Mr. Stewart died in 1887, his wife having died in Indiana, in
1885. He enlisted in the Union army from Indiana, at the breaking
out of the Civil War. Mr. Bowers has never been very active
in polities. Socially he is a member of the K. of H. He is
very public spirited, and has always practiced those principles
of fairness and honesty which are bound to command the respect
and admiration of all right-minded people.

C. Fred. Brennecke, editor of the Clay County Advocate, at
Greenway, Ark., was born in Cape Girardeau County, Mo.,
December 19, 1866, being a son of Frederick Brennecke, a
native of Germany, who came to the United States with
his parents when a lad of ten years and settled in Cape
Girardeau County, Mo., where he grew to manhood and was married,
the latter event being in the city of Cape Girardean to Miss
Dona Hunze, who was born in Germany. Mr.
Brennecke served in the Union army during the late war. Since
about 1865 he has resided in Cape Girardean, and is in the
service of Col. Robert Sturdivant. C. Fred, Brennecke grew to
manhood in his native county, and learned the printer's trade
in Cape Girardean, commencing when thirteen
years of age and continuing for about four and one half years.
From this place he went to Jefferson City, but only worked
there a short time, when he moved to Higginsville, La Fayette
County, Mo., where he followed his trade for two years.
Subsequently he came to Greenway, Ark., and became
associated with Mr. Dollison in the publication of the
Advocate, having charge of the mechanical department one
year. January 2, 1889, he became sole proprietor, and is
now editor and publisher of that paper. It is the leading
newspaper of the county and is independent in politics. Mr.
Brennecke receives a liberal amount of advertising, and his
journal has the largest circulation of any paper in the county.
He is a practical printer, a thorough business man, and
is of exemplary habits and character. He was elected a
member of the town board, and is now town recorder.

Jacob Brobst, the present mayor of Corning, and county jailer
of the Western division of Clay County, Ark., is descended
from a family that has held a worthy place in the history of
this country, and wherever its representatives
have settled they have became recognized as prominent and
influential members of society. He was born in Columbus,
Ohio, on the 18th of June, 1839, and of this State his
parents. John and Catherine (Bachar) Brobst, were among the
pioneer settlers. The father is still living and resides
in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, but the mother died in 1874.
Jacob followed the occupation of his father
until eighteen years of age, receiving in the meantime
a good education in the public schools of Wyandot County, Ohio,
and after starting out to fight the battle of life for himself
he worked at the carpenter's trade and taught
school, securing in the latter profession the reputation of
being one of the best educators in the county. Miss L. M.
England, a native of Hancock County, Ohio, became his wife
in 1862, and their union was blessed in the birth of
two children: J. R., who is married and resides at home,
and Mary Alice, also at home. Mrs. Brobst's parents, Robert
and Ellen (Lape) England. were Ohio people, the former
being a farmer who died in 1875. His widow is a
resident of Goshen, Ind. In 1864 Mr. Brobst went to Fort
Wayne, Ind., and was engaged in railroading in that State
until 1879, when he took up his abode in Corning, Ark.,
which was at that time a very small place, and has
since given his attention to carpentering. He votes with
the Democratic party, and has been jailer of the West
division for three years; was first elected to the position
of mayor in 1882, next in 1883, and is now serving
his third term. During 1884-85-86 and 1887 he was a member
of the city council, and has also been deputy assessor of the
Western division of Clay County. He was foreman of the grand
jury that found the indictment by which the second man of the
Ku Klux was hung, thus breaking up that gang in this
section of the country. He is the owner of some fine residence
property in the town, and besides this has a fertile and well
tilled farm of 320 acres in Nelson Township. He believes in
building up this place, and has done his full share in this
direction. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.

J. W. Brown, a farmer residing near Vidette, Ark., was born in
Hardin County, Tenn., February 26, 1835, and is a son of John
and Sarah (Garner) Brown, who were Tennesseeans, the mother
dying in her native State when the subject of
this sketch was a small boy. J. W. Brown was reared on a farm
in his native county and in 1854 emigrated to Arkansas, coming
by wagon, and located on the farm where he now lives. His place
was heavily covered with timber when he located, but he soon
erected a little log cabin and began clearing his land.
He was compelled to work very hard, but made good headway, and
now has one of the most valuable farms in the county, consisting
 of 200 acres, with about 100 acres under cultivation. Game of
all kinds was quite abundant when he first came to the State,
and one time he brought down a bear with his trusty rifle.
In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Col. White's regiment, and
during six months' service was in the battle of Crane Hill.
Owing to rheumatism he was compelled to leave the army. His
first wife was Patience Vassar, and his second Emily
Sloan, by whom he had a family of seven children, four now
living: Henry, Amanda, George W. and Sarah E. Both these
wives were Tennesseeans, whom he married while living in
that State. His present wife, whose maiden name was
Martha Garner, has borne him three children: Minnie A.,
Ida M. and Reuben A. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the
Christian Church, and he is a member of the Masonic order.

Andrew J. Brown, merchant and postmaster at Piggott, Ark.,
is one of the prominent residents of the county, and in his
business as well as social relations has won the confidence
and respect of all who know him. His birth
occurred in Union County, Ill., June 15, 1843, his parents,
Samuel and Annie (Dillow) Brown, being natives of the same
State. They reared their family on a farm in Union County,
and here Andrew J. Brown remained until twenty-five
years of age, enlisting in 1862 in the One Hundred and Ninth
Illinois Infantry, which was afterward consolidated with the
Eleventh Illinois, and served until he received his discharge
at Springfield on the 15th of July, 1865. He was
in the fight at Vicksburg on the 4th of July, 1863, and
was at Yazoo City, Fort Spanish, and the surrender of Mobile.
He was in the hospital at La Grange, Tenn., a short time,
and in 1868 removed to Arkansas and located in what is
now Clay County, where he was occupied in farming for a
few years. In 1879 he embarked in merchandising, and in 1882
located at Piggott, where he erected a business house and
has since been engaged in keeping a general
mercantile establishment, and has built up a good trade.
He was appointed postmaster of the town in April, 1883,
which office he has since held. He and wife are members of
the Missionary Baptist Church (in which he is a deacon),
and he is a member of the G. A. R. organization, and is
quartermaster of his post. He was married on the 28th of
December, 1868, to Miss M. J. Pollard, a sister of W. W.
Pollard, whose sketch appears in this work, and they are
the parents of the following children: Henry O., a lad of
twelve years; Cindona, a daughter, who died March 11, 1889,
at the age of seventeen years, and an infant deceased.

Hiram Calvin, of the firm of Clemson & Calvin, although a
young man, is one of the most successful business men in
this portion of the State. He has been running the business
exclusively for six and a half years last, having come to
this point with a stock of goods in December, 1882. He passed
through the country eighteen months before the road was built,
and, from what he reported, his partner in Illinois bought
4,200 acres of timber land, about half of which still belongs
to the estate. They commenced business in Clay County, Ark.,
with a stock of goods worth $2,497, which has been
increased since then to $3,500. In addition to the store,
the firm own a stave-mill, which they operate, and a
farm of 120 acres, all under improvement and well stocked.
They have also been interested in steamboats
on the river, and still own a small interest there.
The original and only investment in goods and buildings
amounted to $3,100, and, at a very low estimate, profits
worth $10,000, and the first investment, have been
paid out. Hiram Calvin is the son of R. T. Calvin and
Angie (Rifner) Calvin, and the grandson, on his mother's
side, of Peter and Elizabeth (Rockafellow) Rifner. Peter
Rifner was a soldier in the War of 1812,
being commissioned by Gen. Harrison as commander of a company.
R. T. Calvin was born in New Jersey, and emigrated to Harrison,
Ohio, when a young man. There he married Miss Rifner. Hiram
Calvin casts his vote with the Democratic party, and is a member
of the "Triple Alliance." He married
Miss Gussie Boren, daughter of Cole Boren, of Mound City, Ill.,
who was a pilot on the Mississippi River, and whose father,
Morgan Boren, was born in Tennessee, in 1789, he being a soldier
in the Black Hawk War. The latter married Miss Anna Lathran, of
Tennessee. To Mr. and Mrs. Calvin have been born three children:
Fannie, Gussie and Aggie. Mr. Clemson died
March 30, 1889, at his residence near Olmsted, Ill., aged sixty-
four years and ten days.

William A. Campbell was born in Greene County, Mo., April 10,
1848, being a son of William and Nancy Campbell, and grandson
of James and Lucy Campbell and James and Hannie Collins, who
were natives of Patrick County, Va. William Campbell, Sr.,
was a farmer, and moved to Missouri in 1845, residing in
Greene County until 1852, when he removed to Cass County, and
two years later to Kansas Territory. He continued to make
this his home until 1867, since which time he has been a
resident of Vernon County, Mo., and is now living at Milo,
of that county, engaged in merchandising. He and wife are
the parents of the following family: John W., a resident of
Arizona Territory, engaged in the milling business; George W.,
who died in Newton County, Mo., in 1886; Marthie E., who died
in Greene County, Mo., in 1846: William A., James E., who
died in Vernon County, Mo., in 1872; Isaac F., a merchant of
Arizona Territory; Melissa J., who died in Bourbon County, Kas.,
in 1859; Thomas H., who died in Crawford County, Kas., in 1863;
David H., a blacksmith at El Paso, Tex.; Melissa, married
Charles Baker in 1883, and resides in Crawford County, Kas.
William A. Campbell began life for himself in 1863, when only
sixteen years old, at which time he enlisted in the Federal army,
in Company B. Fourteenth Regiment of Kansas Volunteer
Cavalry, under Capt. Charles H. Haynes, and Col. C. W. Blair,
in which regiment he served until June 15, 1865, then being
honorably discharged with the balance of his regiment, at
Lawrence. Kas. He then went to Southeast Kansas, where
he joined his parents, staying there until May 20, 1866, the date
of his marriage to Miss Rebecca A. Cooper, afterward moving to
McDonald County. Mo., and from there to El Paso, Tex., where
he lived one year. Going thence to Benton County, Ark., he
lived there two years and later settled in Newton
County. Mo., but after a residence in that locality until
1884, moved to Clay County, Ark., reaching this place November
17, 1884. Here he still resides. He bought 320 acres of heavily
timbered land, and now has eighteen acres cleared and under
fence, with a young orchard of 100 apple trees of a select
variety. William A. Campbell was elected justice of the peace
in his county, October 20, 1888, which office he still holds.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Rebecca A. Campbell,
his wife, is the daughter of Hiram and Lucinda Cooper, and
was born in McDonald County, Mo., March 7, 1848. Her father
died when she was four years old, and when she was seven years
old her mother died, leaving her and one sister and two brothers
to fight the battle of life as best they could. The oldest
child was only ten years of age. She lived in McDonald County,
Mo., until the spring of 1862, when she moved to Southeast Kansas
with relatives, residing there until her marriage in 1866.
William A. and Rebecca A. Campbell are the parents of
six children: George W., the eldest, died in Jasper County.
Mo., in 1872; John W. died in Mexico, in 1874: Alexander died
in Mexico in 1874; John W. and Alexander (twins) died on the
same day; Lucinda J., Martha E., and Rosa A., the
youngest child, still remain with their parents.

William C. Cochran, merchant of Greenway, Ark., was born in
Massac County, Ill., September 4, 1854, his father, Jesse
Cochran, being a native of North Carolina. The latter went
to Illinois when a young man, where he was married to Jane Sexton,
and resided in Massac County up to 1856, when he moved to Arkansas
and settled in what is now Clay County. Here he entered land,
made a farm, and reared a family. His death occurred in
September, 1869. William C. Cochran and two sisters are the
only surviving members of a family of six children. He was
reared in Clay County, his youth being spent on a farm. He
was married in this county on the 5th of December, 1881, to
Miss Sarah E. Leeth, a daughter of John A. Leeth, formerly
from Tennessee, now deceased. Mrs. Cochran was born
in Tennessee, but was reared in Clay County, and by Mr.
Cochran is the mother of one child, who is living: Lura,
now six years old. Jesse died in January, 1886, at the age
of five months. Mr. Cochran had been engaged in farming and
the ginning business previous to his marriage, and afterwards
continued the former occupation for three years. In August,
1885, he commenced merchandising at Greenway and has been
interested in that business since that time. He was
appointed deputy postmaster in 1885 and served two years.
He carries an excellent stock of general merchandise, and
has built up a good trade. He is a Mason and belongs to
the I. O. O. F.

Robert L. Coleman. proprietor of Piggott Hotel, Piggott, Ark.,
and the son of Col. David and Sarah (Love) Coleman, was born
in Haywood County. N. C., March 26, 1823. Col. David Coleman
was a native of North Carolina, but moved to Tennessee at
an early day, locating in Carroll County, where he followed
farming, and there remained until his death. He served as
colonel of the State militia. His wife, Sarah Love, was
also a native of North Carolina. Her father, Gen.
Thomas Love, was in the Revolutionary War as well as the
War of 1812. Robert L. Coleman was reared to manhood on
a farm in Tennessee, read law in Carroll County and was
admitted to the bar, after which he practiced there until his
removal to Missouri in 1851. He then located at Hartsville,
Wright County, practiced there for three years and upon
returning to Tennessee, engaged in mercantile pursuits until
the breaking out of the late war, when he enlisted
in the Confederate service, in 1862, in Col. Napier's regiment.
He remained in this regiment for about eight months, afterward
being in Col. Green's regiment, where he was promoted to
adjutant and served in that capacity. He was captured at
Parke's Cross Roads by Gen. Sullivan, was held a prisoner
at Camp Douglas for over three months, and was then exchanged.
He then returned to Tennessee and did not enter the service again.
He resumed the practice of law in Carroll County for about three
years, but finally gave up law. He has been a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for many years and was
licensed to preach in 1868. He was a local preacher in
his church for some years. He was ordained deacon in 1870
at Trenton, Tenn., by Bishop McTyre, and followed his ministerial
duties in Tennessee up to 1875, when he moved to Arkansas,
settling at Oak Bluff in Clay County, and there
resided for a number of years. He taught school for nine
months, and then engaged in the manufacture of tobacco in 1878,
which occupation he has followed up to the present date.
He built his hotel in the fall of 1888 and moved in December.
His is the first and last and only hotel in Piggott. Mr.
Coleman was married in Carroll County, Tenn., December 4,
1850, to Miss Harriet E. Norman, a native of Carroll County,
and the daughter of Judge John Norman. To this union were born
three children, two daughters and a son: Sarah N., wife of
Albert Hubbard, of Piggott; Mollie A., widow, and John R.,
who died May 7, 1883, in his twenty-fifth year. Mr. Coleman
was ordained local elder here in 1881 by the same bishop
that ordained him deacon in Tennessee.

G. W. Cook is a successful agriculturist and stockman of
Oak Bluff Township, Clay County, Ark., and was born in Weakley
County, West Tenn., in 1840, being the youngest in a family
of seven children born to Richard A. and Ann (David)
Cook, both of whom were born in Old Virginia. At an early
day they moved to West Tennessee, where the father opened
up a farm and there died in 1860, at the age of fifty-eight
years. His widow came to Greene County, Ark.,
in August, 1874, and here died in October of the same year
at the age of seventy-six years. G. W. Cook grew to manhood
in his native State, and received his education in Weakley
County, being also married there, in 1864, to Miss
M. M. Jenkins, a daughter of C. P. and Mary G. (Boothe)
Jenkins, who were born in North Carolina, and were early
immigrants of Tennessee, where they became wealthy farmers
and spent their declining years, the father dying in
1889 and the mother in 1872. After his marriage Mr. Cook
settled on the old homestead, and there made his home
until 1873, when he came to Greene County, Ark., and
purchased a timber tract of eighty acres, which he
cleared and sold in 1888. In 1874 he moved to Clay County,
and five years later purchased the farm on which he is at
present residing, which consisted of 120 acres, with
thirty acres under the plow. He has increased his lands
until he now has 960 acres, 200 of which are under
cultivation, in the home farm, and 320 acres,
with thirty-two under cultivation, in Blue Cane Township,
Greene County. He is interested in stock raising, and makes
a specialty of Berkshire and Poland China hogs. His principal
crop is corn. He has never been very active in
politics, but usually votes the Democratic ticket. He is
a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge at Rector, and is
interested in all worthy public enterprises. He is in
every respect a self-made man, and all his property
has been acquired by his own exertions. He and wife
are the parents of the following children: Ella, now
Mrs. Bolton; Daniel Elvis, Joseph, Oda and Edar
living, and six children deceased. In 1861 Mr. Cook
enlisted in Weakley County in Company C, Fifty-second
Tennessee Infantry, and was mustered into service at
Henderson Station, afterward participating in the battle
of Shiloh. At the end of six months he returned home.

Fred W. Cooper, merchant of Greenway, Clay County,
Ark., was born on the 9th of October, 1866, in Pulaski
County, Ill., his parents, C. C. and Georgia
(McDonald) Cooper, being also born in that State. Mr.
Cooper was a merchant of Caledonia, Ill., for a number
of years and died there in May, 1877. Fred W. Cooper
remained with his father until the latter's death and
received his education in the common schools of Illinois
and in Cincinnati, Ohio. After spending about one year in
the "Lone Star State" he located in Clay
County. Ark., in July, 1887, where he bought property,
erected a store building, and engaged in merchandising,
carrying a large and select stock of shelf and
heavy hardware, farming implements and furniture. He has
built up a good trade and is making money. He was married
in Pulaski County, November 9, 1887, to
Miss Gertrude Williamson, a native of Ohio, who was reared
and educated in Pulaski County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are
the parents of one child, Velaria. Mr. Cooper is a young man
of energy, push and enterprise, and possessing
excellent business qualifications, is certain to succeed in
whatever he undertakes.

Henry B. Cox, a prominent merchant of Rector, Ark., was born
February 13, 1843, in Weakley County, Tenn. His parents
were William A. Cox and Hiley Cox, natives, respectively,
of Buckingham County, Va., and Giles County,
Tenn. William A. Cox, the father of our subject, was born
March 22, 1815. He was of Scotch Irish descent. Remaining
in his native State until twelve years of age, he emigrated
with his parents to Tennessee, which State at that
time was wild and sparsely inhabited, and furnished very
limited means of education. Still, William A. Cox, in the
face of every disadvantage, by his own extraordinary efforts,
succeeded in qualifying himself for business affairs, and
filled various important stations. In 1838 he was
married to Mrs. Hiley Schofield, widow of Thomas Schofield.,
and daughter of Asa and Nancy Magee of Tennessee. Resulting
from this union were six children: Ballard C., Leamma M.,
Henry B. (subject of this sketch). William A., Jr., Emily S.
and Amanda Cox, Ballard C. Cox was killed at
the battle of Chiekamauga while in the Confederate service.
Amanda and Emily S., late wife of W. S. Blackshare, are also
deceased. In 1857 William A. Cox and family emigrated from
Tennessee to Greene County, Ark., and settled three miles
north of the town of Oak Bluff. The woods at that time
abounded in wild animals. School and church privileges
were very limited. During the late war William A. Cox
remained at home, but he was a Southern sympathizer.
In religion he was a Presbyterian, but was
identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
at the time of his death, in 1871. Mrs. Hiley Cox is
still living, and is a resident of Clay County, Ark. (Clay
County was formerly a part of Greene County.)
The paternal grandfather, John Cox, was a native of Virginia,
as was also his wife. He was of Scotch descent, and was a farmer
by occupation. The maternal grandparents were of Tennessee.
The grandfather participated in the Indian wars. He was engaged
in the memorable battle of Horseshoe Bend.
Henry B. Cox was thirteen years of age when the family removed
to Arkansas. He remained at home on the farm until March, 1862,
when he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-fifth Arkansas Volunteer
Infantry, under Capt. G. D. Byers, Confederate army. He was
elected third lieutenant at Corinth, Miss.
At Readerville, Tenn., he was promoted to first lieutenant.
He was in the battles at Richmond, Ky., and Murfreesboro,
Tenn., as well as numerous smaller engagements. At
Murfreesboro he was wounded in the right foot, which resulted
in much suffering and long confinement in the Medical
College Hospital, at Atlanta, Ga., of which Dr. Willis
Westmoreland was chief surgeon. In 1863, near Griffin,
Ga., he was married to Miss Addie E. Lavender, daughter
of Judge James Lavender, a native of Georgia. For two
years after his marriage he was engaged in farming. In 1867,
in Carroll County, Ga., he went into the mercantile business.
He emigrated to Greene County, Ark., in 1867, and is still
occupied in the same business. By his marriage Mr. Cox became
the father of nine children, as follows: Charles
M. B., Augusta O., Eugene H., Cora B., Mary F., Annie L.,
Dreas L., Augustus C. and Hubert D. Cox. Of these there are
surviving only Charles M. B., Cora B., Mary F. and Dreas L.
Cox. The wife of Mr. Cox, Mrs. Addie E. Cox, passed from
this life into the future on July 9, 1880, at the age
of thirty-six years. Mr. Cox, afterward married Miss Laura
I. Cox, a native of Missouri, and daughter of Rev. J. W.
Cox, of the Methodist Protestant Church. To this union
were born two children: Addie B. and Everett; the
last named died at the age of four months. Mr. Cox
established his business in Rector in 1882. He was
the purchaser of the first lot sold in town, and has
been quite successful. Mr. Cox and family are members of the
Methodist Protestant Church. He was ordained a minister
in 1872. He has been a member of the Masonic order since
1866, and took the Chapter and Council degrees in 1867, at
Carrollton, Carroll County, Ga. He is a Democrat
in politics; a stanch advocate of the principles of prohibition,
he supported Gen. Fisk for president in 1888. In personal
appearance Mr. Cox is tall and imposing; is six feet and two
inches, and weighs 200 lbs. He has dark-brown eyes, and wears a
heavy, full beard.

Thomas J. Crews, farmer and stock raiser of St. Francis Township,
Clay County, Ark., was born in Bedford County, Tenn., August 1,
1847, and is the son of Dr. John Crews, a native of Virginia,
and Mary A. (Tribble) Crews. Dr. John Crews was reared in his
native State and was married twice, his first wife bearing him
two sons and three daughters, all now deceased but
one, a daughter. His second marriage was to the mother of our
subject, who bore him four children, two sons and two daughters,
all of whom grew to mature years. The Doctor moved from Bedford
to Weakley County, residing there some nine years, engaged in
farming, and then, about 1857, he moved with his family to
Arkansas, locating in what is now Clay County, made a
farm and there resided until his death, which occurred in
December, 1876. Thomas J. Crews grew to manhood on the farm in
Clay County, remaining with his parents until grown, and was
married in that county September 1, 1872, to Miss Mary J.
Lively, a native of Arkansas, and the daughter of William
Lively, and sister of Rev. Lively, whose sketch appears
elsewhere in this work. After his marriage Mr. Crews settled
in the neighborhood where he now lives, and after his father's
death he came to the old home and bought out the heirs. He has 250
acres of land with about 125 fenced and under cultivation. Mrs.
Crews died February 12, 1878, and since then Mr. Crews' mother,
who is still living, has been his housekeeper. Mr. Crews is
a member of the Masonic fraternity, Wisdom Lodge No. 343, and
has filled all the official positions in his lodge. He has
represented the lodge in the grand lodge two different times.
He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 56, at Piggott,
and is Noble Grand of this lodge. He has served as district deputy
for four years, and has represented this lodge and Clark
Bluff a number of times. He is a prominent man and an excellent
citizen.

Z. T. Daniel is well known throughout Clay County, Ark., and for a
number of years filled the office of deputy county surveyor,
with competence and ability. He was born on Blue Grass soil
in Grant County, in 1848, being the eldest of a
family of eight children born to Lewis B. and Sardinia K.
(Canfield) Daniel, the former a native of Kentucky, and the
latter of Ohio. The father was reared in his native State,
and in March, 1849, moved to Illinois and settled in
Schuyler County, where he engaged in farming, continuing
this occupation until 1862, when he left his farm to engage
in the war, enlisting from Rushville, Ill., in Company B, One
Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois Infantry,
and was mustered into service at Quincy. He died in 1863
of disease contracted while in the service. His excellent
wife still survives him and resides at Rushville, Ill.
Z. T. Daniel received excellent facilities for acquiring an
education, and besides attending the public school at
Rushville, Ill., attended the Washington University at
St. Louis, in 1874, 1875 and 1876. During this time he
studied surveying, and in March, 1876, he came to Corning,
Ark., for the purpose of continuing his agricultural
operations but drifted into surveying, which occupation
received the greater part of his attention, his services being
utilized in Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri. He
was married in Clay County, Ark., in the fall of 1882, to
Miss Ellen McClintick, a native of Quincy, Ill., and a daughter
of Henry Clay and Mary Ann (Dilley) McClintick, also of Illinois,
who came to Corning, Ark., in 1878, where they are still
residing, the father being the proprietor of the Illinois Hotel.
Subsequent to his marriage, Z. T. Daniel settled in Corning.
He worked for the Iron Mountain Railroad Company as civil
engineer nearly two years. He is reporter for the K. of H.,
and is an active member of the I. O. G. T. His wife is a
member of the Baptist Church, and having no family of their own
they have adopted a little boy named Eddie.

Elihu Davis, whose success as a farmer and stock raiser is
well established throughout the county, is a native of Hardin
County. Ky., born March 11, 1821. His father, William Davis,
was also a native of Kentucky, and was married in that State
to Miss Sarah Hardin, of the same State, although her people
were from the Carolinas. William Davis
settled on a farm in Kentucky, resided there a number of years,
and then moved to Wayne County, Tenn., where he purchased a
farm and here reared his children. He died about 1835 or 1836.
His wife survived him until 1877, when she died at the home
of her son in Arkansas. Elihu Davis was reared in
Tennessee and came to Arkansas when a young man of eighteen,
or in 1838, locating in Greene County, but now Clay County,
and finally settled on his present property in 1844. His nearest
neighbor was three miles distant, wild animals were plentiful
and many a deer and wild turkey fell before
his unerring rifle. Mr. Davis cleared over 100 acres where
Greenway is now located, and sold forty acres of this in May,
1889, for an addition to the town. He was married first in
Clay County, October 16, 1844, to Susan Sites, a native of
Arkansas, who died September 16, 1863. To this
union were born seven children, who grew to mature years.
Mr. Davis married his second wife, Mrs. Nancy Boggas,
a widow, formerly Miss Nancy Shelton, who was born in Alabama.
She was the mother of one son by her first marriage.
This wife died October 23, 1873, and Mr. Davis married again,
in Clay County, Miss Tennessee Horton, who bore him two children,
Joseph and Nancy. Mrs. Davis was born in Tennessee, but was reared
in Missouri and Arkansas. To Mr. Davis by his first wife were
born these children: William A., whose sketch
appears in this work; Solomon T., John, Elihn, Jr.,
Clarissa, wife of T. J. Smith; Sarah, and Mary, wife of
Lewis Clippard. To his second marriage one
son, Thomas L., was born. Mr. Davis is a Master Mason, and
a member of the Baptist Church.

William M. Davis. Among the worthy residents of Clay County,
Ark., it is but just to say that Mr. Davis occupies a conspicuous
and honorable place, for he has always been honest, industrious
and enterprising, and as a result has met
with more than ordinary success. He was born in Georgia, on the
15th of August, 1842, and is a son of D. D. and Rebecca (Isbul)
Davis, who were born, reared and married in South Carolina. They
moved to Georgia after their marriage, where
they remained about ten years and then located in Alabama, and
afterward in Greene County, Ark., where the father is now living.
William M. Davis remained with his father until of age, and in 1862
enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Arkansas Infantry, Confederate States
Army, and served until the spring of 1865, when
he surrendered at Wittsburgh, Ark. He was at Murfreesboro,
Chickamauga, Franklin, and the siege and surrender of Atlanta,
being in about thirteen regular engagements. After the war he
was engaged in farming in Greene County, and was married in
Dunklin County, Mo., on Buffalo Island, September 19, 1867,
to Miss Martha Cochran, who was born and reared in Dunklin County,
being a daughter of Pleasant Cochran. Mr. and Mrs. Davis remained
in Greene County until 1874, when he moved to his present place in
Clay County, trading his farm there for the one on which he
is now residing. He has 160 acres, with about
seventy-five under cultivation, and has built a good frame
residence, stables and sheds and otherwise greatly improved
his property since locating. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents
of the following children: Cynthia E., wife of James Golden;
Pleasant L., James E., William David, George F., Samuel A.,
Lou Z., John Henry and Pearlie Gertrude. Two children died in
early childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, and he is a Master Mason.

William A. Davis, another prominent farmer and stock raiser
of Haywood Township, Clay County, Ark., was born in the
above-mentioned county, near Greenway, April 29, 1853,
and is the son of Elihu Davis, a Kentuckian by
birth, who was reared in that State and in Tennessee.
The father came to Arkansas when a young man and was here
married. William A. Davis grew to manhood on the home farm,
remaining with his father until twenty-seven years
of age, and was married here first, March 10, 1881, to Miss
Anna Randleman, who died in September, 1881. Mr. Davis had
bought and located where he resides in 1880, and this place
he has greatly improved. He has fifty-five acres of
cleared land, neat buildings, a good orchard, and has
twenty-five acres in timber, all good bottom land, one
mile from Greenway. Mr. Davis was married,
in this county, December 29, 1886, to Miss Belle Gorden,
a native of Tennessee, but who was reared and educated in
Clay County, Ark. Her father, Jordan Gorden, who is now
deceased, was one of the pioneers of Arkansas. To
Mr. and Mrs. Davis have been born one child, Myrtle, who
is now six months old. Mr. Davis is a member of the Masonic
Order, Wisdom Lodge No. 343, in which he is senior deacon.

James Deniston, who is prominently identified with the farming
and stock raising interests of Oak Bluff Township, was born
in Ballard County, Ky., July 13, 1839, and is the son of John
Deniston, who was born and reared in Washington County, Va.
He was also married in that State, to Miss Dorotha
L. Puckett, a native of Amelia County, Va. Her father served
in the War of 1812. After marriage Mr. Deniston settled on a
farm in Kentucky, and followed tilling the soil up to the breaking
out of the late war, when, at the age of fifty-two, he enlisted
in the Twenty-third Kentucky Infantry, Union Army, and died
in Texas. James Deniston spent his youth in his native county,
in Kentucky, assisting his father on the farm, and when in his
nineteenth year, he was married there to Miss Eliza Brown, who
bore him five children. After marriage Mr. Deniston followed
agricultural pursuits in Kentucky until 1868, when he moved
to Missouri, and spent one year in Cape Girardeau County. He
then resided two years in Stoddard County, and in
the spring of 1872 moved to Arkansas, bought raw land, and
there he lives at the present time. He is the owner of 280
acres of land, with about 125 acres cleared, all good bottom
land. He served as a member of the school board for
ten consecutive years, and has the confidence and esteem
of his fellow men. He was married, in Cape Girardeau County,
to Miss Mary E. Welch, a native of llinois, but who was reared
near Alton, Obion County, Tenn. Nine children were
born to the last marriage: Isabelle, Ada, Bernetta J.,
Rhoda, Ida M., Stonewall J., Scott H., George and Effie W.
Mr. and Mrs. Deniston are members of the Missionary Baptist
Church, and he is a deacon in the same. He is a Master Mason,
and a member and treasurer of Danley Lodge No. 300, A. F, & A. M.

William H. Denny. Among the many sturdy and energetic
agriculturists of Clay County, Ark., who have attained
their property by hard labor and economy, may be mentioned
Mr. Denny, who was born in Monroe County, Mo., September
25, 1856, being a son of William T. F. and Martha (Atchison)
Denny, who were born in St. Louis County, Mo., and Illinois,
respectively, the former's birth occurring September 24, 1828.
They were married January 1, 1849, and became the parents of
seven children: W. H., Florence, Charles E., Andrew J.,
Cory Bell, Samuel W. and Lizy Edna. They moved to Monroe County,
Mo., in 1854, but returned to St. Louis County in 1861,
where they are still living, being engaged in agricultural
pursuits. The mother is a member of the Presbyterian Church,
and the father is a Mason, and in his political views a Democrat.
William H. Denny moved from St. Louis County to Howell County,
Mo., in 1883, and from the latter county to Clay County, Ark.,
where he purchased, in 1885, a tract of land consisting of eighty
acres, twenty of which are under cultivation, lying on Current River
bottom. It is well adapted to cotton, corn and fruit, and can all
be easily put in a tillable condition. It is also a fine grazing
property, and is in condition to pasture stock the year round.
Land in this section is valued at from $2 to $25 per acre, and
cleared land is equal to the best in the State. It is usually
covered with a heavy growth of timber (suitable for all kinds
of work), among which may be mentioned gum, ash, oak, walnut,
linn and cypress. Mr. Denny in his political views is a Democrat.

Hon. Jasper W. Dollison, a resident of Greenway, Clay County, Ark.,
was born in Cambridge City, of the "Buckeye State," December 20,
1849. His father, William E. Dollison, was born in Pennsylvania,
but was reared in Ohio, and was married there to Miss Susanna
Laird, who was born in the State. Mr. Dollison removed
to the State of Indiana in 1857, and located in Clay County, where
he engaged in farming and stock raising and dealing until 1884,
then moving to Kansas, and he has since made his home in
Independence. Hon. Jasper W. Dollison grew to mature years
in Clay County, Ind., and received an excellent education in
the Greencastle University. He was engaged in teaching in the public
schools of that State for a number of years, and in 1877 moved to
Missouri, and located in Andrew County, moving from there to Union
County, Iowa, after a short time, where he made his home for nearly
two years, having been engaged in teaching in both places. In
1881 he located at Newport, Jackson County, Ark., and for two years
was superintendent of a lumber mill. He then entered into the newspaper
business in Greene County, at Paragould, but in 1884 moved to Clay
County and bought out the proprietors of the Rector Advocate,
which he changed to the name of the Clay County Advocate, and moved the
paper to Greenway in June, 1887. He continued the publication of this
paper until January, 1889, when he sold out to the present editor.
In his political views he was formerly identified with the Democratic
party, but when the movement known as the Labor movement was inaugurated,
he recognized the justice of the cause and espoused it. In June, 1888,
the State Union Labor convention, assembled at Little Rock, tendered
him the nomination for State land commissioner.  He declined the honor,
however, and after very urgent solicitation agreed to make the race
for the legislature, and was nominated and elected on that ticket as
representative of Clay County, serving with distinction for the term
commencing January 14, 1889. He was married in Clay County, Ind.,
March 30, 1872, to Miss Anna Williams, who was born in Kentucky,
but was reared and educated principally in Indiana. Her parents were
Van Buren and Mary Williams, of Clay County, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Dollison
are the parents of five children: Lethe, Della, Vincent, Charles and May.
Mrs. Dollison is a member of the Christian Church, and he is a member of
the K. of H., the K. of L. and the Agricultural Wheel. He is engaged at
present in real estate and timber enterprises.

W. S. Downs, blacksmith, and one of the skillful workmen of the
county, is a native of Georgia, born in 1848, and the son of Shelly
Downs, who was born in Virginia. The latter was married in his
native State, and afterward moved to Georgia, where the mother died
shortly afterward, and where the father died in 1861, leaving a
family of three children. W. S. Downs was but thirteen years of age
when his father died, and for three years after this, and during
the war, he drove a team from Atlanta to Bowden, Ga., and was with
his teams near Franklin, Ga. (which is 100 miles from Atlanta),
when that city fell into the hands of the Federal troops. At the
age of sixteen Mr. Downs went to work to learn the carriage and
wagon-maker's trade with the firm of J. W. Downs, and afterward
with Downs & Langford, at Conyers, Ga., remaining in their employ
for three years. He then came to Clay County, Ark., where he has
resided ever since, with the exception of about three years, two
of which he spent in New Madrid, Mo., and one year at his old home,
where he worked for Mr. Langford, who was carrying on the same business.
During his stay here six years were spent in the mill business, the
second steam-mill in the county, and he afterward followed farming until
about 1888, when he opened up his old business in Boydsville. He has
built a shop for general repair work, and is having a fair trade. He
was married in 1889 to Miss Martha A. Arnold, daughter of Andrew
Arnold, of Clay County (but which at that time was Greene County), and
nine children have been the result of this union, eight now living. They
are named as follows: Lenora J., wife of J. A. Burton, of Tennessee, and
the mother of one child; J. H., at home attending the farm; L. R., at home;
William E., J. B., Florence A., Matthew A. and Alvin Shelly, who is named
after his grandfather. Mr. and Mrs. Downs are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, and he is a Democrat in politics.

Joseph Dudgeon. There is nothing which adds so much to the prestige
of a city in the estimation of a stranger as first-class hotel
accommodations, and the Dudgeon House, of which our subject
is proprietor, has an excellent reputation both at home and
abroad, although it has been in operation only a short time
(since February, 1888). His hotel, so recently completed,
consists of twenty-three commodious rooms, with a large bath-room,
all of which are well furnished, and supplied with modern
conveniences, and he is ever courteous and accommodating to
his guests. He was born in the "Emerald Isle," County Monahan,
in March, 1833, and is a son of John and Margaret (Mills) Dudgeon,
who were of Scotch descent, but were born in Ireland, in which
country the father died. In 1844 Joseph, with his mother,
went from Belfast to Liverpool, and in the latter city
took passage for America on the sailing vessel "Patrick Henry,"
and after an ocean voyage of six weeks landed at New York City.
Shortly after they went to Sullivan County, N. Y., where Joseph
received his education, and was reared to manhood. He started
out to battle his own way in the world at the early age of thirteen
years, and from earliest boyhood his career has been characterized by
hard work, for he was brought up as a farmer, and received such
education as could be acquired in the common schools previous to his
sixteenth year. About this time he and his mother went to New Orleans,
and there he worked as a clerk in a store for about
two years, and from that time up to 1865 lived both in
Mississippi and Texas. He next located in Saginaw, Mich.,
where he resided three years, then returning to New York State,
and the same year located at An Sable, Mich., being an employe
for eleven years of the Loud, Priest & Gay Lumber Company,
acting as their foreman; he was held in the highest esteem, and
commanded the full confidence of his employers. He became a noted
lumberman of that region, and was engaged in the business for
himself for some time, continuing successfully until 1882,
when be went to Chicago, and was employed in paving the
streets for a number of months. In 1883 he moved to Randolph
County, Mo., but after a short time sold all his effects, and
returned to Michigan. In the spring of 1885 he came to Clay
County, Ark., and was engaged in tilling a farm near Corning,
which he had purchased, until February, 1888, when he moved
to the town, and embarked in his present enterprise. In 1860
he was married to Miss Amanda Tiffany, a native of Pennsylvania,
and a daughter of Edwin and Joannah (Parks) Tiffany, the former
a native of Connecticut, and the latter of New York State. Mr.
Tiffany is a second cousin of George Tiffany, the noted
New York City jeweler. Mr. and Mrs. Dudgeon became the
parents of seven children, of whom five are living: Arthur F.,
residing in Michigan; Ella, wife of R. G. Gillard, of
Ashland, Wis.; John A., Bertha M., wife of J. M.
Hawks, of Cotton Plant, Ark., and Pearl A. Mr. Dudgeon
is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in his political views
is a Republican. His mother was born in Ireland May 5, 1781,
and died at the age of 104 years.

Edward B. Earle, druggist at Rector postoffice, was born in Obion
County, Tenn., February 28, 1858, but was reared at Arlington, Ky.
He remained on the farm until nineteen years of age, receiving a
common school education, and worked in a drug store for some time.
October 25, 1886, he made his advent in the State of Arkansas with
$2,85 in cash and worked at the carpenter's trade until February
27, 1887, when he began working for Mr. Outlaw, with whom be continued
for 389 days without losing any time. Afterward he was occupied at
odd jobs. He then bought out the drug store which he now owns
and later purchased other property. He is now the
most successful druggist in Rector, carrying a stock of
drugs valued at $1,000, and is also a much esteemed citizen.
September 15, 1887, he married Miss Clemmie Trantham, a native
of Clay County, Ark. Both he and wife are members of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity, and is a Democrat in politics, but
not a radical one. Mr. Earle's parents, J. H. and Elvira
(Ghalson) Earle, were natives of Kentucky. The father was reared
near Barlow, a short distance from Cairo, and was quite an
extensive stock man. He was a soldier in the late war and is now
living in Illinois, aged sixty-six years. Mrs. Earle remained in her
native State until grown, and was married there. To this
union were born eight children: Sallie, John, Lee,
Charles, Arthur, Edward B., Mollie and Leana. Dr. Charles Earle,
brother of the subject of this sketch, came to Rector in 1883,
and is a graduate of Bellevue College, New York.

Frederick Ermert is an excellent example of the success attending
hard work and faithful and persistent endeavor, and is now one of
the wealthy planters of Clay County, Ark., having been a resident
of this region since 1856. He is a native of Germany, born in 1847,
and is the eldest of five children born to John and Caroline Ermert,
who were also natives of that country, and came to the State of
Missouri in 1850, settling in Madison County, where the father
engaged in lead mining. The following year he took the overland
route to California, the journey occupying five months, and
remained in that State for three years. He then returned
to Madison County, Mo., but shortly after moved to Randolph
County, and in 1856 he settled in what is now Clay County,
where he followed the occupation of agriculture until his death
in 1864, being still survived by his excellent wife. Frederick
Ermert received good training in growing up, became familiar
with the details of farm life, and entered actively upon
life's duties as a farmer after the close of the war,
purchasing a piece of raw land, which has since, by honest
and continued effort on his part, become one of the valuable
places of the county. This property he sold in 1885, and since
March, 1889, has resided on his present farm of 120 acres, sixty
of which are under cultivation, thirty being devoted to the culture
of cotton. He has always supported the Republican ticket, considering
its views as sound and well suited to any man. He has been married
thrice, his first union taking place in Clay County, in 1867,
to Miss Mary Ann Whitehead, a native of that county, whose
parents were early settlers of the locality. He
lost his wife in 1875, she having borne him one child:
Amanda, now the wife of William M. Williams, residing in
Texas. His second marriage took place in Clay County, in
1878, to Mildred Rhodes, of Mississippi, who died in 1879,
also leaving one child, William, who is residing with
his father. His present wife was a Miss Sarah Elizabeth Calhoun,
of Tennessee, her parents, Dunklin and Penelope Calhoun, being
deceased. To the last union the following children were born:
James, Lewis and Fred. Many are the changes which have
occurred since Mr. Ermert first located here, and he
has lived to witness the growth of what was almost a
wilderness to one of the most prosperous counties of
the State.

Watson Forrest, better known as "Patter" Forrest, is
one of the oldest settlers in Clay County at the
present time. He left Gibson County, Tenn., in
October, 1832, with his brother, Abraham Forrest, and
Elisha Fly and their wives, all in one wagon drawn by
cattle, and they soon fell in with James Kennedy, who,
with his wife and four children, were in a wagon drawn
by horses. They settled on Slavin's Creek, in what
is Greene County now, and there they remained for
three years. During this time Watson Forrest was
married to Miss Sarah Crafton, of Gibson County,
Tenn., and the daughter of John B. Crafton, of
Tennessee. Mr. Forrest had returned to Tennessee to
assist his father, Mark Forrest, to move to the farm
picked out for him by his son, on Slavin's Creek, and
here married Miss Crafton, and with her and his father
he returned to Greene County about December 10, 1833.
In 1835 he and wife moved to what is known as Clay
County at the present day, settling about one mile from
where he now lives, and there remained some five years. He
then moved to Barry County, Mo., continued there but three
months and then returned and bought a log cabin, where
his present residence is standing. He paid $250 for
the log cabin and the improvements, and $2.50 per acre
for forty acres of land. To this he has since added
220 acres. The old log house he uses for a stable.
When Mr. Forrest first came to this State there
was no market for anything; neither was there any law,
nor officers–neither squire, sheriff nor constable,
and Mr. Forrest assisted in electing the first
sheriff, Charley Robinson. A man by the name of Tucker
was the first representative of Greene County, and
there were only forty votes cast in the whole county.
Stock had to be driven on foot to Memphis, Tenn., 125
miles away, but as there was but very little stock in
the county, these trips were seldom made until about
1845. Previous to that time the only way of obtaining
money was by selling the pelts of animals, deer, elk,
bear, wildcat, panther, raccoon, mink and otter being
plentiful at that time. Deer skins were the most
sought after, and at Cape Girardeau were worth from
about $1.00 to $2.00 each; coon skins from twenty-five
to fifty cents each; elks, from $1.50 to $2.00 each;
bear, from $1.00 to $3.00; wildcat, about twenty-five
cents; panther, from $1.00 to $1.50; mink, from $1.50
to $3.00, and otter, from $4.00 to $6.00. Buffalo, in
rather limited numbers, were in the State also. With
the exception of the buffalo and elk, all the above
mentioned animals are still represented in the woods,
coon and deer being very plentiful. The next nearest
trading-point was Pocahontas, on the Black River,
which offered a market for the first time about 1835.
This was twenty miles distant from where Mr. Forrest
lived. The first railroad market to which Mr. Forrest
went was Dexter, on the Iron Mountain road, in
Missouri, and about forty miles from his residence.
The first church built in what is now Clay County was
at Salem, in about 1842, and was of the Baptist
denomination. It was constructed by two men, William
Nutt and Mr. Winingham, the latter preaching the first
sermon. He was also the first Baptist preacher. The
first preacher of any kind that Mr. Forrest heard was
Rev. Fountain Brown, a Methodist circuit rider. The
first school house in the county was built within a
mile of where Mr. Forrest now lives, and a man by the
name of Cyrus Owens taught the first session as near
as can be remembered. Mr. Forrest has in his
possession a stone which he took from the maw of a
spotted deer killed by him thirty years ago, and which
he believes to be a veritable mad stone. It is about
the size and shape of a chicken's heart, of a dull,
yellowish or brown color, and resembles a well worn
molar. On one side is a decayed place which appears to
be porous in its nature, while the stone has a smooth,
polished appearance. Three people bitten by mad dogs
have been cured by this stone. In each case, animals
had been bitten by the same dog, and in every case
went mad. It will also cure rattlesnake bites. In ease
of the latter, or that of a mad dog, the stone adheres
to the wound until saturated with the poison, when it
falls, and by placing the stone in warm water or milk
it will cleanse itself. When there is no poison in the
wound the stone will not take hold.

John C. Frew. Prominent among the successful farmers
and stock-raisers of Haywood Township stands the name
of the above-mentioned gentleman, who was born in
Weakley County, Tenn., June 15, 1843, and is the son
of A. and Sarah (Hattler) Frew, the former a native of
North Carolina and his wife of Tennessee. A. Frew went
to Tennessee when a young man, was married there and
afterwards engaged in farming, which he continued all
his life. He died in November, 1885, and his wife died
in June of the same year. Their family consisted of
three sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to
mature years. One sister has since died, but the
others are all residents of Arkansas. John C., the
eldest of this family, remained with his parents until
after his marriage, which occurred in Obion County,
November 11, 1866, to Miss Eda Tennessee Rucker, a
native of Middle Tennessee, and the daughter of Samuel
W. Rucker. After marriage Mr. Frew raised
one crop on the old home place, and then moved to
Obion County, where he farmed for five years. He moved
to Arkansas in the fall of 1872, and located in what
is now Clay County, and on the place where he at
present resides. The place at that time had a few
acres cleared and on it was a log cabin. Since then
Mr. Frew has cleared the farm, erected buildings and
has greatly improved it. He owns 120 acres, sixty
fenced and under cultivation, and has a fine young
apple and peach orchard. To his marriage were born two
children: Laura Victoria, wife of J. I. Williams, and
Geneva, a miss of ten years. Mr. Frew is a member of
the Agricultural Wheel and served as president of the
same one term.

Pierce Galvin. The life of this well known farmer and
stockman affords an example that might well be
imitated by the young men of today, for at the early
age of fourteen years he left the home place, without
means, to battle his own way in the world, and his
endeavors have been resultful of good, and he is now a
well-to-do farmer of Clay County. He possesses an
excellent place of 240 acres, 100 being under
cultivation, and conducts his farm in an intelligent
manner and has it well stocked. He was born in
Ireland, December 24, 1834, and on coming to the
United States, in 1845, landed at New York City, but
moved on immediately to Philadelphia, where he had a
sister living, and there he made his home until grown.
He then traveled for some time and was engaged in
railroading in Ohio for seven or eight months, later
going to Pittsburgh, Penn., and in 1852 he commenced
braking on a train on the Missouri Pacific Railroad,
remaining with this company until 1873. The following
year he came to Arkansas and again became an employe
of the above named road, and continued the occupation
of railroading until 1884, since which time he has
resided on his present farm. He was first married to
Miss Mary Malony, who was born in Ireland, but was
brought to the United States when a child, being
reared in the State of Missouri. She died in August, 1879,
having borne a family of five children: Mary, Maggie, Katie,
James and Statia, who died at the age of two years. The
living children are residing with their father and he
is doing all in his power to give then good
educational advantages. He was next married to a
sister of his first wife, Kate Malony, by whom he
became the father of two  children: Frank, who died at
the age of five years, and Agnes. Mr. and Mrs. Galvin
are members of the Catholic Church, but he contributes
liberally to all enterprises he deems worthy of
support. During the war he served in the Twenty-third
Missouri Volunteers and did railroad work under Col.
Crowley. He is now a Democrat in politics.

John T. Gilchrist, merchant at Knobel, Ark., was born
in 1861 in St. Charles County, Mo., being the eldest
of nine children born to Richard and Fannie (Coleman)
Gilchrist, who were born in Ohio and Illinois,
respectively. The former was a hotel keeper, and in
1860 removed to East St. Louis, Ill., there following
that occupation until 1876, when be moved to Knobel
and engaged in the stock raising and saw mill business
for a few years; then he retired from the saw mill
business and settled on his farm, where he died in
1888. He had about 160 acres of farming land, with
some eighty acres under cultivation, and had 420 acres
in a stock ranch. His wife died in 1882. John T.
Gilchrist attended the schools of St. Louis until
seventeen years of age, then began clerking for the
Consolidated Steamboat Company, continuing one year,
and in 1879 came to Knobel, Ark., and secured the
agency at this place of the Iron Mountain Railroad
Company, and had charge of the office for five years.
In 1884 he erected a fine building and started a
saloon and billiard hall, and in 1887 built a large
store-house and engaged in general merchandising, his
stock of goods being valued at $6,000, and he has a
large and rapidly increasing trade. He is a member of
the K. of P., the K. of H., and the K. and L. of H. He
is particularly active in  politics, and votes with the
Democratic party. His brother, Richard F., is associated
with him in business. The latter came to Knobel with his
father in 1876, and worked on the farm until 1886, when he
formed his present partnership.

A. W. Gills, one of the most thorough going, wide-
awake business men of this section of the county, and
a genial, pleasant gentleman, is a native of Fulton
County, Ky., and came with his parents, who were
natives of Virginia, to what is now Clay County, Ark.,
at the age of nineteen years. They settled near his
present residence, where the mother died in 1870, and
the father two years later. Later A. W. Gills purchased
this farm. In addition to his agricultural interests
he also erected a cotton-gin, and about the 1st of
October, 1886, commenced ginning cotton, with a
capacity of nine bales per day. In September of the
same year he started a stave factory and corn mill,
all of which he now runs with steam under the same
roof, the stave business being the principal industry,
the factory having a capacity of 8,000 staves per day.
He regularly employs from thirty to thirty-five men
and ten teams. This has been the means of building at
least half a dozen houses in his neighborhood. He
still carries on his farm of 180 acres, which he has
well supplied with good stock. Mr. Gills was married
in 1882 to Miss Claude Gwin, whom he met in Missouri,
and whose parents are now living there. He is a member
of the Masonic fraternity, being attached to the Eastern Star
Lodge, and is also a member of Chalk Bluff Lodge No.
72, I. O. O. F., and of the K. of H. In politics he
votes with the Democratic party.

Marion C. Glasgow, a prominent agriculturist and stock
raiser of Oak Bluff Township, was born in Weakley
County, Tenn., August 25, 1842, and is the son of
Elijah Glasgow, a native of North Carolina, where he
was reared and where he married Miss Jane Jones, a
native of Tennessee. He and family moved from
Tennessee to Arkansas, in October, 1854, locating in
Clay County, and here Mr. Glasgow followed farming
until his death which occurred in 1875. Mrs. Glasgow
died several years previous. In their family were six
sons and three daughters who grew to mature years, but
one brother and one sister are deceased. Marion C.
Glasgow came to this State and county with his
parents, and here he attained his growth. In March,
1862, he enlisted in the Confederate army, and served
about eight months, when he was wounded and returned
home. In 1864 he re-entered the service, remaining
until the close of the war. He participated in the
following  battles: Pilot Knob, Independence, Sedalia,
and many minor engagements. He was paroled at Wittsburg, Ark.,
and then came home and engaged in farming. He was
married in Clay County, Ark., in September, 1863, to
Mrs. F. S. Stephens, daughter of James Nettles, one of
the pioneer settlers. Mrs. Glasgow was born in
Tennessee. Mr. Glasgow located on his present property
in 1873, bought raw land and has cleared and made a
valuable farm of the same. He has 160 acres, with over
100 acres under cultivation, all bottom land situated
one and a half miles from Rector. He has a good house,
good out-buildings and a fine young orchard, etc. Mr.
and Mrs. Glasgow had a family of eleven children,
named as follows: Luella, James M., Dora J., Levana,
Thomas E., Benjamin F., George H., Viora and Columbus
L. Three children died in early youth. Mr. Glasgow
lost his wife October 2, 1884, and later he married
Mrs. Emma A. Walker, who bore him one child, Columbus
L. Mr. Glasgow is a Master Mason, is also a member of
the I. O. O. F., and is Noble Grand of his lodge. His
first wife was a member of the Missionary Baptist
Church.

John M. Gleghorn was born in Independence County,
Ark., near Batesville, December 10, 1843, being a son
of John and Sisley (Coleman) Gleghorn, who were both
natives of South Carolina, the mother being
principally reared in Alabama. John Gleghorn removed
to Tennessee when a young man and there remained until
1842, when he emigrated with his family to
Independence County, Ark., coming on the first steamer
that sailed up the White River. He entered land in
that county, on which he remained until 1859, subsequently
coming to Greene County, Ark., and residing on a farm near
Gainesville until his death, which occurred in April,
1866. His widow is yet living and resides in Marion
County, in her eightieth year. The paternal
grandfather was born in Scotland and emigrated to
America at an early day, when only twelve years old,
locating first in South Carolina, then in Middle
Tennessee, where he spent the remainder of his days.
The maternalgrandfather was born and raised in South
Carolina, and later spent some time in Alabama, dying in
Limestone County of that State. John M. Gleghorn is one of
seven surviving members of a family of twelve children,
their names being as follows: Rhoda E., wife of Samuel
Pool; Stephen C., Lucretia, widow of William Jones;
Melissa, wife of J. A. Pool: John M., James K., and
Marietta, wife of David Gouch. John M. Gleghorn was
reared and educated in Independence County, and was in
his sixteenth year when he went to Greene County with
his parents. From early boyhood he has been familiar
with farm life, and when the war broke out he left the
plow to engage in that struggle, enlisting in
November, 1861, in Capt. Morgan's company, in which he
served until 1863, then being discharged on account of
disability, at Readyville. Tenn. He returned home but
afterward enlisted in Marmaduke's brigade, and served
until the war closed, having taken an active part in
the battles of Corinth, Fort Pillow, Murfreesboro,
Bragg's raid through Kentucky, Harrisburg, and a
number of other hard fights. He was wounded by a
pistol shot while with Price at Big Blue. He
surrendered at Shreveport, La., June 8, 1865, and
returned to Greene County, Ark., and was engaged in
farming there until February, 1871. when he came to
Clay County, Ark., and located near Knobel, where he
farmed on rented land until January, 1881, then
purchasing his present farm of 325 acres, about 140 of
which are under cultivation. He has a good two-story frame
house and has made other valuable improvements. His
principal crop is corn, but he also raises some
cotton, and gives much attention to stock raising,
both buying and selling. In November, 1865, he was
married to Mary Arnold, a native of Tennessee, by whom
he has had ten children, five living: Mary J., Lindsey
C., Etta, Amanda, and James R. Those deceased were:
Luther L., William, Walter, John and Anna, the last
two twins. Mrs. Gleghorn died in November, 1887,
having been a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church for a number of years. Mr. Gleghorn is a
Democrat, but has never been an office seeker. He has
done a great deal to build up his section of the
country and has been the cause of many worthy men
locating here, having furnished them with land, and
grain with which to make a start.

I. N. Goldsby, who is classed among the leading and
industrious farmers of the county, was born in
Kentucky and is the son of Mentor Goldsby, and the
grandson of Edward Goldsby, who took part in the War
of 1812. Mentor Goldsby died in Kentucky in 1858, and
in 1861 I. N. Goldsby and his mother came to Clay
County, Ark., and settled on a farm near his present
place of residence. He is the owner of 180 acres of
land, seventy-five of which are improved, and on which
he has three houses. He was married in 1865 to Miss
Minerva C. Liddell, daughter of William and sister of
Robert Liddell, of Clay County. Previous to this he
served three years in the Confederate army, taking
part in the battles of Prairie Grove, Rector and Pilot
Knob, and was all through Price's raid in Missouri. He
was paroled at Vicksburg in May, 1865, after which he
returned home, married, and settled down to farming,
which occupation he has followed ever since. Mr. and
Mrs. Goldsby were the parents of fourteen children,
seven of whom died in infancy. Those living are:
William M. (Charley), who is now deputy county clerk
under Mr. Spence, at Boydsville, and is a young man of
ability and promise; Jennie, at home; Lora, Ettie,
Robert, Florence and Lemmer (a daughter). Mr. Goldsby
is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has ever
been a liberal contributor to all laudable public
enterprises.

G. G. Green, a farmer residing near Vidette, Ark., was
born on the 19th of November, 1831, in Montgomery
County, N. C., his parents being James and Elizabeth
(Wyatt) Green, who were also born in that State, and
removed to Kentucky in 1832, locating in what was then
Galloway County, where they made their home until
their respective deaths. The father was a blacksmith
and farmer, and he and wife were the parents of eleven
children, four now living: George G., Marcus M., Frank
and Henry. George G. Greene was an infant when brought
to Kentucky, and he remained in that State until 1857,
then emigrating to Butler County, Mo., where he made
his home one year; coming thence to what is now Clay
County, Ark., he located on the farm of 120 acres on
which he is now residing. He has about 100 acres under
fence and eighty-five acres under cultivation, which
he devotes principally to raising corn and cotton, but
the soil is well adapted to all cereals. He raises
considerable stock during the year, and is a
prosperous farmer, and has shown his enterprise and
industry by putting his farm, which was heavily
covered with timber when he settled, in its present
admirable condition. In 1856 he was united in marriage
to Miss Melvina Hyatt, a native of Kentucky, by whom
he had three children, only one of whom is living at
the present time: Delia, wife of Albert Rhodenback.
His second marriage took place in 1863, to Miss Sarah
J. Gilbert, by whom he has the following family:
William, Robert, Elizabeth, Vernon E., Ida M. and Rosa
L. Mr. and Mrs. Green have long been members of the
Methodist Church.

John J. Griffin was born in Greene County, N. C., June
1, 1826, being a son of William and Sarah Griffin, who
were members of the Old-School Baptist Church and were
born in North Carolina, the former's birth occurring
in 1784 and his death in 1859. Of their seventeen
children, John J. Griffin is the only one now living.
He became the architect of his own fortune at the age
of twenty-one years, and for a number of years was
engaged in farming and rafting. On the 25th of July,
1846, he was married to Miss Theresa L. Hicks, a
daughter of Thomas S. and Jane Hicks, who were
Tennesseeans, the former being engaged in tilling the
soil. To this union eleven children were born, only
four of whom are living at the present time: Sarah E.
(Winningham), James M. (farmer, of Clay County, Ark.),
John J. (a farmer of Dunklin County, Mo.), and T. J.,
also a farmer of Dunklin County. Mr. Griffin took for
his second wife Miss Sarah E. Spikes, their marriage
taking place on the 22d of June, 1875. Four of the
seven children born to their marriage are living:
Sanford and Adaline (twins), born September 22, 1875;
Lee, born February 27, 1880, and Rosa, born September
12, 1887. Mr. Griffin owns a good farm of eighty
acres, sixty under cultivation, and devotes his land
principally to raising corn and cotton. His property
was at first heavily covered with timber, but he has
made valuable improvements, and has now a good and
comfortable home. He and wife are members of the
Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a Democrat, and a
member of the Agricultural Wheel. For about fifteen
years after first coming west he spent the fall and
winter months in hunting and trapping, and has killed
at least fifty bear and hundreds of deer, and in some
of his hunting expeditions met with many thrilling
adventures and narrow escapes from death. He was also
engaged in rafting on Black River. His parents moved
from North Carolina to Tennessee in 1826, and two
years later located in Posey County, Ind., and in 1840
in Randolph County, Ark.

W. T. Griffith, lumberman and postmaster at Thurman,
Ark., was born on Kentucky soil (Montgomery County)
June 11, 1835, his parents being Jefferson and Lydia
(Brothers) Griffith, who came from the "Old Dominion"
at an early day with their parents; David Griffith,
the grandfather, being one of the first settlers of
Montgomery County, Ky. He located near Mt. Sterling,
the county seat, and became a very wealthy farmer, but
died in Fleming County, of that State. Jefferson
Griffith died in Kentucky in 1882, at the age of seventy
years, having been a mechanic by trade, and a
prominent man, serving as sheriff of Nicholas County
for some time. His wife also died in Kentucky. Five of
their seven children are now living: Samuel, John,
Sarah J., William T. and Martha. William T. Griffith,
our subject, was reared in Kentucky until fifteen
years of age, and there received the greater part of
his education. In 1853 he went to Union County, Ill.,
and located on a farm near Jonesborough, the country
at that time being in a very wild and unsettled
condition, and here made his home until 1877, when he
came to Clay County, Ark., and began logging in H. H.
Williams' large mills, remaining thus employed for
five years, then locating on his present excellent
farm in Kilgore Township. The most of his attention,
however, is given to lumbering and cotton-ginning. He
owns a saw-mill and employs several hands to operate
it. In July, 1888, the post-office at Thurman was
established and he became the first postmaster, and is
now holding that position. He has held the office of
justice of the peace for two years, and is a member of
the Masonic fraternity and the Agricultural Wheel. In
1855 he wedded Miss Barbara I. Lipe, a native of Illinois,
and by her became the father of twelve children, six now
living: Walter, Emma A., Elsie J., Anna, John and
Lillie. His wife died in October, 1880, and in 1881 he
married Louisa Carter, who was born in Adams County,
Ind., and by her had one child, Rosa P. He and wife
are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which
he is also clerk.

Robert L. Hancock, agent for the "Cotton Belt"
Railroad and the Southern Express Company, is a native
of Prentiss County, Miss., where he was born on the
15th of March, 1852, being the son of Benjamin
Hancock, who was born in Tennessee and reared in
Virginia. When a young man he went to Tennessee, where
he met and married Matilda Rowsy of that State, and
afterward moved to Mississippi, residing on a
plantation in Prentiss County until his death in 1854,
followed by his wife in 1867. After coming to years of
maturity, Robert L. Hancock attended school in
Boonville, Miss., receiving a good education, and then
clerked for four years. In 1874 he went to Tennessee,
and was married there on the 4th of April, 1884, to
Miss Delilah Matheny, who was born, reared and
educated in Hardin County of that State, being a
daughter of James and Eliza Matheny. After their
marriage they located in Williamsville, Wayne County,
Mo., and for two years he was engaged in teaching
school, and the next two years occupied in farming and
teaching in Hardin County, Tenn. In 1879 he came to
Clay County, Ark., locating on a farm near Greenway,
and devoted himself to tilling the soil and
pedagogning up to 1884, when he moved to Greenway and
was appointed telegraph operator, depot and express
agent, which position he is now filling. He was also
engaged in mercantile business for one year, and has
served as a member of the town board. He is an active
worker for the cause of temperance, and organized the
Hancock Temperance Club at Greenway, of which he is
president. Mr. Hancock commenced life in Clay County
with little or no capital, but is now one of the
substantial men of the community, and is the owner of
considerable town property and a good farm near
Greenway.

J. W. Harb, a merchant of Corning, Ark., was born in
Willshire, Van Wert County, Ohio, on the 27th of July,
1859, and is the son of W. B. and Caroline (Harper)
Harb, who were born in Franklin and Richland Counties,
Ohio, respectively. In 1878 they removed to Blackford
County, Ind., locating in Hartford City, where Mr.
Harb engaged in merchandising and manufacturing
headings and staves. In 1876 he removed his family to
Corning, Ark., where he continued his
manufacturing business until 1878, in the meantime
conducting a drug store, which in 1885 he enlarged,
adding general merchandise, and thus being occupied
until his death. In 1887 he went back to Ohio to take
a rest and regain his health, and died in West Milton,
Ohio, September 11, 1887. His remains were brought to
Corning and buried. He was one of the founders of the
town, and being a physician by profession, practiced
considerably in the county. Although not a graduate of
any college, he was one of the most intelligent pupils
in the Medical College of Columbus, Ohio. His wife
died December 24, 1886. J. W. Harb, whose name heads
this sketch, resided in Ohio and Indiana until sixteen
years of age, and since 1876 has lived in Arkansas,
being first engaged in the drug business with his
brother (who is now deceased) at Walnut Ridge, Ark.,
continuing until 1884. At the death of his father he
and his brother, O. C. Harb, began managing the business
at Corning, but since January 12, 1889, J. W. Harb has
had entire control of the establishment.

John H. Hardin deserves to be classed among the
prosperous farmers and stockmen of Clay County, Ark.
He was born in McNairy County. Tenn., January 26,
1853, and is a son of B. J. Hardin and Nancy Bennet,
who were also born in that-State. After their marriage
they settled in McNairy County, where the father was
engaged in husbandry until the opening of the late
Civil War, when he joined the Federal army and served
four years, contructing in his service chronic
diarrhea, which afterward caused his death, in
October, 1881. His wife died here in September, 1884.
In the summer of 1865 he moved to Clay County, Ark.,
and engaged in farming. John H. Hardin remained with
his father until he attained mature years, and was
married here, December 25, 1873, to Miss Sarah I.
Mayes, who was born in Tennessee August 25, 1854,
though reared in Clay County, Ark. After their
marriage they rented land one year, when Mr. Hardin
purchased a tract, which he began clearing and improving.
He has opened up about eighty acres, and has 100 acres
under cultivation, besides twenty acres of timber land. He
has a comfortable frame residence, two fair barns, and
an apple and peach orchard consisting of three acres.
He is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and he and
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
They are the parents of five children: Lucy Ann, born
September 9, 1876; Dury J., born November 4, 1878;
Owen D., born August 4, 1881, and died February 4,
1888; Henry L., born April 18, 1884, and an infant,
born and died December 12, 1887.

Robert A. Hawthorne, farmer, and postmaster at Don,
Clay County, Ark., was born on the 12th of August, 1849,
in Benton County, Tenn., his parents, Robert H.
and Elizabeth (Baker) Hawthorne, being born in Ohio
and Virginia, respectively. The paternal grandfather
was born in Ireland, locating in Ohio after coming to
America, and afterward moved to Illinois, where he
died. The maternal grandfather was born in Virginia,
and removed from there to Tennessee, in which
State he died, being engaged in farming. Robert A.
Hawthorne was reared and educated in Ohio, and removed
with his father to Illinois, where he made his home
until about twenty-two years of age, when he went to
Tennessee and began the study of law, being admitted
to the bar shortly after. He practiced his profession
for a number of years, and was also engaged in
farming. At the age of about fifty years he gave up
his law practice, and turned his attention to
obtaining pensions for claimants. In the summer of 1861 he
enlisted in Forrest's cavalry, and was shortly after
transferred to the infantry and was sent south,
participating in many [p.222] battles, and holding the
rank of provost marshal. He was never wounded nor
taken prisoner. He died January 1, 1866, his death
being deeply regretted by his many friends and
acquaintances. His widow is still living, being in her
seventy-ninth year, and resides with her children:
Robert A. and John C. The former obtained his
education and rearing in Tennessee, remaining on a
farm in that State until twenty-one years old, when he
came to Clay County, Ark., and located at Corning,
where he was engaged in the sale of liquors for six
years. He then turned his attention to farming, and in
1882 bought the farm of 202 acres where he now lives;
110 acres are under cultivation and fairly improved. He
raises corn and cotton, principally, and some clover.
The land is well adapted for raising all the cereals,
and makes an excellent stock farm, which industry receives
much of his attention. October 12, 1888, the postoffice was
established at his house, and he was made postmaster,
the office taking the name of Don. In 1871 he was
married to Miss Alice Polk, by whom he has two
children: Ethel and Mary E. (who is deceased). Mrs.
Hawthorne is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Hon. G. B. Holifield, who stands at the head of the
legal profession in the Eastern district of Clay
County, is a native of Graves County, Ky., and the son
of T. M. Holifield, who came to Clay County, Ark.,
with his wife and four children, November 15, 1855,
and settled two miles northeast of Boydsville. Here G.
B. Holifield was reared and here he received the
meager schooling afforded by the then few
subscription schools of the county. Later he finished
his education by attending six months at Gainesville,
Ark., and later, after studying law for some time, was
admitted to the bar in August, 1881, in the Western
district of Clay County. He has been in constant
practice since. In 1878 he was elected to the
legislature, but previous to this he had filled the
position of justice of the peace for three terms. He
has always been quite active in politics, though as there
is nominally only the one party, he has made but few speeches.
His first marriage was to Miss Mary Cummings in 1871, and the
fruits of this union were two children who survive
their mother, she dying February 4, 1878. They are
named as follows: William Stanford and Martha J. For
his second wife Mr. Holifield chose Miss Verdilla
P. Perrian, of Clay County, and three children, Etta
Lee. Mary Susan and Otis Oscar, are the result of this
union. Mr. Holifield is one of the prominent legal
lights of the county, and is thoroughly apace with the
times in every respect. He and wife are members of the
Methodist Protestant Church.

James R. Hollis is a Tennesseean, born in Wayne
County, January 1ate, 1837, and is a son of W. B. and
Susan (Meredith) Hollis, both of whom were born in
Wayne County, Tenn. In 1839 they moved to Arkansas and
settled in what was then Greene County (now Clay),
where they made a farm and resided until their
respective deaths, the former's demise occurring in
1873. James R. Hollis remained with his father until
he attained his majority and in June, 1861, enlisted
in the Confederate service, Fifth Arkansas Infantry, and
served until the final surrender, participating in
some of the most important engagements of the war,
among which were Murfreesboro. Shiloh, siege and
surrender of Atlanta, Joneshoro, where he was taken
prisoner, but was exchanged soon after, Nashville,
where he was also taken prisoner, and Franklin,
where he was captured and held until June 21, 1865.
After being paroled he returned home and engaged in
farming. He was married in what is now Clay County,
August 19, 1858, to Elizabeth Payne, a daughter of
Boswell B. Payne, whose sketch appears in this work.
Mrs. Hollis was born in Adair County, Tenn., and was
reared in Arkansas. Soon after his marriage he located
on his present farm, consisting of some 220 acres,
about 120 acres of which are fenced and mostly
under cultivation, well improved with good residence
and barns. Mr. and Mrs. Hollis are the parents of
the following family: William Thomas, Jane B., wife of
G. W. Pickens. Joseph E., Ada E., Mary Alice,
Albert Harvey and John Royal. Three infants are
deceased. Susan was the wife of Francis Davis, and
died about 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Hollis are members of
the Baptist Church, and he is a Mason and a member of
the Agricultural Wheel.

G. H. Hovey, one of the successful and enterprising
"sons of the soil," residing near Pitman, Ark., was
born in the State of New York, September 15, 1851,
being a son of A. G. Hovey, who was also born in that
State February 4, 1814. The latter was a well-known
resident of his county, and while residing there held
a number of offices, such as justice of the peace and
postmaster. He removed to Newton County, Mo., in 1877,
and in 1884 located in Howell County, where he is
still residing, being a carpenter by trade. He was
married in 1841 to Miss Maris Brewer, a native of New
York State, and by her became the father of three
children, two of whom are living: F. A., a farmer
residing in Howell County, the owner of 160 acres of
land, and George H., our subject, who is also a farmer
and owns 200 acres of land, 135 being under
cultivation, of which 105 have been cleared by him in
the last three years. He removed to this farm from
Howell County, Mo., in 1885, and here has since made
his home, and has one of the finest young orchards in
the country. He gives considerable attention to stock
raising and has some excellent Durbam cattle and
Poland China hogs. In his youth he acquired a superior
education, and in addition to attending the common
schools was a student in the Tenbroeck Free
Academy in Cattaraugus County for three years. He was
then engaged in teaching for twelve terms, one term in
Pennsylvania, two in New York, and nine terms in the
public and private schools of Missouri. He removed
from New York to Pennsylvania in August, 1874, thence
to Newton County, Mo., in 1876; in the spring of 1883
to Howell County, Mo., and from there to Clay County,
Ark. On the 31st of December, 1871, he was married in
his native State to Miss Sarah Bruns, of New York, a
daughter of John and Julia (Collins) Burns, who were
farmers of that State. They have one daughter, born
May 8, 1881. Mrs. Hovey is a member of the Christian
Church, and he is an earnest worker for education,
exhibiting that intelligence and enterprise necessary
for the Successful development of the community.

A. Hudgens was born in Robertson County, Tenn., in
1834, and is the son of John and Nancy (Durham)
Hudgens, and the grandson of James Hudgens, a native
of Virginia. John Hudgens was also a native Virginian,
but later moved to Tennessee, where he married Miss
Durham. He had limited opportunities for an education,
but made up for this to some extent by studying at
home. Besides his work on the farm he conducted a
store in Marion, Ill., and at one time was in quite
comfortable circumstances, but was obliging enough to
place his name on a friend's bond, in consequence of
which he was compelled to pay a large sum of money.
Thus he was badly harassed for some time. A. Hudgens
attained his growth in Tennessee, learning the
carpenter's trade, and went with his father to
Illinois in 1852. He was married in that State to Miss
Harriet McIntosh, a native of Williamson County, Ill.,
and the daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Mason)
McIntosh, who came from Robertson County, Tenn. After
living in Illinois until 1882 Mr. and Mrs. Hudgens
moved to St. Francis, there being but one dwelling
there at that time, and put up the third house in the
village. Here they now live and have a very nice
residence. He has followed his trade and has built
more than half the houses since he came. He has
followed contracting and building, and is now holding
the office of justice of the peace in the county. To
his marriage were born seven children, all in Illinois.
They are named as follows: Emma, received her education
in the high school at Marion, Ill., and after teaching
in that State for some time is now teaching in Arkansas;
Sula, at present finishing her education at
Carbondale, and is studying stenography, having-take
one course in St. Louis; Minnie, is attending school at the
State University at Fayetteville, Ark., and will graduate in
the class of 1889; Oscar, is also attending the same
school and will graduate in 1889; Frank is at home;
Gertrude is also at home, and Bessis, an infant. Mr.
Hudgens is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, located at St. Francis, as is also his wife,
and he affiliates with the Democratic party in his
political views.

Dr. Samuel W. Huston, physician and surgeon of Piggott,
Clay County, Ark., was born in Ripley County,
Mo., February 15, 1847, being a son of Dr. William A.
Huston, a Missourian, who was reared and studied his
profession at Troy. He was married in Randolph County,
Ark., to Miss Vernetta Pittman, a daughter of Dr.
Pittman, of Pittman's Ferry, one of the pioneer
physicians of Arkansas. After his marriage Dr. Huston
settled in Ripley County, where he practiced a
few years and afterward moved to Charleston, Mo., and
died in Perry County, of that State, in 1850. While in
Arkansas he represented Randolph County in the State
legislature. Dr. Samuel W. Huston grew to manhood in
Cape Girardeau County, Mo., making his home with his
uncle, M. J. Himes, and remained with him until he
attained his majority. He studied medicine under Dr.
Henderson, one of the leading physicians of Jackson,
and took his first course of lectures at the McDowell
Medical College, of St. Louis, about 1868. He
continued the study of his profession in Cape
Girardeau County, and did his first practicing in
Greene County, Ark., in 1874, remaining there about
eighteen months, when he moved to his present
location, where he has built up an excellent practice.
He was married in the village of Piggott, September
23, 1877, to Miss Susan Jane Lowrance, a native of Carroll
County, but reared in Clay County, Ark. She is a
daughter of David G. Lowrance (deceased), and she and
Dr. Huston are the parents of six children: Lenora M.,
Myrtle C., Edna S., Sam, Oran and Carl. The Doctor and
wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
(in which he is an elder), and are highly respected
citizens of the community in which they reside.

N. A. Keller, another successful business man of St.
Francis, was born in Tennessee, but grew to manhood in
Union County, Ill., where he went with his father,
Rev. Francis F. Keller, when but a child. The father
was a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church and followed that calling for many years. The
mother, Elizabeth Keller, was a member of that church
for nearly sixty years. She recently died at the age
of seventy-eight years. N. A. Keller attended the
district schools in Union County until twenty-one
years of age, after which he spent a year at Gravel
Hill, Mo., and then taught school for several years in
Missouri and Arkansas. After this he went with
Gregory, Lasswell & Co., of Malden, Mo., where he
remained for about two years engaged in the general
merchandise business, and then came to St. Francis,
and after embarking in business for some eighteen
months, accepted a position on the road for Kelley,
Goodfellow & Co., boot and shoe dealers of St. Louis,
with whom he remained for about two years, traveling
in Southern Illinois and West Tennessee. He then
returned to St. Francis and took a position with
Clemson & Calvin, with whom he continued until July 1,
1889, when he purchased the entire stock of that firm.
He was married January 20, 1886, to Miss Mattie
Calvin, daughter of Robert T. Calvin, of Pulaski
County, Ill., and the sister of Mr. Hiram Calvin of
the firm of which Mr. Keller was the trusted employe.
Two children were born to this union: Tell and Pearl.
Mr. Keller has been reasonably successful since coming
to St. Francis, and is the owner of three houses and
lots in the village. He is a member of Evergreen Lodge
No. 581, I. O. O. F., of Illinois, and belongs to the
Triple Alliance, in which he carries $1,000 insurance,
and also $1,000 in the Globe, of Baltimore, Md. Mrs. Keller
is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

G. W. Kelley, of Corning, Ark., is now serving his
second term as justice of the peace of Kilgore
Township, and no man has ever held the position who
was better fitted to discharge the duties connected
with it than he. He was born in St. Louis County, Mo.,
in 1813, being the eldest of six children born to the
marriage of William Kelley and Nancy Lancaster, who
were Virginians, and early emigrants to Missouri,
where they opened and improved a farm. In 1837 William
Kelley removed to West Tennessee, where his death
occurred in 1843, and his wife's in 1858. G. W. Kelley
assisted on the home farm until twelve years of age,
and was then apprenticed to the machinist's trade,
which occupation received his attention for a number
of years. While a resident of Tennessee he was
married, in 1856, to Miss S. E. Andrews, a native
of West Tennessee, and a daughter of Edmond and Lanina
Andrews, who were born in the "Old North State," and
there lived, afterward moving to Tennessee, where they
died. They were engaged in tilling the soil. After his
marriage Mr. Kelley settled in Tennessee, and in 1846
enlisted from Adairsburg, of that State, in Company E,
Second Tennessee, under Gen. Taylor, and was in the
battles of Cerro Gordo, Monterey, Cherubusco,
City of Mexico, and other engagements.
After the war he returned to Tennessee, and in 1867
moved to Hickman, Fulton County, Ky., where he worked
at his trade, moving from there, in 1874, to Clay
County, Ark., where he purchased and began improving a
farm in Bradshaw Township. In 1884 he moved to
Corning, and although he still owns his farm, is
living retired from the active duties of life. In 1885
he was elected, on the Democratic ticket, of which
party he is a member, to the office of justice of the
peace, which position he is now filling. He has aided very
materially in building up Corning and vicinity, and
has given liberally of his means in supporting worthy
enterprises. He and his wife are members of the
Baptist Church, and the names of their children are as
follows: Edward A., who is married and resides at
Tiptonville, Tenn.; A. M., Julia (Mrs. Gills),
residing at Buffington, Mo.; Ula, Willie, Anton and Kirby.
During his term of service Mr. Kelley has come in contact
with many criminals, and has dealt with them in a
manner highly satisfactory to lovers of good law.

Marcellus Ketchum, hotel-keeper and farmer, at
Knobel, Clay County, Ark., was born in Williamson
County, Ill., in 1852, being the third of seven
children born to Jesse and Elizabeth (McCowan)
Ketchum, who were born in North Carolina and Illinois,
respectively. The maternal grandfather, who was a
native of Ireland, became an early settler of
Illinois. Jesse Ketchum followed the occupation of farming
throughout life and died when his son Marcellus was a
child. The latter has been familiar with farm life
from early boyhood, but received little or no
educational advantages in youth. At the age of
nineteen years he began farming for himself in his
native State, which occupation he followed there until
1877, then coming to Clay County, Ark., where he resumed
farming near Peach Orchard. In 1887 he bought property in the
village of Knobel and opened a hotel, but still
continues his agricultural pursuits in the vicinity.
He has about fifty acres devoted to raising such crops
as are intended for feeding stock, his hogs amounting
to about 100 head and his cattle to thirty. In his
political views he is conservative, and always votes for
whom he considers the best man. In 1873 he was married to
Miss Mary Jane Fozzard, a native of Illinois and a
daughter of Edward Fozzard, who was captain of Company
G, Eighty-first Illinois Cavalry. He was a well known
farmer of Williamson County and died in 1876. To the
union of Mr. and Mrs. Ketchum two children have been
born: Minnie and Lebert Otto. Mr. Ketchum is an
enterprising citizen and is rapidly becoming
identified with the growth and prosperity of his
section.

Franz Kopp, farmer and proprietor of Kop