Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas Copyright 1890 Published by The Goodspeed Publishing Co.; Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis Biographical Sketches S through T ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGenWeb NOTICE: Libraries and individual researchers may download this file for personal, non-commercial use only. Any other use requires written permission from the transcriber. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. CHAPTER XXV CLEVELAND (FORMERLY DORSEY) COUNTY-DESCRIPTION-STATISTICS- ORGANIZATION-COUNTY SEAT AND BUILDINGS-SEAT OF JUSTICE-DIVISION INTO TOWNSHIPS-BOUNDARIES-CHANGES OF TOWN- SHIP LINES-LIST OF SUCCESSIVE COUNTY OFFICERS-CIRCUIT COURT-RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT-VILLAGES AND POST-OFFICES EARLY SETTLERS-TIIE CIVIL WAR-THE COUNTY PRESS -RAILROADS AND GENERAL PROGRESS- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Extremes of fortune are true wisdom's test, And he's of men most wise who bears them best.-Cumberland. William B. Sadler is a substantial acquisition to the business interests of Cleveland County, Ark., and is the proprietor of an excellent general mercantile establishment at Rison. He was born in the county December 9, 1859, and is a son of John W. and Charlotte O. (Wharton) Sadler, who were born in Alabama and South Carolina, respectively, both being now residents of Cleveland County, the former sixty-five years of age, and the latter fifteen years younger. They located first in Jefferson County, Ark., in 1848, but for the past thirty-two years have resided in what is now Cleveland County, and have devoted their attention to tilling the soil. The father served for about two years during the late war, being a member of a company of Arkansas Infantry, and during this time took part in a number of engagements. He is a Democrat, has been a Mason for forty years, and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Of eight children born to them, five are now liv­ing, of whom William B. is the eldest. He attended the common schools of Cleveland County, and, until twenty years of age he was engaged in assisting his father on the home farm, after which he became a salesman in the mercantile establishment of Dr. C. D. Niven, at Toledo, remaining with him two years. He then embarked in business for himself, coming, in 1882, to Rison, and opened a grocery store, adding, in 1884, a general stock of goods, which nets him a handsome annual income. He is a young man of exceptionally fine business qualifications, and has a bright outlook before him. Miss Ella M. Emerson, a daughter of Aaron Emerson, became his wife in 1883, and their union resulted in the birth of a son, who died when an infant, his name being Edwin E. Mr. Sadler and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and in politics he has always supported the Democrat party. Since the spring of 1887 he has been successfully engaged in the sawmill business. Capt. James Smith, owner and proprietor of the Smith Hotel, Kingsland, Ark. There is nothing that adds so much to the prestige of a city in the estimation of a stranger as first-class hotel accommodations. First among those of Kingsland is that owned and Conducted by Capt. Smith, which has every convenience to add to the ease and comfort of the inmates. The Captain was born in what is now Lincoln County, in 1836, and is the senior by a few months of his native State. His father, John Smith, better known as "Bear Hunter John," was born in Mississippi, was twice married; his last wife, Miss Sarah Bowden, being our subject's mother, whom he married in Louisana (her native State). At a very early day, about twenty-five years before the Captain was born, Mr. Smith with his wife and a number of slaves entered a boat made by himself, rowed themselves up Bayou Bartholomew to a point somewhere near what is now Chicot County, landed, and with their knives, cut away the cane and selected a suitable place for a cabin. They opened up a settlement, and Mr. Smith afterward returned to Louisiana for the rest of his property, leaving his family alone in the forest, far from human habitation, and was gone about twenty-one days. Soon after his settlement some of his relatives and friends followed and settled near him, which made one of the first white settlements in this part of the State. Mr. Smith was a famous hunter, and delighted in ridding the country of the wild animals with which it was overrun. He also attended very closely to his domestic affairs, and through his industry and good business capacity, became quite an extensive land owner. He continued to purchase land and moved farther up the bayou until he finally settled about twenty-five or thirty miles below Pine Bluff, where he passed his last days. His death occurring in 1862. He served in the War of 1812, and was with Gen. Jackson at New Orleans. His second wife died about 1867, and was a member of the Methodist Church for many years. They were the parents of twelve children, Capt. James Smith being sixth in order of birth. He was reared in the wilds of Arkansas, and as a consequence, received but a limited education. At abort the age of sixteen years he took charge of his father's plantation, which he managed very successfully for quite a number of years. He selected his wife in the person of Miss Mary Ropers, a native of Georgia, and was united in marriage with her in 1847. Her parents, James and Matilda Ropers were natives of North Carolina, but came from Georgia to what is now Lincoln County, Ark., at a very early day. Mr. Ropers died there about 1852, and his widow died about eleven years later. The result of the anion of Captain and Mrs. Smith was the birth of nine children, two sons and five daughters now living. Capt. Smith continued as the general superintendent of the plantation until the war, and in 1861 joined Company F, Ninth Arkansas Infantry, and operated in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama, until the close of hostilities. He surrendered at Vicksburg, Miss. He took a prominent part in the fights at Belmont, Corinth, siege of Vicksburg and was all through the Georgia and Atlanta Campaign, never receiving a wound. After the war he farmed for a few years in Lincoln County, and then for about twelve years was in the liquor and merchandising business at Star City. His business was destroyed by fire, and in December, 1883, he came to Kingsland, erected the building which he now occupies, and is naturally adapted and suited to the hotel business. He has been a Democrat in his political views all his life, and his first presidential vote was cast for J. C. Breckinridge in 1860. John C. Sparks, farmer and stock-raiser, Gray Woods, Ark. In Franklin County, Tenn., in 1849, was born to Solomon and Jane (Champion) Sparks, a son, whom we now take as the subject of this sketch. He was the eldest of five sons and five daughters, four sons and three daughters now living, and received but a limited education. He was married is 1870 to Miss Martha E. Benson, daughter of Stephen and Sarah G. Benson, who were originally from North Carolina, but came to Dallas County, Ark., about 1852. and there received their final summons. Mrs. Sparks was born in North Carolina and died in 1883, leaving two sons and a daughter. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Spark's second marriage occurred in 1886 to bliss Nannie J. Faucett, a native of Cleveland County, and the daughter of Joseph A. and Nannie Faucett, natives of North Carolina. Her parents afterward moved to Arkansas and Mrs. Faucett died in Cleveland County boon after. Mr. Faucett is still living and resides at Pine Bluff. He was a soldier in the late war. To Mr. and Mrs. Sparks was born one child, a son. After his first marriage Mr. Sparks settled in the woods on his present farm, which consists of 1,000 acres of the best land in the county. He now has 150 acres under cultivation and is one of the most extensive stock-raisers in Cleveland County, raising annually about 100 head of cattle and about 200 hogs. In politics he is Democratic. Mrs. Sparks is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr: Sparks' parents were born, reared and married in Franklin County, Tenn. In 1852 they moved to Dallas County, Ark., where they resided for about ten years, and then removed to what is now Cleveland County, Saline Township. There they improved a good farm and there died in 1874 .and 1869, respectively. Mr. Sparks was a farmer, and was justice of the peace for some time in Cleveland County. He was in the Tennessee Regiment Infantry during the Mexican War, and also served about two years in the Confederate army during the late Civil War in the Arkansas Cavalry. While at home on a furlough he was captured and imprisoned at Little Rock for about four months. His father, Jonathan Sparks, was also a native of Tennessee, but came to Dallas County, Ark., where he died, about the beginning of the war; he was also a farmer. The maternal grandfather, Randall Champion, was a farmer and died in Tennessee. John R. Stewart's farm of 720 acres, is one of the finest for successful agricultural purposes to be found in Cleveland County, and the manner in which it is conducted is in full keeping with the personal characteristics of the owner, who is a man of energy, determination and intelligence. By attending strictly to his chosen calling he has done much to advance the farming interests of the county, and is in the enjoyment of an extensive acquaintance, and is highly respected. He was born in Montgomery County, Ala., September 20, 1833, and is a son of Beniah and Mary Ann (Respass) Stewart, who were born in the State of Georgia. They were married there but afterward moved to Alabama, thence to Arkansas, in 1849, locating in what was then Bradley County, now known as Cleveland. They were members of the Missionary Baptist Church for many years, and he was a life-long Democrat, and a successful farmer, being a slave owner before the Civil War. He was a man strictly temperate in all things, and although he always kept liquor in his house he was never known to be under its influence. He did not use tobacco in any form, and it is perhaps owing to these facts that he always enjoyed such excellent health, and lived to such an advanced age. He came of Scotch-Irish stock, and died in Cleveland County, Ark., in 1888, aged eighty-eight years. His wife's death also occurred in Cleveland County, in 1856, at the age of fifty years. Five of their nine children are now living, John R. being the fourth of the family. His early school days were spent in Alabama, but after coming to Arkansas with his parents when sixteen years of age, he continued to go to school for some time, and when nineteen years of age he began wielding the ferule near his present home, he being one of the first teachers in this community. After following this occupation for some time, he married and turned his attention to farming, and his labors in this direction have met with the above mentioned results. In the month of May, 1861, he joined Col. O' Neal's squadron of independent soldiers, but one year later he was attached to Gen. Cabell's brigade in the Second Arkansas Confederate Cavalry, in which, service he was until the close of the war. He was in many battles, among which may be mentioned Fayetteville, Pine Bluff, and was with Price on his raid through Missouri, participating in all the engagement of that campaign. In the battle of Poison Springs he received a flesh wound in the right leg, and during the battle of Mark's Mill his house was utilized as a hospital. After the war his means consisted of a team of two mules, which he had taken to Red River bottom for safe keeping, and with the desire to accumulate something for his family, and with their assistance he set to work and became very successful in time. He was married to Miss Lucy Crane, in 1853, a daughter of Warren Crane, her birth having occurred in Arkansas, in 1835. She died in 1870, having borne three children, two now living: John F. and William H., who are successful farmers of Cleveland County; Mary N. was the youngest child, and died when about twenty seven years of age, the wife of A. C. Clements, a farmer, of Texas. In 1871 Mr. Stewart took for his second spouse, Miss Mary E. Stephens, who was born in Georgia, in September, 1845, and by her is the father of six children: Cora E., Oscar T., Anna B., Bessie L., Roxie R.. and Alice G. Mr. Stewart and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and socially he is a member of the Masonic order, and in his political views a Democrat. John R. Swift, editor and publisher of the Cleveland County Democrat, Kingsland, Ark. Under the efficient management of Mr. Swift, the Democrat has come to be regarded as one of the representative papers of this part of the country, and although it has only been established since 1888, he has proven himself to be a man of judgment in directing the editorial policy of the paper. He has ever been an earnest advocate of all public enterprises calculated to benefit Cleveland County, and through the columns of his paper, has wielded no slight influence in directing the proper steps to be taken for worthy movements. Mr. Swift owes his nativity to Newton County, Ga., where his birth occurred in 1833, and is the son of John T. and Mahala (Pullin) Swift, natives of North Carolina. The parents were married in Georgia, and in 1835 removed to Mississippi, where the mother died in 1885, and the father in 1887. Both were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Of the eight children born to their union, John R. was the fourth in order of birth. He was early taught the duties of farm life by his father, and received a fair education in the common schools. In 1856 he came to Phillips County, and a few years later to Monticello, from there to Chicot County, thence to Warren, and finally, in 1886, to Kingsland, Cleveland County. He spent the principal part of his life engaged in merchandising at different places until he came to Kingsland, when he took his first lesson in journalism. In 1861 he joined Company I, First Arkansas Infantry, and operated the first year in Virginia. He participated in the first battle of Bull Run. He was afterward in the Army of the Tennessee until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Shiloh. and Murfreesboro, and after that was on detached service in the Post-office Department. He was at Raleigh, N. C., when Gen. Lee surrendered, and soon after returned to Arkansas. He was married in Chicot County, Ark., in 1871, to Miss Agnes, a native of Louisiana, and the daughter of Samuel and Lucy Smith, natives of Maryland. Her parents resided in Louisiana for many years, and about 1868 came to Arkansas, and both died in Chicot County. To Mr. and Mrs. Swift was born one child, a son. In politics Mr. Swift has been a Democrat all his life. Mrs. Swift is a member of the Catholic Church. James S. Thomas is of Scotch-Irish descent, an agriculturist by occupation, and seems by nature to have been designed for a planter, for he is now the owner of 1,600 acres of fine land, and has 300 acres under cultivation. He was born in Jones County, Miss., March 6, 1832, and is a son of John C. and Sarah (Tarral) Thomas, who were born in North Carolina and South Carolina, in 1785 and 1801, and died in Cleveland County, Ark., in 1861 and 1870, respectively. They were married in West Tennessee, whither they bad come with their parents, and after making that State their home for a few years, they moved to Mississippi, and until 1851, resided in different counties of that State. At that date they moved to Drew County, Ark., and six years later settled in what is now Cleveland County, where they spent their declining years, both being members of the primitive Baptist Church. The father was a Democrat in his political views, and advocated States' rights, and while a resident of Jasper County, Miss., he was a member of the State Legislature for fifteen years, and was probate judge and justice of the peace, for many years. Of twelve children born to him, nine are now living: William (a farmer and minister of the gospel residing in Texas), Susanna (wife of James Anderson, deceased), John (a farmer of Drew County, Ark.), Mary (wife of John Eager, a farmer of Texas), Sarah (wife of John C. Covington (a farmer of Arkansas), Julia Perry (wife of J. C. Perry resides in Texas), Martha (wife of Henry Williams, a tiller of the soil in Texas), Jane Bawnds (wife of Berry Bawnd, resides in Texas), and James S. The latter spent his school days in Jasper County, Miss., and Drew County, Ark., and until he was twenty-four years of age, made his home with his parents, and being the eldest son at home, it became his duty to assist his father in managing the home property. In 1862 he enlisted under Col. Pastlack, in a regiment of Arkansas Infantry, and was in the service until the close of the war, but during the latter part of the war was in the cavalry, and was with Price on his raid through Missouri. While on detail duty during the early party of his service, he was taken prisoner at St. Charles, Ark., but was only retained a short time, and although he was taken captive twice afterward, he was soon released. After his return home he found himself without means, but being determined to accumulate property, and possessing the constitution to put his resolution into practice, he has become one of the wealthy agriculturists of the county. January 18, 1857, he was married to Elizabeth, the daughter of J. B. and Mary Ann Fryar. She was born in Alabama, in 1839, and died in 1863, having borne three children: John (who is in the livery business in Texas), James (who is a farmer of Cleveland County), a child who died in infancy, and Jenette (died at the age of eighteen years, June 22, 1877). In 1866 Mr. Thomas married Miss Bettie Williams, who was an ornament to society; she was a daughter of Shebeck and M. E. Williams. This wife was born in Mississippi, in 1846, and died May 20, 1884, leaving a family of five children to mourn their loss: Daniel, Red, Charles,Mary S. and Edward; Julia (died when a child). Mrs. Nancy Reepe became his wife in January, 1885. She was born in Alabama, in 1846, and was the widow of Richard Reepe. They have two children: Ben and Ara. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is a Democrat, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. David H. Thomasson, M. D., is an old, wellknown and prominent physician of Cleveland County, Ark , but was born in York District, S. C., January 16, 1822, being a son of James and Charlotte (Cozart) Thomasson, who were born in Virginia and North Carolina, and died in York District, S. C., his father dying in 1848, at the advanced age of eighty-two years; the mother died in 1843, aged fifty-one years. James Tbomasson was under the proper age for enlistment at the commencement of the Revolutionary War. During the progress of the war, and when quite young, he joined a company of Virginia troops, in which two or three of his brothers were in service. Mr. Thomasson and Charlotte Cozart were married in North Carolina, and emigrated to South Carolina shortly after marriage, where they spent the remainder of their days. He was a very successful farmer, a Democrat in his political views, and he and wife were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. They reared a family of ten sons to maturity, and three of them are living at the present time. David H. Thomasson was their eighth child, and his school days were spent in the Yorkville (S. C.) Academy, and soon after finishing his literary education he turned his attention to the study of medicine, and in 1841-42 attended lectures in the Charleston Medical College, and in the year 1843 he was graduated from the Medical Department of the University of New York. He then practiced his profession in Yorkville, S. C., until 1858, when he came to Drew County, Ark., and was a resident of Monticello until 1872, when he came to his present location. It has been his intention to retire from active practice for some years past, but quite frequently an importunate patient is found who is not willing to risk his treatment to any but Dr. Thomasson, whose skill and ability are well known. During the late war he was appointed surgeon of a battery, but on account of sickness did not enter the service. He has many times been solicited by his numerous friends to become an applicant for office, but has invariably refused. August 16, 1859, be was married to Miss Chilonus, a daughter of Samuel Bell, of Carroll County, Miss. She was born March 10, 1811, and received her education in the Judson Female Institute, at Marion, Ala. Her father was captain of a company of troops during the War of 1812, and was a participant in the battle of New Orleans. He died in Choctaw County, Miss., when quite advanced in years, having been a surveyor, teacher and farmer by occupation. His wife, who was formerly Miss Martha Bean, was also born in South Carolina, and was an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Thomasson supports the Greenback party, although until 1856 he was, strictly speaking, a Jacksonian Democrat. He is now the owner of 1, 000 acres of land, and has always been a man of much enterprise and public spirit. Talbot Bulge Tims, M. D., is a graduate of the Medical Department of the State University of Little Rock, Ark., and is now a prominent medical practitioner of Cleveland County, being an especially skillful surgeon. He was born in Dadeville, Ala., September 12, 1853, and is a son of Reymour Washington and Caroline A. (Talbot) Tims, natives also .of Georgia. The father was a farmer in early life, but afterward turned his attention to milling, and was following this occupation when he dropped his work, in 1861, to enlist in the Thirty-fourth Alabama Infantry, Company G, as first lieutenant, and was commanding his company when he received his death wound at the battle of Franklin, his death occurring in the city of Nashville, Tenn., when about forty-five years of age. He was a Royal Arch Mason, a Democrat politically, and he as well as his wife were members of the Missionary Baptist .Church. After the death of the husband and father, Mrs. Tims, in 1870, removed with her children from Alabama to Arkansas, and located in Calhoun County, but is now making her home. with her son, Talbot B. Upon the close of the war it fell to the latter to take the principal part of the burden of the family's support on his own shoulders, and this he cheerfully did, being engaged in farming until 1878. In 1875, however, he commenced de. voting his leisure moments to the study of medicine, and in December, 1878, entered earnestly upon his studies in the office of Dr. W. B. Jones, at Summerville, Ark., remaining with him until 1879, when he went to St. Louis and took one course of lectures in the Missouri Medical College of that place. Since that time he has practiced his profession in New Edinburg, but in 1885-86 he attended lectures in Little Rock, graduating March 4, of the latter year. He does an extensive general practice, and has gained considerable fame as a surgeon, which branch of his profession is a favorite with him, and fully deserves the success which has attended his efforts, for he is a close student, and is very skillful in the treatment of the cases which come under his care. He was married on May 25, 1881, to Miss Myra Franklin, a daughter of Alfred Franklin. She was burn in Bradley County, Ark., and her union with the Doctor has resulted in the birth of four children: Frank, Roy and Neal; Ben died when about two years of age. The Doctor and Mrs. Tims are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and the Doctor is a Master Mason, and a Democrat in his political views. George L. Tolson, farmer, Como, Ark. The father of Mr. Tolson, Hon. Cary, Tolson, was born in Union County, N. C., and was married in his native State to Miss Lydia Ross, also a native of that county. In 1857 they moved to Arkansas, settled on a farm in what is now Cleveland County, and there passed the closing scenes of their lives, both dying in 1871, at the age of sixty-eight and sixty-two years, respectively. They were worthy and much esteemed members of the Primitive Baptist Church, for many years. The father was a farmer and wagon-maker by occupation, and was successful in both pursuits. He was once a member of the North Carolina Legislature, from Union County, and was a man of considerable prominence and repute. He was captain of the militia in North Carolina, and was justice of the peace for a great many years. After coming to Arkansas he became a minister, and preached for many years. Ho reared twelve children, and lived to see all married but one. His thirteenth child died when young. The eldest son and the fourth were killed in the Confederate army. The former was in Company D, Second Arkansas Cavalry, and was killed, accidentally, at Grand Junction, Tenn. The other, James Pinckney, was in Company C, Second Arkansas Infantry, and was killed at Murfreesboro. George L. Tolson was born in Union County, N. C., in February, 1838, received a limited education on account of ill health, but by leis own individual efforts, since growing up, has become a well-posted man. He learned the blacksmith trade while young, and in 1857 came with his parents to Arkansas. In February, 1861, he married Miss Louisa, daughter of Elias and Lacy Biggers, natives of North Carolina. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Biggers lived in Anson County, N. C., and there passed the remainder of their days. They died when Mrs. Tolson was six years of age, and within a few days of each other. Mr. Biggers was a farmer. Mrs. Tolson was born in Anson County, N. C., and by her marriage became the mother of eleven children, one son and five daughters now living. The first year after marriage, Mr. Tolson resided in Jefferson County, and since then in what is now Cleveland County, and since 1880 on his present farm. He is the owner of 800 acres of land. with about eighty acres under cultivation, and is engaged in raising stock, principally cattle. He worked a number of years at the blacksmith's and carpenter's trades, and also run a gin for some years. He was justice of the peace for several years. In 1861 lie joined Company D, Ninth Arkansas, Infantry, as lieutenant, and after about six months resigned, at Bowling Green, Ky., on account of ill health. In March, 1862, he joined Company D, Second Arkansas Cavalry, as sergeant, and operated in Tennessee and Mississippi. He was in the battle of Corinth, Hatchie River, Black Island, Brownsville and many severe skirmishes. He was in about seventeen engagements in all, and was taken sick at Grand Junction, Tenn., soon after his brother's death. In the winter of 1862 he was captured, six miles from La Grange, Tenn., by Gen. Fish, but was at once paroled on sick bed. After recovering, he came home, and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has been a Democrat all his life, and his first presidential vote was for Breckinridge, in 1860. He has been a member of the Primitive Baptist Church for about seventeen years. His great-grandfather, Dougal Ross, was born in Rowan County, N. C., and died in Union County of that State. He was of Scotch descent, and was a successful farmer. He served seven years in the Revolutionary War, first as a private, and then made cartridges. William Trucks, farmer, Kedron, Ark. There is probably no man within the limits of Bradley County who is deserving of more credit for the interest he has taken in its behalf than Mr. Trucks, and the facts here presented indicate to a more than ordinary degree the relations he has borne to the county's development. He was born in Bibb County, Ala., in 1824, and is the son of George and Sarah (Johnson) Trucks, the former born and reared in Pennsylvania and the latter in Tennessee, where they were married. From there they emigrated to Alabama, where the father died during the war and the mother afterward. The father was a farmer and carpenter by occupation, and was a man of considerable ability and good, sound judgment. He was a soldier in one of the early Indian wars. Both he and wife were members of the Baptist Church. Of the fifteen children born to their union, fourteen lived to be grown, but only two, William and a brother, are now living. Three were killed in the same battle while serving in the Confederate army, and one returned. William Truck's time in early youth was divided between assisting on the farm and in attending the common school, where be received a fair education. He was married in 1849 to Miss Margaret Walker, who was left as an orphan when quite young and was reared by her grandfather, Coddingham. She was a native of Bibb County, and by her marriage became the mother of ten children, six now living: John D., Marion, Sarah (wife of William Meeks), Elizabeth (wife of William England), Mary E. (wife of S. A. Toleson), and Mattie (wife of James England). In 1850 Mr. Trucks came to Arkansas, settled in his present neighborhood, and just before the war settled on his present farm. He at one time owned about 600 acres, but after giving his children each a good home still has considerable left. He served about a year in the Confederate army in Capt. Ingram's company of Arkansas Infantry, and was at Little Rock when it was captured. In politics he has been a Democrat all his life, with the exception of a short time after the war, when he voted with the Republican party. He has been a member of the Baptist Church from youth, and is one of the honored and much respected citizens of the county.