History and Geography - Craighead Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Unknown < > Date: 26 Sep 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. Goodspeed Publishers, 1889. page 335 Craighead County - PART ONE Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas CRAIGHEAD COUNTY-LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION-STREAMS AND DRAINAGE-TIMBER AND SOIL-RESOURCES AND PRODUCTIONS-LIVE STOCK-PROPERTY, REAL AND PERSONAL-POPULATION-RAILROADS-SETTLEMENT-COUNTY ORGANIZATION-COUNTY SEAT-COUNTY BUILDINGS-LOCAL page 309 CRAIGHEAD COUNTY, situated in Northeastern Arkansas, is bounded on the north by Lawrence and Greene Counties, Ark., and Dunklin County. Mo.: east by Mississippi County, south by Poinsett and west by Jackson County. Ark. Its length east and west is forty-two miles, and the width at different places is twelve, eighteen and twenty-one miles, including lakes, river-beds and sloughs. Its entire area is 710 square miles, or 454,400 acres, of which 405,430 are under taxation, and of the whole area less than one-tenth is improved. The boundary lines are as follows: Commencing on the Fifth Principal Meridian at the intersection of the line dividing Townships 14 and 15 north: thence east on the township line to the intersection of Cache River, in Range 2 east: thence up-stream with its meanders to the line dividing Townships 15 and 16; thence east on the township line to the St. Francis River in Range 7; thence up-stream, with the meanders thereof, to the line dividing Sections 17 and 20, in Township 16. Range 7; thence east to the line dividing Ranges 7 and 8; thence south on the range line to the line dividing Townships 12 and 13; thence west on the township line to the Fifth Principal Meridian; thence north on the meridian line to the place of beginning. page 310 Crowley's Ridge, from its continuation in Greene County, crosses the west central portion of Craighead in a southerly direction, being twelve miles or more in width at the northern boundary, and first widening and then narrowing down to a width of only about three miles near the southern line. The lands on the ridge are gently rolling, and gradually slope down to the level or bottom-lands on either side. The low or flat and much of [p.310] the swamp and overflowed lands, the latter constituting a large percentage of the area of the county, will eventually become superior for farming and grazing purposes, when the timber shall have been cleared away and the drift removed from the watercourses. The St. Francis River flows from north to south across the eastern portion of the county, entering it over Section 6, in Township 15, Range 7, and over Sections 1 and 2, in Township 15, Range 6. This stream varies in its width from a half mile to three miles. Its bed covers large tracts of land along its original channel which were sunk in the earthquakes of 1811-12; and thus becoming covered with water they have since been known as the "Sunk Lands." Other tracts lying east of the St. Francis River were sunk in the same earthquakes, and are also called by a similar name. Clay, Greene and other counties in Northeastern Arkansas were likewise affected by these earthquakes. All that portion of Craighead County lying east of Crowley's Ridge is drained by the St. Francis River and its numerous tributaries. Cache River enters from the north at the northwest corner of Section 2, Township 15, Range 2, and flows in a southerly and southwesterly direction, leaving the county a short distance east of its southwest corner. With its tributaries it drains all that territory lying west of Crowley's Ridge. The water supply for all purposes is abundant. A number of good springs-especially on Crowley's Ridge- are found, and a liberal supply of good well water can, at all places, be obtained at an average depth of about thirty feet, without blasting or boring through rock. Indeed from wells, cisterns and springs, besides the streams, an abundant supply of water may be had for every needed purpose. The timber here is not unlike that of Clay and Greene Counties. On the ridge nearly all species of oak, gum, poplar, some pine, hickory, ash, etc., are common, while on the lower lands the oaks, gum, cottonwood, cypress, hickory, a little walnut, tupelo, etc., abound. The poplar and walnut have been largely cut out, but of several other varieties, especially oak, gum and cypress, a seemingly inexhaustible supply, excellent for saw timber, remains; rail and building timber and wood for fuel are sufficiently plenty to last for years. The county has a variety of soil from the poorest "pipe" or white clay to the richest black sandy loam. Of the former there is but little. With proper cultivation all soils produce well. Experienced farmers claim that clover grows luxuriantly on all except the white clay lands, where its roots heave out by the action of the winter frosts. However, on these lands herds-grass, or red-top, stands through the winters, and succeeds well. The soil in general is thoroughly adapted to the raising of Indian corn, wheat, oats, cotton and all kinds of vegetables, also clover and the tame grasses, and tobacco. Fruits common to this latitude thrive splendidly. At this time lumbering is one of the leading industries and greatest sources of income to the community. Two stave factories and about fifteen saw-mills are within the county, engaged in preparing lumber for shipment, and many logs are rafted out on the river ways. The largest revenue to the farmers is from the raising of cotton and corn, which yield probably a nearly equal crop. Some of the saw-mills have cotton-gins and grist-mills attached. The census of 1880 shows that there were 1,130 farms in Craighead County, and 37,678 acres of improved lands. From these the vegetable productions for the year 1879 were as follows: Indian corn, 367,451 bushels; oats, 20,260 bushels; wheat, 15,552 bushels; hay, 206 tons; cotton, 4,374 bales; Irish potatoes, 4,806 bushels; sweet potatoes, 9,715 bushels; tobacco, 24,942 pounds. In the growing of tobacco the report shows that Craighead ranked as the sixth county in the State, notwithstanding its small population and small area of improved lands. These figures will be interesting to compare with the orthcoming census of 1890, which will show a large increase in improvements, and a corresponding advance in vegetable productions. page 311 The same census gives the live stock within the county in number as follows: Horses, 1,817; mules and asses, 778; neat cattle, 10,691; sheep, 2,615; [p.311] hogs, 20,182. The returns as indicated on the assessment books for 1888 are: Horses, 2,541; mules and asses, 967; cattle, 12,191; sheep, 2,217; hogs, 15,053. By comparison it is seen that since 1880 the number of horses has more than trebled, the number of mules, asses and cattle has largely increased, while there has been a small decrease in the number of sheep, caused, probably, by the reduction in the price of wool. The showing of the census of 1890 will be of much advantage to this territory. In 1880 the taxable wealth of the county was assessed as follows: Real estate, $535,611; personal property, $280,625; a total of $816,236, on which taxes for State, county and all purposes, to the amount of $11,450, were charged. In 1888 real estate, including the railroads, was assessed at $1,817,464, and the personal property at $821,264, making a grand total of $2,638.728, with $40,841.33 as the total amount of taxes charged. These figures demonstrate the great increase in taxable wealth. The personal property alone now exceeds in value the entire taxable wealth of the county in 1880-conclusive proof of the wonderful and rapid development of the resources of the county. The railroads, which constitute large proportions of the taxable wealth, were assessed in 1888 as follows: Helena Branch of the St. Louis. Iron Mountain & Southern, $181.000; St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas, $238,637.52; Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis, $283,212.95; total, $702,850.47. All of this has been added to the county since 1880. Craighead has no bonded debt, but has a floating debt, on outstanding warrants, of about $7.500, which will soon be canceled. No better argument than the facts and figures mentioned, coupled with the mild and genial climate where extremes of heat and cold are never felt, and where the people are hospitable and generous - constituting excellent society - can be offered in favor of inducing immigration. Here the moral, sober and industrious man can find and obtain everything so desirable, and while, perhaps, one may not rise by magic to positions of affluence or perfect independence, he may be assured of the certain success of proper application and industry. In 1860 the population of Craighead County was 3,066, of whom 88 were colored; in 1870, 4,577, with 253 colored; in 1880, 7,037; colored, 261. There is no means of obtaining the population of the county at this writing, but it is safe to estimate it at much more than double that of 1880. The Kansas City. Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad, completed in 1883, enters the county near the northwest corner, and runs in a southeasterly direction through and across by way of Jonesboro and Nettleton. The length of its line within the boundary is twenty-six miles and 4,266 feet. The Helena Branch of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad enters on Section 3, Township 15, Range 5, and runs thence in a southerly direction, bearing slightly to the westward, clear across the county by way of Nettleton, three miles southeast of Jonesboro. Its length is twenty and sixty-four one-hundredths miles. The St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad reaches the county line by the side of the Helena Branch of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, which it follows for several miles; then turning to the westward, it passes through Jonesboro, and afterward runs in a south westerly direction through the remainder of the county. Its length is twenty-eight miles and 1,953 feet. The combined length of the main lines of these three railroads within the county is seventy-five miles and 4,318 feet. These railroads give an advantageous outlet to all points of the compass. But few counties, even in old settled communities are so favored with railroad and shipping facilities. page 312 Entrance into the territory composing Craighead County began about the year 1830, and among the first settlers was a Mr. Martin, who chose a location some five miles south of the present site of Jonesboro. He was probably the first permanent resident. Other very early settlers were Rufus Snoddy. Daniel O'Guinn. Yancey Broadaway and Joshua Grinder. John Hamilton. Ass Puckett and Eli Quarles settled in the Broadaway settlement, a few miles west of the site of Jonesboro. Uncle Jack Pearce, John and Thomas [p.312] Simmons took up their residence in the Grinder settlement, a few miles southwest of that place. Perry Osborn, James Stotts, Hardiman Puryear and his son, William, the latter now living near Jonesboro; D. R. Tyler, the McCrackens, Elias Mackey, Henry Powell and William Q. Lane were all pioneers to this locality. In 1840, John Anderson and his son, John S., the latter now living in Jonesboro, settled on Big Creek, in the northwest part of the county. Christopher and George Cook located on the same creek. The Puryears in 1840 made a home in the southern part. William Puryear opened the first store in the county at his present home near Jonesboro, hauling his goods from Memphis. He gave $8 per sack for salt, the sacks weighing from 200 to 250 pounds each, and for many other necessaries of life corresponding prices were paid. During one season, about the year 1854, his purchase of furs from the pioneer settlers and subsequent sales amounted to $3,700. In "early days," everything was of a primitive order. The pioneers wore their homespun clothing, also making garments out of the skins of animals. Many of the women had no shoes to wear except moccasins, made of skins with the flesh side turned out, and on frequent occasions the men attended religions services barefooted, and the women with moccasin shoes on. None but the survivors can form a proper conception of the hardships endured by the pioneer settlers. Prior to the war period immigration to the new territory was extremely slow, and during that time it was at a standstill. Afterward it was renewed, but did not increase very perceptibly until the completion of the railroads, since which time it has been quite rapid. As the county is new and but a small portion improved, there is room and excellent opportunities for thousands more to obtain homes within its borders. The county of Craighead was organized in accordance with an act of the legislature of the State, approved February 19, 1859. Thomas B. Craighead, then representing Mississippi and Crittenden Counties in the Senate, was opposed to the bill creating the new county, while William A. Jones, representing St. Francis and Poinsett Counties in the same body, was its principal supporter. The bill was called up for passage when the former was absent from his seat, and upon returning he found that it had been passed, and that his own name had been inserted in the space left blank for the name of the county. In 1883, the legislature, upon the solicitation of certain individuals in the eastern part, divided the county into two judicial districts, the Western, to be known as the Jonesboro district, and the Eastern, as the Lake City district. The range line between Ranges 4 and 5 was made the dividing line. Two years later (in 1885) the legislature changed the line between the districts to the range line dividing Ranges 5 and 6, and in 1887, it passed another act by which Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18 and 19, in Township 13, Range 6, were taken from the Eastern and attached to the Western district. The probability is that the districts will, are long, be abolished and the county placed as it formerly was, under the management of one seat of justice. page 313 About two years after the county's organization, the site of Jonesboro was selected for the permanent seat of justice, and before long a two- story frame court-house, with the county offices below and the court room above, was erected on the public square, where the present one stands. This building stood until February 14, 1869, when it was consumed by fire. A company of the State Militia, who had lodged in it the previous night (fire being discovered shortly after their departure), were charged by some with having set it on fire, while others, more charitably inclined, deemed the burning a result of unintentional carelessness. A frame store building on the west side of the square, was then rented and used as a court-house, until 1876, when it also was burned. Marion Sanders was indicted for the destruction of this building, was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to serve a term of two years in the penitentiary. A similar building was then erected on the same ground, and used as a court-house until 1878, when it was consumed in a general fire, in which eight buildings were destroyed. In these several fires the early public records of the county were all destroyed. The present court-house was completed in the summer [p.313] of 1886, by the contractor, W. C. Clark, of Little Rock, at a total cost of $16,500. It is a substantial two-story brick structure, with five rooms and a fire-proof vault for the records on the first floor, and the court and jury rooms on the second. It is finished in modern architectural style, with a tower and town clock, and is a handsome, attractive building. The only jail the county has ever had is a small log building, a portion of which is still standing a little distance north of the northwest corner of the public square. The seat of justice for the Lake City district is at the town of Lake City, where the county owns no buildings, but rents a small frame building for a court-house. The following is a list of the names of the officers of Craighead County from its organization, with the date of their terms of service. Footnote James Carson from October, 1867, vice Curnutt, removed. Judges: Isham Fuller, 1859-60; Sam P. Trice, 1860-62; A. C. Huston, 1862-64; J. S. Anderson, 1864-66; J. M. Curnutt, 1866-67;* James Carson, 1867-72; J. H. West, 1874-76; W. S. Stephens, 1876-80; J. M. Raines, 1880-82; L. W. Loftis, 1882-86; J. H. Edwards, present incumbent, first elected in 1886. Clerks: L. H. Sutfin, 1859-64; F. M. Davis, instead of Sutfin, from January, 1864; A. Lynch, 1864-66; L. H. Sutfin, 1866 to October, 1867; R. H. McKay from October, 1867 to 1872: J. C. Knight, 1872-76; Jacob Sharp, 1876-86; J. H. Mangrum, present incumbent, first elected in 1886. Sheriffs: William T. Armstrong, 1859-60; W. T. E. Armstrong, 1860-62; William Puryear, 1862-65; W. T. E. Armstrong from January, 1865 to 1866; J. G. Wood, 1866-67; W. H. Nesbitt, 1867-72; Samuel Nash, 1872- 74; D. H. Thorn, 1874-80: William T. Lane, present incumbent, first elected in 1880, and re-elected, has since served continuously. Treasurers: Thomas Nelson, 1859-60; S. W. Chisenhall, 1860-64: C. Sharp, 1864-65: L. W. Loftis, 1865-68; T. S. Ray, 1868-74; E. Watkins, 1874-78; A. S. Nash, 1878-80; J. M. Minton, 1880-82; W. F. Little, 1882-86; J. D. C. Cobb, 1886-88; G. W. Cook, present incumbent, elected in 1888. Coroners: R. H. McCoy, 1859-60; Uriah Kellar, 1860-64; L. W. Loftis, 1864-65; J. H. Gamble, 1865-68; J. Hargraves, 1868-71; J. H. Stephens, 1871-72; John Tanshill, 1872-74; A. N. Couch, 1874-76; R. Robertson, 1876-78; A. N. Couch, 1878-80; H. Dorton, 1880-86; David Calvert, 1886- 88; M. D. Willey, present incumbent, elected in 1888. Surveyors: J. N. Burk, 1859-62; S. M. Oden, 1862-64; A. J. Barnett, 1864-66; E. A. Albright, 1866-68; Joseph Newson, 1872-78: J. W. Newson, 1873-78; W. M. Armstrong, 1878-80; T. M. Boyd, 1880-82; G. B. Hopkins, 1882-84; T. M. Boyd, 1884-86; J. H. Burk, present incumbent, first elected in 1886. Assessors: W. T. E. Armstrong, 1868-72; D. M. Goodman, 1872-73; C. W. Covender, 1873-74; J. M. Raines, 1874-76; J. R. Ruffin, 1876-78; J. Broadaway, 1878-84; R. L. Collins, present incumbent, elected in 1884, re-elected and served continuously since. Representatives: Z. Stoddard was the first representative of Craighead County, and J. A. Meek is the present one. The political aspect of Craighead County may be seen by reference to the number of votes cast at the September election in 1888, for the candidates for governor, as follows: James P. Eagle, Democrat, 1,386; C. M. Norwood, combined opposition, 662. The number of votes cast in the county at the November election in 1888, for the presidential candidates, were: For Cleveland, 1,212; for Harrison, 217; for Streeter, 147. Upon the organization of the county the courts were held, as provided in the creating act, at the store-house of William Puryear, at his present residence near Jonesboro, where future sessions were held until the site for the seat of justice was selected and a court-house erected. page 314 The county court holds its regular sessions at Jonesboro, commencing on the first Mondays of January, April, July and October of each year, and continuing as long as the business requires. It has jurisdiction over the county business in both judicial districts, but does not meet in the Lake City district. The regular sessions of the probate court are held in the Jonesboro judicial district, commencing on the second Mondays of January, April, July and October of each year, and in Lake City judicial district, commencing on the fourth Mondays of the same months. It continues "from day to day until the business is disposed of." Footnote The time for convening at Lake City has probably been changed by the last session of the legislature. The regular sessions of the circuit court for the Jonesboro district commence on the sixth Monday after the first Monday of February and August of each year, and for the Lake City district, on the fifteenth Monday after the first Monday of the same months.* This court has fortunately never been overburdened with criminal trials in this county, because of the absence of unlawful citizens. A few murders have been committed, but no legal executions have followed. Some years ago a negro murdered Miss Mattie Ishmael at her father's house, a few miles north of Jonesboro. He and three other negroes, accessaries, were arrested and given a preliminary trial before a justice of the peace. From the evidence it appeared that the negroes had contrived to steal money which they thought to be in Mr. Ishmael-shouse, and that the young lady, being the only one at home, was killed to enable them to accomplish the act. The justice of the peace found sufficient evidence to hold the negroes for the action of the grand jury, whereupon the citizens seized and hanged them until they were dead. The legal bar of Craighead County is composed of the following-named attorneys: J. C. Brookfield, W. H. Cate, T. P. McGovern, J. C. Hawthorn, J. A. Meek, S. A. Warner, N. J. Thompson, Will A. May, W. A. Maywood, W. W. Nisbett, L. J. Wear, E. W. Hillis, E. M. Roleson, H. J. Smith. Additional mention of the members of the bar is made on other pages. At the outbreak of the War of 1861-65, the citizens of Craighead County in their actions pursued the course most natural for them. Being emigrants, or their descendants, from Tennessee and other Southern States, they were almost unanimously in favor of the Southern cause, and consequently did what they could in its behalf, by furnishing soldiers for the Confederate army. The first company in the county was organized in 1861, and was commanded by Capt. J. M. Pollard. It served in the Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry. The next company, raised in the winter of 1862-63, was commanded by Capt. J. D. Hillis. It served in Col. O. P. Lyle's Twenty-third Arkansas Infantry. The next company was that of Capt. M. A. Adair, which served in Col. Young's regiment of Arkansas infantry. Another, commanded by Capt. J. G. Wood, was raised in Craighead and Greene Counties, but mostly from the former. It served in a battalion of Col. Kitchens' regiment of Arkansas troops. Another company raised in 1864 in this and Jackson and Woodruff Counties, by Capt. J. B. Hillis, had about one-fourth of its men from this county. A few individuals joined companies organized outside. No body of troops were organized here for the Federal army. A few individuals may have joined regiments from the North after their removal from this locality. The only action that took place within the county during the war, was a fight at Jonesboro in 1863, between two companies of Confederate troops, commanded, respectively, by Capts. Adair, of Craighead, and Allen, of Clay Counties, and a detachment of a Federal regiment, commanded by Col. Daniels. The latter had stopped in the town and were attacked by their enemies, and driven out. In the contest about thirty were killed and wounded, principally Federals. A portion of Marmaduke's army moved through the county, on his retreat from Missouri, and some Federal commands also passed through. It was, however, not much over- run, and did not suffer from the devastations of war such as fell to the lot of many other counties within the State. Among the recent immigrants from the North are many ex-Federal soldiers, and their friendly intercourse shows that the battle-ax has long since been buried. Craighead is favored with a usual quota of towns, so essential to any community. page 315 Bay, a small place situated on the Kansas City. [p.315] Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad, ten miles southeast of Jonesboro, contains a postoffice, three or four stores, a saw-mill, two churches, two boarding houses, etc. Bono, a station and postoffice on the same railroad, ten miles northwest of Jonesboro, is but a small village. Brookland, on the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad, eight miles northeast of Jonesboro, contains three general stores, one drug store, two hotels, a church and school-house. Culberhouse, on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad, one and a half mile below Bay, has a postoffice, store, boarding-house, and sawmill. Dee, a station on the Iron Mountain Railroad eight miles south of Jonesboro, contains two stores, two churches and two saw-mills. Gilkerson is on the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad, nine miles southeast of Jonesboro. A postoffice, store, and a grist and saw-mill and cotton-gin combined comprise its interests. Greensboro, a very old village and formerly a place of much business, eleven miles east of north from Jonesboro, has within it a postoffice, two or three stores, two churches and a school-house. Gubertown is a post hamlet in the northeastern part of the county. Jonesboro, the county seat of Craighead County, was established when its site was selected for the permanent seat of justice. It was named in honor of William A. Jones, State Senator for the counties of St. Francis and Poinsett, for his able support of the act creating the county. Located on a beautiful site at the crossing of the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad and the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad, it is near the center of the territory whose capital it is. William Puryear moved his store from his farm to the town site and became its first merchant. At the beginning of the Civil War the place contained about 150 inhabitants. After the close of that struggle it continued to grow, but slowly, so that in 1880, it had three or four small stores and some other business enterprises, and a population of from 200 to 300. Upon the completion of the railroads through the county in 1882 and 1883, enterprise was awakened, and now, according to an actual and careful census just taken within the corporate limits, the population numbers 2,240-1,954 white, and 286 colored. To this number should be added about 300 for those living just outside of the corporation. On Saturday, April 27, 1889, about forty business houses and residences, including some of the best of both within Jonesboro, were swept away by devouring flames, causing an estimated loss to the property owners of about $175,000. The burnt district lies immediately north and northeast of the public square, on both sides of the street leading to the Union Depot. Before this occurrence the town contained the Bank of Jonesboro, six general stores, ten groceries, eight drug stores, one hardware store, one hardware and grocery store, three dry goods stores, one clothing store, one undertaker's store, twelve hotels, five barber shops, several temperance saloons, several blacksmith and other mechanical shops, two corn-mills, three planing- mills, two saw-mills, one stave factory, three brick yards, three lumber yards, four church edifices, a large and new two-story brick school-house with six rooms, costing $7,000, the Union Depot, round house, two freight depots and other railroad buildings, a number of restaurants, boarding houses and business houses not here enumerated. The property burned consisted of stores, warehouses, livery stable, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the Southern Hotel, residences, etc., etc. In addition to the foregoing the city contains two weekly newspapers, The Jonesboro Times and The Craighead County Sun, both well edited, and both devoted to the general interests of the county and its people. The Times is published by J. D. C. Cobb & Son, and The Sun by Emmet Rodgers. The Times lost its press and some other property in the late fire, but did not miss its regular publication. page 316 Jonesboro has a lodge and chapter of the Masonic fraternity, a lodge and encampment of Odd Fellows, a lodge each of the Knights of Honor, [p.316] Knights and Ladies of Honor, Knights of Pythias, Knights of Labor, and other societies; also six physicians and one dentist. The place was incorporated February 2, 1883, as a city of the second class. Its present officers are N. J. Thompson, mayor; J. W. Mackey, recorder; I. J. Stacey, treasurer, and J. J. Rooney, marshal. Jonesboro is so pleasantly and advantageously located that it is a desirable place of residence. Its residences in the shady forest surrounding the business portion of the city are both attractive and comfortable. Though individuals have suffered by the late devastating elements the loss will soon be recovered, proving, perhaps, a substantial blessing, as brick will take the place of wooden buildings. Lake City, the seat of justice of the Lake City district, was established soon after the Civil War as a boat-landing on the St. Francis River. It contains the court-house, postoffice, two stores, two hotels, a church and school-house. Macey is a postoffice in the extreme northeast corner of the county. Nettleton, at the crossing of the railroads three miles southeast of Jonesboro, contains a postoffice, three or four business houses, etc. Stottsville, in the extreme eastern part of the county, has a postoffice, store, saw and grist-mill and cotton-gin combined, a church and schoolhouse. Wardsdale, on the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad, thirteen miles southwest of Jonesboro, contains a postoffice and saw-mill. No adequate educational facilities existed within the county prior to the inauguration of the free school system. There were, however, a few subscription schools taught here and there in the most thickly settled neighborhoods, the terms being for three months in a year. The following statistics from the report of the State superintendent, for the year ending June 30, 1888, will prove of interest to those whose sympathies are with this worthy movement. Scholastic population: White, 3,988; colored, 160-total, 4,148. Number of pupils taught in the public schools: White, 1,959; colored, 36-total, 1,995. Number of school districts, 56. Number of teachers employed: Males, 32; females, 15- total, 47. Average monthly salaries paid teachers-first grade, males, $50; females, $45.10; second grade, males, $40; females. $37.30; third grade, males, $33.35; females, $32.50. Revenue raised for the support of the common schools, total amount, $20,595.64; amount expended, $9,142.53; balance unexpended, $11,453.11. These figures indicate that less than one-half of the white, and less than one-fourth of the colored scholastic population were taught in the public schools during the year. However, considering the short time in which the free school system has been in existence, and the distance the children of sparsely settled sections of the county have to travel to attend, it may be considered a fair showing. When the county becomes more thickly settled and more school-houses are erected, a much larger attendance will result. The wages paid for teachers of the first grade is sufficient to secure able and competent instructors. Of the Missionary Baptist Church, the pioneer organization of this religious denomination within the territory composing Craighead County is that known as Macedonia, six miles northeast of Jonesboro. It was formed prior to 1846. Next was the Jonesboro Church, organized some ten years later. Other organizations have since been formed from time to time until they now number twelve, and are named as follows: Antioch, Black Oak, Bethabra, Enterprise, Hermon, Jonesboro, Liberty, Macedonia, New Hope, Oak Grove, Philadelphia and Rock Hill, with an aggregate membership of about 800. The pastors of these churches, so far as given in the minutes of the Mount Zion Association, are J. F. Mills, at Antioch; E. P. Minton, at Black Oak and Liberty; W. G. Stamper, at Bethabra; M. Ball, at Jonesboro; J. T. Arrington, at Macedonia, New Hope and Oak Grove; J. M. Raines, at Philadelphia, and Thomas Williams, at Rock Hill. Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, the Jonesboro Station, W. D. Matthews, pastor, has 160 or more members. The Jonesboro Circuit, M. J. Hively, pastor, consists of five organizations: Pleasant Grove, Marvin, Bay, Forest Home and Hope, with a membership of 400. page 317 Lake City Circuit, S. G. Lape, pastor, consists of four organizations, viz.: Hollywood, Forest Chapel, Pleasant Valley and Lake City. Shiloh Circuit, John Edison, pastor, consists of seven organizations, viz.: Trinity, Oak Ridge, New Hope, Colwell's Chapel, Shiloh, New Haven and Union Grove, with an aggregate membership of 432. Buffalo Island Mission has seven appointments or preaching places: Trinity, Young's Chapel, Hunton's Chapel, Poplar Ridge, Union School House and Black Oak, with an aggregate membership of 152. Rev. A. S. Hilburn is pastor. Lake City Circuit was recently established, and a portion of its members were taken from the Jonesboro Circuit and Buffalo Island Mission, thus reducing their membership as above given. All the Methodist Episcopal Church organizations within the county belong to the Jonesboro District of the White River Conference, of which Rev. M. M. Smith, of Jonesboro, is Presiding Elder. The oldest Christian church organization here is Christian Valley, seven miles southwest of Jonesboro. It was organized soon after the Civil War. Other Christian churches are Hope, held in a school-house two miles southeast of Jonesboro, one at Jonesboro, one on Buffalo Island, and another in Texas Township. Together they aggregate a membership of about 350. Elder J. H. Ferrell preaches at Hope and Christian Valley, and Elder W. Y. M. Wilkerson, at Buffalo Island. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church has but one organization in the county, and that is at Jonesboro. It was organized in 1878, by Rev. J. D. C. Cobb, who has since continued to be its pastor. The membership numbers sixty. In 1887 this church society erected a fine frame edifice at a cost of $2,000. It was consumed in the great fire at Jonesboro April 27, 1889. Until further arrangements are made the society will worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church edifice. A society of seven or eight members of the Northern branch of the Presbyterian Church have a frame church edifice a few miles southeast of Jonesboro. The Roman Catholic Church has recently erected a small frame edifice in Jonesboro, the only one in the county. Nearly all of these denominations, excepting the latter, have Sunday- schools connected with them. Regular preaching services are held, and all are doing good work in the cause of Christianity. The county, though new, and with but a small population, is well supplied with churches.