Captain James Monroe Archer Obituary, Fulton County, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Cara Flinn - None Date: 8/12/2006 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** Captain James Monroe Archer January 10, 1908 The Mammoth Spring Monitor The Mammoth Spring Monitor Vol. XX, No. 49 Jan. 10, 1908 Page 2 (includes a sketched drawing of Captain Archer) CAPT. J.M. ARCHER James Monroe Archer was born at Old Jackson in Lawrence county , Arkansas, June 10, 1833, and died at his home in Mammoth Spring, Fulton county, Arkansas, January 2, 1908 of la grippe. Captain Archer was a man of much ability and strength of character. Left at an early age in destitution by the death of his parents, he carved his way unaided by social prestige or wealthy friends to the position and attainments he later accomplished. He was born of a sturdy ancestry and with an indominable [sic] nature that would not succumb to adversity; and rising, step by step, always faithful to trust and duty, whether it be the humble occupation of knife rubber on a river steamboat, farm laborer, or the more honored position of soldier and lawmaker, he built for himself a character to which his family and friends can point with satisfaction and pride. When the Civil War broke out he espoused the cause of the Confederacy and raised the first company of Confederate troops in Marion county, Arkansas, became its captain and was mustered into service in the Seventh Regiment Arkansas Infantry. He afterward joined the regulars, and was commissioned regimental adjutant of the Fourth Cavalry, under General Joe Shelby, and participated in the battles of Fitz Hugh’s Woods, Ironton, Booneville, Independence and others. In 1869 he engaged in the mercantile business in Salem, where he continued until 1882 when he moved to Mammoth Spring. In 1887 he obtained control of Mammoth Spring, and devoted his attention to its improvement. He succeeded in interesting Memphis capitalists who organized the Mammoth Spring Improvement and water Power Company, and he became its general manager. He has been closely identified with its progress and business ever since. When the company was dissolved a few years later, Captain Archer became the agent of Napoleon Hill of Memphis who bought up considerable of the valuable property of the defunct company, and with who he was also associated in the ownership of the Mammoth Spring Electric Light Company for several years up to the time of his death. Captain Archer was elected representative of Fulton county in 1879 and again in 1881. In 1862 he was married to Miss Laura Tunstall, who survives him. Captain Archer was always a forceful character in business and politics firm and true in his friendshids, [sic] and always honorable and fair- minded. For years he was nearly always called to preside at public meetings and his voice was high in the councils of his county and community. He was president of the Blue and Gray Association of North Arkansas and South Missouri in 1905, and by precept and example did much to bring the veterans of the north and south in closer touch and better understanding. He was loved and respected as much by the one as the other. The funeral service was conducted from the Methodist Church, of which he was a life long member, by his pastor, Rev. Ira H. Russell, assisted by Rev. E.J. Nugent of the Presbyterian Church, and Eld. R.W. McGee of the Baptist Church, after which interment was made at Riverside Cemetery, in the presence of a large concourse of old neighbors and friends.