Biographies - D-F, Vol 4 - Greene Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: George W Rowland Date: 17 Apr 1999 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** FATHERS OF THE RIDGE, Vol. IV, Genealogical Sketches of Greene County, Arkansas by George W. Rowland, M.S., Ed.D. formerly Professor of Education at Missouri Valley College and the University of Tennessee at Martin. Copyright 1984 by George W. Rowland, P. O. Box 702, Paragould, Arkansas 72451 - 0702. Printed by Crowley's Ridge College Bookstore & Press. [Excerpted here with permission of author.] GENEALOGICAL SKETCHES DAMRON Wesley S. Damron was born in Tennessee in 1864. His wife, Gibby, was born in the same state in 1863. In 1900 the family was living in Weakley County, Tennessee and their children were: L.L. (a daughter), 1887; G.A. (a son), 1888; J.J. (a son), 1890; Harvey, 1891; and Willa L. (a daughter), 1899. By 1910 the family had moved to Greene County and settled in Blue Cane Township. By this date four more children had been added to the household: Edna A., 1901; Effie, 1902; Myrtle B., 1904; and Elsie, 1907. Elsie was born in Arkansas, but all the older children were born in Tennessee. DAVIDSON Van Davidson was born in Tennessee in 1865. His wife, Artie, was born in the same state in 1871. In 1900 the family was living in Benton County, Tennessee and their children were: Vera, 1896; VaIlie, 1897; and Martha, 1899. Maggie Wright, Van's sister-in-law, was also a member of the household. Maggie was born in Tennessee in 1884. By 1910 the family had moved to Crowley Township in Greene County. Three children had been added to the household: Joseph J., 1902; Una P., 1904; and Vergie M., 1906. These three children were born in Arkansas. DECK Charles Deck was born in Tennessee in 1824. His wife, Catherine, was born in North Carolina in 1827. In 1860 this family was living in Weakley County, Tennessee and their children were: Zilpha, 1850; George. 1852; Martha, 1854; John, 1856; and Susan, 1859. Georqe Deck. son of Charles, married a woman named Fredonia, born in Tennessee in 1855. In 1900 the family was living in Weakley County and their children were: Robert L., 1880; Hattie L., 1882; Maggie M., 1885; Sidney H., 1887; and Lida, 1891. Sidney Deck came to Greene County and settled in the vicinity of Marmaduke at some time after 1900. More recent information regarding the Deck family in Greene County may be found in the Greene County Historical Quarterly (Vol.1, No.3, page 30). DICKEY Samuel Dickey was born in Illinois in 1869. His wife, Typhenis, was born in the same state in 1870. In 1900 this family was living at 616 East Church Street in Harrisburg, Illinois (Saline County) and their children were: Carrie E., 1891; Susie E., 1894; and Otto, 1897. By 1910 the Dickey family had moved to Greene County and settled in St. Francis Township. By this date two more children had been added to the household: Earl, 1900; and Stella, 1905. DONALDSON The reader is referred to the DONALDSON sketch in Volume II. Wellington Donaldson and Elizabeth A. Meriweather were married in Obion County, Tennessee on February 6, 1843. As indicated in the original sketch Wellington Donaldson was the father of Norman Donaldson. DORTCH Thomas Dortch was born in Tennessee in 1827. In 1850 Thomas was living in Henry County, Tennessee (family number 129 on page 577 of the 1850 census record for Henry County) in the household of Nancy Dortch. Nancy was born in Georgia in 1801 and was, apparently, the mother of Thomas. The other Dortch members of the household were: Isaac, 1832; Washington, 1834; Carroll, 1836; and Sarah Ann, 1840. The name, Dortch, has been mis- translated as Dortek iii the 1850 Census Index for Tennessee by Sistler and Associates. In 1860 Thomas Dortch and his wife, Louisa, were living in Henry County and their children were: Elmira E., 1846; Jane J., 1847; and Nancy A., 1849. By 1870 Thomas and Louisa had moved to Greene County, Arkansas and settled in Hurricane Township. By this latter date three more children had been added to the household: Thomas, 1865; William, 1867; and Daniel W., 1869. This Dortch family became residents of Clay County, Arkansas when it was formed in 1873. Louisa Dortch died and, in about 1883, Thomas married a woman named Mary J., born in Arkansas in 1860. In 1900 the family was living in Johnson Township in Clay County. Elmira, Nancy, and Thomas Dortch were still members of the household at this time. John Yates, born in Arkansas in 1878, was also present. In 1 860 another Dortch family was living next to Thomas and Louisa Dortch in Henry County. This was the family of David and Martha A. Dortch. Henry County records show that David Dortch married Martha A. Culpepper on March 7,1843. David was born in 1815 and Martha, in 1818. A number of Dortch families were living in Henry county, Tennessee in 1850 and 1860. The interested reader may wish to explore possible connections with the Dortch families of Henry County and the Dortch people who later settled in Greene and Clay counties in Arkansas. DOTSON George W. Dotson was born in Missouri in 1842. His wife, Lucinda K., was born in 1843, but the state of her birth is not positively known. In 1880 this family was living in Ridge Precinct in Union County, Illinois and their children were: David F., 1867; John R., 1868; William L., 1870; St. Mary M., 1872; Margaret L., 1876; Monroe E., 1880; and Joseph L., 1880. All the children were born in Illinois. Monroe and Joseph were twins, both being eight months old at the time the census was taken. Apparently George W. Dotson died sometime prior to 1900. In 1900 Lucinda and her family were living in Jones Township in Greene County. John P. and Joseph L. were still living with their mother at this time. Lucinda's married daughter, Elizabeth, and grand-child, Farich, were also members of the household. Farich was born in Arkansas in 1898. Apparently Elizabeth and "Margaret L." were one and the same person. DOUGHTY Garrett Doughty was born in Tennessee in 1848. His wife, Amanda P., was born in the same state in 1852. In 1880 this family was living in the vicinity of Dukedom in Graves County, Kentucky and their children were: William A., 1869; Ada L., 1871; Sarah L., 1873; Emma E., 1 875; and Samantha, 1878. Samantha was born in Kentucky, but all the older children were born in Tennessee. By 1900 the Doughty family had moved to Greene County and settled Cache Township. By this date four more children had been added to the household: James T., 1880; Maudie, 1 886; Spencer R., 1888; and Mack S., 1891. DRAPER George W. Draper was born in Illinois in 1870. His wife, Louisa E., was born in Indiana in 1872. In 1900 this family was living in Twigg Township in Hamilton County, Illinois and their children were: Myrtle M., 1892; Charles, 1894; and William 0,1898. In 1910 the Draper family was riving in Union Township in Greene County, Arkansas. By this time two more children had been added to the household: Salvanes, 1867; and Maude, 1 899. Both were born in Arkansas. DUNN Francis M. Dunn was born in Missouri in 1853. His wife, Laura, was born in Virginia in 1868. In 1900 this family was living on Water Street in the town of Mountain Grove in Mountain Grove Township in Wright County, Missouri. At this time their children were: Be die L., (a son), 1888; Frances M., 1 889; Roscoe, 1890; E~m met, 1893; Clarence, 1895; and Ray W., 1898. Bertie L. was born in Arkansas, but all the younger children were born in Missouri. By 1910 the Dunn family had moved to Greene County and settled in Union Township. By this date three more children had been added to the household: Lemuel W., 1902; Charles A., 1904; and William E., 1907. Charles A. was thq first of the younger children to be born in Arkansas. DYER William C. Dyer was born in Tennessee in about 1816. His first wife, Martha J., was born in Georgia in 1827. In 1850 this family was living in Limestone County, Alabama and their children were: Mary J., 1838; John C., 1840; William C., 1842; Sarah E., 1848; and Malinda, 1 849. All of the children were born in Alabama. By 1860 the Dyer family had moved to Greene County and settled in Bradshaw Township. Martha J. Dyer had apparently died during the 1 850's. William's wife is listed, in the 1860 census record, as "Catherine." Catherine was born in Missouri in 1837. Another child, Louisa, had been added to the household in 1862. EAKER The reader is referred to the EAKER sketch in Volume II of this book. A book entitled The Shoe Cobbler's Kin by Lorenea Shell Eaker(Gate Press, Baltimore, 1976) contains a great deal of information on the Eaker families. Page 213 of this work deals specifically with some of the Greene County, Arkansas connections of this family and with Jonas and Nancy Eaker. It is indicated that Jonas Eaker first married Nancy Bailey. The maiden name of his second wife, Charity, is not given in this work The Bible records of Mr. Ralph Eaker of Marmaduke, Arkansas were one source of information used in writing the book EARLY Levi Early was born in Alabama in 1823. His wife, Eliza, was born in the same state in 1829. In 1850 the family was living in Blount County, Alabama. John and Susan Little and their daughter, Mahala, were living nearby. John and Susan were born in South Carolina in 1786 and Mahala was born in Alabama in 1827. In 1860 Levi and Eliza Early were living in McNairy County, Tennessee and their children were: Uriah A., 1847; Martha M., 1851; William E., 1855; and Andrew J., 1859. The two older children were born in Alabama and the two younger ones, in Tennessee. Mahala Little was also a member of the household. It is believed that she may have been the sister-in-law of Levi Early. Andrew J. Early married a woman named Mary J., born in Tennessee in 1868. In 1900 Andrew and Mary were living in Hurricane Township in Greene County, Arkansas and their children were: Myrtle L., 1887; William 0.. 1891; and Lila H., 1893. All the children were born in Arkansas. Andrew J. Early died in 1944 and his obituary appeared in the January 26 issue of the Daily Press. He was a native of McNairy County, Tennessee and had been in Greere. County since about the age of ten. He was buried at the Hartsoe Cemetery west of Marmaduke. ELLINGTON The reader is referred to the ELLINGTON sketch appearing in Volume I of this book. France Ellington son of Winston, left Crockett County, Tennessee at some time prior to 1880 and first settled in CoryelI County, Texas. The 1880 census for this county shows France and his one-year-old daughter, Maude. It is said that Maude's mother died at the time she was born and that she was raised by an aunt in Bee County, Texas. The 1900 census for Bee County shows Maude living with the family of Louis and Jennie Smith. Maude Ellington later returned to live with her father and step mother, Sarah C., who, by 1900, were living in Bell County near the town of Belton. Maude married James William Sandlin in 1905 and they had three children: Clem Casin, 1906; Calude Francis, 1909; and James Wallace, 1912. CIem and James still live in Belton. Claude is a resident of Sacramento, California. France Ellington became involved in a dispute of some sort with William Henry Pitman, a man to whom he was renting land. The dispute resulted in gunplay during which France died and Mr. Pitman was wounded. The death occurred on Nov. 7,1910. The writer visited Bell County, Texas in 1983 and found that France Ellington was buried at the McDowell Cemetery three miles west of Belton. His daughter, Maude, and son-in-law, James W. Sandlin, are buried at the same place. Sarah Clementine Ellington had previously been married to a man named McMann. She was later buried beside her first husband in the yard of their home near Belton. Over the years the land has changed hands several times. The graves have been leveled and their exact location is not known. The writer is indebted to Addie (Mrs. Clem C.) Sandlin for much of the information for this sketch. ELLIOT Thomas B. Elliot was born in Tennessee in 1844. His wife, Sarah E.. was born in the same state in 1854. In 1880 this family was living in Weakley County, Tennessee and their children were: Fanny M., 1875; Hetty A., 1 877; and Netty A., 1 879. James P. Elliot (brother of Thomas B.), born in Tennessee in 1838, was also a member of the household. Mollie J. Hendrix (sister-in-Iaw of Thomas B.), born in Tennessee in 1859, was likewise present. During the late 1890's the Elliot family moved to Paragould, Arkansas and took up their residence on Cumberland Street. By 1900 Thomas B. Elliot had apparently died. The 1900 census shows Sarah along with her older children, Fannie, Hettie and Nettie. Several other children had been added to the household by this latter date. They were: Aubry, 1882; Joseph, 1884; Lelia, 1888; Macon (a daughter), 1890; and Hermon (a daughter), 1893. Thomas B. Elliot (Eliot) was buried at the Linwood Cemetery in Paragou Id. His stone bears dates of 1844 and 1899. The inscription on his marker indicates that he was the husband of S.E. Elliot. ELROD Hiram Elrod was born in North Carolina in 1821. His wife, Caroline, was born in Virginia in 1824. In 1 850 this family was living in Washington County, Virginia (family number 663) and their children were Jane (Nancy Jane), 1846; and John, 1847. Both children were born in Virginia. By 1860 the Elrod family had moved to Greene County, Arkansas and settled in Concord Township. By this latter date two more children had been added to the household: George, 1855; and F. T. (a son), 1858. George was born in Virgina and F.T., in Arkansas. John W. Elrod, son of Hiram, married a woman named Sarah J., born in North Carolina in 1848. In 1880 they were living in Hurricane Township and apparently they had no children of their own at this time. ENGLAND The reader is referred to the ENGLAND sketch in Volume II of this book. It should be indicated that further information regarding this family may be found in Goodspeed's History of Carroll County, Tennessee. ERWIN Jaret Erwin was born in Kentucky in about 1817. His wife, Permelia, was born in Illinois in 1823. in 1850 this family was living in Black River Township in Lawrence County, Arkansas and their children were: Catherine, 1841; Joseph, 1843; Mary, 1844; Sarah, 1846; and George, 1849. Sarah and George were born in Arkansas, but all of the older children were born in Illinois. By 1870 the Erwin family had moved to Greene County and settled in Cache Township. Jaret's wife is listed in this census as Elizabeth, born in Illinois in 1817. By 1870 two more children had been added to the Erwin household: John W., 1855; and Charles, 1856. Sarah and George were still living with their parents at this time. EXUM Johnnie Ann Exum was born in Tennessee in 1849. The name of her husband is not known. In 1880 Johnnie and her family were living in Weakley County, Tennessee and her children were: Meddle (a daughter), 1876; and Willie (William Everett), 1879. By 1900 Johnnie Ann was living in Clark Township in Greene County, Arkansas. By this latter date one more child, Burrow (a daughter), had been added to the household. Burrow was born in Arkansas in 1889. The 1900 census record shows that both parents of Johnnie Ann Exum were born in North Carolina. Johnnie Ann Exum and her son, William Everett, are buried at the Linwood Cemetery in Paragould. The marker for Johnnie shows dates of 1849 and 1916. The stone for William E. bears dates of 1879 and 1906. FAHR Mathis Fahr was born in Baden, Germany in about 1840. The name of his first wife is not known. In 1880 Math is Fahr was living in Casner Township in Jefferson County, Illinois and his children still at home were: Sophia J., 1866; and John, 1873. Both children were born in Illinois. In 1900 the Fahr family was living in Friendship Township in Greene County, Arkansas. Mathis had re-married by this time and his wife is listed, in the census, as Elizabeth, born in Tennessee in 1827. Mathis' grandson, Coburn Knox, was also a member of the household. Coburn was born in Illinois in 1888. FARMER The reader is referred to the FARMER sketch in Volume I of this book Balaam Farmer is listed in the 1840 census for Calloway County, Kentucky. As indicated in the original sketch, the Farmer family came to Greene County, Arkansas in about 1845. FEARS George W. Fears was born in Illinois in 1873. His wife, Emma Dora, was born in the same state in 1877. In 1900 this family was living in Independence Township in Saline County, Illinois and at this time they had only one child, Nellie J., born in 1899. By 1910 the Fears family had moved to Greene County and settled in Cache Township. By this date four more children had been added to the household: Albert A., 1902; Eva D., 1 905; Lillie A., 1908; and William R., 1909. The three younger children were born after the family arrived in Arkansas. It is said that George W. and Emma Fears are buried at the Owens Chapel Cemetery. However, there appear to be no markers for them today. FIELDER Thomas W. Fielder was born in Tennessee in about 1841. His wife, Nancy Elizabeth, was born in the same state in 1847.. In 1880 this family was living in HickmanCounty, Tennessee and their children were: Daisvy (?) A., 1877; and John A., 1880. Henry W. Tatum, brother-in-law of Thomas, was also a member of the household. Henry was born in Tennessee in 1 859. By 1900 the Fielder family had moved to Greene County and settled in Hurricane Township. By this time four more children had been added to the household: William 1882; Thomas, 1884; James M., 1885; and Jessie T. (a son), 1887. All the children were born in Tennessee. John Fielder was still living with his parents in 1900. Thomas W. and Nancy Elizabeth Fielder are buried at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in northern Greene County. The marker for Thomas shows dates of May 3,1841. Nancy's marker bears dates of November 11,1846 and May 9,1934. Their sons, Thomas W. Jr., John A., James M., and Jessie ~, are also buried at Pleasant Grove. FLIPPIN Agnes (Mrs. George M.) Flippin of 206 West Garland in Paragould reported the death of her father, Thomas Hill Sr., to the Daily Press and his obituary appeared in the December 19,1 938 issue of the newspaper. He was born on February 14,1850 at Lucy, Tennessee in Shelby County. He was the son of the late Charles A. and Nancy Hill of Lucy. His father was one of the first settlers of the area and came from Raleigh, North Carolina. Shelby County marriage records show that Charles Hill married Nancy Person in Shelby County on May 17,1848. They were married by W.H.P. Bryant, M.G. James T. Person acted as security. Charles A. and Nancy Hill may be found in the 1850 census for Tennessee by referring to family number 683, page 246 of the record for Shelby County. FRANCIS John Francis was born in Massachusetts in about 1790. His wife, Elizabeth was born in Tennessee in 1819. It is suspected that Elizabeth may have been the second wife of John Francis. In 1850 this family was living in Talladega County, Alabama and the children in the household at this time were: Mary A., 1833; Louisa, 1836; Elizabeth, 1841; John, 1843; and William T., 1845. All these children were born in Alabama. John Francis' occupation is listed in the census record as "school teacher'. During the 1860's John and Elizabeth Francis moved to Greene County and settled in Cache Township. By 1870 one more child, Melville, born in 1851, had been added to the household. William T. Francis was still living with his parents at this time. John's occupation is listed, in the census record, as "local preacher and school teacher." In 1880 John's widow, Elizabeth, and his sons, William T. and Melville, were living next to each other in Cache Township. Elizabeth's grandchildren, (Charles, Mary, and William Henderson)were living with her in the same household. William T., son of John, married a woman named Mary, born in Alabama in 1856. Melville, son of John, married Emma Coleman in Greene County on November 3,1876. Emma was born in Texas in 1858. The identity of her parents is not known. As of 1880 Melville and Emma had two children: John, 1878; and Ezra, 1879. John and Elizabeth Francis are buried at the Mt. Zion Cemetery in western Greene County. John's marker indicates that he died on October 8, 1873 at the age of eighty two. Elizabeth's stone shows that she was born on January 1,1819 and died on October 25, 1888.