Goodspeed's Biographies and Historical Memoirs, Greene Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Michael Brown Date: 5 Sep 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas GREENE COUNTY–PHYSICAL FEATURES–STREAMS–FORESTS–KIND OF SOIL– AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS–STOCK INTERESTS–REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY– POPULATION–RAILWAYS–ERA OF SETTLEMENT–A NOTED HUNTER–ACTS OF THE COUNTY BOARD–COUNTY SEAT AND BUILDINGS–OFFICERS–POLITICAL OUTLOOK–LEGAL MATTERS–MILITARY AFFAIRS–MUNICIPALITIES–SCHOOLS–CHURCHES–BIOGRAPHY. page 1 of 4 GREENE COUNTY, Ark., lies in the northeastern part of the State, in latitude 36º 37' North, and longitude 91º west from Greenwich, England. It is bounded on the north by Clay County. east by the St. Francis River, which separates it from Dunklin County, Mo., south by Craighead, and west by Lawrence and Randolph Counties. It has an area of 600 square miles, of which less than one tenth is improved. Its boundary lines are as follows: Commencing where the line between Sections 21 and 28, Township 19, Range 9, intersects the middle of the main channel of the St. Francis River; thence down the middle of the main channel of that river to the line between Townships 15 and 16; thence west on the township line to the Cache River; thence up said river, with its meanderings, to the line between Townships 17 and 18; thence west on the township line to the line between Ranges 2 and 3; thence north on the range line to the northwest corner of Section 30. Township 19, Range 3; thence east on the section lines, and on the county line, to the place of beginning. Crowley's Ridge, from its continuation in Clay County, extends in a rather southwesterly direction through Greene County, with a width varying from five to ten miles, and slopes gently on either side to the level of the bottom lands. This ridge in the southern part of the county is more rolling than elsewhere, and farms have been opened entirely across it, though generally speaking its summit is not much cultivated. The early settlers, for the most part, selected their homes on the foot of the ridge and on ridges between the creeks. The farms now extend from both slopes of the ridge far out into the rich level lands. From Crowley's Ridge the waters flow through several small streams in a southeasterly direction and empty into St. Francis River; and west of the ridge the waters course through small streams in a southwesterly direction, emptying into Cache River; thus all that portion of the county lying between these rivers is drained. That part northwest of Cache River is drained through the streams tributary to Cache and Black Rivers. page 114 “The entire county–with the exception of places where the forest has been cleared and farms opened–is finely timbered with unequaled quality of white oak, red oak, hickory, sweet gum, ash, poplar, pine, and walnut timber. The Crowley's Ridge summit is timbered its entire length through [p.114] the county with pitch or red pine of the finest quality, and the slopes with other timber named. “The soil is varied. One discovers poor, thin and rocky points on the summit and almost any grade between sandy soil of the bottom lands. It produces good crops of corn, wheat, rye, barley, oats, sorghum cane, broom corn, cotton, potatoes, turnips, tame grasses, clover and millet, while the range for cattle from eight to ten months of the year, and for hogs through the fall, is almost in inexhaustible.”* At present lumbering is, and until the timber supply becomes exhausted will continue to be, one of the leading if not the principal industry of the county, and a great source of income. In April of the current year there were thirty-four steam power saw-mills, six stave factories, one shingle-mill, and two planing-mills, within the county–all engaged in cutting the timber into lumber, etc. One of these mills–that of the J. M. Reed Lumber Company–has capacity for cutting 100,000 feet of lumber per day. The most profitable source of revenue to the farmers consists in the raising of cotton and corn, which yield probably a nearly equal income. Most of the saw-mills have cotton gins, and some grist-mills attached. In 1880 there were, according to the United States census, 1,181 farms, with 30,596 acres of improved lands in the county, and from these the vegetable productions were as follows: Indian corn, 347,926 bushels; oats, 29,110 bushels; wheat, 10,475 bushels; hay, 124 tons; cotton, 3,711 bales; Irish potatoes, 5,181 bushels; sweet potatoes, 13,989 bushels; tobacco, 5,735 pounds. A large acreage has since been cleared, and the vegetable productions correspondingly increased. The numbers of head of live stock within the county, as indicated by the same census, were as follows: Horses, 7,694; mules and asses, 760; neat cattle, 8,975; sheep, 1,727; hogs, 16,934. The following show the number of head of live stock in the county as declared by the assessment rolls for 1888; Horses, 2,326; mules and asses, 991; neat cattle, 10,125; sheep, 1,685; hogs, 16,481. The comparison of these figures is interesting. The decrease in the number of sheep is probably due to the reduction in the price of wool, while the decrease in the number of hogs is apparent but not real. The census of 1880 gives the number raised, sold and slaughtered during the year, while the assessment rolls show only the number on hand when listed for taxation; hence the increase must have been large. As previously stated, all parts of the county are well supplied with streams, and an abundance of good well water can be obtained at a depth of from thirty to forty feet, without blasting through any rock, and as the lands are well adapted to the raising of grains, tame grasses and clover, this country must eventually–after the lumber industry ceases–become excellent for diversified farming, and especially for the raising of live stock, the climate being mild, and the shipping facilities to the great commercial centers unusually superior. The country is also well adapted to the growing of all manner of fruits common to this latitude. The assessed value of the real estate of Greene County for the year 1880 was $426,685, and of the personal property $254,361, making a total of $681,046, and the total amount of taxes charged thereon was $16,099. The assessed value of the real estate of the county for 1888, including the railroad property, was $1,313,392.72, and of the personal property, $562,719, making a total of $1,876,111.72. upon which the total amount of taxes charged was $29,103.63. This demonstrates that the taxable wealth of the county has about doubled since 1880, but that the taxes have not increased in the same ratio. The railroads, which now constitute a considerable portion of the taxable wealth of the county, and pay a large percentage of the taxes, were assessed for the year 1888 as follows: St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern, $330,750; St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas, $200,677; Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis, $4,560; total, $535,987. page 115 The county has excellent public buildings, and a floating debt of only about $7,000, which will be canceled after another year's taxes are collected. This covers the whole indebtedness–there being no bonded debt at all. Such favorable facts prove [p.115] that Greene County has many attractions for home seekers. Lands are yet cheap, and immigrants from the over-crowded Eastern and Northern States can certainly do much better by coming to this country than by going west to points beyond the improvements of civilization. Capital is being rapidly invested here, thus insuring employment to the laborer. Here an industrious man with but small capital may soon possess and own a home, where society is good and the climate unexcelled; here he may gain, by application and energy, just recognition, and here, too, may he avoid the financial burdens which characterize other less-favored communities. The population of Greene County in 1860, including what is now the Eastern district of Clay County, was 5,654–189 of whom were colored. The population of 1870, comprising the same territory, was 7,417–156 of whom were colored. The population in 1880, embracing only the present area of the county, was 7,405. of whom only 75 were colored. Considering the recent rapid increase by way of immigration, together with the natural accession, it is safe to estimate the population of the county at the present writing, at more than double that of 1880. The main line of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad–completed about 1872–runs in a south westerly direction across the northwestern portion of the county, a distance of nine and three-fourth miles. The Helena branch of the same road, finished in 1882, runs through in a southeasterly and southerly course across the entire county, by way of Gainesville, Paragould and minor points, a distance of twenty-three miles. The St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad, completed in 1882. passes through the entire county in a southwesterly direction along the eastern side of Crowley's Ridge, by way of Paragould and other points, a distance of twenty-four miles and 2.904 feet. The Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad, constructed in 1883, runs in a southeasterly direction across the extreme southwestern corner of the county, a distance of only 2,400 feet. The Paragould & Buffalo Island Narrow Gauge Railroad runs eastward from Paragould to the St. Francis River, a distance of ten miles. It was built in 1888, by a local company, for the purpose of shipping out timber and lumber. The combined length of the through lines of railroad is fifty- seven miles and 3,984 feet, which added to the ten miles of narrow gauge road, makes over seventy-seven miles of railway in the county. The settlement of the territory now composing Greene County began about the year 1820. Benjamin Crowley, grandfather of Hon. Benjamin H. Crowley, and his family were the first settlers, and their nearest neighbors were then at Pocahontas, now the county seat of Randolph County. Crowley's Ridge was named in honor of this pioneer settler. The Pevehouse family, Wiley Hutchins, Jerry Gage, Samuel Willcockson, the Robertsons and J. W. Gage, were among the first settlers of the Crowley neighborhood, which is some twelve miles west of Paragould. William Pevehouse was the first child born in the county, and his brother, Wiley, and Hon. Ben. H. Crowley were first among the next children born. James McDaniel and Jesse Payne were early settlers on Village Creek. Isaiah Hampton and Lewis Bramlet settled in 1848, four miles east of Gainesville. John Mitchell, an early settler near Gainesville, put up the first cotton gin in the county, and Samuel Wilcockson erected the first steam grist mill on Crowley's Ridge, it being on Poplar Creek in the Crowley settlement. Parson William Nutt located near Gainesville; and Aaron Bagwell, from whom Bagwell Lake in the eastern part of the county took its name, and C. G. Jones, after whom Jones Ridge on the western border of the county is called, were also early settlers. page 116 The Bradshaws–noted hunters–settled on the upper end of the ridge, in what is now Clay County, and A. J. Smith, “the great Arkansas bear hunter.” settled near the Bradshaws and married into their family. He subsequently located and cleared up a farm a few miles east of the present town of Paragould, where he lived until his death. He was known far and near, and was the most noted eccentric character in all of Northeastern Arkansas, possessing many of the traits of the famous Col. Davy Crockett. He was a veritable [p.116] backwoodsman, not accustomed to the finer comforts of advanced civilization. He owned slaves, raised large numbers of cattle, and undoubtedly killed more wild animals than any other man in the State. He usually went bareheaded and bare footed, with his collar opened and sleeves rolled up, and nearly always carried with him his rifle, shot pouch and large hunting knife. Upon his appearance in this plight he was much feared, especially by those not acquainted with him. He was, however, kind and benevolent, brave and generous, and had but few enemies, being a firm friend to those he respected, but a dangerous man in a quarrel. On one occasion after having sold a herd of cattle to Gov. “Jack” Drew, he went, equipped as usual, to the governor's residence to collect his pay. The governor happened to be absent. He was met at the door by Mrs. Drew, who though much frightened invited him to step in and take a seat at the fire. He looked down and said he did not like “to step on that quilt.” The carpet being loose he took it by the edge, folded it over and then sprang across and took a chair near the fire. Mrs. Drew felt convinced that her unwelcome guest was a horse thief, and thereupon had his horse put into the stable and locked, knowing that her husband would return soon. On seeing the latter she went out to meet him, and related the appearance of the mysterious stranger, whereupon the governor, with a hearty laugh, replied, “O! that is Jack Smith, it's just like him.” Angeline, his wife, was an excellent shot with the rifle, and often accompanied him on his hunting excursions. Once while returning home upon a trail, desiring to “prowl around a little longer,” he requested his companion not to wait for him. Accordingly she rode on, but had not gone far until the dogs–remaining with Jack–chased up a huge bear, pursuing it so closely that it stopped and turned its back against the roots of a fallen tree, and began to cuff the dogs right and left. Jack ran to their assistance, whereupon the bear, having cowed the dogs, sprang forward and rushed upon him. Jack in retreating, stumbled and fell. Just at this critical moment, Angeline, who had heard the confusion, wheeled her steed about, took deliberate aim and shot and killed the monster beast, thus saving her husband's life. Ever thereafter upon relating this incident, he never failed to declare that Angeline was the best woman ever created. This great hunter generally wore “buckskin breeches.” He was of a humorous disposition, and on one occasion was visited by a party of well dressed gentlemen from Memphis, who, upon seeing the large quantity of paltry he had on hand, asked how he came to be so successful in hunting. His reply was that formerly when dressed in his buckskin trousers and other outfit, the animals, especially the deer, had become so well acquainted with him that they knew him by sight, and were always on the outlook for him, in consequence of which he could not get near enough to shoot them. It then occurred to him that he must change his garb, and thus deceive the animals. So now, he said, that upon approaching a herd of deer, the sentinel buck seeing him would inform the rest that there was no danger–that it was only some finely dressed gentleman from Memphis, who was harmless. In this way he claimed to delude the deer, succeeding in killing a great many. The numerous eccentricities, bear and deer hunts and the like, of this famous hunter, if compiled would make an interesting book on frontier life. Wiley Clarkson was an early settler and hunting companion of Smith. The county settled very slowly prior to 1855, but after that more rapidly until the war period, during which time it received no new comers. Soon after the war the growth in population was renewed and continued gradual until four years ago, since which time it has been and still is very rapid. For additional mention of settlers, with more specific dates, the reader is referred to the biographical pages of this volume. page 117 Greene County was organized in accordance with an act of the legislature of Arkansas Territory, approved November 5, 1833. and was made to embrace the territory it now comprises, excepting that portion lying west of Cache River, together with the whole of what is now the Eastern district of Clay County, and a portion of Craighead [p.117] County, all formerly belonging to Lawrence County. When Clay County was formed in 1873, that portion of Greene now lying west of the Cache River was attached from Raudolph County. The original seat of justice was located about 1835, at a point five miles northeast of Gainesville, and was named Paris. Here a log courthouse was erected and one or two stores opened. Afterward the question of re-locating the county seat was agitated, and of the different points competing for it, the one where Gainesville is situated gained the location, hence the name Gainesville. To this place the seat of justice was moved about the year 1840. A log court-house and subsequently a log jail were erected. The former was soon abandoned and in its stead a three-story frame court house, about thirty feet square, was constructed. The first floor of this building was occupied with the county offices, the second with the court-room, and the third with a Masonic hall. The building, with a portion of the records, was burned in 1874. A store room was then rented for a court-house, and soon thereafter, in the same year, it was, with all the balance of the records, also burned. These buildings were supposed to have been set on fire by certain parties, that the records, noting their rather questionable conduct, might be destroyed. This led to the shooting and killing of Sheriff Wright, by a citizen whom the people justified by not prosecuting. Two other persons, supposed to be implicated in the crime of burning the buildings, were arrested and placed in jail, from which they escaped and were not afterward apprehended. One of them, it is said, confessed his guilt. The next court-house was another store room, which, with all accumulated records, was burned in 1876, presumably by an incendiary resting under indictments for crime. A one-story frame court-house was then erected, and continued to be used until 1884, when the county seat was removed from Gainesville to its present site, at Paragould. In 1884 the one-story frame building now standing east of the court-house square was erected for a temporary court-house. In 1888 the present beautiful and well- proportioned two-story brick building, with the halls and offices on the first floor and the court-room on the second, was erected by Contractors Boone and McGinnis, at a cost of $14,700. The clock in the tower cost $700 more. In 1877 the same contractors built the present two-story jail, containing four iron cells or rooms, and the jailer's residence, at a cost of $7,000. Following is a list of the names of the county officers of Greene County from its organization to the present, together with the term of service of each: Judges: I. Brookfield, 1833-35; W. Hanes, 1835-36; George Daniel, 1836-1838; L. Thompson, 1838-40; J. M. Cooper, 1840-42; H. Powell, 1842-44; N. Murphree, 1844-46; J. M. Cooper, 1846-48; C. G. Steele, 1848-50; H. T. Allen, 1850-52; J. Dellinger, 1852-54; H. T. Allen, 1854-60; T. Clark, 1860-64; J. J. Wood, 1864-66; H. T. Allen, 1866-68; A. Seagroves, 1868-72; David Thorn, 1874-76; J. P. Culver, 1876-78; J. McDaniel, 1878-80; M. C. Gramling, 1880-82; J. O'Steen, 1882-88; W. C. Jones, present incumbent, elected 1888. Clerks: L. Thompson, 1833-36; G. L. Martin, 1836-38; H. L. Holt, to November, 1838; J. L. Atchison, 1838-44; H. L. Evans, 1844-46; H. Powell, 1846-50; M. T. C. Lumpkins, 1850-54; J. W. McFarland, 1854-56; L. B. McNeil, 1856-58; H. W. Glasscock, 1858-64; R. H. Gardner, 1864-68; E. R. Seeley, 1868-72; D. B. Warren, 1872-82; R. H. Gardner, 1882-88; T B. Kitchens, present incumbent, elected in 1888. Sheriffs: James Brown, 1833-34; Charles Robertson, 1834-36; J. Stotts, 1836-38; J. Clark, 1838-44; J. R. Ragsdale, 1844-46; A. F. Puryer, 1846-48; J. Clark, 1848-50; William Pevehouse, 1850-52; W. M. Peebles, 1852-58; F. S. White, 1858-62; A. Eubanks. 1862-64; F. S. White, 1864-68; M. Wright, 1868-72; M. C. Gramling, 1872-74; J. P. Willcockson, 1874-76; J. A. Owen, 1876-77; F. S. White, 1877-80; T. R. Willcockson, 1880-84; J. M. Highfield, 1884-86; T. R. Willcockson, present incumbent, first elected in 1886. Footnote R. Jackson on resignation of Stevenson. page 118 Treasurers: James Ratchford 1836-38; H. N. [p.118] Reynolds, 1840-42; G. W. Harley, 1842-44; M. Carter, 1844-46; J. W. Poole, 1846-52; C. G. Jones, 1852-54; W. Meredith, 1854-56; J. Payne, 1856-58; T. H. Wyse, 1858-62; C. Wall, 1862-64; M. C. Gramling, 1864-66; Alex. Wood, 1866-68; Sam Newberry, 1868-72; R. Jackson, 1872-76; H. C. Swindle, 1876-78; G. W. Stevenson, 1878-80;* R. Jackson, 1880-84; J. N. Johnson, 1884-86; H. S. Trice, present incumbent, first elected in 1886. Coroners: J. Sutfin, 1833-35; J. Fowler, 1835-36; John Anderson, 1838-42; P. K. Lester, 1842-44; J. Lawrence, 1844-46; J. Hunt, 1846-48; W. H. Mack, 1848-50; R. W. Dorsey, 1850-54; J. S. Hibbs, 1854-56; M. McDaniel, 1856-58; A. P. Bobo, 1858-60; H. B. Wright, 1860-64; J. R. Gentry, 1864-66; H. Jackson. 1866-68; L. Steadman, 1868-72; J. H. Dudley, 1872-74; E. Daniels, 1874-76; J. A. Little, 1876-78; W. M. McKay, 1878- 80; J. W. Hardy, 1880-82; J. R. Gross, 1882-84; V. Looney, 1884-86; J. M. Hammond, 1886-88; B. Terrell, present incumbent, elected in 1888. Surveyors: G. Hall, 1833-36; William Hatch, 1838-40; J. J. Johnson; 1840-42; J. B. B. Moore, 1842-44; James Mitchell, 1844-56; E. M. Allen, 1856-58; W. C. Reyburn, 1858- 60; R. G. McLeskey, 1860-62; J. P. Harris, 1862-64; R. C. Mack, 1864-66; L. M. Wilson, 1866-68; J. Seeley, 1870-72; R. H. Gardner, 1872-82; O. S. Newsom, 1882-88; Len Merriweather, present incumbent, elected in 1888. Assessors: R. H. Gardner, 1859-62; T. C. Murphy, 1862-64; H. W. Glasscock, 1864-66; M. C. Gramling, 1866-68; D. J. Edwards, 1868-70; P. G. Straughn, 1870-72; W. F. Clements, 1872-74; W. S. Ledbetter, 1874-76; J. Huckabay, 1876-78; J. F. Lytle, 1878- 80; P. G. Light, 1880-84; J. R. Thompson, 1884-88; E. L. Babbett, present incumbent, elected in 1888. Representatives of Greene County in constitutional conventions: G. L. Martin, January 4 to 13, 1836; J. W. Bush, March 4 to 21, and May 6 to June 3, 1861; Benjamin H. Crowley, July 14, to October 31, 1874. Representatives in general assembly: Alex. Tucker was the first representative of the county in the State legislature, and Hon. A. P. Cox is the present one. The Senatorial district, composed of Greene, Clay and Craighead Counties, is represented in the State Senate by Hon. Ben. H. Crowley. To show the political aspect of the county the vote cast therein for the candidates for governor at the September election in 1888 is here given, it being as follows: J.P.Eagle, Democrat, 1,378 votes: C. M. Norwood, combined opposition, 841 votes. Upon the organization of Greene County and prior to the location of the original county seat, courts were held at the house of Mr. Crowley the first settler, as before mentioned, on Crowley's Ridge. A portion of the time the sessions were held in the house and, also, under the adjacent trees. It is said that the judge of the circuit court, after charging the grand jury, usually sent them in charge of the sheriff or bailiff under a certain white oak tree to make their deliberations. Since those days the courts have been held in the various court houses elsewhere described. The regular terms of the county court commence on the first Monday in January, April, July and October, and of the probate court on the third Monday of the same months in each year. The regular terms of the circuit court have heretofore commenced on the first Monday of February and August of each year, but probably the last legislature has slightly changed the time. This court has not been overburdened with murder trials, as but few murders have been committed within the county. No one has ever been executed in Greene County for a capital offense except one person who killed an individual in another county, and was brought here and tried on a change of venue. The following are the resident members of the legal bar of Greene County: Hon. L. L. Mack, Judge J. E. Reddick, now on the bench: Hon. Ben. H. Crowley, J. B. Boykin, A. P. Mack, W. S. Luna, Eugene Parrish. W. W. Bandy, S. R. Simpson, A. Knox and J. F. Lytle. Mention of many prominent citizens of the county is also made in subsequent pages. page 119 At the outbreak of the Civil War of 1861-65, the citizens of Greene County, being mostly immigrants or descendants of immigrants from the former slave-holding States, were found to be almost to a man, in full sympathy with the Southern cause, and consequently lent their energies to sustain it. As might be expected great excitement then prevailed, and in the spring of 1861 Capt. W. G. Bohaning raised a full company of soldiers mostly in the territory now composing Greene County, for the First Regiment of Arkansas Confederate Infantry. Soon thereafter Capt. J. L. Kuykendall formed another company in the same territory for the same regiment, and later Capt. D. G. Byers recruited a company for the Twenty-Fifth Regiment of Arkansas Confederate Infantry. In 1864 Capts. Park Willcockson, John McHenry and H. W. Glasscock, each raised a company of cavalry in Greene County for Maj. J. F. Davies' battalion of Col. Kitchens' regiment. The population being then small, these were the only organized bodies of soldiers raised in that part of the county as it is now composed. Other troops were obtained in that portion since set off to Clay. No skirmishes or battles took place in the county during the war, and it was but little over-run with soldiers, consequently not suffering the devastations incident to many other counties in the State. Only two Federal commands, together with a few small scouting parties, passed through the county, and as a result the people fortunately escaped the raids of foragers; owing also to their unanimity of sentiment, there was but very little bushwhacking done. In addition to the companies above mentioned some individuals went out of the county and enlisted in other commands. Notwithstanding the natural preferences of the people here in the war period, they are now vieing with the immigrants from both North and South, in developing the resources of this section. Universal peace and harmony prevail, and all just and upright newcomers are received with a hearty welcome. The survivors of both armies have organized an association in Paragould known as the “Blue and Gray”–there being many ex-Federal soldiers among the recent arrivals in the county, and together they meet and rejoice that the conflict is forever settled, and that while they were enemies in war they are friends in peace. Greene is well supplied with villages, towns, postoffices, etc., as the following facts indicate: Bethel is a postoffice and flag station on the railroad, five miles south of Paragould. Crowley is a postoffice twelve miles northwest of Paragould. Finch is a postoffice ten miles southwest of Paragould. Gainesville, on the Helens branch of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, eight miles north of Paragould, formerly the seat of justice for Greene County, was established about the year 1840. In 1846 it contained a log courthouse, two store buildings and five dwelling houses–all log except one dwelling house, which was a frame, sided up with clapboards. The town has ever been of slow growth, but situated as it is in a good community far from other villages, it is a point of considerable trade, containing four general stores, one drug store, four family groceries, two blacksmith shops, one steam grist mill and cotton-gin combined, two hotels, one printing office, from which is published the Greene County Event, by F. M. Dalton, one livery stable, two church edifices–Cumberland Presbyterian and Methodist–one public school-house, three physicians, and one lawyer, the latter being the Hon. J. E. Reddick, present judge of the circuit court of this judicial circuit. Halliday, a postoffice and flag station on the “Cotton Belt” Railroad, is six miles north of Paragould. Herndon is a postoffice in the southwest part of the county. Lorado, also but a postoffice, is in the southwest part of the county. page 120 Marmaduke, a town of about 200 inhabitants on the “Cotton Belt” Railroad, twelve miles northeast of Paragould, contains four stores, a blacksmith shop, cotton gin and press, church, school house, a saw-mill and boarding house. From here a tramway is run a mile out on the St. Francis River, where other mills are located. The village [p.120] was first laid out in 1882 by the Railroad Company. Paragould, the county seat of Greene County, situated at the connection and crossing of the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroads, was laid out in April, 1882, by the South western Improvement Company, Willis Pruet and wife and J. A. Lambert and wife. It was named after President Paramore of the former and President Gould of the latter of these routes, the name Gould being substituted for the last syllable of Paramore, making it Paragould. The town has grown rapidly, and in the seven years of its existence has attained a population of about 2,000. It contains the Greene County Bank, nine general stores, five family groceries, four drug stores, one hardware, saddlery and farm implement store, six saloons, two bakeries, two millinery stores, four hotels and many boarding houses, two livery stables, two butcher shops, one shoe, four blacksmith and one foundry shop, five stave factories, three saw-mills, one cotton gin, a feed store, photograph galleries, barber shops, laundry and many other industries, four church edifices–Methodist, Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian and Christian, a public school- house, seven physicians, three dentists, a lodge each of Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Honor, Knights of Pythias and a Post of the G. A. R.; also these newspapers–the Paragould Evening Times, published daily, by W. A. H. McDaniel, editor and proprietor; the Record, published weekly. by Messrs. Taylor & Carter, the Press recently being consolidated with this journal. In politics the entire press of the county is Democratic, but the papers are published in the interest of the people, and are doing their best to promote and increase the prosperity of the county. Near Paragould on the west side are situated the grounds and buildings of the “Greene County Fair Association,” which held its second annual exhibition in October, 1888. Paragould is incorporated as a city, and has a mayor, recorder, marshal, and a board of five aldermen. The present officers are H. W. Glasscock, mayor; T. P. Cole, recorder; John M. Winder, marshal. A vast amount of capital is here invested. The town is beautifully located, and its growth is rapid and permanent. It is surrounded by a good agricultural and stock-raising country, which insures its future prosperity. The Bank of Paragould which was organized on March 19, 1889, is deserving of mention. It was incorporated with C. Wall, president, E. S. Bray, cashier, and A. A. Knox as secretary of the board of directors. The directors are as follows: Dr. C. Wall, A. Berteg, A. P. Mack, W. H. Jones, J. W. Crawford, D. D. Hodges and A. A. Knox. They have a capital stock of $30,000. The new bank building, which is a neat two-story structure located on the corner of Pruet and Emerson streets, was completed and occupied on the 1st of July, 1889. Stonewall, a post village on the Iron Mountain Railroad, fourteen miles north of Paragould, contains a store, saw-mill and shingle factory. Tilmanville is a postoffice fifteen miles north of Paragould. Walcott is a postoffice twelve miles west of Paragould. Footnote There were perhaps others not reported. As was common throughout Arkansas in early days, the pioneer schools of Greene County were “few and far between,” and of the most inferior nature. A few of the pioneer settlers employed such teachers as could be obtained for what might be considered ordinary laborers' wages, and thus afforded some meager facilities for the education of their children. Though the State had a school system, there were practically no free schools prior to the inauguration of the present school system, which has taken place since the Civil War. Owing to the inadequate facilities for education, many of the citizens of the county reached their manhood without ever attending school. The children of this generation have great advantages over those of their parents. Seven years ago, as shown by reports of the State superintendent of public instruction, there were thirty-nine school districts organized in Greene County, with only seven* wood school-houses, to accommodate a scholastic population of 2,191. The following statistics, taken from the superintendent's report for the year ending June 30, 1888, will show the improvements since made within the territory: page 121 The white school children number 4,387; colored, 14; total, 4,401. The number taught in the public schools is: White, 2.219; colored, none; number of school districts, 59; number of teachers employed, males, 37; females, 14; total, 51; average monthly wages paid teachers of the first grade, males, $42.50; females, $37.50; second grade, males, $40; females, $35; third grade, males, $32.50; females, $30; frame and log school-houses reported, 28, valued at $4,338.75; revenue raised for the support of common schools, $18,957.09; amount expended, $9,690.58; amount unexpended, $9,266.51. These figures show a great increase over those of seven years ago. The schools are increasing in number and quality–the wages paid being sufficient to secure teachers of good ability. The figures show also that of the scholastic population of the county only a little over one-half were taught in the public schools, which is conclusive that the people do not as yet fully sustain and patronize the free school system. However, the outlook for popular education is encouraging. A. Knox is the present county examiner. Religious meetings were held, and preaching was had in Greene County soon after it was organized, and from the best information obtainable societies of the Methodist and Baptist denominations were probably formed during the 40's. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, has now at least seventeen organizations within the county. The Paragould circuit consists of the following: Mount Carmel, Pleasant Grove, New Bethel, Wood's Chapel, a congregation four miles west of Paragould, and Greensboro and Pine Log, in Craighead County, with Rev. W. W. Anderson, pastor in charge. Lorado circuit consists of Pleasant Hill, Shady Grove, Warren's and Owen's Chapels. Old Bethel and Salem, with Rev. T. B. Williamson, pastor in charge. Gainesville circuit includes Friendship, Hurricane, Harvey's Chapel, Starue's Chapel. Scatter Creek. Beech Grove and Strong's Chapel, with Rev. N. W. Farrar, pastor in charge. Another congregation in the eastern part of the county, belongs to an outside circuit. Rev. W. W. Watson is pastor of the charge composed of Gainesville and Oak Grove, and Rev. J. C. Ritter is pastor of the charge at Paragould. The Baptist Church has at least fourteen organizations within the county, one of which is the colored church at Paragould. The others are named New Providence, Friendship, Liberty, Epsaby, Fairview, Unity, New Hope, Rock Hill, Pleasant Grove, Cedar Hill, Mount Zion, Paragould, and another, name not learned. New Providence, Friendship, Fairview, New Hope, and perhaps others, were organized long before the Civil War. All of these organizations have an average membership of about fifty, and the Methodist denomination is about equal in strength. Elders David Thorn, Lively, W. C. Jackson, Faulkner, J. T. Edmonds, and Halcomb are the ministers now officiating at these several churches, all of which are designated as Missionary Baptists. The several organizations of the Christian Church within the county are known as Paragould, Pine Knot, Sugar Creek, Gainesville and Liberty, with a combined membership of nearly 400. Pine Knot was organized in a very early day–long before the Civil War, and has had a very large membership. Liberty, which was organized in 1879, was composed mostly from the membership of Pine Knot. The Christian Church in Paragould was organized in 1885. The organizations of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church within Greene County are known as Gainesville, Friendship and Paragould, the latter having been organized in 1884. The one at or near Gainesville was organized early in the 80's. In point of numbers this is probably the weakest denomination in the county. There are no Roman Catholic organizations here, but this sect is preparing to build a church edifice in Paragould. Nearly all of the church organizations named have houses of their own in which to worship, and all, except a few not supplied with pastors, have regular preaching, and are doing good work. In the summer season Sunday-schools are connected with them, but only a few in the more populous districts continue throughout the year. page 122 The people of Greene County are almost without exception moral, law-abiding, kind, generous and hospitable, and welcome and protect all deserving [p.122] immigrants that come among them. Here the opportunities for securing a home in a comparatively new country, where the climate is mild, the railroad facilities good, churches and schools numerous, all without the inconveniences of frontier life, are unexcelled.