A History of Independence County, AR ---------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free Information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SOURCE: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Independence County Part One Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas INDEPENDENCE COUNTY–FORMATION AND ORGANIZATION–PUBLIC STRUCTURES– CATALOGUE OF OFFICIALS–THE FRANCHISE–ADMINISTRATION OF LAW–THE COMING OF THE PIONEERS–LOCATION OF THE COUNTY–ITS WATER COURSES–NUMEROUS PERSONALAND BUSINESS SKETOHES–TIMBER AND MINES–LANDS AND CROPS–CENSUS RETURNS–RAILROADS–RELIGIOUS GROWTH–TOWNS–POPULAR INSTRUCTION–WAR RECORD–FACTS AND STATISTICS. In ancient times the sacred plow employ'd The kings and awful fathers of mankind, And some * * have held the scale of empire Then, * * with unwearied hand, * * * Seized the plow, and greatly independent lived.– Thomson. THE county of Independence was organized in accordance with the provisions of an act of the legislature of Arkansas Territory, approved October, 20, 1820. As then organized it embraced much territory which has since, from time to time, been out off and included in other counties as they were formed. Originally it composed a part of Lawrence County. The town of Batesville having been established prior to the organization of the county, and being centrally located, as well as enjoying the advantages of a navigable river, was chosen as the seat of justice, and as such still continues. The first court-house, a brick structure, was erected in 1821, close to the bank of White River, and above the mouth of the bayou, on the public square, as shown by the town plat. The present court-house, which stands on block 15, at the corner of Broad and Main Streets, was erected in 1857 by Messrs. J. H. Peel and J. E. Wama****, at a cost of $10,000. It is a plain two- story brick building, with six rooms on the first floor, and court-room, jury and witness-rooms on the second. It has a wooden tower containing a town clock. The Paul Jail Company, of St. Louis, Mo., is now repairing the two-story stone residence of the jailer, and completing a new jail attached, for the contract price of $7,500. It stands on the opposite side of the same block on which the court-house is located, the jail proper having seven cells for prisoners. The county has a poor farm and asylum for the use of the paupers. It is six miles northeast of Batesville, and has good buildings, and about fifty acres under cultivation. The county furnishes food and clothing for the indigent, the superintendent caring for them for the use of the farm. page 622 [p.622] The following is a list of names of county officers of Independence County from its organization, with date of their terms of service: County judges: James Boswell, 1829-32; Richard Peel, 1832-40; D. W. Lowe, 1840- 44; John Kyler, 1844-46; John Mannikin, 1846-48; D. W. Lowe, 1848-54; J. C. Brickey, 1854-56; N. Peed, 1856-64; H. Hogan, 1864-66; G. W. Shaw, 1866-68; H. Hogan, 1868-72; commissioners, 1872-74; Henry Neill, 1874-76; W. M. Steel, 1876-78; S. A. Hail, 1878-80; W. M. Steel, 1880-82; R. H. Griffin, 1882-86; A. J. Craig, present incumbent, first elected in 1886. Clerks: R. Searcy, 1820-21; T. Curran, 1821-27; J. Redmond, 1827-32; C. H. Pelham, 1832-36; William Moore, 1836-38; C. H. Pelham, 1838-44; D. W. Lowe, 1844-48; W. R. Miller, 1848-54; R. R. Kellogg, 1854-56; Henry Powell, 1856-58; J. A. Price, 1858-62; M. A. Wycough, 1862-64; R. Harpham, 1864-66; Robert Neill, 1866-68; R. Harpham, 1868-72; W. H. Berry, 1872-74; E. M. Dickinson, 1874-86; M. A. Wycough, present incumbent, first elected in 1886. Sheriffs: Charles Kelly, 1820-32; J. Egner, 1832-35; J. H. Egner, 1835-36; H. A. Engles, 1836-42; W. L. McGuire, 1842-47; A. Alexander, 1847-52; U. E. Foot, 1852-56; G. W. Daugherty, 1856-60; John Bailey, 1860-62; Dan James, 1862-64; John Palmer, 1864-66; F. D. Denton, 1866-68; J. J. Palmer, 1868-72; J. W. Kennedy, 1872-74; John Bailey, 1874-76; R. R. Case, 1876-82; R. M. Desha, 1882- 86; McCurdy Hail, present incumbent, first elected in 1886. Treasurers: J. H. Egner, 1836-40; S. B. Wycough, 1840-50; B. Lee, 1850-54; G. W. Dougherty, 1854-56; Thomas Womack, 1856-58; R. Harpham, 1858-60; T. Chaplain, 1860-64; Franklin Perrin, 1866-68; J. Van Emberg, 1868-72; J. H. Foster, 1872-74; B. F. Howard, 1874-80; R. H. Lee, 1880-86; J. A. Hinkle, 1886- 88; L. C. Lindsay, present incumbent, elected in 1888. Coroners: John Reed, 1820-21; John Bean, 1821-23; J. L. Daniels, 1823-27; John Ruddell, 1827-29; A. Cresswell, 1829-30; Robert Bruce, 1830-32; J. Carroll, 1832-35; J. Merriweather, 1835-36; C. McArthul, 1836-38; H. W. Bandy, 1838-40; W. W. Baltimore, 1840-42; George Case, 1842-48; William O'Conner, 1848-52; Martin Cason, 1852-54; G. M. Miniken (or Minnikin), 1854-56; William O'Conner, 1856-58; H. Blevins, 1858-60; J. Thomas, 1860-62; J. Bethel, 1862-64; S. J. McGuffin, 1866-68; Charles Caw, 1868-72; W. R. Joplin, 1872-78; C. B. Grigsby, 1878-80; C. D. McCormack, 1880-82; K. E. Lawrence, 1882-84; Kent Lawrence, 1884-86; W. S. McGuire, 1886-88; J. L. Ellis, present incumbent, elected in 1888. Surveyors: C. H. Pelham, 1827-30; J. Trimble, 1830-35; E. Frazier, 1835-40; Samuel Weldin, 1840-42; A. Bowman, 1842-44; A. Manning, 1844-46; George Gill, 1846-48; T. S. Carter, 1848-52; J. Ireland, 1852-56; E. D. Rushing, 1856-58; C. P. Head, 1858-60; Robert Neill, 1860-62; Z. D. Bozart, 1862-64; James Grisham, 1864-66; J. S. Carter, 1866-68; J. S. Smith, 1868-72; J. M. C. Southard, 1872- 76; W. A. Hill, 1876-78; J. M. C. Southard, 1878-82; John Hindman, 1882-88; G. M. Thompson, present incumbent, elected in 1888. Assessors: W. H. Grigsby, 1862-64; E. D. Rushing, 1864-66; R. H. Lee, 1866-68; T. A. Baxter, 1868-72; E. C. Patchell, 1872-74; D. R. Ford, 1874-76; William Taylor, 1876-82; T. B. Padgett, 1882-84; Thomas Owens, 1884-86; C. H. Webb, 1886-88; Josiah Martin, present incumbent, elected in 1888. Delegates in constitutional conventions: 1836, John Ringgold and Townsend Dickinson; 1861, M. S. Kennard, U. E. Fort and F. W. Desha; 1864, C. C. Bliss; 1868, Peter G. Misner and George W. Dale; 1874, J. W. Butler and J. Rutherford. Peyton Tucker represented Independence County in the council of the Second Territorial legislature, in 1821, and J. Ringgold represented Independence and Jackson Counties in the senate of the First State legislature; at the same time T. Dickinson representing Independence County in the house. page 623 The political aspect of the county may be inferred from the votes cast for the several candidates at the last State and Presidental elections, which were as follows: September election, 1888, [p.623] for governor, James P. Eagle (Dem.), 2,012; C. M. Norwood (Com. Opp.), 2,051; for secretary of State, B. B. Chism (Dem.), 2,002; George W. Terry (Com. Opp.), 2,050; Presidential election, 1888, Cleveland (Dem.), 1,789; Harrison (Rep.), 324; Streeter (U. L.), 1,220; Fisk (Prohibition), 36. As the county was created October 20, 1820, it is most likely that the first session of court was held in the latter part of that year or early in the year following; but no record of any court appears on file until the “Common Pleas” court convened at Batesville on Monday, November 19, 1821, with Judges Richard Peel and William Moore, presiding. This court assumed jurisdiction over all business, including county, probate and criminal affairs. So far as the record shows, this was the last term of the common pleas court. The same volume of records immediately following the last proceeding of the above shows that in January, 1822, the Hon. Richard Searcy, judge of the First judicial district, appeared and produced his commission as such, and opened the first term of the circuit court at Batesville. A grand jury was then chosen, and sworn to perform their duties, and Thomas Dickinson was appointed prosecuting attorney for the term. This court had jurisdiction now over all kinds of business, and was the only court held until 1829, when the county court was created by the legislature. Judge Searcy presided over the circuit court until November, 1825, when he was succeeded by Judge James Woodson Bates. The first term of the county court began April 5, 1830, with James Boswell, judge presiding. The circuit court now belongs to the Third judicial district, composed of the counties of Jackson, Lawrence, Stone, Randolph, Independence and Sharp, with Judge J. W. Butler, of Batesville, presiding, and J. L. Abernethy, of Evening Shade. as prosecuting attorney. The sessions of this court are held in Independence County, commencing on the first Monday of January and July of each year. The sessions of the county court begin on the first Mondays of January, April, July and October, and the probate court the first Mondays of February, May, August and November. The legal bar of Independence County is composed of the following named attorneys: H. S. Coleman, J. C. Yancey, Robert Neill, W. A. Bevens, J. J. Barnwell, Ex.-Gov. Elisha Baxter, Samuel Peete, W. B. Padgett, Charles Bourne, J. C. Bone and W. B. Ruddell. Independence County has been comparatively free from the perpetration of the grosser crimes. Since the Civil War there has been only one execution for the crime of murder committed here– the hanging of Jesse Kemp for the murder of Marion Hulsey. He was tried on a change of venue and executed in Sharp County. Another person suffered capital punishment in the county for a murder committed elsewhere. French traders and trappers ascended White River long before the permanent settlement of the country traversed by it began. A party of these people encamped and hunted bear in the region now known as Oil Trough Bottom, in Independence County. Here they slew many bear, from which they rendered the oil, filled their barrels and had a surplus left. This letter was put into wooden troughs and left in the camp, the intention probably being to return for it. However, no one called, and the oil spoiled in the troughs. Hence the name Oil Trough Bottom. These traders and hunters left many marks of their travels at various places up and down the river, which were plainly visible to the pioneer settlers. Not a few of the streams and other natural objects were named by the French and Spaniards. page 624 The permanent settlement of this territory is believed to have commenced about the year 1810, or perhaps a little earlier. John Reed located at the site of Batesville in 1812. Samuel Miller, of Tennessee, came in 1813, and subsequently settled on the creek that bears his name in this county. Col. Robert Bean ran the first keel-boat up White. River and established himself at the mouth of Polk Bayou (Batesville) in 1814. James Micham settled near the same place in the same year. In 1817, James Trimble and his family, including Jackson S. Trimble, who now lives at Sulphur Rock, and who was then a small child, came from Kentucky and chose a location five miles southwest of Batesville. [p.624] Col. Hartwell Boswell, John H. Ringgold, John Redmond and Henry Engles all came from the same State to Batesville some time prior to 1820. The following named persons composed the first grand jury empaneled for the county in the circuit court, in January, 1822: George Teil, Byrd Candrey, James Akin, John Morgan, Henry Morris, David Magness, John Cochran, William Sneed, George Trimble, Peter Taylor, William Matney, Benedict White, Joshua Minyard, Amos Friend, William Friend, Robert Bruce and Morgan Magness. These, of course, were all prominent pioneer settlers. John Magness, father of Morgan Magness, was also a pioneer of note. Space only permits the mention here of a few of the most prominent early residents, but two of whom, so far as known, are now living: James Micham and Jackson S. Trimble. For other pioneers the reader is referred to the list of early county officers and biographical sketches. Independence County, located in the northeastern part of the State, is bounded north by Izard, Sharp and Lawrence Counties, east by Jackson, south by Jackson and White, and west by Cleburne and Stone. It has an area of 700 square miles, a considerable portion of which remains unimproved. Its boundary lines are as follows: Beginning on the line dividing Townships 14 and 15 north, where Black River lastly crosses it in its downward course; thence west on the township line to the range line between Ranges 4 and 5 west; thence north to the corner between Sections 13 and 24, Township 15 north, Range 5 west; thence west on section lines to the southwest corner of Section 18, Township 15 north, Range 7 west; thence south 45º west seven and a half miles to White River; thence down White River to the mouth of Wolf Bayou; thence up Wolf Bayon to the line dividing Townships 12 and 13; thence east to the northeast corner of Township 12 north, Range 8 west; thence south on the range line to the line dividing Townships 10 and 11 north; thence east on the township line to the line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 west; thence north on the range line to White River; thence down White River to the mouth of Black River; thence up Black River to the place of beginning. The surface of the county, in general, is quite broken and hilly, and in some places it might be considered mountainous. Along the streams there are beautiful valleys, and on the summits of the ridges between the streams many tracts of fair table lands are seen. A large proportion of the hilly lands are so completely covered with stone and bed rock as to render their cultivation impossible. The famous Oil Trough Bottom is a tract of very rich alluvial land, fifteen miles in length and about three miles in width, lying on the southwest side of White River, in the southeast part of the county. It is level, but not subject to overflow, and is especially well adapted to the production of wheat and corn. At its head is the Oil Trough Ridge, with a height of 152 feet. In this ridge is a black limestone capable of a superior polish. About five miles above Batesville a bold headland on the south side of White River, known as “Shields' Bluff,” or White River Mountain, is a conspicuous object. This mountain is some 570 feet above the river, and is a noted land-mark in Arkansas as having been the point where the old Cherokee line commenced at White River, and ran southwest along the dividing ridge, of which it forms the terminating bluff on the river. From Miller's Creek to Batesville the hills are from 130 to 240 feet in height. Red shales, running downward into brown and black shales, with calcareous septaria, occupy the base of the hills around Batesville; these shales are surmounted by 150 to 180 feet of sandstone. Between Batesville and the “Big Spring,” there are high ridges elevated about 450 feet above White River, composed in their upper part of both compact and cellular chert; the latter partaking of the character of buhr-stone. The descent from these chert ridges to the “Big Spring” is some 260 feet. (State Geological Report). Building stone of excellent quality exists in unlimited quantity in Independence County, and in the cavernous limestone regions, hundreds of caves, from small to great dimensions, are numerous. page 625 White River, the largest stream in the county, [p.625] passes through it in a direction a little south of east, leaving the larger portion of the area to the north. The creeks that flow into this river from the south are Wolf Bayou, which forms a portion of the western boundary of the county, Greenbriar, Salido and Goodie; and those flowing into it from the north are Lafferty, Spring Creek, Polk Bayou and Big Creek. South Big, Elbow, Fourteen Mile, Ten Mile and Departee Creeks drain the extreme southern part, flowing southward. Cura and Dota Creeks, in the northeastern portion of the county, flow into Black River, where the latter forms a portion of the eastern boundary line. With the streams here named, and their various tributaries, the locality is well drained. Many springs abound, the most noted of which is Big Spring, about six miles northwest of Batesville. Here a volume of the clearest water rises from a cavernous passage at the foot of an amphitheatre of hills of cherty, siliceous limestone, sufficient in quantity to turn a small gristmill, which stands a short distance below. This spring is quite a noted locality in Independence County. Good well water can be obtained at various places at a moderate depth, while cisterns are generally in use. From the several sources named an abundant supply of water is obtained for all purposes. White and Black Rivers are both navigable to points above this vicinity. The former may be traversed by the large steamers that ply the lower waters, as far up as Batesville, and by small veasels, to Leadville in Missouri. The latter is navigable for boats of medium size as far as Pocahontas, in Randolph County, and for smaller vessels to points at a greater distance above. Independence is in the mineral belt of this part of the State. The ores found are oxides of iron and manganese, galena and occasionally copper pyrites. The richest beds of manganese are located in the vicinity of Lafferty Creek and the town of Cushman, to which latter place the railroad has been extended from Batesville, on account of the rich mineral deposits thereabouts. Lead has been mined to some extent on Cura Creek, in the northeast part of the county. Throughout this mineral belt manganese ore is found in different degrees of purity, from that which is worthless, up to the best, which is very rich and remarkably free from phosphorus and silica. It is usually detected between a top covering of burnt flint and limestone at various depths beneath. The principal mines now worked are the Southern Mine and the Turner Mines, both in Stubbs Township. The Keystone Iron & Manganese Company, of Johnstown, Pa., one of William Carnegie's companies, own the former and control the latter. They have a very extensive plant of machinery at the Southern Mine, and generally keep about fifty men employed. The ore from this and the Turner Mines is of the finest description. Considerable work is being done in other mines in the way of developing them. Footnote From the Batesville Guard of October 26, 1888. There are millions of tons of the better class of ore in this belt awaiting only the investment of the intelligent capitalist to reap a rich reward for his investment; but capital is necessary.* The timber growth of Oil Trough Bottom is pin oak, red oak, water oak, elm, pecan, black walnut, sweet gum, hackberry and buckeye, with an undergrowth of large pawpaw, grape vines, spicewood, etc. The bottom lands, though of limited extent, in the northwest part of the county support a growth of black walnut, Spanish oak, ash, and over-cup oak, with an undergrowth of spice and large grape-vines. A similar growth of timber is found in the valleys throughout the county. Much of the upland is covered with black and white oak, hickory and dogwood, and the principal growth on the cherty limestone land consists of black-jack, sassafras and persimmon. page 626 A large proportion of the more broken lands still belong to the United States, and are subject to homestead entry. The State also owns considerable, which can be procured very cheap. The St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad Company have a large amount of land within the county, and the balance belongs to individuals. The soil of the Oil Trough Bottom is unsurpassed in fertility. It is dark colored and of a clayey consistency, having a depth of from five to six feet. It yields from a bale to a bale and a half of cotton, fifty to one hundred bushels of corn, and from [p.626] twenty to forty bushels of wheat per acre. The soil of the other bottom lands are generally composed of alluvial deposits, and are very rich and productive, while that of the uplands is, as a rule, light and sandy. Much of the upland will not produce more than from five to ten bushels of wheat, and from ten to twenty bushels of corn, and from one-half to three-fourths of a bale of cotton per acre. All kinds of fruit trees flourish and do well when cultivated, even where scarcely any thing else can be grown. A State Geological Report published before the late Civil War, speaks of the soil in general as follows: “A considerable diversity of soil is to be found in Independence County, corresponding to changes in the underlying geological formations. Though the surface is considerably broken, still there are extensive areas of table land underlaid by cherty subcarboniferous limestones. These soils are rich, and being based on red clay, are retentive and durable; they are similar in composition to the land in the barrens of Kentucky. There are, also, extensive tracts of bottom land, bordering on the numerous small streams which water this county, that are well adapted for cultivation.’ Much of the timber of the county has been cut into logs and rafted down White River to distant market points, while some has been sawed into lumber and shipped away by rail; an abundant supply, however, remains for domestic purposes, and wood for fuel seems almost inexhaustible. Thus far the county's chief sources of income have been the growing of cotton and corn and the raising of live stock. It is believed, however, that are long the mineral products will become equally profitable. When thousands of men are employed to dig the ores from the earth, and other thousands are engaged in manufacturing the products at or near home, and home markets are established for the surplus farm yield, greater prosperity must reign! In 1880 the United States cenaus showed that Independence had 2,465 farms and 84,766 acres of improved land. From these the vegetable productions for the year 1879 were as follows: Indian corn, 691, 188 bushels; oats, 61,209 bushels; wheat, 57,104 bushels: hay. 396 tons: cotton, 11,156 bales; Irish potatoes, 11,251 bushels: sweet potatoes, 16,583 bushels: tobacco, 21.726 pounds. In the production of tobacco, the county then ranked seventh in the State. It will be interesting to compare with these figures the productions of the present year (1889). when the census of 1890 shall be published. The number of head of live stock here in 1880, was: Horses. 3,742; mules and asses, 2,297; neat cattle, 15,553: sheep, 11,351; hogs, 32.911. The live stock as shown by the abstract of taxable property for the year 1888 was: Horses, 4,199; mules and asses, 2,707; neat cattle, 20,570; sheep, 5,642; hogs, 26.675. By comparison it will be seen that since 1880 there has been a large increase in horses. mules and asses, and neat cattle, but a decrease of nearly 50 per cent in the number of sheep and a large apparent decrease in the number of hogs. In 1880, and for years prior thereto, the Arkankas Woolen Mills, located on Sullivan Creek. some seven miles north of Batesville. were in operation, manufacturing all kinds of woolen goods. These mills furnished a home market for wool, in consequence of which the raising of sheep in the county had become a leading industry. On the 9th of May, 1882, these valuable mills were washed away and destroyed in a flood. Thus the home market for wool was to some extent overthrown. This. together with the reduced price of wool in general. probably accounts for the falling off in the number of sheep. There was no real decrease in the number of hogs raised, though the figures might indicate such to be the case. In 1880 the county real estate was assessed for taxation at $1,465,271, and the personal property at $865,869, making a total of $2,331,140, the taxes upon which amounted in the aggregate to $34,719. In 1888 real estate was assessed for taxation at $2,464.413, and the personal property at $1,759,488, making a total of $4,223,901: the total amount of taxes charged thereon was $55,445.90. These figures show that since 1880 the taxable wealth of the county has almost doubled. page 627 The population of Independence County at the end of each census decade since its organization has been as follows: 1830, 2,031; 1840, 3,669; [p.627] 1850, 7,767; 1860, 14.307; 1870, 14,566; 1880, 18,086. The colored population in 1860 was 1,337; in 1870, 908, and in 1880, 1,382. The Batesville branch of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad was completed to Batesville in 1882 and extended on to Cushman in 1886. It leaves the main line at a point near Newport. This is the only railway outlet with which this locality is favored. The Methodists were the pioneer religious workers in Independence County. the Baptists coming next. Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, there are now Batesville station, Rev. J. C. Brown, pastor– membership 220; Sulphur Rock circuit, embracing five appointments, Rev. D. W. Reid, pastor, with an aggregate membership of 590; Bethesda circuit, having about five appointments, Rev. A. P. Saffold, pastor, with an aggregate membership of 510; and Jamestown circuit, including seven appointments, Rev. T. A. Craig, pastor, with an aggregate membership of 460. Some of the circuits perhaps embrace a few appointments beyond the county limits. All these organizations belong to the Batesville district of the White River conference, of which Rev. H. T. Gregory, of Batesville, is the presiding elder. There are within the county the following Baptist Church organizations, pastors and memberships: Batesville, Elder A. J. Barton, 90. Bellview, Mt. Olivet, Maple Spring and Union Grove, James Purcelley, respective memberships 60, 76, 87 and 55; Center Grove, R. B. Belomy, 172: Eatopia, M. M. Burge. 41; Martin's Chapel. G. W. James, 23; New Prospect, 25; Olive Branch. O. M. Wood, 46; Providence, J. D. Faulkner, 21; Pleasant Plains, C. W. Betts, 44; Rehobeth. J. W. Goodwin, 95; Sulphur Rock, J. W. Bell, 7: and Cave Spring, J. L. McCord, 83. All of these belong to the Independence Association of Missionary Baptists. St. Paul's Episcopal Church, at Batesville. with a membership of about 90, is the only organization of that denomination within the county. The Batesville Presbyterian, is the only “Old School” church organization within the county. A. R. Kennedy, D. D., is the pastor, and the membership is 128. The Cumberland Presbyterians have the following organizations and pastors: Jamestown, Philip Jeffrey; New Hope, James Bone; Sulphur Rock and Mount Zion, Henry Gibson. These will average about forty members each. In addition is a mission at Batesville, with Rev. A. N. Nunn as pastor. Other denominations of less numerical strength within the county, having few organizations, are the Christian, Methodist Episcopal, and perhaps some others. The colored people have two Methodist and one Baptist Church organizations in Batesville. Sunday schools are generally taught in connection with the stronger churches. Upon the whole the community is well supplied with churches and schools. Batesville, the county seat, is situated on the north side of White River, at the mouth of Polk Bayou. In 1812, one John Reed, from Missouri, cut down the first tree on the site where it now stands, and erected a small store house, and with a supply of notions and whisky traded with the Indians, trappers and hunters. His example was followed during the next five years by C. Kelly. Robert Bean, Boswell, Ringgold and Redmoud. The town was named after Judge James Woodson Bates, the first delegate to Congress from Arkansas Territory. The principal trade of the place during its early existence was that of supplying the settlers with groceries and provisions, for which hides and furs from the then numerous wild animals were taken in exchange. At that period the only means of intercourse with the older States was by keel-boats, and the trade was principally with New Orleans. But as time passed on and the country improved. Batesville became, as it now is, a beautiful and substantial city of nearly, if not quite, 3,000 inhabitants. It is attractively located on a plane inclining from the north toward White River, and on both sides of Polk Bayou–the business portion being mostly east of the latter stream. page 628 The business part of the town begins at Chestnut Street and extends up Main Street on both sides for about five blocks. In this vicinity, extending out also on the cross streets, are nineteen substantial buildings of sandstone, this stone having [p.628] been procured near by. These nineteen buildings embrace the Arlington Hotel, the cotton warehouse and twenty stores. There are seven brick buildings (all two stories except one), containing fourteen stores. Two buildings are covered with corrugated iron, and many others are made of wood. Many fine brick, stone and frame residences are also found. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the Baptists have each a large and commodions stone church edifice; the Presbyterians have a fine brick, and the Episcopalians a neat frame building. The colored people have three church houses. The public school-house is a large two-story brick, with a one-story stone building attached. The Arkansas College, a substantial brick structure of two stories, occupies a commanding position in the eastern part of town. There are also numerous other fine buildings and manufacturing establishments here, indicating thrift and energy above most places. Batesville contains two banks, fourteen general stores, eleven groceries, two book and notion stores, three hardware stores, three drug stores, one dry goods and clothing store, two millinery, one furniture and two jewelry stores, two auction houses, one music and sewing machine store, a merchant tailor, two harness stores, three meat markets and a bakery; also a full complement of mechanies and their shops; the town is also supplied with two public halls, two large and commodious hotels– the Arlington and the McDowell House–and several smaller ones, a number of restaurants, two livery stables, a telephone exchange, connecting the town with Jamestown, Melbourne, Barren Fork, Cushman, Sulphur Rock, the Oil Trough district and Newport, a Pacific Express office, the Batesville Iron Works, a steam planing-mill and sash and door factory, two steam saw mills, two flouring-mills, a wool carding-mill, a cotton-gin, a large canning and evaporating factory, a neat railroad depot, a well arranged post office, an abstract office, etc. The professions are also supplied. The various prominent secret societies are well represented. The trade of the place is extensive. Several of the leading stores do a large wholesale business, supplying the country merchants and merchants of many smaller towns with goods. During the cotton season of 1887-88 over 20,000 bales of cotton were shipped from this point, 12,000 of which belonged to the trade proper of Batesville, and the number of car loads of other commodities shipped away were as follows: Cedar, 824; railroad ties, 89; manganese ore, 152; zinc ore, 2; stone (dressed), 127; lime, 16; general merchandise, 171; cotton, 1,013; cotton seed, 32; total, 2,426. About a mile from the court-house is the fair ground of the Independence County Agricultural and Mechanical Fair Association, being an enclosure of twenty acres, containing a good race track, a grand stand and an agricultural hall. Very near the fair ground is Oaklawn Cametery, owned by the corporation of Batesville. The town is incorporated, and has a full set of corporate officers and five aldermen. The present mayor is the Hon. J. C. Yancy. As a prosperous, growing and beautiful little city, and one whose cleanliness is proverbial, Batesville certainly compares most favorably with any in Northeast Arkansas. Footnote For the history of Batesville acknowledgments are made to the Batesville Guard. This is a terminal point in the navigation of White River. It is the head of navigation for the large steamers that ply the lower waters, and the foot for the smaller up-river crafts. A powerful steam elevator belonging to the railroad company transfers the freight between the railway and the boats.* The place also contains two weekly newspapers, the Batesville Guard, a Democratic paper of general news, now in its thirteenth volume, edited and published by M. Y. Todisman, and the Wheel, in its third volume, edited and published by Messrs. Martin and Bradley, deaf-mutes. The latter advocates the cause of the order known as the “Wheel,” an organization professedly opposed to tyranny and monopoly. Both of these papers are ably conducted, and have proven a prominent factor in the influence exerted toward the advancement of the community. page 629 Cushman, situated at the present terminus of [p.629] the railroad, nine miles northwest of Batesville, contains three general stores, three groceries, a blacksmith and wood shop, a postoffice, several dwellings, etc. Though only three years old, its growth has been steady. Jamestown, on the Batesville and Clinton road, seven miles south of Batesville, contains four general stores, a postoffice, a blacksmith and wood shop, three school-houses, a public school building, a grist mill and cotton-gin, and about 200 inhabitants. Newark is on the railroad, in the eastern part of the county, and has a depot, post-office, four general stores, a drug store, two saloons, a still house, a saw and grist-mill and cotton-gin, a church edifice, a school house, and about 300 people. Pleasant Plains, on the Batesville and Little Rock road, about twenty miles south of the former place, is comprised of three general stores, a blacksmith and wood shop, postoffice, academy, a church house, and about 200 inhabitants. Sulphur Rock, on the railroad, eight miles east of Batesville, is a substantial old village, containing a postoffice, eight general stores, three drug stores, two groceries, pottery works, several mechanics shops, a hotel, livery stable, two churches, two school-houses–academy and free school, lodges of several secret societies, and a complement of professional men. The town is incorporated and does a large amount of business. Its population is about 500. The educational facilities of Independence County are best shown by the following statistics, from the report of the State superintendent of public instruction, for the year ending June 30, 1888: Scholastic population, white, males, 3,599; females, 3,268; total, 6,867; colored, males, 289; females, 276; total, 564; total white and colored, 7,432. Number of pupils taught in the public schools, white, 3,682; colored, 337; total, 4,019; number of school districts, 81; number of teachers employed, males, 76; females, 12, or a total of 88. Average monthly salaries paid teachers of first grade, males, $45.00; females, $40.00; in second grade, males, $37.50; females, $30.00; third grade, males, $32.50, females, $25.00. There was expended for the support of the public schools during the year, $21,202.15 for teachers' salaries; $521.84 for treasurer's commissions, and $1,504.89 for other purposes; total $23,228.88. The number of districts voting tax was 32. According to these official statistics, about 72 per cent of the white and about 60 per cent of the colored scholastic population were taught in the public schools during the year. It is believed, however, that the statistics do not give the whole number of pupils who received instruction in the schools. The free school system is gaining popular favor and becoming more and more efficient. The Arkansas College, located at Batesville, is a noted institution of learning, under the management of the Presbyterian denomination. It was founded in 1872, and has long been an established success. Then, as now, Rev. I. J. Long was president of the faculty. There are four courses of study: Primary, common school, bachelor of science, and the classical, mathematical and scientific. The college buildings consist of a large two story brick and a large one-story stone house. They are pleasantly located in the eastern part of the city. The school is well patronized both at home and from abroad. page 630 There has always been in Independence County a strong sentiment of loyalty to the general government. Out of about 1,800 votes east in the county for delegates to the State convention before the first guns were fired in the Civil War, only about 300 were given to the candidates favoring secession. As soon, however, as the “dogs of war” were let loose, the loyal sentiment was suppressed and the secession element became predominant. Many Union men refugeed to the North, and many others were pressed into the Confederate service. Companies for the Confederate army begun to be organized in the spring of 1861, and before the struggle was over the county had furnished about fifteen companies for that army. These were commanded respectively by Capts. W. E. Gibbs, John H. Dye, George W. Rutherford, J. W. Cullins, S. C. Jones, S. Carson, J. S. Tracy, W. S. Smalley, T. J. Morgan, N. Floyd, E. Bridewell, S. J. McGuffin, James McCauley and others. The most of these companies served in the Seventh and Eighth Arkansas Confederate regiments. On the 3rd of May, 1862, Gen. Curtis, of the Federal army, arrived at and established his headquarters at Batesville, and sent portions of his army to occupy other points in this part of the State. Immediately afterward a battalion of six companies, commanded respectively by Capts. Turney, H. V. Gray, Davis and others, was organized at Batesville under the charge of Col. Elisha Baxter, for the Federal army. After marching this battalion to Helena, Col. Baxter, who declined further to command it, turned it over to Lieut.-Col. Bundy, of Chicago, who assumed command. This battalion was raised principally in Independence County. In the fall of 1863, Col. Baxter recruited and organized another battalion of six companies at Batesville, known as the Fourth Arkansas Mounted Infantry, or “Steele Guards,” the latter name being in honor of Gen. Steele. The nucleus of this battalion was the company of Capt. William P. Berry. This command was also raised mostly in Independence County. It served about a year for the Union cause, and was disbanded without having been mustered into the United States service. A number of loyal men joined Col. Phelps' Missouri and other Federal regiments. By the best authority it is estimated that from first to last about 1,000 men of the county served in the Union army. Gen. Curtis remained with his army at Batesville until nearly July 1, 1862. This place was reocoupied about the 1st of January, 1864, by a Federal force under Col. Livingston, who held it for several months, and at the close of the war, and for some time after, it was garrisoned by Federal troops. In January or February, 1864, while Col. Livingston commanded the post of Batesville, he sent a forage train into the country under an escort of about 180 soldiers. This force was attacked, a few miles out, by a Confederate force under Capt. George Rutherford. The escort was defeated, with some loss in killed and wounded, the forage train was captured and some forty-odd wagons were burned, and the mules taken away by the Confederates. This was known as the “Waugh Fight,” and was the only engagement in the county between the contending parties worthy of mention. The county was over-run by both armies, the results of which were somewhat felt by private citizens. Independence County is undoubtedly in the center of a community rich in everything that tends to contribute to the happiness and welfare of man. Liberally supplied by nature with unsurpassed advantages of soil, climate and location, it needs no argument to convince the most skeptical of its desirability as a place of residence. Time will demonstrate the wonderful resources here awaiting development.