Bio of Evans L. Whetstone, Miller Co, AR

From "The Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas,"
Published 1890 by Goodspeed.  Chicago, Nashville, and St. Louis:
The Goodspeed Publishing Co.  1890

Submitted by: Becky Hargett <bhargett@cityscape.net>

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Evans L. Whetstone, a native born resident of Miller County, was born on the
south side of Lynn's Ferry, on February 10, 1848, being a son of Evans L. and
Frances (Spigner) Whetstone, both of whom were natives of Alabama.  Soon after
their marriage, which took place in their native State, they moved to Bowie
County, Tex., and one year later to what is now Miller County, Ark., being among
The very first to settle in the county south of Sulphur River.  Here he cleared
up a farm (now owed by some of the Terrys, also old settlers), and greatly
prospered, at the time of his death having accumulated a great deal of property,
both real estate and slaves.  He died, when our subject was a child of about
three years, while still in the prime of life.  He belonged to the Masonic
fraternity, was a Whig, and served in the Mexican War.  After his death his
widow married Simon L. Higgs, who is now deceased.  She died in this county, at
her home fifteen miles south of Texarkana, in 1881, when about sixty years of
age, and passed away in full belief in the teachings of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, with which denomination she had united in her forty-fifth year.
By her first marriage she was the mother of eight children, five of whom still
survive:  Mary (widow of Evans Larry, and a resident of this county), Emma (wife
of W. A. Miller, ex-district clerk and now an attorney, at Decatur, Wise County,
Tex.), Appolona (relict of Joseph T. Armstrong, deceased, also a resident of
this county), Evans L., Fannie (wife of B. W. Adams, clerk of Miller County),
and Jacob A., Drucilla and Elizabeth (deceased).  Jacob A. Died on the retreat
from Corinth, Miss.; Drucilla was the wife of F. M. Waldrip, ex-sheriff of
Lafayette County, and died in her fortieth year; Elizabeth was the wife of Pink
Armstrong, and died in Grayson County, Tex., in 1888.  There were five children
born to her last marriage, but only two of these survive.  The school days of
our subject were spent in Lewisville, Lafayette County, Ark.  When only fourteen
years of age, in the latter part of 1862, he joined Col. Crawford's regiment of
the Confederate Cavalry, in which he remained until the close of the war, during
which time he participated in the battle of Pine Bluff and others.  At the close
of the war his means consisted of 60 cents in small change and a very poor
pony, for which he had paid $500 Confederate money.  At that time he went to
Lewisville and engaged in the livery business with Buzzard & Roberts, with whom
he remained until 1867, and then made a crop in Beech Township, Miller County,
after which he started to Texas, but on his way stopped and rented Spring Bank
Ferry, and operated that celebrated ferry for four months, and then commenced to
farm on old Larrey plantation, and the following year located where he now
lives. After having sold a portion of his farm, he still owns 470 acres of
excellent land, with about 150 under cultivation, located about five miles north
of Bright Star, and this by his energy and industry he has well improved.  He
devotes considerable attention to stock-raising, and keeps a number of cattle,
horses and mules on hand.  In 1870 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary
Eliza Larrey, daughter of Evans Larrey, of this county.  She was born in 1850.
To their marriage eight children were given, and all of them are still living:
John A., Jacob A., Evans L., Jr., Hattie, Bennett, Henry, Fulton and Pearle.
Mr. Whetstone is a stanch Democrat, politically, and has served in a number of
Local offices of trust, among them being that of deputy sheriff, under Sheriff
Hamilton.  He has been a resident of Sulphur Township for twenty-two years, and
during this time he has proved himself to be a very desirable citizen, as well
as a strictly honorable man.