Clarksville Arkansas

Biographical Sketch of B. H. Markham

Bettie Ann Skinner, born April 12, 1888, in the family of James Walker and Lucy Cordelia Skinner, married Baird Hackett Markham in 1909. The couple had two children, Jewell Marie and Baird Hackett. Baird Markham, an accomplished businessman and community leader in Oklahoma City, owned the Markham Motor Company and held various club memberships. He also served in the National Guard, attaining the rank of Colonel. Bettie Ann and Baird Markham were active members of the Presbyterian church.

Slave Narrative of Eva Strayhorn

Eva Strayhorn, born in Johnson County, Arkansas, recounts her childhood experiences as an enslaved person. She recalls attending church services with white families, the kindness of her master, Bill Newton, and the supportive community among enslaved people. Eva describes the upheaval caused by the Civil War, detailing her family’s struggles to remain together amid recruitment and forced removals. After the war, Master Newton informed them of their freedom, emphasizing their shared history. Eva later married and raised a family, reflecting on her life and losses.

Biography of Maj. Harrison H. Hilton

Major Harrison H. Hilton, born in 1826 in Ashe County, N.C., emerged as a prominent merchant and pioneer in Arkansas. He moved west at fourteen, later organizing the First Arkansas Battalion of Confederate Cavalry during the Civil War, where he served until captured in 1863. Post-war, he thrived in land trading and merchandising, owning significant agricultural land. Active in church and local politics, he was elected to the State Legislature in 1889. He married Betsey Houser and remains a respected community member.

Biography of John H. Plunkett, M. D.

Dr. John H. Plunkett, born in Logan County, Arkansas, on April 12, 1874, has established himself as a prominent physician and surgeon in Porum, Oklahoma, where he has practiced for eight years. He received his education in Arkansas and Tennessee, later earning an M.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1912. Initially involved in education and business, he shifted to medicine and has remained committed to continuous learning. A Republican and active church member, he is also affiliated with several medical societies and the Masonic order. He is married with three children.