Newton County AR

Biography of Dr. John S. Stephenson

DR. JOHN S. STEPHENSON. The value to any community of a professional man is not marked merely by his learning and skill, his proficiency in medical and surgical practice, but also by his character, both private and professional, his honorable adherence to medical ethics, and his personal integrity and benevolence of purpose. When a physician combines these characteristics it is with pleasure that we record his life-work, and such a man do we find in Dr. John S. Stephenson. He owes his nativity to Polk County, Tennessee, where he was born in 1839. His parents were Dr. Andrew R. and … Read more

Biography of William C. Hale

WILLIAM C. HALE. Among the native Tennesseeans who have done good, stalwart work in the cultivation and development of Newton County, Arkansas, we may well mention the name just given, for he has resided here ever since the war and has labored early and late to provide a home for himself and family. He is well known to the citizens of his section and his correct mode of living has gained him a popularity which is merited in every respect. By his energetic and well-directed efforts he is now possessed of a competence which is all that can be desired. … Read more

Biography of Kelsey Gillmore

KELSEY GILLMORE. Kelsey Gillmore has been a resident of Newton County all his life, his birth occurring here in 1834, has identified himself with the interests of his section, has won numerous friends, and has built up a reputation for honesty and fair dealing that is in every way merited. His father, Levi Gillmore, was a native Vermonter, and in that State grew to mature years and secured a fair education. When a young man he started West, and stopped in the Hoosier State, where he met and married Miss Sallie Lindsey. Later he removed to Missouri, where he followed … Read more

Biography of Col. J. N. Coffey

COL. J. N. COFFEY. This worthy old pioneer deserves the most honorable mention within the pages of this volume, for he has ever been a representative of the honorable, industrious and law-abiding class and has done his full share in helping to make Arkansas one of the most favored States in the Union. He was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, April 15, 1819, a son of John and Margaret (Boskin ) Coffey, both of whom were born in South Carolina, the birth of the former occurring in Lancaster District. It is supposed that three brothers of the Coffey family came … Read more

Biography of C. C. Hudson

C. C. HUDSON. Many of the most active and enterprising residents of Newton County are natives of the same, and have here spent the greater part of their lives. In them we find men of true loyalty to the interests of this part of the State who understand as it were by instinct the needs, social and industrial, of this vicinity, and who have a thorough knowledge of its resources. They are, therefore, better adapted to succeed here than a stranger could be and are probably without exception warmly devoted to the prosperity of their native place. Mr. C. C. … Read more

Biography of Lemuel R. Jones

LEMUEL R. JONES. Among the most esteemed and respected citizens of the town of Western Grove there is not one who has been a more faithful soldier, a more pleasant or agreeable member of society, or a more thorough and sagacious business man than Lemuel R. Jones, who is now notary public and postmaster at that place. His life of industry and usefulness, and his record for honesty and uprightness have given him a hold upon the community which all might well desire to share. He is a native of the State of Missouri, born in St. Francois County, February … Read more

Biography of John Bailey Heffley

J0HN BAILEY HEFFLEY. John Bailey Heffey has devoted the greater part of his life to the calling of a farmer and stock raiser, and has met with more than the average degree of success by his industry and good management, accumulating a fair share of this world’s goods. Like other representative men of the county he came originally from Marion County, Tennessee, of which his parents, Philip and Hannah Sharp Heffley, were also natives. In that State the father died when our subject was about five years of age and the mother afterward removed to Henderson County, West Tennessee, where … Read more

Biography of Robert W. Harrison Jr.

ROBERT W. HARRISON, JR. This gentleman comes of a good Southern family, and in Maury County, Tennessee, his father, Robert W. Harrison, first saw the light in 1818. He was the only child of his parents,__________ and Elizabeth (Roberts) Harrison, and is a member of the same family as is ex-President Benjamin H. Harrison. He received fair educational advantages in his youth, and in 1841 came to Newton County, Arkansas, and settled on Little Buffalo Creek, one mile above Jasper, where he made his home for about one year. At the end of that time he moved to Boone County, … Read more

Biography of William Harrison Cecil

WILLIAM HARRISON CECIL, is a dry goods merchant in Harrison, Arkansas (July 9, 1894), and was born in Newton County, Arkansas, on July 9, 1854. His parents were Riley and Sarah J. (Harrison) Cecil, the former born in Arkansas July IO, 1829, the latter in Tennessee, April 11, 1835. Riley was a son of Solomon Cecil, who was born in Tennessee in 1786, and who was married to Sally Hatfield, in Tennessee, in 1814. There were born to them seven sons and two daughters, Riley being the fifth child. Two sons and one daughter are now living in Visalia, Cal. … Read more

Biography of Joseph B. Moss

JOSEPH B. MOSS. This wide-awake merchant of Jasper, Newton County, Arkansas, has been successful in the conduct of his affairs from a pecuniary stand-point, and is a liberal, generous and high-minded gentlemen, whose correct mode of living has gathered about him a large circle of friends and well wishers. He was born in Georgia, August 8, 1849, and in the section where he was born, was reared and educated, although he was for some time an attendant of the schools of Tennessee. He was brought up on his father’s farm, and when the great strife between the North and South … Read more

Biography of Col. John J. Kemp

COL. JOHN J. KEMP, deceased. The influence of a good man will be ever expanding with the lapse of time, and his deeds of charity and acts of kindness will live to commemorate his name and perpetuate his memory. It can be truly said that a good man has been gathered to his fathers, but his virtues live after him, and his name is everywhere mentioned with respect and honor. He was born in middle Tennessee August 6, 1818, and his death occurred May 31, 1893. His early education was obtained in the State of his birth, and having been … Read more

Biography of James T. Penn

JAMES T. PENN. Among the prominent men of Harrison, Arkansas, and among its most worthy and esteemed citizens, may be mentioned James T. Penn. He is a man interested in the public welfare and, while he pays strict attention to his private affairs, he shirks no duties as a loyal citizen. He was born in Newton County, Arkansas, August 27, 1854, a son of John Penn, who was one of the pioneers of this State from Tennessee, first residing in Johnston County, then Newton County, and is now a resident of Boone County. He was born in Virginia September 22, … Read more

Biography of Capt. A. R. McPherson

CAPT. A. R. MCPHERSON. This worthy gentleman and old pioneer of Newton County, Arkansas, comes of fine old Virginia stock, although he, himself, was born in the State of Alabama, August 17, 1830, the seventh of eleven children born to the marriage of Reuben McPherson and Elizabeth Rash. The father was one of the early pioneers of Tennessee and took part in the War of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, with whom he participated in the battle of New Orleans. After the war he was married in Tennessee and moved with his young wife to Jackson County, Ala., where he was … Read more

Biography of Hon. M. T. Brisco

In reviewing the various professional interests of Newton County, Arkansas, the name of M. T. Brisco cannot be ignored, for he is one of her most successful legal lights. Although it is a known fact that, given the ordinary average education and good judgment, any man may make a success in the avenues of trade, yet in the profession of law he must be endowed with superior intelligence and have gone through years of careful study and training to be able to cope with the brilliant minds which do honor to the bench and bar. Mr. Brisco is a gentleman … Read more

Biography of Robert Capps

ROBERT CAPPS. This gentleman has been a resident of this section since 1837, coming thither from St. Louis County, Missouri, where he had settled in 1836. He was born in Mecklenburg County, N. C., February 2, 1820, in which State his parents, Richard and Rachel (Barnhill) Capps, were also born and reared. After their marriage they removed to Tennessee and made a good home for themselves in Grainger County, but in 1836 removed to Missouri, and the following year came to this section of Arkansas. The father became a prominent farmer of Newton County, but was called from life in … Read more

Biography of John Murphy

JOHN MURPHY. This prominent farmer and stockraiser of Harrison township, Boone County, Arkansas, was born in Miller County, Missouri, January 7, 1838, and probably inherits much of his push and energy from his Irish ancestors, his great-grandfathcr Murphy having been a native of the Emerald Isle. The latter came to America after the Revolutionary War and settled in the Palmetto State, where his last days were spent. His wife was a native of Wales. His son, John Murphy, grandfather of subject, was born in South Carolina, but at an early date settled near Murfresboro, Tennessee, where he died when his … Read more

Hickman, Willa Chloe – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Willa Chloe Hickman, 86, of La Grande, died Thursday morning at a local care center. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hillcrest Cemetery. Arrangements are with Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mrs. Hickman was born on March 10, 1920, the daughter of Hezekiah and Pearl (Carlton) Villines in Ponca, Ark. In 1940 she married Bill Franklin Hickman, and they lived in California until his death in 1972. After his death she moved to La Grande to be near family. She was a member of the Assembly of God church. She enjoyed sewing, her … Read more

Biography of Anderson Carlton

ANDERSON CARLTON. A lifetime of hard earnest endeavor in pursuing the occupation to which he now gives his attention, coupled with strict integrity, honesty of purpose and liberality in all directions, has resulted in placing Anderson Carlton among the truly respected and honored agriculturists and stockmen of Newton County. Like other representative men of the county he is a native of North Carolina, born in Wilkes County in 1825. His parents, Alfred and Polly (Ellison) Carlton, were also natives of Wilkes County, N. C., the former born in 1805 and the latter in 1806. This worthy couple celebrated their nuptials … Read more

Biography of F. S. Baker

F. S. BAKER. This gentleman has been one of the wide-awake and enterprising citizens of Harrison, Arkansas, since 1873, but first saw the light of day in Smith County, Virginia, May 22, 1842, a son of Andrew and Mary (Hash) Baker, who were also Virginians. They came with their family to Fulton County, Arkansas, and there the father was successfully engaged in farming and merchandising up to the breaking out of the great Civil War, and they then moved to Jasper, Newton County. In 1862 the father enlisted as a lieutenant in the Confederate service, with which he served until … Read more

Biography of Dr. George W. Thompson

DR. GEORGE W. THOMPSON. Dr. George W. Thompson is a successful follower of Aesculapius at Cave Creek, Arkansas, and through ability and well merited success has built up a practice that is eminently satisfactory. He is a product of Caldwell County, Kentucky, born in 1836, and the son of William R. Thompson who was born in Claiborne County, Tennessee, in 1807. The father was liberally educated in his native State and was there married to Miss Elizabeth Wells, also of Tennessee, and a lady of more than ordinary intelligence. She was born in Knox County in 1809. About 1834 the … Read more