Newton County AR

Biography of Robert A. Thornton

ROBERT A. THORNTON. Robert A. Thornton, a prominent merchant, stock-man, farmer and cotton dealer of Shaver, Arkansas, came originally from Christian County, Missouri, his birth occurring in 1859 to the union of K. M. and Jane (Boatwright) Thornton, natives of Tennessee, where they lived until 1851. From there they removed to Springfield, Missouri, and resided in Greene and Christian Counties for a good many years. Mr. Thornton, who was born in the year ____, died at Shaver in 1885. Mrs. Thornton died when about seventy-seven years of age. Both were members of the Free-Will Baptist Church for nearly fifty years. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Andrew J. Hudson

ANDREW J. HUDSON. Although Jackson Township, Newton County, Arkansas, is well known for the push, energy and enterprise of its farmers and stock-raisers, Andrew J. Hudson stands in the van in that direction, and through industrious and honorable efforts is now the owner of a good farm of 300 acres with 00 acres under cultivation. He is a native of this township, born December 14, 1853, and here grew to manhood and received his education. In the year 1875 he was married to Miss Mary M. Dupee, a native of Morgan County, Tennessee, and the daughter of William and Mariah … Read more

Biography of Elihu C. Beckham

ELIHU C. BECKHAM. The requirements necessary for the successful filling of the office of assessor are accuracy, faithfulness and energy, and all these requirements are possessed by Mr. Beckham, who is universally pronounced to be one of the most capable assessors Stone County has ever had. He was born in Hardin County, near the Wayne County, Tennessee, line, July 13, 1840, a son of Joshua M. and Catherine (Hinkle) Beckman, the former of whom was born in Orange County, N. C., May 14, 1816, and died in Stone County, Arkansas, February 3, 1888. The mother was born in Alabama, December … 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 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 James Martin

JAMES MARTIN. Industry, uprightness and intelligence are characteristics which will advance the interests of any man, and will tend to the prosperity to which all aspire. Such are some of the traits of the gentleman whose name heads this article, one of the prominent farmers and stock-raisers of the county. James Martin was born in 1835, in Tennessee, of which State his parents, William and Leatha (Hart) Martin, were natives. Both were born in the year 1812, the former in Warren and the latter in Bedford County. The parents were married in their native State, and about 1843 moved with … 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 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

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 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 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 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 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 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