Alabama

Biographical Sketch of Milton Donaldson

Milton Donaldson (deceased), the largest capitalist of Lake County, was a native of Alabama, but spent part of his youth in Nashville. After moving to Donaldson’s Point, Missouri, he married Theresa Baird. Mr. Donaldson was a self made man. When he married he had nothing, and by hard work and good management he accumulated an estate worth $150,000. He had but one son, who died in childhood. He was a democrat in politics. Mrs. Donaldson was a Methodist. In 1877 Mr. Donaldson left his home one afternoon to look after his stock. While absent a villain by the name of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mr. F. H. Griffin

Mr. F. H. Griffin, a farmer of the Fourth District of Lake County, is the son of John T. and Miriam (Bailey) Griffin. The father was born in North Carolina October 12, 1803 and his mother in Madison County, Alabama in 1805. They were married in Madison County Alabama in January 1826, and had eight children, only two of them living to be grown: our subject and Martha J., who was born January 11, 1829, and married Mr. J. S. Williams, of Lake County, Tennessee, where she died in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin were devout members of the Christian … Read more

Biography of R.C. Nesmith

R. C. Nesmith, attorney at law of Smithville, was born in Dekalb County in 1837, a son of William A. and Elizabeth M. (McDowell) Nesmith. The father is of Scotch- Irish decent, born in 1799, in York District, South Carolina. In 1809 with his father, William Nesmith, immigrated to Blount County, E. Tenn. A year later they went to northern Alabama, where for a number of years they lived among the Cherokee Indians. In 1824 he came to Dekalb County, and three years later married. He settled in the Nineteenth district, where he engaged in wagon making and farming. There … Read more

Biography of Jackson Johnson

Jackson Johnson of St. Louis, who as chairman of the board of the International Shoe Company has gained not only American but world leadership in connection with shoe manufacturing interests, was born in La Grange, Alabama, on the 2d of November, 1859, a son of James Lee and Helen (Rand) Johnson, the former a native of Mississippi, while the latter was born in Alabama. The father owned and conducted a plantation up to the time of the Civil war. Jackson Johnson pursued his education in the public schools of his native state and when nineteen years of age initiated his … Read more

Geronimo, The Last Apache Chief on the War-Path

Far off in the Dragoon Mountains Where Captain Red Beard took me to see Cochise in his stronghold, lived the chief of a band of Apache Indians, called Geronimo. His Indian name was Go-khla-yeh, but after his first battle with the Mexicans he was called Geronimo, and the name was pronounced after the Spanish fashion, as if it began with an H instead of a G-Heronimo. When this Indian was a young man he went to Mexico to trade furs and beaded belts and moccasins for things the Indians use, and with him went his wife and many Indian men, … Read more

Osceola

I suspect “Uncle Sam” was born July 4th, 1776. If so, he was still a young man, only twenty-eight years old, when Osceola came into the world. The Red Stick tribe of the Creek Indians had a camp on the bank of the Chattahoochee. The water of this river is colored by the roots of trees, shrubs, and vines which grow along its sluggish current, and so it is very black. Osceola’s mother, living near this dark river, named her baby As-sa-he-ola,-black water. Spanish tongues by and by shortened it to the beautiful and Latin-like name of Osceola. Osceola’s mother … Read more

Biography of J. H. Adair

J. H. ADAIR. This gentleman was born in Independence, Autauga County, Ala., on March 3, 1828. His father was James Adair, born in Morgan County, Ga., in 1806, a successful merchant in Alabama for ten years, then a farmer of Talladega, Ala., until August 5, 1845, when he died, leaving a widow and nine children-five sons and four daughters. His widow, Sarah Adair, remained there until after the late war, when she returned to Georgia, where she now resides in Gainesville, and is in her eighty-fifth year. Her maiden name was Sarah Dean. She was born February 19, 181O, in … Read more

Biography of Robert E. Hurst

ROBERT E. HURST. A well-known and prominent citizen of Baxter County, Arkansas, is he whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Franklin County, Ala., December 13, 1845. a son of William R. and Annie (Devaney) Hurst, natives of Burke County, Ga., and Franklin County, Ala., respectively. When a boy William R. Hurst was taken to Alabama by his parents, grew up in Franklin County and there made his home until about 1876, when he came to Baxter County, Arkansas, and located near Lone Rock, where he still resides. He has always been an extensive farmer and is the … Read more

Biography of Washington M. Wade

WASHINGTON M. WADE. Washington M. Wade, ex-clerk and recorder of Christian County, and a prominent banker of the county, was born in Carroll County, Arkansas, January 21, 1858, and was the youngest of ten children born to the union of Joseph and Nancy (Sivley) Wade. The father was born in Warren County, Kentucky, near Bowling Green, March 4, 1814, and the mother was born in Lawrence County, Ala., in 1816. The latter was the daughter of Mr. and Rachel Sivley, and was the only one of the family to come to Missouri. Our subject’s paternal grandparents were Joseph Wade and … Read more

Biography of William F. Eatman

WILLIAM F. EATMAN. The county of Baxter, Arkansas, is very fortunate in her officials and is especially so as regards William F. Eatman, who is the efficient sheriff of Baxter County. He was born in Alabama, September 28, 1868, a son of Hon. Clem A. and Jane L. (Jordan) Eatman, both of whom were born in Greene County, Ala., the birth of the former occurring October 28, 1835, and their marriage in 1867. The paternal grandparents were Reddin and Sarah (Schamblee) Eatman, who were born, reared and married in the Old North State, and soon after the latter event (1835) … Read more

Biography of Hon. William A. Lawing

HON. WILLIAM A. LAWING. Within the limits of Christian County, Missouri, there is not a man of greater personal popularity than Hon. William A. Lawing, whose recognized worth and progressive spirit are well known. He was born at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, November 17, 1818, to the union of Robert and Mary Ann (Sublett) Lawing, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Virginia. The parents were married at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where Mrs. Lawing died in 1843. Afterward, the father married Miss Ellen Ward, who now resides in Jasper County, Missouri. While a resident of Tennessee the father followed the occupation of cotton planter … 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 Col. William B. Jordan

COL. WILLIAM B. JORDAN. This gentleman is one of the leading farmers of Independence Township, Baxter County, Arkansas, and has followed this calling from his earliest boyhood, having been initiated into its mysteries by his father. He was born in Lunenburg County, Virginia, in 1808, to Baxter Jordan, who was born in the same county in 1777 and died in 1823, having followed the calling of a merchant and farmer. His marriage resulted in the birth of two children, William B., and Thomas, who died in Alabama. The subject of this sketch was educated in his native county and an … Read more

Biography of Hon. J.S. Owens

HON. J. S. OWENS. Among the most esteemed and respected citizens of Marion County, Arkansas, there is not one who is a more pleasant, or agreeable member of society, a more thorough or sagacious man of business, or a more public-spirited and capable official than J. S. Owens, who is the present representative of Marion County, Arkansas, in the State Legislature. He was born in Alabama, February 19, 1851, a son of Thomas and Margaret (De Priest) Owens, who were natives of the Old North State. The Owens family came to this country from Ireland in an early day, the … Read more

Biography of John R. McCormick

JOHN R. MCCORMICK. During the thirty-five years that this gentleman has been a resident of Boone County, Arkansas, he has thoroughly identified himself with every interest of the same, and has been very public-spirited and progressive. He comes of good old Revolutionary ancestry, as his grandfather, Joseph R. McCormick, fought for independence and carried the scars received in the conflict to his grave. He was wounded seven times, and the last time crippled for life. Nothing is known of his wife and but little of his children. One of his sons, Benjamin F., went to California and died there in … Read more

Biography of Judge James P. Wood

Integrity, intelligence and system are qualities which will advance the interests of any man or any profession, and will tend to the prosperity to which all aspire. The life of Judge James P. Wood in the professional arena has been characterized by intelligence, integrity, sound judgment and persevering industry. He is one of Cleburne County’s most popular and capable attorneys, who has acquired prominence because he is worthy of it. He was born on a farm in Barbour County, Ala., in 1843, a son of James and Nancy (Byrd) Wood, who were born, reared and married in the Old North … Read more

Biography of Clement Richardson

Clement Richardson, of Jefferson City, president of the Lincoln Institute, deserves mention as an eminent educator, for his professional work has been not merely instilling knowledge into the minds of pupils but has been broad in its scope, thoughtful in its purposes and human in its tendency. lie has studied the individual and his requirement, has met the needs of the school and has made valuable contributions to literature that has to do with his profession. Mr. Richardson was born June 23. 1878, in Halifax county, Virginia, a son of Leonard and Louise (Barksdale) Richardson. In his youthful days he … Read more

Native American History of Houston County, Alabama

Houston County is located in the southeast corner of Alabama, immediately west of the Chattahoochee River and the State of Georgia. The southern boundary of the county is the Florida state line. It is named after a governor of Alabama, William Smith Houston. The county seat is Dothan. To the north is Henry County, AL.   On the east boundary is Early County, GA and to the Southeast is Seminole County, GA. Jackson County, FL adjoins Houston County, AL to the south. To the northwest is Dale County, AL and to the west is Geneva County, AL. Geology and Hydrology The … Read more

Biography of Moses P. Coventon

MOSES P. COVENTON. Among the most esteemed and respected citizens of Baxter County, Arkansas, there is not one who has a larger circle of friends, or is a more pleasant or agreeable member of society, or a more thoroughgoing, wide-awake agriculturist than the gentleman whose name is mentioned above, He is a native of De Kalb County, Ga., born in 1833, a son of James and Elizabeth (Hill) Coventon, who were born in South Carolina and Georgia. respectively. In 1876 the father died in Cherokee County, Ga., when about seventy years of age, and his wife was called from life … Read more

Biography of John Stone

JOHN STONE. Among the prominent farmers and stockraisers of Sugar Loaf Township, Boone County, Arkansas, stands the name of John Stone, whose fine farm and surroundings show what perseverance and industry will accomplish. Mr. Stone was born in Lauderdale County, Ala., in the year 1829, to the marriage of Noble and Mary (Simmons) Stone, natives of the Palmetto State. When both father and mother were children they went with their par-ents to Alabama, grew to mature years in that State, married, and when our subject was about six months old they removed to Marion County, Tennessee There the mother died … Read more