Arkansas

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

Biography of Elias A. Richardson

ELIAS A. RICHARDSON. The self-made man is entitled to respect, and he gets it in America. He represents all that is vigorous and substantial in our American institutions, and is deserving of all praise. Elias A. Richardson is a native of Henderson County, West Tennessee, where he was born in 1851, a son of William and Mary E. (Seaton) Richardson, who became residents of Independence County, Arkansas, in 1853, but later came to Stone County, and here the father breathed his last October 10, 1892, in his sixty-eighth year. The mother is still living and resides on the old home … Read more

Biography of Dempsey S. Harrell

DEMPSEY S. HARRELL. The name of this gentleman is a familiar one throughout Searcy County, Arkansas, and is synonymous with the farming interests of his section. There is no one who illustrates more fully in his career the unbounded energy and activity of the agriculturist than does he, and the magnificent farm of 700 acres, of which he is the owner, is one of the finest lying pieces of ground in this section of the country. He has resided on and been the owner of this land since 1887, and has 247 acres under cultivation. He first saw the light … 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 R. D. C. Griffin

R. D. C. GRIFFIN. The name of Griffin is well known throughout Searcy County, for it has been connected with the business interests of this section for a long term of years, and is the synonym of honesty, industry and business integrity. Mr. Griffin was born in Huntsville, Ala., August 31, 1828, a son of Jesse and Sarah W. (Brooks ) Griffin, who removed first from Alabama to Tennessee, and in 1846 to Searcy County, Arkansas, where they entered a tract of land on which the father lived until his death, which occurred in 1886. Throughout the active years of … Read more

Biography of J. A. Weatherly

J. A. WEATHERLY. In this day and age of bustle and hurry very few people stop to consider what we can and how to select it, but the skillful housewife is very careful in her purchase of groceries, for she knows that on their purity and wholesomeness depends in a large measure the health and happiness of her family. J.A. Weatherly, dealer in fine groceries at Harrison, Arkansas, enjoys a reputation for courteous dealing and promptness in his line of business which any grocer might be proud to have and his goods have become noted for their excellence and purity. … Read more

Biography of Hon. George Coleman Hinkle

HON. GEORGE COLEMAN HINKLE. Of the many substantial citizens of Stone County, Arkansas, there is not one who stands higher in public esteem than G. C. Hinkle, or one who enjoys a more substantial share of recognition. He was born in what is now Stone Ethen Izard County, Arkansas, March 2, 1855. His parents being John and Polly Ann Linn Hinkle, who were born in Alabama and Tennessee, respectively, the former’s birth concurring in 1822. His parents were Walter and Annie (Downing) Hinkle, South Carolinians by birth, who were married in Tennessee, and later removed to Madison County, Ala., in … Read more

Biography of E. D. Arnold

E. D. ARNOLD. During the forty-seven years that have passed over the head of E. D. Arnold in Searcy County, he has thoroughly identified himself with every interest of the same, and has been very public-spirited and progressive. He was born in this county February 20, 1847. Parents William and Elizabeth (Dean ) Arnold, the former of whom is now living on Buffalo River in this county. He came thither about 1840, from Wabash County, Illinois, where he was born, whose father, Jacob Arnold, came with him to this section, having been a soldier in the War of 1812. William … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Andrew J. Bolinger

ANDREW J. BOLINGER, a merchant at Grant, Bowen Township, Madison County, Arkansas, was born near Cumberland Gap, Claiborne County, Tennessee, June 6, 1822, and is a son of Fred and Polly (Hunter) Bolinger. His grandfather, Fred Bolinger, was a native of Pennsylvania, and went to North Carolina, and from there to east Tennessee, with a family of twenty children, seventeen of whom lived to maturity. He then removed from Tennessee to Illinois, and nine years later went to Arkansas, dying in War Eagle Township in 1840. His widow died soon after in her ninetieth year. Fred Bolinger, Jr., grew to … Read more

Biography of Thomas W. Fancher

THOMAS W. FANCHER, a prominent farmer of Carroll County, Arkansas, was born in Overton County, Tennessee, on January 24, 1833. He is a son of James and Elizabeth (Carlock) Fancher, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. When twelve years of age James Fancher removed from his native State to Tennessee. After his marriage in the latter State he located on a farm and resided there until 1838, when he came to Carroll County, Arkansas Locating on a farm, he spent the remainder of his life here, and died on June 8, 1866. His widow is still living (1888). James … Read more

Biography of John O. Morrow

JOHN O. MORROW. Activity and business enterprise is in no direction more lucidly marked in any city than in the livery business. This calling is the pulse of a city’s enterprise and vim. The experience and brain work of capable business men are called into requisition in this line, and a city that is noted for its transient patronage as well as its busy home life is sure to give good profits to the liveryman. One of the most popular establishments of this kind is that owned by John O. Morrow, which was established in Harrison in 1889, and as … Read more

Biography of James H. Gray

JAMES H. GRAY. Lead Hill, Arkansas, is known as a flourishing town and contains many able and brainy business men, among whom the general merchant takes prominent rank. In this calling few members possess a wider reputation for ability and enterprise than James H. Gray. He was born in Stone County (then Independence County), Arkansas, in 1865. and is a son of John W. and Tennessee (Cornett) Gray, natives of Mississippi and Hamilton County, Tennessee, respectively, the father born in 1836 and the mother in 1844. When young Mr. and Mrs. Gray came with their parents to Arkansas, and here … Read more

Biography of James Estes

JAMES ESTES. This intelligent man of affairs keeps abreast of the times and is a successful tiller of the soil of Marion County, Arkansas He was born in Cannon County, Tennessee, July 10, 1839, a son of John and Charlotte (Elkins) Estes, and grandson of Gilbert Estes, who came to this country from England and participated in the Revolutionary War, being killed in the battle of Horse Shoe Bend. One of his sons was in the War of 1812 under Gen. Jackson. Mrs. Malinda Thomas is the only one of that family now living, and she has attained the age … Read more

Biography of John Hornbeak

Success in business life is a guerdon that is very cautiously bestowed upon a person by the goddess, who in a measure guides, and invariably decorates, man’s efforts. And this same success is far more apt to come because of the pursuer’s genius or adaptability for his calling, than from any mere luck, ambition, push or demand. There are favorable opportunities in men’s lives, which, if taken advantage of, will take them far along the road toward the consummation of their ideals, and, too, there are those who have a strange intuition of that time and avail themselves of it. … Read more

Biography of Allen Phillips

ALLEN PHILLIPS. The creditable condition of agricultural life in Boone County, Arkansas, is due to a great extent to the enterprise, energy and intelligence of her worthy tillers of the soil, prominent among whom may be mentioned. Allen Phillips, born in Surry County, N. C., February 12, 1847, a son of A. and Susan (Wilburn) Phillips, who were born, reared, married and died in the Old North State. The father was a leading Democrat of his day, was a prosperous farmer, but the late war swept away a considerable portion of his Property. He and wife had the following children: … Read more

Biography of Col. Randolph D.Casey

COL. RANDOLPH D. CASEY. To this gentleman belongs the distinction of having built the first house in Mountain Home. He entered the land where the town is now situated, and has President Buchanan’s signature to his land patent. Col. Casey was born in Smith County, Tennessee, on March 10, 1810, and is the son of Hiram Casey, who died in Hardeman County, Tennessee, in 1828, at the age of thirty-nine years. He was a Missionary Baptist minister and a man of worthy principles. The mother, Catharine De Priest, was born in Georgia. She came to Arkansas with the subject of … Read more

Biography of Capt. James H. Sallee

CAPT. JAMES H. SALLEE. This gentleman is a Protestant Methodist minister and a farmer of Ozark County, Missouri, and as a citizen, neighbor and friend is highly spoken of by all who know him. He owes his nativity to Madison County, Arkansas, where he was born April 10, 1833, a son of Arany Shasteen and Martha (Greene) Sallce, who were born in Indiana in 1811 and in Illinois in 1821, respectively. Their marriage was celebrated in Schuyler County, Illinois, soon after which they removed to Marion County, Arkansas, where they lived a few years, then returned to the Sucker State. … Read more

Biography of Judge Joel G. McClaren

JUDGE JOEL G. MCCLAREN, presiding judge of Ripley County, Missouri, is a man of superior mental endowments, whose reputation is not merely local but extends over a wide stretch of country. Like other citizens of the county he came originally from Tennessee, a State that has contributed so much of population and intelligence to his adopted State, and for the most part since about 1869 has been a resident of this county. His birth occurred in Hickman County May 14, 1847, and there he received his scholastic training. In the month of November, 1863, he enlisted in Company G, Tenth … Read more

Biography of Templeman J. Hutchinson

TEMPLEMAN J. HUTCHINSON. The farming community of Ozark County, Missouri, has no abler representative than Mr. Hutchinson, who is the owner of a fine farm of 230 acres on North Fork. This place his father settled on when it had only a few acres cleared, but under the thrifty and energetic management of the present owner it has been put in an admirable state of cultivation, and is now justly considered one of the best farms on the creek. Mr. Hutchinson was born in Grainger County, Tennessee, May 27, 1828, a son of Jeremiah and Susan (King) Hutchinson, natives of … 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