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Goodspeed’s Biographical & Historical Memoirs of
Western Arkansas, 1891
Pope County
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Starling G. Harris.  It is a fact well recognized among all intelligent people that a thorough education and advanced acquaintance with books of learning are of great material benefit to man, no matter in what channel of life his path may lie.  The career of Mr. Harris is a striking illustration of this truth, for although his early educational opportunities were not of the best, yet he has at all times been a thoughtful reader, and has made a practical use of the knowledge thus gained.  He was born on March 16, 1842, in the State of Georgia, and in the month of March, 1875, became a resident of Pope County, Ark., settling on land that is now known as Colony Mountain.  He was reared to a farm life in his native State, and in 1862 began doing for himself.  In June of that year he enlisted in the Confederate Army, becoming a member of Company A, Thirty-eighth Georgia Regiment, afterward taking part in the engagements at Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, Gettysburg, the Wilderness (where he was wounded, and on this account wits transferred to the State Troops, being commissioned second lieutenant of Dyer's battalion).  He remained in the service until the close of the war, then returned to his home in De Kalb County, Ga., and there was engaged in milling for about one year.  At the expiration of this time he went to Blount County, Ala., and after farming there for about three years moved to Birmingham, in which place he was engaged in the timber business for some three years.  Since then he has resided on his present farm.  His first purchase was fifty acres of land, to which he has added from time to time, until he now has 310 acres of good farming land which be has nicely improved with good residence, barns and other necessary buildings, a fine young orchard, which is already producing enough fruit for family use, and substantial fences.  Ninety-five acres are under cultivation, and in 1885 he erected thereon a good grist-mill and cotton-gin, which he has operated successfully.  He is now erecting a building in which he intends to open a general mercantile business, and expects to have everything in working order by October 15.  He was married on November 11, 1867, to Eliza Jane Bagwell, with whom he lived for eighteen years, when she departed this life October 18, 1885, leaving besides her husband five sons and three daughters to mourn their loss.  May 12, 1886, Mr. Harris remarried, his wife being Mrs. Martha F. Mason, a daughter of James M. and Mary Tate of this county, the latter being now a resident of Johnson County, Ark.  The names of the children by his first wife are as follows: Charley V., Lavonia Y., Ettie L., Oscar G., Gordon P., Sallie A., Albert J. and John C.  Lavonia is the wife of Riley Leavell, and resides in Johnson County, and Charley V. is clerking for the firm of F. C. Jones & Co., of Bellville, Yell County, Ark.  Mr. Harris and his family are members of the Baptist Church, and he belongs to the A. F. & A. M., and is a Democrat.  His parents were John and Sarah (Brown) Harris.

William Stanhope Harris, farmer and stock-dealer, Russellville, Ark.  Farming has been Mr. Harris' principle occupation thus far through life, and the energetic and wide-awake manner in which he has taken advantage of all methods and ideas tending to the enhanced value of his property has had a great deal to do with his success.  He is a native-born resident of Pope County, his birth occurring on August 21, 1852, and is the son of Adolphus and Margaret R. (Hoffman) Harris, natives of North Carolina.  To the parents were born four living children, who are named in order of birth as follows: William S., Sarah A. B. (wife of G. T. Brown, who is residing at Potts Station), L. D. (residing in Cannon County, Tex.), and Josephine (wife of A. L. Shinen, deceased).  The parents emigrated from North Carolina to Pope County, Ark., in 1851, purchased eighty acres of unimproved land, and the father carried on agricultural pursuits in connection with cabinet-making.  He is deceased.  The mother is now residing with the subject of this sketch.  William S. Harris started out to fight life's battles for himself at the age of twenty-one years, and as he had been trained from early boyhood to the duties of the farm, it was quite natural, perhaps, that he should select agricultural pursuits as his chosen calling.  He also held the office of constable of Wilson Township, Yell County, during the years of 1886 and 1887, remaining in that county from 1877 to 1888.  He then came to Pope County, Ark., and began stock-raising and stock-dealing in which occupation, together with farming, he continues at the present time.  He is the owner of fifty-five acres of land in Wilson Township, Yell County, and has forty of this improved.  He raises principally cotton and about one and one third bales to the acre.  He is thrifty and enterprising, and a man of excellent judgment.

P. J. Harvill.  Among the many sturdy "sons of the soil" of Pope County, Ark., who have attained a good competency in their calling by the sweat of their brow and who command an enviable social position, is Mr. Harvill, who was born in this county October 15, 1847, to M. W. and Elizabeth (Luton) Harvill, both of whom were born in Tennessee, the former in 1812.  He was a farmer and wag married in this county, his union resulting in the birth of five children -- two sons and three daughters -- of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, and the only child now living.  Those dead are Polly A., Sarah E., Nancy and one unnamed.  The mother of these children was called from the scene of her earthly labors in 1856, and two years later Mr. Harvill married Mrs. Jane Ross, and of the following named children born to them, five are now living: William R., G. J., Elizabeth (wife of G. T. Brooks), Edgar and Tennessee.  M. W., John Louis and a child unnamed are deceased. At the time of her death, in 1882, Mrs. Harvill was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and in 1889 Mr. Harvill married a third time, his wife being Mrs. Mary Gilmore, a member, as was her husband, of the Primitive Baptist Church.  On March 17, 1890, he was called from life.  He had come to this State from Tennessee in 1836, and until his demise was a resident of Pope County, and helped carry the surveyor's chain over the whole of the southern part of this State.  His son, P. J. Harvill, was married in Pope County March 5, 1871, to Miss Cynthia S. Brooks.  She was born in this county, October 10, 1853, a daughter of J. H. and Harriet (Yarberry) Brooks, who were Tennesseeans, and came to Arkansas with their parents, their marriage taking place in Pope County and five of their nine children survive them: James C. O., Cynthia S. (wife of Mr. Harvill), G. T., Henry F. and T. A.  Martha L., Laura, Willie E. and Effie T. are deceased.  The father died in 1871 and the mother in 1876, the latter having been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  To Mr. and Mr.. Harvill nine children have been born: George H. (born January 10, 1872), Eler E. (born August 9, 1874, and died October 9,1874), Ollie (born December 18,1875), Nora (born July 30, 1878), Sarah (born November 11, 1880), S. M. (born March 21, 1883), Ider P. (born October 7, 1885 and died July 19, 1886), Floyd E. (born May 28,1887), and Hattie F. (born March 18, 1890).  In 1863 Mr. Harvill enlisted in the Federal Army in the Third Arkansas Cavalry, Company A, and served until 1865, being at one time wounded in the right arm by a pistol shot.  Since the war he has devoted his attention to farming and is now the owner of 200 acres of land with eighty under cultivation.  In 1882 he erected thereon a nice frame residence and besides this his farm is otherwise improved with good barns and an excellent young orchard of about two acres.  He has served as justice of the peace six years, and for the last seventeen years has been a school director in his district.  He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which he is steward and trustee, and he is a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to Russellville Lodge No. 274.

A. K. Henry.  The social, political and business history of this section is filled with the deeds and doings of self-made men, and no man in Pope County is more deserving the appellation than Mr. Henry, for he marked out his own career in youth, and has steadily followed it up to the present, his prosperity being attributable to his earnest and persistent endeavor, and to the fact that he has always consistently tried to follow the teachings of the Golden Rule.  Although a resident of this parish he was born in York District, S. C., October 20, 1812, to Charles W. and Margaret (Carr) Henry, both of whom were also born in the Palmetto State.  The father was a farmer and a blacksmith by occupation, and his father was a follower of the former occupation arid was of Scotch descent.  The wife of the latter was a Virginian.  The grandparents on the mother's side were of Irish descent.  The mother was born in 1790, and the father in 1787, their union taking place in York District, S. C., in 1811, and resulted in the birth of five children, two of whom are now living, the subject of this sketch being the eldest.  The other member is A. M., who was born October 3, 1816.  G. W., Elizabeth B. and Catherine are deceased.  The father of these children passed from life in his native State in 1848, being a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church, and his wife died in 1888, having been a member of the same church since 1806.  The immediate subject of this biography was married in Union District, S. C., May 28, 1840, to Miss Elizabeth S. Parker, who was born in South Carolina January 6, 1819, a daughter of Silas R. and Martha (Akins) Parker, also South Carolinians, and to whom seven sons and two daughter were born, Elizabeth (wife of Mr. Henry), and W. P. being the only ones now living.  The following are deceased: Isaac, Allison S., Walter L., S. R., William R., Eleasa and Sarah A.  Mr. Parker died about 1867, and his wife in 1858, both earnest members of the Presbyterian Church.  To Mr. Henry and his wife ten children have been born: Silas H., Martha A. (wife of C. G. Oates), Margaret (deceased), Sarah E, (deceased), Catherine C. (wife of William O. Ferguson), Nancy E. (deceased), Mary A. (deceased), Margaret E. (wife of William Henry), Sarah (widow of A. R. Ferguson), and Charles W.  Mr. Henry enlisted in the Confederate Cavalry in 1863 and served until the close of the war, taking part in a number of engagements.  He emigrated from South Carolina to Arkansas in 1856, and settled on the farm of 240 acres, of which he is now the owner, 100 acres being under cultivation.  He and his wife are members of the Old School Presbyterian Church.

Silas A. Henry, farmer, Potts Station, Ark.  There are many successful agriculturists represented within the pages of this volume, but none more deserving of mention than Silas A. Henry, who is one of the pioneers of this State.  He was born in York County, S. C., in June, 1841, and was the eldest of ten children, six of whom are now living and residing near Russellville, Pope County, Ark.  Silas A. received his education in Arkansas.  In July, 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate Army, Company B, Second Arkansas Regiment Infantry, Capt. Parker's company, and under Col. McIntosh.  In the spring of 1862 he was sent east of the Mississippi River in the Army of Tennessee under Gen. Bragg, and was in the battles of Chickamauga, Wilson Creek, Pea Ridge, Richmond, Murfreesboro, Jackson, and was then with Johnston and Hood in the Georgia campaign.  He went with the latter general to Tennessee, was in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and then went with Gen. Johnston to North Carolina, and fought the battle of Bentonville.  He surrendered at Greensboro, N. C., as second lieutenant of his company, which had at the beginning 100 men, but at the close only fourteen were left, he being the only commissioned officer left in the company.  He arrived home on July 5, 1865, and since then has been engaged in cultivating the soil.  He makes a complete success of this occupation, as a glance over his place will indicate to the beholder, and of the 120 acres he now owns, 70 acres are under cultivation.  Miss Nancy M. Bigham, daughter of Dr. Robert Bigham. became his wife in 1869, and the fruits of this union have been nine children, eight now living: Irene E., Robert B., Andrew K., C. Walter, Jennings M., John Mc., Joseph G., Dixon B. and Lily Mc.  John Mc. died at the age of two years.  Irene married W. R. McArthur, son of Joseph McArthur of Pope County, Ark,, and the remainder of the children are at home with their parents.  Mr. and Mrs. Henry are members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and he is a strong adherent to the Democratic principles.  His parents, A. K. and Elizabeth (Parker) Henry, were natives of South Carolina.  They removed to Arkansas with a family of five children in 1857, bought land in Pope County, and there they reside at the present time.  The paternal grandfather, C. W. Henry, died in South Carolina at an early day, and his wife came to this State and county with her son, A. M. Henry, about 1875.  She died in 1888, at the age of ninety-eight years.  The maternal grandparents came to Arkansas from South Carolina in 1859, settled in Pope County, the place where Capt. Parker now resides, and there they received their final summons, the grandmother in 1860, and the grandfather in 1866.

J. D. Hogan is one of the wide-awake, enterprising and substantial men of the county.  He was born in Kershaw county, S. C., September 13, 1838, to S. S. and Margaret J. (Cronkfield) Hogan, who were born and reared in the Palmetto State, and there spent their lives, being earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the time of their deaths.  J. D. Hogan was reared in his native State, his education, which was rather limited, being also received there, but in 1859 he commenced doing for himself and determined to better his education.  Accordingly, when he had obtained sufficient means he entered school in Columbia, but was taken sick in October, 1860, with typhoid fever, and upon thoroughly recovering did not again enter school, but helped to swell the ranks of the Confederate Army, becoming a member of Butler's command in the spring of 1861.  Farming has been his principal occupation in life, at which he has been quite successful, and he is now the owner of 280 acres of land, a considerable portion of which is under cultivation and well improved.  He was married March 15, 1866, to Cynthia M. Cloud, and the following are their children: Minnie T., Hattie E., Alice O., F. B., Sallie S., Mattie J., Walton W., Lionel D., Nannie Lois, May Alberta, and James D.   All are living with the exception of May Alberta and James D.  Mr. Hogan is a stanch Democrat, and for ten years held the office of trial justice.  He and his wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South ever since childhood, and their eldest four children are also members.  He has been a resident of this county since December 24, 1888, and here expects to spend the rest of his days.  His wife is a daughter of Franklin D. and Sarah (Hogan) Cloud.

Reese B. Hogins, circuit and county clerk, of Pope County Ark., was born in Dover of this county on April 15, 1847, and was the youngest of eight children born to A. D. and Louisa (Bowen) Hogins both native Tennesseeans.  He received his education at home, and in September, 1863, he enlisted in Company A, Fifth Arkansas Cavalry of the Confederate Army, and was in the battles of Pine Bluff, Mark's Mill, Poison Springs, Prairie de Ann, and was with Gen. Price in his Missouri campaign.  He was wounded at the battle of Pilot Knob, taken prisoner and confined at St. Louis and Alton until February 17, when he was exchanged at Richmond.  He regained his command in time to surrender at Marshall, Tex.  After this he came home and followed farming until 1874, and was then deputy sheriff, for two years.  In 1876 he was elected sheriff, and served six years in succession, after which he farmed for the same length of time.  In 1888 he was elected county and circuit clerk, which position he fills at the present time to the satisfaction of all.  He is the owner of 100 acres of land near Dover, with eighty acres under cultivation, and has 420 acres in Yell County with 100 acres under cultivation.  His marriage occurred on November 21, 1867, to Miss Josephine White, a native of this county and the daughter of Robert White, who came to Pope County as early as 1840.  Mr. White was a merchant for many years, both at Norristown and Dover.  He died in 1864.  Mr. and Mrs. Hogins are the parents of six children; Mary R. (wife of A. J. White of Dover), John F., Augustus S., William R., Emma and Hallie.  Mr. Hogins is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Dover Lodge No. 17 and Russellville Chapter No. 76.  He is a member of the K. of P., Russellville Lodge No. 47, in which he is chancellor commander, and is also a member of the K. of H. No. 1353, in which he is F. R.  The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and are held in high estimation in the community.  Mr. Hogins has taken an active interest in political matters for years and is a wide-awake, enterprising citizen.

W. R. Hudlon, farmer and ginner, Moreland, Ark.  Mr. Hudlon is another of the many representative citizens of Pope County, who owe their nativity to Tennessee, his birth occurring in 1829, and is the son of George W. and Lucy (Hurst) Hudlon, both natives of the Old Dominion.  The seven children born to their marriage are named in the order of their births as follows: Nancy C. (wife of N. Hubbord), W. R., Elizabeth (wife of David Revis), George W., Sarah E. (wife of Henry Plemons), Fanny (wife of James Silvertooth), and Joseph (deceased).  W. R. Hudlon received a limited education in his native State, but this he has remedied to a great extent by observation and study, being now a well-posted man on all important topics of the day.  He began working for himself in 1850, and in that year he was wedded to Miss Elizabeth Goble, daughter of John and Rebanna (Maynard) Goble.  To them were born ten children, six now living: George, John, Joseph, Francis, Allen, James and Mary M.   Mr. Hudlon came to Arkansas in 1857, purchased 120 acres of land, cleared twenty acres, and erected a house and other buildings.  He then sold this land and bought 300 acres, partly improved, which be further improved by clearing about fifty acres, and on this he has a good house and substantial outbuildings.  Subsequently he sold 100 acres of this.  In 1880 he erected a gin, which he operated until 1888, when he purchased a large gin at Cross Plains, the capacity of which is ten bales per day.  He also looks after his fine farm of 200 acres, eighty acres under cultivation, on which he raises cotton and corn.  He lost his wife in 1873.  She was an estimable lady and a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  In 1873 Mr. Hudlon married Mrs. Mary Ferror, a native of Georgia, and the daughter of Samuel J. Harris.  The result of this union have been ten children, seven of whom are living: Ulysses L., Minnie M., Sally D., Arthur S., Charley, Riley D. and Homer.  Mr. Hudlon enlisted in the Federal service, Company C, Fourth Arkansas Cavalry, but was rejected on account of condition of health.  He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a steward, and he was postmaster at Moreland for eighteen years.  He was also justice of the peace of Moreland Township for eight years.

B. F. Jobe, editor of the Russellville Democrat, Russellville, Ark.  Under the efficient management of Mr. Jobe, the Russellville Democrat has come to be regarded as one of the representative country journals, and the paper is found to be a welcome visitor in the numerous homes in which it enters. Mr. Jobe was born at Ringgold, Ga., on July 7, 1849, and removed with his parents to Arkansas in 1857.  On July 10, 1870, he entered the office of the Des Arc (Arkansas) Citizen and began work as an apprentice under the tutorship of Allen C. Matthews.  In February, 1872, be took charge of the mechanical department of the Russellville National Tribune, edited by J. H. Battenfield, a position he occupied until 1874.  When the Russellville Printing Association was organized in 1875, he was elected manager, and continued in charge of the business department until 1887, when in addition to his other duties he assumed the editorial management of the Democrat, which position he still holds.  He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has been secretary of Russellville Lodge No. 274 for seventeen years.  He is at present recorder of the city council, a position he has held for eight years, and is now serving his fourth term as protector of Ashby Lodge No. 335, K. & L. of H.  He is second vice president of the Arkansas State Press Association.  On September 3, 1873, he was married to Miss S. F. Bonds, and to them have been born the following children: Cora Edna (born July 10, 1874) and Floy B. (born October 10, 1876).  The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  Mr. Jobe's parents first located in Columbia County, Ark., in l857, remained there one year and then moved to Des Arc, Prairie County, where the father followed merchandising until 1861.  He then moved to Pope County, settling three miles from Atkins, but remained there only until 1863, when he moved to Searcy, White County, and there his death occurred in 1888.  The mother resides in Russellville.  Mr. Jobe is one of Russellville's most valued citizens, polite, courteous and pleasant to all, and has a host of warm friends.

P. M. Johnson is one of the honored "sons of the soil," and as he was reared to this occupation by his father, he has made it his chief occupation through life.  He was ushered into life in Smith County, Tenn., in 1835, and in that State his parents, D. M. and E. G. (Lee) Johnson, were also born, the former being a native of Overton County.  The maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was a Virginian, but was one of the early pioneers of Tennessee, and in that State reared his family.  P. M. Johnson attained manhood in Pope County, Ark., and notwithstanding the fact that his early opportunities were of the most meager description, he was naturally intelligent, and upon attaining manhood was well fitted to make his own way in the world.  In 1854 he went to California, but returned to Pope County, Ark., four years later.  After remaining here until 1859, he returned to the "Eldorado of the West" and was also in Nevada for some time, but in 1866 went to Montana Territory, where he continued to make his home for six years.  At the end of that time he was satisfied to return to Pope County, Ark., to make his home.  He was married, the year following his return, to Miss Susan M. Langford, and unto them the following children were born: E. C., Emma, A. S., E. P., M. A., M. V., L. W., E. M. and B. M.  E. C., E. P. and Emma are deceased.  Mr. Johnson has always, been a very enthusiastic Democrat, and all his relatives agree with him in their political views.  He has always been a public-spirited citizen, has always been the soul of honor, and is a patron of education and all worthy enterprises.