John Louis Hairston, is a native born resident of Bradley County, Ark., and here from his earliest boyhood his time and attention has been given to agricultural pursuits. Although still a young man he owns a good farm of 160 acres, and by industry and good management has succeeded in putting fifty acres in an exceptionally fine state of cultivation, and on his land has erected a steam cotton-gin which brings him in a paying yearly income. He is the eldest child born to William L. and Elizabeth Hairston, who were natives of Montgomery County, Ala., and moved to Arkansas in the year 1840, and settled in Bradley County, where they reared their family, but his opportunities for acquiring an education in his youth were limited, and being thrown on his own resources for obtaining a livelihood, he took up that occupation with which he had always been familiar, and has succeeded as above stated. He is a Democrat in politics, and since 1888 has served his township as justice of the peace. Being courteous and agreeable in his intercourse with his fell-men, and an enterprising and honorable man of business, he is universally esteemed. Elmire Hickman, the eldest child born to W. J. and Jane Hickman, who removed from Alabama to Arkansas about 1845, became his wife on October 8, 1871, and the following named children have been born to them: Elizabeth C., William L., Josias, Hettie J. and Elona E. Mr. and Mrs. Hairston are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, both having joined in 1879, and a daughter is also connected with that church.

John Newton Hamilton is an agriculturist, but resides in the town of Warren, Ark. He was born in Clark County, Ga., January 19, 1830, and is a son of James Hamilton, who was born in Meriwether County, Ga., in 1806, and died there in 1872. He was of English-Irish descent, and was married in his native State to Miss Nancy Parker, who was born in Georgia in 1808, and died about 1870, having borne a family of twelve children--six sons and six daughters. John Newton was the third in order of birth, and is the only one now living. Owing to his father's early poverty he was deprived of much schooling, which he would otherwise have received, but after attaining his majority he determined to seek his fortune in the West, and in 1851 emigrated to Arkansas, which State has continued to be his home. Two years after his arrival he entered eighty acres of land, but is now the owner of 108 acres adjoining the town of Warren, and besides is the owner of some desirable town property. His land is in excellent farming condition, and is well adapted to raising all kinds of grain, as well as cotton, in abundance. He supports all feasible enterprises for the public weal, and possessing sterling business principles he commands the respect of all. Although formerly a Whig in politics he is now a Democrat and his first presidential vote was cast for Pierce. He was married in Bradley County in 1870, to Miss Margaret A. Belan, who was born here December 8, 1850, and their union resulted in the birth of eight children, four of whom are now living: John L., Virginia, Laura and Verner. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton and their son John are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Charles C. Herring is a proper representative of the energetic and successful young business men of Johnsville, and considering the fact that he began life for himself with but little means, his career has been more than ordinarily successful, and he seems to have a natural aptitude for the business of general merchandising to which he is now giving his attention. He was born in Tipton County, Tenn., in September, 1850, and is a son of William Herring and Cordelia (Gehen) Herring who were born in North Carolina and Kentucky in 1826 and 1827 respectively. The father was taken to Tennessee by his parents, when a child and there he was reared and married, and afterward worked at the mechanic's trade, but died at Swan Lake, Ark., in 1875, still survived by his widow, who makes her home with her son Charles C., the immediate subject of this biography. Six of their nine children are still living, of whom Charles is the eldest. He received the most of his rearing in Union County, Ark., whither his parents emigrated in 1851, but owing to the breaking out of the Rebellion, his school-days were cut short, which deficiency he has since remedied by contact with business life and by reading. In 1872 he became an employe in a mercantile establishment at Moro Bay, Ark., acting as manager and book-keeper after 1881, but previous to that served in the capacity of clerk, and in 1888, he determined to start an establishment of his own and did so at Johnsville, his stock being valued at about $4,000. His store is well appointed, and he is receiving a liberal share of public favor. He has 220 acres of his 500 acre farm under cultivation, and he and his mother make their home together. he is a Democrat in politics, has served as justice of the peace, and socially is a member of the K. of H. and the Masonic fraterntiy, having joined the latter organization in 1876.

W. J. Hickman, probate and county judge, Warren, Ark. Judge Hickman is numbered among the influential and esteemed residents of Warren, and justly so, for all will admit that he is a man who can be depended upon; one who endeavors to do his duty in every walk of life, attending to his affairs in a manner not calculated to attract unusual attention, but with a persistency and attentiveness that has redounded largely to his success, both officially and personally. He was born in Montgomery County, Ala., on April 14, 1830, and is a son of John L. and Betsey (McDade) Hickman, the father a native of South Carolina, and the mother of Alabama. They were married in the last named State, and in 1841 they emigrated to Arkansas, coming through in wagons, and locating within one mile of Warren. The father bought 160 acres of land, all in the woods, and on this erected a little log cabin, with clapboard roof and puncheon floor, in which he lived for a number of years. He owned several farms during his time, and did a vast amount of improving. He cultivated the land where Warren now stands, and the place was covered with corn in 1842, when the county seat was located there. He delighted in hunting, and would often stand in his cabin door and bring down a deer with his trusty rifle. He was never an aspirant for office, but was elected and filled the office of coroner for some time. He died in 1879, and his wife in 1851. They had a family of fourteen children, all deceased but four: Caroline (wife of Anderson Lewis), William J., Anna B. (wife of A. B. Reeves, and Rebecca (wife of John F. Hurston). The father was in the War of 1812, drew a pension for his services, and was ninety years of age at the time of his death. Judge W. J. Hickman was but eleven years of age when he came with his parents to Arkansas, and in this State he received a limited education. He was early taught the duties of farm life, and it was but natural, perhaps that he should choose agricultural pursuits as his chief calling. In 1862 he shouldered his musket, and enlisted in Company C, Hardy's Regiment, and served until the close of hostilities, being discharged at Marshall, Tex., in 1865. He held the rank of First Lieutenant. After returning home he remained on the farm until November, 1888, when he moved to Warren, and in September of the same year was elected to his present office. He also held the office of justice of the peace for twenty-six years. He is now the owner of 160 acres of good land, and has sixty acres under cultivation. He divided considerable property among his children. Aside from this, he is the owner of some town property. His marriage took place in 1852, to Miss Jane Wardlow, by whom he had eight children: Elmira (wife of John L. Hurst), Frank M. (married Miss Frances Osment), Lewis (married to Miss Alice Richards), Nancy (wife of H. L. Callaway), William (married to Miss Texas Richards), John (married to Miss Alice Merritt, Edward and Mary. The Judge is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

John C. R. Howard, of Granville County, N. C., nativity. Mr. Howard from the date of his birth, March 18, 1831, has resided either in his native State or in Bradley County, Ark. His youth and early manhood, however, were passed in the State of his birth, and there he attended the common schools, which favored him with a good practical education. His father, Thomas Howard, was also born in Granville County, and married after growing up, Miss Rachel Gooch, and their deaths occurred in their native State, in 1839 and 1857, respectively. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, a farmer by occupation, and he and wife became the parents of our sons and four daughters, only John C. R. and his sister, Nancy, being now alive. The paternal grandfather, Allan Howard was born, and died in Granville County, N. C. The maternal grandfather, Daniel Gooch, was of English descent. John C. R. Howard was married in his native State, in 1853, to Miss Rebecca Gordon, whose birth occurred in Granville County, in 1835, she being a daughter of William and Nancy Gordon, also of that county. The father's death occurring there in 1858, and the mother's in Bradley County, Ark., in October 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Howard have had three children born to them: Rachel P. G. (wife of T. A. Berry, a farmer of Bradley County), William T. (who makes his home with his parents) and Samuel L. (also at home). Mr. Howard emigrated from North Carolina to where he now lives, and entered 120 acres of land on which he is residing, but he is now the owner or 280 acres, with about seventy five under the plow. His property is well improved with good buildings, fences, etc., and in connection with his farm work he gives considerable attention to raising blooded horses and cattle, some of his stock being the finest in the county, and always takes the premium at the county fairs. He is a worth citizen in every respect, and is one of Bradley County's most influential and progressive farmers. Although a Democrat in politics, he was formerly a Whig, and cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor. He is a Master Mason, having become a member of that lodge in 1867, and during the war, being a Southern sympathizer, he joined the Confederate Army and served the cause he espoused faithfully for two years, when he was taken sick and was not on duty but very little afterward.

Hon. Charles Leonidas Hoyle, a prominent resident of Bradley County, Ark., was born in Catawba County, N. C., April 19, 1850, and is a son of Humphrey and Elizabeth (Dickson) Hoyle, who were born, reared and married in North Carolina, the last event taking place in the year 1844. To them a family of thirteen children have been born, whose names are here given: Jane E., Martha A., Abel T., Charles L., Henry D., Millard F., Frank, William D., James E., Ludia C., Ellen L., Robert L., and Ollie W. The family trace their ancestry back to Adam Hoyle, a descendant of a family of that name, which had resided for several generations at Weisbaden, Germany. Adam was born in 1678 and married Nancy Leister on the Rhine River, in 1704. His son Peter married Catherine Dales, in 1736, and in 1741 emigrated to the New World, and established a home for himself and family in Maryland, moving thence to Lincoln County, N. C., in 1744, where they resided until their respective deaths. Their second son, John Hoyle, was born in Nassau, Germany, in 1740, and in 1763 was married to Miss Margaret Castner, a native of Mecklenburg County, N. C., to which union were born thirteen children, Jacob Hoyle being their third son. His birth occurred in Lincoln County, in 1779, and about the year 1800, he espoused Miss Catherine Summay, to whom a family of six children was born. Humphrey H. being among the number, his birth occurring in 1818, he being their youngest child. During the Revolutionary period, many of the members of this family figured conspicuously in the various conventions that met, and were members of the convention that met at Charlotte, N. C., at the time it declared itself free of British rule in 1775. Charles Leonidas Hoyle, the immediate subject of his sketch, was reared and educated in his native county, and having a desire to study medicine, he entered the Southern University of Alabama, and was graduated from this institution in 1874, and practiced his profession one year at Van Dorn, Ala. He then came to Bradley County, Ark., and has as fine a farm as there is in the county, which he has cultivated very successfully. He is a Democrat in his political views, and on that ticket was elected to represent Bradley County, in the State Legislature, during the session of 1887. In 1877 he was married to Miss Howell Tindall, a native of Bradley County, Ark., his family consisting of three children: Charley T., Metaphor S. and Robert L. Mr. Hoyle and his worthy wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is a very liberal contributor to all worthy enterprises.

David A. Jackson, M.D. The calling of the physician, when properly conducted, is the noblest to which a man can devote his life, and it is but stating the simple facts when we say that Dr. Jackson has made good use of his knowledge of medical lore, and has been the means of bestowing health, and consequently happiness, on many of his patients. He was born in York County, S. C., June 30, 1851, and is a son of Andrew Jackson, who was born in the same county, his birth occurring March 13, 1832, and died there in 1887, having been a farmer throughout life. He was married, in South Carolina, to Miss Mary Jane Campbell, who was born in York County, in 1834, and died of typhoid fever in her native State in September, 1885. Of three sons and three daughters born to them two sons and three daughters are living, Dr. David A. Jackson being the eldest of the family. After obtaining a common-school education, he entered the Medical Department of Tulare University of Louisiana, and was graduated as an M.D. from this institution in 1877, and the same year began practicing his profession where he now lives, this county having been his home ever since, with the exception of the time from 1879 to 1883, when he was in Calhoun County. He is a well-known and successful practitioner of the county, and commands the confidence of all with whom he comes in contact. Politically, he is a Democrat, and his first presidential vote was cast for Horace Greeley. The paternal grandfather, David Jackson, was born in South Carolina and spent his life in that State.

James Jolly, liveryman, Warren, Ark. Mr. Jolly is proprietor of the well-known livery firm of Meek & Jolly, and is one of the prominent business men of Warren. His stable, from the large business it does, not only exemplifies the importance of the town, but reflects credit on its management. Mr. Jolly was born in Lancastershire, England, on October 22, 1842, and is the son of Edward and Ann (Johnson) Jolly, natives of England where the mother received her final summons. The father still resides there, and is a mechanic by trade. James Jolly attained his growth and secured his education in England and at an early age was apprenticed to learn the baker's trade. After finishing his apprenticeship, he followed the trade until coming to the United States, in 1865. On December 1, of that year he took passage at Liverpool on the steamship "Kangaroo" and landed in New York. From there he went to New Orleans and in February, 1866, he arrived in Bradley County, Ark., where he hired out on a farm and was engaged in tilling the soil until 1887, when he embarked in his present business, at which he has been quite successful. He is a dealer in stock of all kinds, and has buggies, wagons and feed. He and Mr. Meek have a good livery stock, and are enterprising business men. Mr. Jolly was married in October, 1870, to Mrs. Susan (Moseley) Ray, by whom he has two living children: James E. and Sarah E. Mr. Jolly is a member of the K. of P. and was marshal of the city for one year. His parents had eleven children, ten of whom are now living: Alice (wife of Robert Moreland of Liverpool, England), Sarah (Liverpool, England), James, John (England), William (of Liverpool, England), Agnes (wife of Henry Walpool, of Liverpool, England), Ellen (of the same place), Ann (wife of Mr. Moreland, of Liverpool, England), Edward (Pine Bluff, Ark.), and Phoebe (of England). The one deceased was named William. Mr. and Mrs. Jolly are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

Maj. A. C. Jones, attorney at law, Warren, Ark. Maj. Jones is one of those men, too few in number, who fully recognize the truth so often urged by the sages of the law, that, of all men, the reading and thought of a lawyer should be the most extended. Systematic reading gives a more comprehensive grasp to the mind, variety and richness to thought, and a clearer perception of the motives of men and the principles of things, and indeed of the spirit of the laws. This he has found most essential in the prosecution of his professional practice. He was originally from Charlotte County, Va., born January 26, 1826, and is a son of James B. and Elizabeth G. Jones, natives of Halifax County, Va., and of English extraction. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Jones, served through the Revolutionary War. He was a farmer by pursuit, and died in Virginia at a ripe old age. The grandmother was ninety-six years of age at the time of her death, which was caused by a horse throwing her. She had a remarkable set of teeth, every one being sound at the time of her death. James B. Jones was the eldest of three sons, and was reared in his native State, where he also married and reared a family. In the fall of 1836 he emigrated to West Tennessee, settled in Carroll County and died of typhoid fever when in his fifty-fourth year. He was a very successful agriculturist and a first-class manager. He was a large slave-owner, and although starting life a poor man, he became very independent. He was a soldier under Gen. Jackson in the War of 1812. The mother also died in Tennessee. They were the parents of eleven children -- nine sons and two daughters -- six now living: Legrand M. (an eminent lawyer of Trenton, Tenn., a man of great talent and one of that State's great students; he was a major in the Mexican War under Haskell), Moses A. (resides in Carroll County, Tenn.), Maj. A. C., Dr. Isaac W. (an eminent physician of Madison County, Tenn.), James D. (at Union City, Tenn.), Elizabeth A. (wife of Thomas K. Brower), Abner W. C. (was killed at the battle of Murfreesboro), Phillip D. (killed at the battle of Shiloh), Mary T. (deceased), Rev. Silas P. (was a distinguished Baptist minister, a noted evangelist and a man of remarkable piety), and Dr. Paul S. (an eminent M.D.). Maj. A. C. Jones remained on his father's plantation until grown, then began reading law, and was admitted to the bar in Tennessee in 1852. On December 27, 1853, he came to Warren, Bradley County, Ark., was admitted to the bar in 1854, and located at this place, where he has resided for over thirty-six years, engaged actively in the practice of his profession. This he still continues with signal success, and is justly acknowledged to stand at the head of the bar in Warren, as well as occupying a prominent place among his legal brethren of the State. He has held a number of offices, was provost marshal and was in the commissary department during the war. He has also been a member of the Legislature. He was married, June 10, 1856, to Mrs. D. C. Wells, formerly Miss D. C. Gannaway, and to them were born seven children, two of whom, Mary E. B. and James C., died in infancy, and five are living: Kate (wife of J. D. Dunn, of Fordyce), Grace (wife of Dr. J. A. Bond, of Warren), Eula (wife of Thomas S. Meek, of Nashville, Tenn.), Leah (at home), and Abraham C., Jr. (lawyer at Little Rock). The Major is one of the prominent men of Bradley County, and always extends a helping hand to all laudable public enterprises, and has been a leading politician of his county many years.

Source:

Biographial and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas:  A Condensed History of the State, a number of Biographies of its Distinguished Citizens, a brief Descriptive History of each of the Counties mentioned, and numerous Biographical Sketches of the Citizens of each County. Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis:  The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1890

(Reprinted From an Original Edition in the private Library of Mrs. Mary Woodward Lewis, Magnolia, Arkansas)

A very special thanks to Bill Sharp and Jann Woodard for typing this information.