Robert James¹ Withers was born June 16, 1820 in Lexington District, SC (Source: Rebecca DeArmond Info of 6/25/99.), and died June 18, 1901 in Longview, Ashley Co, Arkansas (Source: Rebecca DeArmond Info of 6/25/99.). He married Amelia E. Finch April 06, 1861 in New Orleans, Louisiana (Source: Rebecca DeArmond Info of 6/25/99.), daughter of Joseph Finch and Emma Kress. She was born Abt. 1841 in Michigan (Source: 1860 Union County AR Census, (Pigeon Hill Township).), and died Aft. 1920 in Buried in Withers Plot, Hamburg Cemetery, Ark. (Source: Ed Sanders, Pres. Ark Historical Society.).

Notes for Robert James Withers:  From Rebecca DeArmond < rdea@seark.net >:  Robert Withers was in New Orleans as early as 1840, working as a clerk accountant on a steamboat. He became a licensed river pilot, bought the Morgan Nelson and "with some financial aid other than that of his family, he became part owner of the Morgan Nelson". He operated on the lower Mississippi, Black, Red, Ouachita and Saline Rivers until 1857, when he bought the Howard, a steamboat. He had purchased land at Longview "several years before."

Subject: Captain Robert Withers  .....Robert James Withers b 16 Jun 1820, Lexington District SC died 18 Jun 1901. Buried Prairie Chapel Cemetery, Drew County, AR, married Amelia Finch in New Orleans 1860.

Children of Bob Withers & Amelia Finch were:

William Eugene ; b 1862 at Longview; m Martha Thurman

Mary Emma , b sept 19, 1863 at Longview; m Newman James b June 1, 1869, Longview;  he m 2. Ida Beulan Bradberry

John b March 21, (?) Longview; m Lovie Cruce [div]

Ida

Ella b June 30, 1874, Longview; m Wallace Wood; m 2nd Claude Anderson

Rebecca D.

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Info provided by Ed Sanders, of Ark Historical Society on 6/24/99:  "Amelia FINCH WITHERS lived into the 1920's and is buried in a WITHERS Plot in the Hamburg Cemetery with several sons and daughters."

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OBIT from Ark. Methodist Newspaper/provided by Jann Woodward:

Captain Robert J. Withers, the subject of this publication (according to our idea), was one of the greatest and strongest Christian characters in Southeast Arkansas. He was born June 15, 1820 (we know not where), and lived through more than four-fifths of the tempestuous years of the Nineteenth century. Was married to Miss A. E. Finch in New Orleans, La., April 6, 1861, and died at his home at Longview, Ark., June 18, 1901. Captain Withers was not robust, physically, but was more than 6 feet tall, stood erect, and was graceful. Was active in old age. Could ride on horseback and could ride in a lope only three years ago when I was his pastor. So with military carriage, even temper, and regular habits, we wonder not at his having reach the four-score period of life. Intellectually, he was a giant. Rich in years of experience, his business, moral and theological views were profitable and entertaining.

He loved to talk of his boyhood, and could carry you back into the gleeful days of childhood and youth:  and then the flush would come back to his cheeks and a twinkle of mirth and gladness in the eye and you would almost imagine you were conversing with a boy of twelve or fourteen years. One coincidence in life that he loved to tell was that he killed his first deer on the day that he was fourteen years old, and when he brought his deer home he found a new baby there--his brother, Haelstad, was born that day --who is now Dr. Haelstad Withers, a faithful superannuate preacher of the Little Rock Conference. Religiously Captain Withers was a great and good man. He joined the church early in life and after engaging for some years in steamboat life was lost sight of, but again united with the church at Longview in 1869, and lived a consistent member until the Father said, "Come up high." Brother Withers was not a noisy Christian, but he loved God and the church. He took the Arkansas Methodist and read it and paid for it. And it made no difference to him who his preacher was, if he was his preacher, he loved him and paid him. He often said to me: "I can't tell it, or preach, like my brother, but I do love God and am happy in his service. I am just walking by faith in Him and trusting Him to lead me on." And then, his brilliant face would brighten up with a halo of light and hope that would convince the world that he was acquainted with God. May God bless his many kindred and friends and help us all to profit by his example.

By: S. W. Rainey, Jan. 22, 1902 page 15 col 2.

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Provided by Bryan Howerton 1/23/99, Researcher with Gerdes Civil War Pages, E-Mail: howerton@cswnet.com

WITHERS, Robert James

Born 15 Jun 1820 in South Carolina, Died 18 Jun 1901 in Arkansas, Buried in Prairie Chapel Cemetery, Drew county, Arkansas

Widow Amelia Finch Withers filed Arkansas pension application #22346 from Bradley County, August 9, 1915. Listed in Ashley County 1860 Census, occupation carpenter.

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Confederate States Marine Service, Commander, steamer 'Morgan Nelson'.

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EMail from Robert Owens , robert owens <rbowens@seark.net>

Riverboat Researcher    Date: Sunday, February 14, 1999

Morgan Nelson: Sternwheel, packet, wooden hull, built at Middletown, Pa. 1859.

109 tons. 120' x 21'.8" x 4'.4". She appeared at New Orleans Jan. 24, 1861, owned by Josiah and James Dillon of Wheeling, Va., with Capt. Joseph Richardson, also of Wheeling, in charge. She had seven changes of ownership at New Orleans {1861-1868}, when dismantled.

Carrie Poole: Sternwheel, packet, wooden hull, built at Evansville, Ind., 1865.

118'.7" x  21' x 3'.7". Advertised August 1866 running New Orleans-Red River,  Capt. J.F. Muse, "draws only 12 inches light." Had four or five owners including Red River Packet Co., and Capt. Noah Scovell. When she burned at Algiers, La., was owned by James M. Kane, New Orleans, with Capt. W.H. King, master. This on July 27, 1870.

Dr. Buffington: Sidewheel, packet, wooden hull, built at Cincinnati, Oh., 1857.

157'x32'x5'. Ran New Orleans-Grand Encore, owned by A.J. Buffington, New Orleans.  Capt. L.T. Moore was master in 1858. In 1861 owned by A.L. Witherington, Carrollton(New Orleans), who also was master. <* A. L. Witherington, was Augustus Levan>  Made trips up White River, and was lost there, December 1862.

These steamboats were mentioned in a paper called The County Explorer.  It said: "Captain Robert J. Withers, a well known and respected leader of the community operated two of several boats that plyed the Marie Saline. The Carrie Poole and the Morgan Nelson. This at Longview, Saline River, Arkansas." The other information was obtained from Way's Packet Directory.

     Robert Owens

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Text of E-Mail Message from Lamar Roberts, SCV

Gray & Blue Naval Museum, Vicksburg, MS, Tel. (601) 638-6500, E-Mail Address:  grayblue@bellsouth.net Dated  April 26, 1999

I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING FROM Wm. C. FINCH  BACK IN 1991.

IT IS TAKEN FROM A COLUMN CALLED THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER BY ERNIE DEANE (NO DATE NOR NAME OF PAPER <most likely was the Arkansas Democrat or Gazette>). THE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY F. B. WITHERS, SON OF CAP'T BOB.

"TIDE OF TIME WASHES AWAY MEMORIES OF CAPN'S DAY"

BOB WITHERS WAS A NATIVE OF CHARLESTON, S.C., WHO WENT WEST TO NEW ORLEANS WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 20, AND THAT WAS MOST LIKELY IN THE EARLY 1840S. EVENTUALLY HE BECAME A PILOT ON THE MISSISSIPPI AND ITS TRIBUTARIES, AND IN TIME HAD HIS OWN BOAT.  NEARLY ALL THE FAMILY RECORDS HAVE BEEN LOST OR DESTROYED, SO FEW DETAILS ARE KNOW TO HIS SON AT LONOKE OR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. EVEN SO, F.B. WITHERS HAS COLLECTED INFORMATION IN TIMES PAST FROM AN AUNT AND OTHERS--AND HAS DRAWN ON HIS BOYHOOD MEMORIES--TO PUT TOGETHER WHAT HE CAN ABOUT HIS FATHER.

THE CAP'N OPERATED STEAMBOATS ON THE MISSISSIPPI FROM NEW ORLEANS UP TO THE MOUTH OF THE BLACK RIVER, AND ON THE RED, THE OUACHITA, AND THE SALINE, AND THUS MADE PORT AT A NUMBER OF POINTS IN ARKANSAS. LIKE OTHER STEAMBOATMEN OF THE PERIOD, HE TRANSPORTED GOODS, MACHINERY, AND SUCH UPSTREAM AND CARRIED COTTON, HIDES, AND OTHER PRODUCTS OF THE REGION DOWNSTREAM.  WHEN THE CIVIL WAR CAME ALONG, HIS BOAT WENT INTO CONFEDERATE SERVICE AND SEVERAL FAMILY ACCOUNTS OF HIS EXPERIENCES SURVIVE.

ONE OF THESE, TOLD TO ME BY HIS SON, CONCERNS AN INCIDENT AT LONGVIEW, ON THE SALINE RIVER IN SOUTH ARKANSAS. THE CAP'N HAD DOCKED IN PREPAATION FOR LOADING SOME 1,500 BALES OF COTTON. THINKING HE'D BE THERE TOW OR THREE DAYS, HE BANKED THE FIRES UNDER HIS BOILERS AND SO HAD LITTLE STEAM.  WORD CAME THAT A DETACHMENT OF UNION CAVALRY WAS COMING, SO THE CAPTAIN HAD THE COTTON THROWN INTO THE RIVER AND CUT THE BOAT LOOSE AND LET IT MOVE AWAY WITH THE CURRENT. DOWNSTREAM SEVERAL MILES, HE ANCHORED AT A SANDBAR, AND STRUNG ROPES ACROSS THE RIVER TO CATCH THE COTTON. AS THE BALES FLOATED DOWN, THEY WERE LOADED ON THE BOAT, AND ALTHOUGH WET, THEY WERE EVENTUALLY DELIVERED TO NEW ORLEANS.

ALTHOUGH HIS SON ISN'T QUITE SURE BOUT THE NAME OF THE BOAT, IT PROBABLY WAS THE MORGAN NELSON, BUILT AT MIDDLETOWN, PA., IN 1859.  THE WATERWAYS JOURNAL PUBLISHED AT ST. LOUIS, HAD DUG UP INFORMATION FOR ME THAT CAP'N WITHERS WAS PART-OWNER OF THE MORGAN NELSON FROM MAY OF 1861 UNTIL DECEMBER OF 1865. SHE WAS A SIDEWHEEL STEAMBOAT, 109 TONS DISPLACEMENT, AND WAS 120 FEET LONG, 21 FEET 9 INCHES AT THE BEAM AND DREW 4 FEET, 5 INCHES.

CAP'N WITHERS ALSO OWNED THE STEAMBOAT CARRIE POOLE AFTER THE CIVIL WAR. SHE WAS BUILT IN 1865 AT EVANSVILLE, IND. AND WAS A STERNWHEELER, 154 TONS, 118 FEET LONG.  THIS INFORMATION WAS FOUND FOR ME BY THE WATERWAYS JOURNAL, TO WHICH I AM GRATEFUL.

THE CAPTAIN SETTLED IN LONGVIEW WHEN HIS STEAMBOATING DAYS WERE DONE.  THERE HE FARMED AND OPERATED A SAWMILL AND COTTON GIN THAT WERE POSERED BY MACHINERY HE SALVAGED FROM ONE OF HIS STEAMBOATS.  HE ALSO BUILT AND OPERATED THE WITHERS FERRY ACROSS THE SALINE RIVER AT THAT POINT.  THERE HIS SON F.B. WITHERS AND OTHER CHILDREN WERE BORN.

CAP'N WITHERS CAME OUT OF THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD WITH A TRUNK FULL OF CONFEDERATE MONEY, WHICH HE STASHED AWAY, KNOWING IT WAS WORTHLESS.  YEARS LATER, HE OCCASIONED TO WANT TO GIVE $20 OF "GOVERNMENT" CURRENCY TO A YOUNG MAN OF HIS ACQUAINTANCE, AND SO OPENED THE TRUNK.  MICE HAD DESTROYED THE MONEY.  THERE WASN'T EVEN ONE $20 CONFEDERATE BILL LEFT FOR A SOUVENIR.

WELL, I'M CONTINUING ON THE TRAIL FOR CAP'N WITHERS AND HIS BOATS.  ANY READER WHO CAN HELP OUT A BIT WILL BE DOING ME AND CAPTAIN'S DESCENDANTS A FAVOR BY PASSING ALONG WHATEVER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.

HIS ADDRESS IS ERNIE DEAN, 910 ARLINGTON TERRACE, FAYETTEVILLE, AR 72701.

MR. FINCH'S ADDRESS: WM. C. FINCH, 710 COLLEGE ST., PORT GIBSON, MS 39150  <<Note: Wm C. Finch now lives in Crossett, AR in 1999. He is the former Mayor of Crossett.>>

MR. FINCH FOUND A RECORD IN THE ARKANSAS ARCHIVE FOR WILLIAM STEWART FINCH, CLERK ON THE BOAT MORGAN NELSON SERVING IN QUARTERMASTER'S DEPT., MAJOR LATIMER'S POST AT CAMDEN, ARKANSAS.  HE SERVED FROM JUNE 1862 UNTIL MAY 1, 1865. [INFORMATION TAKEN FROM WIDOW (2ND WIFE) SALLIE J. WHO DREW A CONFEDERATE PENSION, JULY 30, 1913 IN BRADLEY CO., ARK).

I HOPE THIS WILL GIVE YOU SOME NEW INFORMATION.

IN THE BONDS OF THE OLD SOUTH,

LAMAR ROBERTS, GRAY & BLUE NAVAL MUSEUM, VICKSBURG

EMail: grayblue@bellsouth.net <NEW>

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More on Robert J. Withers

From:  Union County, AR Federal Land Records

From Ashley County, AR Federal Land Records

Robert J. Withers is shown to have obtained the following land in Ashley County, AR

Section 20  - Township 15 S, Range 8 W, July 1, 1859  -  80 Acres

September 1, 1860  -  160 Acres

Notes for Amelia E. Finch: According to Ed Sanders of the Arkansas Historical Society, Amelia Finch Withers lived into the 1920's. She is buried in the Withers Plot at the Hamburg Cemetery, Ark.

From Mayor Bill Finch of Crossett, AR:  Emma Dean Finch went to live with her daughter Amelia and Capt. Bob Withers at Longview. Emma Dean is buried at Prarie Chappel Cemetery next to her son-in-law Capt. Robert L. Withers in the Withers Plot. (I have pictures.) Amelia Finch Withers lived into the 1920's and is buried in a Withers Plott in the Hamburg Cemetery with several sons and daughters.

Children of Robert Withers and Amelia Finch are: