Goodspeeds Biographies

for Franklin County AR

 FRANKLIN COUNTY, AR BIOGRAPHIES - D, E, F

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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed
Publishing Co., 1889.
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Willis Davenport, a farmer of Franklin County, was born in Greenville
County, S. C., June 25, 1849, and is a son of Willis and Frances
(Coker) Davenport. Willis Davenport, father of our subject, was born
in Ohio in 1812, and when young went with his parents to Greenville
County, S. C.; he was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1881. The
mother was a native of Greenville County, S. C., and was born in 1820.
In this family were nine children: Charles, Willis B., Isaac
(deceased), John, William, Joseph, James, Nancy (wife of S. J.
Garrett) and Polly (who married John Garrett). The mother is still
living in Greenville County, S. C., with one of her sons-in-law.
Willis B. Davenport was reared on a farm in his native county, and
received a limited common-school education. In 1861 he enlisted in the
Confederate army, and participated in two battles in Virginia, and the
Seven Days' fight at Richmond; he was disabled, and returned home in
1864, but subsequently enlisted in the Sixteenth South Carolina
Regiment, and was in active service until the close of the war, when
he returned home, where he remained until 1868; he then engaged in
farming in Alabama for seven years, when he returned to South Carolina
for a short time, and in 1874 located in Arkansas. In 1881 he removed
to his present farm, which consists of eighty acres. In 1867 he
married Martha N. Copeland, who was born in Blount County, Ala., in
1851. Mr. and Mrs. Davenport are the parents of six children, viz.:
Shirley Augustus, Charles M., Willie (deceased), Frances E., Kittie E.
(deceased) and James. Mrs. Davenport is a member of the Baptist
Church. Politically he is a Democrat.

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Otto B. Donaldson, of the general mercantile firm of Donaldson &
Jackman, at Altus, Ark., was born at Fort Smith, Ark., June 4, 1842,
and is a son of Thomas T. and Elizabeth Donaldson, who were born in
Maryland, and at an early day removed to Ohio, thence to Fort Smith,
Ark., where they built the first trading establishment in the town.
They died when Otto B. was very young, and but little is known of the
early history of the family. The father died about 1846 and the mother
about 1853. They were quite wealthy, and at the time of their deaths
owned considerable property, but their papers became lost or destroyed
and their children were obliged to suffer the consequences. The mother was married a second time, and became the mother of one son, R. B.
Morrow, who is a wealthy merchant of Greenwood, Ark. Her first union
[p.1235] was blessed in the birth of five children, two of whom are
living: Otto B. and Cornelia, wife of R. R. Lewis, of Sebastian
County, Ark. At the death of his parents Otto B. Donaldson was left to
fight the battle of life as best he could, and for a number of years
had many hard battles with adversity. What money he could obtain was
spent in acquiring an education, and when the war broke out he left
his studies and work and enlisted in Company A, Sixteenth Arkansas
Infantry, Confederate States Army, and for three years served as third
lieutenant, coming out at the close of the war as adjutant major, with
the rank of first lieutenant. He was in the battles of Elkhorn and
Corinth, and also participated in many skirmishes. He was at one time
discharged for disability, but after some time regained his health and
rejoined his command. He took up his abode near Clarksville, Ark.,
after the close of the war, and while there engaged in book-keeping
for H. Hodges, with whom he remained two years. He then rented a large
farm for four years, but this enterprise was unfortunate, and what
property he had acquired was sunk in the venture. He then came to
Altus and began working as salesman, book-keeper and depot agent for J. M. Williamson, with whom he remained four years. He then formed a partnership with his employer, which connection lasted four years, and the three following years were occupied in the family grocery business. For the last two years he and Mr. Jackman have been running a mercantile establishment, and are doing an extensive and steadily increasing business. In 1874 he was elected justice of the peace, and has held the office up to present time, and for two years was postmaster of Altus. His union with Sarah J. Bateman was consummated in 1867, but she died four years later, leaving no issue. In 1874 Parthenia Hampton, a daughter of Taylor Hampton, of Cole Hill, Ark., became his wife. Her death occurred in 1880, at the age of twenty-four
years. June 17, 1883, Mr. Donaldson married his third wife, Virginia,
daughter of Lewis B. Phillips. She was born in Franklin County, Ark.,
November 14, 1861, and is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church. Having no children of his own Mr. Donaldson has reared five
orphan children, the last one being still under his roof. He is one of
the enterprising citizens of the town, and in his political views is a
Democrat.

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William R. Douglass was born in Smith County, Tenn., March 26, 1839.
His father, Robert J., was born in Virginia, and when thirteen
accompanied his widowed mother to Tennessee, where he grew to manhood
and married Permelia Hodges, who was also born in Virginia and reared
in Smith County, Tenn. In 1848 Mr. Douglass immigrated to Arkansas,
and locating in Arkansas County, entered land and engaged in farming,
until his death in 1851. William R. Douglass was but ten years old
when he lost his father, and he thereafter lived in Little Rock until
grown. In 1861 he enlisted in the State service, in Woodruff's
battery, but afterward became a soldier in the regular army, and
served until the close of the war. He enlisted as a private, in 1862
was made second lieutenant, and the following year became first
lieutenant, which position he held while in service. He participated
in the battles at Oak Hill, Prairie Grove, Helena, Mansfield, La.,
Jenkins' Ferry, and many smaller skirmishes. His company was disbanded
in Texas, and he was paroled at Little Rock in June, 1865. Prior to
the war Mr. Douglass served a four-years' apprenticeship at the
printer's trade, and had worked at the tinner's trade. In 1865 he went
to Little Rock, and worked there at the last named business until
1870. In September of that year he went to Ozark, and engaged in the hardware business, which he continued until 1885. He then sold out and
moved upon his present place. He now owns 1,100 acres of land in this
township, in five different tracts, 300 acres being cultivated. The
home place contains 520 acres, 200 cleared, and sixteen acres devoted
to the cultivation of fruit trees. In 1866, in Pulaski County, Mr.
Douglass was united in marriage to Agnes Bender, a native of
Pennsylvania, who was reared in Arkansas. Mrs. Douglass died in 1880,
leaving four children living. Mr. Douglass afterward married Mrs.
Smith, a widow, and daughter of Dr. G. C. Sadler, a prominent
physician of this county. Mrs. Douglass had two children by her former
marriage, Charles and Burk Smith. By her marriage with our subject she
is the mother of four children. Thomas, a medical student, of St.
Louis; Samuel, Bender and Harrison are the children of Mr. Douglass'
first marriage; and Susan E., Robert, Sula and Council the children of
his last. Mrs. Douglass is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South.

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Frank M. Elsey, stock dealer and shipper, was born in Maries County,
Mo., November 14, 1842, and is a son of John and Rachel (Rowden)
Elsey, natives of [p.1236] Tennessee. In 1840 the parents located in
Maries County, Mo., where they reared their children, and the father
engaged in farming and stock raising until his death in 1862. Our
subject grew to manhood in his native county, and in 1864 enlisted in
the Forty-eighth Missouri Infantry. United States Army, in which he
served until the close of the war. He served most of the time on
detached duty, and participated in the battle of Nashville. After the
war he returned to Maries County, but in 1867 came to Ozark, Ark. He
at first farmed a year, and then followed merchandising several years.
In 1873 he was appointed sheriff, which office he held two terms,
being re-appointed in 1878. He has also served the town of Ozark for
one term as mayor. Mr. Elsey has made two trips with his family to
California, and spent one winter on the coast. In 1873 he established
his present stock business in partnership with his brother. Their
ranch is in this county, and is located south of the Arkansas River.
They are extensive cattle dealers, and last year handled 1,000 head of
cattle. Mr. Elsey was married in Ozark June 2, 1867, to Miss Mary A.
Berry, daughter of Col. T. D. Berry [see sketch]. Mrs. Eisey was
reared and educated in this county, and is the mother of two
daughters: Eva, now attending college at McMillan, Tenn., and Lena,
aged eleven. Mrs. Elsey is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, and Mr. Elsey is a Republican in polities, although after the
war for several years he was a Democrat.

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James J. Eichenberger was born in this county March 8, 1848, and is a
son of H. and Lucinda (Obar) Eichenberger. The father was born in
Germany, and when fifteen years old came to America, being reared and
educated in Arkansas. He assisted in laying out the town of Ozark, and
held several important positions in the town and county, and for
several terms served as county treasurer. He was an active business
man, and engaged in merchandising and hotel-keeping. He was married in
Washington County, Ark., and died here in 1875, aged sixty-three. His
widow still survives. Seven of their children are living: Mrs. M. A.
McCuffin, of Roseville, Ark.; Mrs. S. J. Littleton, widow of W. H.
Eichenberger, a farmer; A. L. Eichenberger, farmer; R. E.
Eichenberger, in family grocery store: G. D. Eichenberger, commercial
traveler, and all the heads of families. Our subject passed his youth
in this county, and assisted his father in the store. At the age of
fourteen he enlisted in the Confederate service, in Brooks' brigade,
and served until the surrender at Little Rock in 1865, having fought
in the battles at Fayetteville and Dardanelle. After the war he
clerked again for a few months at home, and then attended school for
six months at Charleston, after which he returned home and resumed
business. He had previously been offered the management of a good
business here, but feeling the need of a better education declined for
the time being. He now has one of the best and most complete lines of
general merchandise in the town, and has been successfully engaged in
this line for over twenty-two years. He has occupied his present
building, of which he is the owner, since January, 1870. He also owns
a large grist-mill and cotton-gin at White Oak, and is one of the
stockholders in the Ozark Canning Factory. October 13, 1873, he was
married in Johnson County, Ark., to Lizzie Carey, a native of that
county, and daughter of Thomas F. Carey and Mary E. Carey. Mr. and
Mrs. Eichenberger are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
They have three children: Maud May, Henry and Fred. Mr. Eichenberger
belongs to the K. of P.

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James M. Ford was born in Jackson County, Tenn., May 15, 1835, and is a
son of Luke and Melissa (Hawkins) Ford, natives of Buckingham County,
Va., and South Carolina, respectively. The father moved to Middle
Tennessee with his father when a lad, and there lived until 1850. He
then moved with his family to Arkansas, and for some time farmed in
Crawford County. About six years after coming to Arkansas he located
in Walker Township. Franklin County, where he now enjoys good health;
his wife is somewhat feeble and quite advanced in years. James M.
passed his youth in this neighborhood, and lived at home until his
marriage, December 27, 1857, to Lucretia Hargrove. This lady is a
daughter of Joshua Hargrove, now deceased, and was born in West
Tennessee, although reared here. After his marriage Mr. Ford farmed
until his enlistment in the Federal service in October, 1863. He then
joined the Second Arkansas Cavalry, and served under Col. John E.
Phelps until mustered out at Memphis, Tenn., at the close of the war.
He was a corporal the entire time, and for three years worked as a
carpenter at Springfield, Greene Co., Mo. In 1869 he returned to
Arkansas, and in January, 1871, he settled on his [p.1237] present
place of 169 acres, seventy of which he has under cultivation. This is
all well improved, and two acres are devoted to fruit trees. He also
owns seventy-five acres of land in another tract, forty-five under
cultivation, and 120 acres in still another piece of land, of which
fifty are cultivated. All his property is in Walker Township. Mr. Ford
is one of the enterprising men of the township, and has served about
two terms as justice of the peace, and has been a member of the school
board for over fifteen years. Himself and wife are members of the
Protestant Methodist Church, and are the parents of six children:
Sarah E., wife of W. R. Lewis; Martha I., wife of J. E. Stringfellow;
John A., Thomas O., Martin N. and William A. Mr. Ford belongs to the
I. O. O. F.

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J. B. Fulks was born in Marshall County, Ala., February 26, 1858, and
is a son of J. H. and Elizabeth Jane (Smith) Fulks, natives of North
Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The father was born in 1819, and
was a mechanic by trade. When a young man he went to Sullivan County,
Tenn., but in 1844 went to Marshall County, Ala., where he lived until
1865, engaged in farming and working at his trade. While in Alabama he
served as magistrate, and he was a member of the A. F. & A. M. He
served one year in the Civil War, after which he went to Kentucky,
where he died in February, 1885. The mother was born in Sullivan
County, Tenn., in 1821, and grew to maturity in that State. After her
marriage she went to Alabama, where she lived until her death. She was
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the mother of
nine children, six of whom are living. Mrs. Fulks died in June, 1884.
Our subject grew to maturity in Alabama, and in 1881 came to Arkansas,
settling upon his present place. He received a good education during
his youth, which he has since improved by hard study, and since the
fall of 1882 has taught fourteen terms of school. In 1886 he was
elected tax assessor, and in 1888 was re-elected to the same position
by a large majority. November 11, 1886, he was united in marriage to
Emma J. Bumpers, who was born in Alabama November 7, 1868, and is a
daughter of L. B. Bumpers, who came to Mill Creek Township in 1879,
and is one of the leading citizens of this place. Mr. and Mrs. Fulks
have two children: Webster R. and Eunice L. Mrs. Fulks is an active
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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ETHRIDGE:
FYI, regarding the paragraph that begins <http://www.rootsweb.com/~arfrankl/goodspeed/st.txt>:

Uriah G. Stokes, another prominent citizen of Hogan Township, Franklin
County, was born in North Carolina April 5, 1823, and is the son of
John and Jane (Gening) Stokes, both of whom died in Stewart County,
Tenn., in 1835. They were married in North Carolina, afterward moved
to East Tennessee, from there to Henry County of the same State, and
still later to Stewart County, [p.1279] where they passed the
remainder of their days. He was a farmer and shoemaker by occupation,
and the mother was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Of their
family of nine children, four now living, Uriah G. is the fourth
child. After the death of his parents he was bound out to William
Ethridge, of Stewart County, Tenn., and remained with him until twenty
years of age, when...

My father was also (as am I) "William Ethridge", a Presbyterian elder who was born in Columbus, MS, in 1912, and grew up in West Point, MS. For many years we lived in Jackson, MS, while my father served on the MS Supreme Court, including roughly 10 years (1961 until his death in 1971) as Chief Justice. Since many of the Ethridges came to the deep south, down and across from Virginia and North Carolina, the William Ethridge mentioned on your website might well related to my "clan" of Ethridges.

There is a fair amount of info about Ethridges at the genealogy,com site.

I submit this info to you for whatever it's worth. I hope something!

Sincerely,
William Ethridge
ethridge@onebox.com
Encinitas, CA