Ouachita County

Rev. Eli W. Pharr, one of the honored and respected old residents of Ouachita County, Arkansas, should be accorded a worthy place in this volume, for he has been associated with the agricultural interests of the county since 1849. He was born in Abbeville District, South Carolina, February 25, 1819, being a son of Samuel T. and Mary W. (Guffin) Pharr, the father of whom was born in South Carolina, in 1792, having been a tiller of the soil, and a minister of the gospel by occupation. He and wife became the parents of four children, two of whom are living at the present time: Eli W. and Mary A. (wife of William G. Casey, a resident of Alabama). At an early day Samuel T. Pharr removed from his native State to Georgia, and from there to Arkansas, in 1849, settling in the northern part of the State, his wife dying here in 1880, and earnest member of the Presbyterian Church. Eli W. Pharr first started in life for himself at the age of twenty-one years as a farmer and was married in 1840, to Miss Elizabeth Lowe, a native of South Carolina, by whom he became the father of seven children, four of whom are now living: John W. (a farmer and merchant of this county), Mary L. (wife of L. R. Hollingsworth, a resident of Hughes Springs, Texas), Edward I. (a farmer and merchant of Columbia County, Arkansas), and Joseph S. (a farmer of this county). The mother of these children died in 1856, a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and in 1857 Mr. Pharr espoused Mrs. Parthenia Seehorn, a widow of Alex Seehorn. She was born in Mississippi, in 1820, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Pharr received an excellent education in his youth, and for some time was an attendant of a college at Graffenburg, Alabama, which was under the management of P. M. Sheppard. He also graduated from a medical college in 1854, after which he entered actively upon the practice of that profession, continuing from 1855 to 1856, in Alabama, when he removed to Arkansas, and from that time until 1873, was a practitioner in Union County. He was licensed to preach the gospel in 1864, being a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and has been actively engaged in the saving of souls ever since. He is well to do as far as worldly goods is concerned, and is now the owner of about 400 acres of good farming land, with about 200 acres improved. His principal crop is cotton and corn, and he is a partner in a fine steam cotton-gin and grist mill. He belongs in the Masonic fraternity, and in his professional as well as social relations, he is esteemed and respected by many.[INDEX]

John W. Pharr, is a successful planter and merchant of Red Hill Township, and was born in Pike County, Georgia, in 1845, being a son of Rev. Eli W. Pharr, whose sketch immediately precedes this. He received fair advantages in his youth, many of his days being spent in assisting his father on the farm, and in 1868 he was united in marriage to Miss Carie Poole, who was born in the State of Mississippi, in 1850, and by her became the father of six children: Sarah E., Mary A., Fims E., Blake C., Daisy P. and Blanche P. Mr. Pharr's farm embraces 500 acres of excellent land, the improvements on the homestead being excellent, and the neatness and system displayed in and about the place indicate to a certainty the progressive and intelligent citizen that Mr. Pharr is. Two hundred and fifty acres are under cultivation, the most of which he devotes to the raising of cotton and corn, and no man in the county is more deserving of success than he, for he has always been industrious and honest, following by precept and example the teachings of the Golden Rule. During the Rebellion he enlisted in a cavalry company in 1864, and served until the close of the war. He and Mrs. Pharr are earnest members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church..[INDEX]

James H. Pickett. In no part of Arkansas is agriculture in a more flourishing condition than in Ouachita County, and here Mr. Pickett is considered one of the leading tillers of the soil and stock dealers. His birth occurred here November 1, 1853, and as a natural consequence he has always had the county's interests warmly at heart, and has given liberally of his means to all enterprises of a worthy nature. His parents, James M. and Julia (Davenport) Pickett, were born in Tennessee, the former's birth occurring in McNairy County, In 1818, and the latter's in 1823. James M. Pickett was a farmer by occupation and in 1849 removed from his native State to Arkansas, and settled in Ouachita County, where he purchased and entered a woodland farm. After living for a short time in a rail pen which he built, he erected a substantial log cabin, and in this made his home until he had made many valuable improvements. During the late war he enlisted in the Confederate cavalry in 1863, and served until the close of the war, after which he returned home and resumed farming, having lost nearly all he had during the war. He commenced again at the foot of the ladder, and has become a well-to-do citizen. He and his wife became the parents of six sons and two daughters, five of whom are now living: Jeff W., John D., Victoria E., (wife of William C. Smith, of this county), Edward and James H. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a Mason and has filled the position of justice of the peace for a number of years. James H. Pickett has spent his life in this county and has made the tilling of the soil his chief occupation through life, and has sixty of his 340 acre farm under cultivation. He was married December 1, 1875 to Miss Susan M. Smith, who was born in this county, May 29, 1858, a daughter of Thomas J. and Mary J. (James) Smith, natives of Tennessee, who moved from there to Texas, thence to Arkansas, about 1856. They are both members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Pickett and his wife have had a family of five children born to them, three of whom are now living: Aurora A., Andrew B. and Zenobia E. Clarence D., and infant unnamed, are deceased. Mr. Pickett and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a Democrat politically..[INDEX]

Dr. J. W. Perdue, practicing physician and surgeon, Stephens, Arkansas. A prominent physician and surgeon, who by his own great abilities has attained distinction in his profession, is Dr. J. W. Perdue. This gentleman was born in Alabama, in October, 1849, and is the son of John Perdue, who was born in Monroe County, Alabama, in 1826, and who is now residing in this county, having emigrated from Alabama to Union County, Arkansas, in 1865, and from there to Ouachita County. The latter was married to Miss Rachel Baddy, a native of South Carolina, born in 1832, and the fruits of this union were eight children - four sons and four daughters - six now living. The paternal grandfather, John Perdue, was a native of Maryland. Dr. J. W. Perdue, the eldest of the above mentioned children, received his literary education in Alabama, and his medical education at Little Rock, Arkansas graduating from the Arkansas Industrial Medical University in 1885. Since that time he has been engaged in active practice in this county, and came to the town of Stephens in 1887. He has a large and increasing practice, and has gained the confidence of all as a clever and scientific practitioner. He was married in 1870 to Miss Sarah Sampler, a native of Lawrence County, Arkansas, born in 1861, and have the following interesting children: William C., Florence F., Emma, Johnny, Ola, Linna, Edward B. and Roscoe J. Dr. Perdue has resided in this county since 1879. In the fall of 1876 he put in a stock of drugs under the name of Perdue & Campbell, and is now owner of the entire stock. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, garland Lodge No. 354, and is a Master Mason. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in his political views Mr. Perdue is independent, voting for the man and not the party..[INDEX]

Ephriam B. Pierce is now a prosperous farmer of Union Township, Ouachita County, Arkansas, and was born in Gwinnett County, Georgia in 1822, being a son of William and Elizabeth (Holbrook) Pierce, who were born in Georgia and East Tennessee, respectively, their marriage taking place in Gwinnett County, Georgia, and here Mr. Pierce spent the rest of his days, dying when the subject of this sketch was quite small. After his death his widow married again and removed to Mississippi, where she died just before the war. Her father, Caleb Holbrook, was a Tennesseean, and there passed from life, his wife dying in Georgia. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Ephriam B. Pierce is the third of five children, and he and a sister who lives in Georgia, and brother living in Mississippi, are the surviving members of the family. He received a common school education, was reared to farm life, and began working at that calling for himself at the age of seventeen years. He was married in his native county in the month of June, 1840, to Miss Jane Brownlow, who died in Calhoun County, Arkansas, about 1866, and the following year Mr. Pierce wedded Mrs. Parthenia A. Richardson, a daughter of Ishmael Steward. She was born in Stewart County, Georgia, and has borne Mr. Pierce three children, his first wife having borne him eight children. Mr. Pierce lived for some years in Mississippi, but in 1855, settled in Calhoun County, Arkansas, where he improved a good farm and made his home until 1870, when he came to his present farm, which consists of about 480 acres four miles north of Bearden. He also has a good farm of 440 acres in Calhoun County, all of which he has obtained by his own efforts. He ahs always been a Democrat in politics, and for some years has held the office of justice of the peace in Calhoun and Ouachita Counties. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church..[INDEX]

J. A. Proctor is one of the leading furniture dealers of Camden, Arkansas, and is in the enjoyment of a remarkably prosperous trade. He was boron in Meriwether County, Georgia, September 2, 1831, and is a son of Elias R. and Mary (Paterson) Proctor, the father a native of South Carolina, and their union took place in Georgia. In 1849 they emigrated to Arkansas, coming overland, settling at Holly Springs, in Dallas County, where they entered a tract of land, but sold, after making many valuable improvements, and came to Ouachita County, taking up their abode near Camden. The father's death occurred in 1861, but the mother is still living. Mr. Proctor was a successful tiller of the soil of Ouachita County. Three sons and three daughters, of the eleven children born to himself and wife, are now living, of whom J. A. Proctor, our immediate subject, is the eldest. He was a resident of Georgia until seventeen years of age, and there received the most of his education, being an attendant of the common schools, and until twenty -three years of age, the occupation of farming received his attention. In January, 1853, he came to Camden and began clerking, but at the end of four years he embarked in business for himself, and successfully conducted a grocery business, until 1861, but during the war he was not in the service, owing to ill health. From the time the war closed until 1869, he followed the occupation of clerking and bookkeeping, but at the end of that time embarked in general merchandising, which continued to receive his attention until 1882, when he changed his stock of goods and became a furniture dealer, and also sells sash, doors and blinds. He is doing a thriving business, which is constantly increasing, and his successes have been due to his energy and enterprise, and his home is one of the leading representatives in his line of trade in his section of the State. During the war, he served the people two years as mayor of the city and since as city alderman. He has been a continuous resident of Camden for the pasty thirty seven years, and has witnessed and assisted in the rapid growth of the city and county. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which order he ahs advanced to the Commandery, and from his youth up he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. His wife, whose maiden name was Martha J. Mendenhall, and whom he married in 1857, is also a worthy member of that church..[INDEX]

John L. Proffitt, although a native of McNairy County, Tennessee, born July 22, 1846, has been a resident of Ouachita County, Arkansas since about 1869, and has fully identified himself with every interest of the same. His parents, William F. and Senia (Lott) Proffitt, were born in Virginia and Kentucky, respectively, but the former died in the Lone Star State during the Rebellion, when forty-five years of age. He was about twenty-two years old when he left his native State, and was a resident of a number of different States before locating in McNairy County, Tennessee. Here h was married, and in 1849 came with his family to Calhoun County, Arkansas, and here continued to make his home until his removal to Texas, in 1865. After the war his widow returned to Calhoun County, Arkansas, and here she is now residing, aged about seventy-three or seventy-four years. In his early days Mr. Proffitt acted as an overseer, but in later years turned his attention to mercantile pursuits and farming, becoming quite wealthy, but lost all during the war. He was a Democrat, was justice of the peace in Calhoun County, and he and wife were members of the Primitive Baptist Church. Of a family of six children born to them, four are now living, three being residents of Ouachita County,and one of Calhoun County: H. G. (is a butcher at Camden), William H. (is a farmer of Calhoun County), Sarah (is the wife of James McDonald), and John L. (is a farmer of this county). The latter spent his school days in Calhoun County, and in 1864 joined the Nineteenth Texas Infantry, Confederate States Army, and remained in the service until May, 1865, during which time he was not wounded or taken prisoner. After the war he remained in Texas until 1867; then came to Arkansas, and in 1869, located on his present farm. He was married in 1869 to Catharine Yeager, a daughter of Judge Michael Yeager, of Calhoun County. She was born in Ouachita County, Arkansas in 1847, and died on March 21, 1871, having been an earnest member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Three and one-half years later Mr. Proffitt wedded Miss Gatsey Pate, a daughter of William Pate, of Calhoun County, formerly, now of this county. She was born in Alabama in 1851, and by Mr. Proffitt she is the mother of six children: Lou, Laura, Mary, Sallie, William C. and Ella. Mrs. Proffitt is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is a Democrat, and since his residence in this county, he has been coroner two years..[INDEX]

Millard H. Purifoy, a planter residing on Section 24, is a native of Ouachita County, born on July 30, 1855, a son of Henry M. and Elizabeth J. (Hanley) Purifoy, the former of whom was born in Will County, Alabama, January 12, 1818, a farmer by occupation, which received his attention all his life. During the late war he was a member of a company of infantry under captain Logan, and was taken prisoner at Fort Donalson. After being held in captivity for eighteen months, he was exchanged and then came home owing to ill health. He had held the office of justice of the peace for several years in his native State, after which he emigrated from Alabama to Georgia,and from there to Florida, thence to Arkansas in 1844, settling in Ouachita County on a woodland farm, on which he erected a log cabin and began improving. He was a very successful farmer up to the late war, being the owner of some 1,200 acres of land, but at the close of the war sold it all to pay his debts. He died on September 13, 1882, having been first married to Miss Anna Allbritten, of Alabama, by whom he became the father of three sons and one daughter: Henry H., John G., and Nancy C. (widow of A. N. Powell) being the only ones now living. After the death of the mother of these children, in 1845, he married Miss Hanley, and to them thirteen children were born, nine of whom survive: Marshal W., Millard H., Buckner W., James L., Ed L., Jesse B., Joseph S., Pharr R., Robert E (living) and Louis F., Walter P. Elizabeth and one other (deceased). The mother of these children died in 1889, having been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Millard H. Purifoy has resided in this county the greater portion of his life, and on August 16, 1877,w as united in marriage to Miss Minnie Gulley, of Nevada County, Arkansas, by whom he became the father of six children: Marshal L., Richard G., Samuel L., Ramsey J., Roland L. and Keturah E. (who is deceased). Mrs. Purifoy was born in Louisiana, June 2, 1860. Mr. Purifoy is the owner of 320 acres of the fine farming land, and has seventy-five acres under the plow, and on this farm is a good steam cotton-gin and grist mill, the former having a capacity of from thirteen to fifteen bales per day. His principal crop is cotton. He is a Democrat in his political views, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church..[INDEX]

W. K. Ramsey, a cashier of the Ouachita Valley Bank, and insurance agent of Camden, Arkansas, is a native of Wilcox County, Alabama, born June 18, 1843, being a son of Rev. A. C. and Elizabeth A. (Wardlaw) Ramsey, the father a native of Georgia, and the mother of South Carolina. The former is now residing in Wilcox County, Alabama, aged eighty three years, but the mother died in 1854. They have had a family of seven children, born to them of whom five are now living. Rev. A. C. Ramsey was a pioneer Methodist minister, and at one time had a circuit which took three months to make. W. K. Ramsey was educated in the University of Arkansas, but his books were laid aside on the opening of the war, and he became a member of the Mobile Cadets, Company, A, Third Alabama Regiment, and served faithfully the cause he espoused until the close. He was slightly wounded four times and still carries a ball in his thigh, and during his term of service he was a participant in many of the principal engagements under Gens. Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Upon his return home, in November, 1865, he followed bookkeeping for some time and in 1874 became deputy clerk of the county, in which capacity he served four years. In 1878 he was elected to the position of county clerk, serving six years. He was appointed register of the United States land office by President Cleveland, a position he held four years, and at the expiration of his term as register he organized the Ouachita Valley Bank, and was elected cashier. This is doing a prosperous business at Camden, Arkansas. Mr. Ramsey is the present commissioner in building the new courthouse which is to be completed by July 1, 1890. It is a beautiful structure and the leaders deserve much credit for their enterprise. He has always been deeply interested in secret organizations, and has filled all the chairs in the Masonic fraternity, and ahs been grand high priest of the State, and is at present Deputy Grand Master and Grand Commander in the Commandery; he also belongs to the K. of H., R. A. and A. L. of H. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is now serving has city alderman. He was married in 1869, to Miss Mary Vickers, of Kentucky, by whom he became the father of four children: Marion, Anna, A. C., Jr., and Carlton. He married his present wife in 1884, she being a Mrs. Stanley. They have two children: W. K., Jr., and Margaret. Politically he is intensely Democratic and never misses an opportunity to advance the interest of his party..[INDEX]

J. A. Reeves, a member of the firm of Reeves & Son, is one of the pioneer merchants of Camden, Arkansas and being public spirited, liberal-minded and generous in disposition, he receives a most liberal share of public favor. His establishment is one of the most attractive of the kind in Southern Arkansas, and as he sells his goods at very low prices, and is honest and upright in his dealings with his patrons, he fully deserves his present success. He was born in Troup County, Georgia on August 22, 1836, and is a son of James and Nancy (Harper) Reeves, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Georgia. They were married in the latter State, and lived and died there, the former having been an active participant in the War of 1812. The paternal grandfather, Jeremiah Reeves, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. James Reeves, was a minister of the Baptist Church, and followed the occupation of farming for a living. A family of twelve children was born to himself and wife, only three are no living: James (a Baptist minister in Georgia), Eliza (Barzell, in Cleveland County), and Joseph A. (the immediate subject of this sketch). The latter was not named until sixteen years of age, then as his parents could not decide on a name he took the matter into his own hand and named himself while going from Atlanta to Covington, Georgia. He remained in the State of Georgia until almost grown, receiving the most of his education there,and in 1855, went to Mississippi, and was engaged in clerking in a store until 1859, when he came to Camden, Arkansas, where he was making his home when the war broke out. On May 15, of that year, he joined the City Guards of Camden, but became a lieutenant in Company H., Sixth Arkansas Regiment and was afterward promoted to captain. He commanded the company for two years and was a participant in all the engagements west of the Mississippi River. After the final surrender he returned to Camden and resumed merchandising, which occupation had received his attention before the war, being associated in business with D. W. Fellows, receiving one-third of the profits. By economy he managed to save considerable of this money, but after remaining a member of the firm until 1880, he withdrew and became associate din business with a Mr. Ross, their connection lasting three years. In 1886, the present firm was organized, and they are now doing an exceptionally paying business. Their stock of goods is valued at $12,000, and they do an annual business of $120,000. Mr. Reeves was married in 1866, to Miss Lizzie Parker, a native of Camden, and by her he has two sons and a daughter: Orlin C. (who is associated with his father), Edwin J. (a medical student in New Orleans) and Lizzie E. Mr. Reeves is a member of the K. of P., the R. A., the K. of H., and he is a stockholder in the Camden National Bank and the Camden Compress and Electric Light Company..[INDEX][PAGE 8]