Ouachita County

Dr. George M. Adamson, farmer and physician of Layfayette Township, was born October 14, 1830, in Henry County, Ga., a son of William C. and Elizabeth (Crawly) Adamson, natives of Georgia. William C. Adamson was born in 1797, a son of Greenbury Adamson and ------------- (Coats) Adamson, natives of Maryland and Georgia, respectively. Greenbury Adamson was born near Rockford, Md., a son of Seabron Adamson. Sebron Adamson was born in England, in Amsterdam City, of Scottish descent, and with Frederick Adamson came to the United States before the Revolutionary War (in which they both served), settling in Maryland. The paternal grandmother was of Scotch descent. William C. Adamson, father of our subject, was a large planter of Georgia, owning about 1,000 acres of land, and from fifteen to twenty slaves. He died July 13, 1879. Elizabeth (Crawly) Adamson was a daughter of Charles Crawly, who was born in Virginia about 1750, and died in 1850. She died December 25, 1865. She was the mother of ten children, seven of whom are still living, viz.: Charles Quincy (a merchant of Atlanta, Ga.), William L. (A farmer and merchant of Carroll County, Ga.), Nancy C. (now Mrs. Milton Dorough, of Bowdon, Ga.), George M. (the subject of this sketch), Simon Frederick (a farmer of Alabama), Samuel M. (a farmer and Baptist minister of Alabama), and James Greenbury (a farmer of Carroll County, Ga.). Those deceased are Augustus M. (died in Henry County, Ga.), Nathaniel T. (died while in the Confederate army), and John W. (who died in Bowdon, Ga.). John W. Adamson moved to the locality where Bowdon was afterward established, in 1854, and was one of the founders of that place. He had a family of nine children, all of whom received a good education, two becoming prominent lawyers and well known men. Dr. G. M. Adamson, our subject, was educated in Bowdon, Ga. He studied medicine in an office in Randolph County, Ala., and then attended the medical college at Augusta, Ga. In 1859 he came to Arkansas, locating in Lafayette County, where he commenced to practice medicine. In 1863 he went to Columbia County, where he remained until 1867, when he returned to this county, locating on his present farm, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession and farming. He has always enjoyed a good practice, and has been equally as successful in farming, owning 360 acres of land, 240 acres where he lives, and 120 acres of timber land, and has over 100 acres under cultivation, raising cotton principally. Dr. Adamson was married January 1, 1861, to Miss Martha C. Butler, born in South Carolina (Orangeburg District), June 28, 1830, a daughter of Thomas and Rachel Butler, natives of South Carolina, and the fruits of this union have been five children, three of whom are still living, viz.: Elizabeth Elenor (was born in Columbia County, June 15, 1864, and was married to John W. Wilson, December 31, 1884, is not the mother of three children, viz.: George Robert, Martha Madieleine and Elizabeth Hattie Dee; she is now living in this township), Martha Lee (was born in Columbia County, September 10, 1865, was married to Daniel Green Jeffus, September 16, 1886, and is now the mother of two children, only one living, viz., Martha Catherine, now living in this township), Madeileine Nancy (was born in Ouachita County, December 23, 1870, still at home with her parents). Dr. Adamson, Mrs. Adamson and three children are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic order, and of the County Wheel. His wife and three daughters are members of the O. E. S. He is a leading Democrat, and one of the best known men in the county, and takes an active interest in all laudable public enterprises.[INDEX]

J. M. Agee, manufacturer of wagons, plows, hacks and farming implements at Camden, Ark., is a native Alabamaian, and has inculcated in him the sterling principles of the better class of citizens of that State. He was born in Monroe County in May, 1844, his parents, William P. and Coraline (Thompson) Agee, being natives of North Carolina and Alabama, respectively. In 1849 they removed to Arkansas, and located on a farm near Hamburg, Ashley County, where the father died in 1866, his wife passing from life in Camden some time later. J. M. Agee was reared and educated in Arkansas, and in his youth became thoroughly familiar with the details of farm work, as this was his sole occupation until he was fifteen years of age. He has been a resident of Ouachita County since 1859, and upon the breaking out of the war he enlisted from here in Company H, Sixth Arkansas Infantry, and took part in a number of hotly-contested engagements, among which may be mentioned the battle of Shiloh, in which engagement he was wounded by a gun-shot in the right hand, three fingers being taken off. He was subsequently discharged, but afterward joined the Fifteenth Louisiana Battalion, and was captured at Vicksburg and taken to Camp Morton, Ind., where he was kept for eighteen months, being exchanged ten days before the final surrender. He returned to Camden and engaged in the hardware and manufacturing business, and this has received his attention for twenty- one years. He employs in his factory from eighteen to twenty men, and is doing an exceptionally paying business. Socially, Mr. Agee is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the K. of H., and is a stockholder in several of the important enterprises of the city. Miss Lizzie Agee became his wife in 1868, and by her he has five children: Ella, Ewing, Fred, Estella and Ina. [INDEX]

Philip Agee is a successful merchant of Lilly, Ark., and being a native-born resident of the county, he has ever had her interests at heart. His birth occurred October 8, 1846, and he is a son of Philip and Mary (Anderson) Agee, both of whom were born near Mobile, Ala., the former's birth occurring on February 3, 1802. He died near where the subject of this sketch now lives, in 1875, his wife dying in 1862, when about forty years of age. They were married in Alabama, but in 1842 came to Arkansas, and located five miles southwest of Camden, on what is now known as the Bradshaw Place. After the county was organized he became the first clerk, and served in that capacity nearly twenty-five years, when he was disfranchised by the Republicans. He then commenced the practice of law, continuing, with the exception of one year, until his death. He was strictly Democratic in politics, and was an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He was married five times, the mother of the subject of this sketch being his fourth wife. They became the parents of eight children, five of whom are now living, Philip being the fourth of the family. He spent his school days in Camden, and for a few months prior to the opening of the war he was an attendant of McKinzie Institute, near Clarksville, Tex. In the early part of 1863 he joined the Memphis Appeal Company of Artillery, commanded by Capt. C. C. Scott, and remained with that company until the close of the war, when he returned home and followed various callings until 1870, when he came to the farm on which he is now living. He is the owner of 1,000 acres of fine land in Ouachita County. In 1886 he formed a partnership with J. C. Culp, and has since been engaged in the general mercantile business, in which he is doing well. Like his father before him, he is a Democrat, and in 1882 was elected on that ticket to the position of county assessor, and served three consecutive terms in that capacity. His marriage to Miss Margaret W. Broughton, a daughter of Jacob L. Broughton, of this county, was celebrated in 1868. She was born in Georgia, and died in 1873, having borne three children, Mary, now attending school in Camden, being the only one living. April 27, 1880, Mr. Agee married Miss Janie McGill, a daughter of Maj. W. McGill of Camden, by whom he has four children: Oscar L., Erwin M., Carlton L. and Philip, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Agee worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.[INDEX]

Hon. William Franklin Avera, editor and proprietor of Ouachita Herald, has been a resident of this county the greater portion of his life, although his birth occurred in Autauga County, Ala., December 23, 1846. He was taken by his parents to Camden, Ark., in January, 1848, and at the early age of sixteen years he enlisted in the Confederate army, and was in the artillery service, until the close of the war, being a member of the Fifth Arkansas Battalion. After his return from the war, he took a very active part in opposing the "carpet-bag government," from 1868 to 1874, and in the later year was elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature. Under the new constitution, which was adopted in 1874, he assisted in thoroughly reorganizing the State Government, at the regular session of 1874-75, and at the special session of 1876. In the latter part of this year he was re-elected to the General Assembly for two years more, and again in 1884, and during his entire official life he was an able, efficient servant of the public. He served prominently on the Ways and Means Committee, and gained an enviable reputation by his thorough knowledge of State finances. In 1885 he was appointed postmaster of Camden by President Cleveland, but was removed from the position by President Harrison, in August, 1889, for political reasons. In 1886 Gov. S. P. Hughes appointed him a member of the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Industrial University at Fayetteville, and was reappointed to the position by Gov. Eagle, in 1888, and is now serving the latter term. He has also filled many local positions of honor and trust, and in the discharge of his duties has been faithful to every trust, and his career has been one of great credit. He has always been noted for his fearless and outspoken views, as well as for his independence, and unfaltering devotion to the interests of the people. He has been for some time editor and proprietor of the Ouachita Herald, and his son Preston is the publisher and business manager of the same, and through its columns they espouse all worthy enterprises, and yield no slight influence in directing the proper steps to be taken for their successful conduct. Mr. Avera was married, in 1868, to Miss Martha O. Livingston, a daughter of a wealthy planter of Union County. They have a daughter and two sons.[INDEX]

Judge Asa W. Bacchus is too well known to need a formal introduction to the people of this section, but certainly this volume would be incomplete without giving prominence to a name that has been for so long connected with the material interests of Ouachita County. Mr. Bacchus was born January 29, 1809, in Davidson County, Tenn., near Nashville, a son of John and Mary (Ellison) Bacchus, natives of North Carolina. The father, a farmer by occupation, was born January 31, 1766, in Rowan County, N. C., of Welsh descent and came to Tennessee about 1792, where he lived until his death, which occurred January 14, 1839. The mother was born March 23, 1772, of Irish descent, and died August 30, 1860, a worthy member of the Baptist Church. They were the parents of nine children, the subject of this sketch being the next to the youngest, and the only one now living. Mr. Bacchus received a good education at the common schools of Tennessee, remaining at home until his marriage, which occurred in 1828 to Miss Sarah F. Bushart, born in North Carolina, September 22, 1809, a daughter of Jacob and Nancy (Fullingwider) Bushart, of German descent. For about twenty years after his marriage Mr. Bacchus engaged in teaching school, which occupation he had been engaged in previous to his marriage. In 1849 he removed to Arkansas, locating in this county, where he entered a tract of land, and cleared up a farm. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bacchus have been born nine children, viz.: Lizzie (wife of Henry G. Cranford, a farmer of Marion Township), Nancy H. (the widow of Uriah Tyson of Texas), Mary (now the wife of Nathan C. Yarbrough of Columbia County), Susan (the widow of William C. Criner, a brother of Joseph W. Criner, whose sketch appears in this work), Asa M. (a sewing machine agent of El Dorado), and John, William and Robert, who were killed in the Confederate army, and Adolphus (who died about fifteen years after the war). While he was able to attend to his farm, Mr. Bacchus owned 440 acres of land, but he has since disposed of this property, recently selling the last 200 acres of land. He is worth considerable in money, mortgages and personal property. Mr. and Mrs. Bacchus are members of the Primitive Baptist Church. Mr. Bacchus is a strong Democrat in politics, and cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. He was elected to the office of county and probate judge of Ouachita County in 1860, and served for six years in that capacity. He is a well-known citizen of Ouachita County, of large political influence throughout the community in which he lives.[INDEX]

C. R. Barham, farmer and stock-raiser, Camden, Ark. Cr. R. Barham, another representative citizen of the county, has become well known to the farming and stock-raising interests of Ouachita County, and is a man who fully appreciates the comforts of a competence gained by individual efforts, He was born in the Blue-Grass State in 1825, and is the son of William and Susan (Fortner) Barham, and the grandson of James Barham, who was a soldier in the war for independence. The latter died in Springfield,Mo., in 1866, at the age of one hundred and eleven years. William Barham was a native of North Carolina, and was of English descent. He came to Kentucky with his father when about twelve years of age, and although he was well educated, he chose farming as his life's occupation. In 1839 he moved to Henry County, Tenn., bought land and resided there until 1849, when he came to this county, and here tilled the soil for two years. After this he sold his farm and was engaged in various pursuits until 1854, when he purchased land in Nevada County. There he remained until his death, which occurred in 1876. Mrs. Barham was also a native of North Carolina, and of English parentage. She died in the same county as her husband in 1874. Of the seven children born to their marriage only two are now living: C. R., and William P. (who resides on the old homestead in Nevada County). C. R. Barham was educated in the common schools of Kentucky and Tennessee, and after commencing life for himself, moved back to Graves County, Ky., where he engaged in business in Nevada County, after which he embarked in mercantile pursuits, and was engaged in this until 1856, when he moved to Ouachita County, although his business in Nevada County was still continued by his brother, who was his partner until 1858. Then our subject sold out to his brother and turned his attention to farming and keeping a public house at a place called Woodlawn, in this county, fifteen miles west of Camden. He was there until and during the war, and was appointed postmaster under President Buchanan's administration, was also elected bailiff of his township, and was doing a general collecting business. He was allowed to remain at home during the war until 1864, when he joined Gen. Price's staff, and was with him until he made his raid through Missouri. He was then attached to Maj. Monroe in the quartermaster department, and served as a pilot to Gen. Price's staff, while through the country. He surrendered at Shreveport, La. Returning home, he engaged in farming at Woodlawn, where he remained until the fall of 1874, when he purchased his present property of 175 acres, 100 acres improved. He generally raises from thirty to sixty bales of cotton, and gins annually 150 bales. In the spring of 1878 Mr. Barham engaged in the saw-mill business, and was the first man to erect a saw-mill in the Camden & Gurdon Branch road. He suspended his interest in the saw mill business about two years ago (1888) but is making some arrangements about entering the business again. Mr. Barham was married in 1854 to Miss Amantha Good, of Graves County, Kentucky, born in 1825, and the daughter of Amos and Soaomoa Good, natives of Tennessee. Mrs. Barham was one of five children only two now living Mrs. Barham, and Henry C. (who resides eighteen miles southwest of Camden, this county, and is a farmer). Mr. Barham is a man who takes quite an active interest in all things pertaining to the welfare of the county, and donates liberally to all laudable enterprises. He and wife are consistent members of the church, and Mr. Barham is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Camden Lodge No. 11, R. A. M. of Stephens, Woodlawn Chapter No. 10, and has held all the offices in said orders. At present he is second officer in the Chapter of that order. He is also an Odd Fellow, belonging to Camden Lodge. Mr. Barham votes the straight Democratic ticket, and his first vote was for James K. Polk, in 1844.[INDEX]

C. S. Black. In compiling an account of the mercantile establishments of Lilley, Ark., the mercantile house owned and conducted by Mr. Black is eminently worthy of mention. He was born in Randolph County, Ark., January 31, 1842, and was the third of eight children four sons and four daughters born to Seaburn and Zeura (Sloan) Black, whose union took place in Lawrence County, Ark. They were born in Kentucky and Missouri, respectively, and the former died in Ouachita County Ark., in 1857, at the age of forty-seven years, and the latter in Texas in 1882 aged sixty-five years. After their marriage they resided in Lawrence and Randolph Counties until 1846, then moved to Ouachita County, where the father passed his last days. In 1878 his widow went to Texas with her children, and settled in Delta County, and both she and her husband were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The father was a farmer and trader, and when a small boy was taken by his parents from his native State to Arkansas. He was a Democrat and a member of the Masonic fraternity. C. S. Black received the advantages of the schools of Princeton, Ark., in his youth, but in August, 1861, he dropped his books to join the Third Arkansas Cavalry, with which he served faithfully until after the battle of Chickamauga in 1863, when he returned home and joined Gen. Fagan's escort, and was with Price on his raid through Missouri, and he participated in the battles of Corinth, Iuka, Franklin, Spring Hill and Chickamauga during his earlier service. At the first named battle he was wounded twice, first in the left arm and then in the left thigh, and from the effects of his wounds was in a very dangerous condition for some time. After the war he went to Texas, where he remained until 1868, then came to Arkansas, and located in Ouachita County, and purchased 200 acres of his present plantation, but is now the owner of a section of land. In 1876 in connection with managing his plantation he purchased a supply of general merchandise, and has followed this occupation very successfully up to the present time, and is now doing a very extensive business. He was married, May 13, 1869, to Miss Minnie Agee, a daughter of Philip Agee, a sketch of whom appears in another part of this work. She was born in Camden, Ark., January 4, 1851, and her union with Mr. Black has resulted in the birth of four sons: Walter, Leo, Sidney and Trosey, unfortunately all died but Leo. The family worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and in his political views he is a Democrat. His plantation, which goes by the name of Long Branch, is well known as a commercial point. Mr. Black is large and commanding in appearance, and his word is good for thousands in any of the cities of the United States, in fact but few men in Arkansas stand higher in the commercial world. .[INDEX]

E. H. Blake, dealer in hardware and furniture, Stephens, Ark. Prominent among the commercial resources of the town of Stephens must be included the trade carried on in hardware and furniture, and among them most prominently identified with it is Mr. E. H. Blake. This gentleman was born in South Carolina, February 3, 1837, and is the son of Jones Blake, a native of Virginia, who was born in 1804, and died April 8, 1880, in Nevada County, Ark. When about four years of age Jones Blake emigrated with his parents to North Carolina, and afterward to Chester County, S. C. He was married in that State, to Elizabeth Allen, a native of Chester County, S. C. In 1859 he emigrated to Nevada County, Ark., where the mother died in May, 1860. The paternal grandfather, Stephens Blake, was a native of the Old Dominion, and was of Irish descent. Of the ten children born to Jones Blake, E. H. Blake is the fourth in order of birth, and five are now living. He was reared in South Carolina, and received his education in the common schools of that State. He was married in Nevada County, Ark., to Miss Amanda C. Mendenhall, in 1860. She was a daughter of Thomas Mendenhall, who was one of the first settlers of Nevada County. Mrs. Blake died in 1864. In September, 1888, Mr. Blake was married to Miss Sebia Hardy, a native of Arkansas, a native of Arkansas and to them has been born one child. Mr. Blake served two and one-half years on detached service in the Confederate army. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. [INDEX]

James Benjamin Bradshaw, an old settler of Lafayette Township (known as Benjamin B.), was born in Prince Edward County, Va., February 6, 1834, a son of Richard and Mary (Pinnich) Bradshaw, natives of Virginia. Richard Bradshaw was born in 1805, a son of Benjamin Bradshaw, a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Richard Bradshaw was a slave trader by occupation of Richmond, Va. He came to this State in 1850, locating in this township, and entered a large tract of wild land. He died in 1886. The mother of our subject died in 1877, leaving ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only survivor, and Mr. Bradshaw then married (in 1878) Mrs. Martha Posey, nee Hays, of this county. She is still living in this county, the wife of Mr. Robinson, of Stephens. James B. Bradshaw came to this county at the age of seventeen years. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced work for himself, being employed in brick-making for a while, and then engaged in farming, which occupation he has since continued. He purchased his recent farm in 1878, comprising 300 acres of land, with about 100 acres under cultivation. In 1862, he enlisted in the infantry service, then detailed in the ordinance department, and served until the close of the war. Mr. Bradshaw was married in January 1861, to Miss Frances Franks, who was born in Louisiana in 1845, and is a daughter of McCanby and Rebecca (Ross) Franks, natives of Louisiana, and the fruits of this union have been nine children, seven of whom are still living, viz.: Andrew Lee (now married and farming on his father's land), James McCanby, Joseph W., Prudena Ulma, Utilla, Oscar S. and Claud, all at home. Mr. Bradshaw is a prosperous farmer, and devotes his time chiefly to the cultivation of cotton. Both he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bradshaw is a Democrat in his political views, and takes an active interest in political matters, as well as in all work for the good of the community.[INDEX]

A. V. Bragg, planter, Camden, Ark. This native-born resident of the county, was born on the place where he now resides in 1845, and is the fifth of seven children, the result of the union of P. N. and Martha W. (Crook) Bragg [see sketch of J. N. Bragg]. A. V. Bragg was educated in Camden, this county, and at the age of eighteen years joined the Confederate army, Company B., Thirty-third Arkansas Regiment Infantry, Lappin's Brigade, Churchill's Division, as private, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the battle of Camden and Jenkins' Ferry, his regiment losing ninety-two men out of 200 at the latter place. At the latter place he returned home and resumed farming on his present property, which was entered by his father in 1843, and which consisted of 800 acres. Mr. Bragg has since added to this about 800 acres, and how has about 400 or 500 acres under a fine state of cultivation, with a steam gin on the place, good residences and out buildings, etc. He produces annually about eighty bales of cotton, and gins annually about 175 bales. He also raises mules, horses and cattle, and is one of the leading farmers of this section. At the close of the war, Mr. Bragg like a great many other men, was financially a bankrupt, but he went to work with the determination to succeed, and is now in very comfortable circumstances indeed. The Bragg family is one of the oldest in the State, and our subject's father was one of the pioneer settlers of this county. He died in 1855, and the mother in 1879. In 1882 Mr. Bragg was elected to the office of sheriff, and succeeded himself in 1884, holding the office for four years, and serving with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the people. Mr. Bragg is a relative of Gen. Braxter Bragg, of the late war. He is one of the leading farmers of the county, and a man universally respected.[INDEX][PAGE 2]

Thanks to Betsy Mills for transcribing these records