Part Four
FAMILY HISTORY (first half)
FAMILY HISTORIES AND
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
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The following pages are devoted to the histories of certain families and individuals who have resided in Randolph County.
Those included are by choice of that individual or some member of the family. The author of this history did not say who could or could not be included here. A nominal charge was made for these articles. No one was denied the privilege of having their family represented.
We are happy to state that in the list included here are to be found the names of some of the finest families which have lived in the county our state. Our county has profited much by having folks like these live within her borders.
We are sorry that there are a number of families within our county whose history is not included, which by reason of past and present prominence in county affairs, should have been. It was their choice that this is the case. This was their perfect right and privilege to take no action in the matter. They are our very good friends and neighbors just the same, but we do feel that they missed a nice opportunity of having their family history recorded for generations of the future to read, including their own children and grandchildren.
We would be very sorry indeed, if there should be found one person who desired to have their family history included who did not know of this opportunity. But we hardly think this possible. We ran several advertisements in the local paper and sent out a lot of from letters, besides scores of personal letters, informing the public of our work. In addition to this, the Star Herald gave our proposition some favorable publicity, of which we are very grateful.
With all this in mind, we desire to once more state that the writing of this book, both the general history and the
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family articles part, was not written as a money-making proposition. We did it solely to preserve the fast disappearing story of the early days of our home county, while we had the time and opportunity.
THE DANIEL THOMAS ATHY FAMILY
Daniel Thomas Athy and Sarah Cordelia Redwine were married January 1, 1893. Mr. Athy was born September 7, 1870, near Supply. Mrs. Athy was born February 12, 1875, in the same community. Both are living at present.
Daniel T. Athy is a son of Harvey C. and Julia Annie Hall Athy. Harvey Athy was born October 7, 1846, in Illinois and died February 24, 1930, near Pitman, Arkansas. Julia Hall Athy was born in Illinois February 13, 1850, and died near Pitman, February 3, 1901.
The father of Harvey Athy was a native of Ireland. He made two trips from the old country to America. The first time he came, he did not like the country and went back across the Atlantic. Later deciding that he liked the new county better than he thought, he again migrated to America and lived the remainder of his life here.
Harvey and Julia Hall Athy were married April 7, 1867, and were the parents of the following children: Mary Elizabeth, born September 7, 1868 and died July 10, 1911; Daniel T. (our subject); Charles M., born September 18, 1872, died August 8, 1877; Rhoda Cordelia born September 26, 1874, died July 20, 1895; John Alma born February 28, 1877, died October 3, 1938; Edward born February 10, 1879, died February 16, 1902; and Laura Tabitha, born July 1, 1881, still living.
Sarah Cordelia Redwine Athy is a daughter of Lovelace Alexander Redwine and Nancy Jane Bearden Redwine, who were married about 1870.
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The father of Lovelace Redwine was Travis Redwine and his mother was Sally Ann Harrison, a relative of the two presidents, William Henry and Benjamin Harrison. This couple came to this section from Massachusetts, via Kentucky, shortly before the Civil War.
The children of Lovelace and Nancy Jane Redwine were: Amanda Magdalene, born August 27, 1871, died July 2, 1908; William Edmond, born March 9, 1873, still living; Sarah Cordelia (Mrs. Athy); Henry Franklin, born March 6, 1877, still living; Thomas Harrison, born March 22, 1880, still living; Iva Jane, born July 27, 1882, still living; Oscar Lee, born June 23, 1884, still living; Amy Myrtle, born April 27, 1888, died July 21, 1889; James Clarence, born February 20, 1892, still living; Ernest Eugene, born March 12, 1894, still living; Anna Mae, born October 18, 1897, still living.
There were 11 children born and nine of these are living today.
Lovelace Redwine was born April 20, 1849 in Kentucky and died October 28, 1937, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mrs. Redwine was born December 5, 1854, in Tennessee and died September 6, 1940, in Atwood, Oklahoma.
To the union of Daniel T. Athy and Sarah Cordelia Redwine were born three children: Charles F., born January 10, 1895, still living; Ronald R., born July 7, 1900, still living, and Horace Eugene, born June 13, 1906, also living. All were born near Supply, Arkansas.
Charles F. married Rosa Stoner of Calico Rock. She died in 1935. They were the parents of one child, Charles F., Jr. After the death of his first wife, Charles married Hazel Kirk, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Kirk of Des Arc.
After completing school Charles located in Little Rock, where he has lived about 30 years. He has been employed in the Democrat Printing and Lithographing Company plant for several years, as a linotypist.
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Ronald married Berniece Anderson and they are the parents of four children: Thomas, Calvin (who lost his life in service of World War II, in 1943), Kenneth and Barbra Jean. The family now resides in California. Ronalds wife, Berniece Anderson, is a daughter of R. E. and Martha Richardson, now living at Reyno.
Horace Eugene married Lora Evans, daughter of William R. and Anna Pond Evans of near Maynard. They are the parents of one son, Doyle.
Ronald has the distinction of being the first Randolph county citizen to operate a motor freight truck line out of Pocahontas. For several years he was owner and operator of the Athy Truck Line between Pocahontas and St. Louis and did a heavy volume of business.
Eugene is a rural mail carrier, out of Maynard. His route lies east of Maynard toward Current River and north via Supply and other points. He has been the carrier on this route since its establishment November 2, 1936.
The subject of our sketch (Mr. and Mrs. Dan Athy) lived many year on the old Maynard-Cherokee Bay road, in the edge of Current river bottoms. They reared their family there. A few years ago they sold the old home and bought one near Maynard, in the hills.
This family has long been one of the substantial families of Richardson township. The family church affiliation is with the Church of Christ.
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DR. JOHN WALLACE BRYAN
Dr. John Wallace Bryan was born in Todd county, Kentucky, December 20, 1826, and died February 27, 1880, in Randolph county, Arkansas.
He studied medicine and finished his education in Kentucky. He came to Randolph county in 1853. Prior to coming here he married Isabella Bush, a member of a prominent Kentucky family. She passed away September 3, 1869. July 26, 1871 Dr. Bryan married Jennie Capps, daughter of Nimrod and Synthia Mattix Capps. She died February 20, 1878.
The old records of Lawrence county show where Nimrod Capps and Synthia Mattix were married by Isham Alcorn, justice of the peace, on June 13, 1830. Capps at one time operated the Bay Mill above Doniphan. The Mattix family were early settlers on lower Spring river.
Dr. Bryan was the father of six children. They were, Bush, born March 23, 1857. He married Harriett Fike in 1875; Ben, born March 11, 1860. He married Sarah McClellan in 1881; William, born March 11, 1864, and died in 1878; Mary (Mollie), born May 6, 1867. She married John T. Baker in 1884. Mrs. Baker recently passed away; Lelie, born April 14, 1876. She married Gifford Blanchard of Missoula, Montana, in 1903.
The old family homestead has been in the Bryan family for 93 years. Alvin Bryan of Denver, Colorado, and Willard Bryan who lives on the farm have owned it for years, and Willard recently bought his brothers interest and is now sole owner. J. O. Baker, another grandson of Dr. Bryan, lives on an adjoining farm.
The farm on which Dr. Bryan settled is located on the east side of Elevenpoint river, about half way between Dalton and Elm Store, on the old Thomasville road.
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When Dr. Bryan came here in 1853, he brought men here from Kentucky with him to build the family home. It was a very modern home for that day, with Negro cabins in the rear. He owned fours slaves, a woman and three men, who operated the farm and helped with the home work.
Tobacco barns were built, an ice house was also built for storing ice, a cotton gin for caring for the cotton crop and baling it for shipment, and hogsheads were made and used to ship the tobacco crop to market. A large orchard with many kinds of fruit was planted.
He had equipment for making of furniture and made many nice pieces from native walnut. A solid walnut stand table is still in existence in the family. He was a progressive farmer of the day.
Dr. Bryan was also known far and wide for his medical practice. His territory which he visited was many miles wide. Rough roads and forest trails were his routes of travel from one remote home to another. During the Civil War his life was constantly in danger from attack from Jayhawkers. When the war broke out, he was one of the physicians who were asked to remain in the community to care for the sick, mostly women and children. He made many calls for which he received no pay.
Besides his work as a progressive farmer and physician, Dr. Bryan also was postmaster of the old Spring Creek office from 1857 to 1866. This office was the forerunner of the present-day Dalton postoffice; William Dalton moving it from original location to the present site of Dalton and changing the name to Dalton in 1871.
Dr. Bryan was a methodist, being a member of the old New Prospect church which is now called Bakerden.
An interesting story concerning Dr. Bryan is handed down to us from Civil War days. As was stated above, there was grave danger for a doctor or one who posses money
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and other property, at the hands of the roving bands of jayhawkers. The story goes:
One evening late, a group of men on horseback, rode up to Dr. Bryans front gate, which was more than 100feet from the front portico, and asked if they might obtain supper. The doctor, thinking that they were soldiers, invited them to dismount and come in and wait until the meal was prepared. The Negro woman, Mrs. Bryan and a widowed woman school teacher, who was boarding with the Bryan family, began to prepare the meal.
This school teacher had a 10-year-old daughter who stayed with her. During the time occupied in the preparation of the meal her mother happened to go into the living room. Here she saw the men (who turned out to be jayhawkers) holding Dr. Bryan with a gun pressed to each side of his body, while the rest searched the room for money, etc. After finding the money they forced him to accompany them to the front gate. As they went out the little girl, whose name was Tammie Harris, clung to his arm and would not allow him to go alone, over the protests of the doctor and other members of the family. They all, including the doctor, thought they meant to kill him, as they knew he would follow them. However, at the gate they released him and ever afterwards Dr. Bryan contended that the girl saved his life. Dr. Bryan did follow the men and recovered his horses, which were also taken. They found his money in the small closet under the stairway beside the fireplace.
Dr. Bryan was a loving husband and father, a friend to his neighbors, a valuable citizen of the community and one of the grand old pioneers of our county.
(Contributed by his daughter).
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Photos of John Stone Campbell - Father of James W., William H., Tom W., and Joseph N. Campbell and Campbell Sisters - Arlene, Reland and Roberta, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom W. Campbell.
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THE CAMPBELLS
In 1846 Judge William Claiborne Campbell moved from Coffee county, Tennessee, to Union county, Illinois. He then had fours sons: Thomas Leander, James Sevier, William Claiborne and George Washington Campbell. At Anna, Illinois, March 1, 1847, his fifth son, John Stone Campbell, was born. In 1855 Judge Campbell moved to Mountain Grove, Missouri, taking with him his three youngest sons and his several daughters, but leaving in Illinois his two oldest sons, Thomas and James, then grown. In 1861 Judge Campbell and his three youngest sons, with most of their Missouri neighbors, joined the Confederate Army, while his two oldest sons, with most of their Illinois neighbors, joined the Union Army. Judge Campbell was killed during the war. In 1866 his youngest son, John Stone Campbell, brought his widowed mother and his sisters to Randolph county, Arkansas, and settled near where Birdell now is. His four brothers soon followed and settled in the same neighborhood. There the five brothers-the two who had worn the blue and the three who had worn the gray-married, reared big families and died, all of them living to become nonagenarians except the youngest, John, who was drowned at the Adams Ford in Elevenpoint river in 1915, at the age of 68.
John Stone Campbell, youngest of the five sons of Judge William Claiborne Campbell, settled on a farm on the west bank of Elevenpoint between Birdell and Blacks Ferry; and there his four sons were born and reared, James W., William H., Tom W. and Joseph N. Campbell. James W. Campbell was superintendent of schools at Pocahontas, and at the same time county examiner of Randolph county, from 1904 to 1909. He died in Los Angeles, California, in 1943. William H. Campbell became a doctor and settled in Oklahoma, where he still lives. Joseph N. Campbell settled at Shreveport, Louisiana, where he was traffic manager for the
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(Photo of Tom W. Campbell at top of page.)
Louisiana Railway - Navigation Company for many years, until his death in 1937.
Tom W. Campbell was born September 7, 1874, the day the present constitution of Arkansas was adopted. he attended Add-Ran College at Thorp Spring, Texas, now Texas Christian University, from 1892 to 1894. He then returned to Randolph county, Arkansas, and married Jenny Roberts in 1895. They have three daughters, Arlene, who married Walter L. Pope and now lives in Washington D. C.; Reland, who married Henry C. Graham and now lives in Little Rock, and Roberta, who married Joseph Norbury and also lives in Little Rock. All three of these daughters were born in Randolph county. Tom W. Campbell was county examiner for Randolph county from 1896 to 1900, and during that time was also president of Abbot Institute at Maynard. He represented Randolph county in the State Legislature in 1901 and 1903 and was chief clerk of the
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(Photo of Mrs. Tom W. Campbell at top of page.)
Lower House of the Legislature in 1905. He was admitted to the bar in 1904 and became immediately law partner of Clarence H. Henderson. In 1914 he organized the law firm of Campbell, Pope & Spikes in Pocahontas. In 1917 Mr. Campbell was appointed first assistant attorney general of the state and moved to Little Rock, where he has lived ever since. In 1919 he became general counsel for Arkansas Corporation Commission. From 1919 to 1923 he was a member of the law firm Pace, Campbell & Davis at Little Rock. From 1924 to 1926 he was chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee. In 1925 he served as special associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court. Since 1925 he has been engaged in the general practice of law in Little Rock. In 1941 Mr. Campbell wrote a dual biography of Matthew Lyon and Andrew Jackson, entitled Two Fighters and Two Fines, published by Pioneer Publishing Company of Little Rock, the first edition appearing in September, 1941 and the second edition in December 1941.78
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THE DALTON FAMILY
The Dalton family of Randolph county, Arkansas, and Ripley county, Missouri, is descended from one John Dalton who is reputed to have been born in Ireland, and came to the United States about 1760, settling first, with others of the same name, on the present site of Dalton, Georgia. The city was named for his family. From here he entered the Colonial Army and fought in the Revolution. After the close of the war he moved to North Carolina, and in a short time moved up to Virginia. After staying there for a while he removed to Kentucky and then, about 1809 he moved to Madison county, Missouri. Later he moved down into Ripley county, Missouri. Here he spent the balance of his life.
The place where John Dalton settled about 1812, was at what is now known as the old "Dalton Mill" ford on the south fork of Fourche Dumas creek in Union township, Ripley county, Missouri, where the old Warm Springs-Doniphan road crosses the creek. John Dalton and other members of his family lie buried out in the middle of the bottom field, northwest of the ford.
John Dalton, whose wife's name we do not know, was the father of eight children. Their names were: William, John P. (always called Jack), Elijah, David, Lewis, Sally, Maria and Dinah. Of these eight children we know very little except Elijah, Jack, David and Maria.
Elijah married Zillah Gaines, Feb. 9, 1832. They became the parents of seven children, William, James, Lewis, Elijah, Zimriah, Zilpha, and Levi.
The second wife of Elijah Dalton was Elizabeth Stubblefield, whom he married in 1859. They had one child, Joseph. The last wife of Elijah Dalton was Margaret Johnson, whom he married in 1869.
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John P. (Jack), wife's name not known, was the father of 10 children. Their names were: Adam, Ferguson (called Forg.), Oliver, Isham, Elijah, John, Zillah, Sally, Lively and Nancy.
Maria married Jim Keel. They reared a family near Greenville, Mo., and one of her sons, Jack, married Martha Johnston, a daughter of Lewis B. Johnston.
David Dalton, son of the original John, was born in Kentucky, as were his brothers Jack and Elijah, and came to Ripley county, Missouri, with his parents about 1812. He married Priscilla Dennis of Greenville, Missouri, in 1826. He died in 1859 and his wife died in 1857. They were the parents of the following children: Elijah, David, Priscilla who married John Bond, she and David were twins; Sarah, who married George Matney; Susanne, who married William Cross; Nancy, who married Harrison Davis, and Ruth, who married James Parker.
Of the children of the first Elijah named above, the best known in this section were William, Lewis, Levi and Joseph.
William, born May 30, 1834, died September 7, 1878, married Caroline Myatt. They were the parents of the following children: Zilpha, who married Thomas D. Mock; Zillah, who married Jeff Stubbefield; Rufus C.; Zimriah; Mary Elizabeth, who died in infancy; James L. (the inventor of the Dalton adding machine); Sarah P., who married Ben F. Spikes; Lively A., who married Thomas H. Wells; and Ascenith, who died young. William was the first postmaster of Dalton, Arkansas.
Lewis Dalton, who married Sarah A. Stubblefield in 1860, was the father of two children, Elijah who resided in Pocahontas many years, (and who is the father of Mrs. Lucien Sloan, and two sons, Mack and Lewis), and one daughter, Ascenith, who married Dr. J. W. Dalton.
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Levi Dalton was a resident of Doniphan, Ripley county, many years but later moved to Texas. He also resided at Ponder in the same county a number of years.
The youngest son of Elijah Dalton was Joseph, who first married a Miss Ponder and later married Nora McIlroy (who had formerly married James Dalton who died). He spent his entire life on the old homestead near Ponder, Ripley county, Missouri. This is a brief listing of the descendants of Elijah Dalton the son of the original John Dalton.
Of the children of David Dalton, who was a son of the original John, named above, there were (already named above) the daughters whose families moved to Texas many years ago, except James Parker's family. Two sons of Ruth Dalton Parker are now living. Harrison at Reyno and David at Success. John died during the Civil War. Elijah, who resided at Warm Springs many years was the father of the following children, (he married Grace Jane Head); John C., Nancy, who married William T. Stubblefield; James, who married Nora McIlroy; Mary, who married William T. McIlroy; Malissa, who married William A. Holt, and Rufus and Elijah A.
The other son of David, (son of the original John) was named David. David married Christiana Everett and they became the parents of four children. They were William, Susuan, who married Byron Murphy; Martha P., who married Noah Phillips, and Elijah F. (this Elijah Dalton is the father of the writer of this article). David's second marriage was to Rachel Young. Their children, who grew to adulthood were Joseph, Ida, Maud, Myrtle, and Fred. Joseph married Dilla Grissom; Ida married Harry Irvine; Maud married Eld. John H Harper; Myrtle married James Garrett and Fred married Mary Garrett.
John P. (Jack) Dalton, son of the original John, named above was the father of 10 children, as already stated. Of
these 10 children we have the following information: One of the sons, Ferguson, called "Forg", was the father of Dr. J. W. Dalton, who married Ascenith, the daughter of Lewis Dalton. One of Jack Dalton's daughters married Dr. Greenwood. Her name was Zillah. Another daughter, Sally, married Robert Pacton, Jack Dalton had a son, John, who reared a large family. Three of his sons are now living at Patton, Mo. Their names are John, Levi and Albert.
The above is a brief description which touches the high spots of the large Dalton family which came to Ripley county, Missouri, in 1812. The family is very widely scattered at this date. Different "branches" of the family of the original John Dalton are now located in Randolph county, Arkansas, Ripley, and other counties of Missouri, in Oklahoma, Texas, and many other states.
As stated above, John Dalton settled on Fourche creek in Union township, Ripley county, Missouri. His son Elijah settled farther north on the north fork of this same creek. This farm is still owned by the grandsons. David, another son, settled a few miles south of his father, near the state line on Dry creek, a tributary of Fourche. The other son, named above, John P. "Jack", lived awhile in this section but reared his family in the vicinity of Fredericktown and Greenville, Missouri, as did his sister, Maria Keel. Possibly several years were spent by both the latter at each location.
The reader will note that there have been many sons and daughters of the Dalton family with the same name. This makes it difficult to present a clear picture of the various branches of the family tree. As is noted there has been Elijahs, Davids, Williams, Zilphias and Johns in almost every individual family for seven generations, to say nothing of the duplications of James, Lewis, Joseph, etc.
This article is a rough summary of the family of the writer. Individual articles are also included in this book which give further details of certain families within this
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one great family. This is true of the writers family and others. The article in this book which include some member of the Dalton family in their family are: Elijah F. Dalton family; James L. Dalton, inventor; the William Tipton Stubblefield-Nancy Dalton Stubblefield family; the John Lamb family; the Spikes family; the Marlette family; the W. L.. "Fayette" Mock family; the A. F. Rickman family, and the Holt family.
James L Dalton - Inventor
James L. Dalton was born near Ponder, Ripley county, Missouri, December 28, 1866, and died in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, January 10, 1926.
He married Clara B. Wright of Doniphan, Missouri, sister of the late Thomas and Joseph Wright, Sr.
To his union was born the following children: Charles, who married Ethel Morrison. They had two children, Clara Alice and Mary Jeane. Charles died in 1924. Grover W., who married Francis Burke. They have two children, James L. Dalton, Jr., and Richard; Phoebe, who is not married, and Mary, who married Lincoln Hinrichs.
Grover and his sisters live in Poplar Bluff. He is a well known business man and the state chairman of the Republican party in Missouri at present.
The parents of James L. Dalton were William M. Dalton and Mary Caroline Myatt, natives of Ripley county, Missouri. William Dalton was born May 30, 1834 and died September 7, 1878. His wife was born October 9, 1838 and died April 12, 1890.
William Dalton was a son of Elijah Dalton, who was a son of John Dalton who settled in southern Ripley county, Missouri, about 1812. A complete list of the Dalton family is included in this book.
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The brothers and sisters of James L. Dalton (our subject) were: Zilpha, who married Thomas D. Mock; Zillah who married Jeff Stubblefield; Rufus C, still living at Doniphan, Missouri; Zimriah, who drowned at age 14; Mary Elizabeth, who also died in infancy; Sarah P., who married Ben F. Spikes; Lively A., who married Thomas H. Wells. Mrs. Spikes and Mrs. Wells are living in Pocahontas at present; Ascenith, who died when 11 years of age, and two half-sisters, Dora Arnold, who married Ervin Reynolds, and Ida Belle Arnold, who married Andrew Conner. Mrs. Reynolds lives near Elm Store.
The life story of James L. Dalton would be appropriate subject matter for a Horatio Alger story. He rose from the position of a practically uneducated backwoods boy to become the owner of the largest department store in the Middle West and head of one of the world's largest business machine manufacturing plants, devoted to the manufacture of the Dalton Adding and Calculating Machine, of which he was inventor.
When a small child, living with his mother and other children he was constantly engaged in experimenting with machinery. His father died when James L., was 12 years of age. An older member of the family once said that James was "all the time fooling with wheels." His mother bought a sewing machine about this time and the boy made an exact copy of it of wood, and it would sew.
The year he was 18 he decided to go forth into the world and seek his fortune. With $60 which he obtained from a bale of cotton which he grew in the hills of what is now Baker township, Randolph county, he set forth. He first went to St. Louis. Finding no job he went on to Chicago. Finding nothing to his liking he came back to St. Louis where he obtained a job in the old William Barr Dry Goods Company at a salary of $5 per week. This was in 1884. After working there a short time he came back to Doniphan,
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where he went to work in a hardware store of his future wife's relatives at $12 per month and board. He was soon made a partner and later became sole owner. He built this business up to where he saw greater possibilities in the larger town of Poplar Bluff, to which town he moved. It grew to be the largest department store in the whole Midwest and one year the retail sales reached $765,000.
All the time he was building this great store business he was still thinking about "wheels." Observing that the adding machines of that period were complicated arrangement of keys and other cumbersome contraptions, James L. Dalton there decided that he would build a better one!
Mr. Dalton turned the store over to his son and others and devoted his entire time to the adding machine. He once stated that during this time he was "president, general manager, factory manager, timekeeper, paymaster, bookkeeper and chief salesman." The first factory was in a side room and Mr. Dalton said that during that period the three or four mechanics who built the first machines watched him leave on a sales trip with great interest, because, as he said, "if I didn't make a sale they didn't get paid." But after a few years, aided with the capital of friends, and a refusal to become discouraged and quit, success came his way. The machine began to sell on the market and 200 sales offices were ultimately opened up in different parts of the world, and sales ran up to $1,000,000 worth a month. The job had been done.
Besides being a merchant of great success and prominence and an internationally known inventor and manufacturer, he became a brilliant speaker and writer. Hearst's Magazine published a feature article on the life of James L. Dalton many years ago, in which the feature writer stated that,
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"Although he was never in his life taught to 'parse' a sentence, he is now a brilliant speaker and writer, the recipient of requests from leading chambers of commerce and other civic clubs throughout the country to address their conventions and banquets."
Mr. Dalton was identified with many civic and fraternal bodies and always took great interest in the affairs of business and the state.
At the age of 22, while living in Doniphan he was elected Master of the Masonic Lodge. At 26 he was District Deputy Grand Master of the State of Missouri.
He was the first Republican ever elected to the State Legislature of Missouri from Ripley county.
James L. Dalton, although not a highly educated man, had a fair education. Some feature writers who "wrote up" his life after he became prominent, seemed to desire to leave the impression that he was unlearned. This was not true. He attended the country schools near his home. Some of these schools were at Bakerden, Warm Springs, Doniphan and at Dalton. He also attended the old La Crosse Institute at La Crosse in Izard county. He and his brothers and sisters would cross Elevenpoint river in a "dugout" canoe when they attended school in Dalton. His teacher at Bakerden was Prof. William Thomas. Later Mr. Dalton taught school for a time at Dalton, Bakerden, and seven months at Elm Store, assisted by his sister, Neeta.
All this was before he went forth into the outside world to make a name for himself and to bring honor not only to himself but his homeland as well.
A photograph at the Dalton Adding Machine Factory was carried in a number of national weeklies during the days when Mr. Dalton was actively at its head in Poplar Bluff, and the caption under the picture stated "This is the in-
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dustry which has carried the name of Poplar Bluff around the Globe."
Such is a condensed story of the life of a typical Ozark mountain lad who hailed from that part of our great nation known as Randolph county, Arkansas and Ripley county, Missouri, to become the best known citizen who has ever called this section home.
James L. Dalton was not only a great business man, he was also a great friend to many and a neighbor to all who lived near him. He was proud of his home, his family and his native country.
In 1913 he came back to the land of his childhood and staged a big family reunion, to be held at the home of his sister, Mrs. Thomas H. Wells, near the town of Dalton. Here assembled at the invitation of James L. Dalton, a total of 257 Daltons who represented his kinsmen in this section. The invitation cards which he sent out stated that "All Daltons, Daltons' relatives and prospective Daltons were invited to attend." Those two days, July 2 and 3, in the year of 1913 were happy days in the memory of this family.
(The author of this history remembers with pleasure this occasion which we attended, together with our grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, and other members of our family. I was then 12 years of age and took my first auto ride there in a "shiny 1912 model Ford" which belonged to Joseph Wright of Doniphan, the only automobile there those two days!)
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THE ELIJAH F. DALTON FAMILY
(The Author's Own Story of His Father's Family)
Elijah F. Dalton was born December 14, 1871, on the bank of Fourche Dumas creek, in Union township, Ripley county, Missouri. The site of his birth later became to be now as "Liebig," on account of a postoffice being established there, years later by his cousin Joseph Dalton. The name Liebig was after a Germany family of that name which lived nearby.
Elijah F. Dalton departed this life, November 4, 1945, at his home in Reyno, Randolph county, Arkansas. Burial was in the Masonic cemetery in Pocahontas.
He was the author's father. The middle initial of his name stood for "either Francis of Franklin," to use his own words. His mother died a few days after my father's birth and the story goes that grandfather preferred Franklin and she preferred Francis, so upon her death the question was never settled.
My father was a great-grandson of the original John Dalton, who is listed in the special article concerning the Dalton family. A son of John's, David by name, was the father of another David who was my father's father. The last David was always called "Tim." Many older folds remembered "Uncle Tim" well.
This original John was the "Daddy of 'em all," when it came to the Dalton family of Missouri and Arkansas. One of his sons, Elijah, was the father of the late Lewis, William, Levi, and other children of that branch of the family. Another son, Jack (his actual name was John P.) was the father of the branch of the family which still lives in upper southeast Missouri. Dr. J. W. Dalton, who married Ascenith, Lewis Dalton's daughter, was of this family.
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Photo of Mr. and Mrs. Elijah F. Dalton The Author's Parents
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Another son of the first John was David, the man referred to above, as the father of the second David, my father's father.
For a more complete list of the various members of the Dalton family, we refer you to the special article.
Anyway, my great-grandfather, David Dalton, married Priscilla Dennis of Greenville, Missouri, in 1826, and opened up a farm about five miles south of his father. This farm was on Dry creek, a tributary to Fourche, and is located one mile east of the old Burr, Missouri, postoffice, and about four mile northwest of Middlebrook, Arkansas.
Here they reared a family. Their names were a follows: Elijah, who married Nancy Jane Head; Sarah, who married George Matney; Susanna, who married William Cross; John, who died in the Civil War; Nancy, who married Harrison Davis; Ruth, who married James Parker; Priscilla, who married John Bond, and David, my grandfather, who was called "Tim." He died in 1859, his wife in 1857. David and Priscilla Dennis Dalton lie buried in the old cemetery, which is located one mile east of the Johnston Chapel Church, in southern Ripley county, Missouri. This old cemetery is on the old Isaac Towell, or Bollenbacher farm. This farm was owned by my father during the years 1921-1923.
David Daniel Dalton (Tim) was born on the old home place on Dry Creek, March 22, 1844. He died in September, 1923, and was buried in the Dalton cemetery on the farm where he was born, alongside his brother, Elijah, and other members of the family.
He was first married to Christiana Everett about 1862, during the war. To this union was born William, who was killed in a runaway accident on the farm of Eli Creason near Warm Springs, during young manhood; Marsha (Aunt Molly), who married Noah Phillips. She is still living with a son east of Doniphan, aged 83; Susan, who married Byron Murphy. She died in 1923; and Elijah, my father.
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Christiana Everett Dalton, my father's mother, died a few days after my father's birth. She was a member of the Shelton, Witt and Johnson families, who came to this section from eastern Tennessee. Her maternal grandfather, Jeremiah Shelton, was a Primitive Baptist preacher of this state during the early days. We might add here that the "original John Dalton" referred to first in this article was also a preacher of this church before coming to this section about 1812. The wife of "Parson Witt," mentioned in this history was also a granddaughter of Jeremiah Shelton.
After the death of grandfather's first wife, he married Rachel Young. To this union was born the following children who are living today: Ida, who married Harry Irving, now of Blountstown, Florida; Joseph, sho married Dilla Grissom, now living in Middlebrook; Maud, who married Eld. John H. Harper, now living at Datto, Clay county; Myrtle, who married James Garrett, now living at Augusta, Arkansas; and Fred, who married Mary Garrett, now living at Corning.
Grandfather, always called "Uncle Tim" in later years, was a very versatile character. He was known principally as a blacksmith, but it was said of him that he could do anything "from pulling teeth to building a chimney" with horseshoeing thrown in. He was a jolly fellow who had many friends. He was a great practical joker. He was a soldier in the Army of the Confederate, being wounded at the Battle of Prairie Grove. He was shot in the knee and carried the bullet, imbedded there the rest of his life. He spent most of his life in the communities adjoining the place of his birth, but made two trips to Texas with the view of making his home, but did not stay.
On his first trip, when my father was a small lad, the family wagon train camped on the present site of Fort Worth, Texas, then a small backwoods "cow town." A resident of the town owned 40 acres, which is now in the main part of
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the city. He offered to trade the 40 to grandfather, for his team, which was a pair of small horses, worth at that time possibly $150. This was 65 years ago. The property now is worth several million dollars.
The first home of grandfather after he was married was in the vicinity of his birth, but later he lived at Warm Springs, at the Dock Ingram Mill and at Middlebrook. After he reared a family he lived at Biggers a while, just before the two youngest children married. Following this he moved to the vicinity Brakebill, west of Middlebrook, back near where he was born, and spent the remainder of his days.
Elijah F. Dalton, my father, married Della Florence Marlette, daughter of David J. and Sarah Spore Marlette, November 10, 1897. They were married at Poynor, Missouri, by the late Uncle John Cole, who was a justice of the peace at that time. Their first home was on the farm just east of the old Eldridge Ford on Fourche, near the state line, known for years as the "Nora Dalton farm."
This farm was the home of C. James Dalton (son of my father's Uncle Elijah Dalton), and his wife Nora McIlroy Dalton, until his death, a few years after their marriage. His death was caused by his accidentally cutting his arm.
After his death his widow married Joseph Dalton, son of another Elijah Dalton, an uncle of the other Elijah named here, and my grandfather. She is still living on the old homestead, east of Ponder.
Before Mrs. Dalton married Joseph, my father and mother lived with her, on the place named above. Here my sister, Effie May, was born April 11, 1899. Effie now lives in St. Louis. She married Daniel M. Griggs, a native of Illinois. They have two sons, both married, Paul D., who married Loretta Shellharvey of Troy, Missouri, and Jay Lee, who married Ida May Simhauser in St. Louis. Jay Lee is in the Army, stationed in Colorado at the present time. He is an X-ray photographic technician. Paul D. was recently
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discharged from three years service in the Navy in the Pacific area.
The writer, David Lawrence Dalton, is the second child of my father and mother. I was born January 27, 1901, on the farm where Claud Phipps and family now reside. I first saw the light of day out across the bottom field toward Fourche Dumas river, just above the old mill dam at the Phipps Mill, just up the river a short distance above the steel bridge on the Middlebrook-Warm Springs road. (It was then the old Warm Springs-Bridgeport road). I was named "David" in honor of both of my grandfathers, but I have always been called Lawrence. The name Lawrence seems to be a favorite with my people. I have three cousins of the same name, two Lawrence Stubblefields and another Lawrence Dalton. The latter lives at Carthage, Missouri.
My brother next to me, Clarence H., was born at what is now the Ben Choate farm, just across the river and a little below where our sister was born. My father bought this farm about five years after he and our mother were married. After living there a few years he sold it to the late W. L. Johnson and moved farther northwest, where he bought my grandfather's old home place which adjoined Uncle Elijah's old farm where both he and grandfather were born and are now at rest.
While our family lived on the farm which father sold to Uncle Will Johnson, I started to school, at the old High Point schoolhouse, which was nearby. This was in July, 1906. Mrs. Joe Perry Spikes, now my neighbor in Pocahontas, was my first teacher. We called her "Miss Dora." She was then Miss Dora King. After attending school a few days I became very ill. I had a long spell of some kind of fever, which came near taking me away. My doctors were the late Dr. Moses Wilson, the late Dr. William T. Swindle and Dr. J. R. Loftis, who is also my neighbor here in Pocahontas at this time. I owe my life to their untiring efforts in treating
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me, to make me well, together, of course, with the loving care and long hours of watchful waiting on me, by my father and mother.
After moving to our new home, four more sons were born. The first one was Acel E., who is now living in St. Louis, where he is in the employ of the Federal Government as assistant lay inspector, a Civil Service job. He was formerly a Randolph county teacher, for a period of 16 years. Acel married Tharon Bundren, formerly of Biggers. They have two children, Jean and Wayne.
Clarence, the second son named above has been in the mercantile business for several years, since he quit farming about 1933. He married Hester Williams, a native of Illinois. They have one child, Donald.
The fourth son of my parents is William Roscoe, who married Adele Gowen, of Datto, Clay county. They live in Memphis where he is also a Federal lay inspector, under Civil Service. He has been in this work 12 years. They have one child, Dickie.
The fifth son is Kermit E., who resides in Pocahontas, where he is a salesman in the local Firestone Store. He married Mary Poteet. They have two children, Charlotte and Frankie. The Poteet family were early residents of Ravenden Springs.
The baby son, Elijah Glenn, married Aldena Jackson of Reyno. They reside in Pocahontas, where they are employed in the Brown Shoe Company's plant. He and our mother recently completed them a nice home. Mother lives with Glenn and his wife.
An interesting fact concerning our family is that of the seven children born to my father and mother, all lived to be grown and married, and are alive today, and all seven were born in Siloam township and the late Dr. William T. Swindle was the attending physician when each was born.
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Father was school director at old High Point many years. He was also director at Brakebill school. He was one of the leading men of the township many years.
In 1918 we moved over in the edge of Ripley county, Missouri, to the old Burr postoffice, where we lived three years and father was a merchant and postmaster. He was the last postmaster of the office when the Warm Springs rural route No. 1 replace the office.
In 1921 father bought a large farm on upper Fourche, referred to before, know as the old Isaac Towell or Bollenbacher farm. Our story was the same as that of countless thousands of that period. We bought high and when the depression came, we sold cheap. 1924 found our family located in Reyno. Here my father and I bought property and for over 20 years this was my father and mother's home, except for one year.
Father passed away last November 4, in his seventy-fourth year. He followed farming and livestock raising, with some merchandising along with it part of the time.
He was always interested in the things which make a better community. He was firm in his opinions and decisions but was generally on the right side. He was always interested in the places he lived. He was a member of the Reyno Town Council at the time of his death.
Father and mother reared a large family. The going was not always easy. But father always managed to carry on, to use his own expression, in a way "so that he could look any man in the face." He often said he wanted to live "above board." His word was his bond. He often told we children to never promise anything we couldn't do. During the dark days of the depression when it looked as if too many of our population, when tough sailing came their way, weakened to the point where they lost their self-respect, father would say the he "had rather live on bread and water than betray those who trusted him," and he never did.
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He abhored sham and make-believe. He always said he believed in "everyday religion." He had lots of friends.
As his son, I make these statements for the future generations to read, with humble pride and in a spirit of dedication to him who did his job well, as he passed through this uneven journey of life. May he rest in peace. A photograph of father and mother is in this book.
And now just a word about the author himself. Above we have told you briefly about the rest of the family. Now I will begin where I left off farther back in this story, where I had started to school and became very sick. Later on after my recovery, I attended the old High Point school, (there is a short article about his old school elsewhere in this book) several years and later went over to Reyno, after winning a scholarship in spelling at the county fair. I was over there with a case of measles during the big snow in December, 1917. I was boarding with Ben and Effie Wilson, who lived in the residence which is now the home of T. R. Roberson.
Later I attended business college at the old Springfield Business College in Springfield, Missouri. Coming back, I began working in the store of Ben H. Edwards, at Ponder, Missouri. I had previously had some experience in father's store and in the store and postoffice of my uncle Noah Phillips, at old Burr.
Please let me add here that our parents were strong on education. Father used to tell us, "Children I want you to get an education, for that is something that no one can take away from you." We all secured fair educations, four of the family completing high school and two attend business college.
I have always had an inclination toward the mercantile business. I have spent 23 years of my life in that work. I have made a living and maybe a few dollars extra at the job.
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I have also made a lot of friends and possibly a few enemies at the game, but I do want to make the statement which is so often disputed, that a man can operate a store and make money and yet deal honestly with his fellow men. I know that some do not. But it CAN be done.
After a long service in the store at Ponder, Biggers, Reyno and Pocahontas, 1943 found me in bad health. I sold my store which was in the building where the Bank of Pocahontas is now located, and moved out to the edge of town where I "took it easy a year and ran for office."
January, 1945, found me back in Pocahontas, located in a modest little house, surrounded with flowers and a big vegetable garden, at the north end of Witt Street. January 1, 1945, I entered the Randolph county treasurer's office, which I still occupy. I have no opponent for my second term, and it looks like I may be here another two years, if the Lord wills.
My family consists of my wife and 17-year-old son, Herman.
My wife likes the store business and so does my son. They plan a big modern store again "some of these days."
My wife was Irene Lamb, daughter of Mrs. Josie Lamb of Biggers, who I married at Reyno in 1927. Her paternal grandparents were Henderson and Leddie B. Ingram Hatley. Her father was the late John H. Lamb. Both family histories appear elsewhere in this book. This is the rambling story of the author of this book and his family, through six generations, "This August 14, 1946."
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JOE SHELBY DECKER
The subject of this sketch is a grandson of John Jefferson Decker, who was born in Illinois but who moved to Fulton county, Arkansas, about 1850. He settled on South Fork, about three miles northwest of Salem. He had five sons born in Illinois. Prior to coming to Arkansas he had spent a short time in Kentucky, where two more sons were born.
The maternal grandfather was Kinson Land, who was born and reared in Georgia. The family left Georgia and located in Alabama a few years before the Civil War. Two sons of Kinson Land joined the Confederate Army in Alabama and were both killed in battle. Mary Land, daughter of Kinson Land, married Abe Decker to become the mother of our subject.
After the close of the war Mr. Land and his brother-in-law, John Bailey moved to Randolph county. Bailey settled on a farm on Janes creek near where Ravenden Springs now stands. Land settled on a farm three miles southeast of Bailey. William W. Bailey, a married son of John Bailey, settled on the site of Ravenden Springs. It was he who dreamed of the healing waters of the springs, the story of which is related in the article about Ravenden Springs. John Bailey's wife was a sister of Kinson Land.
John Jefferson Decker died soon after the family landed in Fulton county, Arkansas. His wife and the seven sons remained on the farm in that county until the boys were all grown. Two of them married in that county. Later the family scattered, some going to different parts of the country. One son, George, joined the Confederate Army in Tennessee and was killed at the Battle of Shiloh. Abe, the father of our subject, and his brothers John, Frank and Jim, joined the Confederate Army at Salem.
Joe S. Decker relates that he has met several ex-Confederate soldiers who served with his father in the army,
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Photo of Joe S. Decker
Caption: Only Randolph County citizen who has held four commissions as county judge. It was largely through the efforts of Judge Decker that the modern fireproof courthouse was built in 1940.
most of them were from Fulton county. However, he relates that he once heard Uncle Dock Holt, father of John R. Holt of Pocahontas and W. A. of Warm Springs, say that he was with his father in Price's raid through Missouri. His father served under Gen. Joe Shelby and admired him so much that when the war was over and he married, he named one
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of his sons for Gen. Shelby. This son happens to be our subject.
After the war Abe Decker and three of his brothers came to Randolph county. Bob and John, remaining in Fulton county where John bought the old home place and lived on it many years, selling it to his son, John, who owned it until 1930. One of the first county roads in Fulton county crossed the South Fork river at the Decker ford, which was on this farm. In 1937 the county built a nice steel bridge across the river at this point and it is called the Decker bridge.
After coming to Randolph county the Decker brothers established homes for themselves, Frank married Mary Wells, daughter of Hutcherson Wells, and a sister of the late J. B. (Broadfoot) Wells. Jim married Emely Wells, a sister of the late Turner Wells, Ebb, the youngest son, married Martha Hays, a daughter of the late Dave Hays. She was a niece of the late Tom Blansett.
Abe Decker married Mary Land. This couple became the parents of our subject, and also J. W., Frank C., Evaline (Buchannan), Walter, Homer and Corbett.
Joe S. Decker has the following to say about his father's old home:
"When I was a very small boy my father bought the old Land homestead from grandfather Land. Seven of us children grew to maturity on this old homestead. Long known as the Land farm, it later became to be known as the Decker farm and remained in the Decker family until a few years ago. Father and mother both passed away while living on this old place.
"The records of Randolph county show that the first county road that was granted in the county ran by this old farm. It was known as the Pocahontas and Salem road. My grandfather was living on this farm at the time B. F. (Frank) Bigger carried the mail horseback between the two towns.
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The town of Walnut Hill or Kingsville on the creek below Ravenden Springs was the first postoffice on the route going west from Pocahontas. This was long before the Frisco railroad was built up Spring river valley to connect Memphis and Kansas City. This was the same Frank Bigger who became one of the wealthiest men and largest taxpayers of Randolph county at the time of his death.
"Louis Land, the grandfather of my mother and W. W. Bailey was a Revolutionary soldier. He died at the age of 106 years. Grandfather Land died at the age of 90. The Lands and Deckers have fought in five wars."
Joe S. Decker married Oma Pickett, March 11, 1903. Her parents were James E. Pickett and Emily Galbraith Pickett. They have two daughters, Verma, who married Jakie Schoonover, and Wanda Lee, who married Harris Cathey. Joe Decker is at present engaged in the real estate business.
Elsewhere in this book is a photo and short article concerning Mr. Decker's activities concerning the county judge's office and the building of the new courthouse.
MY PIONEER GRANDPARENTS (Davis and Spikes)
(Written by Mrs. Maude Davis Brown, wife of Dr. J. W. Brown)
"My father, John R. Davis, was born near Atlanta, Georgia, in 1851. He was the son of Elisha and Lucy Burell Davis. His parents came to Randolph county from Georgia in 1870, but they were reared in South Carolina. My grandmother Davis was granddaughter of Dr. John Burrell of Paris, France. Dr. Burell (Burl in French) was a M.D. and skillful surgeon. He came to America with LaFayette in 1777 to help America fight for independence. He married an American girl and never returned to his native land. His
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wife was of English descent but spoke French as fluently as she did her own language. Dr. Burell never learned to speak our language. Their children were taught to speak both languages.
"My mother, Elizabeth Spikes Davis, was born in Randolph county in 1852. She was a daughter of Jesse and Nancy Copeland Spikes. My mother's grandparents, William and Elizabeth Biddle Spikes, came to Randolph county in 1820.
"My ancestors were all Southerners. My mother was reared near the Mason and Dixon line and my father saw Sherman's march to the sea. They, with their parents, experienced all the suffering and hardships following the Civil War, in which my mother lost three brothers.
"When we think of the courage and the bravery our foreparents had to leave the home of their childhood, their relatives and friends, and make the long, hard, dangerous trip westward, to find homes for themselves and their large families, it makes us wonder if we could have been that brave.
"My people on both sides as far back as I know have been Methodists. My Great-grandfather Sikes helped to build the first Methodist church in Randolph county in 1830. My grandparents did a lot in the early days to establish and carry on the work of the church. With all their work, hardships, and sacrifices, they found time for family prayer and worships. To me they have left a wonderful heritage."
The Davis and Spikes families have been long-time residents of Randolph county, and Mrs. Brown contributes this article in their memory.
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THE HITE FAMILY
Harry Hite is a grandson of B. J. R. Hite, who came to Randolph county from Lee county, Arkansas, in 1859.
This being a new county and so near the Mason-Dixon Line the family returned to the old home when the War Between the States broke out in 1861. Being Southerners, they feared for their safety. After the close of the war the family came back to Randolph county in 1867.
The father of Harry Hite was Henry C. Hite, who married Laura McGuire. They became the parents of two children, Harry and Johnnie. The latter died at an early age.
Stephen C. McCrary, who married Harriet Susan Hite, came to this community at the same time the Hite family came back. The McCrary and Hite families were early residents of Lee county. Hugh McCrary, the father of Stephen, was a soldier of the War of 1812. His wife was Elizabeth Wilson. Hugh McCrary made the second cotton scraper ever used in Phillips county. Lee county was a part of Phillips county at this time.
After locating in Cherokee Bay the Hite and McCrary families, together with other settlers in that section, cleared the land and built homes. A log church was built at this time, which is still standing. It is located on the two-acre plot which is not the Hite cemetery. B. J. R. Hite gave the land for use as a cemetery and site for a church. He was a Methodist minister but other denominations were allowed free use of the building. This building was also used as a school for many years. It was here that Harry Hite received most of his education.
Some of the first neighbors of these families were the Luttrells, Reynolds, Shavers, Herrens, Bowdens, Duckworths, Fords, Watson, Winninghams, Slavens and Drew families.
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Harry Hite married Miss Tommie Wells, November 7, 1894. Mrs. Hite is a great-granddaughter of Thomas H. and Barbra Mabrey Wells, who came to Randolph county from South Carolina and Virginia by way of Washington county, Missouri, in 1821. His son, the grandfather of Mrs. Hite, came with his parents to the county, as stated above, in 1821, the year he was born. His name was John Wells and he married Harriet Alcorn, July 13, 1848. A son of this union, William Wells, was the father of Mrs. Hite. He married Martha Ann Reynolds, a daughter of James M. Reynolds. She was a sister of Capt. Dennis W. Reynolds for whom the town of Reyno was named.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hite have spent their entire lives in Randolph county, within a few miles of their parents home.
In November, 1944, they celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary.
They are the parents of four children, as follows: Gordon Hite, Mrs. Tola Cox, Mrs. Etalka Tyler and Mrs. Mabel Wickersham. They have seven grandchildren. They are: Clement and Don Cox; Tommie Lee, Betty and Harold Tyler: Ben Hite and Charles Wickersham.
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THE DR. MARTIN HOGAN FAMILY
Dr. Martin Hogan was born November 16, 1833, in Logan county, Kentucky. He was the son of William and Mary Wallace Hogan, who came to Kentucky from Virginia in 1808.
Dr. Martin Hogan married Mary S. White, in Lyon county., Kentucky. Mrs. Hogan was a daughter of George and Catherine Martin White, and was born July 17, 1840. She was a sister of Sol M. White of Pocahontas.
This couple were the parents of the following children: William, who was sheriff and collector of Randolph county four years and later a prominent merchant of Middlebrook, and later of Cotter and Norfork, Baxter county. "Bill," as he was always called, married Miss Mattie Lou Curd, daughter of Mrs. Rufe Roberts, March 15, 1891. He was also a timber dealer and was successful in this undertaking. Kate, who married John D. Webster, was a well known teacher of the county for a number of years. Lou, who first married D. F. Stewart in November , 1916. After his death she married Alec Shipman, March 20, 1927. She died the following September 17, 1927. Birdie, who taught school several years, dying at the age of 26, March 31, 1900. Lizzie, who became a nurse. Her last work was in Kansas City. Lina W., who was a carpenter by trade, married Elfleda Jones, March 8, 1924, at Reyno. He died at Pocahontas, January 24, 1945. Madison B., also a carpenter, married Fannie Bradley, January 2, 1924, at Maynard. She is a well known nurse. John, generally known as "Jack," the sponsor of this article, was born October 20, 1872. He married Miss Lawrence Cate, May 27, 1900. John Hogan is one of the best known public school teachers the county has produced. He is now retired. He is the first teacher from Randolph county who retired on the Teacher's Retirement Compensation, in 1938. He
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taught in Clay, Lawrence and Randolph counties. He began teaching in 1896 and taught until an accident disabled him in 1934. Mr. and Mrs. Hogan reared a large family and are good citizens of the town of Maynard, where they have resided most of their lives.
The father, Dr. Martin Hogan, was one of the pioneer physicians of the county. He also was a minister of the Church of Christ.
After attending medical school in Cincinnati, Ohio, he came south in January, 1871, and settled in Arkansas. He had a desire to learn the disease affecting both the North and South. He became a successful practitioner. He later gave up preaching because the duties of both professions kept him away from home so much. At that time families lived so far distant apart that in performing his duties as a family physician, he was often gone from home a week at a time, going from house to house, administering to the sick. Such was the rugged life of the doctor at that time.
Dr. Hogan and wife were the parents of three children when they came to Randolph county in 1871. They were the three eldest, William, Kate and Lou. The other children were born in this county.
The family has long been prominent in the county. Three generations have been teachers in the schools. They have always been interested in all things for the betterment of the community. The family for several generations have been members of the Church of Christ and they were among the leaders instrumental in the establishment of the Church of Christ at Maynard. Dr. Martin Hogan was a brother of Prof. John Hogan, Sr., and a brief article about him and his wife, "Miss Eliza", appears below.
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PROF. JOHN HOGAN, SR., AND WIFE, "MISS ELIZA"
The above couple were among the most noted educators which have ever lived in Randolph county. John Hogan and wife came to Randolph county in 1872. He was a brother of Dr. Martin Hogan. They first taught school at Corning, soon after coming to this section. During the 70's they taught at their house on their farm which was a mile and a half west of town and also at the "Cabin, " another house on their farm. They also taught at Pocahontas during the early 80's. This school was held in the old Masonic Hall in Pocahontas. Soon after this, they taught the first term of school in the "new schoolhouse" at Middlebrook. Another place near Maynard which they tauch was at the Miller house on their farm. During the early 90's they taught at Warm Springs. This was their last work together. He retired from teaching at this time. After her retired, Miss Eliza taught at several places in the county, among which were Ainley, Pitman, Moore and Albritton.
Many fine young men and women who later became distinguished citizens of Randolph county, attended school which Prof. and Miss Eliza Hogan taught in the years between 1872 and 1900. Among these were, William Henry Johnston, Almus J. Witt, C. E. Witt, Lute Hurn, Tell Thompson, Ben A. Brown, D. C. and H. M. Bishop, John and Tom Albrittton, Charles H. Carter, Misses Canda Ator, Ella Thompson, Lucy Hill, and many others. Lots of folks even to this day, when they think of leading educators of north Arkansas, think first of "Old Prof. and Miss Eliza Hogan." They were contemporaries with Prof. F. E. Tilford and wife, as teachers in Randolph county during this period and it is possible that this quartet is the four best known educators that the county has ever seen.
Dr. Martin died at Maynard, August 6, 1916. His wife, Mary White Hogan, died March 13, 1913. Prof. John Hogan
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died November 11, 1910. His wife, Eliza Jones Hogan, died July 27, 1912. The latter also died at Maynard.
The village of Maynard and surrounding communities are better communities by having had citizens like Dr. Martin and Prof. John Hogan and their wives live there.
THE INGRAM FAMILY
The Ingram family of Randolph county is descended from James P. and Rebecca Mansker Ingram.
James P. Ingram was born in Virginia in 1800, and his wife in 1811. He came to this county in 1824, settling on a farm near the present site of the Ingram cemetery, on the old Military road between Maynard and Supply. Here he lived until his death in 1874. James P. Ingram was an influential and prosperous citizen. He served in various official capacities for many years, being the county's fourth county judge.
James P. and Rebecca Mansker Ingram were the parents of 11 children. Among these were G. H. (Dock), Lurana, who married W. P. G. (Green) Johnston; Leddie B., who married Henderson H. Hatley; Hannah, who died at 20 years of age, and J. W. (Blind Bill). Mrs. Hatley was the mother of Mrs. Josie Lamb, mother of the author's wife.
The father of Rebecca Ingram was George Mansker, who came to Randolph county from Sumner county, Tennessee, in 1817, settling on the creek which bears the family name, just north of Pocahontas, Governor Thomas S. Drew was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, a few miles from the Mansker home and the families were intermarried before coming to this county.
The children of George and Elizabeth Mansker were Sarah, Margaret, Nancy, John, Casper, George, Coleman, Jackson, William, Catherine and Rebecca (Mrs. Ingram).
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Sarah married John Fisher, Margaret married Matthias Mock, Nancy married King Fisher, Coleman married Martha Mitchell, Catherine married Carlton Lindsey and Rebecca married James P. Ingram. Who the other married is not known.
J. W. (known for many years as Uncle Blind Billy) Ingram, was born Mary 8, 1839. He married another Rebecca Mansker (same name as his mother), a relative of his mother's family, April 12, 1857. He was 18 years of age at the time. Among the children of this marriage were: Elizabeth, who married William Smith; Martha, who married William Jolly; Sarah, who married Robert Johnson; L. V., who married Benjamin Phipps, and William, who married Tennie Pond. William and Mrs. Johnson are still living in Texas, at this time. Mrs. Jolly was the mother of Joe Jolly of Supply; Claude of St. Louis; Mrs. E Brown of Corning; Roy and the late Judge Rex E. Jolly, the last three deceased.
Uncle Bill Ingram's second wife was Josie Mock, a granddaughter of Matthias Mock referred to above. To this union was born the following who lived to maturity: Rufus G., who died in early manhood; Thomas F. and Jr. R. G. (Bob). Uncle Bill married Miss Mock October 9, 1870. She died December 28, 1883.
Mary P. Kerley Tilley became his third wife April 10, 1884. To this union several children were born, only one of which grew up. This was Lura Dean, who is the wife of Will Redwine of Maynard.
The third Mrs. Ingram had previously married William Tilley and was the mother of three children, one of which was Tom Tilley, now residing near Maynard. Tom Tilley is the father of Earle Tilley, present county tax assessor.
Thomas F. Ingram married Cina Brown, member of an early Little Black township family. To this union was born the following children now living: T. F., Jr., who married
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Opal Sammons; Beulah, who married Clarence Fowler; and Ruth, who married Hite Hogan. T. F. and Beulah reside in the county and Ruth lives in St. Louis. Mr. Ingram died in 1943. Mrs. Ingram lives in the old family home.
J. R. G. (Bob) Ingram married Eliza Fowler, daughter of Rev. Alex and Belle Rapert Fowler. Uncle Alex was one of the pioneer preachers of the Supply community. The children of this union are: Gertrude, who married Less E. Allen, son of W. R. Allen, for many years a merchant and cotton buyer of Supply, Erman, who married Winnie Crawford, member of a prominent Missouri family. Erman is assistant manager of the Midwest branch of International Harvester Company, at Quincy, Illinois; Josie, wife of Roger Wills of Little Rock. Josie teaches in the Pulaski county schools; Fleeta, who married Troy Cockrum. Troy is the son of Henry and the late Ganie Taylor Cockrum of Supply. They live at Maynard. Oscar, married Dera Ford of Pocahontas. He is associated with Baltz Hardware Company. Eula, the youngest daughter, lives with her parents, and is a member of the Maynard school faculty, and Curtis O. of Pocahontas.
Curtis married Laura Morris, daughter of E. L. Morris. Mrs. Ingram's paternal ancestors, the Morris, Montgomery and Gill families, were pioneers of Adair county, Kentucky. They came into that section over the old Wilderness road with the first settlers. Her maternal ancestors were the Suttons. Wheelers and Camers, who have been residents of Pike county, Illinois, for over a century.
Mr. and Mrs. Ingram were married in 1918, just before Curt went overseas to serve in World War I. They are the parents of four children; Purcell, who served in the late war as M. P. with the Sixth Service Command; Eileen and Beverly, at home, and Yvonne, who married James Randell.
Other members of the family of Uncle Blind Bill Ingram who served in World War II are: Loren Jolly, who served as
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chaplain in the Pacific area; Buford Jolly, who was with General Patton, in a railway battalion; Raymond Brown, who participated in the African, Italian, French and German campaigns, being awarded the Silver Star; Beverly Ingram, who served through the New Guinea, Morotai and Philippine campaigns, taking part in four major battles. Beverly is a brother of Purcell named above.
The Ingram family has long been identified with the business and political history of the county. Uncle Bill and his brother G. H. (Dock), operated cotton gins for many years in the eastern part of Randolph county. Their brother-in-law, Green Johnston was also a cotton gin operator, and the same is true with another brother-in-law, Henderson Hatley and his brother Albert Hatley. The present generation still operate a gin.
Uncle Bill Ingram joined the Confederate Army and served first under Col. Robert G. Shaver. Later he was with General Price in his raid through Missouri.
In the floor of the old house near Supply was a trap door which opened in to the basement which was used by Mr. Ingram when he was home on furlough, if the Yankees got too close. It is said that he escaped being captured several times in this manner. The old home stood until recently.
The first wife of Uncle Bill took her mother-in-law (the wife of James P. Ingram) and a Negro boy and drove an ox wagon from the old home to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, during the war, crossing Federal lines, to secure medical supplies for the community.
Uncle Bill lost his eyesight in January, 1873, on account of erysipelas, which was first contracted while attending the wounded on the battlefields, and throughout the remainder of his life carried on activities which many persons with good eyes did not venture to do. He was a large landholder and a benefactor to many people in the eastern part
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of the county. The story is told that any time misfortune and hardship overtook a family Uncle Bill was one of the first to ride over to "see what needed to be done." He possibly had as many friends at the time of his death as any man who ever lived in Randolph county.
He died in 1917 at the age of 77.
THE JARRETT FAMILY The Jarrett family is one of the oldest of the county.
Dr. William Jarrett the "father" of the Jarretts of central Randolph county is said to have purchased land near the present-day Foster Ford on Fourche de Mas river from Richard Fletcher in 1801. Dr. Jarrett came to Randolph country from the state of Pennsylvania.
He later acquired other lands, some of it through his wife, Hannah Seavers, whom he married May 4, 1821. Her maiden name was Miller, she being the daughter of Martin Miller who made a will (recorded in the old Lawrence county records July3, 1821) in which he bequeathed certain lands "on the waters of Fourche de Thomas" to this daughter.
Mrs. Jarrett had previously married Gabriel Seavers, who was a soldier of the War of 1812.
To Mr. and Mrs. Jarrett was born a son, December 3, 1827, named Henry Conway.
Dr. William Jarrett was one of the leading men of the county during his day. Dr. Englemann the noted German scientist who visited this section in 1837 states in his diary that Dr. Jarrett was a very learned man. He was justice of the peace for many years, was a leader in the move to locate the county seat at old Columbia when it was located at Pocahontas in 1836. Shinn's History lists him as one of the
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promoters of the Fourth of July celebration at that place in 1821.
His son, Henry Conway Jarrett, married Louisa Christiana Fleugge, November 4, 1847. Uncle Joe Jarrett tells us that at the time of the marriage of this couple, who were his parents, that his mother lived about three miles east of the present day village of Ponder, Ripley county, Missouri. Her parents were of German ancestry, who settled in Ripley county at an early day. Mr. Jarrett first met his wife when she attended church at the old "Salem" church which was located near the home of Dr. William Jarrett. He says she attended regularly, coming a distance of some 15 miles on horseback.
To the union of Henry C. Jarrett and Louisa C. Fleugge were born five sons, as follows: William H., who married Maggie Murray. He moved to Little Rock about 1870 where he became well known in that city. He was born May 10, 1849, and died in 1944; Lewis C., born March 4, 1851. He married Luella Adams (a relative of John Quincy Adams). Their children were William H., Jr., James C., Sular and Ida, who married Jake Roberts, a son of David Roberts and Susan Waddle Roberts. She has one son, Earl. The third son of Henry C. Jarrett was Charles Isham, who married Hessie Purdy. He was born February 3, 1864. The youngest son was James C., who married Alice Elizabeth Carroll. She was a daughter of Tone Carroll and Nancy Spikes Carroll. Nancy Spikes was a daughter of Jesse and Nancy Copeland Spikes. James C. Jarrett was born September 7, 1868 and was married January 21, 1892.
James C. Jarrett and Alice Elizabeth Carroll Jarrett were the parents of five children, the oldest dying in infancy: James Ervin, born January 6, 1894; Oscar McClure, born January 7, 1897; Joseph Albert born June 20, 1901, died
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1908; Iva Christiana born April 26, 1908. Iva married Otis Kerley February 4, 1928, son of Richard and Tola Ingram Kerley. Their children are Wilbur, James, Katy Sue, Alfred, Betty Carroll and J. C. James Ervin Jarrett married Alice Wooldridge, daughter of Lewis and Minerva Jarrett (no kin) Wooldridge, December 20, 1918, They are the parents of the following children: Bernardine, born in 1919; L. Conway, born in 1922; James Joe, born in 1926; Minerva Alice, born in 1932; Eldon, born in 1934; and Bennie, born in 1939.
Lewis Conway Jarrett, son of Ervin Jarrett, listed above, married Ervalene, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Shocklee of Ingram. Mrs. Shocklee was Pearl Condict before her marriage. Conway and Ervalene have one child, a daughter, Sharon Kay.
Oscar McClure Jarrett married Edna Lincoln, April 6, 1929. She is a daughter of William L. and Mattie Hurley Lincoln. They are the parents of Winnifred Lucile, born January 8, 1930, and Charles Isham, born June 9, 1933.
The Jarrett family has furnished men in all the wars in which this nation has been involved since the dawn of the nineteenth century.
Dr. William Jarrett was a Confederate soldier, entering service of the Southland and was one of the men who helped organize and train a company of soldiers in the bottom field near the present Fourche bridge in the Columbia community.
When World War I found our nation in the conflict, both Ervin and Oscar, sons of James C. Jarrett entered service and served many months in the regular army. Oscar served some time in France.
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In World War II Conway Jarrett, and James Joe Jarrett, sons of Ervin Jarrett, served their country. Conway spent a period of three and one-half years in the Army Air Corps as staff sergeant, and James Joe is now in the Army Infantry, in the Pacific area. He is also a staff sergeant.
Ervin Jarrett has been a teacher in the schools of Randolph county several years. Both he and his brother Oscar and their sister Mrs. Kerley reside on the old home place and are successful farmers.
James C. Jarrett, Jr., son of Lewis C. Jarrett, is a successful business man of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and also a leader in the Democratic party of that state. He was a presidential elector from Colorado in the last presidential election, and has also held other political officers.
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