SEVIER COUNTY
MEMORIES

If you have any old writings, diaries or interviews from family members about Sevier County; please email me jmfelihkatubbe@yahoo.com. Please be sure to list the subject area "Sevier County" so I will not overlook it by mistake. Thank you.

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Since Sevier County was formed from Hempstead, I decided that these letters may be appropriate. They are letters written by Cornelius S. Brown to his brother Michael in Va.

Red River Arkinsaw Territory
Augst 9th, 1819
Dear Brother, After a Journey of one hundred days on the water, we arived at the Salinas Landing at Mount Prairie, a settlement on the Borders of the Red River, On the third of May we got into Red River, and weare two months a navigating that River and at this time we are by the best calculation by water 1300 miles from the mouth of the same, and about 400 by land. The shore of the Red River is a mistery and the Country adjoining and at this time I am not able to geave you any satisfaction respecting of it, I have not been further than thirty miles from the River since I arrived here. The land I cannot be a judge of it, and as for water, I have not seen one good spring as yet, but I hear that further up the Country there is good water. I purpose about the 15th of Septbr. to set out in order to see the Upper Country. I hear that up near the mountains, there is good land and water, also good rainge booth for winter and summer, with plenty of Buffelow, Bear, and Deer. There is Buffelow within twelve miles of this place. There is as good looking Corn in the Prairies here, as I heave almost seen, in any part of the Country, and what is most extraordinary, is that wheate and cottoen booth grows to perfection here, and everything that is raised int the States may be raised here with advantage, excepting round potatoe, and I fear the will not do well. They sweet potatoe succeds well, also all kinds of garden vegetables. I have not in my power to right fully or satisfactorily tell you as I have seen but little of the Country. The year 1818 was a very dry season in this country and very small crops of corn and a large numer of people here corn was very poor, and scearce it hath sold as high as $3.pr.bushel, but people hath now got reliefe as there is corn here nerely fit to grind. There is corn here planted in the wheat stubble, that is now a shooting and Tasseling, and from appearance will make good corn and I believe corn will be sold at 50 cts.from they heape this faul.
There is no land office opened in this Territory as yet, they have survey'd 2 Townships on the west side of the Arkinsaw River, and is expected to be sold inthe course of the next season. From the lengthe of time that we ware on the River, and the extreme warm weather that we had in the months of May and June, all my family has had and now hath the ague and fevour, allso all Mr. Tollett's family, and when we shall git clear of it is uncertain. All the people that hath come here by water, also all those that lives on the River, is in the same way, it is a thing that hath not been common in this country. The oldest settlers hath not been here more than six years this faul, cattle and hoogs does well but horses does not do so well, I suppose for want of grain.
I should be glad to hear from you but there is no possible chance as there is no post office yet established here yet, nor perhaps wil be before the next session of Congress, without you could meet with a private conveyance you can direct to Mount Prairie in the Arkinsaw District, if you or any of my old neighbors wishes to move you would do well to come see the country first. There is lands of the first Quallity in this Country and on the River. I have seen the soile 40 feet deep without any alteration in the prairies where they have been diging for water, there is no perceivable change in the twelve feet as a great fault as I find with the country is the lack of good springs and the land is two level. Pleas communicate this inforrmation to all my friends and well wishers as at this time I have not had the opertunity of righting to any of them. I you have an opertunity of collecting of any money for me, there is no notes current here only the paper of the United States or of Orlienes Bank specie is the only currance in this country. Please let Mr. Clifford know of this circumstance.
About four days after we landed, old Daddy Ceasor departed life without any sickness or even a struggle. My family all desires to be remembered to you and yours and to all enquiring friends. I have not heard from you since in January last, I wrote two or three letters on my journey to you, but did not expect an answer as yet. I would be glad to hear how Mr. H Hance and the Hoggs hath settled their dispute. There hath been 23 sick people out of 26 in my family, myself, old Sarah and one of the little Negroe boys is all that hath escaped, a good many of them is got over the worst, and Ihope the reast will soon be well. Please Dear Brother to remember me to Mr. Brown and family, all my well wishes, and please except of the sincere respects of your friend and Brother, Adieu, adieu.
(Mr. Michael Brown) C.S. Brown

Contact: Kathy Hudson

Hampstead County, Arkansas Territory
April 6th, 1820
Dear Brother and Sister;
It is with pleasure I set down to write to you to give you some information of this country. I have just returned from a tour of hunting. I had Rowland and Aaron with me. We had five more in company we killed 70 Buffalo, 30 Bear and 50 Deer, all in the best order. Rowland has not yet returned. He hath stayed with some gentlemen to catch wild horses. There is a great number of the first rate in that part of the country. It is land covered with stock. We saw more than ten thousand Buffalo in one day and had more than three thousand in view at one time. The praries are very large. Your eye cannot see the timber on each side when you are in the middle, and the land is vastly rich. The land on the watercourses is covered with timber and the richest lands I ever saw. The bottoms on Red River are from five to fifteen miles wide, and the length of them, I cannot tell, but say forty or fifty miles. Grain of all kinds grows to perfection in this part of the country, and cotton more than commonly fine. Wheat also grows well, and that is uncommon for cotton and wheat to succeed in the same climate.
On the fourth of July last, we landed at the Saline Landing and was on the water from 28th of March. My family in a few days was everyone sick, only two besides myself, and some of them never go over it until the winter. But at this time they are all well, thanks to the giver of all good and hoping you are equal partakers of this bounty.
I flet much surprise and also disappointment in your not coming to Tennessee before I left there. I have not had a single letter from one friend since I left Tennessee, but hath heard verbally that there is two small negroes in Tennessee for me, Viz a boy of ten years and a girl of twelve. How they came there I cannot hear, nor in whose hands they are, I have not heard. I shall be glad to hear from you by letter. You can now send mail, as there is a post office established as is written in above this. When you write, direct to Hampstead County, Arkansas Territory and I shall in all probability receive it. Prey write soon, write long and often as I am anxious to hear from your country...C.S. Brown

Contact J. Thomas Holman II

On May 27, 1886, Buffalo Bill Cody wrote the following letter to Joseph Holman, Sevier County Judge, in an apparent response to the Judge's inquiry regarding two horse thieves whom Cody had captured. The letter was on stationery of "The Ebbitt," a hotel in Washington D.C.:

Dear Sir,

Yours of May 15th...asking the descriptions of two horse thieves I captured in 1869. It's a long time ago and Williams I can't remember him very well. Bevins I have not (seen) as he served a long time in the Nebraska Penitentiary. Williams as well as I remember was a medium sized man, I think his hair and beard inclined to reddish. Would now be over 50 years old. That's all I remember about him.

Yours Truly,
W. F. Cody,
Buffalo Bill"

LETTER OF PAUL FEES, Curator, Buffalo Bill Museum, dated March 28, 1983: "That is a very interesting letter that you have...Bevins and Williams were a pair of horse thieves that Cody was commissioned by the Army to track down and arrest. He nabbed both of them in Denver in 1869, and after some trials turned them over to the authorities. Cody recounted the episode fairly colorfully in his autobiography. The reason for Judge Holman's request for information may have been because Bevins was released from the Nebraska State Penitentiary in 1886."

According to prison records, William Bevins was about 39 years of age when he entered prison in Nebraska on Aug 6 1877 for assault with intent to murder. He was described as 5'11" tall, ruddy complexion, brown hair, muscular build,and a farmer by occupation. His second finger on his right hand was reported to be about twice its natural size. He was released on Mar 12 1883.

Joseph Holman was my 2nd ggf.

Contact Tom Holman II

MEMORIES OF MY GRANDPARENTS, by Edgar Cochran
June 16, 1916, De Queen Bee article:
The death of my grandfather, Joseph Holman, marks the passing of an ancient landmark and pioneer citizen of Southwest Arkansas and as I think of him now a thousand memories of him and my grandmother rush to my mind.
My mother was the eldest child of Joseph and Martha J. Holman, and upon the death of my mother, which occurred when I was a little more than a year old, my father gave me to my grandparents and told them that if they would care for me in my helpless infancy he would never take me from them. A promise I am glad to say that my father kept to the letter.
In my earliest childhood recollections the faces of my old grandparents are dear and familiar. When I came to my grandfather's home his house sheltered a large family of boys and girls (my uncles and aunts), who loved, petted and spoiled me. All my days were filled with happiness and I knew no sorrow. The sun shined all day and the birds sang in the orchard and in the old oak trees that sheltered the old homestead, but when the evening shadows fell across the doorway it was dear old grandmother who took my mother's place. It was her arms that sheltered my tired little body, weary with play, and her breast on which I pillowed my head while she sang old fashioned songs that lulled me to sleep, and as recollections of those days crowd upon me I can remember the stories my aunts used to tell me and the many things they did to make my childhood happy, and of how my stalwart uncles alternately teased and petted me, of how they used to make wagons and other toys for me, loaned me their pocket knives, showed me the bird nests, and, greatest of all joys, often permitted me to ride the plow horses to the old spring back of the house, at noon time. Two of those uncles and one of those aunts have long since passed away, and on those that are left, the years are creeping on apace, and as I perceive my own graying temples I realize that even I am no longer young. I wish that each of my uncles and aunts may know that I am grateful to each of them for the many kindnesses shown to me in those days when I was a little, helpless, motherless boy.
As I grew out of babyhood and into boyhood my most intimate associations with my grandfather began. I walked with him about the farm and through the fields and when he used to take down the old rifle from the pegs above the door and go into the woods I have many times trudged along behind him until it seemed that I would drop from weariness, but always when I had almost despaired and it seemed that my legs were ready to drop off of me, grandpa would find some cool shady place and we would sit down to rest and refresh ourselves. And while we rested grandfather would tell me stories of the early days when he was a pioneer in the wilderness, stories of hunts and of the habits of the various game and animals he had hunted in his time. In those days he was strong and vigorous, and though past 50 years of age his eye sight was keen and his nerves steady as iron and when he drew a bead upon a wily fox squirrel he seldom failed to bring him down, even if he had climbed to the tip top of the tallest pine tree in the woods.
At the time of which I write Grandpa was County Judge of Sevier County, Arkansas, and official duties required his presence at the county seat several days in each week. We lived some three miles from Lockesburg, the county seat at that time, and Grandpa usually hitched old Selim, the family nag, to the old fashioned buggy and drove to town and usually spent the day there, returning home in the late afternoon, and it was my good fortune to get to go with him quite often when the weather was good. Well do I remember how hungry I used to get before the noon hour and how glad I was when the business of the morning session of the court was over and all the attorneys and litigants and officials went home to dinner. Then grandpa and I would spread our lunch on the table in the old court room and sit down and eat and enjoy every bite of it. As I remember it now it seems that our lunch always consisted of fried country ham, fried eggs and corn fritters, with something extra that grandmother always fixed for me. I shall never forget my grief when one day I dropped a large slice of ham on the saw dust covered floor of the court room, but grandpa soon relieved my anxiety by washing the saw dust off and I ate it just the same.
I can't remember when grandpa was not a church member. He was always a pillar in his church and one member whom his pastor could always depend for support, both spiritual financial. From the time he professed Christ, and united with the church (the Missionary Baptist Church), he was a consistent and devout Christian and church member and lived it by act, precept and example. He had no time for and little patience with professed Christians and church members who failed to live correct and blameless Christian lives. He was never intolerant in his beliefs and accorded to others due respect for their opinions and beliefs, but his every act in life proclaimed the words of the Patriarch of old, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
While yet a small boy I observed that often on moonlight nights grandpa was away from home, and upon asking where he was, was told that he had gone to the Lodge. At that time I had a very hazy idea of what a Lodge was, but as the years passed on grandpa told me of the Lodge. He told me that he was a Free Mason and that the Masonic Lodge was a band of brethren who met together, generally on moon light nights, and studied to learn to subdue their passions and improve themselves and each other and all mankind in general, and he also told me that none but just and upright men were competent or qualified to become good and true Masons. The most treasured trinket I have is my grandfather's watch charm. It is a keystone, the emblem of the Royal Arch Masons, of which order he had been an honored member for a long number of years, and while I have a legal right to wear this charm, for I too have faced the East and knelt at the Sacred Altar of Free Masons, and have received the same degrees of the order that my grandfather received, I still feel unworthy to wear the jewel that he so long and honorably wore. The charm is old, tarnished and worn but it is of inestimable value to me.
At a very early age my grandfather began teaching me the great truths of life, just as he did with each of his sons. At first he told me the simplest things, illustrating his point with a moral and as I grew older and my mind began to be able to grasp his meaning he taught me many things. He told me to be truthful on any and all occasions. That unswerving honesty was the best policy. That politeness to ladies was the best indication of a gentleman, and as long as he lived I never saw my grandfather pass a lady, old or young, rich or poor, anywhere in city, country, town or village, that he did not uncover his head. He taught me that courtesy and fair dealing was the best business asset a young man could possess. All these things and many others he taught me, and everything he taught me he lived every day of his life. Since I have grown to manhood the light of many of the truths he taught me have been dimmed but, please God, none of them have ever been completely extinguished and never shall.
My grandfather was a patriot. He loved his country and served it well. In 1861 when his native state cast her fortunes with the Southern Confederacy he bade farewell to my grandmother and his small children and went to the front and enlisted as a private soldier, where he served until the cause was lost. His loyalty and bravery as a Confederate soldier was always attested by his comrades who fought by his side. It was always a source of pride to me that my father's father and my mother's father were Confederate soldiers.
I never knew a man that was firmer or that stood by his convictions more steadfastly than my grandfather. Neither in public or private life did he ever halt between two opinions. On every question, public, private or political, he took a firm and decided stand, for there was never any neutral ground for him. He never dodged an issue or straddled the fence to carry favor either for private gain or political preferment. He always elected to stand by his honest convictions of right or go down with them in defeat. During his long life of more than 80 years I doubt if any man, even his bitterest enemy, and he had some enemies, ever questioned his honesty or sincerity of purpose.
My grandfather always held the respect and esteem of his acquaintances and friends, and his neighbors always came to him for advice. When he lived on his farm he was the arbiter of all the neighbors. Widows and orphans frequently came to him for counsel and guidance: in fact he was recognized as the strong man of the community in which he lived and always held the respect and esteem of all who knew him.
I have often thought that the truest test of a man's strength and influence was the esteem in which his own household holds him, and in this my grandfather met the test truly. He was indeed the head of his house and the leader of the tribe. Every child he ever had respected and revered him and sought his advice upon any and all matters. As I grew from boyhood into manhood I confided to my grandfather my every ambition and most cherished dreams and those that I had that were worthy and practical he encouraged, and others not so he besought me to abandon. After I reached man's estate and struck out alone for myself I went back to him times without number for advice, and I always found his counsel timely and wise.
I never knew a man to whom I enjoyed talking as much as I did to my grandfather. When I used to go back to visit him after an absence of a few months it seemed that we had so much to talk about and would talk all day and would hardly realize that the day had passed. His mind was richly stored with information gained by long experience and observation and it was a pleasure to talk to him. During the last two and a half years of his life bodily affliction and advancing years had somewhat dimmed his memory, but he still loved to talk and liked to see the faces of his relatives and friends. Only a few days before his death I more than once saw his eyes kindle and his face light up with pleasure when some relative or friend came to his bedside.
My grandfather was a man of peace and delighted to live in friendship and harmony with all mankind, but no man was ever quicker to resent and punish an insult or an injury than he and he would have defended his honor with his life blood if necessary.
When his hour came to die he met death peacefully and without a fear, like a man "who, drawing the drapery of his couch about him lies down to pleasant dreams" and while we, the children of the Grand Old Man, stand appalled at our loss, we should realize that all is well with him. That his spirit is with God who gave it. That his labor here had ended, and that he has been called to eternal rest and refreshment in the great beyond where he awaits our coming.
So let us all, both children and grandchildren, strive to comfort and cheer dear old grandmother, for on her has fallen the hardest blow. For more than 63 years they trod life's pathway together, side by side, sharing alike their joys and sorrows and together the weathered many a storm. And it is right and proper that each of us strive to bring as much sunshine into her life as possible and try to make her last days here the happiest days and I pray God that when we have all passed over the river that we will be re-united family in that far and happy land.

Contact Roy Jones

From the DeQueen Bee This day in history.Publication date unknown.
12-10-1917.
Mr. & Mrs. J. D. Miller, George & Roxie Rink, Henry & Grace Craig, Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Craig, Elmer & Neva Earles, composed a party of Texas citizens that came to DeQueen last week to make their home. They are from Quitman. Mr. & Mrs. Miller had resided there for 26 years. They are spending this week looking at locations and they will locate near this city. When asked why he came to this country, Mr. Miller replied: "I was attracted by the climate, the water and the crop growing conditions. Where I have been so long, crops are very uncertain. That's the principal reason I left my Texas home."

Contact Roy Jones

Memories of Home
We moved to Arizona from DeQueen in 1944 (via 6 months at Vancouver Washington) then back to King, Ar in May of 1946. My grandmother Jones lived on a hill just about where the road to King turned off of the highway. We lived a short time up above Cossatot River in a 10 by 20 foot tent while dad worked in the log woods. When school started we moved to the lower part of grandma's place. Dad put down a floor and build up the sides with stabs from a sawmill then put the tent on this. My sister Judy and I attended school at the old King School House. She was in the fifth grade and her teacher was Mrs. Maguire. I was in the third grade. My teacher was Mrs. Caldwell. Even now I can still picture her stern mein. All five grades were in the same room, but at recess and lunch time the boys and girls were separated, us on one side of the yard and the girls on the other. When I was back to DeQueen in 1984 for a Jones family reunion we drove out to King. The building looked just like I remembered, stucture wise that is. Looking out across the school yard, I could see the very green and heavy bushed area, one on each side of the yard were the old outhouses used to be. We moved from there to Granis and finally to a place about 2 miles north of DeQueen and 1/4 mile east of where Sand Creek crosses the road. Finally, I attended a school in DeQueen. East Side or Rose Hill as it was known. One year Junior High then back to Arizona in 1951 and have been here ever since.

Contact Schryol Bettis Doyle

Sevier Writings
The Cross Trails school house burned to the ground in 1917. Arson was suspected but not proven. A smaller , white, green trimmed frame building replaced it in 1918. Not so many children were attending school at Cross Trails now. The population of the community was growing progressively smaller. Fewer people were producing fruit and truck crops for market. It was not easy to make a living off the land anymore. The older residents were dying off, the younger ones were seeking elsewhere.

As the years passed , Dierks Lumber Copany bought more and more of the land where people had lived. Then Weyerhauser Company bought the Dierks Lumber Company and the era of clear-cuttong the timber began.The denuded lands is being replanted with pine trees , and the hard wood is being killed out. One wounders what the ecologieal results will be . It is hard now to find sufficient land for homes. But not all the acreage is owned by Weyerhauser. Some of it is still owned by private citizens.

Mr. Walter House , with his three sons, Charlie, Luther and James A. House, came to Arkansas during the 1890's . They homesteaded land in the large Cross Trails community. They farmed and did timber work. James A. House married Miss. Josiephine Stephens in 1900. They raised their family on the home place. Their children were Walter, Lillard,Cecil, Albert,Lydia, Bertha and Jewell. A daughter Opal died at age two. A portion of the original Homestead was sold to Dierks but the remainder is owned by Walter House's great-grandson, Kennith R. House and by his grandchildren who are great-great-great-grandchildren of walter House. The are the 5th generation of Hoeses to live in the Cross Trails Community. These same children are also descendants of another early Cross Trails family, Mr. & Mrs. David M. Asher . The Ashers had moved ti Cross Trails in 1898 from Missouri. Mr. Asher was a Union Veteran in the Civil War - but his father and his brother were confederates. Mrs. Asher's maiden name was Mary AEmily Stark. Their home was a mile or two directly north of Cross Trails school house. They were the parents of Mrs. Sarah Stephens, Mike Asher , Frank Asher ,Lucinda(called Linda)and Edna Asher. Mrs. Sarah Stephens' children were: Charley, Isaac and Vena (twins), Josiephine, Dorcas, Emmaline, Louie and twins Bertie and Ada Bailey. At this writing , 1980, only one of that family was still living - and that is Mrs. Ada Bailey Weisinger, who is almost 83 and lives in Diboll, Texas.

The Ashers were members of the Baptist Church in Missouri but in 1898 joinded the Church of Christ at Piney Grove, and Mr. David Asher helped build the new Church house at Smyrna. The Piney Grove Church of Christ was reorganized at Smyrna in 1902, and all names of members still living there were brought up to date. Mr. & Mrs. David Asher's granddaughter , JosiephineStephens, married Mr. James A House in 1900, Their son Cecil House, Married Miss Leo Marie King. Their son , Kennith R. House, Married Miss Magel Dean Cannon. Their grandchildren are those mentioned on a former page, who are part owners of a portion of their great-great-great grandfather Walter House's property.

F.M. Cain and Family were living in the Cross Trails area in1897- I don't know how much earlieer. Their children were James, Thomas, Mary, Mattie and Lillie. Mrs. Cain died in1906 and is buried at Smyrna. Later the Ccain family moved to Texas but Mary Cain returned to Cross Trails about 1915. She lived with Mrs. Pat Headlee, who was a widow. She married Roy Mullins in 1916. Roy had come to Sevier County(Fairview) in 1910 with his mother, Mrs. Susan Pennington and his half brother , Levi Parsley from Kenticky. Roy and Mary Mullins had 3 children, Ina Marie, Ivan and Leroy. Ivan died in 1922 of influenza. Ina Marie is a school teacher and taught at old East Side School in DeQueen several years - then moved to Midland Texas. Then to Sherman Texas, where she is teaching today in 1980. Leroy Mullins married Leila Bishop and they have 4children: Peggy, Kathy,Leon and Ralph. Roy and Mary Mullins and Ivan Mullins are buried in Smyrna Cemetery.
Richard and Randi Munn were married in 1924, I believe . She was Randi Stell, a granddaughter of Mr. & mrs. Joe Stell who kived in Cross Trails many years. Their children were: J.D. Delma, Buddy,Minnie Mae, Reba and Ruby Lee.

A widow Mrs. Othella Johnson moved near Smyrna, from Dallas Texas. her 2 daughters were Opal Johnson and Sylvia Carver. Slyvia still lives in that house.

Mr. & Mrs Joe Hime and their 4 children moved to Cross Trails in the 1920's I think; they came from Dallas Texas. Their children were : Paul, Harold, Peggy and Ruth Hime.

Mr & Mrs. J.M. Moore lived near Cross Trails . They were an elderly couple who died within a few hours of each eather and were burried in the same coffin at Smyrna in1924. Their daughter was Mrs. Blanch Blackmeyer.

The Limbocker were Cross Trails citizens for many years. Their son was Elmer Limbocker.

Herbert and Lillie McGowan lived next to the King family . They came from Shreveport, Louisiana. Their children were Emma and Nettie Mae, who were each married . But the McGowan's kept their grandsons, Billy Holly and Bennie Sarrells.

Lafe and Pearl Bauske moved to cross Trails from Texas. Their children are Jack and Leola Bauske. These people's children attended school at Cross Trails before it was consolidated with DeQueen Schools in 1932. Then they rode the bus to school in DeQueen.

Everett and Lois Richardson got married about 1925. Everett was a grandson of Mr. & Mrs Joe Stell, who had lived at Cross Trails many years. The Richardsons' children were : Omajean, James and Linnie Richardson.

George Hamilton was a grandson of Rev. Kays of Cross Trails.(Who was a Union Solder in the Civil War.) Their children are Annette , Sally and Wayne . Rev. H. Kays, his daughter , Viola Hamilton Ford, George Hamilton and Wayne Hamilton (4 generations) are burried at Cross Trails Cemetery.

A widow , Mrs. Frances Hales , came to Cross Trails in the 1920's from Texas. She had 2 sons Robert and Buck and a daughter Margaret Hales.

Claud T. Rogers and wife , Effie had children:Burley, Sally, Faye, Lenard, Victor, Thelma, Nellie, Ruth, Claud A. and Eugene Rogers.

Mr. & Mrs. Leroy Nix (she was Ruth Dodds) were married about 1924. Their children are Duane and Leroy Nix, Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. Buffington came to Cross Trails about 1920 - (maybe earlier) with their son , Sam Buffington and their daughter, Mrs. Eva Neeley Black whose children Opel, Effie, Ben and Olan Neeley.

The Steve Farley family lived on the old Headlee place, near Smyrna. Their children living at home then are Spurgen, Beulah, LaVerne and Coleen Farley.

A widow , Sally Mathrole moved to Cross Trails from Texas. The children are Vera Mae, Charles and Jhon Henry Mathrole. John Henry got his arm cut off while riding with his elbow out the car window at night and they met a truck an trailer with no lights on the trailer.

The John H. McCauley family's children are John, Ruth and C.B. McCauley.

The Krudwig family lived on the old Teal place, but attended church at Smyrna. The children are Ernest,Charles and Joe Krudwig.

Bruce and Ffannie Higgens' children are Carolyn and Dale Huggins.

The Delmar Gage family's children are Merle, Joyce and Maxie Gage.

The Carl Wesson Fanily's children are L.C., Ruth, Charles, Billy and Juanelle Wesson.

Mr & Mrs. Foster Ashley, she was Oma Holder. Their children are Jessie, Boyd, Madge , Rachel, Winfred, Hazel, Gertie, Lillard and Idell Ashley. Mr & Mrs Ashley, Winfred and Lillard are burried at Cross Trails Cemetry.

Mr. Shelby Johnson lived at Cross Trails in 1905 and maybe much earlier. He had grown children then. The known children are Wesley, Bud and Supposedly Rosa Johnson. Bud Johnson married Maggie Autrey and then Emma Williamson. The children are Shelly, Mangus ,Amy - and maybe others.

Albert Edwards Hedges and his wife , Jennie (Martha Jane) Simpson were teachers at the Cross trails School. She mostly just substituted for him. He taught in 1908, 1909,1921-1923, 1925-1926. He organized a Literary Society for every friday night Cross Trails and they had plays , debates and speeches.

All eight grades were taught in one room , so discipline was strict. the
teacher's salary was $75.00 per month. School started in July and continued in August and September. School was out in October so the children could help gather crops. It began again in November and ended after 5 more months, for a total of 8 months of school; per year.

Hedges retired in 1927 because of loss of hearing and Helen Sullivan from De Queen was hired . After her came Louise Beekman and Mrs. A.J. Boles who taught from 193-1931. In 1932 the school consolidated with DeQueen .

The school eventually rotted away and the only evidence of Cross Trails now is a cemetery used by the families of the area. Family members of those
burried there keep the cemetery up.

Contact Kathy

Lockesburg Tocsin April 26, 1888
The Bold Texan Makes a Raid Into Our Town and Carries Off a Young Lady
Out town was surprised, last Monday, by the enactment of quite a romatic trasaction in which a Mr. Woods, of Texas, and Miss Edith Proctor, daughter of Dr. B. F. Proctor, of this vacinity, were the central figures. It seems from all that we can gather, that Mr. Woods and Miss Edith were sweethearts and had been corresponding for some four years, and wanted to link their lives together for mutual happiness, but for some reason a union of the two was opposed by the parents of Miss Edith and every effort was made to keep them seperated. However with the assistance of friends and being determined to look for happiness, the two managed to keep up a regular correspondance until last Monday, when the final act was accomplished and Mr. Woods and Miss Edith became man and wife.
By arrangement before hand, it was understood that they were to meet in Lockesburg on last Sunday, Mr. Woods having come into the neighborhood the day before, but for some reason Miss Edith could not come to Sunday school as was arranged. This did not daunt the young lady, but only made her more determined, while the young man waited patiently for his loved one to appear. On Monday morning Miss Edith made an excuse to come to town to do some shopping, but was accompanied by her mother and aunt. Mr. Woods was in town and had everything in readiness for the performance of the marriage ceremony, and his hack ready to carry his bride away, but he had not been seen.
Miss Edith went with her guardians to Mrs. Parks millinery store where she selected a hat and trimmings and was seemingly interested only in the trimming of it. While the work was progressing she found an opportunity to step into Williamson & Bro. store only a short distance from Mrs. Park's where she found her faithful lover waiting for her, and was in afew moments made his happy bride. Esquire Hutcheson preformed the ceremony. They immediately got into the hack which was in readiness at the door.
The first intimation her mother of what has happened during the few minitues of Miss Edith's absence from her presence was when she came out of Mrs. Park's and saw her daughter sitting in the hack with a gentleman whom she at once recognized as Mr. Woods. Consternation and greif overcame the poor woman, but it was too late! In an unguarded moment she had permitted the bold Texan to snatch Miss Edith from her care. Whipping up the horses the hack moved off and her daughter was gone.
Miss Edith was a most excellent young lady and well thought of by all who knew her. She had many friends here who sincerely hope that her new relation in life, adopted under such romatic circumstances, will be joyous and happy. Her husband should be very kind to her, on account of her unwavering fidelity to him, and thus willingly forsaking father and mother and home to become his wife.
Mr. Woods is said to be a properous farmer. His home is in Lamar County, Texas, wither he has flown with his bride.
The Tocsin hopes that their life maybe one of unending happiness and the parents of Miss Edith will freely forgive her remembering that God says in his word that, "It is not good for man to be alone," and that their daughter was prompted to do the act only by the motive of Love.

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This is a letter from Sarah Ann Beauchamp who lived near Walnut Springs, to her husband's niece.

FROM: S.A. Beauchamp (Sarah Ann Ramsey)
R.D. Route No.1,Box No. 57
Horatio,ARK
May 8,1908 7PM (postmark)

TO: Mrs S.B. Coates (Sarah Beanie McCraw)
Sasakwa,Oklahoma
Horatio
R.F.D.#1,Box 57 Ark. May 8, 08

Mrs S.B.Coates

Dear Niece
It is with pleasure that I endeavor to answer your most kind and welcome letter I received a few days past. I was certainly glad to hear fr om you. Yes my husband is your mother's brother. There is but three of the boys alive that we know of and not sure of Bro. John's being alive. Bro Seaburn lives near us. Sister Sarah Franklin lives at Glen St Mary Fla.

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The following is a letter written by Sebron Jackson Beauchamp, my great grandfather, that was published in the Galveston Semi-Weekly News on Monday, September 7, 1908. The News provided space for veterans to write in and tell their stories, S J was active in Confederate veteran reunions, so he evidently kept track of things such as the letters column. Shortly after his house was destroyed and a 11 year old daughter killed during a tornado that hit Walnut Springs.

First Mississippi. I am an old soldier, but not like W. A. Dickinson of Chico, Tex. I am not worn out, or, at least, I dont feel like I am, for my baby is just 5 months old, and I could fight again if called on to do so. I belonged to the First Mississippi Battalion, Company H, commanded by Capt. Thad Reese of Tupelo, Miss. I volunteered in 1862 and stayed with them till the close of the war. I had some close calls, but came out all right. The blue coats gave me a hard chase several times; got my guns and horse once, but I outran them and got away. I slept on leaves and ate blue beef and peas cooked without grease or salt, but they made me so fat I couldnt run a rod.

Well, my dear brother soldiers, our number grows less day by day, and one of these days before so very long we will all have passed beyond the river of death and rest from all toll, pain and care. I hope to meet you all up there. We come out of that struggle naked and starved, but thank God when we are freed from this old world we will, I hope have a bountiful living. Yes, dear brother soldiers, I am 63 years, and, of course, I know I am on the decline, but I hope I will be ready when my Captain calls the roll Up yonder. May God bless you all and all the reader of The News. I will be glad to hear from any of my old friends. *S. J. Beauchamp, Horatio, Route 1, Box 28, Sevier Co., Ark.