Early days in Jefferson County, AR, including the City of Pine Bluff, are recalled in this 107 page spiral-bound book, comprised of excerpts from Goodspeed's Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas (1886), and from Arkansas, A Guide to the State, a 1941 WPA publication. The book is printed on quality paper. A vinyl sheet has been added to protect the front cover.
The first part contains a history of the area: Physical Characteristics, soil, etc.; Early Indian Residents; Population growth; Early settlements and pioneers; LittleRock and Napoleon Railroad; Population; County organization, courthouse; Principal county officers (1830 to 1886), Civil War days; Attorneys ; the City of Pine Bluff -- Banks, Manufacturing firms, Newspapers, Secret Societies; James Buck and other early residents; Other towns -- Redfield, Altheimer, Jefferson Springs, etc.; Schools; Churches, and other items of interest.
Besides the names mentioned in the first part, there are biographies of many county residents of yesteryear, including several with pictures (pix). Most are fairly lengthy, and often include ancestors, previous residences, children, in-laws, affiliations, war records, and business activities. In the course of this they often shed light on the early businesses, professions and institutions in the county. The biographies include: Robert R. Adams, Rev. I.O. Adams, Joseph Alheimer, Louis Alheimer, W.D. Anthony, D. Aschaffenburg, M.A. Austin, Joseph H. Baldwin, John M. Barrett, William J. Bayliss, Col M.L. Bell (pix), Thomas P. Blackwell, Col. Joseph W. Bocage (pix), Thomas W. Boisclair, A. Brewster, Dr. Samuel G. Browning, Dr. Asa Brunson, Dr. Randolph Brunson, John W. Chamblee, Dr. W.J. Childress, John M. Clayton, W.J. Cole, Garrett Cooper, John D. Crockett, George E. Crutchfield, Mrs. Mary E. Curlin, Malcom Currie, Rev. Joseph A. Dickson, J.B. Dodds, H.N. Dunn, Frank M. Fergus, Capt. S. Geisreiter, James F. George, Emanuel L. George, Benjamin L. Gocio, Dr. J.L. Goree, William P. Grace (pix), Capt. Walter Greenfield, W.B. Greenfield, William H. Hardister, Col. George Haycock, J.W. Hellums, J.F. Hicks, William I. Hilliard, William C. Hilliard, Capt. William K. Hooker, Robert R. Holmes, Dr. B.C. Hubbard, John A. Hudgens, James A. Hudson, Dr. A.H. Ingram, Richard B. Jackman, James L. Johnson, W.D. Johnson, Dr. Samuel J. Jones, Met L. Jones, Arch Ledbetter, Robert I. Lemon, Capt. Sam Lindsay, N.C. Lowry, William T. Lytle, J.W.D. McClure, R.V. McCracken, Robert D. McGaughy, Dr. Emmett M. McGaughy, Samuel M. McGehee, Dr. Marcellus C. McIntosh, Evander N. McPhail, George L. Madding, John T. Marsh, Joseph Merrill (pix), G. Meyer, James C. Mitchell, Charles F. Moore, S.C. Motes, William P. Motes, Capt. J.W.M. Murphy (pix), Arthur MNurray, Archibald Niven, T.J. Ormsby, Judge J.W. Owen, Melvin Parse, Henry C. Phillips, Albert G. Pierce, Jesse W. Pitts (pix), Col. Joe C. Pleasants, James F. Quattlebaum, Judge Lewis S. Reed, Dr. J.M. Reynolds, D.B. Riggin, Capt. J.F. Ritchie, N.T. Roberts, J.C. Roberts, John Rowsey, William E. Sallee, H.W. Scull, Capt. M.G. Sennett, W.J. Shelby, Dr. Albert R. Sherrill, Frank Silverman, Theodore F. Sorrells (pix), W.P. Stephens, Leroy Taylor, Dr. Arthur G. Thompson, Rev. D.L. Trimble, C.H. Triplett, John W. Tucker, Philip N. Vaugine, Jo W. Walker, John A. Willis, R.J. Watkins, John Weedon, Rev. Daniel Westall, Col. Mc.H. Williams (pix) E.W. Williams, Dr. George S. Willis, Janes H. Winters, Hartwell T. Wright and Joseph W. Wright.
The WPA section may not be an up-to-date tour guide, but it is filled with interesting historical tidbits. It includes a small map and a section on Pine Bluff with 11 points of interest. There is also brief information on Lake Dick, Plum Bayou Resettlement Project, Tucker State Prison Farm and an experiment with imported Chinese workers.
Wouldn't this make a unique gift?
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