Phillips County Historical Quarterly

June, 1972

Published by
The Phillips County Historical Society

The Phillips County Historical Society supplies the QUARTERLY to its members. Membership is open to anyone interested in Phillips County history. Annual membership dues are $3.50 for a regular membership and $5.00 for a sustaining membership. Single copies of the QUARTERLY are $1.00. QUARTERLIES are mailed to members.

Neither the Editors nor the Phillips County Historical Society assumes any responsibility for statements made by contributors.

Dues are payable to Miss Bessie McRee, Membership Chairman, P. 0. Box 629, Helena, Arkansas, 72342. Meetings are held in September, January, and May, on the fourth Sunday in the month, at 3 P. M., at the Phillips County Museum.

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PHILLIPS COUNTY
HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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"THIS OLD BOOK"

The Civil War Diary Of
Mrs. Mary Sale Edmonson
Of Phillips County, Arkansas

Edited By

R. P. Baker, Archivist
Arkansas History Commission
1972

PART I

PREFACE

The vast majority of Civil War diaries which have come down to this present time are those of the soldier himself. They give a thrilling account of the battlefield, the campfire and the march, but usually little else. This diary is different. It is an account of a different kind of battlefield, the home front in the South. But it is no less a story of privation, destruction and bravery.

This is the diary of a very literate southern gentlewoman. It reflects her interests in the welfare of her home, her husband and children, and her Negro slaves. In it is captured the essence of a way of life rapidly being destroyed forever by Yankee Soldiers. Gone were the gracious ways, the leisurely civilization and finally, life itself.

INTRODUCTION

MARY FRANCES SALE EDMONSON was born November 16, 1816, in Amherst County, Virginia, the eldest of the eight children born to the Reverend Alexander F. and Sarah Crenshaw Sale. The Reverend Mr.

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Sale, "an able minister of the Methodist Church, of sound judgement, but deficient in imagination," was born on May 6, 1780, and was the son of Captain John Sale, an officer in the Revolutionary War, and Frances Sanders Sale. Mrs. Edmonson's mother, who was well known for her gifts of genius, imagination and wit, was born February 16, 1792, the daughter of Charles and Mary Burruss. They were married February 10, 1814. Other children born to the Reverend and Mrs. Sale were:

In 1821, the family emigrated with a large group of their fellow Virginians to Lawrence County, Alabama, and settled near the county seat of Moulton. Here they made their home for a number of years. The 1850 United States Census of Lawrence County records the family thus:

In 1848, Mary's brother, John B., a lawyer by profession and the fifth County Court Judge of Lawrence County, "was seized by a desire to try a new Country" and removed to Aberdeen, Mississippi. It was no doubt through her brother's new friends and acquaintances that Mary met a widower from Pontotoc County, Mississippi, Dr. Albert G. Edmonson. Dr. Edmonson, the son of William and Mary Edmonson, whose family was among the first citizens in the

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early settlement of Pontotoc, was born October 24, 1805, in Davidson County, Tennessee. He received his medical training at Transylvania University. He married Caroline Pinson about 1844 and they became the parents of three children: William, Mary E., and Caroline L. The first Mrs. Edmonson died about 1848 or 1849.

Dr. Edmonson and Miss Sale were married in Mississippi on May 23, 1854. Their first child, Alexander, was born April 20, 1855, but died eight days later. Their second child, John Albert, was born on May 23, 1856.

In 1857, Dr. Edmonson, his father-in-law, Alexander Sale, and two of his brothers-in-law, William and Mellville Sale, joined the great American move westward. Choosing Phillips County, Arkansas as their new home, they settled northeast of Walnut Corner. Here they bought over one thousand acres of land in the Blackfoot or Central neighborhood, along Spring Creek Road. William named his plantation Granmedi, and the home shared by Dr. Edmonson and the rest of the Sale family was called Holly Grove. Some of the other families which made up this neighborhood were those of: Judge John T. Jones, George R. Johnson, Richard Ford, Thomas and John Gist, Joseph Green, Arthur Robinson, Richard Anselm Blount, Amos Jarman, James Cook, Alexander Graves, Warren and Jack Smizer, Dr. T. R. Welch, F, H. Dade and David Threlkeld.

On September 20, 1858, Mrs. Edmonson's third child, Sarah Susannah, or Sallie, was born – only to die on June 24, 1860, ironically the same day as the birth of her fourth and last child, Louise Titus, or Lou.

The 1860 Census of Planters Township, Phillips County, lists the families thus:

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Mrs. Edmonson died on February 7, 1865, after several months of illness. Dr. Edmonson died in Phillips County in 1885.

(See footnotes at end of article.)

COPIER'S NOTE

Copied from Aunt Sue's (Susannah Jones)¹ copy made by my cousin, Carrie Porter Odom, in (1867) from my mother's manuscript Diary which had been sent by my (father) six months, after her death to my grandmother (Sarah C.) Sale² and Aunt Susan Jones in Louisiana to read and return to us, and which was lost with the best daguerrotype we possessed of Papa, in his middle life, and Bro. Will³ and sister Mollie⁴ in their childhood--by the burning of the (Steamboat) Alabama, fifty miles above New Orleans.

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DIARY

AUGUST 26, 1863, Wednesday. This old book,⁵ which has power to recall to me faces that were familiar more than twenty years ago, and scenes that have occurred in North Alabama, Mobile, Mississippi, Louisiana--faces that are still clearest to me, and scenes in which my youth was passed—I now devote as a sort of Journal, in my desolated Arkansas Home,⁶ beginning far down in the second

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year of the cruel war waged against us by the Northern Abolitionist, and dedicated to (my) young son (John Albert) and daughter (Louise), whose prospects in life have been blighted by the wanton cruelty and avarice of our foes.

I am now forty-seven years old.⁷ Their ages are seven and three and in the present aspect of affairs, and event, it is quite probable they may know but little of their mother, and their own infancy and early youth, except what these pages may contain. So my children, to begin aright I must say (for the) record that on the last day of June (1863) your honored Grandparents (the Reverend and Mrs. A. F. Sale), sister May (Mary Elizabeth), and (your) Uncle Melville (Sale),⁸ started to La. with the remaining servants⁹ who had remained with us. Your uncle William (Sale)¹⁰ followed them after two weeks to visit his dear wife (Anna Elizabeth), your aunt Lizzie,¹¹ whose feeble health rendering her unable to endure the harrassment of living in her own beautiful home of Granmedi,¹² had accepted the refuge of your aunt Susannah's Home in Caddo Parish, La., so heartily offered by her kind husband, your uncle Vinkley Harwood Jones, when he came in the fall of '62 to remove our dear parents to his more secluded and safer section of our Confederacy.

At that time, our parents and ourselves thought it best to remain, but now that certain invading armies has (sic) become one of occupation^l3 and we knew not what hardships and horrors of war awaited us. We in solemn family council determined---when your uncle Harwood and Melville came to offer a second chance of escape from captivity--to send away our old parents and our young daughter (Mary Elizabeth) where they could be safer and more comfortably cared for and where she (Mary Elizabeth) could pursue her interupted school duties in Mansfield College, La.

Your father,¹⁴ sister Carolina,¹⁵ your two

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little selves, (Albert and Louise) and your mother are all that remain at (our plantation) Holly Grove ,¹⁶ the common Home of your father, grandfather, (and your) uncle Melville. The rank weeds are higher than tall corn in all directions around us, except the small space of the yard, where one year ago the fields teemed with ripening corn and opening cotton. In the garden there are a few rosebushes and vine covered frames that are higher than the tall grass that covers everything else. Now you have (the) surrounding in which your mother writes.

AUGUST 27, 1863, Thursday. I arose this morning feeling fresher and esrongee than since my illness^l7 glad to relieve Carrol¹⁸ of some of her multifarious household duties, which she has well discharged during the illness I spoke of and had been an attentive nurse to me, and kind and thoughtful for her little brother and sister both totally depended on her care--as Doctor has been off from home almost all the time attending to other sick people. His patients are all recovering now. Dr. has been quite unwell himself. JI have much reason to thank our heavenly father for returning health for I have need of it now (more) than ever in my life. Today for the first time since my parents left, I have been able to resume my occupation with scissors and needle, and have been cutting out some garments for Carro. Yesterday (I) had my smoke house put in order; it was sadly in need of it. I have one middling and one ham--no prospect of other meat and too little salt for fresh meat. The minks beset my fowls and have killed twenty (of) my chiefly hens. Got mama's cloth home today which should have been nearly worn out in clothing before now, having been sent to the weavers in June. Dr. called off this evening--not yet home at half past eight--I am a little uneasy. Took Lou (Louise Edmonson)¹⁹ with me to Mama's room for private prayer at sunset, the little thing seemed struck with contrition for some unconfessed sin and through sobs

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insisted she would do so no more. O, may her conscience remain tender--sent Carro and Albert to ride over to Mr. (Richard Anselm) Blount²⁰--the poor things have so monotonous a life that almost any little change is recreation to them--poor Lucy (a slave woman) ²¹ came in this evening. I gave her cotton for some stockings; she asked to look in her old mistress'²² room. I understood what her feelings were; she said little but looked sad; (she) seemed to enjoy the neatness of the house and the perfume of Carro's tube roses in the parlor. I hear (old) Mahala (another slave woman)²³ wants to come home; poor old creature, I would help her destitution for humanity's sake, if I had anything to give her, but I don't feel able to nurse her and provide for her now; I hope she won't come.

AUGUST 28, 1863, Friday. Finished Albert a shirt and half a finger on my sock, put away my dried apples, t'was a rainy morning could not continue the wheat sunning. Johnny Walker²⁴ was very ill; Dr. stayed away until ten last night--has not arrived this evening at nine--fear he is worse. Dr. met three federals today--trembled for his horse,²⁵ but got off with him. He had a chat with (John L.)²⁶ Lansford about (brother) William's affairs--he makes fair promises. Our faithful Davy (a slave)²⁷ is becoming dissatisfied--wants to go to town (Helena). Lansford has tempted him with money, and the Demon of Gain is getting hold of him. Albert did not do well with his lesson today. Oh that I could inspire him with a love for his book. Quite cool since the rain. We have had very little hot weather this season, and I fear summer is gone even before the season is over.

AUGUST 29, 1863, Saturday. My letter, commenced the 11th, has not found a messenger to Little Rock²⁸ yet. Oh if I could hear from my dear parents. Surely God will not permit them to be further prosecuted or will sustain them under trial. We hear rumors of fighting on White river²⁹--mor-

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Federal re-enforcements. Alas our poor little army will be swallowed up. What will or has become of my dear brother (Mellville)? Shall we ever see him or any of our kindred again? Sometimes I am obliged to confess that probabilities are against it. If I fully believed this, I do not think I could bear it--in spite of the clouds that over shadow our family common with our country I find myself constantly looking forward to a time when we shall all be together again here. There is another rumor that "Lee has defeated Mead with great loss," but the reading of Federal papers distrust me in their /torn/ confidence, cruelty and contempt. I do not think History furnishes a parallel to our oppression and their malignance. Yesterday, Albert gave us quite a start by making a trip off on his old white mare to the Neville's,³⁰ some three miles from home, on a road he had not traveled for more then a year. He had been gone more than an hour when he was missed. It was then (I) remembered that he had asked my leave to go and see Henry Grant when he was done (with) his lessons. I gave an ironical permission and thought of it no more--he took this literally. His father started to look for him in considered uneasiness and met him returning just this side of the (George R.) Johnson's.³¹ He seemed so innocent of intentional wrong that neither of us had the heart to punish him, although I had determined to lock up his saddle for a season--but concluded to explain to him his error instead, and blamed myself for speaking ironically to a child--determining to do so no more.

AUGUST 30, 1863, Sunday. Jake (a slave)³² went off without leave--to town with Lansford yesterday. An order had just reached town to press all negro men;³³ so Jake is caught. Davy was purposing to go tomorrow--his situation is quite precarious now. I wish we had a horse for him to ride and could send him to the (Joseph T.) Green's³⁴ till Will (William) comes--but there is no chance for it.

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God only knows what is to become of us all. Only yesterday, Dr. and I thought we saw a little opening for us to get along and live--now all is close and worse than ever. This bright Sabbath morning, how I miss my dear, dear father's ministrations and my beloved mother's society. Oh what a love they are to me. He (Reverend Sale) committed none but did quite a manly thing--that was praise worthy.

But if I could know they were comfortable and undisturbed, I could bear any deprivation of them, with comparative resignation. Lutez (Louise) is constantly prattling of her Grandparents and sister and seems to fear she will forget how they talked; (she) often asks me what they said and how did they talk, and how did they laugh? Alas I had not heard them laugh in many, many months!

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(To be continued)

FOOTNOTES

¹Susannah Anderson Sale Jones (1821 - ?) sister of Mrs. Edmonson and wife of Vinkley Harwood Jones. She lived near Greenwood, Caddo Parish, Louisiana. In this Diary she is often referred to as Annah or Susan. She is the Aunt Sue whose comments annotate much of Mrs. Edmonson's journal. Book of Records: D. A. R. Chapters of Arkansas, Vol. V,_ 1930-31, page 30 ff.

²Sarah Crenshaw Sale (1792 - ?) mother of Mrs. Edmonson and wife of the Reverend Alexander F. Sale. Ibid.

³William Edmonson (1844 - 2?) stepson of Mrs. Edmonson, born Pontotoc County, Mississippi. He enlisted in the Yell Rifles on May 4, 1861, and entered state service July 23, 1861. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall; had black hair and gray eyes. He

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was discharged April 14, 1862, and went East with his Uncle Melville to fight. Muster Roll Yell Rifles and Muster Roll of Josey's 15thArkansas Infantry.

⁴Mary Elizabeth Edmonson (1847-1863) stepdaughter of Mrs. Edmonson, born Pontotoc County, Mississippi, died July 24, 1863, in Caddo Parish, Louisiana. In this Diary, she is usually referred to as May or Mollie. D. A. R. Records, Vol. V.

⁵”This old book" seems to refer to an old diary that Mrs. Edmonson kept in 1843. Evidentially these early portions of the Diary were not copied by Mrs. Jones.

⁶The Holly Grove Plantation was located in the Blackfoot or Central neighborhood, Planters Township, Phillips County, Arkansas. "Letter: Mrs. Louise Edmonson Alexander to Mrs. Ware, September 17, 1932," Phillips County Historical Quarterly, Vol. V, No. 1, December, 1966, pp. 7-5.

⁷Mrs. Edmonson was born November 17, 1816, in Amherst County, Virginia.

⁸Melville Watson Sale (1833 - ?) youngest brother of Mrs. Edmonson, born March 25, 1833, in Lawrence County, Alabama. He enlisted in the Yell Rifles June 1, 1861, and entered state service on July 23, 1861. "I was discharged," he wrote in 1864, "on account of a wound received at the battle of Perryville, Kentucky." He then received an appointment as Provost Marshal of the Military Court of General S. D. Lee's Tennessee forces. At the time of his enlistment he was 5 feet 11 inches tall, of dark complexion, blue-grey eyes, and black hair. D. A. R. Records, Vol. V, Muster Roll Yell Rifles, Muster Roll Josey's 15" Arkansas Infantry.

⁹The word servant meant slave. The Sale and Edmonson families had over 50 slaves in 1860. "Slave Schedules," 1860 U. S. Census, Planters

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Township, Phillips County, Arkansas.

¹⁰William Fletcher Sale (1825-1905) brother of Mrs. Edmonson, born August 25, 1825, in Lawrence County, Alabama, died Searcy, Arkansas in 1905. He served throughout the Civil War, in Company A, Dobbins' lst Arkansas Cavalry. D. A. R. Records, Vol. V, and Muster Roll Dobbins' 1st Arkansas Cavalry.

¹¹11Anna Elizabeth Lenore Sale (1833-1908) wife of William F. Sale, born October 10, 1833, in Alabama, married August 6, 1851, died at Searcy, Arkansas in 1908. D. A. R. Records, Vol. V.

¹²The William Sale Plantation. It was located in Planters Township, Phillips County.

¹³Federal troops had occupied Helena in July, 1862. The area around the city became a no man's land and was subject to raids by both sides.

¹⁴Dr. Albert G. Edmonson (1805-1885) husband of Mrs. Edmonson, born October 2/4, 1805, the son of William and Mary Edmonson, in Davidson County, Tennessee. Early in life he moved to Pontotoc County, Mississippi, although he received his medical education at Transylvania University in Kentucky. About 1840 he married Carolyn Pinson and became the father of three children. He married a second time to Miss Mary Frances Sale on May 23, 1854. In 1857, he came to Phillips County, Arkansas where he died in 1885. In this Diary he is referred to as Dr. or Doctor. D. A. R. Records, Vol. V.

¹⁵Carolyn Pinson Edmonson (1849 - 2?) stepdaughter of Mrs. Edmonson, born Pontotoc County, Mississippi, married Francis R. Blount in 1873. She is referred to as Carrie or Carro in this Diary. Ibid.

¹⁶The name Holly Grove stems from the number of holly trees in the vicinity of the Edmonson home.

¹⁷There is no clue to the nature of Mrs. Edmonson's illness, but it was to prove fatal.

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¹⁸Carolyn P. Edmonson.

¹⁹Louise Titus Edmonson (1860 - ?) daughter of Mrs. Edmonson, born Phillips County, Arkansas, June 24, 1860, married William James Alexander in 1879. She is referred to in the Diary as Lou or Loutze. D. A. R. Records, Vol. V.

Household #454, 1860 U. S. Census, Planters Township, Phillips County, Arkansas.

²¹A slave belonging to Mrs. Edmonson's mother and the wife of Jake. She seems to have been a middle aged or older woman.

²²Mrs. Alexander F. Sale.

²³A household slave most often called "Old Mahala." She has left the plantation. She is soon to die among the freedmen in Helena.

Household #51, 1850 U. S. Census, Planters Township, Phillips County, Arkansas.

²⁵Federal troops were requisitioning horses and slaves from Confederate civilians.

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Household # 460, 1860 U. S. Census, Planters Township, Phillips County, Arkansas.

²⁷, slave belonging to Mrs. Edmonson's father. He died Tuesday, October 27, 1863. His ancestors had been owned by the Sale family for over 100 years.

²⁸After the fall of Vicksburg, on July 4, 1863, Federal troops were in control of the entire Mississippi River, effectively cutting the Confederates in half. All communications from the Phillips County area had to be over land through the Confederate lines.

²⁹Federal troops under Major General Frederick Steele were beginning the push west from Helena which was to lead to the capture of Little Rock in early September, 1863.

Household #278, 1860 U. S. Census, Spring Creek Township, Phillips County, Arkansas.

Household #308, 1860 U. S. Census, Spring Creek Township, Phillips County, Arkansas.

³²A slave belonging to Mrs. Edmonson's

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father, the husband of Lucy.

³³Negroes were being put to work by Federal troops on government plantations and fortifications.

Household #306, 1860 U. S. Census, Spring Creek Township, Phillips County, Arkansas. Davy's wife, Emily, seems to be a slave belonging to the Green family. J. T. Green was a 2nd lieutenant in Company B, Dobbins' 1st Arkansas Cavalry. He was 6 feet, of fair complexion, light hair, and blue eyes.

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ELAINE, ARKANSAS

by

Mary L. Demoret Jones

The land embracing the first six blocks of Elaine (part of the South West 1/4 of Section 25, Township 4 South, Range 2 East), was dedicated in 1911, with blocks, lots, streets, and alleys, by the Kelley Trust Company of Fort Smith. The land was given to the state of Arkansas under an Act of Congress of 1850, known as the Swamp and Overflow Act. The state released this property in the 1850s under Swamp Land Certificates, to private owners, and it was owned in part by Silas Craig and his descendents, by the George family, and perhaps others, before becoming the property of Harry E. Kelley in 1892.

Harry Kelley came to the area now known as Elaine from Fort Smith. He bought extensive land holdings and started to clear the land--selling the timber. On an ownership map of Phillips County of 1901, his name is on more than 16,000 acres in his own right and on more than 19,000 acres in partnership with others, all in Townships 3, 4, and 5 South. He was responsible for the building of the first railroad in this section. E. M. Allen came to the area to take charge of the depot when the railroad was established, and he also purchased land holdings in what is now Elaine.

The first depot was named "Kelley," but later dropped when the railroad officials discovered another town by that name. There are many stories as to how "Elaine" got its name. In the early part of 1949, Mr. Allen came in our store one night and I heard my mother ask him how "Elaine" got its name.

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He said a group of men were standing in front of the depot discussing what name to give the town. Someone suggested "Elaine" for a movie actress (the last name was not mentioned). And the name "Elaine" was adopted.

There are two other stories I will mention concerning the naming of "Elaine." One is that the town was named in honor of one of Mr. Kelley's daughters. The other is that it was named for Tennyson's poem, "Elaine, the Beautiful." However, since I heard Mr. Allen tell the one concerning the movie actress, I will have to accept it as the correct one.

In 1913, Gerard B. Lambert, later, but not at that time, President of the Lambert Pharmacal Company of St. Louis--makers of Listerine and toothpaste--bought about 21,000 acres of land in the area we now know as Lambrook. Mr. Lambert had a friend named Harry Holbrook who came to Elaine to look after the property. Lambrook got its name from the two men. The Gerard B. Lambert Company office was located in Elaine, and the Company had a railroad from Elaine to Lambrook. The Company had a contract with Chicago Mill & Lumber Company for thirty carloads of logs each day. A special engine came down from West Helena each day to pick up the logs. At that time the Company had the largest payroll around – about $5,000 every two weeks.

There were several buildings in the area known as the colored quarters. There was one twenty room house known as the "Blue Goose" where the Lambert Company labor stayed.

Mr. Holbrook lived in the house to the east of my home, now owned and occupied by Chester Myatt. This house was bought from Sears, Roebuck and Company and constrcuted. Other rooms were added in later years.

Mr. Lambert remarked in his autobiography that

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he never lived at Lambrook, but always returned to his office-house at Elaine at night (All Out Of Step, A Personal Chronicle by Gerard B. Lambert, published by Doubleday & Company, Garden City, New York, 1956). This book tells of his unsuccessful venture in land at Lambrook, and how he finally abandoned the project completely in 1932, after losing 1 1/4 million dollars.

There was a hoop mill known as the New Madrid Hoop & Lumber Company, employing about fifty people. I. H. Lee was the manager. At that time there were no electric lights in Elaine and Mr. Lee put in a small dynamo motor that later furnished electric lights for Elaine.

My grandfather, Oliver Demoret, came to Elaine on the local train in 1913 to look the area over. There were not any passenger trains at that time. He was impressed with the area, and a few months later my father, William Demoret, came to Elaine and bought Lot 4 in Block 4 from E. M. Allen. By that time, Mr. Allen had moved to Helena and my father had to go to Helena to actually make the purchase.

In the early part of 1914, my father returned to Elaine bringing two men with him to build a building 24' x 40' with a side room on the back for him and my grandfather to live in. The lumber was bought from Kimbro Lumber Company. In August of 1914, my father and grandfather hired five wagon teams - paying them $5.00 each - to move their stock of merchandise from Turner to Elaine through the Big Creek Bottoms.

About this time, J. N. Moore had a building 25' x 60' with a general mercantile and Post Office located in the building. Mr. Moore was the Postmaster and a deputy sheriff. There was not any jail to lock up prisoners. If he had a prisoner after the morning train left for Helena, he would chain him to a large oak tree across the dirt

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highway from the store and then lock him in the store at night.

There was a small building beside Mr. Moore's store which he had occupied before moving into the larger building. Mr. Butler operated a drug store in this smaller building. There was another frame building 30' x 60', on Lot 3, occupied by Jackson & Thomas as a general store. Another frame building 40' x 60' was occupied by Dr. Chandler as a grocery store. These were the only business houses in Elaine at that time. There were not any paved streets and all of the sidewalks were plank. Mr. Sid Stoaks was mayor at the time.

In 1914, Bernard & Akin bought Jackson & Thomas General Store. In the summer of 1916, Mr. Bernard and Mr. Akin dissolved partnership, and Mr. Akin bought the store from my father and grandfather in August of 1916.

My father and grandfather came back to Elaine in 1919, following the former's service in World War I, and bought Lot 6 in Block 4 and built the present brick building. They opened for business on December 1, 1919, as 0. Demoret & Son. The firm of 0. Demoret & Son has been in continuous operation since that date.

On July 1, 1918, the following people petitioned the Phillips County Court to incorporate the town to be known as Elaine, Arkansas:

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To my knowledge there are only four of these men now living. Dr. J. J. Cruise lives in Hot Springs, Arkansas, D. K. Demaree lives in Mississippi, C. L. Bernard lives in Earle, Arkansas, and W. H. Bradford lives in Arkansas.

The territory to be incorporated as the Town of Elaine, Arkansas was described as follows:

Beginning at the NW corner of the SW1/4 of Section 25, T 4 S, R 2 E Phillips County , Arkansas; thence South to the SW corner of the NW of the NW1/4 Section 36 T 4 S, R 2 E; thence East to the intersection of the South line of the North 1/2 of the North 1/4 of Section 36, T 4 S, R 2 E with the East line of the Yellow Banks Drainage Ditch Right of Way to its intersection with the North line of the South 1/2 of Section 25, T 4 S, R 2 E to point of beginning, all of said tract being within Phillips County, Arkansas.

C. W. L. Armour, S. S. Stoaks, E. J. Slaughter, A. S. Buford and Orlie Parker were authorized to act as agents in the prosecution of the Petition and in all matters pertaining to the incorporation of the Town of Elaine, Arkansas. The court fixed the date of August 18, 1918, at 10 A. M. for the time for the hearing of the petition. The court did not convene on that date. On March 4, 1919, the court was petitioned to set another date for the hearing. The date was set for Monday, April 7, 1919, at 10 A. M. at the court house in Helena. Judge H. D. Moore signed the papers creating the Incorporated Town of Elaine. The papers were certified on April 14, 1919, by E. P. Molitor, Clerk, by C. P. Sanders, Deputy Clerk.

A Certificate of Record attached to the papers show they were recorded on the 16th of April, 1919, in Record Book 167, Page 513. This was signed by

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A. G. Burke, Circuit Clerk, by L. E. Berard, Deputy Clerk. Later the town added several other areas, a recent addition extending into Section 35.

Elaine's first school was built in 1915. Within a few years a larger building was built. J. J. Patridge came to Elaine as school Superintendent in 1923, and one of his first accomplishments was the addition of two grades making the school a high school. The first class graduated in 1924 with five graduates in the class. In 1925 the school was destroyed by fire. The school was moved to its present location at this time. Mr. Patridge retired as Superintendent in 1949, and at that time T. M. Mills became Superintendent. A new elementary school was built in 1965. Other buildings were added prior to this date.

In 1919, the Bank of Elaine was organized with a Capital and Surplus of $30,000. John D. Crow was President, J. M. Countiss, Sr., Vice President, and Jim Austin, Cashier. The directors were I. H. Lee, Charles Bernard, Mr. Crow, and Mr. Countiss. O. F. Lacey and Mr. Shin served as Cashier in later years. After the 1927 flood, the bank was closed. Mr. Crow and Mr. Countiss paid the depositors.

For years Elaine was without a bank. In later years J. J. Patridge organized the Elaine Co-Operative Exchange with a Capital of $1,000. Mr. Patridge was President and J. D. Reid was Cashier for a short time. Later Mrs. Catherine M. Reid was elected Cashier.

In 1947, some of the businessmen discussed the fact that Elaine needed more than the Exchange. They also needed someone to head the institution. My father was the one the men wanted to head the bank. However, he felt his mistakes might cost other people a lot of money. The others prevailed on my father and he finally agreed. He would put up a dollar for every dollar the others put up. He said, "That way if I fail, I'll lose more than the rest."

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The Delta State Bank opened for business on January 5, 1948, and the Elaine Co-Operative Exchange closed at that time. William Demoret was named President, W. C. Moody, Vice President, E. Clay Bumpers, Secretary-Treasurer, and Catherine M. Reid, Cashier. The directors, in addition to Mr. Demoret, Mr. Moody, and Mr. Bumpers, were J. M. Countiss, Jr., C. B. Barnhart, and F. R. Watson. The bank opened with a Capital and Surplus of $60,000. At the present time the Capital and Surplus total $120,000. The present directors are Mr. Demoret, Mr. Bumpers, Mr. Countiss, and myself. Mrs. Reid retired in 1962, and I was elected to the position of Cashier and Executive Vice President.

The information for this article was furnished by William Demoret, old newspaper clippings, and various abstracts of title to land.

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Pictures on the following pages are:

1) Water tank with words painted on it "WIDE AWAKE - ELAINE - WATCH US GROW." Mr. Demoret says that this tank was in use when he came to Elaine in 1914. The tank was in use until about 1970 when a new one was built, and it was taken down in May of 1972.

2) Picture of Demoret store built in 1914. Oliver Demoret on sidewalk in front of store, William Demoret on left of porch, and some of other men standing on porch - Mr. Martin, Pat Murphy, Isom Bernard, Mr. Pate, Clarence Wilkerson. Rest unidentified.

3) Picture of main street of Elaine made sometime in the 1930s. The man in the center of the street is F. M. Strother who was depot agent in Elaine for many years.

4) Picture of main street of Elaine during flood of 1937.

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SKETCHES OF ELAINE CITIZENS FROM THE CROWLEY RIDGE CHRONICLE, FORREST CITY, ARKANSAS, MAY 2, 1940.

Elaine Machine Works, E. E. Terry, prop., is one of distinct credit to this community. All equipment is modern, and Mr. Terry enjoys a direct service connected with planters and all others requiring his services. Mr. Terry is married, his wife being Mrs. Eva Terry. They have one son, E. E. Terry, Jr. Parents: John Arthur and Mrs. Ida Terry, both living. A native of Senatobia, Miss. Mr. Terry came to Arkansas in 1933 as a levee contractor. In 1934 he retired from that business to establish his machine works in Elaine, where he enjoys a year round business. Commercial flying is also a hobby with Mr. Terry, who owns his own plane. He was with the U. S. Aviation corps in 1918, the wind up of the then world war. General machine and welding work is carried on by Mr. Terry.

***

C. B. Barnhart, a native of Washington Co., Ark., came here in 1922 and established his general store in 1923. He is also a farmer. Mr. Barnhart has served as a member of the city council, and is one of the live wire boosters and friends for this entire sector. Parents: Luther and Mrs. Mary Bell Barnhart, both dead. Mr. Barnhart and his wife, Mrs. Freddie Barnhart, have one daughter, Mrs. Frankie Marks, the lovely wife of Lamar Marks, who is associated with Mr. Barnhart in the operation of his store. Mr. Marks came here from up near Haynes and is popular with a wide circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Marks have one son, Malcolm Lamar Marks.

***

Dr. Edward Kultgen, physician, surgeon and planter is one of the able boosters and friends of the Elaine sector, where he has resided for more than a quarter of a century. His beloved wife, Mrs.

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Sophia Kultgen, passed away recently. Dr. Kultgen is a native of Wisconsin. He came to Arkansas in 1914, locating in Elaine that year. He maintains a modern office, one really that would do credit to a town many times the size of Elaine. The Doctor owns 250 acres of land, all rented out for the production of general crops and livestock. Dr. Kultgen is a member of the Elaine city council, and he is identified via membership with all medical societies. He desires to see Elaine and Phillips County grow in every constructive way.

***

B. B. Stanley enjoys the enviable distinction of having made and lost one of the largest fortunes in this part of the Arkansas Delta, but he is staging another interesting come-back. A chapter in the life of Mr. Stanley has to do with his rise and fall in the financial world. He came here in 1897 from Georgia, his native state. Years passed and by 1918 he was reported to be worth shortly less than a half milliion dollars. He literally made so much money he didn't know what to do with it, the story goes. Mr. Stanley didn't want to sell out but folk kept on pestering him to sell and finally one day he made a price he did not think anyone would accept but lo and behold the cash was shelled out to him and he surrendered. Result: Mr. Stanley chartered a full train of 40 cars, engine and caboose at a cost of $5,700 and pulled out for Louisiana, where with the aid of torrential rains and the boll weevil it took just one year to wind him up. He had purchased 13,000 acres of land on the payment plan, depositing $300,000 with the deal and retained his other cash to make the crop on. He was unable to make his second payment. All of his fortune was lost, but in 1919 he returned to Elaine undaunted and determined to regain his lost fortune. He is substantially on the way, reports disclose. He now has 1,040 acres of land, grown to general crops and livestock. He makes an average of 150 bales of cotton annually,

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and now says no price under the sun would interest him to make another sale of his local lands. His wife, Mrs. Julie Stanley is dead. Three children survive: Willie, W. D., and Mrs. Sarah Gregory. Parents: William and Mrs. Nancy Stanley, both dead. He came here bareheaded, owed $7 for transportation in 1897 but soon made a fortune logging and farming. Win again, Mr. Stanley.

***

Owl Drug Store, Geo. W. Trotter, prop., is the popular meeting place for your friends and the public. A complete line of drugs and drug sundries are carried. Modern fountain service is also rendered. In the compounding of prescriptions only registered pharmacy service of the very best is at your disposal. Mr. Trotter and his wife, Mrs. Nettie Ree Trotter have two pretty daughters, Misses Margaret and Ann Trotter. Parents: Dick and Mrs. Alice Trotter, both deceased. Mr. Trotter is a native of Brownsville, Miss. He came to Arkansas in 1921, first working for two years at Helena. In 1923, March of that year, he located his drug store in Elaine, where he enjoys a good patronage and always takes an active part in the promotion of the public welfare. Mr. Trotter devotes all of his time to his private business. He is a good friend of Elaine, Phillips County and, indeed, all of Eastern Arkansas.

***

E. W. Welch, merchant, planter and saw mill operator is one of the active and successful businessmen of this community, where his thriving grocery store and meat market was established in 1924. His saw mill, cutting some 15,000 feet daily was built in 1938. The Welch land holdings embrace some 1,100 acres, all of which he says would sell for cash or terms. Mr. Welch produces some 325 bales of cotton annually with all other general crops in proportion. He also raises livestock. He is a native

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LaGrange, coming to Elaine in 1922. Mr. Welch has seen service on the Elaine town council. His father, E. W. Welch, is dead, but his mother, Mrs. Cora B. Welch, is living. As a booster and friend of the Elaine sector for better roads, cheaper power, lower taxes, better prices for farm products, improved churches and schools, Mr. Welch is one of the community's best. He is lined up four square in active and enthusiastic support of the timely programs promoted in this special edition, and you are invited to join with him and the others cooperating to help make of this a happier and better place in which to live and do business.

***

J. D. Keen, wife, Mrs. Jewel Keen, is one of the outstanding citizens of the Elaine sector, where he owns and operates some 1,500 to 1,600 acres of land, woods and all. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Modern Gin Company of Elaine. There are 44 mules and 3 tractors on the Keen plantations, 41 select families making up the Keen plantation settlements. The Keen plantations are known as the Fair Plantations, among the choicest and best in the Delta sector of Arkansas. Mr. Keen produces from 500 to 600 bales of cotton annually in addition to all other general crops. He also specializes in livestock, carrying 135 head in his herd of white faced cattle, and 2 registered bulls. He is a genuine friend and booster of the Elaine sector, and one of the chief credits alloted unto him is his religious fervor and influence for good. Mr. Keen is a Deacon in the Baptist church where he is quite active. Mrs. Keen is the only surviving sister of John D. Crow. The Keens are natives of Choctaw County, Mississippi. They came to Arkansas in 1927, and from the beginning have endeared themselves in the high esteem of their fellow citizens and friends, it is pointed out. Parents of Mr. Keen: John C. and Mrs. Emily Keen, both deceased. There are two nephews: John C. and Mrs. Pattie

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Keen and Fred and Mrs. Mavis Keen. Parents of Mrs. Keen: Jacob Shannon, deceased, and Mrs. Martha Elizabeth Crow, the latter at the age of 84 living with Mr. and Mrs. Keen. Mrs. Keen's father was also 84 at his death in 1937. Mrs. B. W. Renegar is a niece of Mrs. Keen.

***

The John D. Crow Estate at this place is owned and operated by the widow, Mrs. Flora B. Crow and her children: Rufus C. and Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Crow; Eunice, Jake, who is in school and Jeff, who lives here with his mother. There was another son, John, who passed away at the age of 24 in 1936. Mr. Crow, deceased, was a brother of Mrs. Jewel Keen, a beloved and popular resident of Elaine. Mrs. Crow has two sisters: Mesdames W. H. Lloyd of Watson, Ark., and Mrs. W. M. McCulloch of El Central, California. Mrs. Crow enjoyed a visit with the latter during the San Francisco Exposition last year. There are 3,400 acres in the Crow plantation operations, 1,500 acres being in the estate at Ragan Spur, and 1,900 acres recently purchased for development near Elaine. Mr. Crow passed away in December 1930 at the age of 54. In his day, Mr. Crow was known and appreciated as one of the substantial and able developers of this part of Arkansas. Mrs. Crow's son, Rufus C. Crow, is active plantation manager, his duties also extending to the operation of the 4-80 stand Crow Gin. Some 600 bales of cotton were produced last year on the Crow estate, and with the addition of the Elaine tract of 1,900 acres, it is natural to expect even larger productions in all general crops, including both cotton and livestock. Parents of Mrs. Crow were: Sam and Mrs. Jennie Boyd, both deceased. She is a native of Dumas, Ark., and came here in 1911. The Crow home is one of the lovely estates in this part of Arkansas.

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OLD CITIZENS

Arkansas Gazette, November 10, 1830. Died at his residence at Helena, on the evening of the 3lst ult., after a painful illness of between two and three months, Col. Sylvanus Phillips, in the 65th year of his age. He was one of our earliest settlers, having emigrated to the country before its cession to the United States in 1803, and has filled several public situations under the different governments that have exercised jurisdiction over the country, the duties of which were discharged with fidelity to his country and credit to himself. He was an ardent and sincere friend, an obliging neighbor, and a respectable and enterprising citizen. To his family and numerous connections, his death is deeply afflicting, and it is sincerely deplored by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Arkansas Gazette, September 14, 1831. Departed this life at Helena, Arkansas Territory, on Sunday evening, the 28th August, about 8 o'clock, Miss Helena Phillips, daughter of the late Sylvanus Phillips, deceased, aged about 15 years. Her illness was lengthy, and the latter part was unusually distressing, yet she did not complain. Long and patiently did she wait the approach of death, and when she was convinced he was at hand, a new light beamed from her eyes, and a smile of inward peace and satisfaction sat upon her countenance. She gave to each of her relations and friends the parting hand of her last farewell, exhorting them to meet her in the presence of the Great Redeemer, there to enjoy his smiles eternally, and commended her spirit to the protection of her God. The death of this young lady is a heart-rending bereavement to the only parent left to weep (her mother), besides her other relations and friends. Oh, what a glorious moment is death to the believer! How full of the brightness of a dawning heaven - how hallowed with the presence of the blessed Redeemer!

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KATE ADAMS III

by

T. E. Tappan, Jr.

Chapter 3.

From the James Rees Sons & Co. catalogue: The third Kate Adams came out late in the year 1898, and cost about $100,000. She was designed by the firm of Jas. Rees Sons & Co., of Pittsburgh, and constructed by them jointly with the Howard Ship Yard Co., of Jeffersonville, Ind., for the Memphis & Ark. City Packet Co., of Memphis, Tenn. Her dimensions are as follows: Length 240 feet, beam 40 feet, depth of hold 7 feet; 80 feet wide over all; tonnage capacity 1,000 tons. High pressure engines, diameter of cylinders, 24 inches, 8 feet, 8 inches stroke. When she first came out, she had four steel boilers, diameter 48 inches, length 28, and six flues each; but afterward the number was changed to five boilers (steel), 48 inches in diameter, 28 feet in length, seven flues each. The machinery was equipped with the Rees adjustable or variable cut-off. Unlike the other two steamers named Kate Adams, which had wooden hulls, the third Kate Adams has a steel hull, in which are three longitudinal and five transverse bulkheads, making in all 18 watertight compartments, each provided with individual pumping facilities. The steel plating on the hull is from one-fourth to one-half an inch in thickness, and is said to have the strength of five inches of solid oak, while the boat's draught is one-third lighter than if oak had been used. At the time she was built, it was said that the third Kate Adams was the largest steel-hull steamer which had ever been constructed at Howard's Ship Yard. In the Evening Scimitar of November 24, 1898 published at Memphis, Tenn., appeared an article noting the departure of the new steamer Kate

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Adams on her first trip in the trade for which she was constructed, from Memphis to Arkansas City, at 5 o'clock that afternoon. We quote the following from this article:

"The cabin of the Kate Adams is 175 feet long by 153 feet wide and is furnished in pure white, with gold leaf ornamentation. There are thirty-two staterooms, each eight feet in the clear, and these are supplied with electric lights and hot and cold water. The doors of the staterooms are arched, instead of the old-style square top, and are ventilated by two round transoms. The furniture of the cabin is of the latest and most stylish pattern. The equipment of the culinary department is also up to date. Wire frame bunks have been fitted up in the hold for the accommodations of the deck hands. The texas is large, and the pilothouse and chimneys put the finishing touch of her graceful appearance. The roofs of the paddle wheel boxes were painted a light blue."

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THE GROUNDING OF THE KATE ADAMS
1917

As told by Warren Johnston

The Kate Adams pulled into the landing at the foot of Missouri Street late one afternoon, June 13, 1917. The gangplank was too short to reach dry ground so they ran a line ashore and hooked it on the capstan winch and pulled the boat in on the muddy bank until the gangplank would reach—unloading and loading freight for about four or five hours. The river was falling rapidly. Daddy (Captain C. M. Johnston) and Captain Hodge, Captain of the Kate Adams, were good friends, as most rivermen are, and would go to any extreme to help one another. Daddy and I went over on the Kate, Daddy told Captain Hodge he had better get the boat out because of the falling water. Captain Hodge told Daddy, "Mrs.

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Hodge never raised any foolish children."

The next morning the Kate was stuck solid in the mud and there waited a year for another spring rise.

The next spring the river came up but not high enough to float the Kate. They called the Sprague, the largest and most powerful towboat on the river at that time, and attempted to pull the Kate off but it snapped the cables.

Then that summer they contracted a house moving contractor who dug some trenches inclined to the river and with rollers and ramps prepared to slide the Kate back into the river. The crew had gone to lunch one day and the Kate decided to go on her own, broke her cables and slid in all by herself.

The Kate never returned to this area in the packet service from Memphis to Arkansas City. It went up river and was remodeled to carry cattle instead of cotton.

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The following was taken from the back of a photograph in the Helena Library, could be Mrs. Margaret Ready's writing:

The Kate Adams went aground one morning at 2 A. M. when the Mississippi River fell several feet suddenly while unloading was being done. All hands concerned with the running of the boat had gone to sleep. The boat lay stranded for about two years, meantime many engineers had tried raising it. Finally skids were built. The morning of October 7, 1918, Monday at 11:30 the Kate Adams slipped off in the twinkling of an eye. I was watching from the 5th floor of the Solomons Building and missed seeing it because I had turned away for a moment.

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Another story of the grounding of the Kate

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Adams at Helena was in the Waterways Journal of October 25, 1924:

In attempting to make a landing at Helena, Ark., on June 23, 1917, during a flood stage in the river, the Kate Adams grounded at her bow. Trying to swing the steamer out, the stern was also grounded and she was left up on the river bank, stranded, and lying parallel with the stream. The river continued to fall, and for over a year she lay there, about 250 feet from the shore's edge, and 30 feet above the water level.

Only once, in more than a year after she was stranded was there a rise, and at this time the water came up but 14 feet above the bottom of the hull, but this was not sufficient to float her. An effort was made to spar her off, but was given up, after several heavy cables had been broken. Attempts had been made when she first grounded, to pull her off, some powerful steamers being used for this purpose.

Her owners, in August, 1918, gave the contract to the John Eichleay, Jr., Co., of Pittsburgh, Pa., to move the boat to the river and launch her. This firm began work August 13, 1918, and the launching occurred October 7, 1918. The manner in which this wonderful feat was accomplished is thus described by the Eichleay Co.: 'It required 200 jack screws to lift the boat sufficiently to place it on eleven runways: 225 eight-inch wooden rollers were placed on these runways, consisting of 6 by 8 inch oak laid to a grade of one inch to the foot, to the river's edge. By means of six sets of block and tackle each reaved-graded down the slope so that the boat could be lowered to an elevation of about four feet above the water level. The lowering was done by means of jack screws.

Preparations were then made to launch her. Eleven runways on 20 feet centers were constructed under the boat; rollers placed two feet apart

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between the runways and carrying timbers, the runways and timbers being 13 feet by 15 feet; then the runways were extended into the water a distance of 60 feet; the ends of each were sufficiently submerged to allow for the draft of the boat when it reached that point. The submerged runways were partly built on shore, and then floated out to their proper positions. A grade of 14 inches to the foot was used in launching. In order to make the submerged runways rigid, the cribbing and runway timbers were bolted and spiked together. There was no damage done whatever during the progress of moving and launching. A few days after launching, the boilers and machinery had been inspected, and the Kate Adams resumed her regular schedule of carrying freight and passengers up and down the Mississippi.'

***

Picture on the following pages show the Kate Adams aground at Helena, and show the steamer at the coal yards of the Tappan Coal Company about 1911.

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THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Another Diary starts in this issue of the Quarterly and, it is hoped, a continuing series of articles about towns of Phillips County. Mary Louise Jones has the first 'town' article, and she also furnished the Forrest City newspaper from which the biographical sketches of Elaine citizens are taken, and the Elaine pictures.

The Historical Society held its 10 Anniversary meeting on May 28th in the auditorium of Sacred Heart Academy. New officers were elected for the coming year: President, Thomas E. Tappan; Vice President, Mrs. Thomas E. Faust; Secretary, William H. Woodin; Treasurer, Miss Bessie McRee. After the meeting, a tour through the part of the school which had been the Biscoe home was held.

The meeting was held at Sacred Heart, recognizing the fact that the old building will soon be torn down to make way for a Helena Housing Authority multiple rentals project. Efforts have been made through the Historical Society, and a Chamber of Commerce committee, and a group of interested citizens to preserve the old Biscoe home, that part of the school fronting on Columbia Street.

In June, Gene Richardson and John Robinson, historian and architect from the Arkansas Parks and Tourism Commission, spoke to a group assembled at the offices of the Helena Housing Authority, and in great detail explained what preservation of the old home would entail. As explained in the Helena World shortly after that, it would be a job beyond the financial scope of any local group or committee, and preservation of the home of questionable value.

At the suggestion of the visitors from Little Rock, who went out of their way to offer needed advice, a group is being organized locally to push the acquisition and restoration of one or more old homes here. This group is open to and welcomes anyone who will actively participate in preserving our local heritage, especially in the case of buildings.

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