Phillips County Historical Quarterly 

September, 1971

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 3:00 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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LICK CREEK SKIRMISH

By

James M. Massey

On January 11, 1863, Colonel Clayton commanded a cavalry expedition from Fort Curtis, Helena, Arkansas to St. Charles, Arkansas. The small river city of St. Charles was to be attacked by General Gorman whose forces had participated in the capture of Arkansas Post. It was Colonel Clayton's task to scout for Confederate forces east of White River that might be a threat against Gorman.

When the expedition reached Big Creek, Colonel Clayton had Colonel Thomas Stephens, commander of the Second Wisconsin Cavalry, send a detail back to Fort Curtis with a dispatch. Lieutenant James B. Bradford was furnished one sergeant and twenty-four men for this task. Lieutenant Bradford started out with his detail at 3:00 P. M., January 12th. The main route from Big Creek to Helena was the well known Old Little Rock Road. A short distance from Big Creek a Confederate scouting party was reported in Bradford's advance. Bradford

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continued toward Helena with caution, keeping three men out front as scouts.

Upon his arrival at Lick Creek, Bradford found the bridge, which federal forces constructed the day before, destroyed. He immediately gave orders to cross the creek at a ford a short distance from the bridge. Lieutenant Bradford, his sergeant and eight men succeeded in crossing to the east side where he attempted to supervise the crossing of his remaining detail.

A Confederate force under command of Captain Charles H. Clifford, Missouri State Guard, having been alerted by his scouts of the approaching federal detail, had secreted themselves in the woods on both sides of the creek. As the remainder of Bradford's detail started across the deep muddy ford, the Confederates opened up on them with a withering fire. Bradford's force being armed only with revolvers returned fire and succeeded in inflicting some damage on the Confederates. With their revolvers empty, Bradford and his remaining men began to retreat.

After a short distance he took a moment to try reloading only to find they were surrounded.

The Confederates commanded him to surrender. Bradford, his sergeant and three men disregarded the command and made a last desperate dash for freedom in a hail of rifle shot and escaped. They were successful in securing four horses belonging to those who had been wounded or killed. They made their way to Fort Curtis, arriving there at 7:00 P. M. At 10:00 P. M. four more of the detail reported in at Fort Curtis. They had evaded the Confederates at dusk by making a circuit to the right of their positions.

On the following day at 10:00 A. M. one more of Bradford's men reported at Helena. He had escaped by hiding in the cane and briar thickets along the creek bank. He reported that nine or ten

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of their men were prisoners and the remainder wounded or killed. Five more of the detail reported at Helena, having been paroled by the Confederates, making a total of fourteen men accounted for. These men reported that Captain Clifford and a Captain Cowley were in command of the attacking Confederates.

There has been some discussion as to who these two Confederate officers were and their unit.

Charles H. Clifford, Captain, is listed by the National Archives and Records Service, Washington, D. C., as Adjutant of the 3rd Infantry, Missouri State Guard, under command of a Colonel Schuable. His name also appears on a roster of the 3rd Brigade, Missouri State Guard, commanded by Colonel Colton Green. He was wounded in action near Elk Horn Tavern, Arkansas, March 7-8, 1862. There is no further record of Captain Clifford in the National Archives or the Adjutant General's office of Missouri.

Edward H. Cowley, Captain, enlisted July 23, 1861, at Camp Hardee. His name appears on a roll of commissioned and noncommissioned officers of Co. F, Yell Rifles. It later appears on a roster of Co. B, 1st Regiment, Arkansas Infantry, at Pitmans Ferry. His name appears later as a prisoner of war at Camp Chase, Ohio. He was captured at Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, Tennessee, April 8, 1862. He was listed as wounded by gunshot on the left side of his head, his age 43, black hair and eyes, 5 feet 10 inches in height. He was sent to Vicksburg September 1, 1862, among a group of Confederate officers and exchanged for Federal officers at Aiken's Landing, Virginia. He evidently returned to Phillips County in time for the Lick Creek Skirmish. In 1866, Captain Cowley reassumed his former position of Phillips County Clerk, an office he had held in 1852-1862. He served as Clerk until 1868, dying on Christmas Day, 1869, at the age of 49 years. He and his daughter, Mrs.

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Bart Y. Turner (Virginia Cowley), who died as a young woman, are buried in a lot in Maple Hill Cemetery, Helena, just north of Hindman Drive, now under the heaviest of the magnolia trees.

The site of this skirmish is in the area where the bridge still crosses Lick Creek. In 1932, at age eleven, this writer lived on the Mason Farm a short distance from the bridge. One day my father, while plowing in a field at the creek's edge a few yards north of the bridge, turned up an army six-shooter, percussion pistol. It was in fair condition considering it had lain in the field for sixty-nine years. The handles were completely decayed. All the springs were rusted out, and the percussion cap nipples on the cylinder almost rusted off. I was able to clean the weapon up although badly pitted, replaced all springs, drilled out and replaced screws, making all parts workable. Although it could never be made to fire, it was a treasured showpiece.

In 1944, while serving in the army, I left my Civil War prize with my brother who resided at 1157 College Street. During this year his house caught fire when no one was home. The firemen had to knock down doors and break out windows. It was during this time that my army six-shooter, along with a Single shot percussion pistol belonging to me, and an officer's Civil War sword belonging to my brother, disappeared. The sword was given to my brother by Grandpa Loeschner. None of the articles have been recovered.

The Lick Creek Skirmish was one of the many small battles fought near Helena in Phillips County.

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TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SEVEN GENERALS CHAPTER OF THE U. D. C., from Robert C. Moore.

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When coming out of Kentucky we had to pass through London and Barboursville in South East Kentucky. We passed through Cumberland Gap. Just before reaching London, some of our men were footsore from the rough rocky road we were passing over, and Gen'l Bragg who was looking after the men in the rear fearing they might be bushwhacked, came across one of the 8th Arkansas men doing the best he could to keep up. Bragg asked him what Command he belonged to and he replied 8th Arkansas, Govan's Brigade. Bragg says, "You belong to Bragg's Army?" He replied, "No, dam if I do, Bragg shot all his Army last summer at Tupelo, Mississippi." It was such a good joke that Gen'l Bragg laughed heartily and told it as a good joke on himself.

Nothing unusual occurred on the Route until we arrived at Wartrace. When we arrived there we were hot and well worn out and most of the boys threw themselves on the grass in the shade and tried to sleep. (In the meantime the Teamsters for Head Quarters had unhitched their mules and turned them loose to graze.) I with two or three other boys unharnessed one of the mules and ran over a crowd that was asleep, hallooing woa! woa! woa! It scared them so bad that their eyes stuck out almost far enough to scrape off. We had to keep out of their way for sometime as they threatened to whip us. They finally got in a good humor and treated it as a good joke.

While we were stationed at Wartrace I had a little leisure time which I spent corresponding for a soldier by the name of Blankenship. I had previously written a letter for him to his Sweet Heart at Helena and knew pretty well how to answer it.

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So I wrote Blank a long love letter, and when a Gentleman (who I was expecting) arrived from the Trans-Mississippi Department, I managed to see him before he distributed what letters he had, and gave the letter I had written to Blank, with instructions to place it in the middle of the package so as to allay all suspicion. As was customary he mounted the stump and announced for the boys to come up and get their mail. Blank was one of the first to rush up. I kept in the background watching Blank. After calling out some 12 or 15 names the Party called out Blank's name. You ought to have seen the expression on his face. He got his letter and went off to himself to read it. After reading, he got to blowing about such a nice letter from his Girl back home. He carried on so over it that a Dr. Scull of Pine Bluff told Blank that he did not believe he had such a letter. Blank let Dr. Scull read it.

After examining it for a while, he told Blank that someone was fooling him. Blank would not believe it, saying he knew the Girl's handwriting (tried to imitate it as best I could). Scull finally scrutinized it closely (I being present watching Blank). He remarked to Blank that he had made the ink for Captain Bradford the Pay Master, and called on Bradford to know who had gotten ink from him lately. He answered no one, I all the time trying to catch Bradford's eye so as to give him the wink, but Bradford was so intent on proving Blank's letter bogus did not look up, but continued to look through his books to see who had gotten ink. Finally, after looking and thinking, he remarked that Bob Moore wrote a letter in his tent the day before. That let the cat out of the wallet. I immediately left, Blank saying, "Yes, that devilish Bob Moore wrote that letter." I had to keep out of his way for a day or two. He never asked me to write any more letters to his Sweet Heart. He told me afterwards I knew too D-M much about his love affairs for him to ask me to write his letters. If he wrote anymore he got someone else to write them, as he

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said he was afraid I would play another trick on him.

Soon after this the Yanks began to move about and we had no time for foolishness, had to get down to business. We moved up to Bell Buckle and while there we were short of meat and Govan's Brigade concluded they would go on a Rabbit hunt, so they deployed in an old field and commenced making all sorts of noise. We caught a Four Horse Wagon load of Rabbits (some Rabbit yarn) but the fact is the boys had Rabbit meat for two or three meals. We finally moved on back to Chattanooga and camped on Chickamauga Creek (near where the Spanish American Troops camped). We drank water out of that Creek. The water was the color of the leaves that fell in it and we were as healthy as Pigs. In fact we had become so hardened to Army life that nothing hurt us except Grape Shot and Minie Balls.

While stationed here I was detached and sent down to Meridian, Mississippi to join Gen'l Joseph E. Johnston who was preparing to go to the relief of Vicksburg. We had a few brushes with the Yanks back of Vicksburg. In the meantime Vicksburg fell. When we left there we went to Mobile, thence across to Montgomery, and from there to Atlanta and from there to Dalton, Georgia. We spent the winter there. By the way I overlooked telling you that on our raid through Kentucky our rations were most of the time parched corn, and some one of the boys got up a Breakfast Call. It ran thus:

So you see with all our hardships we were in a good humor and full of fun. While spending the

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winter at Dalton, the boys engaged in all sorts of amusements.

When spring opened Sherman began to move about. On our left there was a range of mountains. On one Sunday evening (I do not remember the exact date) the Yanks attacked Gen. Reynolds who was on top of the mountain with an Arkansas Brigade, and while they were fighting he signaled Gen. Cleburne that he was running out of ammunition, and to rush him some. Cleburne started the ammunition wagon together with a Brigade of Troops. Before they could reach him he ran entirely out, and his men kept the Yanks back with rocks. They would prise great boulders loose and send them down the mountain sides on the Yanks and others would throw rocks at the advancing column. He managed to hold his position until ammunition and help arrived. Then we had no trouble in driving them down the mountain side.

A few days after that the famous Dalton and Atlanta campaign commenced. After leaving Resaca (a short distance below Dalton) we and the Yanks commenced business in earnest. Sherman had five full Corps, we had only three depleted Corps. He kept three of them in our front and we had to stand four feet apart to cover his front, and he used one of his Corps trying to flank us and the other, Hooker's, slept all day and would annoy us at night. So you see he was keeping us engaged night and day. The boys would often go to sleep standing up.

Just above Marietta near New Hope Church, Hooker attacked Cleburne one night and Cleburne's men let them come up close before they opened fire on them. When they did they slaughtered them. You could walk one hundred yards on Blue Coats. Gen'l Johnston went on the ground next morning and remarked that he had never seen such in all his experience. Things waged along that way until we arrived at Chattahoochee River just above Atlanta, there we on one side the Yanks on the other. We

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rested a few days. While there the Yanks would holler out to us to cease firing and all go in swimming. We consented (this was in the early part of July) and both sides would go in, swim out and duck one another, swap papers, and we would give them sugar for coffee etc.

On the 18th of July Gen'l Johnston was relieved of the command and John B. Hood placed in command. Hood was a fighter but cared little for his men (and had none to spare). On the 22nd of July, 1864, Hardee marched out of Atlanta at night and went around by Decatur and got in the rear of McPherson's Corps with instructions to cut his way through back to Atlanta. "Mos Bill" (as the boys called him) did come through with 2200 prisoners. In that fight McPherson was killed. The Government now has a Fort there which is known as Fort McPherson.

A few days after that we had a fight at Jonesboro just a little south west of Atlanta. It was here that Gen'l Govan and part of his Brigade were captured, but we were not long without Govan as we gave three prisoners for one in exchange. With all the hardships that the boys went through and the short rations, the boys never got low spirited, always in a good humor. While fighting night and day on the Georgia campaign and lying in the trenches, they had a song that some wag composed. I only remember two lines of it. It ran thus:

On our raid through Kentucky we marched rapidly and covered considerable ground during a day. We were drilled under Hardee Tactics, and among the commands he has one double column at half distance. The 13th Arkansas had been in advance on one occasion and next morning was lying on the road side for the column to pass. They were to come up in the rear. While lying there Gen'l Hardee rode by. One of the boys cried out to some one at the other end

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of the Regiment saying, "Bill, I have read old Hardee's Tactics through and through and I find where he says double column at half distance, but I cannot find where he says double distance on half rations." It was rare to find a boy low spirited.

While we were around Atlanta, Sherman's Army so out numbered us that his Circle around Atlanta extended as far as ours, although we had the inside circle. One evening he got a big gun in position on our left expecting to shell the Depot at Atlanta. The first two or three shots passed over both left and right ends of our Troops and went into their own line on our right. It was just after dark, we could see the shell passing over, but after firing a few shots his left wing threw up rockets and the gun ceased firing. He was firing into his own lines.

After the Jonesboro fight, just a little south west of Atlanta, we moved over to Palmetto, Georgia. There our President came out from Richmond to review us. When he started down the line the Troops began hallowing for Johnston, "send Johnston back"! It made our President so mad that he left us that evening, and Gen'l Hood got mad also and remarked that he would run us up against every thing he came across, and he did too.

Take Franklin for instance. On our way to Tennessee he would detach a Brigade and send them over on the Atlanta and Chattanooga Rail Road to capture Block Houses the Yanks had established to protect their communication. Sometimes we would capture 1200 or 1500 men in these fortifications. At Altoona we met with quite an opposition. Sherman had dispatched a Brigade up the road to assist these fortifications and the Commander signaled the Col. in command of the Fort, "Hold the Fort I am coming" (and he held it). That is where the great revival song originated.

We got up into Tennessee and the Battle of

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Franklin was fought and you all know the result. We had five Generals killed in that engagement, Major General P. R. Cleburne, and the following Brigadiers, Adams, Strahl, Granberry, and Gist. They were all buried in Mrs. McGavock's garden near Franklin. She has or had before her death a roll of the Generals and the number of subordinate officers and privates buried there. Cleburne was afterwards buried at Columbia, Tennessee, but later removed to the Confederate Burying Ground at Helena and a shaft erected to his memory. After the Franklin fight Hood moved his army south.

We came on down through Georgia, thence to North Carolina with the intention of joining Lee's Army and making one big fight, but before we could reach Lee he surrendered. We went as far as Greensboro, North Carolina. There I told Gen'l Sherman that he and his boys had been trying for four years to get our guns, and as we were out of ammunition he might have our guns if he and his boys would go home and behave themselves. He was glad to accept the proposition, so on the 26th day of April, 1865 we got our parole, and made arrangements to get home. There I was paid one dollar in silver for my four years services.

There happened to be a Helena boy (Charles A. Bridewell) in charge of the Depot of supplies. He told the Helena boys, that is those that were in my squad, which consisted of Charles R. Coolidge, Sr., Warren Smiser, Th. L. Jones, George B. Peters, Henry McNeal, W. J. McGinnis, my good friend Blankenship and myself, if we would come down to his warehouse he would give us each a bale of spun truck (Mr. Moore, on the outside of his letter, explained that this was cotton, but called it in that notation "spring truck") to help us on home. We found that spun truck a valuable asset as we could get something to eat with it when money would not buy it.

I must state that we had to break up in small

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squads in order to get something to eat as the country was devastated. They scattered out in all directions. Our squad got to Dalton, and there the Yankee Quarter Master put in a cattle car and sent us up to Nashville, Tennessee. We arrived there Sunday morning, and Warren Smiser says to us, "Come boys, let's go up to the St. Cloud Hotel (I know the Clerk there) and get a good breakfast." But imagine our surprise on entering the Rotunda to find a large card hung with NO CONFEDERATE SOLDIER ALLOWED IN THE DINING ROOM. Warren went to the Clerk and told him that he had eight or ten friends there that were hungry.

The Clerk gave him a key and told him to take his friends up to a certain room and that he would send us a nice breakfast (which he did) and you can rest assured we enjoyed it. That evening we were put aboard a Steamer and sent down the Cumberland River to Cairo, Illinois and from there we were sent to Memphis. There Peters and McNeal left us. From there we were sent to Helena, the first time I had the pleasure of seeing old Helena for four long years.

We arrived at Helena just before daylight and not knowing where to go we put up at the Hotel (rather sat around there until sun up). I then picked up what little traps I had and went out on the streets to find someone I knew. I met plenty of Negro Soldiers but it was some time before I met an acquaintance. I finally went to my Sister's home (Mrs. Lambert), my Father and Mother both having died during my absence.

By the way, my friend Blankenship, the man whom I corresponded for at Wartrace, left us at Dalton saying he was going to see some relatives in Jackson County, North Alabama (that being a bushwhacking country we tried to persuade him out of the notion). However he insisted and told us he would be in Helena by the time we got there, but

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Blank never came nor have I seen him to this good day. We came to the conclusion that he was killed on his way home.

Of the 96 boys that went out with me only three of us remain. They are R. S. Bonner, Monroe Mathews and myself. While we had a rough time we also had lots of fun. There were always some of us doing something to keep up the spirits of those inclined to be despondent.

Quinlin's Company (Irish) was a source of fun for the boys. You know the Irish are full of fun. For months after we went out we would stand around Quinlin's Company to hear the orderly Sergeant call the Roll. He would commence by calling, "Captain John Quinlin," then, "Lieutenant John Kane," then, Lieutenant Armstrong," then he would call out, "Tim O'Brien Orderly Sergeant." He would invariably answer, "that is myself in person standing here with Book in hand calling the Roll."

I could relate many amusing things that occurred during the four years I was out, but it would make this too long. They come up to me now occasionally and I have to laugh to myself.

Excuse errors or omissions as this was written a few lines at a time between calls.

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ANSWERS

If anymore question pictures appear in the Quarterly, they will have to be easier to identify than those in the last issue. Everyone knew the Library before its face was changed, but that was about all.

The gentleman on Page 37 was Mark W. Searcy, a Helenian who also lived in Memphis for a part of his life, and whose daughter, Miss Elizabeth Searcy, an artist, was known by many here. He was credited with being the first to establish Helena connections with New England and foreign cotton markets.

Page 38 pictures Judge Marshall L. Stephenson, who together with Mrs. Stephenson, was a benefactor of the Museum, giving it the collection of arrowheads and other Indian artifacts which is displayed in the center part of the Museum. The Stephensons' home is the present home of Bob Lueken on College and Market Streets. One person recognized him.

Mr. A. Sonntag is on Page 39, and his face was known by no one who wrote in or who was questioned. He seems to be remembered by many, however, as he was a teacher at the Helena High School in its early years.

The man on Page 40 was identified by several people as Judge Fink, but the picture is of William McD. Neal, one time editor of the Helena World, a copy of which hangs from his hand.

The soldier on Page 41 was Leighton Worthley, whose family contributed many articles to the Museum, among them a walking cane collection. The Worthleys lived on Biscoe Street, on the south side of and next to the old Helena High School.

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NOTES

A gift was made to the Phillips County Historical Society in memory of Lelia Hornor Jennings, by William T. Tappan of Corrales, New Mexico.

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Joseph D. Montgomery, 2013 Alameda Padre Serra, Santa Barbara, California 93103, would like to correspond with anyone who has records or knowledge of the Montgomery family, members of which lived at Helena and Clarendon at a very early date.

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The Museum is trying to enlarge its old money collection enough to at least half fill one of the glass panels in the new display rack. At present, there are a few Confederate bills and some pieces of U. S. fractional currency (paper). Most desired are items of Helena or Phillips County scrip issued in the last century, but Arkansas scrip, Confederate money, or currency of other states would be highly acceptable.

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At a well attended meeting of the Historical Society in May, Mrs. Thomas E. Faust gave a book review which was enjoyed by all. The book reviewed was Hard Luck Ironclad, by Edwin C. Bearss, historian of the National Park Service, and it concerns the sinking of the Cairo at Vicksburg in 1862 and the salvage operations to raise the boat 100 years later.

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Last year's officers were re-elected at this meeting and three new Directors were named: Mrs. Floyd E. Curtis, Mrs. E. B. Carvill, and J. M. Massey.

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GRANDPA MANNING

by

Betty McGinnis Faust

My story of "Grandpa Manning" begins and ends in a cemetery. First, let me tell you the ending of my story. On a warm Sunday afternoon last April, a whole carload of us visited the Gamble Cemetery near the Midway Community in Phillips County, about three miles north of U. S. Highway 49, between Poplar Grove and Marvell. We turned north off U. S. Highway 49 at Ray Fuller's mailbox. In the car were Carolyn Cunningham, my niece, Diane Deitz, my children, Carol, Tommy, and Kate, and I. Carolyn Cunningham had arranged for a guide to meet us at

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the cemetery. This was Mr. Cooper, who had lived next to the Gamble Cemetery for fifty-five years before moving to West Helena.

The weather was gorgeous; we met our guide on time; everything seemed to be working out perfectly. We passed a small white wooden church, and Mr. Cooper signaled for us to turn off the road. We parked our car on the west side of the road and walked southwest across a plowed field to a wooded, overgrown area. There was no hint that this was a five acre cemetery over 100 years old. Once we were there, each of us was excitedly calling out names and dates. Mr. Cooper led us to the graves of the Pearson family, telling us of the Pearsons' son's visit in their home when he had come from Little Rock to have the large marker placed there. This was a huge granite marker with the name PEARSON in large letters.

Next Mr. Cooper showed us the Manning graves. There was one large tombstone for Isam Manning and his wife Samantha E. Manning, my great grandparents. One of their eleven children was my grandmother Biddie who married Robert Lee McGinnis of Poplar Grove. Their children were Clarence, Lee, and my father, Frank. The names and dates on their tombstone were as follows: Isam Manning, March 3, 1822/December 12, 1906; Samantha E. Manning, June 15, 1843/February 28, 1912. On the left side of the stone with Isam Manning's information was scripture, "O death where is thy sting? 0 grave where is thy victory?" On the right side of the tombstone with Samantha Manning's information was this inscription, "Faithful to her trust, Even unto death." There was also the grave of a little boy, Jesse Rembert Manning, born September 2, 1908 and died March 25, 1910. He was a grandson of Isam and Samantha Manning.

Carolyn Cunningham was particularly interested in the Pearson graves since she had just had a biographical sketch of Dr. M. L. Pearson in the

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Quarterly (Page 33, Volume 9, Number 1, December, 1970).

The oldest grave we found that day was that of Milton Norton, born September 15, 1826, died October 26, 1869. By this time the children had discovered a snake, making the trip a success for my son Tommy. The Gamble Cemetery is located on a farm owned now by Billy Sheman, Mr. Cooper told us. Some of his family is also buried there.

And now for the beginning of my story of "Grandpa Manning." This was on a cold day last January when my Uncle Clarence McGinnis was buried at Marianna. I went by the house at Vineyard after the funeral. My cousin, Frances Lee McGinnis, showed me a tintype that I had never seen before. In cleaning out some old pictures last fall, they had found it. On the back was written, "Your Grandpa Manning." Of course, my Uncle Clarence, who was born in 1888, remembered his Grandpa Manning very well. My cousin let me borrow the tintype long enough to have it copied, and I returned it to her.

Strangely enough, earlier that same day, Mrs. Hesta McElroy had ridden with me to Marianna to Uncle Clarence's funeral. On the way to Marianna, I had asked her if she knew where my Manning great grandparents were buried, and she had told me that it was at Midway in Phillips County. This was the reason I had gone to the Gamble Cemetery with Carolyn Cunningham. Several years ago I had copied Isam Manning's biographical sketch from Goodspeed at the Helena Library. From some land records I had found that Isam Manning's will was recorded in Phillips County. A telephone call to the County Clerk's office was all that was necessary to get a photostat made of my great grandfather's will. Everything in the will, filed in December, 1906, verified the other facts I had.

Isam Manning was listed in the roster of the First Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry, Company K, in the

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Mexican War (Quarterly, Page 28, Number 2, Volume 4, December, 1965).

In the last Quarterly (Number 3, Volume 9, June, 1971) in the 1840 Census of Phillips County, Part I, is listed, in Richland Township, William Maning with a son between fifteen and twenty years old. This son, I feel certain, was Isam Manning, my great grandfather. According to Goodspeed, his father, William Manning, came to Phillips County in 1834.

Just in the last six months, without even going more than twenty-five miles away from home, I have come up with a clear picture, a will, a biographical sketch from Goodspeed, and a graveside visit of my great grandfather, Isam Manning. Any genealogical "bug" would consider himself very lucky indeed to be able to discover so much information about one of his forbears in such a short time with so little effort. And I do.

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ISAM MANNING, from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas, Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1890, Page 786.

Isam Manning, farmer, Poplar Grove, Ark. This much respected and esteemed citizen was originally from Indiana, where his birth occurred in 1822, and was principally reared in Phillips County, Ark., whither he had removed with his parents in 1834. His education was received in the private schools, and when twenty-three years of age he commenced farming for himself on his own land. In 1846 he went to Mexico as a soldier in Capt. Preston's Company, Colonel Yell's First Arkansas Regiment, and was at the battle of Buena Vista. He was in the service one year and came home in 1847.

In February of the following year he was married to Miss Lucinda Bailey, daughter of Thomas and Milly Bailey, of Kentucky, and became the father of

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three children, only one now living; John who is a farmer and resides in Johnson County, Ark. Mrs. Manning died in 1857, and in May of the following year Mr. Manning was married to Miss Samantha Thomas, daughter of W. A. Thomas, a native of Georgia. To the second marriage were born eleven children, six now living, Biddie (wife of Robert McGinnis), Walter, Etta, Jessie, Edmond and Robert.

In 1859 Mr. Manning bought his present property consisting of 400 acres, and now has 200 acres improved, with a splendid frame residence, outbuildings, etc. He has a gin on his place, with which he did his own and some custom bales of cotton yearly, and up to this year ginned, on an average, about seventy-five bales per year. Besides his home farm, Mr. Manning is the owner of 620 acres of land, with 100 acres improved.

He did not serve in the late war, but lost a great deal of property. He is a liberal donater to all laudable enterprises, and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a member of The Wheel, and in his political views affiliates with the Democratic Party.

His parents, William and Jane (Elliot) Manning, moved to Arkansas in 1834, and rented land on Big Creek, close to what is now Middle Bridge, where there was a ferry kept by a man by the name of James Hanks. The country at that time was wild and unsettled, bear, panther, wolves, deer, etc., were plenty all over the county and Helena was a small place with only two dry-goods stores there, kept by Judge McKenzie and F. & M. Hanks. There were several saloons and grocery stores, and population numbered about 250. Mr. Manning remained here about two years, and then went to Mississippi where he remained but one year. He never bought or entered land in this county. He died in 1843, at the age of forty-seven years. His widow afterward married in 1847 a Mr. Mosby of Phillips County. She died in 1853, at the age of fifty-five years.

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EXCERPT FROM THE DAILY INDEPENDENT, HELENA, ARKANSAS, NOVEMBER 25, 1874.

Wonderful Discovery Made In Helena.

Evidences Of A Former Civilization Unearthed By Street Excavations.

Our City Probably Resting Upon The Foundation Of A Once Populous Town.

Our city officials in carrying out the suggestions of The Independent to provide more efficient means against the ravages of fire, have had gangs of laborers at work for some days, with a view of excavating and constructing cisterns at convenient points in the streets, for the use of the fire department. Taking some little credit to ourselves for the inauguration of this needed enterprise, we naturally take an interest in the prosecution of the work, and this interest induced us to visit one of the gangs yesterday, to observe their progress.

We found the party in a very excited state, from the fact that one of the picks had just struck some hard substance like iron, and in addition to this, the concussion of the blow had given back a hollow reverberating sound, as though a huge cavern or cave lay underneath. The workmen, who were a little superstitious, at first refused to proceed with the work, believing as they expressed it, that they were "next door to purgatory sure." At length, by some persuasion, they were induced to proceed, and an iron plate, having the appearance of a modern skillet lid was soon uncovered, which being removed, disclosed to the astonished view of the workmen a deep cavern, dark as Erebus, and partially filled with water.

The extent of this cavern could not be

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conjectured, except from the time required for the sounds at the mouth to be echoed back from its sides. The fact that water seemed to be standing in it, suggested the thought at once, that a reliable reservoir had been discovered, suited to the wants of the city, provided, the supply of water could be kept up. That this cavern is undoubtedly the work of a former civilization, there can be no question. The iron cap covering the orifice proves that the chamber, cavern or whatever it may be termed, is a work of art; besides the mouth of the cave has been constructed of brick, which are in a very good state of preservation and resemble our modern brick in size, and quality.

No steps have been taken, as yet, to explore the cavern, or to determine its character. It is believed a thorough investigation will bring to light some important facts in connection with a former race inhabiting the present site of our enterprising city. Some of our imaginative citizens have even expressed the belief that this cavern is connected with a grand underground tunnel constructed beneath the bed of the Mississippi river, and that its other terminus will be found on the Mississippi shore, opposite this city, and that it may be a part of the underground thoroughfare employed by the abolitionists, through which to rescue the poor persecuted slaves, before the war. By some, it is believed, that the water will furnish an abundance of eyeless fish, similar to those found in the Mammoth Cave; and preparations are going on to supply our market from this source.

We shall hazard no opinion in this matter until after a full and thorough examination has been made by scientific men. For the present, we can only say, that the iron cap was found, about seven or eight feet below the surface of the street, closing a dark, cavernous looking place, that has not yet been explored. We await further developments.

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MEMBERSHIP ROSTER 1971-1972

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Sustaining member*

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