The Hanging Of Maston Gregg by M. H. Hudson

Perhaps the most terrifying ordeal of the Civil War years for the civilian residents of Northwest Arkansas was not the raging battles fought there, nor the foraging and plundering of the opposing armies, nor the hunger and hardship and sickness and pestilence that was all about, but a much more malevolent menace known by the whispered name of Bushwhackers.

These human vultures ran in packs, robbing, murdering, maiming, abusing, and there was no authority to stop them.  All guns and ammunition of the civilian population had been confiscated by the armies of both sides, as first the North and then the South, Union and Confederate occupied the land.  The people were defenseless against the marauding bands of deserters and slackers ("scalawags"), and the armies were so thoroughly engaged in fighting each other they had no time for police duty.

Boys and old men left at home or wantonly shot down or beaten to death senselessly, and women and children were tortured and made to give up all their food and other necessities to these outlaws.

News that a band of bushwhackers was in a community spread quickly and struck terror to the hearts of the residents.  Their frantic efforts to hide their horses, cows, and food usually proved fruitless.  If a bushwhackers spy had not watched as the items were hidden, a sizzling coal of fire held against her baby's body quickly brought a mother to provide everything asked of her, if she had it to give. Or the grandfather might be tortured instead.  Nothing, not a single thing, was sacred to these jackals.

Such was the plight of the people of Northwest Arkansas and 1864, on the day a gang of bushwhackers surprised Maston Gregg in his apple orchard on White River near Butler Ford in Washington County, and hanged him to one of his own carefully nurtured apple trees.

In time, Maston Gregg was to become the father in law of Martha Carolyn ("Mattie") Quillin, youngest daughter of John Quillin when she married Maston's son John Henry.  But he didn't know it then.  In fact, he never had a chance to know it.

On this day in 1864, Springdale, Arkansas, did not exist.  The crossroads there had not yet taken on the name of Shiloh, its first name.  The main center of gravity then was out east, on White River at Butler Ford and Gregg Store and post office.  The latter was owned by Maston's brother, Albert.

On the day the bushwhackers caught Maston, they had come especially to see him.  He was not yet 50, but in ill health.  He was fairly prosperous and it had been rumored he had some money hidden near his home.  Federal money.  This was what the bushwhackers were after.  And when Maston did not produce it in spite of their tortures, they hanged him and rode away to let him die.  Without a doubt, they thought him dead when they left.

From his hiding place in the house, Maston's 12 year old son, John Henry, watched in horror as the bandits abused his father, then hanged him to die.  As they rode away, John Henry rushed out, frantic and heedless of his own safety, climbed the tree and cut his father's limp body down.

Then his mother and sisters came out to help and they worked to revive the tortured man.  His breathing started up again, and even before he was fully conscious they were struggling toward the house with him.  Once inside, they hid him under a folding table and made him as comfortable as possible.  Terror gripped them all, because they expected the bushwhackers gang back at any time, and they knew the thieves would demand to see the body.

But the day of terror wore on and passed, and Maston lived through it and into the night.  Next day he moved his family nearer to Fayetteville, where the presence of the occupying army discouraged the bushwhackers.  Though there were almost weekly skirmishes in the vicinity of that village, it was safer there than out on the river.  Housing was scarce, so he rented a room in a log house, now known as the Old Hale House.  It was located on the Old Wire Road to Fayetteville.

Like John Quillin and others, he then joined the army and remained there for safety until the end of the war.  After it was safe to do so, he moved his family back to the farm on the river, but nothing was ever right again in his life.  Toward the close of the war, his son Wesley 20 and died.  Then Cynthia, the mother of his 10 children, sickened and died.  Three years after the war was over, Maston Gregg himself was dead.  By natural causes.

When the war ended and civilian authority was restored, the things called bushwhackers disbanded and slunk into anonymity.  Most of them probably survived and raised offspring, and even now, on a dark night in an old apple orchard on White River, if you think about it for a while, you can get the feeling it could happen again.

Late 1800's - Early 1900's Memories of Fayetteville by Wythe Walker

The panoramic photo above was taken about 1890, showing the buildings surrounding the square at far right with the cupola of the old Washington County Courthouse, which then stood at the center of the square, showing above the other buildings. The traces of roads coming off the hillside into the valley are, from left, Center Street, Mountain Street and Rock Street. The valley, known now as Spout Spring Hollow but also called Tin Cup Hollow for many years, is mostly hidden by the roll of the hillside in the foreground. At the extreme left is the old City Roller Mill, also called the Old White Mill. It was near the intersection of Huntsville and Mill streets. The photographer is unknown.

(Editor's note: Events do not have to be a century old to qualify as history.  We were reminded of this when we received a reminiscent letter from Wythe Walker of New York recalling some events from his boyhood and Fayetteville.  This is the sort of stuff of which history is made.  The murder of Mrs.Winkelman and the killing of Josh Thompson are occasionally mentioned in the bull sessions in our history office.  This is because many of the old timers remember these events.Wythe Walker's reminiscences have a certain literary flavor that we approve of.  He will be interested to know that one of our members, Jack Reed, is collecting anecdotes about Wythe's illustrious father, J.  Wythe Walker and his uncle, J. Vol Walker. --WJL)

Dear Walt (Walt J. Lemke - The Editor of FLASHBACK): 

Where your house stands (231 E.  Dickson St.) or immediately back of it, was a large vacant lot.  Some way or other, there was also a dirt road attached to Dickson street which ran along the creek, past the "Big Spout Spring" ended through Tincup, the colored section.  This lot, back of your home, was an area where we played cowboy Indian.  There was a rumor that had buried treasure was there.  At night, grownups did dig! 



Gunter House. (Photo by Walter J. Lemke)

Gunter's pasture, where the circuits used to perform, near the old Gunter house, was another favorite playground.  Believe it or not, when I was some 8 or 9 years old, we found a freshly dug a hole, neatly dug with square sides.  Something, a chest or a box, had been removed.  Certainly it's contents were not Spanish gold nor silver plate.  I imagine nothing much, but hidden during the Civil War, noted by slaves and subsequently dug up by their descendants or relatives of the owners.  Dad used to laugh about people digging around the kneer house on East Mountain.  It appears that old Judge Walker had buried lead bars for casting bullets, and the word got out that it was gold bars!
 

Did I ever tell you that those shallow ditches around the Walker and other old graveyards contained the legs and arms and bodies of the dead from Prairie Grove and possibly Pea Ridge?  Dad was there when they dug them up.  He said many had a small Bible on them, and that he jumped in the trench and found a coin and was called by a digger "a young grave robber." Dad was born 1867, I recall.  Maybe he referred to someone else, as I'd have to look up the time when the Confederate cemetery became operative.

Another--do you recall the Winkelman murder?  I do, clearly.  I and Byrnes and Phil Williams (Nathan Boone Williams' son) war "camping" in a tent a block south of my home on a vacant area.  Mother sent someone down to tell us to get home, but quick!  We did.

The Winkelman home was about one block south of the street which dead ends on College and one west of Block.  Mrs. Emma Hodge's daughter entered the home, opened a closet door and her mother fell into her arms.  Mrs. Winkelman--I remember her and Uncle John Winkleman--carried her money in a bustle.  Later, Mrs. Winkleman, Ben's mother, remodeled the place and it was the Kappa Alpha fraternity home.  I always felt leery when I'd pass that closet!

 Anyhow, there were arrested one Red Fox and one Mr. Sartin.  Sartin hanged himself in jail somewhere, possibly Van Buren.  Dad prosecutor Red Fox and lost.  Some 8 or 10 years ago I read of Red Fox's trial as defended by an Oklahoma lawyer who had been a boy in Fayetteville, in TRUE magazine.  I wrote Buzz Fawcett of TRUE and talked with the author of the story.  Dad always had a strong opinion as to who actually instigated or served in this murder other than those arrested.  I won't mention names. 

Everybody in Fayetteville said the hour "Constable" could hit a running rabbit with his pistol.  They all said and I never believed it.  I was growing on 13 and I knew how hard it was to hit a running rabbit with the 12-gauge shotgun.  But I never argued with them or disputed their words as I was having my share of trouble in just growing up and if they wanted to believe what they said I couldn't change their minds.  And besides, I didn't think they believe what they said. 

But our "Constable" could handle a pistol and after he killed Josh Thompson, people said they had said that Constable Sam was hell with that  .44.  I didn't think that killing Josh proved much of anything.  Any man hiding, with the law backing him up, could have killed old Josh.

I never knew much about Josh Thompson except that he was a colored man who looked old to a little boy and that he did odd jobs around town and would cook and row the boat when the family when a camping.

Word got around the school that Josh had been killed by the Constable and at noon most of us ran up to the furniture store and there lay Josh.  To this day I don't know why the let us in, but there lay Josh, and he wasn't a color man anymore because his face in death was as white as the palms of his hands when they were alive.  

Somebody had stuck yellow lead pencils on each side of his head just above his years, to show the path of the bullet.  Some grownups said, "Josh must have been stooping down to pick up that sack of chops when the Constable threw down on him, and Josh never knew what hit him"

Right back the Gilbreath and Taylor's grocery store on Center Street was where Josh died.  He was stealing a tow sack full of chops out of the shed in the back of the grocery store when the Constable killed him.  It was in wintertime and the pool of blood was hazing over kind of, like the frosting on baking shop cupcakes.  The sack of chops was still there.

When the people came to see Josh dead, somebody said, "We'll have to have somebody carry the news to Josh's wife" --whose name was Addy. Embus, a colored man, was there and he said he would and they told him to break the news gently to Addy.  Josh's death was the first time I ever learned that there are those who will hurt the living through the dead as salve to their smug pride of still being above ground.

For a long time word was said that Embus walked by Addy's house and yelled "Addy!" and that Addy called back, "Yes, Embus? " And that Embus hollered, "Addy, they done killed Josh!"  

Embus, although I wasn't with him, never said any such thing.  I never knew a colored person who in time of trouble, and God knows they have had their share of it, who wasn't kind and gentle, and I knew Embus and I knew he could not ever yell such words.

But it made a good story.  It made a very good story.  The town loafers, when the dog days came, would sit on the rock wall caddy corner from the Courthouse and when the heat dried up their talk, somebody would slap his thigh and come up with "Addy, they done killed old Josh!" It was always good for a laugh. 

I think most of the town was shamed that anybody had to steal a sack of chops to feed his few chickens.  Some said they did not know the Josh was light fingered and had been warned, but most were shamed.  The only ones who said that Josh got his just dues were those who had to feel superior to Josh as there was no one else they could feel superior to who was still alive.

Some years later I came back home and was asked to go out on a picnic with a crowd who were several years younger.  There came a lull in the talk.  Some young lady, to break the Paz said, "Addy, they done killed Josh!" Everybody laughed and the talking started all over again.  I asked what was the meaning of the saying and they told me it was just a pointless thing that everybody said when nobody had anything to say.

I'm not leveling a judgment on a town of good people, nor on a good constable, nor on a thief. I just don't believe that any man should be killed over a six-bit tow-sack full of chops.

-J.  Wythe Walker  

**Taken from the Washington County Historical Society's publication FLASHBACK Vol. XVI, No. 4, October, 1966

Mitchell and Rutherford Letters 1859-1908 (?) Part Two

The next four letters give us a view of life during the Civil War. Jane's brother, Alfred Mitchell, was held at Johnson's Island at Sandusky, Ohio. The first two letters of this group are from Alfred to his sister Jane in California. The next letter is to Jane from her sister in Cane Hill. It was signed "Annie White" -- apparently though, it is the same sister who signs other letters as Nancy. I (Marian Carter Ledgerwood - 1964) have not identified B. D Moody who wrote the fourth letter, from Johnson's Island to Jane Mitchell Rutherford.

Alfred's Letter One:

Johnson's Island - Sandusky, Ohio

Dear, Sister Jane,                                                                                    September 7, 1863 

I wrote you on the receipt of your letter of the 14th of July. Weeks and months come and go, but exchange comes not, nor do we go to "Dixie". It is now very uncertain whether we remain here much longer. The Commissioners of Exchanges have met and may agree upon some means of releasing us soon. I have no news of importance. I wrote to Mrs. Laura Baxley (?) last month to see if I couldn't get some word from home. The Federals had again reoccupied Fayetteville and she knew nothing from Washington County. She was well. Mr. Baxley went to Texas in Feb. '62. I suppose with his negroes.

I employ my time here in studying the French language. I have a splendid teacher and make some progress. If our cause fail it may be useful to me. I should like very much to get another letter from you before I am exchanged. I shall probably write again before leaving. Give my love to Mr. Rutherford and the children.

                                                                                Affectionately yours, Alfred Mitchell

Alfred's Letter Two:

Johnson's Island

Dear Sister Jane,                                                                                             July 17, 1864

A week ago I received your kind letter of the 13th of June. You and Nan and the girls of Cane Hill have almost overwhelmed me with letters. That Greenback you sent came all right and I have again to thank you. But the last two papers you sent failed to reach me. The kindness of that "such a pretty girl" is certainly appreciated highly. (Indecipherable) - I better send her a pretty ring or something of prison-make. Since you weigh 150, I am afraid you can't wear that ring I sent you. You keep talking about your "little" ring. If it is too small let me know. Johnson's Island changeth not except that a few recruits occasionally come in from the West or from Joe Johnson. You ask after Mr. Crawford's folks. Newt is a Lieut. in the company I belong to. He is with Gen'l Dockery's cavalry. Will belongs to Price's army and to Capt. (Cash's) Company. By the way I hear that Earle is major of the Regiment now and that Brother Jim is Capt. of the Company instead of being A.T.M. Can't learn how it is exactly. Isaac Buchanan is dead. Will and Jim B. belong to Earle's Co. Pleas was in another company in Wash. County. John Davis, Mary Boatwright's husband is dead. All hopes of exchange has "played". M love to Mr. R. and all friends.

Your brother, Alfred Mitchell

Letter No. 3 from "Annie White"

Cane Hill, Aug. 15, 1864

My dear Sister-

We have never received but (one) letter from you directed to us. Al sent us one that you had written to him -- dated in May and we have also heard several times through John Caldwell's letters -- he sends them to mother. It is a great satisfaction to hear from you anyway -- but we had so much rather have letters that are directed to us. I know that you have written to us. Hattie Fergerson saw a letter in the office that she knew was from you. The postmark was Wyandotte. But when we sent there was no letters for us.

Dear Jane, so many things happen and things have changed so during this cruel war that I hardly know ho to begin or close a letter to one that I would like to write so much. I wrote you a long long letter in May - and told you all the sad particulars of our dear lost brother. I wrote you everything but I fear you never received it. We are all well and getting on remarkable well considering these dreadful times. We have plenty to eat and wear and have had ever since this cruel war began. We have never been robbed like some. Our acquaintance in the Federal army have treated us kindly - and we them in the same way. Two years ago they come here and killed a fine horse of mine, the one bro. Geo. left me. They cut up considerably. That same time they took five large wagon loads of corn from us and a good many other things. Last winter me and John hauled our corn that we had to spare to Fayetteville and sold it to them. I bought a good many things that we needed - besides we made enough to send our dear brother that is in prison some money. We sent him $12, he only got seven. We sent a few dollars at a time. We were very sorry to hear that he didn't get that you sent him. I am afraid that he will be confined there for a long time yet. We can hear nothing of a general exchange. The two governments can't agree on that point. The Federals wants the Confeds. to exchange negroes for white men. The south won't do that, too humiliating. The last letter we had from Al was the 10th of July. Him and Will were in excellent health. Jim is Quartermaster in Col. Crawford's regt. Col C. is from the southern part of the state. Will is Ordnancemaster. They were below Little Rock. They expected to move north in a short time and we have heard that Price was near the Rock and that they were skirmishing daily - and a general engagement was expected. I expect the report is true. I dread the result, even if Price should be victorious. They are strongly fortified and their gunboats are to be dreaded. But the Confeds have made way with a good many of them. They have been fighting at Ft. Smith. Gen. M. Cooper (and?) Stand Waite forces are at Scullyville 15 miles from Ft. Smith. They have killed and captured the 6th and 14th ------regiments and captured a great many horses and wagons. I can't tell how these things will terminate.  

Our country up here is full of gurillars and what the Federals call Bushwackers. We don't call them that for it is very seldom that they shoot from the bushes - they come out and fight them openly. Our good old quiet Cane Hill has got a dreadful name among the Feds, because they say we harbor so many Rebels - But Rebs are like Feds - they go where they please. But the times are in a dreadful state. Today was a week ago Jim Shannon was hauled by here a corpse - he was a Rebel and was killed in Mountain Township by the Feds. Today Jeff Sawyer was hauled by here. He was killed by the Rebels - he was a Federal soldier. Such are the solemn scenes that occur frequently. Last week the southern men attacked a train going from Fayetteville to Fort Smith - with the mail and three wagons loaded with goods - they killed 30 of them, captured their wagons and teams - and divided their captured property among themselves and their families. We don't accept any captured goods - we can make out without them. They go calico domestic, shoes, coffee, tobacco, raisins, candy, oysters, sardines and many other things that they needed.

I have not told you half that I wish to. Be careful what you write. Mary sends her love to the little one. John sends his love to all of you. Give my love to every person in Cal. that I ever saw.

Annie White

B.D. Moody Letter:

Johnson's Island, O.

Dear Jane -                                                                                                  Sept. 15, 1864

I have not heard a word from you since your last letter of the 18th July which reached me three weeks ago. As I have just heard from Home and the boys I write to you anyway. Nan's letter was of the 24th August and she had a letter from Jim of the 26th July. All were well. Jim was Quartermaster (my old position) of Col Crawford's Regt. Will belongs still to Col. F.R. Earle's Regt. No other news. We are all pretty well here. The living however is harder, rations are smaller than at any time previous to this. Our prospects too for exchange are still more gloomy than ever, and to the war I can no see no end. I however live in hopes of some lucky turn in the fortunes of war. There is transpiring around this monotonous place but few things of interest. Today about one hundred Confederate privates from Camp Chase came in. Poor brave fellows. I feel like embracing every one of them, so much did they remind me of Dixie and Dixie's Army. This reinforcements swells our numbers here to about 2500. Of these about 2300 are Confederate officers, about 70 or 80 citizens and the rest enlisted men. there are also two negroes here who have followed their masters through all the "ups and downs" of war. I am sorry to tell you that many of our privileges have been cut off. Our (undecipherable) is not allowed now to sell provision except upon Surgeon's Certificate, and our friends are prohibited from sending us clothing and provisions, except it be our near relations. We can write but two letters per week. Nan has received but one letter from you. Your brother will write when he receives a letter from you.

Yours truly, B. D. Moody

** Taken from Washington County Historical Society's publication FLASHBACK Vol. XIV, No. 4, October, 1964 pages 3-6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



                                                                                                  

Mitchell and Rutherford Letters 1859-1908 (?) Part One

In mid 1964, a Washington County Historical Society correspondent from California went through an old trunk, which was stored behind some other things in the barn. In this trunk were quite a few old family letters, dating back as far as 1859, some written from Cane Hill, Ark. There was so much of interest, historically and genealogically, that this correspondent gave the WCHS permission to edit them for publication. It makes one wonder -- how many trunks in attics or barns contain old letters which might hold the very information some of us are seeking so desperately!

Having known nothing of the Mitchell family of Cane Hill, it was interesting to piece together bits of information from these letters, census, Goodspeed's "History of Northwest Arkansas", as well as back numbers of FLASHBACK -- and emerge with a fairly complete picture of the family. Later, a perusal of the book, "The Mitchell Family", by Homer Rawlins Mitchell, Grace E. Mitchell, and Mrs. Laura Emery (1952) yielded further information on this family.

James Mitchell (b. ca. 1793, Ky.) married Mary A. Webber (b. ca. 1806, Ga.) ca. 1825 in Lincoln Co., Tenn. They moved to Cane Hill, Ark. in 1830. They became the parents of six sons and three daughters. James Mitchell died 13 Aug. 1860; his wife died in 1882. Their children included:

1. George Mitchell (b. ca. 1826, Tenn.; d. ca. 1859, Texas), Married Sarah Cox in Washington Co., Ark. 6 July 1848.
2. Nancy Mitchell (b. 23 June 1828, Tenn.; was living 1908) married in Cane Hill 22 Nov. 1866, as his second wife, William Pierson Crawford. They had two children:  William Alfred Crawford and Mary Lou Crawford.
3. James Mitchell (b. 8 May 1833; d. June 1902) married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Latta in Washington Co., Ark. 31 Jan. 1860. He became a school teacher at age 16; was deputy surveyor 1855-1859; elected to legislature 1860; became a Captain in the Confederate Army; was professor in Cane Hill College 1866-1874 and then was professor at Arkansas University 1874-1876. He was editor-in-chief of the Arkansas Democrat at Little Rock after 1876, and in 1893 was appointed postmaster at Little Rock by President Cleveland. He had 8 children.
4. William Mitchell (b. 10 May 1834, Cane Hill; d. 20 Dec. 1914, Texas) married in Washington Co., Ark. 1 Dec. 1858, Josephine Lewis. He served in the Confederate Army in Co. B, Brooks Regt. He was county surveyor in 1889. He had 7 children, all born in Washington Co., Ark.
5. Margaret Jane Mitchell (b. 25 May 1835 or 1836; d. 1912) married in Washington Co., Ark. John Tipton Rutherford of California. They had 8 children, all born in California.
6. Alfred Mitchell (b. 18 Jan 1838; d. 10 April 1894) married 26 Feb. 1872 Mrs. Amelia (Summers) Russell of New Madrid, Mo. He taught school in Ark., Mo., Tenn. and N. Car. He had three children.
7. Roderick Mitchell (b. ca. 1840; d. 6 Dec. 1862 in the Battle of Prairie Grove).
8. Mary Mitchell, (b. ca. 1846; was living in 1908) did not marry. Lived at Westville, Indian Territory.
9. John Campbell Mitchell (b. 28 July 1849; was living in 1908) married Sept. 1882 in Fayetteville to Mary A. West. He was a professor in Cane Hill College. He had 5 children.

In 1830, several members of the Rutherford family moved to Washington Co., Ark. from Greene Co., Tenn. One of these was Robert R. Rutherford (b. Ca. 1798, Tenn.) with his wife Ann Tipton Rutherford. About 1830, this family crossed the Plains with horse teams and located at Sacramento, California. Two years later, the two older sons and a daughter returned to Arkansas. One of these sons was, William B. Rutherford (b. 1824, Tenn.) married Nancy M. Ferguson on 29 Sept. 1853, and remained in Fayetteville. The sister, Ruth Rutherford (b. 1828, Tenn.) married J. P. Stevenson on 18 March 1852 in Washington Co., Ark., and they moved back to California. The other son, John Tipton Rutherford (b. 10 Oct. 1831, Ark.) married Margaret Jane Mitchell on 28 April 1859, and they moved to California, where they raised their family.

The first letter was written by Nancy Mitchell, sister of Jane, just five months after Jane's marriage. She refers to her brothers Alfred, James, and William (who had married Josephine Lewis on 1 Dec. 1858). She also refers to the younger children, Mary (then about 13 years old) and John (then age 10).

My dear sister,                                                                  Cane Hill,  

                                                                               September 25, 1859 

.....There has been a good many changes since you left. Cyrus Buchanan died last Saturday night with the fever. He was in his right mind to the last and talked about his future prospects for happiness. This morning Johnny Banks died. I have not heard the particulars of his death. Lizzie Trout has been very sick, is some better now. Will Sawyers has been trying to court the widow Shannon's daughter. Major Billingsly forbid it and they quarreled. Will threatened the Major's life and Billingsly shot him. It is thought by some he will not live.  

.....I will try to write something pleasant, about camp meeting. We had the best preaching I have ever heard. Not one poor sermon. All good and very good. There was some new preachers from a distance. There was many mourners but not very many conversions. Miss Hamlen, Mary McColock, Bud Buchanan professed. They are all that you know. there was some others. Oh, yes. Bud Webber he shouted just as good as any one hand looked just as happy. I believe he is truly converted. I never saw a happier looking person in all my life........I suppose you have heard of Ben Witherspoon's death...... Every person inquired about you at Camp meeting. (Partly torn).....very near taking a "Caneption fit" about you. They say you promised to write to them. Mary Davis said you must right to her. She has a fine boy. I enjoyed camp meeting. Every person was so kind.

Oct. 6th. Today we received two letters from you. One to me and Al. Al has gone to the Choctaw Agency to teach. He gets four hundred and fifty dollars for teaching eight months. We miss him very much. We will send him you letter. Jim is teaching in Vineyard and he has a very large school. He gets $75 a month. He was up last week and looks very well. 'Speck he will marry this winter. We are paying particular to his poor little turkey hen which has turned out to be a fine large gobbler.

Celina Parks and Bob have gone to Texas after Ann. He sends her love to you. Will and Jo have gone to Kansas, only to stay a short time to secure some of Will's land. Jim B. and Mag have moved there. They have been gone sometime. Mary and John are going to school to Miss A. Blakemore at Valley. She has 21 scholars.

The Burg has improved since you left. Mr. Wright and McClure each have large brick houses done, and the new Methodist Church house is finished. Uncle George's folks are all well. Cousin Jane G. w as here the other week. I was at Will's they day she came. We have quilted a quilt and spun, sewed, wove, cooked, and done many things lately. I asked John what I should tell you for him. He said to tell you he had a stiff shirt, a pleated bosom shirt. He wanted to wear his linen coat to school the other day. He said some of the scholars didn't know he had a linen coat.

Oct. 9th. Since I commenced this letter, Lizzie Trout has died. She died yesterday. I set up with her the night before and was there when she died. She professed religion three days before she died. Mother and me went to her funeral today. Uncle John preached very good sermon from the text Lizzie selected herself. Will and Jo have got home from Kansas. They were only gone two weeks. They found Jim Bales sick and Marg with the blues (partly torn -- some mention of Mr. Trout and Clem Holland).  

                                                                                                             Ever yours,

                                                                                                        Nancy Mitchell 

The minister referred to above was undoubtedly "Uncle" John Buchanan. The Mitchells were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Cane Hill, where he ministered.

True to Nancy's prediction, brother James Mitchell did marry the following winter. He married Lizzie T. Latta 31 Jan. 1860.

**Taken from pages 1-3 of the Washington County Historical Society's publication FLASHBACK Vol. XIV, No. 4, October, 1964. Written by Marian Carter Ledgerwood

                                                                                                       

 

1882 Letter from Rev. Moses Dutton To His Nephew Jack

                                                                                                 Goshen, Washington Co., Ark
                                                                                                                              Feb. 10, '82

Well, Jack, I received your letter today. Was glad to hear from you and learn that you are doing well. And I am glad you have not forgotten me. I have many things to write of, but can only mention a few of them at one writing. I am living at the same place. All the children are married but Moses -- he is living with me. Your Aunt Betsy is feeble, being worn down with age.

My health has been bad the last two years but it better at this time. We have a small town at Goshen. It was blown away by a terrible cyclone a little over two years ago. I had a large shop. It was blown entirely away; in connection with several houses. There was no lives lost. Our church house and Harbor was destroyed. The town has been rebuilt. We have built a church house, with a Masonic Hall on it. The building is worth one thousand dollars. We have a fine steam mill under way of construction at Goshen. It is being put up by Dr. Kelly, Tom Cannon and Jno. Tunstill. It will be running by harvest time.

I worked on our church house over one year all the time that work could be done. It was a gratis business on my part and has left me behind-hand but I will still live if it be in a hard way. I contemplate visiting your country in the fall on a preaching expedition. If my health holds good and if I visit your part of the country I will write you and let you know at what time I will be there. I am peaching almost as much as I ever did. I want to make a good end of my life.

Brown Sharp and Martha are living with me. Their oldest child died night before last. His name was Monroe. He was all the boy they had. He died with Rheumatism. They have four children left. Dick Dutton lives in Hindsville, is running a blacksmith shop and is doing reasonable well. Dick is a good smith. Nerva, her health is not good' she was well nigh dying a while back; she is in better health, now. Joe Phillips is in Texas some where. If you know anything of him write to me and tell me where he is as I have not had a letter from them for about two years.

I want you to write at once on the receipt of this letter and tell me how Cass is getting along and if you and him have enough religion to die with. If so, I shall look to meet you in the better land. I close by subscribing myself yours truly.

                                                                                                   Moses Dutton

to Jackson Dutton

**This is taken from page 47 of the Washington County Historical Society's publication FLASHBACK, Vol. XIV, No. 2 April 1964

Also a bit of additional information taken from Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site, by Kenneth Carter 

1. The letter was written to Andrew Jackson Dutton and was probably sent to him in Texas.
2. The Cass mentioned was Jack's brother, James Cassius Dutton, who accompanied Jack to Texas.
3.  Dick Dutton was Jack and Cass' brother who stayed in Arkansas.
4.  Brown Sharp and Martha are the Rev.s daughter and son-in-law.
5.  Jo Phillips was also a son-in-law married to the Rev.s daughter, Sarah Jane.

1850's Deed of Martin Thornbury of Cincinnati Arkansas to Walter T. Thornbury

An unusual old deed has been placed in the keeping of the Washington County Historical Society by Mrs. Olivia King of Longview Acres. The document was found in an old trunk in the Sue Walker house at 347 North Willow Avenue, Fayetteville.

The deed is too long to reproduce in full. It is written in excellent penmanship on both sides of six sheets of legal size paper. The sheets are bound at the top with a ribbon. The deed is dated April 21, 1856 and was recorded by P.R. Smith, clerk, on October 4, 1859.

The transaction was between Martin W. Thornbury and Walter T. Thornbury, both of Washington County. Martin Thornbury was a store-keeper in old Cincinnati. One of the Thornbury brothers, and a son, were Methodist preachers and the name survives in the Thornbury cemetery on the site of the old Thornbury camp ground, on Little Osage in the northwest part of the county. The name is sometimes spelled Thornberry and Thornsbury. However, the signatures of Marthin W. Thornbury and Talitha Thornbury, his wife, as they appear on this deed, show the correct spelling to be Thornbury.

The society's genealogical files contain very little information about this important old family.  If anyone would like to do research on the Thornbury's we will give them what help we can.

By this deed, Martin Thornbury transferred all his property, real and personal, to Walter T. Thornbury, for the benefit of his creditors. The reasons for the transfer are given in the opening paragraphs of the deed, which reads as follows:

"That whereas owing to the unfavorable state of navigation of the Arkansas River for the last two seasons, the party of the first part has been unable to put in market a large amount of goods purchased in the eastern cities with borrowed money and upon credit whereby he has been unable to pay these and other debts which have accumulated until a part of his creditors have become importunate and have commenced suit to coerce payment which owing to the scarcity of money at present will as he believes result in a sacrifice of his property to pay a part of his debts leaving many of them wholly unpaid some of which owing to the peculiar circumstances under which they were contracted should have preference in payment.

Now  therefore the purpose of protecting the rights of those who from equitable circumstances should have precedence in payment and for the purpose further of applying the whole of his property of every name and nature to the payment of all the debts he owes upon fair and just principles. The party of the first part for the purpose and intent herein expressed and for the consideration of one dollar lawful money to him in hand paid by the party of the second part the receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge had granted bargained and sold and doth hereby grant bargain and sell and deliver unto the party of the second part the following described property and estate."

The real estate transferred by this deed was as follows:

The southeast quarter of section 29 except four acres. The northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 25. The north half of the southeast quarter of section 28. The south half of the southwest quarter of section 27 and part of the north half of said quarter section.

All of the above in Township 16 north, Range 33 west. Also, the southeast half of Lot number 2 in Block number 5 in the town of Jacksonville.

Also, one other lot in said town fronting 30ft on Main street on the southwest side, running back to the line between Thomas Jackson's land and the entry made by Jeremiah Odle, being 30 ft wide, and running parallel with a lot of 100 ft, be the same more or less. The said 100 ft lot being south of lot number 3 in the block number 5 in said down called Cincinnati, situate on the east half of the south west quarter of section 29, township 16 North, of Range 33 West, the above described lot being the same one on which the store  house of the part of the first part is situate.  

Also, another lot in said Town lying immediately west and north of the lot above last described, brought by the part of the first part of William H. Rhea, fronting 25 ft on Main Street.

Also, one other lot of land in said Town lying adjoining the lot of number 3 in block number 5, fronting 100ft on Main street, it being the same lot conveyed by Thomas Jackson and wife by deed of 4th of January 1854.

Also, the east half of Block number 35 in Fayetteville in said county and also the following tract of land to-wit: the north half of the northeast quarter of section 31, the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 29, all in Township 18 North of Range 31 West.

Also the following tract of land, beginning at the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 29, township 16 north of range 33 west, to a corner on a ridge west of the Bounds Branch and a little west of the top of the ridge between a white hickory and a red oak and a flint rock near a stump between said trees, so as to include the spring that runs north of the corner by at least one rod, thence north 12 poles and 14 links, thence south to a corner on the line bounding the east side of the above described 40 acres, thence south 12 poles and 14 links to the beginning, containing by estimation four acres.

The northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 31 and the northwest quarter of section 34 in Township 16 North Range 33 West, all of which tracts of land and lots are situate in the county of Washington and state of Arkansas.

The person property transferred by this unusual deed was as follows:

• One negro man named Wesley about 30 years of age
• One negro woman named Becky about 30 years of age
• One negro girl named Jane about 8 years of age
• One negro girl named Annie about 3 years of age
• One negro boy named Henry about 10 months old - all slaves for life.

Three head of horses, two mules, one yoke of oxen, 20 head of cattle and about 50 head of stock hogs. And a stock of good, wares, and merchandise. And all household furniture and farming utensils and other chattels except such only as are required for daily and immediate use of the family of the part of the first part and are exempt from sale by statute."

The reason for the transfer of Martin Thornbury's property to his brother, as stated in the deed, was to liquidate his estate and repay his creditors. His debts amounted to $24, 220. He owed $14,162 to 23 business firms, many of them in New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis , Van Buren and elsewhere. The deed lists the business creditors as follows:

• L. Edgerton & Doane . . . . . . . . . . $3761
• Martin & Smith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1130
• Truit & Truit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     406
• Caless Cope & Co. . . . . . . . . . . . .     219
• A.T. Lane & Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     425
• Goff & Peterson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     253
• Wilson Stabord & Smith. . . . . . . . .   406
• Paul Tulane & Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . .    232
• Burt & Brothers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1649
• Plume, Parmelee & Smith. . . . . . . .    390
• Hotchkiss, Burner & Bennett. . . . .     489
• Pennock, King & Co. . . . . . . . . . .      283
• Curling & Robertson. . . . . . . . . . .        60
• James Vaughan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         30
• Shoffer, Roberts & Johnson. . . . .        265
• Chronian, Huxthrall & Sears. . . .        887
• Young & Van Kleick. . . . . . . . . .        246
• Lee Murphy & Co. . . . . . . . . . . .        160
• Henry & Turner. . . . . . . . . . . . . .      1470
• Ruggles, Morse & Co. . . . . . . . .         154
• Baxter & Davis. . . . . . . . . . . . . .         834
• Lipincott, Grambo & Co. . . . . .             59
• Wright, Pike & Co. . . . . . . . . . .            55

It will be thus seen that Martin W. Thornbury, pioneer merchant of Cincinnati, Ark., owed $14,162 to 23 creditors from whom he had purchased merchandise for his store. In addition to these commercial obligations, Thornbury had borrowed or had on deposit in his store, the total of $10,058 belonging to 29 Washington County creditors. The list of Washington County citizens who loaned Martin Thornbury money or who deposited funds with him reads as follows:

• Shadrack Cantrell. . . . . . . . . . $    8
• John Guttery (Guthary). . . . . .      8
• John Cantrell. . . . . . . . . . . . . .    40
• Joel Harrell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1030
• Nathan West. . . . . . . . . . . . . .   300
• William Guttery. . . . . . . . . . .     75
• James Wees. . . . . . . . . . . . . .    800
• T. R. West. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   445
• Eliza Carter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   181
• Daniel Coplin. . . . . . . .  . . . . .   800 
• P. R. West. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   400
• W. P. Uphan. . . . . . . . . . . . . .    200
• F. M. Woodruff. . . . . . . . . . .     100
• Lewis Collins. . . . . . . . . . . . .      25
• Peter Mankins Sr. . . . . . . . . .     100
• Elizabeth Gage. . . . . . . . . . . .    100
• John Phagan. . . . . . . . . . . . . .    150
• William Crawford. . . . . . . . . .   150
• Mrs. Eliza Derrick. . . . . . . . . .   625
• William S. Walker. . . . . . . . . . 2000
• Wm. P. Barclay. . . . . . . . . . . .  1000
• D. B. Mason.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .   100
• William Gibson. . . . . . . . . . . .   125
• W. C. Trent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    125
• Joseph R. Parks. . . . . . . . . . . .     75
• Moses Alberty. . . . . . . . . . . . .   300
• Elijah Carter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    40
• Johnson Thomason. . . . . . . . . .  700
• Richard Robers. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56

These 29 creditors were friends and neighbors of Martin Thornbury who either invested in his mercantile firm at Cincinnati or who loaned him money or who deposited money in his store safe. The total owed these 29 personal friends was $10,058. Thus, Martin Thornbury's total obligations when he conveyed his real and personal property to Walter Thornbury in 1856 were $24, 220. This was considerable indebtedness a century and a half ago.

This old deed of 1856 reveals some of the difficulties of merchandising in northwest Arkansas when all goods had to be shipped by steam boat up the Arkansas River and hauled over the mountains by wagon to Cincinnati. When the river was at low stage, the merchandise remained at the Mississippi River port of Napoleon and gathered storage charges.

Cincinnati was an important pioneer trading post, along with Evansville, Cane Hill and Maysville. Much of the trade along the border was with the Cherokee Indians, who were large spenders of the money they received from the Federal government. This was probably the lure that drew Thornbury into the trading business. There were many other merchants along the Indian Territory border, who must have offered stiff competition to Thornbury. Some were old established traders, like Evans and McClure at Evansville, half a dozen firms at Cane Hill, and especially W.H. Rhea who had stores at Rhea's Mill and Cincinnati.

Our old deed does not reveal how many of Martin Thornbury's creditors were paid off, from the sale of his lands, slaves and other personal property. Somewhere, in the court records of Washington County, this information is available.

This old deed makes an important contribution to Washington County history -- the fact that the original name of Cincinnati was Jacksonville and was built on Thomas Jackson's land. I have not seen this fact recorded anywhere else. Also the fact that Jeremiah Odle was an original settler of the area. It is always surprising that early names of pioneers are forgotten, yet names of outlaws like Proctor and Christie survive. We have opened a file on Thomas Jackson and will welcome any information about this first-comer to the Cincinnati area.

*** Taken from pages 21-24 of the Washington County Historical Society's publication FLASHBACK Vol. XI, No. 4  November, 1961

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biographical Sketch of the Pyeatt-Moore Mill at Cane Hill from Goodspeed's "History of the Northwest Arkansas Counties," page 1005

The Pyeatts were among the pioneer settlers of Arkansas, and were first represented in this state by James and Kate (Finely) Pyeatt, natives of North Carolina, who, in 1812, removed from Kentucky to about 13 miles north of Little Rock. Here they spent the remainder of their days.

J. R. (John Rankin) Pyeatt was born in Kentucky in 1805 and came to Arkansas with his parents and was here reared to manhood. In August 1827 he came to Washington County. He opened a wagon and blacksmith shop shortly after his arrival here and followed in that occupation for a number of years. He and his brother purchased some raw land and in 1838, which they improved, but in 1861 Mr. Pyeatt engaged in the milling business, in partnership with his son-in-law, William S. Moore.

 

William S. Moore spent his youthful days on a farm in Tennessee and made his home with his father until 21 years of age. He then learned the wagon-maker's trade, and in the fall of 1858 came to Arkansas locating in Cane Hill. He worked at his trade until the summer of 1862 when he joined the 34th Arkansas Infantry, Confederate States Army, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the battle of Prairie Grove and was paroled in the summer of 1865.

He then returned home and formed a partnership with Mr. Pyeatt in the milling business and erected the Cane Hill Mills, which was in running order by springs of 1866. The mill has been remodeled and improved since it was erected and is now one of the finest mills in Washington County. It has a combined roller and buhr process and has a capacity of about 40 barrels per day. They also manufacture some lumber, and in 1869 added a carding machine, which has proved very profitable.

In 1861 Mr. Moore married Miss Kate Pyeatt, daughter of his partner, J.R. Pyeatt, and their union was blessed in the birth of four children: Henry (who is a physician in this county), Charles R., Bettie and Lucy. Mrs. Moore died in 1877 and he afterward married Miss Josephine Moore daughter of James Moore. She was born in East Tennessee and reared in Texas and Missouri. They are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Moore has a good farm which he manages in connection with his mill, and a fine orchard of 45 acres.

*Published in 1889

Henry Moore
 

Two Tributes to The Pioneer Miller, William S. Moore.

 

Tribute No. 1:

William Smith Moore was born Feb. 20, 1835, the oldest of eight children born to Anthony Moore and Nancy Paxton Holt Moore, all of whom lived to maturity except the third child, Elizabeth, who died when 18 months old. All of the children were born and reared in a log house one mile from Tusculum College and 4 1/2 miles east of Greeneville. His father owned and tilled a small farm, a part of the original grant of  Great-Grandfather Anthony Moore. The Moore's were of Scotch-Iris descent. William's maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Smith, the daughter of an Irish weaver, therefore the name William Smith. His great-grandfather, Anthony Moore, was born in 1732, died in 1822. His Grandfather David Moore was born May 14th, 1769 an died Nov. 19, 1846. His father, Anthony Moore, was born June 26, 1803 and died July, 1885.

 

Great-grandfather Anthony Moore Sr. lived in Pennsylvania in the forks of the Delaware. He belonged to Mt. Bethel Church in Greene County, Tennessee, located on mile from Greeneville. Tradition says the first preaching in Greene County was in the house of Great-grandfather. The kitchen part of the house is still standing on the old Moore place by the big spring. Great-grandfather moved to Tennessee near the close of the Revolutionary War, when his only son, David, was about nine years old. The large connection of our kinfolks are the off-spring and worthy descendants of the six sisters and the one brother David. Great grandfather's descendants are noted for the large number of Presbyterian ministers and elders. Thus far as to William's ancestors.

William Moore united with the Mt. Bethel church May 25, 1851, during the ministry of Rev Samuel Wyley. (At the same time Alfred Wilson and James H. Robinson united.) He was dismissed by letter Nov. 4, 1860; John R Moore was dismissed Sept. 19, 1858. Evidently, William, John R's family and some others moved to Arkansas in the fall of 1858.

William wrote a good hand and was fairly well informed on general matters essential to successful life, but his school days were rather brief. When a boy he attended at a log house on the old Moore place. One winter while staying with Aunt Polly Moore he probably went a few weeks to the old Rice School House, under Samuel Lyrtle who married Sarah Wilson. He also went some to his uncle, Dr. John Moore, as his brothers, Charles, Joe and Jeremiah did. For a number of years at different times Dr. Moore had a few boys recite to him in his own house. Dr. Moore was a great teacher. How long William went to him I do not know, perhaps not a great while.

William went early in life to learn his trade of wagon-maker in the home of John R. Moore in Greeneville. He often visited home, was careful to write home and always good to help his father in any special stress of work. It was his rule to spend from a week to ten days at home in harvest, before he went west. He was truly a loyal son and a big brother to all the family. He was social in his nature, generous almost to a fault, and a lover of his kith and kin.

(The foregoing is signed by Jeremiah Moore, his brother, who was a president of Tusculum College at Tusculum, Tenn.)




 

 

 

Tribute No. 2:

Soon after coming to Arkansas, William Moore engaged in the wagon-making and blacksmith business with John R. Pyeatt of Cane Hill. A few years later he married Mr. Pyeatt's daughter, Katherine. She was an earnest Christian and had as good an education as a girl could get there at that time. She was a good help and often  teaching with a baby on her lap. There were six children: Henry, Charles, Lonnie, Bettie, Lucy and Melvin. Four lived to be grown.

After four  years service with the South in the Civil War, he and Mr. Pyeatt and his son Henry Pyeatt engaged in the flour mill and saw mill business. Their earliest machinery was bought at Cincinnati, Ohio and brought by boat down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and up the Arkansas as far as boats could go, thence over the mountains by wagons. Henry Pyeatt later retired from the partnership and became a merchant.

With his farm and mill, William Moore led a busy life. In those buys years he was always learning something worth while. He bought books, good ones, and read as often as he could, in some measure gratifying that thirst for knowledge which characterized his early life. As a boy plowing in the field, he wanted to write and "cipher" so badly that he would mark on his shoes trying to learn. He took a number of newspapers always some church papers, also milling and farming papers. He bought books to help in the Christian life and to aid in his Sunday School work. As Superintendent or teacher for more than 50 years, he was always trying to improve his work. In the church he served as deacon and as elder for 40 years or more.

While the children were small, Mother died. Later he married cousin Josephine Moore. She was a strong helpful woman and carefully reared the children, though a great task it must have been. She died after they were all grown. Later he married another good woman, Mother's cousin, Annie Crawford. A fortunate man was he in having three such helpmeets.

He was 70 young in spirit, strong in body, and cheerful in heart. He was seldom sick. Though working hard, he did not abuse his health, and at 80 could drive his binder to cut his what crop.

Family prayers were always held in his home. Rare indeed was the occasion when this was omitted. It was not a pretentious home, but was a home that we loved because father was there, which meant love dwelt there. His last illness was about ten days. He underwent an operation from which he did not recover. He "passed Over" as the church bells were ringing on Sunday morning, June 3, 1917. Always we shall thank God for such a father.

                                                                                                          Written by his daughter Lucy


** Taken from pages 7-8 of the WCHS's publication FLASHBACK Vol. XI, No. 4 November, 1961


Excerpts from the 145-Year Old Diary of William S. Moore of Boonsboro (Cane Hill), Arkansas

In the August 1961 issue of FLASHBACK, page 28, reference was made to a diary-memorandum-account book kept by Mr. William S. Moore, proprietor of Moore's Mill at Boonsboro (now Cane Hill) during the 1860s. The nicely bound pocket-size book is now (1961) owned by Mr. Moore's granddaughter Mrs. Juanita Moore Caldwell of Avoca, Ark.

During the years some of the pencil entries have become illegible. However the following transcript of some of the diary entries covering a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio, and Mr. Moore's old home in East Tennessee, will reveal some of the discomforts experienced in traveling in those days, as well as some of the costs of travel. The trip to Cincinnati and Louisville was for the purpose of purchasing an engine for the mill.


The diary reflects that Mr. Moore not only had a liberal education but that he also had plenty of common sense. Some of the spelling may not meet with Webster's approval but Mr. Moore got the job done intelligently. For example, he used "Elinois Bio" for the Illinois Bayou which flows into the Arkansas just west of Russellville;  "brakefast for breakfast; "nocking" for knocking; and "Nepolian" for Napoleon, and early-day town at the confluence of the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers.

The part of the diary from Boonsboro to Van Buren can not be deciphered, but beginning at Van Buren, March 22, 1868, read on:

Sunday, 22: Made a start from VanBuren, but it was only a start for we are aground about a quarter mile below Van Buren, and it is near 5 o'clock.

23rd: VanBuren is in sight yet. we lay last night a mile below VanBuren, We are around now and it is 10 o.c.  I would guess.

24th: Still where we was at 10 o.c. yesterday but feel the boat rocking. Think we will get away from here today. Got off and landed about dark.

25th: Started soon and got down to Sawyer's (?) and we are aground again. Are looking for a small boat up every hour. A dream last night and it was about another boy. VanBuren 22. Dear_____ I will come on first boat __. Do not therefore present the paper I ____ to Adams. I will ____ the day I get ____.  Your Friend, JJ ____. William M. Daniels Anthony House. Scott Lawson & Co., Little Rock.

Thursday, 26th: Haven't been aground today but it is 4 o'clock. John McClellan was at Mrs. N (M?) today a little while in the morning. The river is rising a litt, 1 inch an hour.

27th: Are nocking a long a little. Has been aground two or three times. Camped or anchored for the night in sight of the steamer Hamilton, whitch has sunk and they say a wreck. We passed Ozark.

28th, Saturday: Passed the sunk steamer Hamilton and Hesper also sunk, with the steamer Gleaner by her side taken off cotton. Mr. W. McBride and wife was aboard the Gleaner. She started to VanBuren but failed to get up the river. Landed at Spadra and took on some cotton. The VanBuren met us there. Seen a Mr. M---- there on his way to Washington County from Greenville, East Tennessee. Lay at H---- below the mouth of Piney.

29th: Started at sunrise. Got aground but soon got off. Lewisburg 50 miles from there to Little Rock.

30th: Got to Little Rock about 4 o'clock in the evening.

31st: Slept on the Peerless last night. Took dinner at the Commercial House. Went to Mrs. N? with J.T. McC.

April 1st: Stayed at the Anthony House last night. John left at 4 for Arkadelphia. I left the Rock at 7 o.c. this morning. Got to Devalls Bluff at 12 o.c. and got dinner aboard the steamer Liberty - for Memphis.

April 2nd: got out of White River last night about 3 o'clock. Passed Fryer Point 15 miles below Helena. Got to Helena half after 1 and left in a short time. The steamer Rochnoner (?) passed us there.

3rd: Got to Memphis last night at 12 o c and took this morning train for Louisville. Dinner at Paris. Arrived at Russellville, Kentucky 8p.m.

4th: Brakefast at Bowling Green; arrived at Louisville at 2 pm and took steamer American for Cincinnati. She is a large boat 315 feet long.

April 5th: Arrived at Cincinnati this morning for brakf. Nocked around a while through town. This is a very dirty looking town and the day wore away.

6th: Have been around among the shops getting their price for work. The Ohio Machine Works offer to furnish an engine for 1950$. Lane and Co for 2250$, Greenwald 2025$. Had another offer for 2000$ and he makes a good machine but couldn't make one as soon as I wanted.

7th: Was at J&H P Straubs today but didn't traid any with him. Made a traid with I & E Greenwall today for an engine for 2025 dollars.

8th: Didn't do much today. Looked over town.

9th: Settled things up and took passage on the steamer America for Louisville at 5 pm

10th: Left Louisville at 8 1/2 this morning for Chattanooga. Dinner at Bowling Green, 72 miles from Nashville about 4 pm.

11th: Got to Chattanooga this morning a little before day. Got home late in the evening.

12th: Went visiting today and saw a good many old acquaintances.

13th: Went over to see Uncle John and Tomey (?). To my Aunt Susey. Took dinner at Dave Jewell's. ----Mother, Aunt Sallie, Pollie, Dave Galbraith and Mary present.

14th: Went over to see Old Coz Sallie Holt and Aunt Jane. Sister Lucy along with me came down to sister Betties and stayed all night. Jo and Jerry came over and stayed all night.

15th: It rained until about 12 o. c. Got dinner at Bettie's and went up to Dave G's and met Papy J A Galbraith and wife. D. Jewell and wife, Laney and Lizzie Ross came over to Uncle John's.
16th: At Uncle John's last night. Lucy and Margaret came over and stayed all night. Went over and took dinner at Uncle Tomeys. Mary Farmers (?) was there and sister Lucy went home in the evening.

17th: Left home in company with sister Margaret. Far over the ridge took dinner at Aunt Pollie's. Went down and stayed all night with Aunt Sallie.

18th: Jo was over last night. Coz Liz Ross and sister Mag and I went over to Aunt Rise's and took dinner. Came back to Aunt Pollie's.

19th: Stayed last night with Aunt Pollie. Jerry came over. Was over at Old Mt. Bethel today and heard Coz Rankin preach. Was but few there that I knew. How changed. Where are they? Went to Greenville after preaching and stayed with James Galbraith over night.

20th: Went to W.B. Rankin's and to J. Wilson. Took dinner at Galbraith's and started out home. Stopped at Moisers and Johnsons. Got home.

21st:  Rained. Aunt Susie and Mary Jane came over in the evening. Went home with them.

22nd: Stayed last night at Uncle John's. Went home for brakefast. Went over to see Aunt Jane Galbraith. Took dinner with Dave Jewell. Went home and seen Aunt Sallie. John Moore came over.

23rd: Started for the West. Sue, Jo, Jerry and Margaret went over to the depot with me. Landed at Concord. Oh how hard it is to part dear dear friends that we loved.

24th: Stayed last night with Uncle Joe Galbraith. Went up to Lee's today.

25th: Stayed at Uncle Joe's last night. Went to see Coz An Hann (?). Left Concord about 3 o.c. for Memphis. Thomas Olmet (?) was aboard going West with me, got to Chattanooga about 9pm. Took the Memphis train. Fare $15.50.

26th: Got to Memphis at 6pn Stopped at the Worsham House. Found Walter Parks and stayed with him.

27th: Have been strolling around town today. Have paid for passage to Little Rock. Far 15 Dollars on the steamer Celeste. Left Memphis 6pm

28th: Passed Helena about 6 this morning. Got to Napolian by 12 am and left in about an hour for the Rock.

29th: Nothing of interest took place today. Land every little while to put off freight and take on a passenger. Got to Pine Bluff about 7 pm. Seen Mr. Patterson.

30th: All getting along well today. Got to Little Rock about 4pm

May 1st: This has been a very restless day with me. About ready to start on the steamer to Ozark and it is 5pm Left in a short time.

2nd: Still steaming up the river. Got to Lewisburg this morning at sunrise. Got to Galley Rock at half past 9 am Traveling on a steam boat is a very slow way to get along when one is wanting to get home and see the dear ones there, particularly one that he hasn't seen. Got to Dardanelle at 1 pm ad are there yet at 7:30. Think we will get away in a short time. They are firing up.
Sunday May 3rd, 1868: This is Sunday again and I am still away from home. Oh how I would love to be there today. We got along very slow last night. Was at the mouth of Piney this morning when I got up. Passed the wreck of the Florence below Spadra and passed the sunken steamer Hesper on Logan's Bar above Spadra.

4th: Haven't anything worth writing. Will get to Van Buren some time this evening I guess. Are at Savages now. Got to Van Buren at seven.

5th: We left Van Buren last night about - - - to - - -Hill - - - Pyeatt got a horse at Van Buren and - - - up to Mr. Babs (?).

(Later entries)

May 12th: Was at VanBuren. 20th:At Vanburen after - - - - -. Left Van Buren in the evening. Camped at Foster's

18th: Got old shed cleared away.
19th:We are laying the foundation today and got the sills in.
20th: Raised the building today.
22nd: Laid the timber for the engine in the house.
23rd:Rolled the boiler down and got itin.
24th:Got the standpipe and furnes front up today.
25th: Got the mane shaft and some other tricks up.
26th: Raised the chimney.
27th:Got the pump up and the safety valve on.
July 6th: Got the engine to running today. Grandpaw got his hand hurt.
July 21st: Got the saw started today. Think it will do very well.



1881 Painting of the Moore-Buchanan Mill at Cane Hill by Henry Moore, son of William M. Moore.

*Pages 3-6 of the WCHS's publication FLASHBACK Vol. XI, No4. November, 1961

The Old Mill At Cane Hill by W.J. Lemke

Painting of the Moore-Buchanan Mill at Cane Hill by 19-year old Henry Moore

 



 

Grist mills and saw-mills form an interesting chapter in the early history of Washington County. Next to churches and schools they played an important part in the development of civilization on the frontier. Very little has been written about the early mills, although such names as Blackburn, Stele, Woodruff, Rhea, Fresychlag, Hewitt, Pegram, VanWinkle, Pyeatt and other millers are familiar.

Many remember the mills at Cane Hill, Johnson, War Eagle, Farmington, Savoy, Evansville, Dutch Mills and elsewhere, but not much specific information about the mills and the millers is available. For example, Civil War maps show "Kidd's Mill" and "Pierson's Mill Pond" between Cane Hill and Clyde, but there is no other information available about these two early mills.

Legend credits Mark Bean with the construction of an early mill at the Bean's Spring between Cane Hill and Lincoln. This is strictly legend. Bean had been operating salt works in the Indian Territory at an early date (probably before 1826). When the Cherokee Treaty of 1828 compelled him to give up the salt business-- for which the Federal government reimbursed him handsomely -- he moved to Cane Hill -- actually three miles north of present-day Cane Hill.

Best known and best authenticated Cane Hill mill was the mill built about a mile north of the village by John Rankin Pyeatt and known before the War as the Pyeatt mill. In 1861 William S. Moore married John Rankin Pyeatt's daughter and the mill became the Moore-Pyeatt Mill. The mill undoubtedly suffered damage during the War, as did mills at Evansville, Dutch Mills, and elsewhere. But usually the mills were spared, since they were used by both armies as well as by civilian residents of the area.



After the War, William S. Moore replaced the machinery in his mill. It is the story of his trip to Cincinnati, Ohio, to buy mill machinery, based on his diary, that makes this newly discovered material of historical importance. The diary is in the possession of his granddaughter, Mrs. George L. Caldwell, a member of the WCHS.

After John Rankin Pyeatt died in 1895, the mill was still known as the Moore-Pyeat Mill until Walter Buchanan, W.S. Moor's son-in-law, went into partnership with him early in the 1900's. Then it became the Moore-Buchanan Mill and was moved to a location about one mile south of Cane Hill, where the old water wheel is still standing (1961). The mill discontinued operation about 30 years ago ( 1930's). It has since been dismantled and only the big mill wheel remains.

The old mill at Cane Hill was much photographed. The picture above is from an oil painting that hangs in the home of Mrs. George Caldwell at Avoca, Ark. The painter of the "primitive" was Henry Moore, father of Mrs. Caldwell and son of the pioneer miller, William S. Moore. The painting, in bright colors and with great attention to detail, has captured the spirit of pioneer days.

Young Henry Moore

A request to Mrs. Caldwell for information about the painting brought this reply:

"I can't find the date of building the mill in the painting, but from some notes that W.S. Moore made in a diary, it was remodeled in 1868. At various times the mill made flour and cornmeal, sawed logs, carded wool, and made caskets. The last two I never saw, but the four-cornmeal-lumber doings I remember quite well, because I was being forever warned to stay away.

"The mill in the painting was one mile north of Canehill on the west side of the road at the foot of the bluff. (The old Moore home can still be seen on the bluff--built by W.S. Moore's father-in-law and willed to W.S. Moore. The Moore house was the first frame house built in Cane Hill - so they say.)

"Water for the mill (steam mill) was pumped by ram from nearby spring through a trough on a trestle, which can be seen in the painting. (As a child, I thought this ram was a sheep and couldn't understand how a sheep in a ram-well could force water to the mill. I wasn't allowed to go near the place, lest I fall in.)

"The painting of the mill was made by my father, Henry Moore, when he was about 19 years old, in 1881. (My mother told me this.) He graduated from Cane Hill College in 1881, from Arkansas Medical College (Little Rock) in 1883, and attended Washington University in St. Louis in 1883-84, then practiced medicine in Cane Hill (under Doctor Welch) till he was married in 1886. He then went to Llano, Texas, and practiced medicine. He died there in 1897.

"Henry Moore painted a picture of Cane Hill College at about the same time that he painted the mill. Relatives tell me that my father would paint any and everything at the drop of a hat, but the paintings of the mill and the college are the only ones I have been able to find."

Additional facts about the old mill are furnished by Mrs. Clem Edmiston Pyeatt, widow of John Pyeatt, who wrote to Mrs. Nita Moore Caldwell as follows:

I am sending you a picture of the mill taken in 1909, after it was moved to the present location south of Canehill. I am pretty sure it was torn down and moved there in 1902. Rankin Pyeatt and Grandpa Henry Pyeatt ran the mill north of Canehill and it must have been started before the Civil War. Grandpa Henry married Tommy Yates and went to Sugar Loaf, near Fort Smith, and ran a saw mill there. 

 

 

 

 

"It was about that time that W.S. Moore went into the Canehill mill with Rankin Pyeatt. They bought wool and Mr. Al Horsman ran the carding machine and made yarn, with which the people knitted socks. I remember hearing them say that Grandpa Henry had a knitting machine and knitted all the families' socks.

"Old negro Mark McClellan fired the furnace for the boiler and was scalded to death there by an explosion of the boiler. Old Tom Diffebaugh (negro) hauled the Canehill flour to Neosho, Mo., and Okmulgee and Muskogee, Okla. in wagons and sold it to merchants and then brought the money back.

"Mr. Joe Davis was the miller there for a long time." (Editor's note: Mrs Davis says her father did not work there after 1905. -- WJL)

The land on which the original mill was located is covered by Preemption Certificate for 160 acres, issued to John Rankin Pyeatt on Aug 20, 1838. The mill property is described in more detail, in this paragraph from John Rankin Pyeatt's will, dated Sept. 23, 1886 and probated Feb. 8, 1897:

"I give, devise and bequeath to Wm. S. Moore, for the use and benefit of himself and his children by his first wife, Catherine Pyeatt, all of my right, title and interest in and to the following described land, which includes my homestead and the Mill Property, viz: A part of the southwest 1/4 of section four (4) and more particularly described as follows. It is bound on the west by the section line, and on the north by the quarter section, and on the east by a tract of land now owned by Sam Cole, and on the southeast and south by a tract of land formerly owned by Dr. Samuel McColloch and by a tract conveyed by me to Henry C. Pyeatt, and contains in all about sixteen (16) acres more or less, and is situated in township 14 north, of range thirty-two (32) west."

***The above is from the Washington County Historical Society's publication FLASHBACK Vol. XI, No. 4 November, 1961 pgs 1-3