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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. CLEVELAND (FORMERLY DORSEY)
COUNTY-DESCRIPTION-STATISTICS-ORGANIZATION-COUNTY SEAT AND SHIP LINES-LIST OF SUCCESSIVE COUNTY
OFFICERS-CIRCUIT COURT-RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT-VILLAGES AND
POST-OFFICES EARLY SETTLERS-TIIE CIVIL WAR-THE COUNTY
PRESS -RAILROADS AND GENERAL PROGRESS- BIOGRAPHI Extremes of fortune are true wisdom's test, CLEVELAND COUNTY is situated in ,the
southeast part of the State, in the third tier of counties from the Louisiana State line,
and in the third from the Mississippi State line. It is bounded north by Dallas, Grant and
Jefferson Counties; east by Lincoln and Drew Counties; south by Bradley County, and west
by Calhoun and Dallas Counties. The Saline River flows in a southeasterly course through
the central part of the county, and in the central and northern parts receives several
small tributary streams. Another tributary has its source in the northeast corner of the
county, flows southeasterly into Lincoln County, and forms a junction with the Saline a
few miles south of the southern county line, near its southeast corner. Besides the Saline
River, the best-known streams are Moro, Derreiseaux and Big Creeks. The surface of the
county is rolling and uneven, though in a general sense it is nearly level. Only a small
portion is under cultivation, the balance being much of it heavily timbered. Cotton and
corn are the principal agricultural products. There are lumber mills in all parts. The
county has no mineral deposits of known value, and its underlying geological formation is
marked by no peculiarities to distinguish it from other parts of Southeastern Arkansas
similarly situated. The county has an area of 340, 685 acres. Its real and personal
property is assessed at 81,441,000. Its population does not vary much from 10,000, about
3,000 of which are colored. Dorsey County was formed by act of
Legislature, April 1 7, 1873. In 188 its name was changed to Cleveland County, in honor of
S. Grover Cleveland, then President of the United States, it not being deemed desirable by
a majority of the citizens to longer perpetrate the memory of Stephen W. (" Star
Route ") in the name of the county. The first meeting of the Dorsey County Board of
Supervisors was held at Pleasant Ridge, on May 17, 1873, and organized with Jo Gray as
president. Little was accomplished beyond the division of the county into townships. At
the next meeting, at Toledo, June 2, the residence of N. V. Barnett was declared a
temporary court-house. The county seat was located at Toledo, July 7, and the county
purchased the residence in that village of M. T. McGehee, for a court-house, and remodeled
it for such use. It was a large well arranged frame building, the ground floor providing
accommodations for the several county officials, while the court-room was above. This
building was burned about 2 A. M. March 9, 1889, and the fire is believed to have been of
incendiary origin. Since that time the sessions of the county
court have been held in a building on the south side of the "square," which also
contains the office of the county and circuit clerk, and those of the circuit court have
been held in the village school-house, where jury rooms have also been provided. The
offices of the sheriff and treasurer are at the residences of those officials. The jail
was built in 1875, and previous to that time prisoners of this county were detained in the
jails of neighboring counties. After the destruction of the courthouse, other villages in
the county became ambitious for the possession of the seat of justice, and Rison,
Kingsland, Beasley's Switch and New Edinburg, each petitioned in its own interests. An
election to choose a location to which the county seat should be removed was held June 29,
1889, resulting in no choice. A second election was held August 17, following, and Rison
had an apparent majority of seven votes. Kingsland contested its claim showing an apparent
majority of thirteen, and the county court decided in favor of that place. The contest was
continued by Rison in the circuit court, and the latter tribunal awarded Rison the
victory. The case was appealed by Kingsland and to the supreme court and is yet pending. May, 17, 1873, the board of supervisors,
consisting of Jo Gray, president, and James H. Bridges and James R. McCullough, divided
the county into eight political townships, named Red Land, Lee, Saline, White Oak,
Whiteville, Smith, Miller and Harper. The boundaries of the several townships were
established as follows: Red Land" Shall commence at the southwest corner of Dorsey
County; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 11, south of Range 11
west; thence following the range line north to the Saline River; thence with said river to
the township line between Townships 9 and 10, in Range 11 west; thence with said township
line to the Moro Creek; thence down said creek to the place of beginning." Lee"
Shall commence at the southwest corner of Section 31, Township 11, south of Range 10 west;
thence with the county line east to Saline River; thence up said river to the point where
said Saline River crosses the range line between Townships 10 and 11; thence south with
said range line to the point of beginning." Saline-"Shall commence at the point
where the township line between Townships 9 and 10 crosses the Moro Creek, and with said
line east to the Saline River; thence up said river to the northern boundary of Dorsey
County, and with said boundary line west to the northwest corner of said county; thence
with the western boundary of said county to the point of beginning." White Oak-"
Shall commence on Saline River, at the mouth of Derreiseaux Creek; thence up said creek to
the township line between Townships 8 and 9; thence with said line east to the Big Creek;
thence up said creek to the northern boundary of Dorsey County; thence west with said
boundary to the Saline River; thence down said river to the place of beginning."
Whiteville-"Shall commence at the point where the township line between Townships 8
and 9 crosses the Big Creek; thence east to the eastern boundary of Dorsey County; thence
north with said boundary line to the northeast corner of said county; thence west with the
northern boundary of said county to the Big Creek; thence down said creek to the point of
beginning." Smith-"Beginning on the Saline River at the mouth of Big Creek;
thence up said creek to the township line between Townships 8 and 9; thence with said
township line to Derreiseaux Creek; thence down said creek to the Saline River; thence
down said river to the point of beginning." Miller" Shall commence at the point
where the township line between Townships 9 and 10 crosses the Big Creek; thence east with
said township line to the eastern boundary of Dorsey County; thence north with said
boundary to the township line between Townships 8 and 9; thence with said township line
west to Big Creek; thence down said creel: to the point of beginning."
Harper-"Shall commence at the point where the southern boundary of Dorsey County
crosses the Saline River; thence with said south boundary of said county east to the
southeast corner of said county; thence north with the east boundary of said county to
the. township line between Townships 9 and 10; thence west with said line to the Big
Creek; thence down said Big Creek to the Saline River; thence down said river to the point
of beginning." Bowman Township was created at the July term of the county court,
1818, from the territory of Whiteville and Miller Townships, and its boundaries were
described as follows: "Beginning at the Dorsey and Jefferson County line, on the
section line between Sections 1 and 6; thence south on said section line, which divides
Ranges 9 and 1'J, to Brushy Creek; thence down the channel of said creek to where it
empties into Big Creek; thence along the channel of Big Creek to the line between Dorsey
and Jefferson Counties; thence along said county line easterly to the place of
beginning." Hurricane Township was erected by the county court, August 5, 1878, by a
division of Harper Township, making "the township line between Townships 10 and 11
south, Range 9 west, the dividing line," that portion lying north of said line to be
called Harper Township, and that portion south of said line "to be cabled and known
as Hurricane Township." Prairie Township was erected July 20, 1874, from Saline and
Red Land Townships, and bounded thus: " Commencing at the northwest corner of Section
15, in Township 9, south of Range 13 west; thence east along said section line through
Township 9 south, of Range 12 west, to Saline River; thence south down said river to the
northeast corner of Section 1, in Township 10 south, of Range 11 west; thence south with
the eastern boundary of Red Land Township to the southeast corner of Section 13, in
Township 10, south of Range 11 west; thence west along said section line through Township
10 south, of Range 12 west, to Moro Creek; thence north up said creek to the point of
beginning." The following record appears under date October 1, 18 74: " On this
day is presented to the board the petition of W. D. Marks and nine others, citizens and
electors of Lee Township, and J. J. . Mitchell and five other citizens of Prairie
Township, praying the court to make the following changes in the boundaries of Lee and
Prairie Townships, and have the same added to the territory of Red Land Township, viz.: To
cut off from Lee Township the territory lying north from a line commencing at the
southwest corner of Section 30, and running east to the Saline River, embracing about
twelve square miles, and lying principally in the Saline Bottom, all in Township 10 south,
Range 10 west; and to cut off from Prairie Township Sections 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, in
Township 10 south, Range 11 west, containing five square miles. Said petition being
considered by the board is granted." Niven Township was formed from the following
described territory of White Oak Township, October B, 1873: " That portion of the
township lying between the Saline River on the west and the Derreiseaux Creek on the east,
and Grant County line on the north." In October, 1875, all that portion of Lee
Township lying west of Bridge Creek was annexed to Red Land Township. January 3, 1881,
Section 17, Township 10 south, Range 10 west, of Red Land Township, was attached to Smith
Township. October 7, 1874, Sections 9, 10 and 11, of Township 9, Range 13, of Saline
Township, were annexed to Prairie Township. In July, 1888, Sections 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,
2?, 34, 35 and 36, Township 10, Range 12, .a part of the territory of Red Land Township,
was annexed to Prairie Township. Tisdale Township was created April 8, 1884, from a
portion of Smith Township, described as follows: "Sections 4, 5 and B, Township 9
south, Range 10 west, and Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12, east of Derreiseaux
Creek, in Township 9 south, Range 11 west, and Section 31, Township 8 south, Range 10
west, west of Big Creek, and Sections 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, Township 8 south, Range 11
west, east of Derreiseaux Creek, and Sections 15, 18, 21, 22, 23 and 24, and part of
Section 27, east of Saline River, and Section 34, east of Saline River, in Township 9
south, Range 11 west." At this time the county has thirteen political townships,
named and bounded as follows: Saline-north by the county line, east by White Oak, south by
Prairie, west by the county line; White Oak-north by the county line, east by Niven and
Tisdale, south and west by Saline; Niven-north by the county line, east by Bowman, south
by Tisdale, west by White Oak; Bowman-north by the county line, east by Whiteville and
Miller, south and west by Smith and Tisdale, west by Tisdale and Niven; Whiteville-north
and east by the county line, south by Miller, west by Bowman; Prairie-north by Saline,
east by Tisdale, Smith and Red Land, south by Red Land, west by the county line; Tisdale
north by Niven, east by Bowman and Smith, south by Smith, west by Prairie and White Oak;
Smith-north by Tisdale, east by Bowman, Miller and Harper, south by Red Land and Prairie,
west by Tisdale; Miller-north by Whiteville, east by the county line, south by Harper,
west by Smith and Bowman; Red Land-north by Prairie and Smith, east by Harper and Lee,
south by the county line, west by the county line and Prairie; Harper-north by Miller,
east by the county line, south by Hurricane, west by Red Land and Smith; Lee west and
north by Red Land, east by Hurricane, south by the county line; Hurricane-north by Harper,
east and south by the county line, west by Lee. The following are the names and terms of
service of the officers of this county: County and Probate Judge-John Fawcett,
1874-76 (died); W. P. Stephens, November, 1876-78 L. F. Oaks, 1878-82; J. H. Bridges,
1882-84; J. M. McCaskill, 1884-88; J. F. Johnson, 1888-90. Clerk-H. Hementred, 1873-74; E. P. Marks,
1874-78; N. D. Holmes, 1876-78, 1884-88; J. T. Renfrow, 1878-84; Woodson Moseley, 1888-90.
This official is ex officio clerk of the county and probate courts and recorder. Sheriff-S. W. McLeod, 1873-74; E. Kendall,
1874-76; A. D. Rogers, 1876-78; W. W. Carmical, 1878-80; H. W . Rogers, 1880-86; L. A.
Waldrop, 1886-90. Treasurer-11I. T. McGehee, 1873-74; S. John Coroner-E. Hobson, 1873-74; William Cash,
1874-78; William Garlington, 1878-80. W. C. Tomme, 1880-82; J. F. Crump, 1882-84; W. D.
Atwood, 1884-86; J. R. McWilliams, 1888-88; W. H. Barnett, 1888-90. Surveyor-J. N. Marks, 1873- 76, 1882-84,
1888-90; W. R. Wyatt, 1876-82; James Jewell, 1884-83; J. G. Culpepper, 1886-88. Assessor-C. B. Atwood, 1873-80; R. A. Tucker,
1880-90. Dorsey, Lincoln and Dallas Counties were
represented at the sessions of the State Legislature for 1874-75, in the Senate, by Thomas
Fletcher; Dorsey County was represented in the Lower House by B. B. Martin. In 1877
Lincoln, Dorsey and Dallas Counties were represented in the Senate by M. M. Duffle; Dorsey
in the House of Representatives, by W. H. Blankenship. In 1879 the senatorial
representation was unchanged. E. L. McMurtrey represented Dorsey County in the Lower
House. In 1881 Dorsey, Lincoln and Dallas Counties were represented in the Senate by John
Niven; Dorsey's member of the House of Representatives was N. Y. Barnett. Mr. Niven. still
represented his district in the Senate in 1883; Dorsey County was represented in the Lower
House by R. F. Foster. In 1885 J. G. Simmons represented Dorsey, Lincoln and Dallas
Counties in the Senate; J. M. Taylor was the member of the House of Representatives from
Dorsey County. In 1887 the name of Dorsey County had been changed, and Cleveland, Lincoln
and Dallas Counties were represented in the Senate by Mr. Simmons; R. F. Foster
represented Cleveland County in the Lower House. At the last session, Cleveland, Lincoln
and Dallas Counties were represented in the Senate by J. W. Patterson; Cleveland County
was represented in the Lower House by W. J. Stanfield. Cleveland County is in the Second
Congressional District, composed of Cleveland, Lincoln, , Grant, Jefferson, Arkansas,
Monroe, Prairie, Lonoke, Woodruff, White, Faulkner, Conway, Pope, Van Buren, Stone and
Cleburne Counties, represented by Hon. C. R Breckinridge. The county is in the Tenth
Judicial District, composed of Cleveland,
Chicot, Drew, Ashley, Bradley and Dallas Counties. Courts in this county are held on the
second Monday in March and September two weeks. The judge is Hon. C. D. Wood, of
Monticello, who was elected September 8, 1886, and whose term will expire October 30,
1890. The prosecuting attorney is R. C. Fuller, of Princeton, who was elected September 3,
1888, and whose term will expire October 30, 1890. Dorsey County was represented in the
Constitutional Convention of 1874 by Hon John Niven. The first term of the circuit court of Dorsey
(now Cleveland) County convened Tuesday, July 8, 1873. The county was then, as now, in the
Tenth Judicial District, and Hon. Henry B. Morse was then judge. Judge Morse being absent,
James R. McCullough was elected a special judge by the attorneys at the bar, to preside
over the court. The grand jurors summoned to serve at that term were Samuel McDaniel, H.
D. Word, J. J. Teigne, William Breathwit, W. E. Capps, W. K. Threadgill, J. E. Whitehead,
G. M. Marks, W. M. Hudson, E. H. Green, T. W. Mosley, Nathan Smith, L. F. Oaks, T. M. Woods, E. M. Orton, N. Rigans,
B. W. Graves, Ralph Abanatha, W. McMillan, T. S. May, Thomas M. Boyd, E. L. McMurtrey,
John Faucett, D. W. Wardlaw. The first panel consisted of Samuel McDaniel, J. E.
Whitehead, E. H. Green, L. F. Oaks, W. McMillan, T. M. Boyd, H. D. Word, W. E. Capps, G.
M. Marks, T. V. Mosley, T. M. Woods, B. W. Graves. T. S. May, J. J. Teigne, W. K.
Threadgill, W. M. Hudson. V. M. McGehee was the first prosecuting attorney. From time to
time some of the ablest, lawyers of the State have practiced at this bar, and from the
first the resident attorneys have many of them taken high rank. The following lawyers,
some of them citizens of the county, practice regularly in this court: M. L. Jones, W. P.
Stephens, A. W. Boyd, W. P. Grace, John A. Williams, J. M. Taylor, D. H. Rousseau, J. M.
McCaskill, W. S. Amis, J. H. Bridges, W. D. Jones, R. F. Foster, A. B. Grace, E. A.
Gibson, Samuel Taylor, R. H. Dedman. Several men have been tried for their lives in
Cleveland County, but only one has been convicted and hanged-Hugh Blackman (colored), in
1888, for murder. The first religious meetings in what is now
Cleveland County were held at the houses of settlers in different localities, under the
ministrations of such preachers as came through the country or were in any manner
available. Here and there a church house appeared as the fortunes of the people improved
and their numbers increased. Others were erected in turn, until at this time the county is
fairly well supplied with houses of worship, and about every popular religious
denomination is represented more or less strongly within its borders. Camp-meetings were
long popular and, when held, are still largely attended The early schools were as good as
the times and circumstances would admit of. The schools have been gradually improved and
have increased in There are in this county the following named
post-offices: Annover, Audley, Clio, Como, Cook, Graywood, Kedron, Kingsland, McKinney,
New Edinburg, Orlando, Pansy, Pinchback's Drills, Randall, Rison, Rowell, Toledo and White
Oak. Toledo, Rison and Kingsland are the most important of these points. The first has
been since the organization of the county its seat of justice, and as such it formerly
enjoyed considerable trade and prosperity. It is well located in the midst of a good
section of the county, and whether it retains the county seat or not, must have some
continued importance. It has a hotel, several stores and other business places, and a
population of about 100. Bison and Kingsland are contesting for the county seat, and there
is more than a fair prospect that one of them will obtain it. The former was incorporated
in 1890, the latter in 1884. Both are stations on the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas
Railroad. Rison has several stores of different kinds, and has a good and increasing
trade. The population is about 150. At Kingsland there is a furniture factory, giving
employment to quite a number of men, and a wagon shop does considerable local business.
The village contains a number of stores and has a population of about 600. New Edinburg is
a village of 200 population, enterprising and growing, the seat of a considerable trade.
At Rowell, formerly known as the Center, a good business was once done and there were
three or four stores. The general and drug store of Dr. W. J. Preston is the only business
enterprise there now. Several of the other post-offices named have some local trade, and
are convenient points of exchange for people living round about. Among the early settlers in what is now
Cleveland County, west of the Saline River were H. W. Rogers, Alexander Pinchback, the
Kennedys, "Thorn" Walker, De Kalb Wiley, Edmund Harrison, M. J. Harrison, Jo
Gray, Henry Rodgers, William Mall, John Seymour, Col. Green, Col. Thomas Atkinson, Stephen
Johnson, John Ledbetter, John Haskins, John S. Daniel, Isaac Rogers, A. L. Ross, Sampson
Rogers, Asa Griswold, H. Marks, John H. Marks, W. B. Smith, Daniel Frasier, Henry
Urquhart, William Davis, Nathaniel Barnett, Dr. W . D. Barnett, James McDaniel, Warren
Crane, Joseph Crane, William Mosley, Wiley Mosley, Jabez J. Mosley and Jack Webb. Among
those east of the Saline were the father of Col. E. L. McMurtrey and his family, Dr. T. W.
Chawning, Silas Baggett, W. C. Lane, Squire Littlefield, the Harrison family, Dr. C. A.
Stanfield, M. T. McGehee, T. M. Dansby, W. T. Brewer, Squire Wharton, Judge J. M.
Merriweather, Gabriel May and his sons, G. A. J., T. S., and J. J. May, David May, Robert
Harper, James Harper, the Blankenship family, Squire John Powers, Jack and James McElheny,
Johnson-Trucks, William Trucks, Rev. T. B. Little, the Tolson family, Nicholas Taliaferro
and family, N. V. Barnett, the Springer family, the Greens, Mr. Overton, father of Rev. J.
H. W. Overton, H. G. McCaskill and family, Robert Cherry, the Varnells, W. D. Holmes, Rev.
Stephen Treadwell and the Hodge family. Some events of much interest in connection with the war occurred in what is now Cleveland County in 1864 and 1865. The first of these was the affair at Mark's Mill. A Federal wagon-train, loaded with supplies, had been sent from Pine Bluff to Camden. It was accompanied by an escort from 1,000 to 1,500 strong, partly colored troops. On the return of the train from Camden, the Federals were ambushed at Mark's Mill by an overwhelming force of Confederates, and some whites and nearly all of the negroes were killed, and a large number of white prisoners were taken. After this affray, Capt. Barnes (Federal) was left with a company to guard the ferry at this point across the Saline River. His command was attacked by a force of Confederates from the west bank. There was no great mortality, but the horses of the Federal cavalrymen, tethered under the trees along the levee, were killed, and the Captain and his men were left dismounted: Shortly afterward it was learned by Gen. Clayton, at Pine Bluff, that an attempt would be made by Confederates to surround and capture Capt. Barnes and his command, and couriers were sent to warn him of his danger, and order his withdrawal, thus preventing a possible discomfiture to the Union forces. Several months later a Confederate force of Gen. Fagan's command was temporarily quartered near Longview, on the east bank of the Saline, in Ashley County, and -with the idea of capturing or driving the enemy from this point, Gen. Clayton went southward with a strong force from Pine Bluff, halting at Mount Elba, on the east side of the river. Here a pontoon bridge was laid, and about one hundred me crossed to the west side, and proceeded down the river as far as a point opposite Longview, Gen. Clayton, with the main body of his command, remaining at Mount Elba. The detachment found quite a detachment of Confederates encamped on the west shore of the river, at Longview. The principal part of the Southern force, however, was on the other aide. Not far from the camp, on the west aide, was a Confederate supply train. The Confederates in the camp mistook the Federal detachment for some of Shelby's men-for, in this part of the country, and at that time, many Confederate soldiers wore Federal uniforms-and offered no resistance when they dashed past them and down to the water's edge, where the Confederates had a pontoon bridge spanning the stream, and with considerable show of authority, ordered the Confederates to cross to the west side as rapidly as possible. Unquestioningly and unsuspectingly quite a number crossed, and the Federals made them prisoners, and at once cut the bridge to prevent pursuit by the Secessionists, who were compelled to stand by helplessly and see their wagon train burned and their horses pressed into service to carry away their comrades who had fallen into the hands of the Yankees. It was not long before the Confederate commander learned that the Federals had a pontoon bridge over the river at Mount Elba, and, supposing that the entire Federal force had crossed to the west side of the river, if it had not all been engaged in the strategic movement I above described, he hastened his troops up the east side of the river to Mount Elba, with the intention of destroying the bridge, and cutting off the Federal retreat. But he there unexpectedly met the main body of Clayton's command, and an engagement of some length and importance ensued, in which the Federal attachment west of the river returned in time to participate, and which resulted disastrously to the Confederates. The affair at Longview took place a little after sundown, and the engagement at Mount Elba began about 8 o'clock the following morning, the intervening time having been occupied by Gen. Fagan's men, and by the detachment of Clayton's force in going from Longview to Mount Elba. Two companies were recruited in the county for the Confederate service. Capt. Ben Taliaferro commanded the first, organized in June, 1861, which was attached to the Second Arkansas Infantry. Capt. E. L. McMurtrey organized the other, a cavalry company, in March, 1862. It became part of the Second Arkansas Cavalry. Both of these organizations did gallant service, and many of these members were killed and wounded. Source: Goodspeed's Biographical and Historical memoirs of Southern Arkansas |