BIOGRAPHIES

Sebastian County, Arkansas Genealogy Trails

BATES, James Woodson

LITTLE, John Sebastian

ROGERS, John H.

SEBASTIAN, William King

WILLARD, Joseph Henry

WINCHESTER, T. P.

JAMES WOODSON BATES

James Woodson Bates, brother of Edward Bates, a Delegate from the Territory of Arkansas; born in Goochland County, VA, August 25, 1788; attended Yale College and was graduated from Princeton College in 1807; studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Virginia; moved to St. Louis, Mo., in 1816, and thence to the Post of Arkansas in 1819; elected as first Delegate from Arkansas to the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Congresses and served from December 21, 1819 to March 3, 1823; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1822 to the Eighteenth Congress; resumed the practice of law in Batesville, Ark.; judge of the fourth judicial circuit of Arkansas Territory 1824-1828; judge of the superior court of Arkansas 1828-1832; delegate to the Arkansas state constitutional convention in 1835; judge of the probate court of Crawford County in 1836; register of the land office in Clarksville 1841-1845; died in Van Buren, Crawford County, Ark., December 26, 1846; interment in the family burying ground at Moores Rock, Crawford (now Sebastian) County, Ark.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present.

JOHN SEBASTIAN LITTLE

John Sebastian Little, a Representative from Arkansas; born at Jenny Lind, Sebastian County, Ark., March 15, 1853; attended the common schools and Cane Hill College, Arkansas; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1874 and commenced practice in Greenwood, Ark; elected district attorney in 1877, and reelected for four successive terms; member of the State House of Representatives in 1884; elected circuit judge in 1886 for a term of four years; chosen chairman of the State Judicial Convention in 1893; elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-third Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Clifton R. Breckinridge; reelected to the Fifty-fourth and to the five succeeding Congresses and served from December 3, 1894 until January 14, 1907, when he resigned, having been elected Governor of Arkansas; after being sworn in as Governor in January 1907, he suffered a physical and mental breakdown, from which he did not recover; died in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Ark., October 29, 1916; interment in City Cemetery, Greenwood, Ark.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-present.

HON. JOHN H. ROGERS, OF ARKANSAS

Transcribed by Laurie Selpien

JOHN H. ROGERS, of Fort Smith, who represents the Fourth Congressional District of Arkansas in the National Congress,
is a native of Bertie County, North Carolina. Here he was born October 9th, 1845. When he was seven years old his parents removed to Mississippi. He volunteered in the Confederate Army when but a mere boy, and served till the close of the war. He received his education at Centre College, in Danville, Kentucky, and at the University of Mississippi, in Oxford, Mississippi, graduating at the University, in 1868, and the same year he was admitted to the Bar. In 1869 he located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and commenced the practice of his profession. He was elected Circuit Judge in 1877, and was re-elected in 1878, but resigned in May, 1882. He was elected to the Forty-eighth and Forty-ninth Congresses as a Democrat. In his speech on the pensions appropriation bill Mr. Rogers said:
"Mr. Chairman, the Democratic party now in power may learn a valuable lesson from this testimony. In every Department of this Government to-day nearly every 35 chief of a division and some of the heads of bureaus have been retained. But few changes, comparatively speaking, have been made; and yet the Democratic party, charged with the responsibility of government, must and will be held responsible by the country for the correct administration of affairs. If this improper correspondence, in violation of the rules of the Pension Office, could be secretly and successfully carried on under a Republican administration, to the detriment of the public service and to, the demoralization of that bureau, without detection by its chief until it was brought to light by an examining committee of the House of Representatives, what may we expect when these same people are retained in office under an administration to which they are unfriendly? I invite the attention of the country to the candid consideration of the question presented. This very man Jacobs, of whom I have spoken, and Welty, also, are still in the Pension Office; and many other persons whose names have been mentioned in this evidence are still in the public service, some of them in important places. There are other branches of the public service subjected to the same abuses that sprung up in the Pension Office. The railway mail service, for instance, ramifies the entire country, and is out from under the immediate supervision of the heads of the Departments. I may at some future day have occasion to refer, in this connection, to that branch of the public service. Mr. Chairman, I may be pardoned for this brief digression. I now return to the subject under consideration that I may point out one other abuse in the Pension Office developed by that investigation. During the investigation referred to, the committee required Mr. Brock, a clerk in the Pension Office, whose duty it was to keep an account of the leaves of absence of the various employees of that office, to prepare a statement. He prepared a partial statement, and it is found on pages 238, 229 and 230 of, the published report. It shows that thirty-nine employees in that bureau were absent with pay, in excess of their annual leave, for various periods of time during that War. In almost every instance this leave was granted during the fall elections, and granted by the Acting Secretary of the Interior, Mr. Joslyn, and without the recommendation of the Acting Commissioner of Pensions, Mr. Clarke. Now, Mr. Chairman, these abuses were all developed by that investigation. The attention of Mr. Dudley was called to them. He had every opportunity of reading the testimony, and I believe that in no instance has he been able to explain, upon any reasonable hypothesis, why these abuses were permitted. In many instances he asserted his ignorance of these things; but he could not hope to be otherwise when his own time was being devoted to the Ohio and Indiana campaigns to the neglect of the duties of the Pension Office."
Source:  From the book, OUR GREAT MEN OR THE LEADERS OF THE NATION, by BUTTOLPH, PH. B.,  1887
(In this volume the author has endeavored to give impartial biographical sketches, together with extracts from their best speeches, of the leaders of the Nation. C. E. Buttoph)

WILLIAM KING SEBASTIAN

William King Sebastian, 1812-1865, United States Senator from Arkansas 1848-1861, party-Democrat; born in Centerville, Hickman County, Tenn., in 1812; graduated from Columbia College, Tennessee about 1834; studied law; admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Helena, Ark. in 1835; later became a cotton planter; prosecuting attorney 1835-1837; circuit judge 1840-1843; associate justice of the State Supreme Court 1843-1845; member and president of the State senate 1846-1847; presidential elector on the Democratic ticket in 1846; appointed in 1848 and subsequently elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Chester Ashley; reelected in 1853 and 1859 and served from May 12, 1848 to July 11, 1861, when he was expelled for support of the Confederate insurrection; chairman, Committee on Manufactures (Thirty-first and Thirty-second Congresses), Committee on Indian Affairs (Thirty-third through Thirty-sixth Congresses); returned to Helena, Ark, where he resided during the Civil War and practiced law; after federal troops occupied Helena, Ark, moved to Memphis, Tenn. in 1864 and resumed the practice of law; died in Memphis May 20, 1865; interment near Helena in the Dunn Family burying ground; in 1877, the Senate revoked the resolution of expulsion and paid the full amount of compensation to Sebastian's children.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present.

JOSEPH HENRY WILLARD

Written and contributed by Frank E. Vanderbilt, Great-grandson

After one hundred and six years, Joseph Henry Willard's resting place in Fort Smith's Oak Cemetery has been identified with a monument.
Joe's 5great-grandfather was Major Simon Willard who immigrated to Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634 from Horsmonden, Kent, England.
Joe's father, Samuel Morrison Willard, was born in Rockingham, Vermont ca 1812, enlisted in the 3rd Infantry at Albany, New York in 1829 and was stationed in Indian Territory, at Camp Pheonix, which was later to be known as Fort Towson.
Samuel married Martha G. Oates in Pulaski County Arkansas in 1837.  They had six children, all born at or near Fort Towson, Choctaw Nation.  He was discharged in 1840 with the rank of Sergeant.  It is assumed that he remained at Fort Towson as an Agent for the Quartermaster until about 1850.  He was a Justice of Peace in Crawford County, Arkansas in 1853.  Postmaster at Houchubee, Indian Territory for five months in 1858.  He was listed as living with his family in the Upper Twp, Sebastian County, Arkansas in the 1860 U. S. Census.
Samuel was an Agent for the Quartermaster at Fort Smith in 1861.  He was commissioned a Captain, Assistant Commissary of Subsistence GSA on General Albert Pike's staff, 17 February 1862.  His last assignment was Post Commissary at Doaksville where he was on the staff of Major General Samuel Maxey, 15 June 1864.  He remained there until the end of the war.
Joe, like his father, joined the Confederate cause and enlisted as a Drummer on the roster of A Company, 3rd Arkansas Infantry, Fort Smith Rifles.  The National Archives reports J. Willard as slightly wounded during the battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri 10 August 1861.  His brother, Charles, was a musician of Captain Spark's Company A, Fort Smith Greys.  His brother, William, had gone to Vermont prior to the Census in 1860 where he was living with his grandparents.  William enlisted in the Union Army, the 2nd Regiment, Company C of the Vermont Volunteer Infantry.  He served four years as a Drummer.
During the war the family moved to the Choctaw Nation, where Joe married Susan J. Davis, daughter of Thomas P. and Elizabeth Davis, ca. 1866.  They had five children and lived for some time in the vicinity of the Council House near Trahern Station.  Susan was the postmistress at the Council House Post Office.  She died ca. 1879.
After Susan's death the children were sent to live with different aunts.  Joseph remarried.
Joseph was a Deputy U. S. Marshal under Marshals Britton, Roots, Sarder, Fagen and Dell.  He quit when Upham was appointed, but was again commissioned as a deputy when Dell became Marshall in 1881.
The following is a story concerning his death which was printed in the Fort Smith Elevator February 6, 1885:  "COME HOME TO DIE, JOE H. WILLARD DIES UNATTENDED AT THE CITY HOTEL IN THIS CITY"
On Saturday night, January 24th, Joseph Henry Willard, well known in this community and all over Indian Territory, walked into the City Hotel about 10 o'clock and asked for a room, was assigned to one and remained quietly about the hotel, complaining of not feeling well, though he was able to be out every day.
He appeared to be in a very despondent frame of mind, and seemed to avoid making his presence in the city generally known.  He ate comparatively nothing and would retire to his room at an early hour in the evening and remained in bed until 10 or 11 o'clock every day.  Mr. Pat Keating usually went to his room before retiring to see if he desired anything, but always met with the same answer, "nothing wanted."  
Thursday night Joe went to his room about 7 o'clock and retired.  About 10 o'clock Friday some of the boarders sleeping in adjoining rooms heard groans in Willard's room, but as he had been groaning every night some, no attention was paid to it.  About 10 o'clock Pat Keating was called, and going to the room found Joe in a dying condition on the bed, with froth issuing from his mouth.  He immediately sent for a doctor nd endeavored to arouse the dying man, but to no purpose.  Dr. Saunders came in time to witness his death, and pronounced it heart disease, and a corners' jury rendered a verdict in accordance with his views without a post mortem examination of the body.
In his overcoat pocket was found an Odd Fellows traveling card and a certificate of membership to a Good Templars Society.  On the back of the latter was written in pencil the following:
"If anything should happen to me I wish my friends to write to my mother, Mrs. M. G. Willard, Goodland, IT., and also to my wife, Mrs. J. H. Willard, Guilford Centre, Vt.  I am very sick and have been sick ever since I left home.  I am an Odd Fellow, as my traveling card will show, and am entitled to $50 from the lodge for funeral benefits--Wamtrastiquet Lodge No. 5, Brattleborro, Vt.  My effects consisting of one trunk, one valise and umbrella, I would like sent to my mother.
J. H. Willard"
This note contained no date, but was apparently penned on Thursday night as the pencilling was fresh and bright.
Joe Willard grew to manhood in this city, but the close of the war found him located in Indian Territory, where he married and for a long time resided at Brazil Station, about 35 miles from here.
He was a Deputy U. S. Marshall under Britton, Roots, Sarger & Fagen, but quit that business when Upham was appointed and moved to the Chickasaw Nation near Goodland.  (Goodland is in the Choctaw Nation.  His mother and two sisters lived near Goodland.)
When Dell was appointed Marshal in 1881, Joe again obtained a commission as deputy, and while over in Texas for the purpose of arresting a party named Harry Tennon, in some way killed a Negro.  He immediately recrossed Red River into the Territory and went home, being pursued by officers from Texas.  When the officers arrived at his house, Joe gave them a successful "stand off" and afte rthey retired he picked up and left the country, since which time he has not been heard of in this part of the country until he turned up here on Sunday night, above stated, and was probably direct from Vermont.  He was well dressed and his trunk contained a good wardrobe both of summer and winter clothing, but he had no money.
He stated to Pat Keating that the killing of the Negro in Texas was an accident, but he feared the consequences of trial at time it occurred and left the country to avoid arrest;  that now, Martin, the man who was with him, was dead, and also a Negro that was a witness to the killing; that the affair had completely broken him up; that he was tired of being a fugitive and thought he would go back out there and have the matter settled.
He was probably on his way home when he came here.  His death is clothed in considerable mystery, and while some pronounce it suicide, others scout the idea and aver that it was heart disease with which he had been afflicted for some days.  We give the above account in order that the public may be able to judge for themselves.
The following letter was also found in his pocket which shows how he has been employed a part of the time since he left the Territory.
"McLean Asylum, Somerville, Mass. July 29 1883.  This will certify that Joseph H. Willard has been employed as an attendant in this asylum for five and a half months.  In attention to his duties he has been regarded as a well-disposed man, and he is kind hearted and amiable in his dealings with the patients and others.  I think he will undertake to perform faithfully any service for which he may be employed.  Edward Cowles, M. D., Superintendent"
His remains were interred in the Oak Grove cemetery, and the expense of his funeral will likely be paid by the Odd Fellow Lodge above mentioned of which he was a member in good standing.  His traveling card having been issued to him in January this year."
Joseph probably had good reason to flee from Indian Territory.  According to Frederick Calhoun's THE LAWMAN, "U. S. Marshals and their deputies from Indian Territory,"  deputies could count little on the leaky umbrella of federal protection if they were arrested by state authorities.  The Marshals remained exposed to punishment and penalty for any acts they took in line of duty that were not covered by individual laws or court orders."
Judge Parker had strict rules concerning a death caused by one of his lawmen.  He demanded that a death which occurred in the process of making an arrest be thoroughly investigated.  Any deputy with sufficient evidence against him had to stand trial for murder.  (Chronicles of Oklahoma, Vol LXVIIi, #2, p.156)
Joe Willard was buried in Block 6, Range 4, Lot 10, Row 1, Grave 5.  A military type monolith has been erected in his memory.

T. P. WINCHESTER

Contributed by Terry Winchester

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