Goodspeeds, 1889
The exact time and place of the making of the first settlement of the territory now composing Izard County is uncertain. It is evident, however, that immigration must have commenced very soon after the beginning of the present century, points of location being, in general, along White and Strawberry Rivers.
Among the early settlers in the vicinity of the former stream were Daniel Hively, Elbert and Henry Benbrook, the family of the father of William and Hill Dillard, the Jefferys, Moses Bishop, the Harrises and George and James Partee. Daniel Jeffery settled below Mount Olive. Jehoida, his brother, a mile above, and James, another brother, at or near the mouth of Piney Creek. Of the Harrises there were four brothers: Augustus, Henry. James and Richard. Augustus located on the east side of the river, in Izard Conuty. The others on the opposite side, now Stone County. Daniel Hively settled at the mouth of Piney Creek, and there built a water power grist mill very early.
Among the first to locate on Strawberry River were the Simpsons, Billingsleys and Finleys, John Gray taking up his residence on Rocky Bayou, and James Wren at Lunenburg. Other very early comers to the county were Ambrose, Harvey, William and James Creswell.
Later came the Lancasters, the Walkers, the Watkinses, Richard, Robert and William Powell, Thomas Richardson, Samuel Bingham, William and James Woods, Col. Thomas Black, the Arnolds, Jesse Hinkle, the Robinsons and many others.
Both the early and subsequent settlers of the county principally came from Tennessee. A few were from Georgia, and some other Southern States, but few, if any, from Northern States. The early settlers here suffered in common with all who moved so far back from the Mississippi the many privations of frontier life. It was not long, however, until boats came up White River and furnished such provisions as could not be produced at home. The people of Izard County are intelligent, kind and hospitable. Society now is all that could be desired, and churches are numerous in all settled portions.
Thank You for visiting my ARFamilies.info site.