Citizens in St.Francis County at the End of the 19 Century Paul V.Isbell

Citizens In St.Francis County at the End of the 19th Century Paul V.Isbell, Feb.27,2012 Abel, James Henry, Sr.:Page 70-James H.Abel Sr., son of O.S.Abel, was born in 1878 in Old Town, Phillips Co., Arkansas, and moved to Palestine with his father in 1886, attended the Palestine Public Schools and then served as foreman of several large saw mills in the area before entering into the well-drilling business when his father, Obediah Silas Abel, died in 1910. Mr.Abel has seven children, five by a previous marriage to Mrs.Lucy Wilkerson, who died in 1920, and two by his present wife, Miss Jesse W.Cooper of Palestine. For relaxation he loves to fish. Abel, Obediah Silas-Amid pioneer surroundings in the latter part of the nineteenth century when Forrest City was a small struggling community of a little over 500 hardy souls with the Bank of Eastern Arkansas only one year old, the late O.S.Abel, an early Arkansas settler, founded his well contracting business which today is being proudly continued by his son and his grandson, James H.Abel Sr. and James H.Abel Jr., as one of the oldest firms in St.Francis County. The business of well and house-moving contractors dates back to 1887 when their sturdy pioneer ancestor started bringing in his first well in this rich agricultural community. The last O.S.Abel came to Old Town, Ark., in Phillips County, in 1850 from Mississippi and in 1886 moved to Palestine. His father had moved from South Carolina to Mississippi, a few years after the Revolutionary War. Spouse Permelia Johnson Abel d.1929. Ables, John J. b.1844: Goodspeed’s Biography: John J. Ables, proprietor of one of the leading groceries of Colt, is a native of this county, and when a boy worked on his father's farm, attending school at intervals; although not regular in attendance, he being a bright scholar and willing to learn, received a fair common-school education. In May, 1861, at the age of seventeen, he entered the Confederate service, enlisting in Company B, Fifth Arkansas Regiment, Govan's brigade, Pat Cleburne’s division, Hardee's and Cheatham's corps of the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Beauregard, Albert Sidney Johnston, Braxton Bragg, Joseph E. Johnston and J. B. Hood, of Texas. Mr. Able's career as a soldier led him through many different battles-Chickamauga, Murfreesboro, Franklin, from Bowling Green, Ky., to Bentonville, N. C., via Nashville, Chattanooga and Dalton down the railroad and State line to Atlanta, thence to Jonesboro via Augusta, Ga., back to Bentonville. He fought the last battle under Johnston at that place, that famous general then falling back to Greensboro, N. C., where he surrendered. Mr. Ables took his chances for his home in Arkansas, and was in all the engagements of that march, soldiering through East Tennessee, around Knoxville, on Clinch River, at Clinton, with Bragg through Cumberland Gap to Kentucky. He was wounded in the right hand, losing his little finger, which, though a small and seemingly unimportant member, necessitated his absence from active duty for three months. He served throughout the war, and took an active part in every battle of his division in the Mississippi Valley, with the exception of those during the three months of his disability. Returning home in May, 1865, Mr. Ables was married the following August to Miss Mary A. Stutts. They are the parents of eight children, all of whom are living: Cora Belle, John W., Willis R., Anna C., Micager C., Samuel, James D. and Emma Lou. Following his matrimonial venture Mr. Ables engaged in farming, and now has a nicely improved farm of 160 acres. He was born in 1844, being the son of M. C. and Jane C. (Moore) Ables, natives of Tennessee and Alabama, respectively. M. C. Ables came to Arkansas in 1828, and settled in this county at a time when there were but few families in the locality. Here he bought a farm of 320 acres, on which he lived until the time of his death, with the exception of a year or two during his residence in Wittsburg, and also while in the Mexican War. In 1887 our subject sold out his farming interests and came to Colt Station, embarking in the grocery business, in which he is still engaged. In this he has been very successful. He held the office of constable of his township before moving to Colt, and was also justice of the peace for ten years, and has now a commission as notary public. Mr. Ables is a staunch Democrat and a member of the I. O. O. F. and Knights of Honor. Adare, J. L. b.1850 d.1899-Goodspeed’s Biography 1884: J. L. Adare, a native of Northern Alabama, is a son of Samuel W. and Mary J. (Freeze) Adare, who also came originally from that State, the father being of French descent, and the mother of Irish ancestry. J. L. Adare assisted his father on the farm until twenty years of age, when he was engaged in clerking for about four years. In 1879 he came to Arkansas and located in St. Francis County, gave his attention to farming the first year, and the following year entered the employ of Mr. Vital Lesca, as clerk, and is now at the head of the business. Mr. Adare was born in Madison County, Ala., on December 27, 1850, and was married on September 8, 1889, to Mrs. Delia Lesca, widow of his former employer, and a daughter of Stephen Snowden, a native of Tennessee. Mr. Adare is a member of the K. of H., and is a well known citizen and highly respected. Ahlstedt, Charles A. b.1861 d.1939- The Forrest City Times' Art Souvenir-1905-Page 106: The building trades are well represented in the growing city of Forrest City, and some of the most expert mechanics in Eastern Arkansas are numbered the several contractors and builders, who pursue their avocations in this town. Mr.C.A.Ahlstedt came here in 1898 from Little Rock, to build the handsome courthouse under a contract with Mr.C.W.Clark, of Malvern. The subject of this sketch was born September 2,1861, the country of his nativity being Sweden. His parents moved to America in his early youth, and he was educated in Iowa, attending the country schools until he was admitted to college at Cornell, in the same state, where he studied for some time. In 1888 he came to Arkansas from California, where he had spent two years, and in 1898 came to Forrest City as above stated. He was married in 1882 to Miss Jennie Liddle, of Nevada, Missouri, who died in 1897. His second marriage occurred in 1891, Miss Maria O. Smith, of Little Rock, becoming his wife. To this union one child has been born,-Mary, now aged ten years. Mr.Ahlstedt owns his home, one of the most substantial, beautiful and comfortable homes in Forrest City. He affiliates with the democratic p[arty, and is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor, of which lodge in this city he is one of the trustees. Mr.Ahlstedt is reportedly buried with his SECOND wife MARIA in the City Cemetery in the Southwest portion, but it appears the stones have washed away, per Alan Ford, son of Mary Bernard Ford, Dec.2006 Alderson, John William, Sr. b.1876 d.1942- The Forrest City Times' Art Souvenir-1905- Page 97 and 98:Mr.John W. Alderson, Vice-President of Fussell-Graham-Alderson Co., is a native of Virginia, having been born in Lebanon, on December 31,1876. He is a son of Judge T.M. and Ada V.(Davis) Alderson. His father is also a native of Virginia, and his mother of Tennessee. Mr.Alderson served his time at clerking, and at the age of nineteen, embarked in the shoe and hat business, at Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee, which was carried on successfully, the firm being The Davis-Alderson Co.. He was educated in the public schools, and finished at the Baker-Himel University of Knoxville, Tennessee. On October 31,1901, Mr.Alderson was married to Miss Annie Katherine Rollwage, youngest daughter of Mr.& Mrs.L.Rollwage, of this city, and one child, Ada Louise, born Sept.1,1904, has blessed their union. The subject of this sketch came to Forrest City from Bristol in 1902, and a short time thereafter succeeded Hon. Otto B.Rollwage in the mercantile business of L.Rollwage & Co., and the firm name was changed to Rollwage & Alderson. He owns his home, farming lands in the St.Francis and L'Anguille Bottoms, and is also associated in several other businesses, viz.;Bank of Eastern Arkansas, the Forrest City Gin Co., and the Forrest City Hotel Co. He owns a beautiful home in this city, and farming lands in St.Francis and L’Anguille bottoms. He is a member of the Baptist church, and of the Masonic and Elks fraternities, in all of which he is active and popular. Aldrich, Charles S., Dr.- The Forrest City Times' Art Souvenir-1905-Page 86:The subject of this sketch is one of the most prominent and successful Veterinary Surgeons in the South. He is a native of New York State, having been born In Ontario County, January 30,1852, and is a son of Charles and Dorcas (Heringdeen) Aldrich, both of whom were natives of that county. Dr. Aldrich was primarily educated in the public schools, and at Hillsdale Academy in Michigan.

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