Clark County "A Few Biographical Sketches," Mrs. Laura Scott Butler, 1908 Mrs. Jane P. Jones was born on the Caddo River in 1837. Her ancestors came from Germany to North Carolina. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Clingman, moved from Tennessee to Arkansas in 1835. She married Dr. Alfred Jones on Sunday, January i, 1854. Mrs. Jones has lived a long life of usefulness. She reared a large family and several of her grandchildren have distinguished themselves in various professions. Isaac Newton Runyan was born in Alabama, March 9, 1838, and came to Arkansas with his parents in the fall of 1856, moved to Amity, 1870. He served through the Civil War in the first Arkansas cavalry, under Colonel J. C. Monroe, in General Cabell's brigade. He participated in the battles of Prairie Grove and Cane Hill and followed Price on his raid through Missouri. Mr. Runyan's greatest service to his country has been rendered by his loyalty as a citizen. His high sense of justice and his love of peace gained for him the attention and respect of all who know him. He has lived a long life of usefulness and as treasurer of Clark County made many friends. Captain Robert S. Burke was born in 1842. He was captain of a company for four years in the Confederate army. He assisted the government in sectionizing the land of Pike, Montgomery, Hot Springs counties and a portion of Clark County. He taught the first school in Amity, 1845. Captain Burke's life was long and useful. He enjoyed the personal friendship of General Albert Pike. John H. Jones was born in 1833, and came to Arkansas in 1845 with his parents from Mississippi. He served in the Confederate army in the first Arkansas cavalry under Colonel J. C. Monroe, in General Cabell's brigade. He was in the battle of Jenkins' Ferry. He was a useful citizen. Dr. John F. Biggs was born in 1832. His father, Dr. A. Biggs was a prominent physician and minister. Dr. Biggs came to Arkansas in 1850 from Tennessee. He was a graduate of the Botanical College, Memphis, Tennessee, and of Eclectic Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio. He taught in the government schools of Fort Coffee, Indian Territory. He represented Clark County in the legislature in 1866, 1881 and 1885. He was a deep thinker, and a profound reasoner. He delivered many lectures on theological subjects. He devoted forty years of his life to administering to the suffering. He died at Center Point in 1892. |