HARP COUNTY, lying in the northern tier of counties in Arkansas, is bounded north by Oregon County, Mo., east by Randolph and Lawrence, south by Independence, and west by Izard and Fulton counties, in Arkansas. It has an area of 290 square miles, or about 377,600 acres, of which nearly 60,000 belong to the United States, about 20,000 to the State, and the remainder to individuals, and to mining, timber and railroad companies.
The boundary lines of the county are as follows: Beginning at the southeast corner of Township 15 north. Range 4 west; thence north on the range line to the line between Townships 18 and 19 north; thence east on the township line to the south-east corner of Section 85, Township 19 north. Range 3 west; thence north on section lines three miles; thence west on the section line one mile; thence north on section lines live miles; thence in a northwesterly direction on the line between Sharp and Randolph Counties to the State line; thence west, about eighty rods, to the line dividing Ranges 4 and 5 west; thence south on the range line to the northeast corner of Township 19 north, Range 5 west; thence west to the northwest corner of said Congressional township; thence south to the southwest corner of the same; thence west on the township line to the northwest corner of Section 1, Township 18 north, Range 7 west: thence south on section lines to the middle of said township; thence east one mile to the range line; thence south on the range line to the northeast corner of Section 36, Township 16 north. Range 7 west; thence west one and a half miles; thence south on sub-divisional lines to the middle of Township 15 north; thence east on section lines to the line between Ranges 4 and 5 west; thence south on the range line to the line between Townships 14 and 15 north; thence ea.st on the township line to the place of beginning.
The most of the surface lies high and dry, and is drained by waters flowing south tributary to White River, and others flowing east tributary Black River. It is classed in the State with the northern barrens and hill region. Its surface presents a variety of features, some portions being join it from the north. Many smaller streams also hilly and broken, others rolling or undulating, with summit plateaus, while still other portions eshil)it a level or flat surface. The ridges, which are from fifty to three hundred feet high, show outcroppings of sandstone and cherty limestone.
The principal difficulty encountered on some of the uplands consists in the loose rocks and bowlders lying scattered on the surface or slightly embedded in the earth; but, when these are removed, there remains a light soil, easily cultivated and always possessing to a greater or less extent the elements of fertility. The valley and bottom lands are dark loams, very rich and productive, usually drained by clear and never-failing streams of wholesome water. The latter, however, compose but a small percentage of the area of the county. A large portion of the uplands, as well as all of the valley lands, are comparatively free from rocks, and as the growth of timber is light upon the former it is easily cleared for the plow.
Spring River, flowing from the great Mammoth Spring of Fulton County, enters Sharp from the north, near the middle of the north line of Township 19 north. Range 5 west, flows thence in a southeasterly direction across the county, and contains several good mill seats on its route. South Fork, its principal tributary from the west, enters the county at the northwest corner of the Congressional township just described, and empties into Spring River in the same township.
Martin's Creek rises in the extreme northern portion, and flowing southwardly, empties into Spring River, in Range 3 west. Many smaller streams empty into this river within the county. Strawberry River enters from the west, and flowing a little south of east on its general course, crosses the south central portion, its route also offering a number of desirable sites for mills. Piney Fork, another important stream, makes its appearance from the west a few miles south of Strawberry River, and empties into the latter in the southwest part of Township 17 north. Range o west to William's, or South Big Creek, and also Reed's Creek flow into Strawberry River from the south, while North Big Creek. Mill and Harry's Creeks find an outlet here. Polk Bayou and Sullivan's Creek, rising in the southwestern portion of the county, flow into White River. Cave Spring, a large body of water, flows through a cavern a few yards from the road leading from Evening Shade to Batesville. at a point about ten south of the former place. There are numerous miles springs in this vicinity, all producing cold, clear and pure water unexcelled in quality. Good well water can also be obtained in many places at a moderate depth, but where springs are not convenient, cisterns are generally in use. The streams mentioned are not sluggish, but run with a swift current, thus making the water pure and healthful for stock.
Sharp County lies in the mineral belt, and zinc has been successfully mined and smelted at Calamine, on Section 22, Township 16 north. Range 4 west, in its southeast part, and also on Sections 12, 28 and 29, Township 18 north, Range 4 west, and there are indications of its existence in other localities. Evidences of the presence of copper have been discovered in Section 32, Township 17 north. Range 6 west. Some two miles from Calamine, in Sections 22, 23, 25 and 30, Township 10 north. Range 4 west, and the surrounding region, lies an immense bed of pot iron or looking-glass ore. Here, before the late war, iron was successfully made in a rude furnace, operated by Bevens & Co. The iron was of a fine quality, and found a ready sale then. The supply of ore is said to be almost inexhaustible. Hematite is found in various parts of the county, cropping out and lying loosely about the ground. Lead ore has also been found in the county, but its extent has not been ascertained. The of lime has been made at Calamine and other best points, and a light-gray, nearly white, marble, which takes on a fine polish, and has been used for grave-stones, lies in illimitable quantities near Highland, and but a few miles from Hardy. Good building stone may be had in various sections.
The timber growth of this county includes pine, all the varieties of oak, walnut, hickory, ash, sycamore, elm, gum and cedar. In the southwestern portion is a belt of yellow pine, of excellent quality. This pine region is about fifteen miles long and from two to five miles wide. Several good sawmills are now at work in this region, converting the pine trees into lumber for the local trade. *
The resources of the county are almost entirely agricultural, but the natural mineral and horticultural provisions, if developed, might be made very profitable. But little scientific farming has been done. Clover and the tame grasses, though they are said to do well, have scarcely been introduced. Individuals seem content to raise such crops of cotton and corn as the land will produce without re-fertilizing it. More thorough methods of farming must come. In 1880 the county contained 1,183 farms and 44,674 acres of improved land. The vegetable productions for the year 1879, as shown by the United States census of 1880, were as follows: Indian corn, 432,570 bushels; oats, 52,241 bushels; wheat, 18,908 bushels; hay, 282 tons; Cotton, 4,350 bales; Irish potatoes, 4,285 bushels; sweet potatoes, 5,917 bushels; tobacco, 10,070 lbs.
The number of head of live stock, as given by the same census, was: Horses, 2,186; mules and asses, 960; neat cattle, 8,653; sheep, 8,458; hogs, 19,731. The number, as shown by the assessment rolls for 1888, was: Horses, 2,311; mules and asses, 1,003; neat cattle, 11,149; sheep, 7,535; hogs, 14,497. The apparent decrease in the number of sheep and hogs is accounted for by the fact that the assessment rolls show only those on hand when the assessment was taken, and do not, like the census of 1880, include the number slaughtered and otherwise disposed of during the year. The census of 1890 will show a large increase over that of 1880. The county is well adapted to the raising of live stock, the winters being so mild and the range so extensive that but little shelter or feed are required. The stock industry can easily be made a very profitable occupation.
In 1880 the real estate of Sharp County was assessed for taxation at $426, 363, and the personal property at $363,420. making a total of $788,783, on which an aggregate amount of taxes to the extent of $11,596 was charged. In 1888 the real-estate assessment was $754,901, and personal property, $502,085, making a total of S1,256,9S6. The total taxes reached $12,752. This comparison shows that since 1880 the taxable wealth of the county has increased nearly sixty per cent, while the amount of taxes charged is only a trifle more.
The Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad passes through and across the northern part of the county, in the valley of Spring River. It is assessed for taxation here at $173,406.
The population of the county in 1870 was: White, 5,286; colored, 114; total 5,400. In 1880 it was white, 8,871; colored, 176; total 9,047. This shows an increase from 1870 to 1880, of a little over sixty-seven per cent of the white population and a little over fifty-four per cent of the colored. The immigration being somewhat rapid, the next census will probably present a still larger growth.
The organization of this territory was in accordance with an act of the General Assembly of the State, approved in July, 1868. It was named after E. Sharp, one of the representatives of the district composed of Lawrence, Randolph and Greene Counties, and who presented the bill for its formation. The territory composing it was nearly all taken from Lawrence County. By subsequent acts of the General Assembly, the original boundary lines have been slightly changed so as to conform to the present limit, as elsewhere noted. The county is now divided into eighteen municipal townships.
Upon the organization of the county the seat of justice was located at Evening Shade, where it still remains, though strenuous efforts have been put forth for a change to a more central point. Soon after the seat of justice was determined upon, work was commenced for the construction of a courthouse which was completed not later than 1870. This house was a two-story frame, about 40x60 feet in size, with office rooms below, and the court-room above. It stood until 1879, when it was consumed by fire, together with nearly all of the public records. It is not known how the fire occurred. Since then the county has rented and still continues to rent a building for a court-house. A very substantial wooden jail with an eighteen-inch wall made of planks securely spiked together, containing two rooms with a "cage" in one of them, was constructed soon after the county was organized. It is still standing and is in use. The county owns a "poor farm" consisting of 165 acres, located in Washington Township, on which there are good and comfortable buildings for the use of the paupers of the county, and the superintendent of the farm. The contract for the keeping of the paupers is annually let to the lowest responsible bidder. The poor are here well cared for.
Among the pioneer settlers of (now) Sharp County were John King, who settled where Center postoffice is now located; Robert Lott, who located two miles west; Nicholas Norris and his son-in-law, William McKinley, who settled on Strawberry River, all about the year 1810. Prominent among the pioneers along Spring River were William Morgan, at the mouth of Rock Creek; William J. Gray, William Williford, Solomon Hudspeth, Colby Crawford, Stephen English, Robert J. Moore, Joseph Kellett, John Walker, Samuel Beasley and L. D. Dale. Ferguson B. Boothe settled at the head of Martin's Creek, John C. Garner and his four sisters farther down, and Joseph Kellett at the mouth of the same creek. Mr. Garner and two of his sisters, Mrs. Wilkinson and Mrs. Baker, all at a very advanced age, are living at this time. John and Joseph Hardin, R. P. Smithee, John Milliggan and J. W. Mobley were early settlers on Reed's Creek. John M. Vanhoozer, William Norris and Serrel Mobley early made a home on South Big Creek. The first settlers in the southwest part of the county were John Luce, Josiah Richardson, Plummer Baxter, A. J. Hodges and Judge A. H. Nuun, whose settlement dates from early in the '40's, and Col. William G. Matheny, a pioneer of 1849.
The many very old people now residing in the county, who have lived here nearly all their lives, prove that this is a remarkably healthy section, notwithstanding all that can be said to the contrary. Several of the old settlers named are over eighty years of age, and two ladies, Mrs. Sarah Galloway and Miss Mary Caton, mention of whom should not be omitted, are ninety-eight and eighty-eight years of age, respectively. In 1876 there were in the county, by actual count, seventy-four persons each over seventy years old.
The county court of Sharp County convenes for its regular sessions on the first Mondays of January, April, July and October of each year, and the probate court on the first Mondays of February, May, August and November. The circuit court convenes for its regular sessions on the first Mondays of June and December of each year. This county belongs to the Third judicial district, of which J. W. Butler, of Batesville, is the present judge.
The legal bar of the county consists of the following named attorneys: Col. J. L. Abernethy, S. H. Davidson (present State senator), John B. McCaleb, W. A. Turner, and A. J. Porter, the present county judge.
There has never been an execution for the offense of murder committed within Sharp County. A few years ago, however, one Joseph Camp was tried at Evening Shade, upon a change of venue from another county, for the killing of one Hulsey, was found guilty, and was hanged for the offense. For crimes committed within the county, there has been no conviction for murder in the first degree, and but one in the second degree, and two for manslaughter. Neither have there been but few homicides. The laws are generally well enforced, and the citizens are law-abiding.
At the beginning of the Civil War of 1861-65, the citizens of this locality were, with only a few exceptions, in full sympathy with the proposed Southern Confederacy, and did all in their power to help establish it. There were but a few Union men, and they refugeed to the North. A number of companies of soldiers commanded, respectively, by Capts. William Adams, William G. Matheny, A. H. Nunn, M. V. Shaver, and perhaps others, were recruited and organized in Lawrence County, from that part which now composes Sharp, for the Confederate army, in which they served during the war. No engagement worthy of mention took place here, until the spring of 1864, when Col. Freeman and Maj. M. V. Shaver, with the Third Missouri Confederate Cavalry, met Col. Woods, with a Kansas regiment of Federal cavalry, on the Baker farm on Martin's Creek, in what is now the northern part of the county. On this occasion the Federal troops were routed and compelled to fallback toward headquarters, at Batesville, suffering some loss. There was no bushwacking among the citizens during the war, but several persons were killed by scouting parties passing through. The territory was generally over-run and devastated of its provisions, in consequence of which considerable suffering resulted for the want of food.
Sharp County can boast of no large towns, but it has a number of small villages distributed to suit the convenience of the people.
Ash Flat, located on Section 10, in Richwoods Township, contains four general stores, a drug store, a grocery and saddlery store, two blacksmith shops, two church edifices (one of which is also used for school purposes), a grist and flouring-mill and cotton-gin combined, a saw-mill and cotton gin combined, one hotel, a lodge each of Masons, Eastern Star, and Knights and Ladies of Honor, one physician, and has a population of about 200. It is located in the best agricultural district of the county, and enjoys a considerable trade.
Some time prior to 1849 a post office was established in the hollow south of the east end of what is now the business street of Evening Shade. The office was so situated that after 3 o'clock P. M. of each day it remained in the shade of the tall pines standing on the rising grounds south and west, and for this reason it was named Evening Shade, the name that the place still retains. In June, 1849, Samuel Cammack opened the first store here. The site of its location is now occupied by the business street of the town, immediately in front of the present store of R. D. Williams. The building containing the goods was a canvas tent, with the rear end boarded up, the lock used at the front being a large and savage female bull-dog. In September following, J. W. Shaver joined Mr. Cammack in the business, and together they formed the firm of Shaver & Cammack. About 1852 a party of natives met J. M. Hiland, a young man from Tennessee, in a saloon kept by one William Vanghan, and there gave him rum until he became intoxicated, after which he was induced to play cards. The victim was soon dispossessed of his money considerable amount. Upon sobering up, he exclaimed: "They gave me rum, and hooked my money." In consequence of this. Evening Shade was, for many years, vulgarly called "Hook Rum."
At the beginning of the Civil War, Evening Shade contained three stores and a saloon, and about 100 inhabitants. It now has two general stores, two groceries, a drug store, bookstore, two hotels, mechanic's shops, a large public school house, three church edifices, three grist-mills, two cotton-gins, five saw-mills, in the town and its immediate vicinity; two shingle-mills, two wool-carding mills, a bed spring manufactory; a lodge, Chapter and Eastern Star lodge of the Masonic fraternity, and a lodge each of Odd-Fellows, Knights of Honor and Knights and Ladies of Honor, also five physicians, a real estate agent and an insurance agent. Society is refined and cultivated; the town offers attractive advantages; it is a pleasant place in which to live, and a large amount of business is transacted. The population is about 350. The Sharp County Record, a weekly newspaper, in its twelfth volume, is published here by E. G. Henderson, its proprietor. It is well edited and advocates Democratic principles, though ably serving the general interests of its community.
Hardy, located on Spring River and on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad, consist* of the railroad buildings, a general store, drug store, saloon, blacksmith shop, cotton-gin, a school house, church and Masonic hall combined, and about twenty families. Williford, on the same river and railroad, ten miles below Hardy, has three general stores, a saloon, cotton-gin, blacksmith shop, railroad section house, a school-house used also for religious services, and two stone quarries.
At each of these places is a post office, the one at Evening Shade being the only money order office within the county. Other postoffices and post-hamlets, the latter having a store or blacksmith shop, and sometimes both, are Armstrong, Calamine, Canton. Center, Coats, Grange, King's Mills, Loyal, Martin's Creek, Maxville, Polk Bayou, Poughkeepsie, Reed's Creek, Sidney and Winsted.
The subject of education has not been lost sight of in the progress and advancement of other matters. In 1873 a two-story frame college building, 40x80 feet in size, was erected at Evening Shade, and a college was incorporated, but never supplied with a faculty. The building, however, was used for school purposes until 1882, when it was consumed by fire. In general, the people of Sharp County are in favor of popular education. This is evidenced by the fact that nearly, if not all, the districts recently voted a local school tax for 1889. The following statistics are taken from the official report of the State superintendent of public instruction for the year ending June 30, 1888: Scholastic population — White 3,909; colored 66; total 3,975. Enrollment in the public schools White, 2,228; colored, 13; total, 2,241. Number of districts 06; number reporting enrollment 45; teachers employed 45; number of institutes held 2; number of teachers attending 33: average monthly salaries paid teachers — first grade, males $42.50, females $40.00; second grade, males $37.50, females $35.00; third grade, males $27.50; females $25.00. If these figures indicate a true condition of the schools of the county, it readily appears that only 57 per cent of the white and only 20 per cent of the colored scholastic population attended the public schools. In submitting the above figures to the State superintendent, P. H. Wilkerson, the county examiner, complaining of the failure of school directors to make full reports, said:
"The reports are never correct excepting the number of children; all other data are almost entirely neglected." Evidently the school law should be thoroughly revised, so as to compel full and complete reports of all school officers. It is argued here by those most favorable to popular education that all school tuition taxes should be levied by the State, collected into the treasury, and distributed pro rata to the scholastic population of the State. This would give to each and all an equal share of the school fund, and dispense with all contention and quarreling in school districts about the levy of taxes. The amount expended in Sharp County for the support of the public schools for the year referred to was $7,499.75.
The religious denominations of Sharp County are the Methodist Episcopal, South, Baptist, Christian, Cumberland Presbyterian and one or two organizations of the Methodist Episcopal and Methodist Protestant Churches. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Evening Shade belongs to the Evening Shade Circuit, the other appointments all being in Izard County, where proper mention is made. Ash Flat Circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Rev. F. M. Smith, pastor, has eight appointments: Ash Flat, Shiloh, Liberty Hill, Bethlehem, Pleasant Hill, Pleasant Ridge, Stacy Church and Hickory Flat the latter two being in Izard County with an aggregate membership of 320. The Mammoth Spring Circuit, composed of Mammoth Spring, in Fulton County, and Hardy and Williford, in Sharp County, Rev. J. F. Troy, pastor, has a membership of forty-five, as given in the last conference minutes. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Maxville, in this county, belongs to Bethesda Circuit, in Independence County. All these belong to the Batesville District. An organization of this denomination at Calamine, another at Cross Roads and another in that vicinity belong to the Calamine Circuit, of Newport District. Other appointments outside of the county belong to this circuit. Rev. S. W. Register is the pastor, and the aggregate membership is 231.
The Baptist Church organizations within the county are Evening Shade, Ash Flat, Bethlehem, Pleasant Hill, George's Camp Ground, and Big Creek. Rev. J. L. Foard is pastor of all except the latter, of which Rev. William Johnson has charge.
Of the Christian Church the following organizations are well known: Ash Flat, Evening Shade, Center, Blannville, Poughkeepsie, and one in the Higginbottom neighborhood, in the northeast part of the county, none of which have a regular pastor at this writing.
The Cumberland Presbyterians have a congregation at Mt. Carmel, one near Calamine, and one near Highland. Rev. A. C. Evans is pastor at Mt. Carmel.
The Methodist Episcopal Church has an organization at Powell's Chapel, six miles east, and one at Pine Hill, four miles northwest of Evening Shade. The Methodist Protestants have an organization at Liberty Hill.
The following is a list of the names of the county officers of Sharp County, together with the date of terms served by each from the organization of the county to the present time:
Judges: Solomon Yeager, 1868-72; commissioners, 1872-74; C. G. Wilson, 187-4-76; C. G. Hunn, 1876-78; A. J. Porter, 1878-80; W. G. Matheny, 1880-86; J. M. Montgomery, 1886-88; A. J. Porter, present incumbent, elected in 1888.
Clerks: N. McLeod, from August, 1868, until after election; W. T. Cunningham, 1868-72; J. P. Cochran, 1872-76; J. M. Wasson, 1876-78; T. J. Davidson, 1878-80; J. M. Wasson, 1880-82; R. E. Huddleston, 1882-86; Joshua Waim, present incumbent, first elected in 1886.
Sheriffs: James K. Jones, 1868-72; T. Y. Huddleston, 1872-80; A. C. Higginbottom. 1880-83; George R. Hall, present incumbent, appointed in 1883, elected in 1884, and served continuously since.
Treasurers: D. C. Wolfe, 1868-72; Robert Gray, 1872-78; T. J, Spurlock, 1878-80; W. G. Horton, 1880-82; E. G. Henderson, 1882-84; C. W. Shaver, present incumbent, first elected in 1884, and served continuously since.
Coroners: J. G. Wolfe, 1868-72; J. T. McCord, 1872-74; A. R. Hipp, 1874-80; J. D. Hankins, ——— ; A. T. Porter, 1884-86; Charles Horn. 1886-88: B. H. Couch, present incumbent, elected in 1888.
Surveyors: W. B. Leverton, 1872-76: T. A. McGea, 1876-78: W. W. Hill, 1878-80; T. J. Gay, 1880-82: W. W. Hill, 1882-86; D. D. Spurlock, 1886-88; Horace Hill, present incumbent, elected in 1888.
Assessors: T. Cunningham, 1868-71; F. Goss, 1871-72; J. R. Metcalf, 1872-74; J. J. T. McAdams, 1874-76; J. W. Bristow, 1876-78; R. B. Bellany, 1878-84; A. C. Higginbottom, 1884-86: John Norman, 1886-88; A. C. Higginbottom, present incumbent, elected in 1888.
The political aspect of the county is shown by the number of votes cast for candidates as follows: At the September election in 1888, for governor, James P. Eagle (Dem.), 983; C. M. Norwood (combined opposition), 711. At the November election for president, Cleveland (Dem.), 913; Harrison (Rep.), 115: Streeter (U. L.), 407: Fiske (Pro.), 2.

* Quotations from North Arkansas Land Company's description of Sharp County

J. L. Abernethy	William Jasper Adams
Jeremiah Pitt Baird	James P. Cochrain
David Collins	Sam H. Davidson
John O. Durham	Wiley Marshal Edwards
Charles W. English	David R. Ford
John C. Garner	John L. Gawf
William A. Gibson	J. W. Graddy & Bro.
William P. Hamilton	E. G. Henderson
Thomas I. Herrn	Jasper N. Higginbottom
Russel Jordan	John B. McCaleb
John C. McKinney	William C. Matheny
John S. Medley	William G. Meeks
Isaac N. Morgan	Addison H. Nunn
Abner J. Porter	Elijah Ratliff
Michael Van Buren	Fedinand May Shaver
Thomas C. Sims	James G. Sims
John T. Sparks	Ashley Taylor
S. Price Turner	Anderson Huston Vance
Samuel J. Walker	David D. Walker
Joshua Wann	John M. Wasson
Allen Weaver	J. M. Williams
Samuel Yates	Lemuel A. Yeager

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