Birthdays this week include: Hannah Moring - Feb. 3, Paul Miller - Feb. 5, Chuck Brown - Feb. 8. Happy belated birthday to Jimmy Reaves - Jan. 20.
Happy anniversary to Keith and Becky (Morgan) Cheney - Feb. 4 and Floyd and Faye Leaks - Feb. 5.
In the 1880s and 1890s, Goodspeed Publishing Company of Chicago produced dozens of county history compilations covering many of the Southern and Midwestern states including Arkansas. In Goodspeed's History of Arkansas, Chapter 25, we find a detailed history of Cleveland County and its many settlers. As an example: "Evan P. Marks, merchant. Considering the fact that Mr. Marks began life for himself with little or no means to start on, his career has been more than ordinarily successful, and since 1869 he has been successfully engaged in merchandising.
He was born near where he now lives on July 27, 1839, and is a son of Hastings and Sivility (Powell) Marks, who were born in Georgia in 1795 and 1805, and died in Arkansas in 186 and 1873 respectively.
They were married in Georgia, and moved from there to Montgomery County, Ala., and thence to Union County, Ark., in 1836, being among the early agriculturists of that region, and the first family to locate near where New Edinburg now is. To them a family of ten children were born, four of whom are now living: John H: (a farmer of Calhoun County, Ark.), James N. (a farmer and surveyor of Cleveland County), George DI. (a farmer of the county), and Evan P. Those deceased are: Benjamin (who died when twenty-five years of age), Hastings (who died in Louisiana, while serving in the Confederate army), Eliza and Emma (who died young), Owen K. (in infancy), and Robert (who died when seventeen years of age).
Evan P. Marks, the immediate subject of this sketch, received his early education is Arkansas, but finished his literary education in Roanoke College, Salem, Va. In May, 1861, he left home and entered the Fifth Arkansas Infantry, Confederate States Army, Company C, and was soon promoted to sergeant-major of his regiment. In the fall of 1863 he was appointed adjutant of the Second Arkansas Cavalry, Trans -Mississippi Department, and in this capacity served until the close of the war, having taken part in the engagements at Perryville, Murfreesboro, and was in the engagements of the Missouri raid.
He was neither wounded nor captured during his entire service, and in his own words, lie was the most fortunate man in the service. For four years after the close of the war he was engaged in farming, but in 1869 engaged in merchandising at New Edinburg, and this calling has received his attention up to the present time. He is associated in business with a Mr. At wood, and they do the most extensive business of any firm in the county, and are safe, reliable men of business. They are devoted to their work, and this, together with their large and select stock of goods, which they sell at reasonable rates, has contributed largely to their success.
Mr. Marks is a Democrat, and is 1874 was elected on this ticket to the office of county clerk, the duties of which he discharged in a very efficient manner. February 23, 1865, he was married to Miss Mattie H. Thornton, a daughter of William S. Thornton, of Calhoun County. She was born in Chambers County, Ala., December 26, 1844, and has borne 'Mr. Marks the following children: Em ma (wife of William D. Atwood, the business partner of Mr. Marks). Gertrude (at home), Effie, Ions and Myrtle. Mr. Marks is not a member of any church, but it may be truly said of him that in every walk of life has been upright and honorable."
The Cleveland County Herald, 24 Feb 1898, finishes his tale with his obituary as follows: "HON. E.P. MARKS. New Edinburgh, Ark., Feb. 15th, 1898.--Mr. Evan P. Marks died of heart disease at the Clements hotel last Saturday afternoon. His death was very sudden and was a great shock to the community.
Mr. Marks came to his store as usual Saturday morning, but complained of not feeling well. At about 10 o'clock he was seized with severe pains and started home, but was unable to go farther than the hotel. He was put to bed, a doctor was summoned and every available means was used to relieve the stricken man but to no effect. At about 2 o'clock he passed quietly away. For these many years he had lived and labored with and for his people, but God put forth his hand and the pendulum of life ceased to vibrate and E.P. Marks passed from the walks of men to that beyond the grave.
The deceased has served his country as a soldier, as a public officer, and as a private citizen. As a soldier, he followed the banner of the Lost Cause for four years, being at the end captain of his company; as a public officer, he served as legislator, county and circuit clerk, and lastly as a member of the Board of State Charitable Institutions. In every capacity of life he served with distinguished ability. He was a man whom his people delighted to honor and was often solicited to be a candidate for office, but he persistently declined and only accepted a public trust from a sense of public duty.
He leaves a wife and five daughters, three of whom are married, to mourn his loss, and his death is a sad shock to them. But the loss is not confined to his family. While we bow in sympathy with those who were nearest to him, the community feels a deep sense of loss. The remains were interred at the cemetery Monday afternoon in the presence of the largest assembly of people who ever attended a funeral at this place. All business was suspended and everybody joined in doing honor to him who had been a honor to them."
Note the spelling of New Edinburg. When I read this obituary, many years ago, I wondered what he was doing near the hotel when his home was, in fact, the opposite direction. It was some time later I was informed that a stable and corral was once located across the street from the hotel, and guessed he probably had a horse or trap waiting there. You and I are but the latest actors in the long running soap opera known as New Edinburg.
If you have news or other items you would like to see here, please get them to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column. This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.
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