Page 38 - Jefferson County AR 1889 History (Goodspeed)
P. 38
JEFFERSON COUNTY. L
155
tire pioneer citizens of Je5emon County, was of twenty-five years. Four children were horn to
born near his present residence January 6, 1844, this union, all of whom are yet living: Emma
and is a son of William J . and Annie E. (Wat-
ers) Bayliss, of Tennessee, the father dying in (wife of Joseph Foster, a farmer of Jefferson
that county in the same year of his son's birth, at County), and Willie T., Minnie L. and Lind-
the age of thirty-five years. The parents were sey E. (who are at home). Mrs. Bayliss was a
married in Tennessee and moved to Arkansas when member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a
the latter State was still a Territory, and inhabit,ed devout Christian lady. A great deal of her hus-
by the Indians and a few French settlers. The band's success during her life was due to her sound
elder Bayliss was a farmer and cultivated the land advice and clear~sightedness, and her death was
until his death in 1844. His widow was afterward sincerely regretted by all. I n 1875 Mr. Bayliss was
married to Mr. Robert Alcoin, a farmer, who died married to Miss Ellen S. Cooper, a daughter of L.
in 1861. The lady is still living, and is a devout
member of the Methodist Epil-copal Church, South. C. Cooper, of North Carolina, by whom he had two
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bay. children: Walter J. and Clyde A. Mrs. Bayliss
liss, of whom five are now alive: Ssllie (wife of was born in Mississippi on the 12th of July, 1852.
Capt. Sam. Lindsay, aprominent merchant of Jef- Both husband and wife are members of the Metho-
ferson County), Anna (widow of Moses Emery), dist Episcopal Church, South, and take a deep in-
Louisa (wife of Mr. Hawkins, an enterprising terest in the religious and educational welfare of
merchant at Dardanelle). James E. (a well-known their county. Mr. Bayliss is a Democrat and has
farmer and merchant in Lonoke County), and proven to be a valuable man to that party in his
William J. (the latter the youngest of the family). section.
William was educated in the schools of his native
county, and had scarcely finished his studies when Col. M. L. Bell, attorney, Pine Blu5, Ark.
he shouldered a gun and marched in the Con. The profession of law is, perhaps, as momentous
federate ranks to war. He enlisted in Capt. and important a calling as can be found, and he
Davis' company of cavalry, in Col. Monroe's who takes upon himself legal practice assumes as
regiment, serving until his discharge in 1863 on weighty responsibilities as the confidence of his
account of disability. On his return home he fellow men can put upon his shoulders. I t is a
found that it would be unsafe to remain, and he branch of human endeavor which brings into play
again joined the Confederate service, becoming a the moat brilliant talents, the most extensive knowl-
member of Capt. Greenfield's company, and served edge, the strongest sentiments, moral, spiritual,
with distinction until Lee's surrender. Mr. Bay- material, and its power for good or evil is vast and
liss was never wounded in battle, but has had some invincible. As a lawyer whose honor is above criti-
narrow escapes from death. At one time a bullet cism, whose ability places him in the front rank,
passed through hiscanteen, and on another occasion and whose name is known and respected through-
his horse was shot from under him. After the out the St,ate, that of Col. M. L. Bell shines as a
war was over he found t,hat he had been stripped star of the first magnitude in the firmament of Ar-
of everything he possessed and was without a dol- kansas law. He was originally from Wilson Coun-
lar in the world. However, he went to work with ty, Tenn , where his birth occurred on July 27,
a vim and energy that have since been crowned with 1820, and is the son of Robert D. and Elizabeth
success, and he is now a prosperous and leading C. (Roane) Bell, the father a native of Mecklen-
farmer of Je5erson County. On October 0, 1860, burg County, N. C., and the mother of TVilson
he was married to Miss Eliza A. Lindsey, a native County, Teno. The Roane family were of Irish
of this county and a daughter of John R. Lindsey, origin, and early settlers of North Carolina, Rowan
but this lady died on June 22, 1875, at the age County of that State being named in their honor.
There were two brothers, Archibald and Hugh
Roane, who were born in Virginia. Archibald was
the second Governor of Tennessee, and Hugh is
