Page 41 - Jefferson County AR 1889 History (Goodspeed)

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1768 HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. . ~ -..- .
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he remained for about a year, and where he be- damaged, Col. Booage decided to go into the

gan the study of medicine, but gave it up and in lumbnrand boilding business. He formed a part-

the latter part of 1837 he landed in P i e Bluff, nership with Col. Y.L. Bell, andactively engaged

Ark., when there were bnt eight log houses and in repairing and rebuilding the city, and in conncc-

one frame building, erected by one Cassanus, a tion with their saw mills and contracting, the firm

Spaniard, and another under course of erection erected an immense planing-mill and sash and

for a tavern. After a few months' delay here door factory, which together with a large lot of

Mr. Bocage entered the law office of Geu. James lumber was entirely destroyed by fire on August

Yell, studied law, and in 1840 was admitted to the 23, 1873, without insurance. With wonderful

bar. He is now one of two survivors of the pluck and energy the firm rebuilt and started the

bar of 1840, the other one being the illustrious and new worh on the 1st of November following the

venerable Oen. Albert Pike of Washington City. fire. This business was carried on until 1876.

Mr. Bocape practiaed his profession here for Col. Bocsge has done more to build u p Pine Bluff

years, and was attorney for the State for the than any other man. With others he engaged in

Seoond judicial district from 1844 to 1849, being the cotton-seed oil business, and also in the

also judge of the county court. He was also school foundry business, and manufactured steam engines

commissioner of the entire county under the old and cotton presses, carrying on this industry until

law, for four years, and during that time held all the latter part of 1887, when he sold out. He has

the funds for the county. He held a number of been a valuable man of the cihy, and is respected

special commissions and now has in his possession and esteemed for his sterling integrity, aober,

eleven civil commissions. The excellent manner sound judgment, broad intelligence and liberal

in which he discharged his official duties is too progressive ideas. I n April, 1888, he was elected

well known to need any additional words of com- mayor of his city by a large majority over his op.

pliment; suffice it to say that no man ever filled ponent, a man who was believed to be invincible.

,the office in so capable and efficient 8 manner. Ou On taking his seat, he found much work to be done,

the breaking out of the Civil War he, in conjunc- set about to do it with his characteristic energy,

tiou with Geu. Thomas Hindman,raised the Second and is now clearing it up as rapidly ns possible.

'Arkansas Infantry Regiment. Early in the war Although in his seventy.first year, Col. Bocage is

Mr. Bocage was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, remarkably well preaened and bids fair to live

and when Col. Hindman was promoted to briga- many years. 001. Bocage was married May 22,

dier, Lieut. -Col. Bocage was made colonel, serving 1840, to Miss Frances S. Lindsay, a daughter of

in that capacity the first year of the war. He was Mr. William H. Lindsay, of Fairfax County, Vs.,

transferred to Texas to build up manufacturing and by her he became the father of thirteen chil-

interests for the Confederacy, and remained there dren, six of whom are living: Mary Etta (wife of

until the close of the war. He built at Mound John M. Smith, and a teacher in the high school

Prairie, in Andemu County, a number of mauu- at Pine Bluff), Edward Washington (educated at

factories-cotton, wool, shoes, clothing and nearly Washington and Lee University, and an accom-

all army supplies of like character. The great plished machinist), Frances Irene, Flora Toin-

difficnlty in procuring proper machinery made his ette (wife of Willis R. Smith, a fine civil engi-

task a trying one. He was courteous and neer). Charles William (city engineer), and Annie

kind to every one, and is well known and highly Reyburn. Col. Bocage is a Royal Arch Mason, one

respected throughout Texas. He surrendered to of the oldest, members in the county. He is a

Gen. Herron at Shreveport, L a , in 1865. Re- member of the Episcopal Church, of which he is

turning to hi^ old home at Pine Bluff, hu cast one of the organizem, having been a vestryman

about him to see what next, and finding that his from the first planting of the church in Pine Bluff.
He has always been a Democrat politically.
,j.town hae been the eceueof a battle and was greatly
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