http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ar/county/greene/
HISTORY OF CROFT CHURCH AND CEMETERY
POSTED BY PERMISSION
BY DR. AND MRS. C.W. STARNES
01/19/2009
DR. STARNES HAS FREELY DONATED ALL OF HIS RESEARCH HE HAS COMPILED THRU THE YEARS TO ME TO POST TO THE GREENE COUNTY , ARKANSAS AND CROSSOVER COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS WEBSITE .
HE HAS COMPILED YEARS OF RESEARCH AND HARD WORK ON ALL SORTS OF INFORMATION ON THE COUNTY , COMMUNITIES , FAMILIES , CEMETERIES , MAPS , SCHOOLS AND LOTS MORE OF INTERESTING TOPICS IN GREENE COUNTIES HISTORY THAT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED . HE HAS GIVEN A LIFETIME OF CONTRIBUTING AND STILL DOING THE RESEARCH HE LOVES TODAY ON GREENE COUNTY , ARKANSAS .
I AM HONORED TO BE GIVEN THIS PRIVILEGE TO SHARE , DR. STARNES LIFETIME OF RESEARCH WITH OTHER RESEARCHERS .
THANK YOU
TINA EASLEY
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CROFT CHURCH OF CHRIST IS LOCATED ONE HALF MILE SOUTHEAST OF STANFORD ON THE OLD STANFORD - WALCOTT ROAD .
DR. GEORGE B. CROFT , ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE WRITTEN BY THE HONORABLE BENJAMIN H. CROWLEY AND PUBLISHED IN THE SOLIPHONE JANUARY 1907 , WAS PROBALLY THE FIRST PHYSICIAN IN WHAT IS NOW GREENE COUNTY. HE WAS ALSO THE COUNTY'S FIRST REPRESENTATIVE TO THE TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE. WHEN HE DIED IN 1876 , HE WILLED HIS TWO STORY RESIDENCE AND A VALUABLE FARM TO THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCHOOL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF THAT DENOMINATION.
ACCORDING TO MRS. MATTIE AWTREY , WHO MOVED WITH HER PARENTS , MR. AND MRS. ANDY CLINE TO COMMUNITY IN 1900 FROM LAMAR COUNTY , ALABAMA , THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SCHOOL WAS BEGUN IN 1901 , AFTER THE DEATH OF MRS. CROFT. IT WAS ESTABLISHED PRIMARILY FOR STUDY OF THE BIBLE , BUT SEVERAL OTHER COURSES WERE OFFERED. THE SCHOOL WAS ALWAYS REFERRED TO AS THE COLLEGE , BUT CONSISTED OF ONLY GRADES ONE THROUGH EIGHT. THE FIRST TEACHER , WHO ALSO PREACHED THE SERMONS ON SUNDAY WAS MR. W.J. JOHNS . THE ORIGINAL SCHOOL WAS LOCATED JUST NORTHWEST OF THE PRESENT CEMETERY.
IN 1906 THE ORIGINAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH , WHICH OWED ITS SEPERATE IDENTITY TO THE WORK OF BARTON STONE , THOMAS CAMPBELL AND ALEXANDER CAMPBELL , WAS SPLIT INTO TOW SEPARATE GROUPS . THE FACTION WHICH RELATED ITSELF TO THE ORIGINAL NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH AND OPPOSED THE USE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS , BROKE FROM THE GROUP AND BECAME KNOWN AS MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF PARAGOULD ORGANIZED IN 1885 , HAS BEEN KNOWN BOTH AS THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. HOWEVER AFTER THE SPLIT OF 1906 , IT REMAINED AS THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH . CROFT CHURCH , REFERRED TO BY DR. CROFT AS THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH BECAME ONE OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST.
DR. CROFT MARRIED TO MISS SARAH HARRIS . SHE WAS DESCRIBED BY GEN. CROWLEY AS A VERY INTELLIGENT LADY , HAVING BEEN BORN AND REARED IN VIRGINIA , AND WELL EDUCATED FOR THE TIME. DR. AND MRS. CROFT WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING A CHURCH , FIRST AT COMMISSARY AND LATER ON SUGAR CREEK. WHEN THE CIVIL WAR CAME ON DR. AND MRS. CROFT MOVED TO TEXAS . THEY REMAINED THERE UNTIL THE CLOSE OF THE WAR THEN RETURNED TO THEIR HOME IN GREENE COUNTY.
DURING THE MILITIA TROUBLES JUST AFTER THE WAR CLOSED DR. CROFT LEFT THE STATE AND WENT TO KENTUCKY , WHERE HIS RELATIVES LIVED . AFTER THE CLASH ENDED HE RETURNED TO ARKANSAS , BRINGING WITH HIM HIS BROTHER LOGAN R. CROFT AND HIS FAMILY. MRS. A.T. (SHEWMAKER) CHAFFIN AND MR. THOMAS CROFT WERE CHILDREN OF LOGAN CROFT . DR. AND MRS. CROFT HAD NO CHILDREN AND AFTER THE WAR CLOSED THE DOCTOR GAVE TO EACH OF HIS OLDEST AND MOST FAITHFUL NEGROES FORTY ACRES OF LAND AND A MULE, PERFORMING LITERALLY THE PROMISES OF THE ABOLISHIONISTS TO THE SOUTHERN SLAVE.
OTHER TEACHERS IN THE CROFT COLLEGE INCLUDED MR. M.W. BOYD , MR. A.D. GARDNER , MR. NEIL CARDNER , HELEN CARDNER (NOW MRS. BILL TAYLOR) AND CECILE CARDNER (NOW MRS. EARL TAYLOR ) . THE LAST INSTRUCTOR WAS MR. HARRY STARLING WHO TAUGHT UNTIL 1939. WORSHIP SERVICES WERE CONTINUED THERE UNTIL THE NEW BUILDING WAS ERECTED IN APPROXIMATELY 1944.
Baine Robert Lee Aug 31,1934 Jan 9, 1985 Baine Max Lee Jan 29,1932 ----------- Marr. Robert Lee Baine Apr 7, 1956 Batey Joe S. 1889 1966 Husband of Verna Mae Batey Batey Verna May 1892 1946 Wife of Joe S. Batey Batey Doris 1926 1930 Maybe Dau of Joe S. & Verna May Batey
Batey Javee 1923 1948 Benson George A. ----------- Aug 2, 1883 Obituary is in Ark Gazette Aug 2, 1883 Pg 11 Burks Roxie Lee Feb 15,1932 Jul 29,1932 Chaffin Abner No Date No Date Chaffin John No Date No Date Cook Sylvester D. May 10,1898 Jan 13,1941 Cook Robert E. Nov 24,1874 Nov 2, 1949 Cook Sarah F. Feb 23,1878 Jul 25,1952 Crockett Joyce Dec 10,1919 May 25,1994 Born in Green Co. Ark Crockett Bob Sep 18,1911 Apr 8, 1991 Born in Greene Co. Ark Croft H. R. Oct 7, 1871 Dec 13,1904 Croft Bessie J. Jan 10,1901 Aug 2, 1901 Dau of H. R. & D. E. Croft Croft B. L. Dec 28,1872 Jul 25,1898 Son of T. S. & P. J. Croft 25 yrs 6 mo. 23Day Croft Lizzie P. Jun 16,1878 Aug 6, 1895 Dau of T. S. & P. J. Croft Croft George B. (Dr) 1795 1876 Croft Sarah 1798 1898 Dearin L. T. (Ted) Jul 7, 1900 Jan 15,1958 Dearin Jewel Ellington Apr 23,1907 Jun 11,1985 Dearin Infant Baby Aug 28,1941 Aug 28,1941 Dearin Charley B. Oct 31,1897 Oct 31,1879 Dearin Mirtie D. Jun 16,1898 Aug 15,1991 Born in Mississippi Dearin Sarah L. About 1876 Mar 23,1941 Dearin George W. Mar 23,1876 Mar 25,1953 Dearin George Luther Nov 3, 1902 Jun 11,1904 Son of George & Sarah Dearin Dillard Leo May 6, 1914 Feb 20,1969 wife Iola children , Lucille , Minnie , Lonnie Dillard Iola No Date No Date Wife of Leo Dillard Dollars Donnie E. Jan 22,1913 Jan 7, 1976 Doughty Mack Feb 7, 1890 Nov 11,1966 Doughty Jocie Lou Nov 27,1895 Jun 14,1914 Ezell Frank No Date Dec 29,1926 Ezell Josie No Date Jan 12,1927 Ezell Roy 1916 1932 Age 16 Years Farrar John P. 1906 1976 Farrar Fairy B. 1912 1986 Farrar Audrey L. 1932 1934 Child of ? Faulkner Michael Allen 1972 May 13,1988 Born in Little Rock, Age 15. Shot Himself (H) Forsyth Turner Herman Feb 14,1886 Jun 25,1967
Forsyth Coatney Jane Aug 2, 1888 Aug 27,1958 Gardner A.D. Sep 7, 1871 Feb 13,1952 Gardner Della Feb 9, 1876 Dec 16,1961 Grooms Louis Mar 4, 1940 Mar 9, 1940 Infant Son of ? Grooms Louie Mar 4, 1940 Mar 5, 1940 Infant son of ? Harvill Amos Earl Sep 3, 1915 Dec 3, 1995 Born in Greene Co. Ark Age 80 Yrs Javee Batey 1923 1948 Jetton Cora Jun 19,1902 Jul 29,1986 Born in ? Age 84 Jetton Earl Sep 7, 1904 Apr 9, 1992 Born in Greene Co. Ark Johns W.J. Oct 31,1833 May 18,1927 Johns Nancy Jane Jul 28,1854 Apr 29,1936 Johns Mary Jane Apr 13,1830 1908 Month unknown Johns Haskins Faulkner Dec 29,1919 Feb 19,1923 child Johns James David Feb 8, 1925 Mar 2, 1925 Infant son of? Johns Judson F. Mar 5, 1898 Mar 17,1977 Johns Clennie C. Oct 5, 1886 Mar 18,1967 Law John Williams Nov 28,1921 Sep 6, 1932 Child Law John P 1871 1932 Law Nora E. 1889 1985 Law Retta Viola Sep 21,1925 Sep 25,1931 Child Dau of ? Lenderman Dortha Feb 16,1924 Oct 12,1984 Lenderman Homer "Boone" No Date Feb 25,1991 Born in Greene Co. Ark Army WW-II Little Loes D. Apr 23,1912 Birth or death? Little Bude H. May 30,1909 Birth or death? Mitchell Tom A. Andrew Mar 25,1902 Apr 23,1986 Born in Greene Co. Ark Age 84 Yrs. Mitchell Dona C. Mar 27,1907 Dec 9, 1971 Mitchell Mary Virginia Apr 11,1929 Aug 25,1933 Daug. of Mr. & Mrs.Tom Mitchell Morrow Hannah Mar 20,1832 Aug 22,1912 Owen Charlie Richard Feb 9, 1902 Jan 11,1974 Owen Lola Iva Aug 13,1905 Jan 23,1983 Owen James M. Jan 20,1905 Sep 14,1982 Owen Mary Ida Feb 24,1907 ?? Date of death unknown Rhodes Softness Jan 18,1977 Jan 20, 197 Infant child of ? Robb Novis William Feb 4, 1918 Jul 8, 1939 Robb Marion Allyn Aug 17,1882 May 23,1942 Obit Robb Georgia Pearlie Aug 2, 1889 Apr 15,1971 Robinson Sam Apr 20,1886 May 12,1938 Robinson Maudie B. Aug 30,1890 Feb 15,1950 Robinson Daniel Sampson No Date 1935 Rowe Mary No Date No Date Jim Martin's Sister Shaffer Maudie E. Jan 8, 1916 Sep 13,1960 Shapper Jim Oct 25,1910 Aug 17,1984
Shewmaker M.D. Feb 8,1900 May 31,1905 son of P.R. & R.M. Shewmaker Shewemaker Rachel M. 1869 1936 Shewmaker John T. May 3, 1891 Mar 6, 1972 Shewmaker Fairy B. Jun 15,1893 Apr 19,1982 Shewmaker Onie Nov 12,1910 Dec 20,1947 Wife of A. E. Shewmaker Shewmaker Ross May 14,1903 Jul 22,1922 Shewmaker Anna Louise Sep 13,1918 ---- Shewmaker Harlin C. Feb 9, 1896 Apr 28,1957 Ark WW-I Pvt Baker & Cook Sch, QMC. Shewmaker Mamie E. (Roberts)Jun 23,1900 Apr 16,1970 Shewmaker Oda Douglas Nov 1, 1929 Aug 9, 1931 Infant son of H. C. & M. E. Shewmaker Shewmaker Utha Hulon Jul 29,1933 Apr 2, 1934 Infant son of H. C. & M. E. Shewmaker Shewmaker Cletis Dec 8, 1923 Jul 21,1924 Infant son of ? Shewmaker John J. Mar 11,1870 Dec 20,1940 Shewmaker Emma J. May 24,1873 May 14,1957 Shewmaker Mollie Oct 21,1892 Aug 13,1976 Shewmaker Jim Apr 15,1893 Feb 17,1956 Shewmaker Peter R 1867 1937 Shewmaker Callie Dec 8, 1897 Oct 10,1898 Daug. of Mr. & Mrs. John Shewmaker Shewmaker Mary Grace Jun 14,1924 Aug 3, 1925 Daug. of Mr. & Mrs. John T. Shewmaker Shewmaker Marion L. Feb 23,1886 Jan 30,1937 Shewmaker James C. Apr 29,1926 Oct 7 1963 Arkansas,PFC. Co. C 164 Infantry Shewmaker Thomas L. Mar 3, 1869 Jul 3, 1939 Shewmaker Jeff 1898 1924 Shewmaker S. Theadosia Feb 18,1875 Aug 18,1877 Daug. of J.H. & S.J. Shewmaker Shewmaker James H. 1832 Mar 20,1874 Age 42 Years 2 Mo. 13 Days Shewmaker Donald Leonard May 13,1924 Sep 26,1989 Born in Greene Co. Age 65 Yrs (?) Shewmaker Cynthia Elizabeth 1900 Dec 10,1995 Nee Gramling Widow/ Ardie Troy Shewmaker Sr. Bert Enos Aug 24,1911 Jun 11,1984 Spain Emmagene Sep 28,1922 Sep 28,1922 Infant dau of T. E. & Pearl Spain Spillman Mary Victoria May 14,1870 Jan 8, 1933 Taylor Moses Feb 26,1868 Feb 17,1935 Taylor Mary Ellen Jan 20,1877 Feb 11,1944 Taylor Lucian Earl Mar 4, 1895 Sep 5, 1985 Pvt US. Army WW-I Taylor Bell Sep 29,1900 Dec 25, ??? Taylor Asa Coe Jul 12,1912 Oct 3, 1994 Born in Stanford Community Taylor Viva Marie Morrow Dec 21,1921 Sep 10,1995 Born in Greene Co. Ark Age 82 Yrs. (M) White Lee Walker Feb 5, 1874 Mar 2, 1931 White Alice Lou Oct 30,1879 May 10,1932 White Earlie Mar 2, 1913 Oct 3,1957 Woodson Lucy L. Feb 11,1913 Aug 31,1985 Age 72 Years Woodson Clyde Otis No Date Jul 29,1989 Born in Mt. Vernon, ? WW-II Army Age 81. (H)