Washington telegraph., 1858-03-03
Early Settlers of Arkansas, No. s.

Judge Benjamin JoAasoH emigrated to
Arkansas at very early day, having been
appointed Judge of the Superior Court of
the Territory Of Arkansas, during the ad-
ministratiou of Col. Monroe. He contin-
ued TO discharge the duties of Judge nm
til the admission Of Arkansas into the
Union, when he was appointed by Gen.
jackson Judge of the L. ;. District Court
which office he held 1t the time OF his
death
Judge johnson was native of Ken
tucky. He was one of the brothers John
son. of whom Richard NJ. was the eldest.
They were all men Of mark and distinc-
ton Judge J. left four sons and one
daughter. His eldest daughter, long since
deceased, was the wife of the late Senator
Sewer. His eldest son, Robert W, is our
distinguished Senator,-Richard is the
editor Of the True Democrat james Is
a lawyer and planter, aud his surviving
daughter is the wife OF DIR. Jordan, Ben
janin died last year.
Judge johnson was a fine looking man,
with i countenance in which dignity and
kindness Of heart, were beautifully blend
ed. On the Bench, we believe lie gave
very general satisfaction. In private life
he was much beloved, and his house was
ever a home for all His estimable lady
is still living, and carries on large cot
ton plantation III Desha county.
Henry J.. BjScos Is native or Virginia.
He emigrated to Arkansas in the year
1920. Not long after he came here, he
had personal difficulty with the late
judge Thos T. Eskridge, which resulted
in the Judges receiving a very serious
wound from pistol Col. b. was Clerk
of Clark county at a very early day. He
has. however, made Helena his hon.v for
some thirty years. Few men are more
striking in their appearance than Henry
l.. BiScOe With an eye as piercing IS the
eagle, and hair almost snowy white, and
which had turned gray before he was
twenty-five, he arrests at once the atten-
ton of 4 stranger. When first introduced
to the late GOV. lizard, the latter was 50
struck with his appearance, that he remark
ed 10 a gentleman sitting by him, that ''If
he needed Il leader for a forlorn hope,
there would be his man" He has filed
a great many places Of importance-was
a member of the convention which form
ed our Constitution, and one of the Trus
tees Of the Real Estate Bank. He is a
man Of kind and generous disposition
very firm, and much beloved by troops of
friends
On any day in the week, you can, BY
entering the basement room in which the
Surveyor Generals Office is kept, see one
of the most remarkable men in Arkansas 5
history-he who edited and published the
first paper printed in the Territory-of
course l mean Wnl. T.. Woodruff. who,
thanks TO the good effects of 4 life of tenn
perance and sobriety, is now as hale and
hearty as some are at 10 years Of age
lie is q small man, with the keenest of
eyes, partially hidden by pair of eve
broEs, that nearly rival those worn by
the late Gov. Jim Barbour, Of Virginia.
His beard is almost of snowy whiteness,
and the shape of his head bears striking
resemblance to that of the Old Man EIo-
qUeHt.
The influence welded by the Arkansas
Gazette" was most powerful Whoever
that paper endorsed was sure to be elected
of course l have reference to elections,
when the State, or u number Of counties,
voted for any one for particular Office.
The history of Mr.. Woodruff is full of
food for the philosopher and the Chris