My Genealogy Hound

Baxter C. Crump (deceased), one of the old and much-esteemed citizens of this county and who for many years was sheriff before and after the late war, was a native of Virginia, born in 1822, and died in 1874. He came to Arkansas some time previous to 1840, and when a young man held the office of county judge, also representing this county in the legislature, being a very prominent politician. He was a Union man at the outbreak of the Civil War, but deeming it his duty to stand by his people he raised three companies, of the second of which he was captain. He was slightly wounded in the ankle at the battle of Belmont, where all of his company but three men deserted him, whereupon he returned home and organized another company being made its captain. He was again wounded at the battle of Helena, Ark., and was afterward quartermaster, doing active service till the close of the war, when he surrendered with his regiment in Arkansas. At the cessation of hostilities he returned home to his family of small children, his wife, formerly Miss Lucy McPeak, having died in 1861, leaving five small children, two of whom are still living, namely: Mrs. Alice Geaurant, at Barton, Ark., and Mrs. Dellan Swepston, in Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Crump was subsequently married to Mrs. Mary E. (Butler) Higgs, a native of North Carolina and daughter of William C. and Courtney R. (Green) Butler, who were also of North Carolina origin, moving to Georgia in 1844. In Floyd County, Ga., Mrs. Crump attained her womanhood and was married to Marcus A. Higgs, formerly from North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Higgs moved to Memphis, Tenn., in 1856, where he practiced law, having studied and been admitted to the bar in Georgia. He remained in Memphis until the fall of 1859, when he came to Crittenden County, Ark., and followed his profession, until the war broke out, when he joined the Confederate army and was killed in September, 1863. He and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of five children given them three lived to be grown, and of these Mrs. M. Aurelia Morgan, of Tennessee, is the only survivor. Paul C. and Randolph E. who attained their manhood and were promising young men are now deceased. Mrs. Crump’s mother, Mrs. Butler, is still living and is making her home with her daughter; she is seventy-three years of age and is active and healthy. Her husband was a Master Mason, and was buried by that order with the highest honors. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and reared a family of six children to be grown, of whom the following three still survive: Mrs. Kate Ritche (who lives in Florida), Mr. L. W. Butler and Mrs. Crump.