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Of Conway County Arkansas by Ray Don Bostian, 161, C.R. 166 South, Hope, AR 71801
James M. Skipper This page has been relocated to http://jamesmskipper.tripod.com/jamesmskipper/Dave_Skipper.html. This page will be erased in a few months. David James Skipper was born in North Carolina (apparently New Hanover County) on August 18, 1849. His father was Joseph W. Skipper and his mother was Susan Louisa Garnto. Only his maternal grandmother, Rebecca Garnto, is known of at this writing. Mary Katherine Dillon was born February 7, 1849 (possibly 1851) in Tennessee. Her father was Jim Dillon, from Tennessee, and her mother (name unknown) was from Kentucky. No information on her grandparents is known. David James (also known as Dave and ‘Big Jim”) came to Conway County with his parents at age 7. They had migrated west from North Carolina, stopping for three or four years in Tennessee and arriving in Conway County in late 1856, clearing virgin land for farming between Solgohachia and Lanty. (See article on Joseph Skipper.) The exact date of their marriage is not known, but their first child was born in 1869. According to the 1900 U.S. Census and family records, they had 10 children, 9 of whom lived to marry and have children of their own. This picture is a scanned copy of a photographic copy of a large photographic print taken in about 1900. Names and dates are not guaranteed. The following information is taken from what the writer considers to be the best sources of Information on the these ten Skipper children: 1. Mary Florence, born September 20, 1869, married John Franklin Kriselll, died September 26, 1903. Buried at Lone Grove Cemetery. 2. Harriet Lucretia, born September 1872, married James Franklin Lloyd, buried at Lone Grove. 3. Louisa “Lou” Rebecca, born December 13, 1874, married Andrew LaFayette Treece, died March 17, 1954, buried at Jonesboro, Ark. 4. John Quincy, born February 27, 1877, married Mary Magdalene Sands and Martha Bradshew Bice, died April 17, 1931, buried at McLaren Cemetery, Lanty (see related article). 5. Elizabeth “Betty” Casandra, born July 10, 1879, married Sonnetia Harzona “Nett” Cowan, died February 12, 1931, buried Lone Grove. 6. James Arthur, born June 19, 1882 married Josephine Noland, died February 9, 1940, buried at England, Ark. 7. David, born 1885, died at 18 months in 1886. 8. Rosie Elmer, born August 21, 1887, married John W. Edwards, died February 12, 1974, buried at Gore1 Oklahoma. 9. Carl Toby, born December 14, 1889, married Ida Octavia Treadwell, died September 21, 1950, buried, England, Ark. 10. Ethel Pauline, born June 18, 1894, married James Phillip Turner, died February 10, 1957. buried at Gore, Oklahoma Apparently all the children were born and reared on their parents’ farm. The entire Skipper land (including Dave’s father and two brothers) was at one time around 600 or more acres (perhaps giving rise to “Skipper Mountain” as it was called). [Has been called Round Mountain since the '40's.]
Dave’s independence is reflected in a story told by a young Morrilton cotton buyer. When he was just starting out, he saw an old gray-bearded man coming into town with a bale of cotton on a wagon pulled by oxen. [Round mountain is about 10 miles from town.] The young buyer brashly ran and hopped onto the wagon, preparing to cut a sample from the bale. “Say, grandpa, how much you want for this cotton?” “Don’t cut my cotton, boy!” the old man replied. Next thing the young man knew, he was on the ground in the middle of the street nursing a knot on his head from the bull whip handle, the wagon continuing slowly down the street. He learned the hard way that Dave Skipper allowed no one to sample his cotton without his specific permission in advance. The buyer also learned to be more respectful of the local farmers. Another story relates how Dave once set a trap inside his corn crib thinking that raccoons were reaching through the logs. Next morning, he found a man trying to get his trapped hand back through the narrow space. Dave turned him loose, doctored his arm, fed him breakfast, and gave him a sack of corn, telling him not to steal but to ask for the corn if he was that desperate. The man never stole from him again. [This sounds like the stories that are now called urban legends!] Dave Skipper died December 24, 1909. Mary Katherine died February 9, 1914. They were buried at McLaren Cemetery near Lanty. Dave’s grave marker indicates that he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. [The cemetery is about three miles north of Round Mountain and just south of Lanty.]
Dave and Kate Skipper's Grandchildren
Mary Florence Skipper Harriet Lucretia Skipper
and John F. Krisell and James Lyod
Leonard Ernest Aveline
Mary Frances William D.
Dave Lindsey James Henry
Nancy Delores John L.
Cora Katherine Dewey
Lou Ellen Napoleon
Moses Hobert Arka Lavelle
Olen Quincy Lucy
James Arthur
Louisa Rebecca John Quincy Skipper and Mary Sands
and Andrew Lafayette Treece and Martha Bice
Russel Agar Ida Saxton
Alvah Annie Lee
Kate Elizabeth Arthur Franklin
Betty Catheryn Gordon Lamar
Otis Arden Bertha Carew
Charles Huges Naomi Mae
Delma Catherine*
George Quincy
Adam Bradley
Winnie Dale
Glenn Bradley
Walter Marion
John Quincy, Jr.
Elizabeth Casandra "Betty" James Arthur Skipper
and Sonnetia H. Cowan and Mayola Josephine Noland
Leon Thelma
Leonard David William "Irving"
William Pauline
Katie James Arthur, Jr.
Stella Joe Noland
Sturl
Rosie Elmer Skipper Carl Toby Skipper
and John W. Edwards and Ida Octavia Treadwell
Millard Ritta
Mildred Ethel* Reba
Othel Lee Ruby
Mary Opal Roy Cline
Leonard Bradley Ruth Carlena
Syble Irene Raymond Columbus
Carl G.* Carl Toby, Jr.
Ethel Pauline Skipper
and James Phillip Turner
James Paul
Genevieve Alene
Johnie Ione*
Marian Adeline
Fredis Eustis*
A total of 66 who lived beyond childhood. At least two of these were adopted.
*At least five are still living in June 2002.
7/12/02
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The farm was quite self-sustaining. Grandchildren can remember a large orchard, corn, cotton, and gardens. Also cows, pigs, chickens, and geese (for feather bedding). There were mules and horses, but Dave still liked to use oxen for draft animals. (A family story says that Theodore Roosevelt, passing through the area, had words of admiration for Dave’s oxen team.) The wool from Angora goats was spun and weaved into clothing and other textiles. (Some recall a high log bridge over a road for the goats to get from pasture to pasture.) There was a leather tanning vat and tools for making shoes, saddles, and other leather goods for farm use. There was a large blacksmith shop with a large bellows (that kids liked to ride up and down) for making and repairing equipment, including shoes for the oxen.
This photo shows two of his great, great grandchildren, John Luther and Rebecca Louise Skipper, standing beside his tombstone. The photo was taken about 1988.
