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| Birth: | 31 Dec 1818 in LA |
| Death: | 27 Mar 1868 in New London, Moro Bay AR |
| Sex: | M |
| Father: | William WITHERINGTON, Jr b. 11 Apr 1773 in Little Beaver Dam on Lynches Creek, Craven Co., NC |
| Mother: | Sarah (Sally) STANLEY b. 22 Mar 1777 in Old Dobbs County (now Craven), NC |
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Family lore has it that Gus came to Union County, AR (about1845-47) from Conecuh County, AL with the two King boys, whowere sons of James King (son of Rev. War Captain George King)and Catherine Coleman King (dau of Rev. James Coleman, PrimitiveBaptist Minister in Darlington, SC & Conecuh, AL).According to letter dated 8 Jan. 1992 from Wm C. Finch ofCrossett, AR, Gus met Mary Emma in New Orleans while there onbusiness. Mary Emma was teaching piano for a wealthy New Orleans(Brevard) family at the time. Spencer's Union CO Marriages showsA.L. Witherington (35) marriage to Miss Mary E. Finch (21) on 13Jan. 1859 @ the residence of Dr. Nance. The 1860 Union CountyCensus, Pigeon Hill, AR. has family living there.During the Civil War, Gus and two of his bro-in-laws, Wm S.Finch and Robert L. Withers, purchased a steamboat for movingfreight and passangers on the Ouachita River. They lived on theWest shore of the river near Pigeon Hill in Union County. Wm S.Finch was married to Rebeca Rogers Terrell. Amelia Finch met andmarried Robert L. Withers in New Orleans, better known as'Captain Bob' of the steamboat 'Morgan Nelson'. Gus is said to have organized a company for the Confederate Armyof men from New London, Pigeon Hill and Longview in Union andAshley counties. Gus was elected Captain, and Finch and BobWithers were Lt.'s. By 1862 the three, Gus, Finch & 'CaptainBob' had acquired all of the shares of the 'Morgan Nelson' aspartners. They loaded their company of men on the steamboat andheaded off to New Orleans to enlist. Being 6 foot 6 inches tall,the General in N.O. agreed to accept the company but told Gusthat he could not be accepted, as he would be the first to bekilled because of his height. The resourceful General (possiblyGeneral Lovell, who was in New Orleans until 1862 when N.O. fellto the Union troops) then persuaded Gus, Finch and Withers(according to family lore) to use the steamboat to run suppliesand munitions for the Confederacy, making them all threeCaptains* of the Confederate Army (*unproven). The boat carriedflags of both the CSA and the USA, and the men on board had bothConfederate and Union uniforms to aid them in running theblockades on the rivers. From May 1862 until June 1865 theyoperated the steamboat for Major Latimer's Quartermasters Corps,Camden Hqs. They operated the boat on the Ouachita, Mississippi,Red, Black and Saline Rivers, and were permitted to carrycotton, other products and passangers on their south boundvoyages and to keep those earnings for themselves. All threeended up 'rich', each with a chest full of Confederate bills,which were worthless at the end of the war. They took the'Morgan Nelson' to New Orleans and sold it in December 1865.Captain Bob Withers soon after bought another steamboat, the'Carrie Poole', which he operated for a number of years on theSaline River near Longview at Cavaness Landing where he alsooperated a ferry. Gus Witherington was murdered at Moro Bay (Bradley County) in1869, only a few years after the war ended, and was buried atthe cemetery in New London, Union County. According to newspaperreports, he was shot three times from behind, once in the head.His killer, James A. Davis, had held a grudge against Gus for anearlier beating given him by Gus sometime earlier and had laidin wait for Gus on the day of the killing. He escaped capture,but surrendered to authorities in Calhoun County in February1872, almost three years after shooting Gus. According tonewspaper reports, Davis was found "not guilty" of the murder.The decision of the jury was no doubt influenced greatly bywitnesses who testified of the terrible beating that Gus hadinflicted on Davis and the threats made by Gus to kill Davis.Witherington, Augustus "Gus" Levan Submitted by: William King1/21/2001 AUGUSTUS LEVAN WITHERINGTON FILE The Life Of AUGUSTUSLEVAN WITHERINGTON of Union & Bradley Counties, Arkansas "UNCLEGUS" Born 31 December 1818; Feliciana Parish, Louisiana Killed27 March 1869; Moro Bay, Bradley CO, Arkansas Buried New LondonCemetery, Union County Information Developed by WILLIAM R. KING,JR. Houston, Texas 3rd Gr GrandNephew of 'Gus'Witherington andthe 3rd Great Grandson of John Witherington (an Older Brother of'Gus') AUGUSTUS LEVAN WITHERINGTON, as copied from Goodspeeds 1890History of Southern Arkansas (p. 825): "A.L. Worthington (sic)was a founder of Champagnolle Lodge #68, A.F. & A.M., located atUnion Church, Franklin Township. It was organized at an earlyday (about 1850) by William C. Langford (later a Civil WarOfficer and Union County Judge), A.L. Worthington (sic) andothers. D.D. Pumphry is at present Worshipful Master (1890). GUS WITHERINGTON OF UNION COUNTY, ARKANSAS and THE CONFEDERATESTEAMBOAT - 'MORGAN NELSON' Note: The following is an exact transcription of a letter dated8 Jan. 1992 from W. C. Finch (former Mayor of Crossett, Ark.) toBill Witherington (researcher of Witherington Family of SouthernArkansas - now deceased). This letter was discovered in researchmaterials of Bill Witherington, borrowed by Bill King (a JohnWitherington Descendant) from Janis Hopper of Hot SpringsVillage, AR (daughter of Bill Witherington). This letter hasbeen transcribed by Bill King on July 15, 1998 (as it waswritten) as a matter of 'family' and Civil War interest of thosedoing research of the Witherington families and of Civil Wartimes in Calhoun & Union Counties, AR. Transcription of letter provided by KING FAMILY ASSOCIATION byBill King, Houston, TX Letter of W. C. Finch of Crossett, AR 407E 3rd Ave, Crossett, Ark. 71635 8 January 1992 Dear Bill, Gus Witherington came to York, PA in 1858 on businessand met Mary Emma Finch and married her there. NOTE: They actually met in New Orleans, not York, PA, and weremarried in Union County, Arkansas/Source 1859 Union CountyS. Finch, her sister Amelia Finch, and her father Joseph HenryFinch and her mother Emma Dean (nee Kress) Conkey Finch all tomove to Arkansas with him. Mary Emma did not want to movewithout her family. They arrived at Gus' home at Pigeon HillArkansas in 1858 on the west bank of the Ouachita River. The1860 census of Union CO shows them all in Gus' household. In1862, Wm S. Finch married Rebecca Rogers Terrell at New London,Arkansas which is about a 1 1/2 miles south of Pigeon Hill. AlsoJoseph Henry Finch died in 1862 and was buried at the New LondonCemetery, near the New London Baptist Church on Winchester Road.The Terrells were members of this church and possibly GusWitherington was also. (The church secretary is checking the oldrecords for me now). Amelia Finch met and married a steamboat captain named Robert L.Withers from Longview, Arkansas on the Saline River. They metwhen the whole family was making a trip to New Orleans. Capt.Bob owned an interest in this steamboat 'Morgan Nelson' at thetime. Gus Witherington organized a company for the ConfederateArmy of men from the New London, Pigeon Hill and Longview areas,Union and Ashley counties on the two rivers. Gus was theCaptain, Wm S. Finch and Bob Withers were Lt.'s. In May 1863 the3 brothers-in-law bought out all the shares of the 'MorganNelson' steamboat as partners. (All this sounds to me as if Guswas well fixed enough to outfit a Co. of soldiers and to buy a1/3 interest in a steamboat, as well as to move all his in-lawsfrom Pennsylvania to Arkansas.) They loaded the company on the steamboat and went to New Orleansto volunteer. The General told Gus he would accept his companywith thanks but he would not accept Gus because he'd be thefirst one killed. Gus was 6' 6 1/2" tall. The General then saidhe could also use the steamboat, so they struck a deal. Gus, W.S. Finch and Capt Bob were given commissions each of Captain inthe Confederate Army. The boat was to be operated by them tohaul supplies up river for the CSA Army to various points on theMississippi, Black, Red, Ouachita and Saline Rivers. They wereallowed to haul cotton and other products south to New Orleansfor civilians and could keep the money for non-military hauls.They also carried two flags, USA and CSA as well as uniforms forboth sides to aid them in running the 'Yankee' blockades. (Theycould have been shot as spies if caught.) However, they were notcaught and they operated the boat for the Confederacy, MajorLatimer's Quartermaster's Corps, HDQ Camden, Arkansas, from May1862 to June 1865 when they took the Oath of Allegiance to theUSA. They all 3 ended up 'rich' with each a chest full ofConfederate bills. Their only real assets left were their landsand the boat 'Morgan Nelson' which they sold in New Orleans. Captain Bob Withers used his share to buy another steamboat'Carrie Poole' which he operated for several years. He alsooperated a ferry on the Saline River near Longview at CavanessLanding. Wm S. Finch went into partnership with his otherbrother-in-law William Simon Terrell. They built and operated astore at Pigeon Hill until 1882 when Rebecca, his wife, died.She is buried at New London Cemetery near her father-in-law, J.H. Finch(stone still readable). I have pictures of Rebecca andGus' stones. They are in the middle of the cemetery. I believeJ.H. Finch is between. I was told by an elderly lady at NewLondon that this was correct, that J.H. Finch's stone wasdamaged in a storm and the pieces later scattered and lost.There is a goodly space between Gus and Rebecca, enough for J.H.plus space for each of their spouses. Possibly Gus' first wifeis there next to him but I could not find a stone. I believethis was a Finch Row (planned) as the Terrells are in anotherpart of the cemetery some distance west. Wm Simon Terrell stayed at New London with the store and diedthere (there is still a store at the ferry landing at PigeonHill, on the Union County side of the River). Wm S. Finchmarried Sarah Jane Everett of New London. They moved toWarren...had 3 children and are both buried at Warren. Emma Dean Finch went to live with her daughter Amelia and Capt.Bob Withers at Longview. Emma Dean is buried at Prairie ChapelCemetery next to her son-in-law Capt. Robert L. Withers in theWithers Plot. Amelia Finch Withers lived into the 1920's and isburied in a Withers Plot in the Hamburg Cemetery with severalsons and daughters. Mary Emma Finch Witherington later marriedWilliam D. Harrison and moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas. They hadtwo girls, Versa and Pearl. In the 1940's Pearl lived inPortland, AR. Mary Emma is buried in Pine Bluff with 2ndhusband, William D. Harrison. Hattie May Witherington Pricelived in Hamburg and is buried in the Hamburg Cemetery. Wevisited 'Cousin Hattie' often when I was a child. Vera Welch wasa good friend, both in Fordyce & Little Rock of my mother'sfamily (Calhoun) who were raised in Fordyce as well as MinnieFinch Koonce, daughter of Wm S. Finch who married Edgar Koonce. I have marked up a Gus Witherington sheet as we have it in ourfamily records and tombstone pictures. I am searching for apicture of Gus Witherington and a picture of steamboat 'MorganNelson'. If I can give you any more information, please write orcall. Sincerely, Wm C. Finch (Signature) ******************* Email from Ed Sanders, Arkansas Historical Society: Bill, theofficer in New Orleans was right in rejecting Gus for militaryservice. He WOULD have been the first one shot because a manthat size cannot shrink and hide. I did the genealogy of afellow in northwest several years ago for his greatgranddaughter, and pointed out to her that his recruitingofficer had effectively murdered the man. He was 6' 5" tall andthe recruiter put him in the CAVALRY!!! A man that size wouldhave to have a tall horse to keep his feet from dragging theground, so you've got an 8 foot tall target trying to slipthrough the woods, or charge across a field. Sure enough, thefellow was killed in his very first engagement! Thanks for aheck of a story! Best wishes, ëEdí ___________________________ Proven Data About Augustus Levan Witherington Augustus Levan was born December 31, 1818 in Feliciana Parish,Louisiana. 'Gus' was child # 12 of William Witherington, Jr. &Sarah 'Salley' Stanley. Gus' father, William Witherington, Jr., received a Commission asENSIGN in the 17th Regiment, Mississippi Territory on 7 July1813. The Commission was signed at Washington, MS by DavidHolmes, Governor of the Mississippi Territory. It is said bysome that 'Ensign Witherington' was in the Battle of New Orleansduring the War of 1812, but this has not been proven as fact. Following the Civil War, Gus and Mary Emma (Finch) lived inBradley County across the Ouachita River from Pigeon Hill, UnionCounty. Gus had named his new Plantation in Bradley County'Mount Vernon'. Gus was murdered March 27, 1869 at Moro Bay,Bradley County, Arkansas. Gus is buried in the New LondonCemetery, Union County, AR in the Finch Family Plot. Martha Lovett (wife #1) died 1857 in Union County and is buriedat Wesley Chapel Cemetery located on Ark Hwy # 15 east of ElDorado. After Gus' murder in 1869, Mary Emma Finch (wife # 2) marriedWilliam D. Harrison. Mary Emma Finch and Wm D. Harrison are bothburied at Pine Bluff, ARK.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~1858-59-60 Tax Records - Bradley County, Arkansas A. L.Witherington ENSW Sec. 25 Twn. 16 Range 12 84 Acres ENE 33 16 1280 Acres SNW 34 16 12 80 Acres SWSW 27 16 12 29.83 Acres SESW 2816 12 39.89 Acres NWNW 34 16 12 40 Acres Total 364.16 Acres Bill King's Note: The above land would have been locatedimmediately north and east of the Ouachita River, and lying SEof the community of Moro Bay and east across the river from thePigeon Hill landing. The Ouachita River makes a large loop tothe north (toward Moro Bay) just a bit west of the above landowned by Gus. This is likely the land referred to in familystories as the 'Mount Vernon Plantation' of Gus Witherington. Arkansas Census Records Union County - 1850 - Franklin Township A. L. Witherington 30 mFarmer LA Martha 21 f AL <1st wife - Martha Lovett, b. 1827>Mary E. 2 f AL Sarah 4 mos. female AL Union County - 1860 - Pigeon Hill Township 3 Aug. 1860 A. L.Witherington 37 r/e $10k/ per $25k LA Mary 22 Canada <2nd wife -Mary Emma Finch, b. 1838-Canada> Joseph Finch 55 N.Y. Emma Finch50 N.Y. W. S. Finch 26 N.Y. Amelia Finch 19 Mich. MaryWitherington 11 AL Sarah Witherington 9 ARK Chayler (sp?)Witherington 5 male ARK Orlena Witherington 7 f ARK WillieWitherington 3 male ARK Henry Witherington 3 mos. ARK Notes: Family moved from AL to ARK before 1850, as child-Sarah(4 mos) was shown born in AL on 1850 census. First wife, MarthaK. Lovett, died 1857 (their son-Willie was born about 1857,could she have died in childbirth??). Gus was married to Mary E.Finch on 13 January 1859 in El Dorado, Union County. Letters of Administration -Estate of Augustus L. WitheringtonValue of Estate - about $1500. ELIAS D. KING, here applying forLetters of Administration on the Estate of AUGUSTUS L.WITHERINGTON late of said County, being that AUGUSTUS L.WITHERINGTON departed this life in Bradley County on or aboutthe 27th day of March 1869. Heirs: Henry S. Witherington, E.Evalyon Witherington, Madaline A. Witherington, Hattie MayWitherington of Bradley County, Ark. Mrs. Mary E. Smith, UnionCounty, Ark. Sallie K. Witherington and Orlina M. Witheringtonof Texas. Bond: Dated: May 28, 1869, $3000 - Elias D. King, MaryE. Witherington, B.C. Weir and James H. Averyt (Avant)************* NEW LONDON CEMETERY * Union County, ArkansasCEMETERY GRAVESTONE AUGUSTUS L. WITHERINGTON Born January 1,1819 Died March 27, 1869 Age: 50 Years, 2 Months, 26 Days *Cemetery established about 1810 ************* GUS WITHERINGTON,Union County Pigeon Hill, Arkansas Assets. Inventory of StoreJune 4, 1869 53 Pairs of Shoes 15 Pocket Knives 3 Whet Rocks 20Hand Saw Files 4 Sets of knives & forks 1 Gross of Coffee ShoeBrushes, Slates, Boots, Shoes, Spurs, Trunk, Tin Pans, Lamps,Pitchers, Bowls, Stone Dishes Cups & Saucers, Plates, Tumblers,Goblets, Tin Buckets, Horse Collars 1 Bolts of Alpaca, Prints,Cotton, Worsted, Flannel 15 Goats, 2 Milk Cows Inventory Total:$ 1016.16 Documents of Administration Package (continued) RECEIPT Received of Elias D. King, Administrator of the Estateof Augustus L. Witherington, Deceased, Two Hundred and NinetyNine Dollars and 54 cents, As a part of my Dower Interest in theproceeds of sale of the personal property belonging to theEstate of the said Augustus L. Witherington, Deceased. Dated:February 1st, 1870 Signed: M. E. Witherington (Widow of A. L.Witherington, Deceased) _____________________________________ Pigeon Hill, Arkansas February 11, 1862 J. F. H. HARMON InAccount With Augustus L. Witherington $1250.56 Cr.****************** Bill King Question: Could J. F. H. Harmonhave been serving as a 'merchant-banker' in Union County and inpossession of funds belonging to the credit of Augustus LevanWitherington? ================== Final Accounting Current EliasD. King, Administrator Estate of Augustus L. Witherington,Deceased July Term 1883 Confirmed and Ordered of Record JulyTerm 1884 A. A. Turner, Judge Filed: July 10, 1883****************** The following is a transcription of letterdated Feb. 26, 1981 from Gordon L. Harrison, Jr. of Houston toVirginia M. Witherington, Arkadelphia, AR HARRISON CONVEYOR CO. 4010 Bluebonnet # 115 Houston, Texas 77025(713) 661-3405 February 26, 1981 Dear Virginia, Your informationon the Finch's strikes a warm part of my soul. We are nowdiscussing our great-grandfather, Augustus Levan Witherington, amost colorful and interesting free spirit. To digress a moment; I am not a family buff. Leonard Green'swife, Bettye, is the person who has traced the staid Harrisonfamily at the Clayton Library in Houston. Mildred White O'Quinalso is a family nut. She has an "Ensign Certificate" of WilliamWitherington, member of the MISSISSIPPI DRAGOONS, dated 1813. Ibelieve this William Witherington is the father of A.L. (this isnow a confirmed fact). My father was a pet of his mother. I suspect they wereconspirators in meanness to your mother. My father has manyfamily stories he got from Evelyn Emma Witherington Harrison. Myfather exaggerates, and imagines events that never happened, sotake my further comments with this aberration of Gordon's inmind. William and James Witherington appear in 1830 census,Conecuh County, Alabama; A.L. Witherington is not shown. A. L. first appears in Union County, Arkansas marriages1829-1870, by Spencer: A. L. Witherington 21 to Martha K. Lovett18, February 1848. Also recorded: A. L. Witherington 35 to MissM. E. Finch 21, at Dr. Nance's on 13th Jan 1859. According to Gordon, Mary Emma Finch left Poughkeepsie, N.Y. totake a position as a music teacher at Madeline Brevard's Schoolfor Young Ladies in New Orleans. A. L. evidently met ourgreat-grandmother in New Orleans, and married her in Arkansas.Mary Emma got her brother William S. Finch, Sister Amelia, andmother Emma Dean Finch to live in Arkansas with her. Ameliamarried Robert Withers. William S. married Rebecca Terrell,sister to Simon Terrell. Both of these men were businessassociates of A.L. A.L. was very good to the Finch Family. A.L. was evidently a prosperous businessman, got "Billy-Goats"drunk on Sunday, had many fist fights, and took an active partin the breeding of his female slaves. He was smart enough to bein the Quarter Master Corp in Texas, nearly caught by theYankees when he was visiting Mary Emma in 1864 at Champonolle. As a boy in Warren, I was shown a Warren newspaper dated 1869headlined: 'MR. DAVIS SHOOTS 'BULLY' GUS WITHERINGTON INSELF-DEFENSE'. According to Gordon, A.L. whipped Davis before1861 (?), and Davis carried a grudge against A.L. Gordon claimsA.L. and his son, Henry Stuart, got off of A.L.'s steamboat aMoro Bay, Davis was lying in the bushes and rifle-shot A.L. inthe back of the head. (Bill King Note: Newspaper story reportedhe was killed with a shot gun.) Now for another 'juicy' scandal: The Widow Mary Emma marriedWilliam D. Harrison, son of William Kennon Harrison, brother ofEdmund Reid Harrison. Will and our grandfather, Edmund PendletonHarrison were first cousins, one married to the mother, theother to the daughter. The Widow Mary Emma must have acquired aloving disposition from A.L. Will D. (Harrison) and Mary Emmahad Versa Burton (Aunt Burt) and Pearl Eugenia (Aunt Lolly).They lived in Pine Bluff when E.P. and Evelyn Emma were firstmarried. August Levan Witherington is my favorite relative. He was themain-stay of the Finch's when they first came to Arkansas. Whenhe died, Mary Emma did not know too much about his businessaffairs. Gordon claims the poor widow was cheated out of herproperty. Remember that William S. Finch, Robert Withers andSimon Terrell were his associates and probably advised her aboutA.L.'s property. William D. Harrison was a traveling"Daguerreotype" picture-taker. E. P. supposedly held him incontempt. I imagine Will D. (Harrison) helped the Widow MaryEmma dispose of her property. Best Regards, Don Gordon L Harrison, Jr. NOTE The above letter was found in family research papers ofVirginia M. Witherington of Arkadelphia, Arkansas and wastranscribed by Bill King of Houston on August 1, 1999.______________________________________ AUGUSTUS LEVAN WITHERINGTON (The Murder) The below excerpts were taken from articles appearing inArkansas Gazette and were provided Jan 10, 1999 by Jann Woodardof the Bradley County Historical Society - 12008 Ginger Lane,Benton, AR 72015 Ark. Gazette April 3, 1869 (page 2, col. 5) Killed: We areinformed that Mr. Gus Witherington, late of Champagnolle, was,on Friday 26th ult., at Moro Bay killed by a Mr. James Davis. Hewas shot three times. We have not heard the particulars of thedifficulty. (From the Camden News) April 6, 1869 (page 3 col. 2) A.L. Witherington, formerly ofChampagnolle, but more lately of Mt. Vernon, Bradley county, wasbrutally murdered on the 27th of March, at Moro, Calhoun county,by a man named James A. Davis. He was in conversation at thestore door of Bratton & Co., with Mr. Schaer of Little Rock,when Davis approaching from behind shot him without warning. Thefirst shot passed through his head, the second through his body,when falling upon the floor he was shot a third time in the leftshoulder. Mr. Witherington was conveyed to Pigeon Hill, where hedied on the night of the 19th. Pigeon Hill Masonic Lodge No. 98,buried Mr. Witherington with the usual ceremonies. We willpublish their resolutions next week. Mr. Witherington was an oldand respected citizen of Union County. AR Gaz. Oct. 26, 1869(page 4 col 2) The governor has offered a reward of $200 for thearrest and conviction of James Davis, charged with the murder ofA.L. Witherington, at Moro Landing, Calhoun County. AR Gaz. Feb. 6 1872 (page 1 col 2) The Warren Eagle says Jas. A.Davis, who shot and killed A.L. Wortherington (sic), a highlyrespected citizen of Bradley county, about three years ago, andmade his escape, created quite a sensation the other day byreappearing and surrendering himself to the officers of the lawwith a view of standing trial. The Bradley County Eagle Warren, Arkansas, Sat. Jan. 27th, 1872 The Murderer Now In Jail In This City Last Tuesday night ourtown was thrown into a fever of excitement by the arrival at theWarren House of Mr. James A. Davis. Charged with murder andunder an escort of armed men. It appears that about four yearsago a difficulty occurred in the village of Mount Vernon, inthis county, between two residents, named A.L. Wortherington(sic) and James A. Davis; the former being the aggressor. Daviswas beaten in a most shocking manner, his face being battered ina terrible way; his eyes nearly put out; his jaw broken, and hisspine injured beyond recovery. While being thus outraged andunable to defend himself he said: "Wortherington (sic), you hadbetter kill me now, while you have a chance, for if I everrecover, I will kill you!" At last the difficulty ceased and theparties separated. Time rolled on and about a year elapsed, whenthey met again, in the village of Moro Bay, on the OuachitaRiver, about the 28th of March 1869. When Davis sawWortherington (sic), he said to a bystander: "Is thatWortherington (sic)?" And upon receiving an affirmative reply,walked off, got a shotgun, and deliberately shot his victimdead. Fearing mob law, James A. Davis took up his abode inCalhoun County where he remained until the time of his arrest.In the meantime it appeared the Grand Jury of this county founda true bill against him for murder in the first degree for whichhe was arrested. When the officers presented the warrant, hesurrendered cheerfully, and is now closely confined in thecounty jail. He seems quite indifferent to his situation andthinks the law will justify his deed; and from what we learn,public sympathy is with him, for Wortherington (sic) isrepresented as being very turbulent and quarrelsome disposition,even to maltreat any person for the least imaginary cause andthreatened the life of Davis several times carrying guns toexecute his threats. These are represented by the facts in thecase and we give them to the public without comment. Above article provided to Bill King by Jann Woodard of BradleyCounty Gen. Society 1-20-99 ___________________________________ 'GUS' WITHERINGTON INFORMATION Provided by Bryan Howerton1/23/99 Researcher with Gerdes Civil War Pages E-Mail:howerton@cswnet.com WITHERS, Robert James Born 15 Jun 1820 in South Carolina, Died18 Jun 1901 in Arkansas Buried in Prairie Chapel Cemetery, DrewCounty, Arkansas Widow - Amelia Finch Withers filed Arkansaspension application #22346 from Bradley County, August 9, 1915.Listed in Ashley County 1860 Census, occupation carpenter C.S.Marine Service, commander, Steamer Morgan Nelson. WITHERINGTON, Augustus L Listed in Union County 1860, age 27,born in Louisiana, occupation merchant. No Arkansas service orpension record found. FINCH, William Stuart Born 11 Sep 1830 at Clarence, New York,Died 19 Jul 1907 at Warren, Arkansas. Buried in Oak RidgeCemetery, Bradley County, Arkansas Married Rebecca RogersTerrell, 10 Jan 1861, Union county, Arkansas Listed in UnionCounty 1860 census. Married Sarah Jane Everett, 30 Sep 1883,Union county, Arkansas Widow Sallie J. Finch filed Arkansaspension application #15144 from Bradley County, 6 Aug 1913.Cited service in Quartermaster's Dept., Maj. Latimer's Ark. Div.If these three men served in the Confederate navy or marineservice, their records would not be filed in Arkansas. The C.S.Navy and Marine Corps (and I assume Marine Service) have theirown Compiled Service Records microfilm series, completelyseparate from the various State volunteers. Likewise, if theyserved for example as a quartermaster, working directly for adepartment or army, their CSRs would be filed with the regularConfederate Army microfilms (again, a separate microfilmseries). Hope this helps. Bryan Howerton_________________________________ The Following Message From Chuck Jackson - St. Louis, datedFebruary 1999 'Morgan Nelson, CSA Marine Service' Bill - foundmentioned in a letter to General Buckner from General E. KirbySmith. Will "snail mail" the letter to you but will transcribeverbatim below. I think this letter answers the question as tothe role of the Morgan Stanley in the Civil War and why I couldnot find Withers, Witherington, nor Finch in the Civil Warbooks. Headquarters Trans-Mississippi Department. Chuck Shreveport, February 27, 1865 To: Lieut. Gen. S. B. BucknerCommanding District of West Louisiana GENERAL: Major Buckner's communication from Monroe of 21stFebruary with your endorsement is just received. The steamerBarkman was burned in the Bartholomew. The Fletcher and MorganNelson have by telegraph to Camden been ordered to Monroe, wherethey will be at the disposition of Major Buckner for the purposeof procuring corn. The Ouachita country above the Louisiana lineis absolutely stripped of forage. To maintain that line thegarrison at Camden is compelled to supply itself from the lowerOuachita and its tributaries. It is of vital importance for theprotection of Northern Louisiana, as well as the plantinginterests in the Red River Valley, in the District of Arkansas,that Camden should be held by us. General Magruder estimatesthat 30,000 bushels of corn will meet his necessities and enablehim to maintain the line of the Ouachita until the coming cropcan be gathered. The boats will at the disposal of yourofficers, and I wish you would instruct them to use dispatch andenergy in securing and removing the corn from the Boeuf. What isnot needed for the District of Arkansas and your cavalry on theOuachita can be transported up Little River to within sixteenmiles of Alexandria, and be made available for the troops in thelower portion of your district. As the wants of the garrison atCamden are pressing, I wish the first load of the Fletcher sentto that point. You can afterward, as your necessities willallow, increase the amount of corn sent to Camden to 30,000 oreven 50,000 bushels. The boats will remain under your control,and General Magruder instructed that he can depend upon yourofficers forwarding to Camden the corn necessary for the supportof that garrison. Respectfully, your obedient servant, E. KirbySmith, Commanding General, CSA *********** Bill, The set ofbooks I researched looking for any sign that Withers,Witherington, and/or Finch were in the Confederate Navy were:Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the Warof the Rebellion. Published under the direction of: The Hon.Curtis D. Wilbur, Secretary of the Navy, by Dudley W. Knox,Captain, U. S. Navy, Retired Officer in Charge, Office of NavalRecords and Library by authority of an Act of Congress approvedJuly 31, 1894. United States Government Printing OfficeWashington û 1927 Above From: Chuck Jackson, St. Louis______________________________________ E-Mail to & from Robert Owens EMail: rbowens@seark.net RiverboatResearcher Date: Sunday, February 14, 1999 Robert, many thanksfor the info on the Morgan Nelson and also for the info below.Believe that this was very likely my relative, A.L. Witherington(not A.J.). His name was AUGUSTUS LEVAN WITHERINGTON. 'Gus' wassaid to have been a partner with Captain Robert Withers andWilliam Finch as owners of the 'Morgan Nelson'. However, noproof has surfaced on this fact, and is only found inWitherington & Finch family tales handed down through the years.Again, I will greatly appreciate all info on any of the above.Bill King, Houston The Paddle Wheelers: Morgan Nelson: Sternwheel, packet, wooden hull, built atMiddletown, Pa. 1859. 109 tons. 120' x 21'.8" x 4'.4". Sheappeared at New Orleans Jan. 24, 1861, owned by Josiah and JamesDillon of Wheeling, Va., with Capt. Joseph Richardson, also ofWheeling, in charge. She had seven changes of ownership at NewOrleans 1861-1868, when dismantled. Carrie Poole: Sternwheel, packet, wooden hull, built atEvansville, Ind., 1865. 118'.7" x 21' x 3'.7". Advertised August1866 running New Orleans-Red River, Capt. J.F. Muse, "draws only12 inches light." Had four or five owners including Red RiverPacket Co., and Capt. Noah Scovell. When she burned at Algiers,La., was owned by James M. Kane, New Orleans, with Capt. W.H.King, master. This on July 27, 1870. Dr. Buffington: Sidewheel packet, wooden hull, built atCincinnati, Oh. 1857. 157'x32'x5'. Ran New Orleans-Grand Encore(Camden), owned by A.J. Buffington, New Orleans. Capt. L.T.Moore was master in 1858. In 1861 owned by A.L. Witherington,Carrollton (New Orleans), who also was master. Made trips upWhite River, and was lost there, December 1862. These steamboats were mentioned in a paper called The CountyExplorer. It says: Captain Robert J. Withers, a well- known andrespected leader of the community, operated two of several boatsthat plied the Marie Saline. The Carrie Poole and the MorganNelson. This at Longview, Saline River, Arkansas. The otherinformation was obtained from Way's Packet Directory. RobertOwens From the Web Pages: (1) "Riverboats" and (2) "RiverboatCaptains" 1. Name: DR. BUFFINGTON Type: Sidewheeler, Wooden hull packetSize: 175 X 32 X 5 Launched: 1857, Cincinnati, Oh. Destroyed:1862, Dec. lost on White R. (See ** below) Area: 1857-61, NewOrleans - Grand Ecore; 1861, N. O. - White R. Owner: 1857,Buffington, A. J. *1860, Avant, Nathan T. of Union, Ark. *1860,Dec. 4, Buffington, Capt. A.J. 1861. Witherington, A.L. ofCarrollton, La. Captain: 1858, Moore, L.T. *1860, March 28 -1861 Avant, Nathan T. *1861, Witherington, A.L.****************** The following was copied from the pages ofthe Journals of the House of Representatives, 2nd Congress ofthe Confederate States of America. Volume 7, page 13 of theJournals of the Confederate Congress, 1861-1865. Web Page: page 13 (in part)Date: Second Day, Tuesday, May 3, 1864 Mr. A. H. Garland(Augustus H. Garland, Representative of the State of Arkansas)introduced: A bill "to provide for the redemption of the oldissue of Treasury notes held by certain Indian tribes;" whichwas read a first and second time and referred to the Committeeon Ways and Means. Also, a bill "for the relief of A. L.WITHERINGTON, of Union County, in the State of Arkansas;" whichwas read a first and second time and referred to the Committeeon Claims. ____________________________ Family Interview with James Sidney King, about 1936, copyprovided by Betty Sue Griffin Mitcham of El Dorado, AR. James Sidney King was the son of John Coleman King. He was theGrandson of James King, Sr. & Catherine Coleman King (Catherineis buried at Wesley Cemetery in Union County, AR). From the family records of Betty Sue Griffin Mitcham of ElDorado; daughter of Abbie Coral King Griffin and greatgranddaughter of John Coleman King of Union County. James Sidney King of Union County, son of John Coleman King, ina 1936 family history interview, told a story of his father andGus Witherington crossing the Mississippi River on rafts andriding horseback when they came to Arkansas. They passed severalplantations in the rich Mississippi Valley where the owneríshouse, known as the 'big house', was set far back from the roadand a big gate and a lawn were out in front of the 'big house'.King and Witherington made their headquarters at Norris Springsin Union County and went out each day with a spade looking forrich land, but decided to go to Texas where Dallas now is. Theylater decided to come back to Union County where thetransportation on the Ouachita River was good and they could gettheir cotton to market at New Orleans and where the land wasrich." ************************* Early Alabama (Conecuh County)Land Records for Augustus L. Witherington Aug. 18, 1837 40 Acres SW/SW, Sec. 15, Township 7 N, Range 11 E.(Located near Lyeffion, NE of Witherington Family Cemetery) July1, 1845 39.375 A. NE/SW, Sec. 1, Township 6 N, Range 10 E.(Located near China and the Witherington Family Cemetery) Early Arkansas (Union County) Land Records for Augustus L.Witherington Sept 1, 1856 40 Acres SW/NE, Sec 29, Township 17 S, Range 14 W.(Located South of Hwy 15, near Wesley Cemetery) July 1, 1859 80Acres SE/NE, Sec 7 Township 17 S, Range12 W. (Part) NW/SW, Sec8, Township 17 S, Range 12 W. (Located So. of Pigeon Hill andSouth of the Ouachita River) Researcher's Notes: This information on the life of AUGUSTUSLEVAN WITHERINGTON has been developed over the past three yearswith the help of many researchers ..........far too many to listhere. It is being provided in hopes that some of the informationprovided of "Uncle Gus" and his life and death will be ofinterest to Union, Calhoun & Bradley County historians andgenealogists. I visited the New London Cemetery grave of GusWitherington on June 13, 1999 following the annual WitheringtonFamily Reunion, and I felt very pleased "to have finally foundUncle Gus". Gus Witherington was my 3rd Great Grand Uncle.William Witherington, Jr. (the father of Gus, John & JamesWitherington) was my 4th Great Grandpa. All three sons came toSouthern Arkansas from Conecuh County, AL about 1845-1846. JohnWitherington was my 3rd Great Grandfather. I descend from JohnWitherington (the older brother of Gus & James), who was born1801 in Darlington District, SC and who died 1855 in CalhounCounty, Arkansas. Material Compiled and Submitted by WILLIAM R.(Bill)KING, JR14106 Carolcrest Circle, Houston, TX 77079 (281) 493-6767E-Mail: BillKing78@msn.com 21 January 2001 Source:Union County Census, Land, Probate and Marriage Records. BradleyCounty Land Records. Census and Land records of Conecuh County,AL. Way's Steamship Packet Directory; Goodspeeds 1890 History ofSouthern Arkansas; Journals of the House of Representatives, 2ndCongress of the Confederate States of America; Volume 7, page 13of the Journals of the Confederate Congress, 1861-1865. Warren,Ark. Newspaper articles provided by Jann Woodard of the BradleyCounty Gen Society. Research works of: Virginia Witherington(deceased) of Arkadelphia, AR; Mayor Bill Finch of Crossett, AR;Gordon Harrison, Jr. of Houston, TX; Gerdes Arkansas Civil WarResearchers; Ed Sanders of the Arkansas Historical Society; andon-line research by Bill King of Houston, TX. "Genealogy Exchange & Surname Registry"TMContact the GenExchangePlease...do not send in personal queries...post them on the sitefor best results,or join one of our many Mailing Lists.Copyright © 1996-2000 by Joanne & Anthony Abby.All rights reserved.This page may be freely linked to but not duplicated in anyfashion without consent.*The words "GenExchange", "Genealogy Exchange & SurnameRegistry", and terms including "GenExchange" are Trademarksowned entirely by Joanne and Anthony Abby and may not be used inany other manner except in conjunction with the existing website, and only by active members of the GenExchange Project.
Marriage:
Married 13 Jan 1859 at Dr. Nances home: A.L. Witherington (35)
and M.E. Finch (21) by J.C.S. Aiken, M.G., Methodist Episcopal
Church South
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