Biography of James Madison Scroggin - Conway Co, AR

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Submitted by: Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com>
        Date: 21 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1891.

page 106

James Madison Scroggin, a venerable pioneer of Conway County, was born
in Lawrence County, Mississippi in 1822, and was a son of Humphrey and
Julia (Chaney) Scroggin, who were born, reared and married in
Oglethorpe County, Georgia, from whence they removed to Lawrence
County, Mississippi, and afterward to the Cherokee purchase in Holmes
County, where they resided till the fall of 1834, when they immigrated
to Van Buren County, Arkansas, where they made one crop and then
removed to Conway County and settled in what is known as the "Nichols
Neighborhood," in Nichols Township, among the canebrakes, about
twenty-five miles from Lewisburg, which was the nearest post office
and trading point. He was truly one of the sturdy and honest pioneers,
and after a residence of ten years in Conway County, he (1845) removed
to Dallas County, and from there to Sevier County about 1859; but he
soon returned to Conway County, where he was called to his eternal
home in 1862 at the age of over 80 years, and was the first to be
buried in the family burying ground on the farm now owned by W. W.
Scroggin. His wife died in Van Buren County in 1882, aged 71 years.
Both were Primitive Baptists. Mr. Scroggin was a soldier in the war of
1812. His father was an Englishman and died in Georgia. John Chaney,
the father of Mrs. Scroggin, died in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, a
farmer by occupation. He was formerly of Maryland. J. M. Scroggin is
the fifth of a family of eight sons and three daughters, all of whom
lived to be grown and married. Mr. Scroggin came with his parents to
Arkansas when about twelve years old, and never attended school of any
consequence in his life. In 1843 he was united in marriage with Miss
Samantha Stell, who is a native of DeKalb County, Georgia, born in
1823 and is still living. She is a daughter of Judge Robert Stell.
(See sketch of M. L. Stell). This union resulted in the birth of eight
children, five of whom survive, viz.: Emily C, the wife of James
Trout; Eveline, widow of Duncan Buie (deceased); Selata A., wife of M.
L. Ashbury; John K, and Roe Humphrey. In 1846 Mr. Scroggin settled
nine miles northeast of Morrilton, where he improved a good farm, and
made his home till about 1877, when he removed to his present farm,
two and one half miles southwest of Centre Ridge. He has improved
three good farms in Conway County and in early life was a great
sportsman, having made many a successful chase after deer, bear, etc.
He has witnessed many changes in the customs and conditions of the
people of the county since his residence here. In his early
recollection Indian moccasins and coon-skin caps were commonly worn.
The mills in this part of the State were then very few and much of the
corn was beat in a mortar or pestle. The country was then so sparsely
settled that it required the assistance of all within a radius of
twelve or fifteen miles to raise a log house. In 1872 Mr. Scroggin was
elected Treasurer of Conway County, and was twice re-elected, holding
that important office for six consecutive years. He is a prominent
member of the Springfield Lodge, No. 127, A. F. & A. M.; also of the
Royal Arch Chapter, and of the Council, in all of which he has held
many of the important offices. Mrs. Scoggin is a long-standing and
devout member of the M. E. Church, South.