My Genealogy Hound

Eli E. Sigman (deceased). Among the many estimable citizens of Cross County, who have passed to their long home, but who, from an early day were intimately and prominently associated with the county’s development, the name of Eli E. Sigman cannot be omitted. He was born in Catawba County, N. C, in 1835, and was the son of Barnet Sigman, who was a farmer in his native State. Eli E. Sigman remained at home and attended the common schools, supplementing the same by a course at Newton, N. C., after which he began the carpenter’s trade and followed this in his native State until 1858, when he came to Arkansas and settled in what is now Cross County. Here he followed his trade and erected most of the frame houses from that time up to the beginning of the war. He then volunteered in Company A, Fifth Arkansas Regiment, was elected second lieutenant and later promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, serving with distinguished bravery in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Chickamauga, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin and many other minor engagements. He surrendered in North Carolina soon after the battle of Raleigh. On his return in 1865 he soon married Miss Marie J. Lewellen, a native of Tennessee, who came to this State with her parents in 1850. Previous to the war Mr. Sigman bought a farm of 320 acres, about one and a fourth miles west of the present village of Vanndale, and when peace was declared he moved to this farm, on which there was but slight improvement, and at once began to clear up. He soon erected a neat residence, cleared about fifty acres of land and made a pleasant home. Mr. Sigman raised a variety of crops and was also engaged in the rearing of stock. To his marriage were born these children: Henry J., Willie E., M. Luther and N. Jervel. One infant died unnamed. Mr. Sigman joined the Lutheran Church in his youth but on his arrival in Cross County he connected himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and was class leader, steward and Sunday-school superintendent for a long time. Mr. Sigman departed this life on December 8, 1879, from pneumonia, and his death was lamented by a large circle of relatives and friends. The community, the church, the Sabbath school, all felt the loss of a good and wise man. Mrs. Sigman is a daughter of James Lewellen, who came to this county in 1850 and who was one of the pioneers and most highly respected citizens of the community. He reared a large family of children and up to 1881 they with their parents were all living within the vicinity of Vanndale. Since then the parents have died, also two of the children, but still a number are yet living in the community and are among Cross County’s most respected citizens. Mrs. Sigman has a very pleasant home which she makes more attractive by the cultivation of innumerable flowers. With the assistance of her sons she manages and cultivates her valuable farm.