My Genealogy Hound

H. Carlton Shaw. Among the prominent and popular men of the county is H. C. Shaw, familiarly known as “Carl Shaw.” He is a native of Georgia, was born April, 1853, and is the son of Hiram M. and Elizabeth (Arnold) Shaw, natives of South Carolina, but who were married in Gwinnett County, Ga., in 1833. They moved to Walker County, Ga., the year before the Indians were driven out of the territory (in 1837), and lived there till 1857, when they came to Saline County, Ark., and settling on what is known as the Shaw farm. Hiram Shaw was one of the influential citizens of the settlement, and in 1877 headed the petition and was the leading spirit in securing the present lines of Shaw Township. As would be supposed the township was named for him, and very properly too, for he was one of the men that brought the locality up to its present standard. During his residence in Georgia he filled the different positions of county judge, sheriff and county and circuit clerk of his county. After coming to Arkansas he was not active in local politics, but voted the Democratic ticket. He was postmaster for several years at Merit, and at the time of his death, in 1875, owned 160 acres of land with sixty under cultivation and otherwise improved. His excellent wife still survives him, and is residing at the old homestead. They were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are still living: Permelia (wife of W. W. White, of Saline County), Emma (wife of E. Anderson, of Georgia), Blanche (wife of James A. Barnes, deceased, in Saline County), Joseph W. (physician and surgeon, of Garland County, Ark.), Rebecca C. (wife of William H. Howard, a farmer and teacher in Shaw Township), James H., Martin A. and Virgil N. (lost in the late war), Martha C. (wife of J. B. Miller, a farmer of this county), and H. C. (the subject of this sketch). Carl was reared on a farm and received his education in the common schools of his county, later spending one year at the Benton school. When twenty-one years of age he started in life for himself and was engaged in farming on the old home place, and on February 19, 1878, was married to Miss Emeline Logan, a daughter of James Harvey and Angelina (Eskew) Logan. Mr. Logan was a native of Tennessee, and his wife of Arkansas. Their daughter was born in Saline County, Ark., on May 7, 1862, they having emigrated to this State in 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw are the parents of six children, five of whom are living: Hollis H. (born May 17, 1879), M. O. (born December 15, 1880), Martin Logan (born February 11, 1883, died March 8, 1883), Haly Augustus (born February 25, 1884), Hiram Cole (born February 19, 1886) and Ava Ethel (born March 17, 1889). After his marriage Mr. Shaw moved to the place where he now resides, and has improved it to such an extent that one would scarcely recognize it as being the same. A good house is among the improvements, and everything about the place indicates the presence of thrift and prosperity. He has forty-two acres under a high state of cultivation, also eighty acres of the old home place, with forty-five of that under the plow. He has held the office of justice of the peace for some years, also postmaster in his township. He is a supporter of the principles of the Agricultural Wheel, and himself and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Shaw has always taken an active interest in the schools of his county, and it is such men as he that build up towns and villages, for without them the world would make but little progress. He honors the Democratic party with his vote, and has a very decided influence in local politics.