In reviewing the various professional interests of Newton County, Arkansas, the name of M. T.
Brisco cannot be ignored, for he is one of her most successful legal lights. Although
it is a known fact that, given the ordinary average education and good judgment, any man
may make a success in the avenues of trade, yet in the profession of law he must be endowed
with superior intelligence and have gone through years of careful study and training to be
able to cope with the brilliant minds which do honor to the bench and bar. Mr. Brisco is a
gentleman of well known ability, and one who is an ornament to the profession. He owes his
nativity to Searcy County, Arkansas, where he was born January 1, 1846, a son of Isham and
Rebecca Parker Brisco, who were born in North Carolina in 1816 and Tennessee in 1823,
respectively. The father was a lad of about twelve years when he became a resident of
Washington County, Arkansas, coming thither with some of his elder brothers, and, as wild game
was very plentiful in the region at that time, he and his brothers became quite noted
hunters. He was a thoroughly self-educated man, was a successful school teacher, and was an
exceptionally skillful penman, but the most of his life was devoted to tilling the soil,
in which occupation he met with a good degree of success. In 1836 he took a trip to Texas,
traveling over that country on horseback, but owing to the unsettled condition of the
country he did not locate there, but returned to Arkansas, and for the past forty two years
he made his home in Newton County, with the exception of a short time spent in Benton
County, Missouri, during the war. Prior to the great Civil War he was a Democrat in politics,
but since that time he has supported the men and measures of the Republican Party. He is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, although now seventy eight years of age, is
in the enjoyment of good health. His wife was left an orphan when about twelve years old,
and was brought to Arkansas by an uncle, and was here reared, educated and married, and for
some time thereafter resided on a farm in Searcy County. After a time they purchased
property four miles north of Jasper, where they lived a number of years. Mrs. Brisco was
almost a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and bore her husband the
following children: Martin T., the subject of this sketch; William N., a successful
merchant of Marble City, Arkansas; John M., who is a farmer in the northern part of the county;
E. A., also a farmer in this county; Sarah, who is living near Harrison, in Boone County,
the wife of Joseph Hawkins; Martha J., wife of W. M. Keeton, and Susan, who is the wife of
Luther Keeton of this county. Angeline, Mary and an infant are deceased. The immediate
subject of this sketch spent his early life in this county about four miles north of Jasper,
and his early knowledge of the world of books was acquired in the subscription schools
which were then in vogue. When the war came on he was but fifteen years of age, but he
became a soldier in the spring of 1864, joining Company L of the Second Arkansas Cavalry,
with which he served until the war closed, being a participant in Price's raid and in a
large number of battles in Tennessee and Mississippi. He was quite severely wounded in the
left hip at Booneville, Missouri, but he continued to remain with his command until he had
recovered. On September 13, 1865, while returning home from the army, and when within four
miles of his home, he was halted by two rebels who had covered him with their guns. He was
walking and leading his horse, as the ground was rough, and did not see them until within a
few feet of them. They ordered him to drop his pistol, which he did by unbuckling his belt.
They then took what money he had, together with some clothing he was taking home to his
family, and made him sit down by a tree, when they pulled off his boots. He was then ordered
to mount his horse and follow one of the men. The man led the way down a steep bank in to a
ravine, keeping Mr. Brisco covered with his own revolver. Entering some thick woods
together a halt was ordered, and the man who carried the prisoner's revolver raised it to
fire at Mr. Brisco, who thought his time had come. He threw up his hands and asked the man
to wait a moment, as he had something to say. The man caught the hammer of the pistol and
replied: " Well, be d--d quick about it." "I want you to know," continued
Mr. Brisco, "that I had rather be in my place than yours." The man asked the reason
why, and was told that he was about to commit a cowardly crime in murdering a defenseless boy in the woods
like a dog, and would have to answer for the deed. Continuing, he said: "I am not afraid to
die, as I know I will find a place with my God, and all will be well with me." This remark
seemed to unnerve the would be assassin, and he turned pale for a moment, when he called to
his companion who had halted some distance away. The two held a whispered conversation, and
then, after robbing their prisoner of everything of value he had, hurried away and left him
alone in the woods. Mr. Brisco reached the old homestead in the evening, thankful that even
his life was spared. He continued to make his home with his father, whom he assisted in the
work of the farm until September 8, 1867, when he was married to Mrs. America C. Wright, a
native of Tennessee, and a daughter of William and Frances Cheshire Cross, the former of
whom died in Tennessee. Some years ago the widow and her family removed to Lonoke County,
Arkansas, and later settled in Newton County, the mother's death occurring here in 1887. Mrs.
Brisco was born in Tennessee December 15, 1845, and after her marriage she and Mr. Brisco
engaged in farming, an occupation which received their attention up to 1890, when they took
up their residence in Jasper. In 1879 Mr. Brisco commenced the study of law by his own
fireside, and in August, 1882, was admitted to the Newton County bar, and has since
practiced in all the counties in his district. Although he has practiced his profession but
a short time, he has already become well known as an able criminal attorney, and he has
conducted some of the most important, cases in the State to a successful issue. He defended
William Keith, charged with the murder of John Clark; the Smiths, charged with the murder
of Thomas Nichols; and a Mr. Brasfield, in Baxter County, charged with a like offense. He
prosecuted James Tennison in this county for the murder of one Cross, also J. E. and Wesley
Waite for the murder of Mr. Henderson, and has taken an active part in numerous other
important cases. He was first associated in his practice with W. S. Moore, and was later
with W. A. Carlton, of Jasper. He is now associated with W. L. McPherson, the firm being
known as Brisco and McPherson. In politics Mr. Brisco has always been an active Republican,and
in 1882 was elected to represent the county in the State Legislature, was reelected in
1886, and again in 1888, his popularity, intelligence and ability thus being warmly
attested. In 1890 he was nominated by his party as a candidate for the State Senate from his
district, but was defeated by 500 votes, the Democratic majority in his district being
usually 15,000. In 1892 he was nominated as a Congressman from his district, but refused to
make the race. He is a member of the F. and A. M. and R. A. M. of Jasper, is a member of the
G. A. R. at that place, Isaac Murphy Post, and was for some time its commander. He and his
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is steward and trustee, and he has been class leader in the same for some years. He and his wife are the parents of the
following children: James I. resides on the old home farm, is married to Tennie Pillow and
has two children, Ethel and Bessie; Frances E. is the wife of Thomas A. Chaffin, a farnier
of the county, and has three children, John M. (deceased), Ida B. and James G. B.; Mary J.
is the wife of W. L. McPherson, an attorney of Jasper, by whom she has one son, Roscoe C.;
John M. and William S. still remain with their father.
Lisa Hamilton submitted the above data from Goodspeed's, 1884;
she did so to help others, is not researching the above person or
families mentioned therein.
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