USA > Arkansas > Pulaski County > Little Rock > Blue book of Little Rock and Argenta, Arkansas > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
Mr. M. HI. Henderson was born in Yell County, Arkan- sas, May 17, 1855. John and Mrs. Malissa Haney are the names of his parents. He removed to Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1864. Ile received his edneation principally in Little Rock. He had, however, received private instruction from different persons as best he could. He was a night school student for one year after leaving school. For three years he was an apprentice plasterer. After learning the trade he followed it ten years. In 1883 he was appointed messenger
SS
GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
.: : porter at the post office, since which time he has been pro- " ced stamper.
In 1882 he was elected Alderman from the Sixth Ward '. the City Conneil, holding said office something over two voars.
In 1875 the subject and Miss Eugenia Green were made
M. II. HENDERSON.
one in the holy bonds of matrimony. They have been blessed with five children; two have departed this life.
Mr. Henderson is a Christian believer and communes at Wesley Chapel M. E. Church : a member of the G. U. O. of O. F., a Knight Templar of the Masonic.
He owns his home at 922 West Twelfth street, and three other valuable city lots.
Postmaster Holt says, "Mr. Henderson is one of the best men in the office."
8.9
BLUE BOOK.
Mr. A. Kauffman was born in El Dorado, Union County, Arkansas, March 9, 1864. . The public schools of Camden, Arkansas, have the credit of having given him a good start in an education. By profession he is a hotel waiter.
At Camden, Arkansas, January 2, 1884, the subject and Miss bula Williamson joined heart and hand in marriage. The union has been blessed with one offspring, Henrietta, now Mrs. King.
October 1, 1900, he was appointed letter carrier to the Little Rock post office.
Mr. Kauffman is a communist of Bethel A. M. E. Church, of which he is a Sunday School teacher, trustee, class leader and Assistant Sunday School Superintendent.
He is a member of Bethel's choir and its bass singer.
Mr. Kauffman owns a pretty eight-room residence at 1019 Arch street, where he resides with his family. The cottage is well worth $4,000.00.
Mr. Kauffman emphasizes the necessity of getting homes, and more so, of getting good ones.
Mr. G. W. Cummings was born near Fulton, Mississippi, approximately 1860. Mrs. Caroline Cummings (married again) is his mother. He first studied .in the schools of Itawamba County, Mississippi. During 1887, he was a stu- dent at Southland College, Phillips County, Arkansas. . Mr. Cummings had taught a number of years, however, before matriculating at said institution. He likewise taught both in the Bayou and Bear States after leaving college. He farmed in connection with his school work.
In 1882 he yields to cupid and weds Miss Hattie Peck. Seven living children are the result of the union. Mr. Cum- mings owns a lovely home at Thirty-fourth and Chester streets.
90
GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
Mr. M. G. Washington was born in Little Rock, Decem- bor 15, 1874. His parents are George and Mrs. Eliza Washington. Ile completed the common, and high school courses in the city of his birth. For eight years he was stockkeeper for one of the flourishing commercial houses
M. G. WASHINGTON.
conducted by whites, of Little Rock. In 1901 he severed his connection with the aforesaid house. Immediately there- after he was appointed a letter carrier to the Little Rock post office. In this position he is aequitting himself eredit- ably and satisfactorily. In 1899 he and Miss Etta Crighton were married. Four children have been born to them : Max- ine, Louise, Berniee, and Booker T. Mr. Washington is a member of the First Baptist Church, and one of its prom- inent Sunday School teachers. Ile is a member of the B. Y. P. U. Mr. Washington and family occupy their excellent dwelling, at 1517 &West Seventeenth street.
91
BLUE Book.
Mr. L. N. Porter was born in Hot Spring County, Ar- kansas, February 16, 1866. His parents were Sancho and Mrs. Clara Porter, who died before he was a year old. His rudimentary edneation began in his native county and he fin-
L. N. PORTER.
ished fris schooling at Philander Smith College. He studied one year at Howard University, Washington, D. C., since which time he has kept up a regular course of study.
IIe is a member of the First Baptist Church.
92
GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
The family live in their handsome dwelling at 1201 Palaski street. Ile owns the two elegant residences num- bred 1205 and 1207 Pulaski street.
Mr. Porter is a man of few words, meditative and afable.
At Richmond, Virginia, 1906, he was elected Deputy Grand Master of Odd Fellows of America.
In December, 1895, he and Miss Maud Anthony, a popu- lir teacher in Little Rock Public Schools, were married. One offspring, Anna May, has been the result of the union. He was a letter carrier in Little Rock eleven years. At this writing Mr. Porter is a clerk in the same office, and Post- master Holt says his work is satisfactory. The subject has been in the service of Uncle Sam fifteen years.
93
BLUE BOOK.
WILLIAM LUCKETT.
94
CHAPTER IN.
MERCANTILE.
Mr. William Inekett is a native of Dangerfield, Texas. Hle was born there December 2, 1863. ITe received his edu- ration at the Union School and Capital Hill High School. After having left school he did hotel work for considerable time, and learned the culinary art at different places and times. For three years he was chef a't the Capital Hotel in this city, by which employment he made and saved a small capital, and invested it in the wood and coal business in 1898. Two years later he very cautiously and thoughtfully connected groceries to his former business, at the northeast corner of Tenth and Chester streets, where he is having a fairly good patronage.
Je wedded Miss Belle Powers in 1889.
Mr. Luckett bought a home at 1217 Chester street when he was a boy of eighteen, and he owns it yet. Phone 1998.
On a summer day, June 2, 1870, J. A. Brooks was born at Brownsville, Tennessee. He is the son of Mr. L. B. and Mrs. Minerva Brooks. He was educated chiefly in the free schools of Monticello, Arkansas, and took a three years' course in the Arkansas Baptist College. IIe was drug packer for a first-class establishment of Little Rock for eleven years.
In 1895 he and Miss Sarah Downy were joined in the holy bonds of matrimony.
Messrs. Tom McCloud and Brooks are associated in the grocery business at Wright avenue and Pulaski street.
IIe is a trustee and Sunday School teacher of the First Baptist Church, of which he is also a menrber.
Ile owns a valuable home at number 1323 West Twelfth street.
95
BLUE BOOK.
The genial and intelligent grocer, L. Henderson, who was born at LaGrange, Tennessee, March 10, 1861, and who is doing a palmy business at 701 College street, is one of the finest practical merchants, regardless of color, that we have had the pleasure of laying eyes upon. Mrs. Dilsie Joiner was the name of his loving mother, who married the second time.
Ile did common labor a long time for a livelihood and farmed in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, a goodly number of years.
Mr. IIenderson came into possession of an education in a migne way. He learned much by invitation. He never was in school a day. This man, L. Henderson, reads human nature with the case and perfection that a clever lad spins his top. Ile is unpretentiously something of a physiognomist.
Two children, Herman II. and Miss Nettie M., survive their mother and his first wife, Mrs. Delia Brown Henderson, wiro departed this life in the year 1875.
Ile is a steward of Miles Chapel, C. M. E. Church.
Ile owns a pleasant home at 1003 East Sixth street, and has other property. Mr. Henderson has in contemplation the early enlargement of his business.
Rev. J. F. Matloek was born in Tennessee, November 20, 1864. IIe is an offspring of Rev. Norman and Mrs. Arie Mat- lock. He received his rudimentary training at Ashland, Ben- ton County, Mississippi, in the 60's, and coneluded the high school course at the same place; and has continued a course of study ever since he left school. He was a professor for more than a decade of years and at intervals worked on railroads. He removed to Little Rock in 1902. August 13, 1905, he started a grocery store, wood and coal yard, corner Thirty-first and Cross streets. He continues to do outside manual labor for the purpose of putting his business on a firmer basis. Rev. Matlock is a Missionary Baptist and enter- tains a high degree of refinement and is anxiously concerned about the general welfare of his race.
Residence 1205 West Thirty-second street.
96
-
MERCANTILE.
The subject of this sketch, Mr. Tony Jordan, was born at Marianna, Georgia, September, 1856. His parents removed from his native State in 1860, to Montgomery County. Ar- kansas, thence to Hot Springs, and from there to Little Rock, where he has lived to the present time.
Ilis education was obtained principally by attending night school at intervals for four years. He is a self-made man, and quite progressive along business lines. He is his own bookkeeper and manages his own extensive business interests in person. In his early days his vocation was farming. Ile had done various kinds of indoor work until
TONEY JORDAN.
entering business for himself. He speculates in both per- sonal and real property, besides running a business at 923 Spring street.
Mr. Jordan and Miss Ida V. Elder were united in the holy bonds of matrimony in March, 1878.
The subject of this sketch is a good worker in Brown's Memorial Church.
Ilis ten-room, two-story residence is at 1123 Izard street. lle owns considerable other valuable improved property in the city of Little Rock and suburbs.
Mr. Jordan has recently come to the conclusion that he will return to his first love-the farm.
97
-
BLUE BOOK.
It was in the year 1865, Pickens County, Alabama, that the Reverend J. Lathan was born. Ile was in school only three months. Mrs. Lucinda and Wiley Lathan were his parents. He lived in Macon, Mississippi, one year after he
J. LATHAN.
left home. Thence to Aberdeen, Mississippi, where he stayed three years. And after making other short stops arrived in the City of Roses-1890. Reverend Lathan has been a preacher of the gospel ever since he was nineteen and pastored different churches covering a period of fifteen 100
MERCANTILE.
wars. At this writing he is pastoring the Mabelvale Cir- Pit C. M. E. Church. As a part of tris means of support that he might not be a burden to his congregations he is running meat and produce market at 1000 West Seventeenth street, or near the corner of Seventeenth and Chester streets.
Mr. W. H. Duncan, who condnets a confectionery, wood and coal business on the corner of Fifteenth and Ringo streets, was born at Center Point, Arkansas, February 10, 1876. Rev. W. R. R. Duncan and Mrs. Abbie Gill Duncan are the names of his parents. The latter is dead. Mr. Dun- ran received the major portion of his early education from his father at Sweet Home and in the public schools at Van Buren, Arkansas. His parents removed to Little Rock over fifteen years ago. After which time the subject attended Philander Smith College five years.
On leaving school he went into the wood and coal busi- ness with a small capital. The forty-dollar stock that he had on the shelves when he opened his doors quickly grew up to a thousand dollars. His business was still flourishing when he was burnt out at Wright Avenue and High streets. The fire caused him to lose his entire stock of goods. This, however, did not stop him, but, as having received fresh inspiration of Spartan courage, pressing onward, as it were, keeping stoic step to the destinies of man, doing a neat and profitable business at the above mentioned number.
In 1901 Mr. Duncan and Miss Mary Alexander were joined in bonds of holy wedlock. They have been blessed with one offspring, Willie Myrtle.
He is a believer in Christ.
Mr. W.,A. Singfield is a native Georgian, and removed to Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1898. He is the son of Mr. G. W. and Mrs. M. C. Singfield, and was educated at Washington, Georgia. Human nature, business and text-books constitute his regular course of study.
The subject has worked up from the trade. of a humble carpenter to his present station. However, not for a moment does he consider carpentry a mean vocation.
101
UNIVERSITY ( F ARKANSAS LIBRARY
CHAPTER X.
PHARMACY.
W. O. FOSTER.
Dr. W. O. Foster is a native citizen of Little Rock, Arkansas, who was born in 1882. He is a son of Mr. Isaac. and Mrs. Mattie Foster. His education was begun in the publie sehools of the City of Roses. He matriculated at Tal- ladega College, Alabama, at which institution he prosecuted a course, after which he entered Howard University, Wash- ington, D. C., and in 1904 was graduated from the phar- maceutical department of that institution. The James and Allen Drug Company, West Side, Chattanooga, Tennessee, immediately employed him as manager of their concern, which position he filled for two wears, with marked eredit to himself and entire satisfaction to his employers. He returned home in March, 1906, and opened Foster Drug Company, place of business, 624 West Ninth street.
104
CHAPTER XI.
--
SHOEMAKING.
Mr. B. L. Liggins was born in 1872, near Tuskegee Institute, Alabama. Ilis father, Benjamin Liggins, died when the boy was in his eighth year, and two years later his mother, too, was taken by death. To him educational advantages, as a matter of course, were very limited. Mrs. Ellen Diggins, his mother, who learned by chance to read and write fairly well, tanght him, also, something of reading, writing and arithmetic.
There were nine children in all. After working five years under the guardianship of his unele, Renben Peterson, with no visible signs of better days, his elder brother, William, and himself quit the old homestead and went to Lonoke County, Arkansas, where life was begun anew. There they got a better glimpse at prosperity. Coneluding that he could do still better at the capital, he left Lonoke County and in 188S he pitelied his tent at Little Rock. Thereafter, to 1897, he put his hands to whatever he found to do, such as printing, blacksmithing, cooking and other honorable pur- suits.
The following remarkable incident occurred :
Mr. Liggins was working at the Union Compress, this city, where he had done manual labor for five consecutive sea- sons, for which he received one dollar and fifty eents a day. One day he began to meditate upon the fact that inas- mirch as his employer was keeping him at steady work at a stipend of nine dollars a week, the employer must be making a fair profit on his labor. Therefore, the practical logician came to the conclusion that if he was worth one dollar and fifty eents a day to his employer, he must be worth to himself a like sum, plus the profit which was going into his employer's pockets. Hence, having concluded thus, he informed his employer that if he did not raise his
105
BLUE BOOK.
wages within the next two weeks, he would positively quit his omploy.
The fortnight rolled around, and, true to his declaration, and within a minute of the time, Mr. Leggins picked up his coat and hat and started off the premises, when the man- ager accosted him. "Ben, where are you going?" Leggins replied, "Don't yon remember that I told you two weeks ago today that I would quit today if you did not raise my wages at the end of the two weeks; furthermore, I told you to get another man in my place." He was entreated not to quit, but to no avail. The superintendent assured him that he should have work at any time in the future that he might desire it. Mr. Leggins thanked him, but reiterated he would never work for him again on those terms. At the present Mr. Leggins has a neat shoeshop and store, 1105 West Thirteenth street. It was started in 1879.
In 1902 he wedded Mrs. Ella Parks, whose counsel and excellent housewifery have proved potent factors in his social and business success.
Ile is seriously considering and working out plans by which he may be able to open up a cooperative boot and shoe store for the specific purpose of teaching male youths the boot and shoe business from the bench up to the shelves of ready-made goods. He is a member of the First Baptist Church, and also one of the original members of Frederick Donglass Republican Club.
10G
CHAPTER XII.
TAILORING.
J. W. BURTON.
Mr. J. W. Burton was born in Little Rock. October 11, 1877, and he is engaged in business at 702 West Ninth street. Hle began his schooling at the age of six years, and was grad- uated at the Union High School at the age of sixteen, as valedictorian of his class. When he was in his eleventh voar he got work in a tailor shop, where he learned some- thing of the basic principles of tailoring.
In 1897 he made his debut in the role of tailoring, for himself, having served seven years as an apprentice, com- pleting the trade in entting, making men's garments, and the rudiments of the art.
107
BLUE BOOK. 1
Pettus & Pettus, 421 Louisiana street, of Atlanta, Georgia, aver that the firm of Pettus & Pettus is the only merchant tailoring establishment of color in Little Rock at the present time : and they further declare that "they devote their entire time and attention to cutting, making and
D. A. PETTUS.
trimming garments to fit." And they add ladies' work as a specialty; and cleaning and dyeing is a matter of course. It is understood that repairing is a branch of the business. Mrs. Nancy and Dennis Pettus are the names of their par- ents. The subjects were educated principally in the primary
108
TAILORING.
schools of Lonoke County, Arkansas. They arrived in Little Rock in 1891; higher education gotten in Little Rock.
D. A. Pettus served an apprenticeship in tailoring in Little Rock six years. They first opened their doors for business in 1904, and have continued it ever since. Petins & Pettus are single gentlemen, however, unlike many other young men, in lieu of boarding out, they live with their widowed mother and single sister, and take care of them at their own five-room cottage, 2203 Commerce street.
Pettus & Pettus have set out to build up a first-class merchant tailoring business in Little Rock. "We have tried for four years to see if we could make it go, and since we have found that we can, we purpose to enlarge it by putting more money in the business, " say Pettus & Pettus.
109
TABORIAN BUILDING.
CHAPTER XIII.
FRATERNITIES.
SCIPIO A. JORDAN.
Among the busiest men at the capital city is Scipio A. Jordan, the successor of the late. Rev. Moses Dickson, the founder of the Knights and Daughters of Tabor Inter- national Order of Twelve. Mr. Jordan's quiet, attentive business habits and methodie manner of disposing of the large volume of correspondence that pours into his office daily. affords an object lesson worthy of imitation. The
111
LIBRARY
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
LUBBOCK, TEXAS
BLUE BOOK.
subject was born in Montgomery County, Arkansas, January 1, 1860. Ilis parents, Charley and Elizabeth Jordan, removed from the farm to Hot Springs, Arkansas. In 1869 the family removed to Little Rock, where they have lived ever since. He received his primary training in the public schools of the city. and was graduated from the high school with the first class of 1880. After the close of his school career he engaged in various vocations, among which was teaching school in Chicot County two terms. He then returned home, and soon thereafter he was appointed letter carrier to the Little . Rock post office, and served ereditably during the administra- tion of the martyred and lamented President Garfield. Since Mr. Jordan's appointment to the service, he has carried Uncle Sam's mail poneh continuously, even till the present. Postmaster Holt says, with emphasis, that he is one of his best carriers.
Six years of this time he was chairman of the local Board of Civil Service Examiners. In 1880 he was made a member of the Knights and Daughters of Tabor International Order of Twelve; and he at onee became one of its enthusi- astie workers. In 1887, the order becoming a jurisdiction, he was elected C. G. S., and performed the duties of that office until 1889, when he was by popular vote placed in the position of C. G. M., which station he holds now.
In 1901 the Rev. Moses Diekson, I. C. G. M., passed away, whereupon Mr. Jordan was appointed his sneeessor, concluding the nnexpired term of the former, July, 1902. At the national session, Dayton, Ohio, he was regularly elected I. C. G. M. for a full term; and in 1906, at Little Rock, he was reelected to the above mentioned office. A ent of a building, at the home, is given, showing a part of the advanced work of the order along the material and industrial lines under the latter's administration.
When he first assumed executive control of the order for the State, it was at a low ebb, seareely having a meni- bership sufficient to continue business; however, it is steadily growing. The order at that period was paying no endow- ment at all. It is now paying from $15,000.00 to $20,000.00 to its beneficiaries annually. The above mentioned home is for the orphans and aged of the order: whereat, a school will be constructed for the benefit of the same. Withal,
119
.
FRATERNITIES.
various other work has been done by the order, in a special way. in the interest of humanity.
In 1884, the subject and Miss Pinkie E. Venable were united in the holy bonds of matrimony. At his home, 1116 Cross street, nine children have been born to the union. Mr. Jordan, I. C. G. M., assisted by his faithful lieutenants. is making a strenuous effort to build a creditable Taborian llall at the corner of Tenth and Arch streets, Little Rock, where the Knights and Daughters of Tabor purchased a site for that purpose.
Mr. Samuel Summers was born in Bibb County, Alabama, in 1840. In 1862, when Little Rock fell, he was cooking for the Yankee prisoners who had been captured by the Confed- rate army ; and on the fall of the eity he received his first greenback dollar. He says: "I have been tied to it ever since."
Immediately after Mr. Summers had been set free he resolved to lay by, out of his hard earnings, one hundred dollars a year for thirty-five years and to invest it in real estate, which resolution was consummated several years ago.
Principally, he got hold of his wealth by cooking, jani- toring and saving what he made. IIe is treasurer of the American Knights of Freedom, of which he is an associated founder. About the year 1882 he "stuck up a stake" where the Arkansas Baptist College is now located, and suggested. "Let us build a college here for our children." At a eon- venient time he apprised Bethel A. M. E. Church (in which he was taken by Bishop Turner) of his aetion and sugges- tion, and that congregation approved them. Not stopping here, he diligently and enthusiastically called on other Christian organizations looking toward the same end, the majority of whom concurred with Bethel. He lives at his home, 807 Broadway.
Mr. Summers is a man of few words, but as a rule, when it comes to business, he strikes a bee line.
113
BLUE BOOK.
The Hon. J. E. Bush was born at Moscow, Tennessee, . 1858. His parents removed to Arkansas in 1862. Since his boyhood days he has been strenuous and frugal. He was educated in the Little Rock schools, graduating at the high school. Ilis tuition at school was paid out of his earnings for moulding briek. After receiving his diploma he was elected principal of Capital Hill city school and discharged the duties of that position honorably for two years, after which he became principal of the Hot Springs public schools. In 1884 he was nominated county clerk of Pulaski County by the Greenback party. He "was the most popular candi- date on either ticket." Ile resigned the candidaey for the good of the Republican party. The Republican nominee was elected by a handsome vote.
In 1875 Mr. Bush was appointed railway mail clerk. The satisfaction which he gave the department and patrons was so general and thorough that the Republican Central Committee of Arkansas recommended him for the chief clerkship of his division. In 1879 Miss Cora Winfrey, the handsome and cultured daughter of Mr. Solomon and Mrs. Rebecca Winfrey, accepted his hand in matrimonial bonds. The union has blessed them with four children, Aldridge, Johnny, Chester and Stella E.
Mr. Bush is receiver of the United States Land Office at Little Rock, having been appointed thereto by President Mckinley in 1898, and reappointed in 1906 by President Roosevelt.
The subject is Grand Scribe of the Mosaic Templars of America, of which he is the principal founder. Mr. Bush is an enthusiastic life member of the National Negro Business League, and member of its Executive Committee. He com- innes at the First Missionary Baptist Church, and is roughly estimated to be worth from $35,000.00 to $50,000.00.
As a public peacemaker between the black and white races the Hon. J. E. Bush is the vanguard of the twin cities. Furthermore, he is the acknowledged colored Republican leader of the State.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.