Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 100

Author: Herndon, Dallas T. (Dallas Tabor), b. 1878
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Chicago, Little Rock, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1172

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Ras Stamps pursued a common school education in Madison county and after putting aside his textbooks turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits. Later he con- centrated his efforts and attention upon merchandising at Kingston, Arkansas, and since 1916 has been identified with banking, for in that year he secured a position in the Bank of Kingston, where he remained until he came to Berryville in 1919. In that year he en-

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tered the People's Bank as assistant cashier and was advanced to the position of cashier in January, 1921. He devotes his entire time to the bank, which has a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars and surplus of six thousand dollars, with average deposits of two hundred thousand dollars. The bank is steadily growing along substantial lines and its business methods are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.

In September, 1900, Mr. Stamps was united in marriage to Miss Grace Basham, who was born in Madison county, Arkansas, a daughter of John F. Basham, who for many years was a merchant of this state and is now living in Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs. Stamps are the parents of five children: Eva, the wife of Denver Morris, a farmer of Purdy, Arkansas; Bertie, the wife of Fred Grim, who is engaged in the wholesale grocery husi- ness at Berryville; Herbert and Kate, in school, and J. Fred, who is but two years of age. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and fraternally Mr. Stamps is con- nected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed through all of the chairs and serves as noble grand. In politics he is a democrat but not an office seeker and his entire time and attention are capably and forcefully given to his business affairs, whereby he is winning success.

JOHN R. WESTBROOK.

John R. Westbrook. who as an active business man left the impress of his individu- ality and ability upon the development and progress of Pine Bluff and this section of the state, passed away on the 14th of March, 1900. He was then in the seventieth year of his age, his birth having occurred in the town of Chester, South Carolina, January 11, 1831. his parents being Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Westbrook, whose family numbered seven children, of whom he was the eldest. His people had for several generations been planters in South Carolina and in that state John R. Westbrook spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon his father's plantation, while his education was acquired in the public schools. When his textbooks were put aside he, too, turned to the occupation of a planter as a source of livelihood and continued his residence in South Carolina until 1859, when at the age of twenty-eight years he came to Pine Bluff.

It was in this locality that Mr. Westbrook again developed and cultivated a planta- tion, devoting his attention to general agricultural pursuits for three decades, meeting with substantial success in his undertakings. About 1890, however, he left the plantation and established his home in Pine Bluff, where he engaged in the wholesale grain trade, this occupying much of his attention throughout his remaining days. From time to time he had made investment in real estate and he became the owner of extensive property in- terests, including hoth realty in the town and farm land.

Mr. Westbrook was married twice. He first wedded Miss Sarah Ross, who departed this life in 1891. They were the parents of two sons, William Howell and Hugh F., both of whom are deceased. For his second wife Mr. Westbrook chose Miss Anna E. Ingram, a daughter of Dr. A. H. Ingram, a well known pioneer who was termed the "horseback" physician, from the fact that he made many of his professional calls on horseback during the early days when that was the easiest and oftimes the only method of travel that could be employed. He never failed to respond to the call of the sick who needed his attention and thus he went ahout doing good, becoming the loved family physician in many a household in his section of the state. When death called him his remains were laid to rest in the family lot in Bellwood cemetery. It was there that John R. Westbrook was also buried when on the 14th of March, 1900, he was called to his final rest. Mr. Westbrook was a member of the Presbyterian church and was also a member of the Knights of Honor. His widow belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and she makes her home at No. 316 West Sixth street, cherishing beautiful memories of her husband, whose life measured up to high standards of manhood and citizenship, his ideals finding expression in reliability and progressiveness in business and faithfulness to the ties of home and of friendship.

HARRY MILTON RAMEY.

Harry Milton Ramey, a prominent figure in insurance circles in Little Rock, having since 1906 been manager for Arkansas and Oklahoma of the National Life Insurance Company of Chicago, was born in Rappahannock, Virginia, in 1863, and in both the paternal and maternal lines he is a representative of well known families of the Old Dominion. His father, Thomas Alexander Ramey, was born in Virginia, in 1819 and in early manhood wedded Elizabeth Jane Richards, who was his second wife. She

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was born in Rappahannock, Virginia, in 1820, and it was there that the marriage was celebrated, after which they established their home in that place. They became the parents of seven sons and two danghters and of this family four sons and one daughter are living, H. M. Ramey being the fifth in order of birth. The father devoted his life to the occupation of farming, thus providing for the support of his family. At the time of the Civil war he joined the army, serving during a part of 1861 in the quarter- master. department. but heart trouble developed, forcing him to leave the ranks. However, he participated in the battle of Bull Run. His political allegiance was always given to the democratic party. He died at the old home in Virginia in 1881, while his wife survived him for more than two decades, departing this life in 1903.

In the country schools of Rappahannock county, Virginia, Harry M. Ramey pursued his preliminary education and for a short time was a student in Blacksburg College near Warrenton, Virginia. He started out in the business world as an employe in a general store at Marshall, Virginia, where he worked for five years, but at the end of that time he severed his connection in mercantile interests and turned his attention to the insurance business. Since 1891 he has been continuonsly identified with life in- surance and has steadily worked his way upward, winning various promotions until in 1906 he was appointed to the onerous and responsible position of manager of the National Life Insurance Company of Chicago, his territory covering Arkansas and Oklahoma. In this connection he has developed a business of extensive proportions, having many agencies under his control, and he is thoroughly informed concerning every phase and question relative to life insurance. His plans are always carefully formulated and promptly executed and he seems to recognize with intuitive readiness the value of any business situation.

At Kinmundy, Illinois, in 1904, Mr. Ramey was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Alice Braunick, a daughter of John Braunick, now deceased. She was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and is a high school graduate of this city. By her marriage she has become the mother of a daughter, Alice Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Ramey attend the Presbyterian church and he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and also with the Masonic lodge. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party and on one occasion he was a candidate for the office of mayor of Little Rock. His at- tention, however, has largely been given to his business affairs and diligence and thoroughness have enabled him to pass many others on the journey of life and reach an advanced and creditahle position in the ranks of insurance men in the southwest.

HON. FRANK H. SMITH.

Hon. Frank H. Smith is giving to his fellow townsmen the benefit of valuable service in the office of mayor of El Dorado, following the performance of most arduous duties on the battle fields of the western front during the World war, a service which won for him the rank of captain. He was born in Morton, Illinois, March 18, 1880, and is a son of Harvey B. and Columbia Elizabeth ( Moore) Smith, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, born in the vicinity of Lexington. The father was a son of a well known Kentucky planter and large slaveholder and in his youth he was sent to Knox College at Galesburg, Illinois, entering that institution two or three weeks prior to the outhreak of the Civil war. When President Lincoln called for troops to defend the Union he, with other students, responded to the call and entered the Federal service. He remained at the front throughout the period of hostilities as a non-commissioned officer and immediately following the close of the war he removed with his parents to Woodford county, Illinois. The lady who afterward became his wife also accompanied her parents to that county and there Harvey B. Smith and Columbia E. Moore were mar- ried and began their domestic life on a farm. Later he was elected sheriff of the county and subsequently served as chief of police of Morton, Illinois, for a period of more than forty years. His death resulted from an accident-a fall on the ice January 28, 1917, when he was seventy-seven years of age.

His son, Frank H. Smith, was educated in the high school at Morton and in the University of Illinois at Champaign, and while a student there in 1898 he followed the example of his father who in his student days had joined the army. Frank H. Smith with ten of his fellow students enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war, heing assigned to the Third Infantry Regiment. He went with his command to Porto Rico, where he was stationed for a little more than a year. Following his discharge he removed to Oklahoma, having an older brother then living at El Reno, that state. While there Mr. Smith entered the government service as deputy United States mar- shal, in which capacity he served from 1902 until 1905, when he was made assistant chief special agent of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad and was sent to Kansas

HON. FRANK H. SMITH

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City. A year later he was transferred to Little Rock and continued to act in that capacity until 1908.

It was in that year that Mr. Smith was married to Miss Nell Goodwin of El Dorado, and decided to make this city his home. He therefore retired from the railroad service and through the intervening years has lived in El Dorado. After taking up his abode in this state he joined the Arkansas National Guard and was advanced through various ranks to that of captain. In 1915 he was sent to Fort Logan H. Roots, Arkansas, as supply officer for the National Guard, in which official position he was retained from the 1st of May to the 1st of November, when he was called back home. On the 16th of June, 1916. he was sworn into the regular army and commissioned a captain in July of that year. He was then sent to the Mexican border as supply officer in charge of the field trains and remained there until February, 1917, when he was returned to Fort Logan H. Roots. He continued in the Federal service until after the close of the World war and in 1918 was sent to France as supply officer for the Thirty-ninth Divi- sion. Two weeks after reaching France, however, he was placed in charge of all the supplies for the Fifth Depot for the concentration area, in which position he remained until the armistice was signed. He then followed the Army of Occupation into Ger- many, in the official position of claim agent, settling claims against the United States government for damages caused by the billeting of the troops as they passed through the varions sections of the country. He sailed from France on the 20th of May, 1919, arriving at Camp Pike on the 11th of June and there he was discharged.

Captain Smith returned to El Dorado and in February, 1920, was elected mayor of the city, entering upon the duties of the position in time to handle the rush that came with the oil discovery here on the 10th of Jannary, 1921. At that time the city owned no municipal property and had no city hall. Members of the police force, who were receiving a salary of a hundred dollars per month, had their house rents raised in some instances from thirty-five to one hundred and thirty-five dollars per month. Something had to be done to meet the situation. Mayor Smith called a special meeting of the city council and suggested a plan for relief which resulted in the closing of a short street for building purposes for one block and through the rental of lunch stands erected between the sidewalk and the curb on Hillsboro street and Washington avenue, the lease to expire after six months, he raised enough revenue to build a city hall and barracks to accommodate the police force and their families in comfortable quarters. The buildings were erected at a cost of twenty-seven thousand dollars without a cent of cost to the taxpayers. In lieu of a city jail the mayor had a bull pen built such as served for prisoners in the World war and many nights a hundred prisoners were thrown into this stockade and through the payment of their fines contributed liberally to the erection of the city buildings. Mayor Smith made a most enviable record as a soldier and his training as an executive officer in the border troubles and in the World war fitted him to meet the many emergencies arising in the conduct of the mayoralty office in El Dorado following the oil discoveries on the 10th of January, 1921, bringing a memorable influx of people into the district. It took a big man to meet the situation and Mayor Smith proved himself adequate to the task. Mr. Smith is a member of the Baptist church. He has served his fellowmen in many military and civic capacities and his labors have indeed been far-reaching and beneficial. His worth as a man and citizen is widely acknowledged and El Dorado is fortunate in having as its chief execu- tive one capable of handling a trying situation and bringing order out of chaos.

GUY ARNOLD MCCORMACK, M. D.

Few cities can claim to have a larger percentage of thoroughly capable and skilled physicians and surgeons than does Little Rock. The city has every reason to be proud of the high standing of those who represent the medical profession here, and to this class belongs Dr. Guy Arnold McCormack. He was born at Bells, Tennessee, December 24, 1873, and is a son of John T. and Jedie Roberts (Chandler) McCormack, who were like- wise natives of the same state, the former born in Pulaski, Giles county, in 1854, and the latter in Haywood county in 1852. They were married at Bells, Tennessee, in 1873 and as the years passed became parents of a family of four sons and three daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters are now living, Dr. MeCormack being the eldest of the family. For many years John T. McCormack, the father, owned and conducted a planta- tion but now resides in Wichita, Kansas. He has always been an advocate of democratic principles. His wife died in 1916. The MeCormack family comes of Irish ancestry and was founded in America by the grandfather, John Thomas McCormack, who with his brother Robert emigrated from Ireland to America about 1823. He settled in Giles county, Tennessee, where he made his home and engaged in farming until his death about 1900.

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He entered the Confederate army at the age of forty-four years and served through the war.

During the early boyhood of Dr. McCormack he became a resident of Arkansas and pursued his early education in the country schools of Lonoke county, while later he studied in a high school. He pursued his professional course in the medical department of the University of Arkansas, from which he was graduated in 1914. Through the in- tervening period of seven years he has practiced successfully, his ability growing through further study and experience until his position as a representative of his chosen calling is creditable. He is deeply interested in public health service and he belongs to the Pulaski County Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

On the 15th of November, 1898, in Lonoke county, Arkansas, Dr. McCormack was married to Miss Ella Leonora Phillips, who was born in that county in 1878 and there attended high school. She is a daughter of Watson LaFayette Phillips, a Confederate soldier who enlisted from Alabama and who died in 1904. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Missouri Short, was born in Alabama and departed this life in 1919. Dr. and Mrs. McCormack have one child, Roland Edwin, born in 1902.

The military record of Dr. McCormack covered service as first lieutenant in the Medical Corps, U. S. A., during the World war. He enlisted on the 1st of August, 1917, was at Camp Lee, Virginia, and during the last five months of his service at Camp Pike, Arkansas, where he received his discharge May 20, 1918. His political endorsement has always been given to the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. His life has been governed by the teachings of the Masonic fraternity and of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a recognition of his obligations and responsibilities in life has occasioned him to feel deep concern in regard to matters of public welfare, his cooperation being cordially and freely given to any projects or plans that tend to pro- mote the welfare and upbuilding of community and commonwealth.

ARVEL B. CAPLINGER.

Arkansas is proud to number among her self-made citizens, Arvel B. Caplinger, a representative member of the legal profession with residence in Harrisburg. He was born in Marion, Illinois, on the 14th of January, 1886, a son of S. D. and Phenny (Cash) Caplinger. On the paternal side he is of German descent, his ancestors having come from Germany to the United States prior to the Revolutionary war. On the maternal side he is of English-Irish extraction, members of the Cash family having come to this country at an early day, settling in Virginia. The father was a native of Illinois and for many years was engaged in coutracting and building. At Marion, Illinois, in 1883, occurred the marriage of Mr. Caplinger to Miss Phenny Cash, who was born and reared in that community. Her demise occurred there in 1887, when she was in her twenty- first year. The father's demise occurred in Weiner, Arkansas, in 1905, in his forty- first year. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Caplinger two children were born: Arvel B., being the youngest.

In the acquirement of his education Arvel B. Caplinger attended the public schools of Marion and after graduating from the high school there he entered the Ewing College at Ewing, Illinois. He took a literary course, extending over three and one-half years. For one term he was a student in the Missouri State Normal School at Cape Girardeau. He acquired his law education in the office of Judge Mayo of Harrisburg and from the American Correspondence School at Chicago. He worked at various jobs in order to obtain money to take his literary and law courses and conscientiously applied himself to the mastery of those studies. In 1916 he was admitted to the Arkansas bar and immediately entered into active practice with his preceptor. Judge Mayo, an association that was maintained until the 1st of January, 1921. At that time the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Caplinger has since practiced independently. He handles many cases in the civil and chancery courts and his constantly increasing ability has brought him con- tinuous recognition in a distinctively representative clientage. For one term. 1919, Mr. Caplinger was mayor of Harrisburg and he gave to this community a most satis- factory aud businesslike administration. For one year he was city treasurer and alderman. Although his professional and public interests have taken the greater part of his time, he has become well known as a successful business man and for some time has held the office of secretary of the Hamilton Stump Saw Company, one of the representa- tive enterprises of Harrisburg.

At Harrisburg on the 13th of December, 1911, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Caplinger to Miss Pearl Stone, a daughter of S. G. and Ida (Goodman) Stone of Harris-

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burg. To their union three sons have been born: Don Stone, Harold Bell, and Jean Arvel.

Fraternally Mr. Caplinger is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having membership in the lodge at Weiner, and he is likewise affiliated with the Masons. He holds membership in Harrisburg Lodge, No. 184, F. & A. M., Arkansas Consistory, No. 1, at Little Rock; Sahara Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Pine Bluff, and Harrisburg Chapter, No. 74, Royal Arch Masons. He is high priest of Harrisburg Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons and is past worshipful master of Harrisburg Lodge, No. 184, F. & A. M. His religious faith is that of the Christian church and he is deacon in the local organization. He is a stanch advocate of education, is a member of the county board of education and secretary of the Harrisburg board. He has been active as secretary of the local board for the past six years and has been a dominant figure in improving the educational facilities of the town and county. During the World war he was a member of the legal advisory board and was one of the Four-Minute men who made many speeches throughout the county in behalf of the various war activities. He was likewise captain of the Home Guard.

F. LEON REESE.

F. Leon Reese, assistant secretary and treasurer of the Harding Glass Company of Fort Smith, one of the most important productive industries of the city, was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1884, and is a son of John and Anna (Farrer) Reese, the former a retail merchant.

The son spent his boyhood and youth in his native county, acquiring his education in the public schools and after his textbooks were put aside he occupied various positions, gaining valuable experience from each. At length he became associated with C. H. Harding in the glass manufacturing business in Pennsylvania and West Virginia and with him came to Arkansas, where in 1917 they organized the Harding Glass Company, Mr. Reese becoming the assistant secretary and treasurer, a position which he has since occupied, being today active in the management of one of the most important business enterprises of Fort Smith, for in normal times the Harding Company employs from six hundred and fifty to seven hundred and fifty workmen. They have large buildings well equipped, constituting a splendid plant which is devoted to the manufacture of window glass and also the wind shields for automobiles. Their trade covers the entire western territory and their business has steadily grown since its inception.

In 1905 Mr. Reese was united in marriage to Miss Coila Harding, a daughter of C. H. Harding, and they have become parents of four children: Kathryn, Charles, Adeline and F. Leon. Mr. and Mrs. Reese occupy an enviable position in the social circles of the city and their home is justly celebrated for its warm-hearted hospitality and good cheer. Mr. Reese ranks with the representative business men of the city, alert and energetic, and is possessed of that dynamic power which causes the individual to reach his objective.

JOSEPH ALFRED ROBERTSON, M. D.

Dr. Joseph Alfred Robertson of Hot Springs, who in the practice of his profession specializes in gynecology and genito-urinary diseases, was born in Chambersville, Cal- houn county, Arkansas, on the 25th of August, 1863, a son of Julius C. N. and Eliza- beth (Roberts) Robertson. The father, a native of Hardeman county, Tennessee, was also a physician, having graduated from the medical department of the Vanderbilt University at Nashville. Immediately afterward he came to Arkansas, his removal being made prior to the Civil war. He spent his professionai life ir. Chambersville and Thornton, Calhoun county, his activities being of great benefit to his fellowmen. He died in 1900, at the age of sixty-seven years, while his wife, who was born in Alabama, died in 1876.

Dr. Joseph A. Robertson was educated in the common schools of Chambersville and of Warren, Arkansas, and as a youth he began the study of medicine in 1880. For two vears he read under the preceptorship of his father and in 1882 entered the old Missouri Medical College, founded by Dr. McDowell. After attending a course of lectures there he returned home, passed the examination before the county board and began practice in New Edinburg, where he remained in the active work of the profession for eight years. In 1890 he removed to Thornton and in 1892 again took up college work, matri- culating in the Memphis Hospital Medical College, which he attended through that year. He was also a student there in 1893 and 1894 and again in 1896 and 1897. He

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 100

Author: Herndon, Dallas T. (Dallas Tabor), b. 1878 Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Chicago, Little Rock, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 1172

Author: Herndon, Dallas T. (Dallas Tabor), b. 1878
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Chicago, Little Rock, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1172