Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 107

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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CARL H. WORTZ, SR.

C. H. Wortz, Sr., is the president of the Fort Smith Biscuit Company and as such heads the largest enterprise of this kind in the southwest. Constantly alert to op- portunities and ever ready to avail himself of the advantages offered, he has gained an enviable position in commercial circles, not alone by reason of the success which be has achieved but also owing to the straightforward business methods he has ever followed. Integrity, enterprise and reliability characterize his career and his example is one well worthy of emulation.

Mr. Wortz was born in Union City, Indiana, in 1863, and pursued his education in the public schools of that state, within whose borders he continued to reside until 1884. In that year he went to Kansas and established the first independent biscuit company west of the Mississippi. There he initiated his business career, making steady progress, after which he had the responsible position of special agent for the largest biscuit company in the United States. His experience in that connection brought him a compre- hensive knowledge of the business and of the trade and at length he established another biscuit factory on his own account in Indiana, in the year 1900. However, the field for the cracker industry in that state was somewhat limited and in order to enlarge his plant and increase his trade territory he decided to remove to the southwest. Special advantages were offered in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The natural conditions here, shipping facilities and other opportunities, made this city seem a most attractive field and he removed his plant from Frankfort, Indiana, to this city. Here he took up the business of manufacturing crackers, biscuits, cakes and candy. The company was capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars and something of the growth of the enterprise is in- dicated in the fact that the capital stock has since been increased many times. The original factory was a building fifty feet in width and one hundred feet in length, one story in height with basement. This plant was destroyed by fire and with characteris- tic energy Mr. Wortz at once began the building of a new plant. The height of the building was increased to four floors one hundred by one hundred and forty feet and the structure was remodeled in every way to meet the demands and opportunities of the trade. While increased facilities were thus secured, it was soon found that the plant was inadequate to the demands of the business and ground was purchased on which will be erected a building one hundred by one hundred and forty feet in length. Plans have been made for the erection of another building of equal size one hundred by one hundred and forty feet-which will give a complete frontage of two hundred feet on

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fifth street. The plant is supplied with all modern machinery and employment is given to one hundred and twenty-five people. This is the largest independent biscuit company of the southwest and their territory covers southeast Kansas, southwest Missouri, all of Oklahoma and Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. The slogan of the company is "Biscuits that Build." The company ever maintains the highest standards in the ex- cellence of its product and by reason of this and the reliable methods of the house the trade has constantly increased to mammoth and gratifying proportions.

Mr. Wortz was united in marriage in 1884 to Miss Elizabeth Martin and they have become parents of two sons and a daughter: Walter, who is living in Mount Vernon, Illinois; Dorothea, the wife of Lloyd Hutchison of Texas, and Carl H. The last named is the manager of the plant at Fort Smith and has been identified with the business from childhood. He was educated in the University of Arkansas and he served in the World war with the rank of lieutenant, receiving his commission at Camp Pike. He was transferred as Instructor in the Officers Training School and was on duty at Camp McArthur, Waco, Texas, training other men for service as officers. He wedded Mary Eddell Haglin, a daughter of Ed Haglin of Fort Smith, and they have one son, Carl H. (III).

During the war period C. H. Wortz, Sr., volunteered to convert his factory. to the manufacture of hard bread for soldiers and later his plant was utilized for bread manu- facturing for the troops. Mr. Wortz is a charter member of the Association of Independ- ent Bakers of the United States and is identified with many societies and organizations which have to do with the betterment of business conditions and the development of trade relations. He is a member of the Business Men's Club, the Traffic Bureau, the Re- tailers Association, the Ad Club, the Lions Club and the Rotary Club. Those who meet him find him most alert and energetic. He is acquainted with all phases of the busi- ness conditions of the country, studies closely the opportunities and chances for advance- ment and by reason of his unfaltering perseverance, his unfailing diligence and his sound judgment in business affairs he has made a notahle success in the establishment and conduct of his enterprise at Fort Smith.

EDGAR FELIX GRAVES.

Edgar Felix Graves, who for six years has been engaged in the lumber business and is now vice president and treasurer of the Rockwell Manufacturing Company of Camden, belongs to that class of representative business men who quickly recognize and utilize opportunities that others pass heedlessly by and from the beginning of his career he has also understood fully the value of industry, persistency and determina- tion. Mr. Graves was born in Kingsland, Cleveland county, Arkansas, March 11, 1885. His father, S. A. Graves, is now living at Buena Vista, Arkansas, at the age of sixty-six years. He is a representative of an old American family and was born in Cleveland county, this state, on the 22d of August, 1855. While his ancestors were from Virginia the family has been represented in Arkansas through three generations. S. A. Graves is now conducting a lumber business and is also the leading business man of his city, while his agricultural interests are important, as he owns sixty-five hundred acres of land in that locality. He married Luella Mckinney, who is now fifty-seven years of age and who was born in Cleveland county, Arkansas. She comes of Irish ancestry. They were married at Kingsland, this state, April 6, 1884, and they have become the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom Edgar Felix is the eldest. The others are Beverly I., who is engaged in the lumber business at MeNeil, Arkansas, and who married Daisy Laivir, by whom he has one daughter, Alla Lee, now seven years of age; William A., who is associated with his father in business at Buena Vista; Bessie, who is the wife of Walter R. Blair of Waldo, Arkansas; Ima, who is the wife of M. E. Peace, a lumber merchant of Magnolia, Arkansas, and they have one daughter, Hazel, three months old.

Edgar F. Graves obtained his primary and high school education at Buena Vista and afterward pursued a two years' course of study in Ouachita College at Arkadelphia. His business career has heen marked by steady advancement and each forward step has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. For the past sixteen years he has been actively engaged in the lumber business and has recently been elected vice president and treasurer of the Rockwell Manufacturing Company of Camden, which concern is engaged in the manufacture of screen doors and crates and conducts the largest business of this character in the state. Mr. Graves is also general manager of the Graves Brothers Lumber Company at McNeil, Arkansas, which is now controlling a mammoth business of this character, their patronage having developed rapidly since the inception of the business five years ago. Mr. Graves is a stockholder in the Ritchie Grocery Company at Camden, Arkansas; a director in the Peoples Bank at Waldo; the

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vice president of the Waldo Fertilizer Company; and a stockholder in the McNeil Mer- cantile Company at McNeil, Arkansas. His business connections are thus extensive and important, making him a prominent figure in commercial, industrial and financial circles in his part of the state. His plans are always carefully formulated and promptly exe- cuted and he never stops short of the successful fulfillment of his purposes. He never allows obstacles or difficulties to bar his path if they can be overcome by determined and honorable effort and his unceasing labors have brought him to a prominent position on the plane of affluence.

At Nashville, Arkansas, on the 28th of October, 1913, Mr. Graves was united in mar- riage to Miss Leila Westbrook, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Westbrook of McNeil, Arkansas. They have become parents of a son, Edgar Felix, Jr., horn December 24, 1915. Fraternally Mr. Graves is an Elk and in religious belief is a Methodist. His life has ever been guided by high and honorable principles, which have found their expres- sion in straightforward dealing in business and loyal support of all matters of progres- sive citizenship and in due consideration for the rights and privileges of others.

D. W. BRYAN.

. D. W. Bryan, cashier of the American State Bank of Charleston and largely re- sponsible for the rapid and substantial growth of the institution during the last few years, is a native of Logan county, Arkansas, born October 5, 1870, his parents being D. N. and Susan (Donathan) Bryan, who were natives of Tennessee and Alabama, re- spectively, and were married in Logan county, this state. The father was a farmer, following agricultural pursuits for many years but about five years prior to his death he took up his abode in Charleston, where he engaged in merchandising throughout his remaining days. He was too young for active service in the Civil war hut had six brothers who were with the Confederate army, Jefferson, who was killed in battle, James, who died of smallpox while in the service. W. T .. Jacob, Moses and John. These were all sons of John Bryan, who was born in North Carolina in 1810 and removed thence to Tennessee, while subsequently he became a resident of Texas and afterward of Arkansas. He followed farming and was also a minister of the primitive Baptist church. He in turn was a son of Jacob Bryan, a native of North Carolina, so that for many generations the family has been represented on the American continent, having been established in North Carolina at an early period in colonial history. The maternal grandfather of D. W. Bryan of this review, was Daniel W. Donathan, a native of Ala- bama, who removed to Logan county, Arkansas, in the '50s, so that both the Donathan and Bryan families have long been represented in this state. His father, D. N. Bryan, was a democrat in his political views and his religious faith was that of the primitive Baptist church, with which his ancestors had been identified. To him and his wife were born four children, of whom but two are living: D. W. and W. L., the latter manager of the Telephone Company at Booneville, Arkansas.

D. W. Bryan was reared in his native county and attended the high school 01 Charleston, after which he started out in business life as a farmer and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until he reached the age of twenty-seven years. He removed to Charleston in 1898 and there began clerking in a store, while subsequently he was associated in mercantile interests with his father and brother under the firm name of Bryan Brothers. At a subsequent period the business was reorganized under the name of the Charleston Mercantile Company and D. W. Bryan was part owner in the store until 1912, when he sold his interest and turned his attention to the banking business, becoming cashier of the American State Bank in January, 1912. This bank is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars, now has a surplus and undivided profits of seven thousand five hundred dollars and deposits of more than two hundred thou- sand dollars. Something of the continued growth of the business since Mr. Bryan became identified with the bank is shown in the fact that at the beginning there was only twenty-seven thousand dollars on deposit and he has contributed in large measure to the steady growth and development of the business of the bank, which has been promoted along safe and conservative lines that, however, have not hindered progres- siveness.

In 1890 Mr. Bryan was united in marriage to Miss Verna McBee, who was born in Tennessee and is a daughter of W. G. McBee, who came to Franklin county, Arkansas, in 1883 and here followed the occupation of farming. Mr. and Mrs. Bryan have become parents of five children, of whom four are living: Dora, at home; Gordon, who is manager of the telephone exchange at Heavener, Oklahoma; W. J., who is working in the Federal Reserve Bank at Little Rock, Arkansas, and who is a graduate of the Ouachita Baptist College at Arkadelphia, in which he completed his course in 1918;

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Paul, who died May 24, 1920; and Floyd, who is now a pupil in Ouachita College. The son, Paul, was graduated from the Agricultural School at Russellville, Arkansas, just prior to his death. The son, W. J. Bryan, pursued his education in the Ouachita Baptist College at Arkadelphia and then went to Little Rock, where he entered Camp Pike after the second draft. He was later transferred to the Officers' Training School at Camp Taylor, where he was in training at the time the armistice was signed.

Mr. and Mrs. Bryan have long been active and valued members of the Baptist church, in which he has served as superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty- one years, while his daughter acts as organist. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and with the Woodmen of the World and in the former he has served as chancellor commander, and was in the Grand Lodge as delegate on a number of occasions. He has also served on various important committees in the order. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party and he has filled the office of justice of the peace and also was deputy county clerk for a number of years. During the World war he took a most active part in support of the government iu every pos- sible way. He assisted in all of the bond drives and made speeches throughout the the county to promote the sale of bonds. He was equally active in Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. work and his labors were an important factor in carrying his community over the top in every war drive that was made. During the fourth bond issue he served as chairman. He now devotes his entire time and attention to the bank, and his energy, determination and enterprise are salient features in bringing about its present- day success.

JAMES ALEXANDER GINOCCHIO.

Few men have been more prominent in connection with the political history and public activity of Arkansas within the past few years than has James Alexander Ginocchio of Little Rock, who in business circles is known as the secretary of the Capital Building & Loan Association and who in other connections has done most im- portant work in furthering public progress and development. He was born in the beautiful old city of Richmond, Virginia, on the Sth of July, 1869, and is a son of John and Caroline (Devota) Ginocchio. The father, who was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1820, departed this life on the 11th of January, 1878, in Little Rock, Arkansas, while his wife, who was born in Geno?, December 17, 1823, died on the 2d of October, 1893. They were married in their native city in 1840 and in the following year crossed the Atlantic to New York, where they resided for about two years. They then left the eastern metropolis to become residents of Petersburg, Virginia, in 1843, and remained in that city for more than two decades. In 1864 they became residents of Richmond, Vir- ginia, where they remained for eight years and in January, 1872, came to Little Rock, Arkansas. The father was engaged in the wholesale grocery business in Richmond and after coming to this state established a similar enterprise in Little Rock, winning a place among the progressive and substantial merchants of the city. He supported the Union cause at the time of the Civil war and always gave his political allegiance to the republican party. To him and his wife were born seven sons and five daughters, of whom three sons and two daughters are living.

James A. Ginocchio, the youngest of the family, was largely educated in the Lit- tle Rock public schools. In fact he was but three years of age when the family home was established in this city. Having mastered the branches of learning taught in the public schools he afterward took up the study of pharmacy and was engaged in the drug business in Little Rock from 1885 until 1910, making steady progress in that field of activity. He is now concentrating his efforts and attention upon the building and loan business, occupying the position of secretary of the Capital Building & Loan Association. In many ways he has figured prominently in public life. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise he has been a stalwart champion of republi- can principles and for several years has served as a member of the republican central committee of Pulaski county. For a quarter of a century he was on the elections com- mission of Pulaski county and in 1920 he was selected by the national republican or- ganization to take charge of a campaign to raise among the republicans of Arkansas a thirty thousand dollars campaign fund for 1920. That this was accomplished is largely due to his efforts. He was appointed acting postmaster of the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, May 15, 1921.

Mr. Ginocchio, however, is not merely a political leader. He stands for all those forces which make for high ideals in American citizenship and at the time of the World war did most earnest and effective service in holding the home lines which constituted the defense of the soldiers overseas. He acted as chairman of the war camp com- munity service, was on the executive committee of the Red Cross, was vice chairman

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of the combined campaign to raise money for various funds and served as treasurer of the Little Rock chapter of the Red Cross. He was also for two terms president of the United Charities of this city, and he is continually extending a helping hand in one direction or another to those less fortunate than himself. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus. He has been par- ticularly prominent in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, has been district deputy grand exalted ruler of the state and for many years has been secretary of Little Rock Lodge, No. 29, B. P. O. E. Mr. Ginocchio is a forceful and resourceful man. His plans are always carefully formulated and his opinions concerning any vital question are formed after thorough consideration of the subject from every possible standpoint. He is extremely popular with his fellow townsmen of every creed and faith and of every political belief and all attest the catholicity of his spirit and his adherence to the highest standards of manhood and citizenship.

HARVEY D. WOOD.

Forty-seven years have been added to the cycle of the centuries since H. D. Wood, physician and surgeon, became identified professionally with the interests of Fayette- ville. Through the intervening period he has remained here and is today the only liv- ing charter member of the Washington County Medical Society, organized July 2, 1872. His birth occurred on White river, Washington county, January S, 1847. His father, Jarrett Wood, was born in Kentucky as was his grandfather, John Wood. The former came to Washington County, Arkansas, at an early day and entered land on Middle Fork of White River, the title being signed by Andrew Jackson, the president of the United States. In early manhood he married Miss Jane Strain. To this union were born one daughter and six sons. Two of the sons, George W. and Milas A., are now living in Eastland county, Texas. Later he was married to Mrs. Catherine Fincher Irwin. To this union were born three sons of whom Harvey D. and Andrew S. are living. The death of Jarrett Wood occurred in 1855 and his widow died in 1884. He was a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and was for many years a ruling elder.

Dr. Wood acquired his early education in one of the old-time log schoolhouses, with slab seats without backs for the accommodation of the pupils. The building was heated in the winter time with a huge fireplace. There were no windows, but a log was cut out on each side to admit light and air in the summer time. Over this opening was tacked cross-barred jaconet to keep out the cold air in the winter. The door was swung on wooden hinges. After acquiring his elementary education, H. D. Wood entered the St. Louis Medical College in October, 1869, from which he was graduated in 1872.

He began practice at McGuire's Store, where there was quite a settlement at the time, and later he removed to Farmington, where he remained for two years, coming to Fayetteville in October, 1874, where he has continued the practice of his profession. He has several times been president of the Washington County Medical Society. He has also been vice president of the State Medical Society and is a member of the American Medical Association. He has served as county health officer, organizing the Washington county health office in 1913. By reason of being county health officer he was medical examiner for the selective service men during the late war. Throughout his life he has improved every opportunity for broadening his knowledge. He has vis- ited the clinics held by the Mayo Brothers at Rochester, Minnesota, has also visited Dr. Murphy's Hospital in Chicago, the Joe Price Hospital in Philadelphia a number of times and some of the hospitals in New York. He has served as chief of the staff of the City Hospital of Fayetteville. His preference in professional work is obstetrics and surgery. Dr. Wood possesses a natural mechanical ability and has brought out some valuable appliances for fractured limbs. These appliances he has designated as Ortho- melic Appliances, or straight limb appliances. This word is now in the American Medi- cal Dictionary, 1921 edition.

On the 14th day of May, 1871, Harvey D. Wood was married to Miss Annette Dick- erson on Middle Fork of White river, Washington county, Arkansas. She was a daugh- ter of James P. and Rachel VanHoose Dickerson, both of whom were natives of Ken- tucky, coming to Washington county, Arkansas, in 1840, and spending their remaining days here, the father following the occupation of farmer and stock raiser. He went to California in 1849, during the" gold excitement of those days, with his father-in-law, John VanHoose, and many others from this section. To Mr. and Mrs. Harvey D. Wood were born four children: Benjamin F., Albert Carroll, Walter Hodgen, and Cora Lou. Benjamin F. is now consulting and construction engineer, with offices in the Woolworth

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building, New York. He is senior partner of the firm of Wood, Hulse and Yates; Albert C. has offices in Philadelphia as mechanical engineer in the New Stock Exchange build- ing. He is also consulting and construction engineer; Walter Hodgen Wood has charge of the testing department of The Combustion Engineering Company, New York city. These boys were educated at the University of Arkansas; Cora Lou is the wife of W. B. Collins of Brantford, Canada, where he is office manager for The Imperial Life As- surance Company. Dr. and Mrs. Wood also reared an adopted daughter of his brother, Thomas J. Wood, Inez Ruth, now the wife of Dr. Thomas W. Clark, a dentist of Goshen, Arkansas, who is at the present time engaged in farming. Dr. Wood's wife, Annette, died the first day of December, 1920. Dr. Wood has been au elder in the Presbyterian church of the United States of America for many years. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic lodge and a Royal Arch Mason. In politics he is a democrat but the only offices he has ever held have been those in the direct line of his profession. He has been recognized as a man of some ability in the practice of medicine and surgery and has ever held to the highest ideals in his chosen profession.

A. V. HEMBREE.

An analyzation of the business career of A. V. Hembree shows that no especially favorable circumstances aided him at the outset of his career but that persistent effort and intelligently directed labor have brought him to the creditable position which he now occupies. Since 1905 he has been active in the insurance circles of Morrillton and for five years he has conducted a mercantile establishment here on his own account.

Mr. Hembree was born in Murray county, Georgia, on the 15th of October, 1869, a son of William E. and Rachael Caroline (Carpenter) Hembree. His paternal grand- father,Humphrey Hembree, was likewise a native of Georgia, in which state he farmed until he came to Arkansas in 1895. He engaged in farming for some time after coming here and his death occurred at Center Ridge, Arkansas, when seventy-five years of age. Mr. Carpenter, the maternal grandfather, was born in Georgia and came to this state, locating at Izard in 1871. He homesteaded a tract of good land, whereon he resided and engaged in farming until his death at a ripe old age. William E. Hembree and his wife were both born in Georgia. Toward the end of the Civil war Mr. Hembree enlisted in the Union army but was confined to the hospital for the greater part of the time, having contracted an illness from exposure and poor food. In 1871 he came to Arkansas and first located in Sharp county, where he acquired some land and engaged in farming. He lived in that county until 1879, when he came to Conway and bought a homestead of eighty acres. To him fell the arduous task of developing the new land, of breaking the sod and turning the first furrows. He achieved more than substantial success as an agriculturist and he retired from active life financially independent. He removed to Morrillton and resided there, a respected and progressive citizen, until his demise in 1914, when sixty-five years of age. Mrs. Hembree died in 1900, at the age of forty years. To their union five children were horn, of whom A. V., whose name initiates this review, is the only one living. One son, Newton F., lived until he was twenty-two years of age and at the time of his death was employed as salesman for a lumber com- pany at Morrillton, Arkansas. The religious faith of the family was that of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, which the father served as steward, and he was a stanch supporter of the democratic party, in the interests of which he took an active part.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 107

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