Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 113

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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Mr. Patterson opened his first law office at El Dorado on the 14th of August, 1903, and through the intervening period of eighteen years has continued in this city. Ad- vancement at the bar is proverbially slow but he closely applied himself to his pro- fessional duties and in the course of time his ability gained recognition in a growing practice. In February, 1905, he formed a partnership with former chief justice Henry Bunn, an association that was maintained until the death of Judge Bunn on the 15th of July, 1908. In September of that year, Mr. Patterson became a partner of John H. Green of El Dorado, and they were associated in this way until the 1st of January, 1913. On the 6th of August of that year Mr. Patterson was appointed judge of the thir- teenth judicial circuit to succeed Governor George W. Hayes, who was elected the chief executive of the commonwealth. Judge Patterson served upon the bench until January, 1914, when he resumed the private practice of law, in which he engaged independently until the 1st of May, 1921, when he became senior partner in the present firm of Pat- terson & Rector. Along with those qualities indispensable to the lawyer-a keen, rapid, logical mind plus the business sense and a ready capacity for hard work, Judge Patter- son brought to the starting point of his legal career certain rare gifts-eloquence of language and a strong personality. His mind is analytical, logical and inductive and while he is well grounded in the principles of common law he has continued throughout his professional career a diligent student of those elementary principles that constitute the basis of all legal science. Aside from serving on the bench Judge Patterson has filled the office of mayor of El Dorado, being called to the position in 1905 for a two years' term. In addition to his professional interests he has been interested in oil and was one of the original owners of the Bushey oil well.

On the 30th of June, 1908, Judge Patterson was married to Miss Bessie Graham, and they have one child, Helen Graham Patterson. The judge is well known in fra- ternal circles, having been identified with the Knights of Pythias lodge at El Dorado

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until its dissolution and also with the Woodmen of the World and with the Benevol- ent Protective Order of Elks. He has ever been actuated by a laudable ambition and has made a creditable name and place for himself in legal circles.

JACK W. ASHTON.

Jack W. Ashton, engaged in the general practice of law in Little Rock, came to Arkansas from Alabama, his birth having occurred in Florence, in the latter state. on the 31st of October, 1876. He is a son of James and Sarah (Stutts) Ashton. The father was born in Lauderdale county, Alabama. The mother's birth occurred in the same county in 1839. They were there married and became the parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, but only four sons of the family are living. The father remained for many years an honored and respected resident of Florence, Alabama, there devoting his attention to the occupation of farming until within a year of his death, when he removed to Iron City, Tennessee. His political endorsement was always given to the democratic party. His widow survives.

The youthful experiences of Jack W. Ashton were those of the farm bred boy. His early life was spent on his father's farm near Florence and in the acquirement of his education he attended the public schools of that place, passing through consecutive grades until graduated from the high school. Not desiring to follow in the business footsteps of his father hut preferring a professional career, he entered the law depart- ment of the University of Arkansas and there pursued his studies until graduated with the class of 1909. He then entered upon active practice at Little Rock and through the intervening years has devoted his attention to professional interests, being now widely known as a capable and successful general practitioner of law. His reputation as an attorney has been won through earnest honest labor and his standing at the bar is a merited tribute to his ability.

On the 21st of October, 1914, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Mr. Ashton was married to Miss Mamie Fox, a native of Tracy City, Tennessee, and a daughter of James Fox, who was born in that state and resided for many years at Tracy City, but has now departed this life. Mr. and Mrs. Ashton have gained many friends during the period of their residence in Little Rock and the hospitality of many of the best homes is freely accorded them. During the World war he served as a member of the local questionnaire board. His political endorsement has always been given to the demo- cratic party and his religious faith is evidenced in his membership in the Wright Avenue Christian church, in which he has served as a deacon, taking an active and help- fnl interest in all that pertains to the growth of the church and the extension of its influence.

JOSEPH KAY PHILLIPS.

Industrial activity at Fayetteville finds a worthy representative in Joseph Kay Phillips, a spoke manufacturer, conducting business in partnership with his brother under the firm style of the Phillips Spoke Company at Alpena, Carroll county, Arkansas, their ramifying trade connections reaching out to various parts of the country. Mr. Phillips was born in Washington county, Arkansas, July 22, 1871, and mention of his parents is made in connection with a sketch of his brother, James H. Phillips, on another page of this work. The common schools of Benton and of Washington counties afforded him his early educational opportunities, while later he attended the Pea Ridge Acad- emy. When his textbooks were put aside he started out to provide for his own sup- port as a farmer. He also worked in a mill at an early age and later turned his atten- tion to the hardware business in Rogers, while for eight years he was on the road as a traveling salesman, representing the J. I. Case Company of Racine, Wisconsin.

A number of years ago Joseph Kay Phillips took up his abode in Fayetteville and he and his brother are now engaged in spoke manufacturing. They have two large plants in northern Arkansas and the business is steadily developing and expanding. They make all kinds of spokes for automobiles and buggies, also rims and other wood- work used in connection with motor cars and vehicles of all kinds. Mr. Phillips, more- over, is a stockholder in the Prairie Grove Bank and has other business interests which establish his importance as a factor in the material growth and progress of the community.

In 1908 Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Sue Allison, who died in 1912. On the 24th of August, 1916, he wedded Laura English, who was born in Washington county, a daughter of Voll English, one of the pioneer settlers of this part of the state.

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He followed farming and merchandising and prospered as the years passed, becoming one of the well-to-do citizens of Washington county, where he was widely known. In the course of years he ranked with the heaviest taxpayers of the county. Mrs. Phillips was the third in order of birth in a family of seven children. By her marriage she has become the mother of one child, Eunice. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are members of the Baptist church and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a democrat but does not seek nor desire office, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his business affairs, and close application, thorough- ness and unremitting energy have carried him from humble surroundings to a place of prominence in manufacturing circles.

MARION DOUGLAS.

Marion Douglas, a native son of Arkansas and a member of one of the old families of the state, is now serving as tax collector of Benton county, discharging his duties with a sense of conscientious obligation that makes his record a most commendable one. He is a native of Benton county and has here spent his life, covering a period of forty-nine years, for he was born on the 31st of October, 1872. His parents were T. H. and Emily ( Morrison) Donglas, the former a native of Tennessee, while the latter was born in Benton county, Arkansas, where their marriage occurred. The father devoted his life to the occupation of farming and during the Civil war became a soldier in the Confederate army, participating in the battle of Wilson's Creek and other notable engagements. Mrs. Douglas is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, while he was affiliated with the Christian church, and his political allegiance was given to the democratic party. He departed this life in February, 1907, but the mother survives and is still residing on the home farm. In their family were seven children, of whom five are living: Milton, who resides near the old homestead in Benton county; Ella, who married N. H. Mitchell, postmaster of Gentry, Arkansas; Marion the subject of this sketch; Morrisen, who is operating the home farm; and Marshall, manager of the Washington county, Arkansas, and Oklahoma stores of the Benton County Hardware Company, his home being at Fayetteville, Arkansas.

In the schools of Benton county Marion Douglas acquired his education and on starting out in life for himself he took up the occupation of farming. In 1896 he moved to Bentonville and has since devoted his life to public service, first filling the office of deputy county clerk, while later he was made county clerk and for eight years was the incumbent in that position. He is now acting as tax collector of Benton county and his long retention in public office is indisputable proof of his ability and trustworthiness.

On the 30th of November, 1902, Mr. Douglas was united in marriage to Mrs. Emily Pace, a native of Texas. When but three years of age she was brought to Arkansas by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Cooper. Mr. Pace, her first husband, was born and reared in Tennessee and devoted his attention to farming until his life's labors were ended in death. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas have become the parents of six children: Cecil, who married T. B. Noble and resides on a farm in the vicinity of Bentonville; Fred, who has just completed his senior year in high school; Hal, Marion Doke and Dan, all of whom are attending school, and Charles, who is five years of age.

The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Mr. Douglas is a stanch democrat in his political views and an active worker in the ranks of the party. His fraternal connections are with the Knights of Pythias, of which he is a past chancellor, and with the Masons, in which order he has taken all of the degrees up to and including the commandery, being a past eminent commander. He is a past master of his lodge, is a member of the York Rite and is also connected with the Shrine. In public affairs he has taken an active and helpful interest, doing effective service for the public good, and his sterling traits of character have won for him the respect and goodwill of a large circle of friends.

C. W. DODD.

C. W. Dodd, editor and owner of the Tribune published at Russellville, has made his paper both the mirror and molder of public opinion. Through its editorials he has championed all of those interests which he has believed to be of value in the up- building of the city and at the same time he has made the Tribune a splendid dis- tributor of local and general news. A native of Arkansas, his birth occurred in

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Saline county, January 1, 1862, his parents being David W. and Susan A. (Kimber) Dodd. His grandfather in the paternal line was David Dodd, who came to Arkansas in' young manhood, making the journey with his wife on muleback. His mule was all he owned when he arrived in this state but he prospered as the years passed and when the Civil war was inaugurated he was the owner of one hundred and twenty-five slaves and a large amount of land, but the war left him poor. David W. Dodd, his son, was born in Saline county, Arkansas, and was married in this state to Miss Susan A. Kimber, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Thomas Kimber, who in young man- hood removed to Pulaski county, Arkansas, and there died on the old homestead farm prior to the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. David W. Dodd removed from Saline county, Arkansas, to Dardanelle in 1870. He was a merchant there for several years and died at that place in 1876. The mother survives and is now living with a daughter in Pennsylvania. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living: C. W .; May B., who has for many years engaged in teaching school and is now following that profession in Los Angeles, California; Emma, the wife of Robert Park, a minister of the Presbyterian church, located at Parnassus, Pennsylvania; and Julia, the wife of S. E. Freeland, a real estate dealer of Lawton, Oklahoma. The father was a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting from Saline county in the Confederate army and serving until the close of hostilities. He was captured while at the front, being held as a prisoner of war at the time hostilities ceased. He belonged to the Presbyterian church, of which his wife has for many years been a faithful memher.

C. W. Dodd was educated in private schools of Dardanelle, Arkansas, and went into a printing office in 1878. He has followed this business throughout most of the time since that day. He started his first paper in Russellville in 1901 and began the publi- cation of the Record, which he conducted for twelve years. In 1915 he started the Tribune, of which he has since been owner and editor. This paper has a circulation of seven hundred and does considerable job printing. Mr. Dodd worked in the job printing department of the Arkansas Democrat at Little Rock and later was in news- paper publication at Morrillton, Arkansas, before coming to Russellville. He has ever worked with definite purpose toward a given end and has held to high standards in his chosen vocation.

In 1882 Mr. Dodd was married to Miss Ella C. Langtord, who was horn in Pope county, Arkansas, a daughter of Edward Langford and a granddaughter of the Rev. Cephas Washburn, who was a prominent divine of Arkansas. Mrs. Dodd is also a niece of the man who originated The Arkansas Traveler. To Mr. and Mrs. Dodd have been born six children: David E., a wholesale grocer of Mena, Arkansas; Susan A., the wife of Joe Henry, a prominent stockman of Russellville; Corine, a teacher in the public schools of Hot Springs; Bessie McGhee, wife of John M. McGhee of South Pittsburg, Tennessee; George K., who is in business with his father, and Harry W., a student in the Georgia Technology School at Atlanta. The son George K, was a first lieutenant in the World war and was in training at Camp Pike and Camp Beauregard but did not get across. He is now first lieutenant in the Third Battalion of the Na- tional Guards.

Mr. Dodd has always voted with the democratic party and for two years filled the office of justice of the peace. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and they occupy a nice home in Russellville, which he owns, while his property hold- ings also include a substantial brick building in which he publishes his paper. His many friends-and they are legion-attest the sterling worth of his character.

C. H. HARDING.

C. H. Harding, president of the Harding Glass Company of Fort Smith, has by reason of well defined plans promptly and carefully executed, reached a most enviable position among the business men of this city. Opportunity has ever been to him a call to action and one to which he has made ready response. Mr. Harding was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1862, and is a son of Josiah and Eliza (Provin ) Hard- ing, the former a native of Vermont, while the latter was born in Massachusetts and both were representatives of old New England families. The father became a manu- facturer of Pennsylvania and was well known in business circles of Tioga county. He served as a major general of the state militia and was the first man to volunteer from Pennsylvania for service in the Civil war. Following his return at the close of hos- tilities he became prominently identified with manufacturing interests in Tioga county.

It was there that C. H. Harding was reared and educated and in early manhood he taught school. He also did clerical work and learned the trade of making window

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glass, at which he worked for twenty years. Steadily he advanced in his business connections and became a stockholder of a glass manufacturing concern at Bradford, Pennsylvania. Owing to the failure of a needed supply of gas at that place, he re- moved to Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he established a plant in 1907, remaining there for ten years and conducting business under the name of the Tuna Glass Com- pany. He organized the Harding Glass Company of Fort Smith on the 1st of June, 1911, and eighty per cent of the stock is owned by him and his family. The company is now operating two large plants for the manufacture of window glass. Upon the organization, Mr. C. H. Harding became president of the company; I. H. Nakdimen, vice president; W. E. Harding, secretary and treasurer; and F. L. Reese, assistant sec- retary and treasurer. The company was originally chartered in West Virginia. The business has steadily developed and in addition to the manufacture of window glass the plant is also devoted to the manufacture of wind shields for automobiles. In normal times this concern employs from five hundred to six hundred and fifty men and the output is about twenty-five hundred boxes of glass daily, these being fitty-foot boxes. The product is shipped to adjacent territory and throughout the west. The business has become one of the most important industries of Fort Smith and Mr. Harding is recognized as a man of marked ability and executive force. He masters with thoroughness everything that he undertakes and throughout his life has been a keen student of every question that has engaged his attention whether in relation to business or otherwise.

Mr. Harding was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Clark and their children are: Mrs. F. L. Reese, and W. E., who is secretary and treasurer of the Harding Glass Company.

Mr. Harding is a member of the Business Men's Club and also of the Lions Club, of which his son, W. E. Harding, is president. The Lions Club is an organization formed to promote advantageous business conditions and at the same time upholds American interests by patriotic service of the highest character. Mr. Harding stands for all that pertains to the welfare and progress of community, commonwealth and country and is a leading spirit in many organized movements for the general good. In business, too, his record is one which should serve as an inspiration to others, for what he has accomplished is the result of his indefatigable efforts, his sound judgment and his enterprise. Starting out in the business world in a humble capacity he has steadily advanced and today merits the proud American title of a self-made man, having reached a notable point of success where he is in control of the largest plant of its kind in the country.

WILLIAM OLIN FORBES, M. D.

Occupying a high position in public regard by reason of his professional ability and the sterling traits of his character, Dr. William Olin Forbes departed this life leaving many friends to mourn his loss. He was born in Lacon, Illinois, December 12, 1879, a son of Isaac B. Forbes. He acquired his early education in the public schools of his native city, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, in which he remained a student for two years. In 1885 he accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Anthony, Kansas, where he completed his high school course and his popular- ity, capability and high standing are indicated in the fact that he was the president and orator of his class. He afterward spent a year in preparatory work in Deitchman's School, anticipating his course in Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, Maryland, where he spent two years as a student of a preparatory law course. In 1891 he went abroad, entering the Frederick Wilbelm University at Berlin and there winning his Bachelor of Arts degree. He completed his preparation for the medical profession by graduation from the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago in the spring of 1895 and became an interne in Hahnemann Hospital of that city, thus continuing during the year 1895-96. After completing the period of his interneship he entered upon the general practice of medicine in Chicago and made rapid progress there. He was also connected with the department of pediatrics in Hahnemann College, doing both didactic and clinical teaching. He likewise served for several years as a member of the Illinois state board of health and was a, member of the special committee of the board that examined Dr. Laurens at the time of his visit to Chicago for the purpose of demon- strating his bloodless operation for the correction of sublaxation of the hip.

In 1902 Dr. Forbes came to Hot Springs and entered upon active practice, in which he continued with growing success. At all times he held to the highest ethical stand- ards of the profession and he was constantly promoting his efficiency by broad reading, study, research and investigation. His professional duties were ever most con-

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scientously performed and his broad human sympathy enabled him readily to under- stand his patients and win their confidence.

Dr. Forbes was married in the year 1917 to Mrs. Minnie (Robinson) Hay of Hot Springs. He possessed a kindly, genial nature, manifest in all the relations of life. He took keen interest in the welfare and upbuilding of Hot Springs and gave hearty endorsement to all plans and measures having to do with the progress and development of the city and with those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride. He was a recognized leader among the young business men of Hot Springs and for several years filled the presidency of the Hot Springs Golf and Country Club. Fraternally he was a Mason, loyal to the teachings and purposes of the craft. He be- came a Knight Templar and member of the Mystic Shrine and he also joined the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Hot Springs. Along professional lines he was connected with the Illinois Homeopathic Medical Society and the American Institute of Homeopathy and for several years he was registrar and a member of its board of trustees. Perhaps no better characterization of Dr. Forbes can be given than by quoting from those who knew him well. Dr. Joseph Pettee Cobb said of him: "Dr. Forbes had many lovable characteristics and endeared himself to a host of friends; he was always bright and cheerful in his manner even when himself ill; he was thoughtful of the comfort of others and considerate of their feelings; he was loyal to his friends and to their interests and to every enterprise in which he took a part; he was a worker and a booster always enthusiastic and optimistic." Dr. B. F. Bailey, president of the Green Gables Sanitarium, spoke of Dr. Forbes as follows: "No one ever came into the sanitarium who has left such a place of affection among its force. We had learned to know him as a prince. He was as cheery, just and fair a man as I ever knew."

Dr. Forbes died at the Green Gables Sanitarium at Lincoln, Nebraska, August 27, 1920. His example should remain as a source of inspiration to his fellow members of the profession, while his memory is ensbrined in the hearts of all who knew him.

W. R. PHILLIPS.

W. R. Phillips, who has now retired from general farming but is still giving some attention to surveying, makes his home at Green Forest. He was born in Madison county, Arkansas, October 9, 1852, and is a son of Henderson B. and Mary Jane (Kimbrell) Phillips, who were natives of Kentucky and of Arkansas, respectively, their marriage being celebrated in Madison county, this state. The paternal grand- father, John Phillips, was a native of Kentucky and removed to Madison county, Arkansas, in 1832. He assisted in building the first state highway in Kentucky, supposed to be the great military highway running south from Maysville through that state. He had been a tobacco raiser of Kentucky and after coming to Arkansas de- voted his attention to farming. The maternal grandfather was James Kimbrell, a very early and well known settler of Madison county, who aided in laying broad and deep the foundation upon which the present progress and prosperity of the county has been built.

Following the marriage of Henderson B. Phillips and Mary Jane Kimbrell they removed to Carroll county, Arkansas, in 1856 and Mr. Phillips devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits, owning a good farm. To him and his wife were born six children, four of whom are yet living: P. M., who is a farmer of Collin county, Texas; W. R., of this review; John, a retired stone mason residing in Seattle, Washington; and Mrs. Mary Jane Jordan, who resides in Green Forest. Having lost his wife, Mr. Phillips married Mary Jane Russell and had six children by the second union, as follows: Tom, a farmer of Carroll county, Arkansas, who raises more hay than any man in the county; Lewis, who is engaged in the lumber business in Omaha, Arkansas; Henderson, a farmer and carpenter of Carroll county; Nancy Ann, who is a widow and lives in Oakland, California; Sarah, the wife of John Reader, a farmer of Green Forest; and Alice, the wife of Jared Bobo, a farmer of Oklahoma. In his political views Henderson B. Phillips was a whig in early life and afterward joined the ranks of the democratic party. He served as justice of the peace for some time but was not active as an office seeker. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and fraternally he was connected with the Masons.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 113

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