Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 120

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

USA > Arkansas > Centennial history of Arkansas > Part 120

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).

BEN H. HULSE.

Ben H. Hulse, who is devoting his attention to the development of the oil fields of Arkansas, now engaged in drilling for oil in the vicinity of his home at Prairie Grove, was born in this locality, his birthplace being the old homestead farm of his parents, John R. and Drusy (Delano) Hulse. Ben H. Hulse was born September 24, 1891. His father is also a native of Washington county and a son of Isaac N. Hulse, who "was born in western Tennessee, whence he removed to Arkansas in 1850. He took up farm land from the government and began its cultivation, making his home thereon until his death, save for the period of his service as a soldier of the Union army during three years of the Civil war. His son, John R. Hulse, has spent his entire life in Washington county and is still living upon the old homestead farm. He wedded Drusy Delano, who was born in Indiana, a daughter of W. H. Delano, who was likewise a native of that state and who became a resident of Washington county, Arkansas, in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Hulse hegan their domestic lite upon the old homestead and he has given his entire attention to the further development and improvement of his farm save for the period of his service as United States marshal for the west district of Arkansas. He has always supported the republican party, loyally advocating its principles. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. They have a family of eight children: Zona, who is the wife of W. C. Dold, a farmer of western Oklahoma; Ben H .; Roscoe N., living on a cattle ranch in southern Oregon; Ella, at home; Laura, the wife of Vol Reed, a farmer of Canehill, Arkansas: Cora and Ora, twins, at home; and Margaret, who is in school.

758

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

Ben H. Hulse obtained a country school education and was trained to the work of the farm, to which he early turned his attention, following that pursuit in Wash- ington county until 1908, when he went to California. There he followed mechanical pursuits for three years and traveled for the Holt Manufacturing Company, manu- facturers of caterpillar tractors, harvesters and plows at Stockton, California, for two years. He afterward went to Mexico, where he engaged in ranching for seven years and was very prosperous in his business affairs during that period. He afterward began drilling for oil in various sections and followed this for a time.

In July, 1920, however, he returned home and leased eight thousand acres of land in what is believed to be an oil belt in this state. He is now drilling near his home and in the undertaking is associated with Wilson Fletcher and J. W. Bailey. Already they are down twenty-three hundred feet and Mr. Hulse is now devoting his entire time to the oil industry. He likewise owns a half interest in the ranch occupied by his brother in Oregon.

In 1918 Mr. Hulse was married to Miss Bessie Phenia, who was born in Mayfield, Kentucky, a daughter of James Phenia, a farmer living near Hot Springs. Mrs. Hulse belongs to the Catholic church. Mr. Hulse has membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and his political endorsement has always been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise.

ROBERT GOODWIN.

Robert Goodwin, actively engaged in the timber business in El Dorado, is well known in Union county and this section of the state. He is "Bobbie" to his many friends who have known him from his boyhood days and even the acquaintances of his later years prize that friendship and intimacy that allows them so to address him. Mr. Goodwin was born in Union county, Arkansas, twelve miles northeast of El Dorado, on the 2d of February, 1875. He was reared there and his educational opportunities were those afforded by the common schools of the locality. He continued to work on the old homestead until he had attained his majority and then started out in the business world on his own account. He, too, gave his attention to farming on a tract of land adjoining the old home place. For more than twenty years he has now engaged in the timber business, which has constituted an important source of income. In January, 1920, he removed to El Dorado, where he now makes his home. As the years have passed he has added to his property holdings until he has a thousand acres of land, prac- tically all in one body. He has likewise become interested in the oil business and he is a stockholder and one of the directors of the Bank of Commerce of El Dorado. His business affairs have been carefully managed because his judgment is sound and his enterprise unfaltering.

On November 27, 1895, Mr. Goodwin was united in marriage to Miss Lela Betts and they are most widely known in El Dorado and throughout this section of the state. Mr. Goodwin has never cared to mix in politics as an office seeker but is never remiss in the duties of citizenship and steadily gives his support to those plans which are looking to the betterment of the community at large. Mr. Goodwin is identified with the Benev- olent Protective Order of Elks and his wife has membership in the Baptist church.

JOHN D. LIGHTER.

John D. Lighter, attorney-at-law, practicing at the Fort Smith bar, his clientage being large and of a distinctively representative character, comes to this state from Indiana, his birth having occurred on a farm in the vicinity of Quincy, June 4, 1874, his parents being George W. and Armilda (Hamilton) Lighter. The father served for four years in the Civil war as a member of the Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, proving his valor and his loyalty on many a hotly contested battle field. He is deceased, but the mother is living.

John D. Lighter acquired his primary education in the schools of Illinois, where he had removed in his youthful days. In 1899, when a young man of twenty-five years, he came to Arkansas, settling first in Little Rock. Here he was employed first as a fireman on the Iron Mountain Railroad, running out of the capital city and subsequently was advanced to the position of engineer. He left the service of the railroad in February, 1904, and became identified with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Fort Smith. After serving from the 4th of March, until the 4th of July, 1904, with the

759

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

company, he was promoted to the position of assistant superintendent of the district and remained in that position for fifteen months, but resigned to take up the agency of the Grand Union Tea Company. While thus engaged and even previous to this time he devoted all of his leisure to attaining a more advanced education than had been accorded him in his old home. It was his ambition to become a lawyer and despite every obstacle and privation that confronted him he prepared for the study of law which he carefully pursued in his leisure hours and in 1907 he was admitted to the har. He first opened a law office in the Kennedy building on the 1st of January, 1908. Advancement at the bar is proverbially slow and the first few months were trying for him, but the court records since that time are ample proof of his success. He has tried all kinds of cases and tried them well. He has developed a comparatively large clientele and his clients have firm faith in his judgment and ability. He is always very careful in the preparation of his cases and thorough in the presentation of his cause, never losing sight of any point that seems to bear upon the desired verdict.

Mr. Lighter was married in 1905 to Miss Emma B. Brewer, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Durant G. Brewer, who was a soldier of the Confederate army in the Civil war.

During the recent World war Mr. Lighter volunteered for service in the Young Men's Christian Association and was on duty for seven months, being with the August class for training at San Antonio, Texas, after which he was stationed at Fort St. Philips, in Louisiana. During the epidemic of the "flu" he was sent to the West End Naval Station at New Orleans on the 1st of March, 1919, and there served as building secretary. The large number of sick kept him working day and night until finally he became a victim of the epidemic. The valuable service which he rendered is indicated in many documents and testimonials which he received from authorities and letters from the boys and the parents of the many soldiers whom he helped while on active duty.

Mr. Lighter is a member of the Methodist church and his Christian faith guides him in every relation of life. He is also a loyal follower of various fraternal organiza- tions, belonging to the Masonic lodge at Pekin, Illinois, to the Fraternal Aid Union, the Tribe of Ben Hur and to the Fraternal Brotherhood of America. He is likewise a member of the Fort Smith Bar Association, and is an able representative of his profes- sion, making steady progress along lines that lead to success.

REV. CHARLES HADDON NABERS.

Rev. Charles Haddon Nabers, pastor of the First Presbyterian church at Camden, Arkansas, is a native of South Carolina, his birth having occurred in Laurens, that state, November 13, 1889. His father, Alexander Nabers, who died at the age of seventy-four years, was a farmer in Laurens, South Carolina, which was also his birth- place. The family is descended from French Huguenot ancestry and was founded in Jackson county, Florida, in 1750, representatives of the name being pioneers of that section of the country. Alexander Nabers married Martha Haddon, who died at the age of sixty-seven years. She, too, was a native of South Carolina and a daughter of James Haddon, who was killed during the Civil war. He was of Scotch-Irish lineage. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Nabers was celebrated in Laurens, South Carolina.

Charles Haddon Nabers, their only child, was educated in the city schools at Anderson, South Carolina, and in 1909 was graduated from Erskine College sitnated at Due West, South Carolina, that institution conferring upon him the Bachelor of Arts degree. He later entered upon a theological course in the Erskine Theological Seminary at Due West and further pursued his preparations for the ministry at the United Presbyterian Seminary at Cairo, Egypt, where he gained his Bachelor of Divinity degree. While studying for the ministry in Cairo he taught English in the American Mission College at that place during the years from 1909 to 1911 inclusive, With his return to his native country he became pastor at Prosperity, South Carolina, where he labored in 1913 and 1914. He was student pastor at the University of Alabama in 1915 and 1916 and in the latter year accepted the pastorate of a church at Carrollton, Alabama, where he continued until 1920, In the latter year he came to Camden as pastor of the First Presbyterian church and has remained here. His labors have contributed to the upbuilding of the cause in Camden and his work is proving highly satisfactory to his parishioners. He is an earnest speaker and a most thoughtful student and added to his literary attainments is a broad humanitarian spirit that prompts him to put forth untiring efforts in behalf of the moral progress of his fellowmen.

On the 20th of October, 1914, Rev. Mr. Nahers was married to Miss Minnie Whiteside, the daughter of Jefferson D. Whiteside of South Carolina. The wedding was celebrated

760

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

at Hickory Grove, South Carolina, and they have become the parents of a daughter, Dorothy, horn September 19, 1921.

. Fraternally Rev. Mr. Nabers is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, also with the Knights of Pythias and is a Mason of high standing, belonging to Camden Lodge, A. F. & A. M., the Royal Arch Chapter at Newberry, South Carolina, the council and commandery at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. During the war he was granted a leave of absence and served with the regular Y. M. C. A. as secretary for six months- and was stationed at Pensacola, Florida. He was sent over Florida, Alabama and North Carolina, lecturing on behalf of the various war activities and did valuable service in that connection. In 1913 and 1914 he was president of the South Carolina Student Volunteer Union. During his sojourn in Egypt he made quite an extensive collection of African curios and while abroad traveled extensively over much of Africa, Palestine and different sections of Europe. He is a man of broad and liberal culture, gaining that wide experience which comes from travel, his mind enriched with the varied experiences that came in his sojourn abroad. Adding his liberal training to his high moral purposes he is achieving great good in his church work, his labors having become a forceful element in the upbuilding of his denomination in Arkansas.

JOHN FLETCHER SAMPLE.

Death often removes from our midst those whom we can ill afford to lose and in the passing of John Fletcher Sample, El Dorado lost one of her representative men and valued citizens. A native of Georgia, he was born in the city of Macon, September 1, 1855, his parents being Newton and Helen (Dumas) Sample who re- moved to Morobay, Bradley county, when their son, John F. was but six years of age. There he lived until his eighteenth year and was educated in that locality by attendance at the subscription school. His father lost his property during the Civil war and from his sixteenth year John F. Sample was the support of the family. He removed with his parents when a youth of eighteen to the town of Oakland Louisiana, where he was engaged in farming for several years. Subsequently he devoted his attention to mercantile pursuits in Oakland, where his mother died in 1880, while the father's death occurred in 1885.

It was in the year 1897 that John F. Sample came to El Dorado, where he again engaged in merchandising, furnishing to the farmers all of the supplies which they needed and allowing them to pay their bills once a year. He continued in this busi- ness to the time of his demise, which occurred September 1, 1904, when he was forty- nine years of age. He had been very successful in his business affairs, carefully managing and conducting his interests and at his death he left a large estate. He did not confine his efforts to mercantile pursuits alone but became president of the Citizens National Bank at El Dorado, holding that position for several years prior to his death. He was never an aspirant for public office but concentrated his attention and labors upon business matters. He readily discriminated between the essential and the non-essential in all business affairs and his labors were so directed that most substantial results accrued.

In 1879 Mr. Sample was married to Miss Fannie Murphy of Oakland, Louisiana. a daughter of Colonel G. W. Murphy, one of the prominent merchants and influential residents of that city. He was born in Arkansas in 1817 and represented one of the early pioneer families of the northwestern section of the state. His parents died' during his infancy and he was reared by an aunt in Benton county. On reaching man- hood he removed to Saline county and served as overseer on plantations there. He was married and resided for a number of years in Saline county and afterward went to Louisiana, purchasing a farm in Union parish. During the Civil war he bought cotton all over the district with Confederate money and his sagacity and farsighted- ness in this business constituted the foundation of his very substantial fortune, for prices naturally advanced with the progress of the war and he sold the cotton to good advantage. After the war he was said to be the richest man in Union county. Subsequently he engaged in the commission business in New Orleans and there lost a large amount of his wealth but later again won substantial success in merchandis- ing in Oakland, Louisiana, where his death occurred, when he had reached the 4 age of seventy-nine years.

In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Sample were ten children: Grace, the deceased wife of Dr. L. L. Purafoy, a prominest surgeon of El Dorado; Luella, the wife of O. G. Murphy, a commercial salesman for Marshall Field & Company of Chicago, making his home in El Dorado; LaVelle, a business man of El Dorado; Charles M., living in Strong, Arkansas; N. Hugh, who is engaged in the hardware business in El Dorado;

JOHN F. SAMPLE

763

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

G. Harvey, conducting an automobile and garage business; Percy G., who is located in Tucumcari, New Mexico; Claude, who is employed in his brother's garage; Clark, now in Chicago, Illinois; and Ruth, the wife of Harry Parnell of El Dorado. There are also nineteen grandchildren. Mrs. Sample is a member of the Baptist church, to which Mr. Sample also belonged, guiding his life according to its teachings. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge but preferred to spend his leisure hours at his home, in the companionship of his wife and children and found his greatest happiness in promoting their comfort. He was a kindly man, who gave liberally to those in need. The poor and unfortunate found in him a friend and as he prospered his generosity increased. Year by year he gave of his means as opportunity afforded for the assistance and benefit of his fellowmen and his entire life was fraught with good deeds and characterized by noble purposes.

CHARLES PRICKETT, M. D.

Dr. Charles Prickett, a medical alumnus of the University of Arkansas, now suc- cessfully engaged in practice in Malvern, was born in Cleveland county, this state, on the 27th of June, 1877. His youth was largely passed at Bryant, Saline county, his boyhood days being spent on the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-one years. He attended the district schools and in the long summer vacation worked in the fields, aiding in the plowing, planting and harvesting, so that he gained practical experience of all phases of farm life. In young manhood he taught school through two summer terms and one winter term but regarded this merely as an initial step to other professional labor, as it brought to him the financial resources necessary for the pursuit of a professional course. Desirous of becoming a member of the medical profession, he matriculated in the University of Arkansas in 1898 and pursued the full medical course, being graduated with the class of 1904.

Dr. Prickett afterward located for practice in Lincoln county, where he remained for five years and then took up his abode in Saline county, where he followed his profession for fourteen years. It was in 1920 that he opened an office in Malvern, where he has remained, devoting his attention to the general practice of medicine and surgery. He displays skill and ability in his chosen field and his labors have brought good results to his patients and a substantial measure of financial success. Dr. Prickett belongs to the Hot Spring County Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

Pleasantly situated in his home life, Dr. Prickett was married in 1906 to Miss Effie McEntire, and they are parents of three children: Mahlon, Norris and Annette. Fraternally Dr. Prickett is connected with the Masons and also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Those who know him-and he has a wide acquaintance- esteem him highly for the sterling worth of his character as manifest in his social as well as in his professional relations.

I. ISAACSON.

No record of Fort Smith would be complete without extended reference to I. Isaacson, who during the course of an active life was a prominent merchant and leading citizen of Fort Smith. He was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1852, and left his native country at the age of eighteen years, to try his fortune on this side the Atlantic. After a brief stay in New York he went to San Antonio, Texas, where he engaged in merchandising and from that time until his death he was identified with the development and up- building of the southwest. He removed from Texas to Cache, Oklahoma, where he also established a store and while there residing he was appointed postmaster of the town and likewise commissioned a licensed trader with the Indians.

It was in 1886 that Mr. Isaacson came to Fort Smith and opened a store at Texas corner, where he conducted for a number of years, both a retail and jobbing business. He afterward removed to the site now occupied by the Poe-Herden Shoe Company and there he conducted both a retail and wholesale business. Twenty-seven years ago the business was removed to the present location, where a successful retail trade was developed. He carried a large line of dry goods and men's clothing, furnish- ings, shoes, etc., his trade reaching large and substantial proportions. The thorough reliability of his methods, his unfaltering enterprise, his determination and his per- severance were the salient factors in the attainment of his success. He was very prominent in the commercial circles of the city for more than three decades and in

764

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

connection with the conduct of his retail store he operated a cotton gin in Spiro, Okla- homa. He was likewise president of the Home Mutual Building & Loan Association for nineteen years and in this way assisted many in obtaining homes.

Mr. Isaacson was married to Miss Henrietta Spiro, who was born in Memphis, Tennessee, a daughter of Abraham Spire, whe hecame a wholesale dealer in pants in St. Louis. The town of Spiro, Oklahoma, was named in his honor at the suggestion of Judge Brizzolara of Fort Smith. To Mr. and Mrs. Isaacson were born two children: Paul, who married Hazel Hopp of Fort Smith; and Minnie, now the wife of Sol Cehn. The son served in the army during the World war, being stationed at Kelly Field, Fert Worth and Fort Logan H. Roots. He was identified with the aerial service and advanced from private to sergeant. Since his father's death he has conducted the business and is regarded a most progressive young man, alert and energetic, ready at all times for any emergency and any opportunity. What he has already accomplished and the qualities that he has displayed in his business career indicate that his future will be well worth watching.

The father, I. Isaacson, was a prominent figure in political as well as business circles and served as a delegate from Arkansas to republican national conventions. He was also commissioner of elections of Arkansas. He possessed a most genial tempera- ment and made a host of friends wherever he went. There was nothing narrow nor con- tracted in his nature. He was a man of broad views and wide vision and his standpoint of life was that of kindly humanitarianism. He died February 24, 1921, honored and respected by all who knew him and most of all hy those who knew him best.

ERNEST M. MCKENZIE, M. D.

Dr. Ernest M. Mckenzie, a well known and successful physician and surgeon of Hot Springs, is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the state. His birth occurred in Dardanelle, Arkansas, on the 25th of August, 1884, his parents being James M. and Sarah L. (Scarlett) Mckenzie, the former a native of South Carolina and the latter of Arkansas. James M. Mckenzie came to this state with his parents as a child in 1857 and here grew te manhood and was married. He followed agricultural pursuits as a life work, cultivating a farm seven miles south of Dardanelle, in Yell county. When his well-directed labors had brought him a comfortable compe- tence he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in Dardanelle, where he is living retired. Both he and his wife are well known and highly esteemed in the community in which they make their home, having gained an extensive circle of warm friends during the long years of their residence here.

Ernest M. Mckenzie pursued a high school course in Monticello, Arkansas, and subsequently entered Peabody College for Teachers at Nashville, Tennessee, from which institution of learning he received his Bachelor of Arts degree as a member of the class of 1908. During the succeeding five years he was engaged in educational work. spending three years as a teacher in the department of history at Pine Bluff and two years as superintendent of schools at Newport, Arkansas. In 1913 he began preparation for the practice of medicine as a student in the medical department of Tulane Uni- versity at New Orleans, Louisiana, from which he received the degree of M. D. in 1917. Following his graduation he served as an interne in the St .. Louis City Hospital from July, 1917, until January 20, 1918, when he located for practice in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in association with Dr. W. O. Forbes. About three months later, or on the 1st of May, he entered the United States medical service for duty in the World war and was sent to Camp Greenleaf, Georgia, where he spent six weeks. On the expiration of that period he was transferred to Camp Meade, Maryland, where he was assigned to the Three Hundred and Sixteenth Infantry Regiment, with wbich command he went over- seas, leaving New York city on the 9th of July and landing at Brest, France, on the 18th of the same month. He saw service on the front with this regiment and was dis- charged with the rank of lieutenant on the 7th of June, 1919, after which he returned to Hot Springs and resumed his medical practice. His associate, Dr. Forbes, died in August, 1920, since which time Dr. Mckenzie has practiced independently. His pro- fessional skill and ability are widely recognized, so that he has been accorded an extensive and Incrative patronage. He is a member of the Garland County and Het Springs Medical Societies, the Arkansas State Medical Society, the Southern Medical Association and the American Medical Association.

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.

Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 120

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