Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 125

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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C. C. Tunstall pursued his education in the schools of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and of Dallas, Texas, and has spent most of his active business life in bank work. At the time the country needed the military aid of her loyal sons, however, he enlisted for service in the navy, becoming a seaman at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Later he was assigned to the United States Steamship Schurz, a gunhoat on duty in the Atlantic service. This hoat was rammed when fifty miles off the coast of North Carolina, on which occasion Mr. Tunstall jumped overboard into the sea although the waves were running very high at the time. He clambered onto a life raft and after drifting about on this for two hours was picked up by the Saramaca. He was later assigned to the Eastland, the boat which was capsized in the Chicago river. when almost a thousand lives were lost. This boat had been brought to the surface after the terrible disaster, was then refitted and renamed The Wilmette, and Mr. Tunstall was on active duty thereon throughout the remainder of his term of enlistment. Since the war he has resumed his active work in connection with banking and is now the efficient assistant cashier of the First National Bank at Des Arc. His religious belief is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has a wide acquaintance in the city in which his life has been passed and that his course has ever been a commendable and honorable one is indicated in the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present.

LLOYD COOPER HOLMAN.

Lloyd Cooper Holman, manager of the real estate department for the Southern Trust Company of Little Rock, was born on a farm in Little River county, Arkansas, December 12, 1873, and following the usual experiences of the farm bred boy he then made his initial step into the business world and has since steadily advanced until he occupies a most important position in connection with one of the strongest finan- cial institutions of the state. His parents were William Tong and Elizabeth Judith (Fuquay) Holman. The father, a native of Missouri, was born in Fredericktown, Madison county, that state, on the 9th of August, 1815, but became a resident of Arkansas in 1826, taking up his ahode in Little River county, where for many years he followed the occupation of farming. During the Civil war he served as a captain of Confederate forces, enlisting from Arkansas. His political allegiance was always given the democratic party and at one time he served as a member of the state legis- lature. He was married in Sevier county, Arkansas, to Elizabeth Judith Fuquay,

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and they became the parents of four sons and five daughters, of whom two daughters have departed this life, while the death of the father occurred January 20, 1896.

Lloyd C. Holman, the eighth in order of birth in this family, attended the country schools and afterward continued his studies in the public schools of Rocky Comfort. He next became a student in Hendrix College at Conway, Arkansas, and in early manhood he took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for four years in Little River county. He then went on the road as a traveling salesman, representing a wholesale grocery house for six years, after which he established a real estate office in Conway, where he continued for eight years, developing a large clientage during that period and gaining much valuable experience, which constitutes the basis for his present-day capability and success. On leaving Conway in 1909 he removed to Little Rock, where he entered the real estate business and in 1910 organized the Holman Real Estate Company, of which he continued as president and general manager for eight years, building up a very substantial business in that connection and negotiating many important property transfers. He was then offered the responsible position of manager of the real estate department of the Southern Trust Company in 1917 and through the intervening period of four years has been at the head of the department. He is likewise one of the stockholders and directors of the company and his activity is a strong factor in the continued success of the corporation.

It was in the county of his nativity on the 4th of November, 1902, that Mr. Holman wedded Miss Maud Freeman, who was born in Little River county, August 28, 1881, her parents being John D. and Mica (Wright) Freeman, who were likewise natives of Arkansas, making their home in Little River county. Her father is deceased. Mrs. Holman enjoyed excellent educational opportunities, supplementing her early training by study in Ouachita College. By her marriage she has become the mother of five children: Carl Reyhurn, born July 23, 1904; Russell Lowell, born January 29, 1906; Freeman Cooper, born July 15, 1910; Lucile, born March 3, 1912; and Howard Burton, who was born December 20, 1918, and died on the 19th of August, 1920.

Mr. Holman and his wife are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Little Rock, in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest. He is now serving on the official board, is one of the church trustees and is superintend- ent of the Sunday school. Mr. Holman is a director of the Little Rock public school system and at present is serving as secretary of the hoard. In fact, his labors are untiring for the upbuilding of the church and he supports every plan and measure that tends to uplift the individual and uphold higher standards of life. He belongs to the Spring Lake Club, indicating something of the nature of his recreation, which is largely found in the great out-of-doors. In politics he is a democrat and during the World war he was active in Red Cross work and the bond drives. His interest centers in those channels through which flows the greatest and most permanent good to the majority and the universality of his friendships interprets for us his intellectual hospitality and the breadth of his sympathy, for nothing is foreign to him that con- cerns the welfare of his fellowmen.

IRA CLARKE HOPPER.

Whatever else may be said of the legal fraternity, it cannot be denied that mem- bers of the bar have been more prominent actors in public affairs than any other class of the community. This is but the natural result of causes which are manifest and require no explanation. The ability and training which qualify one to practice law also qualify him in many respects for duties which lie outside the strict path of his profession and which touch the general interests of society. Holding marked precedence among the members of the bar of Little Rock is Ira Clarke Hopper and the recognition of his ability on the part of his fellowmen has led to his selection for high political honors, so that he is now serving as secretary of state. Arkansas num- bers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Caddo Gap, Montgomery county, August 4, 1891, his parents being John Franklin and Martha (Burke) Hop- per. The latter was a daughter of Robert S. Burke, who was born in Georgia and became a soldier of the Confederate army in the Civil war, joining the forces from Arkansas and becoming captain of a company with which he served throughout the period of hostilities.

John Franklin Hopper was born on a farm in Montgomery county, Arkansas, and for many years devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits but now lives retired at Caddo Gap. He has always given his political allegiance to the republican party

IRA C. HOPPER

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and is a stalwart champion of its principles. His wife was born on a farm in Clark county, Arkansas, and their marriage was celebrated in that county in 1887. Mrs. Hopper died in October, 1916, and is survived by two sons and a daughter: David Cland, who was born November 2, 1888, and is now in Akron, Ohio; Ira Clarke; and Julia, the wife of Russell Bigger, of Roshoro, Arkansas.

Spending his youthful days upon the home farm, Ira Clarke Hopper began his education in the rural schools of Montgomery county and was afterward graduated from the high schoot at Amity, Arkansas, with the class of 1911. Ambitions to advance his education, he then entered the University of Arkansas and on the completion of a classical course won his Bachelor of Arts degree as a member of the class of 1914. He thus laid broad and deep the foundation upon which he has built the superstructure of professional learning. Deciding to make the practice of law his life work, he next entered the Arkansas Law School and won his LL. B. degree in 1917. Admitted to the bar, he has since given his attention to practice save for the period of his service as a soldier of the World war. He has made steady professional progress and it was a recognition of his ability on the part of his fellow townsmen that led to his selection for high official honors when on the 2d of November, 1920, he was elected to the position of secretary of state, assuming the duties of the office on the 12th of January, 1921.

Following America's entrance into the World war Mr. Hopper joined the army on the 26th of Angust, 1917, and served until August 19, 1919, with the rank of first lieutenant and of captain. He was with Battery F of the Twentieth Regiment of Ligtit Artillery of the Fifth Division and went overseas on the 26th of May, 1918. He participated in the engagements at Frapelle, at St. Mihiel and in the offensive in the Meuse-Argonne and thus saw some of the hardest fighting of the war. He is now a member of the American Legion and as such is endeavoring to uphold high American standards that the principles for which the American army stood when on foreign soil shall remain as a most potent and effective force in the conduct of affairs in the United States. In his political views Mr. Hopper has always been a democrat, voting with the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. His reli- gious faith is that of the Christian church and all who know him respect and honor him as a most progressive citizen and able attorney and one who in public office is making a splendid record by reason of his efficiency and fidelity.

SILAS WESLEY ROGERS.

One of the strongest law firms of Little Rock is that of Rogers, Barber & Henry, of which Silas Wesley Rogers is the senior member. He is yet a comparatively young man who has scarcely reached the zenith of his powers but for a number of years has been recognized as one of the forceful representatives of the Little Rock bar. Arkansas, by reason of his splendid record, is proud to number him among her native sons. He was born in Logan county, July 8, 1880, his parents being Edley Anderson and Mary (Thompson) Rogers, the former born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, August 13, 1850, while the latter was a native of Greene county, Arkansas. Her father was Thomas Thompson, a federal soldier in the Civil war. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Edley A. Rogers occurred in Greene county, Arkansas, and to them were born two sons, Sitas W. and Lee E. The latter was born in 1888, married Nola Berry and resides in Springdale, Arkansas. The mother died in July, 1889, but the father survives and is following the occupation of farming in Yell county, this state. His political endorsement has always been given to the democratic party. The Rogers family is of English extraction and was founded on American soil at an early period. The grandfather, Edley Rogers, was born, reared and married in Virginia and in early manhood removed to Tennessee, where his death occurred just prior to the Civil war.

Silas W. Rogers has spent his entire life in this state. He pursued his early education in the public schools of Havana and of Belleville, Arkansas, and then went to Nashville, Tennessee, where he entered the Peabody College, from which he was graduated in 1904 with the degree of L. I. He subsequently entered George Wash- ington University at Washington, D. C., and won his B. A. degree in 1910. In prepara- tion for a professional career he became a law student in the University of Arkansas and was graduated in 1906 with the LL. B. degree. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession at Danville, Arkansas, and in 1908 he went to the national capital, where for four years he was connected with the adjutant general's office, there serving until 1912. With his return to his native state he took up his abode in Conway. Arkansas, and was deputy prosecuting attorney for Faulkner county in 1914. In 1915 he came to Little Rock and in 1920 was made assistant attorney general of Arkansas.

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Since coming to the capital he has been identified with the Little Rock bar. where he is now practicing as senior partner in the firm of Rogers, Barber & Henry, enjoying an extensive and important clientage. He is a member of both the State and American Bar Associations.

On the 22d of October, 1912, Mr. Rogers was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Watts Killian, who was born in Greenville, South Carolina, March 23, 1890, and is a daughter of James L. and Joella M. (Mosely) Killian, who are natives of North Caro- lina and South Carolina respectively and now reside at Little Rock. Mrs. Rogers received liberal educational opportunities and is a graduate of the Greenville Female College and also of the Fairmont Seminary at Washington, D. C. By her marriage she has become the mother of four children: Mary Joe, Silas W., Thomas Thompson and William Bevard.

Politically Mr. Rogers is a democrat, his allegiance having been given to the party continuously since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has membership in the Masonic lodge, also with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and in the Sigma Phi Epsilon, a 'college fraternity. His religious faith is indi- cated in his membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church, South, and he is serving on its official board, taking an active and helpful interest in all that pertains to the moral progress of the community and to the civic betterment of the city.

JOSEPH F. GILL, M. D.

Dr. Joseph F. Gill, a physician and surgeon practicing at Pine Bluff, with offices in the Citizens Bank building, was born at Princeton, Dallas county, Arkansas, in 1872, and is a son of William T. and Elizabeth (Purdy) Gill, both of whom were natives of Georgia. The grandparents in the paternal line came to Arkansas at a very early day, casting in their lot with the pioneer settlers and aiding in the subsequent progress and development of this part of the state. William Gill, the grandfather, served at one time as county judge and was closely associated with the legal and judicial history of the state. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. William T. Gill were seven children: J. M .; James J .; Joseph F .; B. B .; Mary, the wife of Robert Nutt; Laura, the wife of Henry Ozment; and Lorena, the wife of Edward King.

In the pursuit of his general education Dr. Gill attended the public schools and Ouachita College and taught school for nine years. He afterward became a medical student in the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, and later attended the College of Medicine of the University of Tennessee in Memphis, from which he received his professional degree in 1902. He then began practice at Princeton, Arkansas, and later removed to Des Arc, there remaining for six years before coming to Pine Bluff, where he has continued in the active practice of his profession. He has made steady progress as his efficiency has increased through experience and further study and his practice is today one of substantial proportions. He belongs to the Jefferson County Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Gill was united in marriage to Miss Mary Rogers, a daughter of William and Mary (Mosley) Rogers, and they have become parents of two children: Reba and Hugh F. Dr. Gill served in the legislature from Dallas county in the sessions of 1899 and 1901. He was a member of the examining board during the World war. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Ancient Order of United Workmen and his religious faith is that of the Baptist church. His interest centers in those channels through which flows the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number and he supports all those forces which make for public progress and improvement.

JOHN FRANKLIN OLIVER.

John Franklin Oliver, sheriff of Calhoun county, with residence at Hampton, is a veteran of the World war. He was born in this county, four miles north of Hampton, on the 23d of March, 1888. On both paternal and maternal sides he is descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry, the paternal ancestors coming to America prior to the Revolu- tionary war. A number of them participated in that war and Grandfather Jeptha Oliver served in the Civil war as a private in the cavalry under General Price. The ma- ternal grandfather, J. H. Means, was likewise in active service during the Civil war,

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and for a period of twenty years following was county and circuit clerk of Calhoun county. An uncle on the maternal side, T. N. Means, was county and circuit clerk of Calhoun county from 1894 to 1900. The father of John Franklin Oliver, whose name initiates this review, is G. W. Oliver. He was born and reared in this state, his parents having come from Alabama to a point near Hampton, in 1849, being among the pioneer settlers. In early life he engaged in farming and he has been living on the farm near Hampton since 1872. Mr. Oliver has become one of the well-to-do agriculturists in this section of the county, is seventy years of age, and is a well heloved and highly respected citizen. In February, 1871, occurred the marriage of Mr. Oliver to Miss Catherine Eliza Means, who like her husband, is enjoying good health at the age of seventy years. She was born and reared in Calhoun county, her parents having likewise come to this state from Alabama in 1849. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver ten chil- dren have been born, six boys and four girls, John Franklin being the ninth in order of birth. Seven of the children are living.

Upon attaining school age John Franklin Oliver attended the common schools of Calhoun county and in due time became a student in the high school at Wood- herry. After putting his textbooks aside he taught in Calhoun county for eight years, for the greater part of the time near Hampton. In 1920, having been engaged in educational work form 1909 to 1919, inclusive, he gave up teaching to accept the office of sheriff of Calhoun county. Previous to this election he had served as deputy sheriff, in 1910, under B. M. Beggers and again in that capacity in 1915, under J. M. Jones. In addition to his official interests Mr. Oliver has extensive farming interests in Calhoun county, owning ahout four hundred and fifty acres of valuable land here, two hundred and fifty acres of which are now under cultivation.

The religious faith of Mr. Oliver is that of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and fraternally he is identified with the Columbia Woodmen. During the World war he was in active service overseas for ten months as a private in Company K, Thirty- eighth Infantry, Third Division, and he received his honorable discharge at Camp Pike on the 27th of August, 1919. Believing every public office to be a public trust, Mr. Oliver carries out to the best of his ability the duties devolving upon him as sheriff of Calhoun county and he has won the confidence and faith of his fellowmen. He is never too busy to give his aid to the furtherance of any movement for the development and improvement of the community and he has won an enviable place among the public-spirited citizens of Hampton.

F. S. ROOT.

F. S. Root, superintendent of the city schools of Fayetteville and recognized as one of the able educators of Arkansas, identified with the public school system of the state, was born in Hamilton county, Iowa, in June, 1868, and is a son of M. L. and Elizabeth (Adams) Root. The father was born in the state of New York, while the mother's birth occurred in Illinois and they were married in Iowa. M. L. Root removed from the Empire state to Illinois in early life and afterward became a resident of Missouri. He entered the Union army from St. Louis following the ontbreak of the Civil war, joining the northern forces at a very early period and serving until after the cessation of hostilities. He was with Sherman on the cele- brated march from Atlanta to the sea and he fought against his brothers in the battle of Pea Ridge, one of his brothers being killed on the battle field there, while the other was severely wounded. Throughout his entire life M. L. Root has engaged in farming and in 1893 he removed to Washington county, Arkansas, where he purchased land and still makes his home, having in the meantime brought his fields under a high state of cultivation. His wife died in 1891. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, always loyal to its high teachings. In his fra- ternal relations M. L. Root is a Mason and his political belief is that of the demo- cratic party. To him and his wife were born four children.

F. S. Root, the second in order of birth in this family, was educated in High- land Park College at Des Moines, Iowa, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1892. He afterward located on a farm in Washington county, Arkansas, and there carried on general agricultural pursuits for three years. Subsequently he farmed and taught in a rural school and in 1899 he became identified with the city schools and has since successfully taught in Fayetteville. His ability is widely recognized and won him promotion to the position of superintendent in 1906. Since that year he has continuously served as superintendent of the Fayetteville schools, which are renowned for their excellence and worth. The methods of instruction are thorough and practical and steady progress is being made, owing to the many

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improvements that Mr. Root has introduced into the schools. The city has seven excellent school buildings, all under his supervision, and there is an enrollment of eighteen hundred pupils.

In 1898 Mr. Root was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Mooring, a native of Tennessee, and they became parents of two sons, Harold and Duke, both of whom are third-year students in the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. The wife and mother died in 1904 and her demise was the occasion of deep and widespread regret not only to her immediate family but also to many friends.

Mr. Root is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church and he belongs also to the Knights of Pythias lodge, in which he has passed through all of the chairs and has been representative to the Grand Lodge. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party, but he has never sought nor desired office outside the strict path of his profession, devoting his entire attention to his school duties. He was active in war work, however, and was one of the speakers in connection with the task of informing the public concerning the real issues of the war and existing conditions. He also served as county chairman of the Red Cross and was chairman in connection with some of the bond drives.

JOHN D. DEBOIS.

John D. DeBois, attorney at law of Searcy, was born in Henry county, Tennessee, September 25, 1848, his parents being John and Mary C. (Guinn) DeBois. The father was a native of Virginia, while the mother was born in North Carolina and the grand- father, Louis DeBois, was also a native of the Old Dominion. The grandfather in the maternal line was Duke A. Guinn, a native of Virginia and a planter, who owned an extensive tract of land in Rockingham county, North Carolina, his plantation being situated on the Dan river. He was also a slaveholder and with the aid of his negroes carefully cultivated and developed his place. In 1836 he sold the farm for thirty thou- sand dollars and emigrated with his family and his slaves to Henry county, Tennessee, where he purchased twelve hundred acres of land on the middle fork of Obion river, eight miles west of the city of Paris. He cleared this and placed three hundred acres under cultivation, devoting the tract to general farming. He also constructed a water mill on his premises and did an extensive milling business, using handmade machinery. He frequently sent a barge loaded with his products to market in New Orleans. He married Susana Bostick, who was a native of North Carolina and who died in early womanhood. His death occurred in 1857, when he was sixty-three years of age. He had served as justice of the peace in Tennessee and he always gave his political alle- giance to the democratic party, while his religions faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church, South.

In young manhood John DeBois, the father, removed from Virginia to Henry county, Tennessee. He was reared by an aunt in Ohio, for his father died when he was quite young. He was bound out and served an apprenticeship to the saddlery and harnessmaking trade, thoroughly learning the business in that connection. After- ward he removed to Paris, Tennessee, where he opened a harness and saddle shop, which he conducted for a time and then sold, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of farm land in Henry county. This was originally covered with timber and he cleared thirty-five acres, which he brought under a high state of cultivation. He departed this life in 1851, at the age of thirty-two years, his birth having occurred in 1819. His widow afterward hecame the wife of John M. Kirkwood, who followed farming in Henry county, Tennessee, and who departed this life at the age of seventy-four years. Mrs. Kirkwood died at the age of sixty-three years, her hirth having occurred in 1823. By her first marriage she had two children: William, who died in infancy; and John D., of this review. By her second marriage her children were: James A. Kirkwood, who is engaged in the produce and commission business in New Orleans, Louisiana; and Mary, who died at the age of nineteen years.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 125

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