Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 127

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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In 1892 Mr. Rosenbaum was elected grand commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Arkansas. He has been equally well known through his asso- ciation with the Scottish Rite bodies. He devoted much time to securing the beautiful Albert Pike Consistory building on Eighth and Scott streets in Little Rock.

As president of the board of trustees, he now is actively engaged completing ar- rangements for the erection of what will undoubtedly be the most magnificent structure devoted exclusively to Freemasonry anywhere in the great southwest. This great building will cover a frontage of three hundred feet on Scott street, the entire length of the block from Seventh to Eighth street, and in depth to the alley one hundred and forty feet. A portion of the present Albert Pike Consistory will be saved and utilized in the creation of the new structure, which, when completed, will be dedicated as Albert Pike Memorial Temple. Before this book goes to press work will have been

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commenced on the new structure, which will he about two years in the building, and involve an expenditure of nearly one million and a half dollars.

Mr. Rosenbaum was elected an active member of the Supreme Council of Scot- tish Rite Masonry for the southern jurisdiction (which is the mother supreme council of the world), in October, 1901, and October, 1914, he was elected Lieutenant Grand Com- mander of the Supreme Council, which office he now holds. In October, 1911, he was made one of the committee to superintend the construction of The House of the Temple of the Scottish Rite, which was dedicated on October 18, 1915, in Washington, D. C., and is the finest Masonic building in the world. He was at once made chairman of the committee and so continued until the building was completed. As an active thirty-third degree Mason his name is today known in Masonic circles throughout the country, his entire life heing an exposition of the high principles and purposes upon which the order is based. Kindly and generous, a man of the broadest humani- tarian principles, he is continually extending a helping hand wherever aid is needed and he has found that bread upon the water cast will return to us at last, for while his generosity may not have its compensation in a pecuniary way it has come back to him in the high regard and respect of all who know him. Abraham Lincoln said, "There is something better than making a living-making a life," and the principle embodied in this seems to have been the guiding spirit in the record of Charles E. Rosenbaum, honored citizen of Little Rock.

JOE T. McKIMMEY.

A prominent member of the Arkansas bar and a veteran of the World war is Joe T. McKimmey, who is now residing in Eureka Springs. He is numbered among the native sons of this state, for his birth occurred in Carroll county, on the 8th of July. 1886, a son of Wilson H. and Malinda (Sayler) McKimmey. The paternal grandfather, William McKimmey, was born in South Carolina and removed to Indiana at an early age. He was a minister of the Quaker faith and a well educated man for his day. Henry Sayler, the maternal grandfather, was born in Ohio, and he likewise moved to Indiana, where he resided until his death. Wilson H. McKimmey was born in Henry county, Indiana, in which state his marriage to Miss Malinda Sayler was celebrated in 1866. She was a native of Preble county, Ohio. For seven years Mr. and Mrs. McKim- mey made their home in Indiana and subsequently they went to Kansas, where the father engaged in farming in Jewell county for about ten years. He achieved a sub- stantial success in that connection and remained one of the prominent agriculturists of Kansas until 1881, when he came to Arkansas. He was a resident of this state at the time of his death in 1919. Mr. McKimmey was residing in Indiana at the outbreak of the Civil war and he immediately put all personal interests aside to enlist in the Union army. He became a member of Company A, Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry and he was in active service throughout the period of the war. He participated in many of the most important engagements, among them being Pittsburg Landing, Look- out Mountain and the battle of Murfreesboro, at which latter place he was seriously wounded. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. McKimmey seven children were born, six of whom are living: Mrs. Clara Turner, a resident of Clarendon, Texas; Martin, a well known farmer and stockman of Childers, Texas; M. T., a successful agriculturist of Berry county, Missouri; M. G., assistant to the chief civil engineer of the Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad; Joe T., whose name initiates this review; and Ethel Kil- patrick, of Memphis, Texas. The family was reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. Throughout his life Mr. McKimmey was a stanch supporter of the republican party, in the interests of which he took a prominent and active part. His fraternal affiliation was with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

In the acquirement of his early education Joseph T. McKimmey attended the common schools of Eureka Springs and in due time began the study of law under C. D. James, a well known attorney of this community. Mr. McKimmey proved an apt scholar and in 1912 he was admitted to the bar. He immediately began the practice of his profession here and was soon admitted to practice before all of the courts. As a lawyer Mr. McKimmey is sound, clear-minded and well trained. No one better knows the necessity for thorough preparation and no one more industriously prepares his cases than he. The zeal with which he has devoted his energies to his profession, the careful regard evinced for the interests of his clients and an assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all the details of his cases, have brought him a large business and made him very suc- cessful in its conduct.

On the 30th of June, 1917, Mr. McKimmey answered his country's call and enlisted for service in the World war. He became a member of the medical department of the

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Third Arkansas Regiment, which afterward hecame the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Infantry, Thirty-ninth Division and he was stationed at Fort Logan H. Roots, and at Little Rock for three weeks. He was then sent to Camp Beauregard for ten months and on the 6th of August, 1918, he sailed for France. He was in active service overseas for thirteen months and returning to this country received his honorable discharge on the 18th of September, 1919. He immediately returned to Eureka Springs and resumed his practice.

Fraternally Mr. McKimmey is identified with the Masons. For two terms he has served as secretary of the blue lodge and is a Knight Templar. Since attaining his majority he has given his political allegiance to the democratic party, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good government. Although the greater part of his time has been devoted to his profession he has held public office. serving for some time as city clerk of Eureka Springs. Mr. McKimmey is one of the public-spirited citizens of this community and his aid may be counted npen in promoting any movement for the development and improvement of the general welfare.

WALTER EDWIN HIRST.

One of the alert and enterprising citizens of Prescott is Walter Edwin Hirst, post- master of this place. He was born at Cale, Nevada county, Arkansas, on the 5th of February, 1887, a son of Judge Jesse J. Hirst, for four years county judge of Nevada county. Further mention of Judge Hirst may be found in the sketch of Dr. O. G. Hirst, appearing on another page of this work.

Walter Edwin Hirst received his education in the common schools of Nevada and in due time became a student in the Tom Allen high school at Prescott. He was graduated from that school with the class of 1907 and subsequently enrolled in the Arkansas State Normal School for the term of 1912-13. Before entering the latter institution, however, Mr. Hirst worked for three years in the post office at Prescott and from 1910 to 1911 he taught school. In 1914 he accepted the position of substitute clerk in the Prescott post office and later in the same year he was advanced to the position of assistant postmaster. In December of the year 1920 he was appointed acting postmaster, upon the death of John A. Marr, postmaster at that time.

On the 27th of March, 1921, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hirst to Miss May S. Hubbard of Prescott. Mrs. Hirst is one of the prominent young matrons of this community and she is active in various societies of the Christian church, of which church she is a consistent member. Fraternally Mr. Hirst is identified with the Masons, having membership in Prescott Lodge, No. 80, A. F. & A. M .; and Prescott Chapter, No. 38, Royal Arch Masons. He is likewise a member of Nevada Lodge of the Odd Fellows. Mr. Hirst is one of the public-spirited citizens of Prescott and his aid may be counted upon in the furtherance of any movement he deems essen- tial to the development and improvement of the general welfare.

FRANK S. CANNON.

The present mayor of Crossett is Frank S. Cannon, who is serving his second term in this office. For some years he was chief accountant of the Crossett Lumber Company, but since 1918, when his health was affected, due to nervous breakdown. caused by the flu and hard work, he has not been actively engaged in the business. However, he has given assistance to the company from time to time in such capacity as his health will allow.

Mr. Cannon is a native of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred at Boscobel on the 23d of January, 1867. His father, George W., was for many years railroad accountant for various eastern roads. His death occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1914, when but sixty-five years of age. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted for service in the Union army from Wisconsin, and had charge of the quartermaster depart- ment. Mr. Cannon was married near Boscobel, Wisconsin, in 1865. He has eight children, four hoys and four girls. Frank S., whose name initiates this review, is the eldest child.

In the acquirement of an education Frank S. Cannon attended the common schools of Denver, Indiana, receiving the equivalent of a grammar school education, and at the age of seventeen years he put his textbooks aside and went to San Francisco, California, where he accepted a position with the Trancontinental Association as office clerk. He remained in that connection for fourteen months, when he went to Salt

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Lake City, Utah, and for one year worked as railroad clerk in the auditing department of the Union Pacific Railroad. At the termination of that time he went to Omaha, Nebraska, and was in the freight anditor's office of the Union Pacific for some time. From the years 1884 to 1902 he was employed for that road at various places in Omaha, Idaho, and in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Denver, Colorado, and when leaving the service in 1902, he had for eight years had charge of the government freight accounts. He came to Crossett in 1902, and associated with the Crossett Lumber Company, working in various capacities. For some time he was timekeeper in the commissary department, was cashier of the Bank of Crossett, which institution is under the control of the lumber company, and was general accountant for the company from 1908 to 1918. Mr. Cannon is secretary of the Employer's Investment Company of Crossett, which has an authorized stock of two hundred thousand dollars fully subscribed, one hundred thousand of which is paid up. The purpose of that concern is to invest the savings of the Crossett Lumber Company's employes. Since its organization in 1914 it has successfully operated, bringing dividends to the employes, amounting to thirty-five per cent cash dividends and sixty-five per cent stock dividends. Mr. Cannon has always been a public-spirited citizen and as such has heen frequently called to public office. Since 1903 he has been a member of the board of directors of the Crossett schools, has been a member of the city council for about eighteen years and at the present time is serving as mayor. Mr. Cannon is giving to Crossett a businesslike administration and con- tinued prosperity and development in the general welfare, are attending his efforts. He is now intensely interested in the rebuilding of the Ashley county courthouse at Hamburg and is acting as one of the commissioners who are putting through the project.

It was on the 4th of October, 1892, that Mr. Cannon was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Guathmey, a daughter of George Guathmey, the ceremony being performed at Glenwood, lowa, where the Guathmeys are prominent and respected citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Cannon have three children: Homer, twenty-seven years of age, who married Miss Nell Norwine of Bonne Terre, Missouri, and is assistant bookkeeper of the Crossett Lumber Company; Harry, who married Miss Marie Hoy of Wilmot, this state, and is clerk in the office of the Crossett Lumber Company; and Ruth, eleven years of age, who is attending school at Crossett.

The religious faith of the family tends toward that of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally Mr. Cannon is identified with the Masons, holding membership in Crossett Lodge, No. 576, A. F. & A. M .; Crossett Chapter, No. 123, Royal Arch Masons; and the Commandery. He was secretary of the Royal Arch Chapter of Crossett for eight years and is now high priest of the chapter. He is past worshipful master of the A. F. & A. M. lodge here. Mr. Cannon also holds membership in the Order of the Eastern Star, No. 303, and the Modern Woodmen of America. During the World war he gave generously of his time and money in the furtherance of the government's interests and throughout the period he served on the Liberty Loan committee and various other committees. He is justly accorded a place among the prominent and representative citizens of Crossett. for he belongs to that class of men whose enterprising spirit is used not alone for their own benefit, but also to advance the general good and to promote public prosperity.

JOHN W. GRESHAM.

John W. Gresham, serving his third term as circuit clerk of Dallas county, is one of the prominent citizens of Fordyce. He was born here on the 21st of March, 1882, a son of J. B. and Mary E. (Nutt) Gresham. The paternal grandfather, William H. Gresham, enlisted for service in the Civil war soon after its outbreak but his death occurred a short time afterward, the result of poor food and exposure. J. B. Gresham came to this state from Alabama in 1860 and located near Fordyce, where he has since engaged in farming. He is one of the well known agriculturists of the community and has achieved more than gratifying success in that connection. He is now sixty-five years of age. In 1881, at Fordyce, Mr. Gresham was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Nutt, who is now sixty years of age. She was horn near Fordyce and reared and educated here. One child was born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gresham, John W., whose name initiates this review.

John W. Gresham received his education in the country schools in Dallas county and later attended the Clary Training School at Fordyce. He likewise took a business course in Little Rock and after putting his textbooks aside was for three years book- keeper for Amis & Harris, a large mercantile firm here. In 1908 he became deputy clerk of Dallas county and served in that capacity until February, 1911, when he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of principal, in which position he was active until

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1912. From 1912 to 1916 he served as deputy sheriff and in the latter year was elected circuit clerk. He is now serving his third term in that office.

On the 13th of November, 1904, occurred the marriage of Mr. Gresham to Miss Annie Louise Russell, a daughter of J. C. and Elizabeth (Dunn) Russell of Fordyce. To their union three children have been born: Mildred Maxine, sixteen years of age, is now a student in the Fordyce high school; James William, fourteen years of age, is like- wise a student in the local high school; and Johnnie Elizabeth, ten years of age, is attending the grammar schools.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Baptist church and for some time Mr. Gresham has been a member of the finance committee. He is also president of the Baraca class. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, the Woodmen of the World and The Maccabees, taking a prominent and active part in the affairs of those organizations. During the World war Mr. Gresham was secretary of the local exemption board, his duties in that connection occupying a considerable portion of his time, and he was active in all Liberty Loan and Red Cross drives. He ranks today among the · most respected citizens of Fordyce and proving himself a most faithful custodian of the public welfare, his reelection to the office of county clerk has come to him as the expression of public faith and confidence on the part of his fellow townsmen.

REV. PLACIDUS OECHSLE.

Rev. Placidus Oechsle, pastor of the church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Altus, is prominently known not only as a representative of the Catholic clergy but as an artist and architect, for he planned and designed the church, of which he is now priest and also executed many of the fine interior decorations and mural paintings. He was born in Baden, Germany, June 25, 1869, a son of Anselm and Amelia (Myer) Oechsle, who were also natives of Germany, where they spent their lives. The grandfather, Marcus Oechsle, belonged to an old Swiss family, whose people were active in establishing the Swiss republic and who had on their coat of arms the head of a red bull with a ring in its nose and a white star on its forehead. The family has been represented in Switzer- land for more than six hundred years. The grandfather of Placidus Oechsle removed. however, to Germany and it was there that Anselm Oechsle had spent his life, following the business of shoemaking. To him and his wife were born five children, three of whom are living, two being residents of Switzerland. Anselm Oechsle had three brothers in the United States: Joseph, deceased; Theobald, who died in Philadelphia; and Charles, who was killed while serving in the Union army during the Civil war.

Father Oechsle spent the period of his boyhood in Germany and Switzerland, where he pursued his education and afterward came to the new world, continuing his studies at New Subiaco, Arkansas. He was ordained to the priesthood on the 3rd of May, 1896, and was afterward assigned to the pastorate at the church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Altus, where he has remained. He had formerly taught in the college at Subiaco and in February, 1897, he came to Altus, somewhat broken in health from his study in the abbey. The change benefited him and after two years he was appointed pastor. Here he began the labor of building a church, of which he is the architect. In May, 1901, the corner stone was laid and he also acted as superintendent of the work of construc- tion. The church was built of hard limestone, taken from the mountain side on property owned by the congregation. Some skilled mechanics had necessarily to be employed for the dressing and setting of the blocks, but there were four thousand days of free labor given by the members of the parish. In the interior the rock surfaces were polished to permit the painting of Biblical and other scenes. The church was completed at a cost of twenty-seven thousand dollars. After this was accomplished Father Oechsle, who is an artist of considerable ability, undertook the task of decorating the church and sent to Europe for a friend of his boyhood who was a skilled decorator. Father Oechsle assisted in the work from the beginning and today the church is adorned with many beautiful Biblical and other holy scenes, in which on more than one occasion portraits of members of the parish were introduced. Writing of this church one of the St. Louis papers said: "Probably the most startling phase of Father Oechsle's decorative plan was outlined in the preliminary sketches for the scenes that were to beautify the walls and panels over the three altars and the organ loft. These included the faces and figures in Biblical and other holy scenes. Another idea of Father Oechsle was to get the American flag in one of the holiest of the groups. This was painted in the large panel over the Blessed Virgin's altar and in the same group is a representation of the church on the Arkansas mountain. Standing on either side of the church are figures paying homage to the Mother of Christ, who is holding the Infant Savior in her arms. The face of the late Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria-Hungary represents the kingly wor-

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ship, while the red, white and blue are there to show the devotion of the people of a democratic form of government. Pope Benedict is also in front, standing next to the Rt. Rev. John B. Morris, Bishop of Little Rock; Abbot Ignatius of New Subiaco and lastly Father Oechsle himself, kneeling at the door of the church addressing his petition to the patroness of the congregation. This picture was done by the artist Fuchs in the pre-war days, and he insisted on placing the pastor's picture there in order to complete the group. In one of the largest groups of figures illustrating the appearance of Christ in Jerusalem among the learned men when His mother feared that He was lost, taken from the second chapter of Luke, the pastor paid a pretty compliment to Joseph M. Duerr, organist and teacher for more than twenty years. He it was who organized the school work and took charge of all the music and choir, and the pastor placed him in the foreground, holding a scroll in his hand, while he intently watches the Child Jesus in the center of the painting. Christ scourging the money changers from the temple, as narrated in St. Matthew, is represented in a panel scene nine by five and one-half feet and is an adaptation of one of Schumacher's Munich decorations. In this large scene, with its many figures the artist who came over from Wuertemberg, Germany, to cooperate ' with his old friend in the decorative work, is plainly shown with his brushes and paints prepared to make a hasty exit with the others. Fuchs, who has been in this country since the work began, is soon to return to his native land to claim the bride who has heen awaiting his coming, and when they are married they propose to come here and make America their permanent home. The altars, like the organ in the church at Altus, are only temporary. Later the black walnut will give way to marble, and the small organ will probably he replaced with a pipe instrument that will he in keeping with the richness of the other furnishings. The paintings on either side of the main altar are four by ten feet and represent the Sacrifice of Melchizedek and the Sacrifice of Isaac. Above the altar the Virgin is shown as the lily among thorns. These paintings are on a gold mosaic background which gives them a very rich and soft tint. The lettering on the frieze contains the 'Sanctus.' On the north side of the church there are medallions on gold mosaic representing Sts. Agatha, Gertrude, Elisabeth, Rose of Lima, Gregory the Great, Boniface, Henry and Placidus. On the opposite side are paintings of other saints. In other scenes there are portraits of Pope Leo XIII, during whose pontificate the church was planned; Abbot Ignatius Conrad of the Benedictine Order and Bishop Morris of Little Rock. People who have visited many churches and studied the decora- tions say that there are few places where there is such a colorful display as can be seen in the stone church of Altus. When the sun streams through the thick stained- glass windows, thus softening its glare, the effect is particularly impressive."

In addition to his work in the church Father Oechsle has a school in his parish with one hundred and thirty-eight pupils and three teachers. The work of the church is well organized in all of its departments and under his direction the parish has enjoyed steady growth.

GORDON HENSLEY CAMPBELL.

Prominent among the energetic, farsighted and successful business men of Little Rock is Gordon Hensley Campbell, who is general agent for the Aetna Insurance Company, president of the Charles F. Penzel Grocery Company and a director in many other corporations, which constitute important forces in the business development and progress of the city. Actuated by a spirit of enterprise, he has steadily advanced since making his initial step into the business world and his well balanced capacities of powers have brought him to a leading position. He is eminently a man of business sense and easily avoids mistakes and disasters that come to those who, though possessing remarkable faculties in some respect, are liable to erratic movements that result in unwarranted risks and failures. He has always heen possessed of sufficient courage to venture where favoring opportunity is presented and his judgment and even-faithed energy have carried him forward to the goal of prosperity. Moreover, at the same time he has always been cognizant of his duties and obligations to his fellowmen and to the public at large and has been a contributing factor to the development of many projects of great and general worth.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 127

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