Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 131

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 131

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).

828

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

way was the first man elected governor of Arkansas and filled the position for a term of four years, ending in 1840. An excellent likeness of Governor Conway painted by William Byrd hangs in the state capitol.

On the 21st of December, 1826, Governor James S. Conway was married to Miss Mary Jane Bradley of Long Prairie, Lafayette county. They became the parents of a son, Frederick Elias Conway of Little Rock, who for many years was state land commissioner and connected with the state land office. The death of Governor Conway occurred at Walnut Hills, Lafayette county, May 3, 1855, when he was in the fifty- ninth year of his age. Frederick Elias Conway married Alice J. Curran, who was born in Little Rock, a daughter of James Moore Curran, a prominent pioneer attorney of the capital city. The great-grandfather of James C. Conway in the maternal line was William Savin Fulton, who was one of the early territorial governors of Arkansas and the first United States senator following the admission of the state into the Union. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick E. Conway became the parents of three sons and two daughters, of whom two sons and a daughter are living, the latter being the wife of Albert Ernest White of St. Louis, Missouri.

James C. Conway was the fourth in order of birth in this family, and as pre- viously indicated is a representative of several of the oldest and most prominent families of the southwest. His father remained in office in Arkansas for a number of years and died in July, 1920. James C. Conway was a pupil in the public schools of Little Rock and throughout practically his entire business career has been identified with banking. In order to qualify himself further for his chosen life work he attended the American Institute of Banking, from which he was graduated in 1915. Steadily he has worked his way upward and is now the secretary of the Southern Trust Com- pany, in which connection he displays marked business ability, keen sagacity and notable enterprise. The business of the Southern Trust Company is conducted along most progressive lines and the results achieved are thoroughly gratifying.

Mr. Conway's interests, moreover, are of a most varied nature and in a large measure touch the general interest of society. His religious faith is indicated in his membership in Christ Episcopal church, in which he has served as vestryman. Polit- ically he is an earnest democrat. He served as a first lieutenant in the Chemical Warfare Service, the Gas and Flame Division of the United States army, during the late World war. Fraternally he is both an Elk and a Mason. He is treasurer of the Little Rock Boys Club, and the Little Rock Rotary Club and is a member of the Little Rock Country Club and of The Town Club. He is now serving on the board of governors of the Little Rock Board of Commerce and he takes a most interested and helpful part in the plans and purposes of that organization for the city's upbuilding. He has been particularly active in organizations looking to the welfare and the training of boys and has labored most earnestly and effectively in boys club work. He is now serving as the state chairman of the Military Training Camps Association in Arkansas and is a member of the Melchior M. Eberts Post of the American Legion, of which he has acted as treasurer.

M. A. STRATTON.

M. A. Stratton, engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business in Mena, has made his home in this city since 1899 and is now conducting his interests under the name of the Kelly Stratton Company, theirs being one of the largest insurance agencies in western Arkansas and the oldest company of the kind in the county. They also handle real estate and loans and their business in all departments is a gratifying one. Mr. Stratton was born in Windsor, Missouri, December 16, 1871, and is a son of George B. and Ruth Ellen (League) Stratton. The father was born in Towanda, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 12, 1837, and was a son of Hiram Stratton, also a native of the Keystone state and of Scotch lineage. He removed to Missouri prior to the Civil war. The grandfather in the maternal line was William J. League, a pioneer of Indiana, who afterward removed to Missouri but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, his death occurring in that state soon after his arrival there. His daughter, Ruth Ellen, was born in Kokomo, Indiana, October 8, 1849. In Windsor, Missouri, she became the wife of George B. Stratton, who had removed to that state soon after the Civil war, in which he had served for three and a half years as a soldier of the Union army. He was wounded at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas, and was captured by General Shaver, after which he was sent to a southern prison in Texas. When the war was over he returned to Missouri, where he owned a farm and in the conduct of his business affairs he won a substantial measure of success. His political allegiance was always given to the republican party and he was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife died October 18,

829

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

1881, while his death occurred on the 5th of April, 1919. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are living: Meda, the eldest, who after the mother's death acted as her father's housekeeper and reared the family, is now living with her brother, M. A. Stratton, who is the second in order of birth; W. J., who was a partner in the Kelly Stratton Company, died at Mena, December 16, 1917; the youngest of the family is Myrtle E., now the wife of L. B. Gray and the owner of the old homestead farm in Missouri, which she and her husband occupy.

M. A. Stratton pursued his education in the public schools near his father's farm and for one year was a student in the Clinton (Mo.) Academy, while for a similar period he attended the State University of Missouri at Columbia. In young man- hood he taught school for two years and then filled the office of county clerk in Benton county, Missouri, for a period of four years. In 1899 he came to Mena, where he was one of the organizers of the Kelly Stratton Company and through the intervening period they have engaged extensively and successfully in the real estate, loan and insurance business, having developed one of the most extensive insurance agencies in the western part of this state and also one of the oldest. Their clients are numerous and their business has steadily increased as the years have gone by, success in sub- stantial measure crowning their labors. In addition to his other interests Mr. Stratton is president of the Farmers' & Merchants' Bank and has been identified therewith for fifteen years, filling the office of president for the past five years. He also owns con- siderable real estate in Mena and Polk counties, but devotes the major part of his attention to the business of the Kelly Stratton Company, which handles fire, cyclone, casualty, plate glass and all allied insurance hut not life insurance. He also conducts an extensive real estate business in his locality, handling property only in this part of the state.

On the 2d of September, 1904, Mr. Stratton was married to Miss Lida Kelly, who was born in Windsor, Missouri, a daughter of J. S. Kelly, a native of Arcadia, Missouri, who was for a number of years a merchant of Windsor. In 1899 he came to Mena, Arkansas, and entered the Kelly Stratton Company as senior partner, remaining in the firm until his death, which occurred on the 1st of July, 1921. He was very active and prosperity in gratifying measure came to him. He had reached the age of eighty years when called to his final rest.

Mr. and Mrs. Stratton are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is connected with the Elks Lodge, No. 781. He served as its secre- tary immediately following its organization and was No. 5 on the list of charter members. In politics he has always been a stalwart advocate of republican principles and was election commissioner for twelve years. He participated in various bond and other drives during the World war, was active in Red Cross work and did every- thing in his power to uphold the interests of the government. Step by step he had advanced in his business career, making his efforts count for the utmost in the attain- ment of honorable and legitimate success and is today one of the wealthiest men of the county, and the most envious cannot grudge him his prosperity so honorably has it been won and so worthily used.

FRED BENNETT.

Fred Bennett, civil engineer, practicing his profession at Pine Bluff and through- out the state of Arkansas, was born August 6, 1886, at Benton, Arkansas, a son of W. H. and Victoria (Moore) Bennett. The father was engaged in manufacturing. He removed to this state from Georgia and his wife was also a native of Georgia. In their family were eight children.

Liberal educational advantages were accorded the sons and the daughters of this household and Fred Bennett pursued his advanced studies at the University of Arkansas, receiving his degree in civil engineering with the class of 1911. He then entered upon his professional career at San Antonio, Texas, where he was engaged in highway construction, specializing in highway and municipal work. He served as county high- way engineer there, expending more than one million, three hundred and twenty thou- sand dollars on municipal improvements during his term of office. In 1918 he came to Pine Bluff and has since specialized in highway work in this state. His contracts have been of au important character and his labors have found tangible expression in the building of important highways in Cleveland, Nevada, Lonoke and Lincoln counties. He has also had contracts for street paving improvements in Pine Bluff to the amount of two hundred thousand dollars and he installed the drainage system on Governor Frank Lowden's plantation in Arkansas. In fact, he has executed many important contracts through the southwest and is regarded as one of the most efficient

830

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

civil engineers of this part of the country. During the World war he was engaged in construction work at Camp Pike.

Mr. Bennett was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Wade of Fayetteville, Arkansas, a daughter of H. King Wade, and they have become parents of three children: King Wade; and Mary Jane and Nancy Bibb twins. The religious faith of the family is that of the Baptist church and Mr. Bennett is one of the teachers in the Sunday school and a deacon in his church, taking active and helpful part in all branches of the church work and doing everything in his power to advance the moral development of the community along the lines of Christian teachings. Professionally he has won a place of distinction and his high standing is indicated in the fact that he has been admitted to membership in the American Society of Engineers and the American Association of Civil Engineers.

WILLIAM WALDEN SHEPHERD.

William Walden Shepherd, attorney at law, who since 1915 has actively engaged in practice at the Arkansas bar, with offices in Little Rock, was born in Flora, Illinois, October 8, 1890. His parents, the Rev. George W. and Louie (Gilpin) Shepherd, are still residents of Illinois, now making their home in Atwood. The father was born in Breathitt county, Kentucky, December 25, 1854, and for many years resided in the county of his nativity. He became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and accord- ing to the itinerant custom then practiced by the church was located at various places while preaching the gospel. He was married in Sumner, Illinois, to Miss Louie Gilpin, who was born in Dayton, Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1860. They now reside at At- wood, Mr. Shepherd having retired from the active work of the ministry. Their family numbers a daughter and two sons: Lucia May, the wife of Daniel D. O'Connell, of Little Rock; William W .; and George W., also of Little Rock. Mrs. Shepherd is a daughter of Delos Gilpin, who belonged to one of the old families of Ohio and who served in the Union army during the Civil war.

Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, William Walden Shepherd attended the public schools of Alton, Illinois, and afterward was graduated from the Missouri Valley College at Marshall, Missouri, with the class of 1907. A review of the broad field of business, with its limitless opportunities along commercial, industrial and professional lines, at length determined him to devote his attention to the practice of law, believing that he would find the profession a congenial one. Accordingly he entered upon active preparation for the bar and was graduated from the law depart- ment of the University of Arkansas with the degree of LL. B. in 1915. Through the intervening period he has devoted his attention to his professional interests and in a calling where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit and ability he has made steady progress. On the 5th of May, 1920, he was appointed by Governor C. H. Brough to the position of judge of the second division of the municipal court of Little Rock, but this office was aholished on the 5th of April, 1921. He is now concen- trating his efforts and attention upou his professional duties and has displayed con- stantly developing power in the handling of intricate and involved legal problems.

On the 10th of July, 1910, in Little Rock, Mr. Shepherd was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Burnelle Babcock, who was born in Little Rock, August 10, 1890, and is a graduate of the high school of this city. She is a daughter of William F. and Bernie (Smade) Babcock, the father now deceased. The mother is a well known writer of Little Rock. To Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd has been born a daughter, Barbara Burnelle, whose birth occurred September 20, 1911.

Politically Mr. Shepherd is a democrat, having loyally advocated the principles sponsored by the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He be- longs to the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and he is a thirty-second degree Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine, loyally following the teachings and high purposes of the craft. In fact he is loyal to every cause which he espouses and stands as a splendid representative of Little Rock's sterling young manhood.

W. T. BLOUNT.

W. T. Blount, cashier of the Bank of Plainview and a representative business man of the city of Plainview, comes to Arkansas from Georgia, his birth having occurred in Meriwether county of the latter state on the 26th of January, 1874. He represents old families of that state, his grandfather, Wiley R. Blount, spending his

WILLIAM W. SHEPHERD

833

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

entire life there, his attention being devoted to farming. The maternal grandfather was William B. Hodnett, who was also a native of Georgia and at an early day came to Arkansas. Allen T. Blount, father of W. T. Blount, was born, reared and married in Georgia, his wife bearing the maiden name of Margaret Hodnett. In 1877 they estab- lished their home in Ouachita county, Arkansas, where Mr. Blount followed farming and later became a merchant at Stephens, carrying on business there for a number of years. They had three children, but W. T. is the only one now living. The parents were loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and Mr. Blount was an exemplary representative of Masonry, in which he attained the Royal Arch degree. He voted with the democratic party and at the time of the Civil war served for four years with the Confederate army as member of a Georgia regiment and for a few months was held as a prisoner of war.

W. T. Blount pursued his education in Hendrix College, from which he was grad- uated in 1898, and later he taught school for five years. He had also been a teacher in the country schools for several years before pursuing his college course. When he ultimately put aside educational work he turned his attention to merchandising, con- ducting a store at Rover for two years, while in 1910 he removed to Plainview. He occupied the position of cashier in the Bank of Ola for five years before becoming a resident of Plainview and in the latter city he was chosen cashier of the Bank of Plainview, which is capitalized for sixty thousand dollars and which has a surplus and undivided profits of twelve thousand dollars. It has on deposit an average of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and the bank is in a prosperous condition, the conservative methods followed in its management thoroughly safeguarding the interests of its depositors. Mr. Blount is also interested in a mercantile business in Plainview and is the owner of much land in Yell county but devotes the greater part of his attention to his banking interests. His mercantile affairs are conducted as a partner in the firm of Clement, Blount & Company.

In 1903 Mr. Blount was married to Miss Lou Norman, who was born in Rover, Arkansas, a daughter of W. P. Norman, an early settler of Yell county. They are Christian people, Mr. Blount belonging to the Methodist Episcopal church and his wife to the Baptist church. He is also a Scottish Rite Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine and is a past master of his lodge. He votes with the democratic party and while living at Ola served as mayor and was also on the school board for a number of years. His interest in public affairs has always been of a progressive type and his aid and support can be counted upon to further any measure for the general good. His is a notable record inasmuch as he came to Yell county two thousand dollars in debt and is now one of the prosperous citizens of this part of the state. The result achieved is due entirely to his perseverance, close application, determina- tion and thorough reliability and in all business affairs he has displayed sound judgment and keen sagacity, so that his opinions concerning the value of any business oppor- tunity or of any trade transaction are seldom, if ever, at fault.

WILLIAM THOMAS HAMMOCK.

William Thomas Hammock, who has been called to the important position of assistant attorney general of Arkansas and who is also known as one of the prominent Masons of the state, makes his home at Heber Springs, although his official duties require much of his time at the capital. He was born on a farm in Calhoun county, Mississippi, December 24, 1866, but the greater part of his life has been passed in this state, for his parents removed with their family to Independence county, Arkansas, in November, 1870, settling on a farm there. His father, George W. Hammock, was born in Grenada, Mississippi, February 8, 1846, and was a youth of but seventeen years when he entered the Confederate service as a member of a Mississippi regiment in the Civil war. He served from 1863 until the close of hostilities and was with Forrest's command. On the 25th of December, 1865, at Water Valley, Mississippi, Mr. Hammock wedded Mary Jane Sibley, who was born at that place in 1850. They resided for five years in their native state following their marriage and then came to Arkansas, where they still make their home. Mr. Hammock took up the occupation of farming in Cleburne county and has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits there. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party. To him and his wife have been born six sons and six daughters, of whom four daughters and three sons are living.

William T. Hammock, the eldest of the family, was reared in the usual manner of the farm bred lad, who divides his time between the acquirement of an education, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. After attending the country

Vol. II-53

834

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

schools of Independence county, Arkansas, he continued his education in Washington Academy of the same county and later was graduated from Quitman College, now Hendrix College, at Conway, Arkansas, with the class of June, 1887. It was his desire to become a member of the bar and accordingly he took up the study of law, being admitted to practice in 1893, in which year he located at Quitman, where he remained for a time and then removed to Heber Springs, where he now makes his home. Since admitted to the bar he has continuously engaged in the practice of law, covering twenty-eight years and has steadily advanced in his profession until his position is a prominent and enviable one. At different periods he has been called upon for im- portant public service and his record has always been characterized by marked loyalty and fidelity to duty. From 1888 until 1890 he was county superintendent of schools in Cleburne county, Arkansas, and the cause of public education has ever found in him a stalwart champion. He has also been secretary of the school board at Heber Springs, Arkansas. From 1899 until 1903 he was state senator from the twenty-sixth senatorial district and proved a capable working member of the upper house, carefully informing himself concerning all vital questions that came up for settlement. He was county and probate judge of Cleburne county, Arkansas, from 1914 until 1916. In 1918 he was made a delegate to the constitutional convention, where his sound judgment and knowledge of the law combined with marked fidelity to the interests of the commonwealth made him largely an ideal member. In April, 1921, he was appointed assistant attorney general of the state and is now occupying that position.

On the 1st of September, 1893, in Quitman, Arkansas, Mr. Hammock was married to Miss Margaret Henrietta Jenkins, who was born on a farm in Faulkner county, Arkansas, January 16, 1872, her parents being Samuel Dupree and Mary Elizabeth (Bates) Jenkins, both of whom were natives of Tennessee and have now departed this life. On removing from Tennessee to Arkansas they settled in Quitman, where they resided for some time, and during her girlhood days Mrs. Hammock there attended the public schools and continued her education in Quitman College. By her marriage she has become the mother of four children: Maude, born September 1, 1894; Madge, born March 4, 1899; William Dupree, born July 6, 1911; and Bruce W., born July 27, 1913.

During the World war Mr. Hammock served as chairman of the council of defense in Cleburne county and was also chairman of the home service section of the Cleburne county chapter of the American Red Cross. Aside from his activities as a state official and as a prominent factor in support of the government during the World war, he has manifested keen and helpful interest in community affairs, cooperating in many plans and measures for the general good and for some years he has served as secretary of the school board at Heber Springs. His political endorsement has always been given to the democratic party and he has been a close and thorough student of political problems and conditions. His religious faith is indicated in his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He has been the secretary of the board of stewards of the First Methodist Episcopal church, South, at Heber Springs for seven years and has been untiring in his efforts to advance the work of the church and extend its influence. He is most prominently known in Masonic circles, was worshipful master of Holland Lodge, No. 158, F. & A. M., of Quitman, is a Royal Arch Mason and in fact has filled all of the chairs in the subordinate and Grand Lodges of the state, having been grand master in 1913-14. His labors in behalf of Masonry have been far-reaching and resultant and in fact his efforts count as a potent force in the ac- complishment of results in connection with any cause which he espouses or any interest with which he becomes allied.

ECTOR RALPH JOHNSON.

Since winning the LL. B. degree in 1914 Ector Ralph Johnson has engaged in the practice of law in Little Rock and has made steady progress in a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit and ability. He has always lived in this state, his birth having occurred in Augusta, Woodruff county, April 8, 1890, his parents being Olive Lee and Cornelia (Wade) Johnson. The father was a relative of General Robert E. Lee, the famous Confederate commander. Olive Lee Johnson was born at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, February 12, 1858, and was a young man of eighteen years when in 1876 he became a resident of Augusta, Arkansas, where for many years he made his home, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits. He always voted with the democratic party and was interested in all measures pertaining to the public welfare. He died in San Antonio, Texas, March 20, 1913, at the age of about fifty-eight years. His wife was born in North Carolina, March 30, 1859. Her

835

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

death occurred in Augusta, Arkansas, on the 8th of May, 1908. By her marriage she became the mother of two sons and two daughters, but one of the sons is deceased. Ector R. Johnson, spending his youthful days in his native city, pursued his educa- tion in the public schools until graduated from the high school as a member of the class of 1908. He afterward attended the University of Arkansas for a time and eventually spent a year as a student in Harvard University at Cambridge, Massa- chusetts. This completed his more specifically literary course and later he entered upon preparation for the practice of law by matriculating in the law department of the University of Arkansas, which in 1914 conferred upon him the LL. B. degree. Seven years have passed and each year has chronicled his steady progress in his chosen profession, for each day has marked off a full-faithed attempt to know more and to grow more. Thus his power and ability has increased year by year and for some time he has enjoyed a large practice of a distinctively representative character.

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 131

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