Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 132

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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On the 5th of December, 1912, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Marguerite Niemeyer, who was born at Little Rock, December 22, 1891, and is a graduate of the Little Rock high school. She is a daughter of George and Agnes Nieneyer, who are yet residents of the capital city. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have become parents of four children: Georgie Lee, Marguerite Caroline, Ector Ralph, Jr., and William. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and take an active and helpful interest in promoting the work which is the basis of moral development in the community. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party, but he never sought nor desired public office. Fraternally he is a Mason, and has taken the degrees of both York and Scottish Rites, becoming a Knights Templar and a Consistory Mason, while with the Nohles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert. A man of well defined purpose he has made steady progress in his chosen calling and at the same time has neglected no duty of citizenship nor any obligations to his fellowmen. He is still a young man, alert, progressive and capable and Little Rock regards him as a valuable addition to the younger representatives of the city bar.

CHARLES T. HARDING.

For many years Charles T. Harding has been numbered among the prominent and progressive citizens of Fayetteville. He is now retired from active business life, in which he earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business and won the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellowmen. He was born in Napoleon, this state, in 1859, a son of Alex and Loudema J. (McCracken) Harding. The family originated in England and the progenitor of this branch of the family in America was Abraham Harding, who located in Massachusetts in 1638. Alex Harding, who was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, on the 20th of December, 1829, and died December 20, 1876, was one of the most famous criminal lawyers in the state. He practiced in Desha county throughout his life. He brought to the profession a thor- ough training, having attended the schools in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and later studying law with well known members of the bar. He came to Arkansas in 1852 and in 1856 was united in marriage near Pine Bluff, to Miss Loudema McCracken, who came here with her parents in 1852. She was born in Athens, Alabama, and died in 1873 at the age of forty years. Seven children were born to their union, only one of whom is living, namely Charles T., whose name initiates this review. Alex Harding was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while his wife was a communicant of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Frater- nally he was a Mason and a member of the Ku Klux Klan. From the time that age conferred upon him the right of franchise he gave his support to the democratic party and when a young man he was elected to the state legislature. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war his sympathies were with the south and he served in Company G, Arkansas Cavalry, Confederate army, throughout the conflict.

Charles T. Harding received but a limited education and at the age of twelve years he put his textbooks aside to make his own way in the world. He made his initial step as clerk in a store at Pine Bluff and came to Fayetteville in 1890, where he was employed in the same capacity for some time. He was an energetic and thrifty young man, saved his money and invested in property until he owned con- siderable valuable real estate in Fayetteville. . In his business life his course was marked by continuous advancement and each forward step brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. Moreover, he never regarded any position as final but rather as the starting point for the accomplishment of still larger interests. He is now living retired and as a self-made man has won the confidence and regard of the entire community.

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In 1882 occurred the marriage of Mr. Harding to Florence Brewster, a native of Pine Bluff and a daughter of Dr. A. W. Brewster, a pioneer of that place. He was a representative member of his profession. During the Civil war he served as surgeon in the Confederate army. The Brewster family likewise originated in England and on first coming to this country located in Connecticut. Mrs. Harding's father was Arthur William Brewster, a direct descendant of Elder William Brewster, who came over in the Mayflower and was ruling elder in the church at New Plymouth. Her mother was Frances Fairfax Simpson of Fairfax, Virginia. They later removed to Arkansas, becoming pioneers of this state. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Harding: Arthur M., professor of mathematics in the University of Arkansas, where he obtained his education; Charles T., Jr., who likewise received his education at the University of Arkansas and is now in charge of the public utilities in Virginia, Minnesota; Vernon Alex, a graduate of the State University, who is now stockholder and manager of the Aerial Cabinet Company; Eugene W., who attended the university and is now an auto expert and makes his home in Muskogee; Rufus C., who graduated from the University of Arkansas and has been in the navy since the war; Horace, who has just graduated from the university; and William B., now attending the university. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he is regarded as a public-spirited man, his aid being given to all practical public projects and move- ments. Fraternally he is an Elk and a Knight of Pythias and his religious faith is that of the Episcopal church. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and was for five or six years its secretary. He is a stanch supporter of civic improvement and is closely allied with those forces which work for the progress and improvement of the community.

ERNEST DARNALL, M. D.

Dr. Ernest Darnall, a physician successfully practicing at Holly Grove and a vet- eran of the World war, having served overseas with the rank of first lieutenant, was born in Benton, Kentucky, in 1883 and was one of twelve children whose parents were Jesse and Susan (Thompson) Darnall. He pursued his early education in the pub- lic schools of his native city and after reviewing the broad field of business so as to make a choice of a life work, he decided upon the practice of medicine and became a student in the medical department of the University of Tennessee at Memphis, Tennes- see, from which he was graduated with the class of 1908. Having thus qualified for practice he located at Aubrey, Arkansas, where he entered upon his professional duties and later removed to Widener, Arkansas. With America's entrance into the World war he put aside all business cares and personal considerations in order to enlist in the Med- ical Corps of the United States army. He was commissioned a first lieutenant and was assigned to duty with the Twenty-ninth Division, with which he served in France, becoming regimental surgeon. Later he was with the Army of Occupation in Ger- many, and remained in that country until the summer of 1919, when he returned to the United States and was mustered out with the rank of first lieutenant in the month of July. It was in October of the same year that he removed to Holly Grove, where he has since been located in the practice of his profession, in which he has won grati- fying success. He successfully copes with many intricate and involved medical prob- lems and is at all times most careful in the diagnosis of his cases.

Dr. Darnall was united in marriage to Miss Sallie Williams, a daughter of Roscoe Williams, and they are parents of two interesting little children: Ernestine and Sarah. Fraternally Dr. Darnall is an Odd Fellow and his membership connections along professional lines are with the Monroe County and Arkansas State Medical Societies. He is keenly interested in all that tends to bring to man the key to the com- plex mystery which we call life and is concentrating his almost undivided attention upon his professional work, his course being characterized by a steady progress that is bringing him rapidly to the front among the ablest physicians and surgeons of Arkansas.

ANDREW MEEK MAYFIELD, M. D.

El Dorado has every reason to be proud of the splendid rank of her physicians and surgeons. Here have gathered many men of ability in this field of labor, in which number mention may be made of Dr. Andrew Meek Mayfield, a partner in the firm of Purifoy, Mayfield, McGraw & Moore, occupying a position of distinction among the representatives of the medical fraternity in southern Arkansas. Dr. Mayfield was born in Union county, this state, January 21, 1881, his parents being Hugh A. and

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Julia (Meek) Mayfield, who were also natives of the same county, the father of each having been among the pioneer settlers of this part of the state. The Mayfields were among the old families of South Carolina and the great-grandfather and great-grand- mother of Dr. Mayfield came to the United States from England, being married on ship- board while crossing the Atlantic. In the year 1894 Dr. Mayfield's mother departed this life and since that time his father has married again, his second union being with Mrs. Anna C. Lee, whom he wedded in 1896. He has always devoted his life to the occupation of farming, thus providing for the support of his family.

Dr. Mayfield pursued his education in the Junction City high school and after- ward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed in 1901. In the following year he entered the medical department of the University of Arkansas, which he at- tended for two years and then passed the required state board examination in 1903, whereby he was licensed to practice medicine in this state. He located in Upland, Arkansas, where he remained through one summer and then returned to the university. During the succeeding summer he practiced in Atlanta, Columbia county, and in the succeeding autumn resumed his studies in the State University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1906, the M. D. degree being at that time conferred upon him. Subsequent to his gradnation he opened an office in Shuler, Union county, where he remained in active practice for several years and in 1919 he came to El Dorado, where he has since been prominently identified with the interests of the medical profession. He pursued postgraduate work in the New York Postgraduate School in 1918 and also took postgraduate work in Tulane University at New Orleans in 1916 and again in 1920. In a word, he has kept pace with the onward march of the profession and is thor- oughly familiar with the most modern and progressive methods of medical and sur- gical practice. He advances his knowledge through the proceedings of the Union County Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society, the Tri-State Medical Association, the Southern Medical Association and the American Medical Association, in all of which bodies he has membership.

On the 8th day of September, 1907, Dr. Mayfield was married to Miss Ruby Jean of Atlanta, Arkansas, and they have become the parents of three sons: Hugh Jean, Charles Fred and Ross Calvin. Dr. Mayfield belongs to the Baptist church, while his wife has membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South. They are loyal to the high teachings and purposes of these two religious societies and in social circles, too, they occupy an enviable position, being readily received into those homes where true worth and intelligence are accepted as passports into good society.

JOEL N. BUNCH.

Joel N. Bunch, merchant and banker of Kingston, has achieved notable success through his own labors and well deserves the proud American title of a self-made man. He was horn near Kingston, Arkansas, April 21, 1856, and is a son of Larkin and Eliza ( Maxwell) Bunch. His grandfather. Nathaniel Bunch, was a native of Tennessee and established his home in 1841 in Madison county, Arkansas, where he purchased land that is still in possession of the family. The grandfather in the maternal line was Joel Maxwell, also a native of Tennessee, whence he removed to Illinois, where his last days were passed. His widow afterward came to Arkansas about the year 1850 and here married Alexander Nunnelley. She died at the notable age of ninety-two years. Both Larkin Bunch and Eliza Maxwell were born in Tennessee but were married in Arkansas, becoming residents of Madison county in 1841. Larkin Bunch was educated in this state and after attaining adult age purchased his father's old homestead and resided thereon until his death. He was killed in Price's raid at Ironton during the Civil war, while serving with the Confederate army. In days of peace he had devoted his attention to farming. He belonged to the Baptist church, while his wife had mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal church and in that faith departed this life in 1891. Mr. Bunch was one of the early Masons of his section of the state and he always gave his political endorsement to the democratic party. To him and his wife were born five children, of whom three are living: S. B., who resides upon and owns the farm which formerly belonged to his grandfather; Joel N .; and Larkin, a farmer of Oklahoma, where he at one time followed merchandising.

Joel N. Bunch obtained his education in the subscription schools of his native county. He was quite young when his father died and early had to provide for his own support. He worked upon the farm until 1880, when he engaged in merchandising at Kingston. He hanled the goods for his store hy wagon from Springfield, Missouri, a distance of one hundred and ten miles, and did most of his own hanling. He put forth every possible effort that would enable him to gain a start in life. He opened his store

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with a small stock of goods valued at but six hundred dollars and the little building which he occupied was of primitive construction. He increased his stock from time to time, however, and as the years passed won a substantial measure of success. As he accumulated money he invested in land and the years brought to him substantial pros- perity as the result of his enterprise, thoroughness, energy and reliability. He devotes most of his time to the store and has been prominently known as a leading merchant of this section of the state for forty-two years. However, he has extended his efforts into various other fields of activity and is now the president of the First National Bank of Huntsville and also president of the Bank of Kingston. He owns today two thousand acres of rich and valuable land and he recently sold forty-seven hundred acres. Though he started out empty-handed, he is today the heaviest taxpayer in his county and his life record should serve to encourage and inspire others, showing what may be accomplished when there is a will to dare and to do.

In February, 1875, Mr. Bunch was married to Miss M. E. Boatright, who was horn in Huntsville, a daughter of William Boatright, who engaged in blacksmithing in Hunts- ville at an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Bunch have a family of six children: Alvin B., who is engaged in business with his father; Ora B., the wife of M. B. Presley, a miller and farmer of Osage, Arkansas; Mary V., the wife of H. C. Fields, a spoke manufacturer of Kingston; William L., who is cashier of the First National Bank at Eureka Springs, Arkansas; R. C., cashier of the Bank of Kingston; and Eliza J., the wife of J. O. Floyd, who is bookkeeper in the Bank of Kingston.

Mr. Bunch is a member of the Presbyterian church and he and all of his sons are identified with the Masonic fraternity, loyally adhering to the teachings and purposes of the craft, and all are past masters of the lodge. In politics Mr. Bunch is a democrat and in 1885 he represented his district in the state legislature. He has never been neglectful of the duties of citizenship but has supported many projects for the general good. His business affairs, however, have made the greatest claim upon his time and energy and it has been through the wise use of his talents and his opportunities that he has reached the plane of prosperity which he now occupies.

GEORGE S. PAPPAS.

George S. Pappas, engaged in the restaurant business in Fort Smith, as proprietor of the Manhattan Cafe, was born in the classic old city of Athens, Greece, where the violet skies and beautiful temple ruins have enchanted the traveler for centuries. He was there educated and came to the new world when twenty years of age, hoping to enjoy bet- ter business opportunities on this side of the Atlantic. He settled first in Nashville, Ten- nessee, and later removed to St. Louis, embarking in business in both places. Con- stantly alert to wider opportunities he came to Fort Smith in 1906 and here established the Manhattan Cafe. In the intervening period he has huilt up a large patronage and now conducts a business of very gratifying proportions. He has one of the excellent cafes of the city, splendidly appointed, and he holds to the highest standards in the nature of service rendered the public. He has at times been interested in zinc and oil development and is regarded as a wide-awake, energetic business man, whose farsighted- ness and industry have brought substantial results.

Mr. Pappas is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has gained a wide acquaintance during his residence in Fort Smith and thoroughness and enterprise have brought him prominently to the front in business connections. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and in their employment has made steady progress, until his business places him among the substantial citizens of Fort Smith today.

ROBERT DEE NEWTON.

Robert Dee Newton, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce at Camden, is a man thoroughly alive to the situation of the city in regard to business opportunities and recognizes the obstacles that are to be overcome. He effaces the latter and utilizes the former and the high ideals which he holds for municipal development have their root in practical efforts. The present home of Robert Dee Newton is on the same lot on which his birth occurred July 9, 1861, his parents being Dee and Ora E. (Stone) Newton. The mother survives in the eighty-fourth year of her age and is living in the house which her father, Thomas Stone, built when she was but twelve years of age, or in

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1849. Her father came to Camden from Alabama ahout 1846 or 1847 and here followed merchandising. In 1851, while in New Orleans buying a stock of goods, he contracted the dread disease of cholera and died in the Crescent City. Dee Newton, father of Roh- ert Dee Newton, was born in Alabama in 1837 and when a youth of sixteen or seventeen years came to Camden with his mother, his father, David Newton, having previously died in Alabama. Following the removal to Camden, Dee Newton hecame a student in Davidson College of Alahama but after he had been a student there for only a few weeks three of his fellow students became engaged in a college rumpus, hreaking some of the rules of the institution. Mr. Newton was called before the board and in the trial was declared guilty and suspended. The student hody, however, rose up iu arms, knowing he was not one of the guilty persons, and they left the college in a body, thus breaking up the school. They were thoroughly indignant over the punishment accorded an innocent person and their love of justice was too strong to allow them to continue in college under such conditions. Mr. Newton returned to his home and began work. His subsequent life was devoted to merchandising and farming and for four years he acceptahly filled the office of sheriff of Ouachita county. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having served throughout the period of hostilities in the Confederate army. Upon his enlistment he was commissioned lieutenant of his company and even- tually rose to a captaincy. He died ahout 1898. He had long been a loyal follower of Masonic teachings and he was one of the prominent, influential and highly respected men of Camden.

Robert Dee Newton was educated in the public schools of his native city and in the Gordon Seminary of Union county, Arkansas. After completing his course he en- gaged in shingle manufacturing when twenty years of age and with that enterprise was successfully identified for fifteen years. He was then elected to the office of marshal when the district was a somewhat lawless region, having considerable trouble with that criminal class which frequently infects the new and growing west before law and order are thoroughly established. Mr. Newton continued in the position for six years and his name hecame a terror to evildoers. On the expiration of that period he was elected sheriff of Ouachita county, in which office he served for two terms, or four years, retiring from the position as he had entered it-with the confidence and goodwill of all law-ahiding citizens. Mr. Newton then engaged in the real estate business and in tim- ber cruising. About this time he was called to Detroit, Michigan, on a United States timber case as a witness and while there the government had him qualify as an expert timber cruiser. He continued to deal in timber lands and in timber cruising for a quarter of a century and was regarded as a prominent representative of this industry in the southwest. In 1914 he was appointed registrar of the land office for his district and filled that position for four years. In June, 1921, he was appointed secretary of the Camden Chamber of Commerce, in which important capacity he is now serving.

On the 23d of December, 1887, Mr. Newton was married to Miss Cornelia Newton of Camden, and they have become the parents of two children: Susan H. and Robert D. The latter attended Hendrix College for one year and brought home four medals as the hest all-around athlete in that period. He is now attending the Florida State Uni- versity at Gainesville, where he is pursuing a course in civil engineering. During the summer vacation of 1921 he passed the civil service examination and although hut nine- teen years of age he was made foreman over a gang of lahorers engaged on government work on the Mississippi river.

Fraternally Mr. Newton is connected with the Knights of Pythias and also with the Modern Woodmen of America and the rules that govern his life and shape his conduct in relation to his fellowmen are further indicated in the fact that he is a con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

J. E. NEIGHBORS, M. D.

Dr. J. E. Neighhors, an able physician practicing successfully in Stuttgart, was born in Garland county, Arkansas, in 1886. His father, W. L. Neighbors, is also a native of the same county and is a son of the Rev. Jeff Neighbors, who was a Baptist minister and became one of the pioneer representatives of the Baptist clergy in this state. W. L. Neighbors was reared in his native county and after attaining his majority wedded Emma Frances Eads, a daughter of Asa Eads. They hecame parents of three children, one of whom died at the age of sixteen years, the others being J. E. of this review and Mrs. C. H. Ray, also living in Stuttgart.

Dr. Neighbors acquired his early education in the public schools of Garland county and later continued his studies in Memphis, Tennessee, and in a husiness college of Little Rock. He next entered Ouachita College and there pursued his literary course,

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winning the Bachelor of Arts degree. Having determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he began preparation therefor in the University of Arkansas and re- ceived from the state institution his professional degree. He began practice at Stuttgart in 1919, and although one of the younger representatives of the profession here, he has already won a measure of success that many an older physician might well envy. He is now serving as deputy county health officer. He possesses keen sagacity and ready discrimination and these qualities are proving of great worth to him in his medical practice. He employs the latest methods of the' profession in his work and his efforts are being attended with most gratifying results.

In 1919 Dr. Neighbors was married to Miss Rnby Ward and they have one son. Eugene W. Dr. Neighbors belongs to the Masonic fraternity, of which he is a faithful follower, and he is likewise a consistent member of the Baptist church, in which he is serving as choir director. He has always been interested in music and his own talent in that connection has constituted a pleasing element in many a social and church gathering. His conscientiousness in the performance of his professional duties has been one of the strong forces in his steady progress as a physician and, more- over, he neglects no opportunity to promote his knowledge and thus advance his skill and efficiency in his work in the sick room.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 132

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