Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 138

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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Dr. Biles was but four years of age when his mother died. He acquired his early education in the public schools of Rose Bud and took up the study of medicine in 1900 at the Memphis Hospital Medical School at Memphis, Tennessee, where he remained as a student through 1900-2. He then returned to Gregory, Arkansas, where he entered upon active practice, continuing for a year. He next became a student in the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, Kentucky, where he remained from 1902 until 1905, and later he continued his preparation for active practice in Tulane University at New Orleans, completing his course there in 1917. In the meantime he had returned to Gregory, where he practiced from 1902 until 1909 and in the latter year removed to Augusta, where he has since followed his profession. His ability is attested by the liberal practice now accorded him, his labors being attended with excellent results in the matter of checking the ravages of disease and restoring health. For about eight years he acted as city health officer at Augusta.

At Rose Bud, White county, Dr. Biles was married on the 28th of November, 1897. to Mary Emma Owens, who was born at Rose Bud, a daughter of William W. and Mattie Owen, who were natives of White county, where her father followed the occu- pation of farming until 1890. He lost his leg in 'an accident at a cotton gin and later in the same year he entered upon merchandising, in which he has continued to the present time. He is now sixty-two years of age. His wife died at the age of sixty years. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Owen were four children: Mrs. Biles; Mrs. Pearl Biles of Rose Bud, wife of E. H. Biles, a half brother of Dr. Biles: Albert, who is engaged in the grocery business at Little Rock; and Grady, now deceased.

If was in the year of their marriage that Dr. and Mrs. Biles came to Augusta. where for three years he worked in a sawmill before taking up the study of medicine. To this marriage have been born four children: Ercell McCurdy, who is deceased;

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Loyce Edwin, attending high school; Marguerite, also in school: and Owen Harris, who, is two years of age.

Dr. Biles has always voted with the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Augusta, also the Woodmen of the World, the Royal Neighbors and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His religious belief is that of the Baptist church and he loyally holds to its principles and seeks the moral progress and upbuilding of the community. The interests and activities of his life are well balanced and he enjoys the high regard and esteem of his fellow townsmen, by reason of the sterling traits of his character, as manifested in his professional and public relations.

RANSOM EMMET VICK.

Ransom Emmet Vick is the secretary and treasurer of the Speer Hardware Com- pany of Fort Smith and is thus identified with one of the important commercial interests of the city. He was born in Mississippi, in 1861, but left that state at an early age and went to Tennessee, where he attended school. He afterward pursued a course in accounting at the commercial college in Memphis, Tennessee, and subse- quently turned his attention to office work. For thirty-six years he has resided in Fort Smith, having come to this city in 1885. In 1888 he joined forces with F. T. Reynolds, who then established a wholesale grocery business, with which Mr. Vick was associated for a year. At the end of that time Mr. Foster joined Mr. Reynolds and later purchased the interest of Mr. Reynolds in the business, after .which the firm was known as J. Foster & Company. Mr. Reynolds then organized the Reynolds- Davis Grocery Company, now one of the largest wholesale grocery interests of the city. Mr. Vick, however, continued with the firm of J. Foster & Company until 1893, when he joined the Speer Hardware Company, becoming identified therewith on the 1st of January of that year. The business was incorporated at that time and Mr. Vick was made secretary and treasurer and has continued in this position. When the business was reorganized in 1893 it was capitalized for sixty thousand dollars and something of the continued growth and development of the undertaking is shown in the fact that today the capitalization is about seven hundred thousand dollars. Theirs is one of the most important mercantile interests of the city. Their trade has reached a mammoth figure and throughout the years the house has sustained an unassailable reputation for the integrity of its methods, while its progressiveness has brought it to the front as one of the foremost commercial interests of the state.

Mr. Vick was united in marriage to Miss Betty Mitchell of Tennessee, and they have become the parents of seven children, one of whom is deceased, Mrs, D. K. Tolson, who died at Enid, Oklahoma, in 1916. The others are: Mitchell, who is now traveling for the Speer Hardware Company; Emmett, who is assistant secretary of the Speer Hardware Company; Harrell, who is a traveling representative of the Fort Smith Auto Supply Company; Mrs. Burnie Harper, Mrs. Eva Yantis and Mrs. Elizabeth Parker.

Mr. Vick is a member of the Civilian Club of Fort Smith and is much interested in all that pertains to the city's welfare and improvement. He likewise belongs to the Business Men's Club and is making close study of conditions affecting trade rela- tions and the commercial development of the city. Fraternally he is a Mason, while his religious faith is that of the Christian church and in these connections are indi- cated the rules which govern his conduct and guide him in all of his connections with his fellowmen.

PARKER C. EWAN.

Opportunity has ever been a clarion call to Parker C. Ewan, banker and real estate dealer of Clarendon, who has spent his life in this city. He was born here in 1878, a' son of Parker C. and Julia ( Conner) Ewan. The father was born in Clermont county, Ohio, while his father was a native of New Jersey. It was about 1848 that Parker C. Ewan, father of the subject of this review, came to Arkansas and for many years he was engaged in the real estate business in Clarendon. He was also prominent in public office, serving as county clerk and ex officio tax collector. A veteran of the Civil war, he assisted in raising a company from Monroe county, known as the Monroe County Blues, and with his command went to the front. He was wounded in battle but recov- ered from his injuries and later became captain of his company. His son and namesake

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still has in his possession the original roll-call sheet made out by his father. Captain Ewan was captured by an Ohio regiment, a part of which was from his old home locality in Clermont county, Ohio. Among his captors were two of his brothers, James and Dick, who were serving in this Ohio regiment as defenders of the Union. In early manhood Parker C. Ewan, Sr., was married to Julia Conner, a daughter of Frank A. Conner, who came from Cokesbury, South Carolina, to Arkansas. Mr. Ewan died in the year 1901, while his wife lives with her son, P. C. Ewan.

Parker C. Ewan, their son, was educated in Hendrix College of Arkansas and in Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Tennessee. When his textbooks were put aside he became associated with his father in the real estate business, to which he later suc- ceeded and throughout the intervening period he has continued an active factor in real estate circles, negotiating many important property transfers. He is thoroughly familiar with the value and worth of all realty in this section and has assisted his clients in making many advantageous purchases and sales. Mr. Ewan is likewise well known as a representative of the banking fraternity, being the vice president of the Merchants' & Planters' Bank of Clarendon. In business affairs his judgment is sound, his discrimi- nation keen and his energy unfaltering.

In 1903 Mr. Ewan was united in marriage to Miss George Howard of Morrillton, Arkansas, and in the social circles of the city they have long occupied a prominent and enviable position. Mr. Ewan is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and fra- ternally is connected with the Masons, having attained high rank in the order, as is in- dicated by the fact that he is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Benev- olent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. His life has been charac- terized by fidelity to duty, his course heing guided by the high principles which have been inculcated through his connection with these various fraternities and the church. Those who know him-and he has a wide acquaintance-speak of him in terms of the highest regard and his friends in Clarendon and Monroe county are legion.

HON. ELBERT EUGENE GODWIN.

Hon. Elbert Eugene Godwin, state senator and assistant attorney general of Ar- kansas, makes his home in Melbourne, this state, although his official duties necessitate his spending much of his time in the capital city, his entire course being characterized by marked devotion to his public work. He is a native son of Arkansas, his birth having occurred on a farm near Ash Flat, in Sharp county, January 15, 1886. He is a member of a family of four sons and four daughters whose parents are Elijah Winchester and Margaret Isabelle (Pendergrass) Godwin. The father is also a native of Sharp county, Arkansas, born in 1858, while the mother's birth occurred in Ten- nessee in 1861. They were married in Sharp county in 1881 and became the parents of eight children, of whom three sons and three daughters are yet living, Elbert E. being the third in order of hirth. The father has always followed the occupation of farming as a life work, thus providing a good living for his family by reason of his energy and progressiveness in the work of tilling the soil. In politics he has ever been a democrat and in 1913 and 1914 represented his district in the general assembly, giving close attention to much important legislation that came before that body.

While spending his youthful days upon the home farm Elbert E. Godwin attended the country schools and in further pursuit of his education entered the high school at Ash Flat, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1904. He determined upon the practice of law as a life work and with that end in view matriculated in the Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee, where he won his LL. B. degree upon graduation in 1910. Immediately afterward he located for practice in Mel- hourne, Arkansas, where he still maintains his law office and his home. Through the intervening period of eleven years he has secured a good practice and has been most careful and successful in its conduct. Wide research and provident care mark his preparation of his cases and in no instance has his reading ever been confined to the limitations of the question at issue; it has gone beyond and compassed every contingency and provided not alone for the expected but for the unexpected, which happens in the courts quite as frequently as out of them. He also became identified with the Bank of Melbourne and for some time was its vice president, but though he has retired from official connection with the hank, he is still one of the stockholders.

On the 12th of August, 1914, was celebrated the marriage of Elbert E. Godwin and Miss Margaret Estella Cone, a native of Izard county, Arkansas, born in 1895. She is a daughter of John W. and Mary (Freeman) Cone, who lived for some time in Izard county, but both are now deceased. Her father was a native of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Godwin have become parents of three children: John, born July S,

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1915; Elijah Eugene, who was born May 27, 1917, and died January 5, 1919; and Elbert, who was born in February, 1920.

Mr. Godwin holds membership in the Baptist church and fraternally he is con- nected with both the subordinate lodge and the encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. At the time of the World war he served as chairman of the legal advisory board for Izard county, as chairman of the Council of Defense and took an active part in promoting all war movements and drives that constituted stalwart elements in holding the home lines for the support of the soldiers in camp and field. In politics he has always been a democrat and for a number of years has been chair- man of the Izard county democratic central committee. In 1916 he was elected to the state senate for the regular term of four years and while serving in that body he was identified with much important legislation, maintaining a most active and helpful interest in all the vital questions which came up for settlement. In January, 1921, he was appointed assistant attorney general of the state and is now occupying that position, his highly developed powers in the practice of law recommending him for the office which he is now capably filling.

JAMES F. HOLTZENDORFF.

James F. Holtzendorff, an attorney of Hazen, who is enjoying a good practice, in the conduct of which he shows ability in handling intricate and involved legal problems, was born in Brunswick, Georgia, in 1890, and is a son of P. B. and Agnes (Drake) Holtzendorff. Both of his grandfathers served with the Confederate forces in the Civil war, belonging to old southern families, so that their sympathies were naturally with the southland. To Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Holtzendorff have been born six children: P. W. and C. B., both of whom are attorneys at law; P. B., Jr .; Mrs. Leta Ingold, living in Greenville, South Carolina; Mrs. Agnes B. Adams, whose home is in New York city; and James F.

The last named was educated in the University of Georgia, where he completed a comprehensive literary course and in the Atlanta Law School, where he prepared for professional duties, having determined upon the practice of law as a life work. He entered upon the active work of the profession at Hazen in 1914 and here he has remained. He formed a partnership with W. H. Gregory and they continue in practice not only at Hazen but at De Valls Bluff. They have a large clientage of an important character. connecting them with much litigation heard in the courts of the district and in his preparation of cases Mr. Holtzendorff is most thorough and careful, while before the court he presents his cause with clearness and force.

Mr. Holtzendorff was joined in wedlock to Miss Anna Kocourek, a daughter of John Kocourek of Hazen, and they have become parents of three children: Agnes V., Elizabeth W. and Frances D. Fraternally Mr. Holtzendorff is a Mason and is also connected with the Modern Woodmen. He is a loyal supporter of the teachings and high purposes of these organizations and his life has been actuated by many principles which have found their expression in his devotion to the public welfare and to his loyalty to advance professional standards. During the war he was a member of the legal advisory hoard and served as director of sales in the second, third and fourth Liberty Loan drives.

ERNEST A. HORTON.

Ernest A. Horton, an architect of ability, practicing his profession in Pine Bluff. with offices in the Citizens Bank building, was born in Andrain county, Missouri, and is a son of G. B. and Lucy (Boswell) Horton. In the acquirement of his education he attended the State Teachers College at Kirksville, Missouri, and afterward took np the profession of teaching, which he followed in his native state for a number of years. In 1912 he came to Pine Bluff and accepted a position as teacher in the high school of this city, being identified with the mechanical department, in which he taught construction and designing for a period of six and a half years. During this time, under his supervision, his pupils erected an entire dwelling. designed with his help and complete in every detail, the work being done during the regular school hours. This is the only structure, so far as is known, that has been built entirely by the pupils of any school in the United States. At length Mr. Horton resigned from his position in connection with the schools to enter the building and contracting business on his own account, and as an architect and builder he has designed and erected a number of the fine residences and business structures of the city. He built the structure

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covering an entire quarter of a block at the corner of Sixth and Alabama streets and he has also erected a modern office and theatre building at El Dorado, Arkansas. Some of the finest homes in Pine Bluff stand as monuments to his skill and ability as a designer and a builder, including the homes of Dr. E. C. McMullen and J. F. McIntyre. · Mr. Horton is now devoting his entire time to the architect's profession, with offices in the Citizens Bank building and has gained a large clientele. Studying constantly along these lines for many years and with practical experience in building opera- tions, he has reached an enviable position in professional circles. The buildings which he designs combine beauty with utility and convenience with harmony in line and structure.

Mr. Horton was married in 1913 to Miss Vernie Felter of Maryville, Missouri, a daughter of J. D. and May (Gunn) Felter. They are members of the First Methodist church of Pine Bluff and are most widely and favorably known in this city. Mr. Horton is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks but has never been active as a lodge man or as a club man, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his important business and professional interests and duties.

J. T. BARLOW.

J. T. Barlow, whose widow is now a resident of Fayetteville, was born in Barren county, Kentucky, on the ,3d of August, 1851, and died on the 14th of January, 1913. His parents were J. Smith and Jane (Howard) Barlow and the father was prominent in the political affairs of the state, having served as a member of the United States senate.

J. T. Barlow was educated in the schools of Lexington, Kentucky, and his first occupation upon putting his textbooks aside was as a merchant in Louisville. He was engaged in the tobacco business in that city and successfully conducted that business until his health failed him and he went to his farm in Barren county. He resided on the farm for thirteen years and became one of the most progressive and repre- sentative agriculturists in the community. His farm was up-to-date in every particular and the home was beautiful in the simplicity of its architecture. Subsequently he removed to Franklin, there to give his children better educational advantages, and having gained a substantial competence he retired from active business life. In October, 1908, he came to Fayetteville, and was a resident of Fayetteville .at the time of his demise.

On March 9, 1875, Mr. Barlow was married to Miss Fannie Neely, a native of Franklin, Simpson county, Kentucky, and a daughter of Dr. Charles and Frances (Wil- kins) Neely. Her father was one of the representative members of the medical profession in that state and an uncle, Judge Wilkins, was likewise prominent in the state. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barlow: Hallie, the wife of Prof. B. N. Wilson, a professor in the Arkansas State University; and Sarah, now the wife of C. E. Purifoy, engaged in the lumber business in Houston, Texas. Mrs. Purifoy is an artist of great ability and received her training along that line in Nashville, Tennessee, and New York city.

Throughout his life Mr. Barlow was a consistent member of the Baptist church and his political allegiance was given to the democratic party, he having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good government. In 1908 Mr. Barlow and his wife came to Arkansas and located in Fayetteville, where she is now residing. She is very active in the affairs of the Baptist church and is head of the home depart- ment of the Sunday school, having a membership of one hundred. She has the happy faculty of winning friends and of retaining them, and her circle of acquaintances in Fayetteville is constantly broadening.

HON. FRANK HATTON DODGE.

Hon. Frank Hatton Dodge, who has represented his county in the state legislature and has long been well known as a representative of the legal profession as well as one of the lawmakers of the state, was born October 17, 1878, in Brooklyn, Poweshiek county, Iowa, but practically his entire life has been passed in Arkansas, for he was but seven years of age when the family home was established within the borders of this commonwealth. His parents were Henry L. and Lila (Haskell) Dodge. The father was a native of Dover, Stewart county, Tennessee, born January 24, 1839, while the mother's birth occurred in Burlington, lowa, January 4, 1842. They were married

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in Burlington in 1862 and became the parents of five sons and two daughters, of whom three sons and the two daughters are yet living, Frank Hatton being the sixth in order of birth. It was in 1881 that the parents left Iowa, where they had resided from the time of their marriage, and took up their abode in Beebe, Arkansas, where they remained until 1885 and then removed to Little Rock. Throughout his entire life Henry L. Dodge was a newspaper man and became part owner of the Beebe Argus, a weekly paper, with which he was thus connected to the time of his death. During the Civil war he served as a non-commissioned officer in an Iowa infantry regiment, being on duty during the last year and a half of hostilities. He departed this life in April, 1896, while his wife died in Dardanelle, Arkansas, in May, 1899.

At the usual age Frank Hatton Dodge became a public school pupil at Beebe, Arkansas, and with the removal of the family to Little Rock he continued his educa- tion in the schools of this city until graduated from the high school with the class of 1896. Some time later he entered upon preparation for the practice of law and completed a course in the law department of the University of Arkansas in 1903 with the LL. B. degree. During the intervening period he has devoted his attention to a constantly growing practice that has brought him into connection with much important work in the courts, where he is known as an effective and successful advocate by reason of his excellent presence, earnest manner, marked strength of character and wide knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence, with ability to accurately apply the law to the points in litigation.

Mr. Dodge has one child, Hendree Beach Dodge, born June 15, 1907. The military record of Frank H. Dodge covers service in the Spanish-American war as a non- commissioned officer of Company L, Second Arkansas Volunteers, with which he was on duty from May, 1898, until March, 1899, but not out of the United States. In politics he has always been a democrat, loyal in his support of the party. He affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and fraternally is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He was but three years of age when brought to Arkansas and became a resident of Little Rock when a lad of seven. Through the intervening period he has remained in the capital city and since attaining his majority his aid and cooperation have never been sought in vain in relation to projects of public importance or of plans which are looking to the benefit and upbuilding of the commonwealth.

SHEROD ARNOLD DRENNEN, M. D.

Dr. Sherod Arnold Drennen, a physician and surgeon of Stuttgart and also one of the veterans of the World war, has practically spent his life in Arkansas, his birth having occurred near Newark, in Independence county, in 1889, his parents being Morgan and Jessie (Morris) Drennen. The father was a planter of Independence county, where for many years he made his home, conducting business interests of large extent and importance. To him and his wife were born six children.

Dr. Drennen supplemented his early educational opportunities by study in the University of Arkansas, from which he was graduated in 1913. He began the practice of medicine in Newark and later removed to Batesville, Arkansas, where he continued until opening an office in Rush, this state. He remained at the latter place for two years and following America's advent into the World war he entered the army on the 9th of September, 1917, as a lieutenant in the Medical Corps. He was assigned to duty at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, Medical Officers Training Camp and later trans- ferred to the Medical Officers Hospital Train, No. 33. Later he was identified with Hospital Trains, Nos. 27 and 33. In April, 1918, he was sent overseas, being placed in command of Hospital Train, No. 63. He won promotion to a captaincy and later was advanced to the rank of major. He had command of Hospital Train, No. 63, until June, 1919, when he was transferred to the Visitors Bureau of the American Expeditionary Force, being on duty in this connection at Paris and at Tours. In charge of hospital trains, his work was of a most important and arduous character in connection with the transfer of the sick and wounded. He held to the highest possible standards in the equipment of the trains and in the service rendered to those needing professional aid and his labors were of marked value in connection with the cause.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 138

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