Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 142

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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W. L. MILES, M. D.

Dr. W. L. Miles, who is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in El Dorado, where he opened his office in 1917, was born in this city on the 15th of Sep- temher, 1884, and is a son of Organ A. and Ella (Lee) Miles. The father, a native of Alabama, came to El Dorado with his parents in his infancy, the grandfather being William F. Miles, who was one of the first merchants of this city. Organ A. Miles has been well known in political circles for many years and held the position of circuit and chancery clerk for several terms and otherwise filled public offices with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents.

Dr. Miles was educated in the public schools of El Dorado and in the Fordyce Training School, while in 1905 he entered the medical department of Tulane University at New Orleans and received the M. D. degree in 1909. Later he served as an interne in the Charity Hospital at New Orleans for the period of one year, thus putting his theoretical knowledge to the practical test and proving most capable in caring for the patients of the hospital. Ill health, however, prevented him from taking up practice at once and not until late in the year 1911 did he enter upon private practice, at which time he opened an office in Randolph, Louisiana, where he served as physician at the sawmill camp of the Summit Lumber Company at St. Louis, which has a very large camp at that place. In addition Dr. Miles had an extensive private practice in Ran- dolph and continued to reside there for five years. On the expiration of that period he pursued postgraduate work in Tulane University at New Orleans for eight months and in 1917 he came to El Dorado, where he opened an office and has since followed his profession. He is recognized as a man of pronounced ability because of his wide read- ing and thorough study and his success has come to him as the merited reward of his efficiency and capability. He belongs to the Union County Medical Society, to the Arkan- sas State Medical Society and to the American Medical Association.

In 1906 Dr. Miles was united in marriage to Miss Floy Murphy, a daughter of Ben N. Murphy, a farmer of Union county, and they have become parents of three children and also have an adopted child, the members of the household being: Albert B., Conlyn M., and Ella Lee, who are their own children, and Linnis McDonald, whom they are rearing. Dr. and Mrs. Miles are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and fraternally he is connected with El Dorado Lodge, No. 1129, B. P. O. E. They are people of sterling worth, interested in all that makes for prog- ress and improvement in the community and for the uplift of the individual. The sterling traits of their character have won for them the confidence and goodwill of all and the number of their friends is almost coextensive with the number of their ac- quaintances.

AFTON WHEELER.

Afton Wheeler of Huntsville, who is filling the position of county superintendent of schools in Madison county, was born July 4, 1877, at Wharton, seven and one-half miles southeast of the city in which he makes his home, his parents being G. P. and Caroline (Sisco) Wheeler, who were natives of Madison and Carroll counties, respec- tively. The Wheeler family has long been represented in Madison county, the grand- father, Anderson Wheeler, a native of Georgia, having come to this state at an early day, after which he devoted his attention to farming in Madison county. The maternal grandfather was a native of Tennessee and became one of the early residents of Carroll county. G. P. Wheeler has devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits and he and his wife occupy the old home farm at Drakes Creek. In the conduct and management of the place he has been very successful and is now most comfortably situated in life. His political faith is that of the republican party and he and his wife are consistent members of the Christian church. They have reared a family of six children: Thomas. who is a farmer at Wesley, Arkansas; Virgie, the wife of W. P. Phillips, who is living at Wagoner, Oklahoma, where he follows agricultural pursuits; Afton; Sam, who is employed by an oil company in California; Dorcas, the wife of J. R. Dotson, a farmer of Wharton's creek, Arkansas; and Vester, who is engaged in the oil business in Cali- fornia.

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Afton Wheeler obtained a common school education in Madison county and later attended the Masonic College at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, from which he was graduated with the class of 1910. He next became a student in the State University, where he pursued special work. He took up the profession of teaching when a youth of but sixteen years and taught for several years in Madison county, spending three years of this time at Kingston, while for five years he was at Combs, Arkansas, and for two years was a teacher in Oklahoma. He was elected the first county superintendent of Madison county in June, 1920, and in his position is making a most creditable record. He has one hundred and nineteen schools under his supervision and there are one hundred and thirty teaching positions in connection with the schools. He has to ride horseback to a number of these schools, which are in remote and thinly settled districts of the county. Under his guidance substantial advance is being made in the methods of instruction and in the manner of conducting the schools and the cause of education is indeed finding in him a stalwart champion.

In March, 1912, Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Johnson, a daughter of Frank Johnson, who was an early resident of Madison county and now lives near Kingston. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler belong to the Christian church. He is connected with the Modern Woodmen. He votes with the republican party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but concentrates his efforts and attention upon his duties as county superintendent of schools, in which capacity he is making a most excellent record, while his labors are far-reaching and beneficially resultant.

JAMES I. SCARBOROUGH, M. D.

Dr. James I. Scarborough, whose highly developed surgical skill has given him a position second to none in Little Rock and Arkansas, has reached his present position of eminence through thorough and comprehensive study and wide experience. He is now practicing as senior partner in the firm of Scarborough, Ogden, Zell & Judd, having come to Little Rock in May, 1915. He was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, August 26, 1880, and became a resident of Arkansas in 1884, at which time his parents removed to Newport, this state. He is a son of Otis W. and Sorintha Elizabeth (Rimmer) Scarborough. The father was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, in 1849 and the mother was born in 1854. They were married in their native town and they now reside at Newport, Arkansas, where they took up their abode more than thirty-seven years ago. Mr. Scarborough is a democrat in his political views and he devotes his life to the practice of law.

Dr. Scarborough, an only child, was educated in the Newport (Ark.) public schools, in the Webb Preparatory School at Bellbuckle, Tennessee, from which he was graduated in 1900, and in Princeton University, in which he completed his more specifically literary course by graduation with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1904. Having determined upon the practice of medicine and surgery as his life work he next entered the Johns Hopkins University as a medical student and was graduated from the Baltimore institution in 1908. He devoted four years to hospital work in Baltimore, giving his attention to surgery in the Union Memorial Hospital and then went to the Mayo Clinic at Rochester, Minnesota, there spending two years from 1912 until 1914. In May of the following year he came to Little Rock and in January, 1920, entered into his present partnership relation as senior member of the firm of Scarborough, Ogden, Zell and Judd. His standing is indeed high, as he has ever kept abreast with the latest scientific researches, methods and discoveries that have to do with surgical practice.

Dr. Scarborough entered the World war in September, 1918, at which time he received a commission as captain, while subsequently he was advanced to the rank of major and was thus serving when honorably discharged in June, 1919. He was first made chief of the surgical service at Camp Logan, Texas, where he remained until January, 1919, when he was transferred to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, as chief of the surgical service at that point, there remaining until May, 1919, when he was trans- ferred to Camp Pike, Arkansas, for discharge.

On the 16th of March, 1916, in Baltimore, Maryland, Dr. Scarborough was mar- ried to Miss Mary Roberta Carter, who was born in Baltimore, May 23, 1886, a daugh- ter of Thomas Mixson and Martha (Boughton) Carter. Her father, Thomas Mixson Carter was born in 1830, in North Carolina, and died in 1892 in Baltimore, Maryland. Her mother, Martha (Boughton) Carter was born in Virginia in 1852, and died in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1920. Dr. and Mrs. Scarborough have become parents of a son, James Carter, born May 18, 1917. The Doctor has never been active in political or lodge circles and his social nature finds expression in his membership with the Little

DR. JAMES I. SCARBOROUGH

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Rock Country Club. His leisure hours, however, are comparatively few, as his pro- essional duties make constant demand upon his time and energy. Close study and highly developed skill, cool nerve and sound judgment have been the elements that have placed him in a point of leadership among the surgeons of the southwest.

THOMAS H. ROGERS.

Thomas H. Rogers, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Arkansas Laundry of Fort Smith, was born in this city June 12, 1890, a son of Thomas I. and Alice Rogers, the former a native of Tennessee. He pursued his education in the schools of Fort Smith and for ten years after putting aside his textbooks he was employed in a bank, thus initiating his business career. He later became a credit man for a wholesale dry goods house, with which he was connected for two years and finally, in 1914, he became manager of the Arkansas Laundry, which is one of the important enterprises of this character in the city, employing thirty-five people. This laundry was first established by Tom Metcalf and was located at North Sixth street, where Biard's dry cleaning estab- lishment is now found. It was then known as the Metcalf Arkansas Laundry, flourish- ing thirty or forty years ago. Later W. H. Wilcox of New York came to Fort Smith and . was employed as wash man by the laundry. He eventually purchased the plant from Mr. Metcalf and after some years he built and established the plant at the present loca- tion on South Sixth street. In 1914, however, he sold out to a stock company. This was first a partnership concern, the owners being A. N. Sicard of the First National Bank, W. L. Hammock and Thomas H. Rogers. In April, 1917, the business was incor- porated with the following officers: N. C. Meals of the Fort Smith Vehicle & Machinery Company, president; A. N. Sicard, vice president; and Thomas H. Rogers, secretary, treasurer and general manager. Since that time the business has steadily grown and something of the volume of their patronage is indicated in the fact that they now have one of the largest plants of the southwest and employ thirty-five people. Mr. Rogers has active control of the business and in so doing displays marked executive ability and administrative direction.

In 1916 Mr. Rogers was married to Miss Madge Beall and they are well known in the city, where they make their home, enjoying an enviable social position. During the World war Mr. Rogers served on various committees in support of the different drives which were made and was also a member of the Home Guards. He likewise did laundry work free for the Red Cross and in every possible way assisted in sustaining government interests. He belongs to the Business Men's Club and is active in all or- ganized movements for the benefit and welfare of Fort Smith and the extension of its commercial and industrial relations.

AL A. REYNOLDS.

One of the most popular hostelries in the state of Arkansas is the Como Hotel, of which Al A. Reynolds is part owner and manager. For over twenty years he has been identified with hotel interests and as the years have passed he has gained wide expe- rience and an expert knowledge of the business. He is a native of Alabama, his birth having occurred at Brier Hill on the 14th of February, 1876. His parents were William J. and Julia (Holloway) Reynolds, who were also natives of that state, and there the father successfully engaged in merchandising, also becoming well known as a planter. He has departed this life. The mother survives and is now a resident of Montgomery, Alabama. The family has long been represented in that state, the paternal grandfather, William J. Reynolds, removing there from Virginia, while the maternal grandfather, Asa Holloway, also took up his residence in Alabama, having previously made his home in the Carolinas.

Mr. Reynolds acquired his early education in the grammar and high schools of Montgomery, Alabama, afterward completing a literary course at Auburn College of Auburn, that state. While a student at that institution he took a prominent part in athletic sports, in which he has ever been deeply interested, and during his earlier years acted as instructor for various athletic associations. He is a veteran of the Spanish- American war, enlisting as a member of Company D, which was known as the Montgomery True Blues and was attached to the Second Alabama Regiment. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant and served until the close of hostilities. Upon again taking up the duties of a civilian he became identified with the hotel business, to which he has since given his attention, first securing a situation as night clerk at the Windsor

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Hotel of Montgomery, where he remained for six months. He next became chief clerk of Hotel Clancy, whose proprietor was one of the best known and successful hotel men in the country, and he also had the good fortune to serve under an equally popular Boniface, D. P. West, operating the Exchange and Windsor Hotels at Montgomery. In 1902, in association with William Martin, he purchased the lease on the Capitola Hotel in Montgomery, which they conducted for about eighteen months and then sold. In 1904, at the request of J. C. Wyatt, owner of the Waukesha Hotel of Hot Springs, Mr. Rey. nolds came to this city as manager of the hostelry, continuing to act in that capacity until the spring of 1906, when he purchased the hotel and was active in its operation until 1916. He then sold his interests in the undertaking in order that he might devote his attention to the management of the Como Hotel, which he had erected in 1915 in partnership with Ed H. Johnston. It first contained one hundred rooms but in 1917 an addition of one hundred rooms was built, thus providing accommodations for three hundred guests, and this has now hecome one of the leading hostelries of the state. Its service and appointments are first-class in every particular and it has become very popular with the traveling public, ninety-five per cent of the commercial men who visit Hot Springs making the Como Hotel their headquarters. Mr. Reynolds employs the most modern and progressive methods in the conduct of the hotel, possessing a capacity for detail, combined with an economic knowledge of modern food values and a spe- cialized grasp of the art of inn-keeping which amounts almost to an inborn talent. He is also serving as a member of the board of directors of the Como Trust Company and his investments have been judiciously placed.

On the 20th of September, 1906, Mr. Reynolds was united in marriage to Miss Maida Converse Minich of Kansas City, Missouri, and the circle of their friends is an extensive one. He is a stanch democrat in his political views and has been called to public office, serving for one term as a member of the city council. He also was for two years a member of the board of governors of the Business Men's League, doing effective work in both connections. He is a prominent member of the Rotary Club of Hot Springs, filling the office of president for three years, an honor accorded to but few, and in 1921 he was chosen as a delegate to the international convention, which was held in Scot- land. He has also become well known in Masonry, belonging to Hot Springs Lodge No. 62, F. & A. M .; Hot Springs Chapter, R. A. M .; Hot Springs Commandery No. 5, K. T .; Albert Pike Consistory, A. & A. S. R .; and Sahara Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise identified with Hot Springs Lodge No. 380, B. P. O. E. His career has heen marked by steady advancement, due to his close application, his study of the business to which he has turned his attention and his unquestioned integrity and reliability. He is one of the best known and most popular hotel men in the state and a public- spirited and progressive citizen who has contributed in substantial measure to the prosperity and upbuilding of his city.

E. L. KOKANOUR.

For a number of years the name of Kokanour has been prominently connected with newspaper interests in Arkansas and E. L. Kokanour is proving a worthy successor of his father in the field of journalism, now conducting the Register and Post, leading dailies of Benton county, and also engaging in the job printing business. He employs the most progressive methods in the conduct of his interests and his efforts are meet- ing with a well merited degree of success. He was born at Manhattan, Kansas, July 15, 1888, a son of P. M. and Edith Lydia (Wright) Kokanour, the former a native of Iowa, while the latter was born in Ohio. They were married in Manhattan, Kansas, having gone to that state as young people. When seventeen years of age the father became connected with newspaper interests, being employed on the Manhattan Mer- cury for a number of years. He then went to Lake Arthur, Louisiana, where he con- ducted a paper for one and a half years, going from there to Jennings, that state, where he became owner of a weekly newspaper, which he later converted into a daily, printing it on Manila paper during the yellow fever epidemic. In 1902 he came to Arkansas, purchasing a farm near Siloam Springs and continuing active in its cultivation for a period of two years. He then acquired the Weekly Republican of Siloam Springs, which he converted into one of the most up-to-date dailies in the state, issuing a seven-column paper containing not only local items of interest but also the news of the world, this being the smallest town in the United States with a paper printing Associated Press dispatches. In 1909 Mr. Kokanour sold the Republican and accepted a position as trav- eling salesman, later locating in Oklahoma, where he published a paper for four years. He then returned to Arkansas, purchasing the Rogers Daily Post and continuing active in its operation until April, 1919, when he retired permanently from the newspaper

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field. He became the owner of a farm near Rogers and has since devoted his attention to its development and improvement. He is a member of the Baptist church and an independent democrat in his political views. Mrs. Kokanour died in December, 1910, at Garvin, Oklahoma. In their family were seven children: E. L., the subject of this review; Laura, who married R. D. Goff, a general merchant of Richmond, Arkansas; Herma, who is connected with an oil company at Tulsa, Oklahoma; Raymond M., who is employed as a linotype operator for the Journal-World issued at Lawrence, Kansas; Agnes, who is attending the University of Colorado at Boulder; Hazel, who is teaching school at Las Vegas, New Mexico; and Carroll W., a stenographer and bookkeeper. The paternal grandfather, S. B. Kokanour, was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he went to Iowa; driving from that state to Kansas and taking up a homestead near Clay Cen- ter. The maternal grandfather, Henry B. Wright, served in an Ohio cavalry regiment during the Civil war, participating in the battle of Pea Ridge. He also became an early settler of Kansas, making the journey from Ohio with an ox team and wagon.

On the 1st of April, 1916, E. L. Kokanour purchased the Daily Register at Siloam Springs and in April, 1921, he acquired a half interest in the Daily Post of Rogers and is now conducting both papers according to the most modern and progressive ideas of journalism. They are dailies of high standing and their circulation is steadily increas- ing. He receives United Press Association reports both at Siloam Springs and Rogers and is thus able to give to his subscribers the news of the world, in addition to items of local interest. In connection with the publication of his newspapers, he also con- ducts a job printing business, turning out tasteful and effective work. He has been very successful since entering the field of journalism here, for he started five years ago with a cash capital of but one hundred and twenty-five dollars and is now the owner of two of the leading dailies in the county.

On the 25th of May, 1916, Mr. Kokanour was united in marriage to Miss Hazelle Eno, a native of Cass City, Michigan, and a daughter of James H. and Lucy (Landon) Eno, the former a native of Kingston, in the province of Ontario, Canada. He was a cabinetmaker by trade and on removing to Crossett, Arkansas, engaged in merchandis- ing. The mother was also born in the province of Ontario and her demise occurred in Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Kokanour have become the parents of a daughter, Margaret Lou, who was born May 21, 1920. They are members of the Presbyterian church and in his political views Mr. Kokanour is an independent democrat, while fraternally he is identified with the Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. His work as a progressive newspaper man contributes to the development of the district in which he is located and he stands at all times for advancement and improvement.

JESSE REYNOLDS.

Jesse Reynolds, attorney at law, whose ability is demonstrated in the large clientage accorded him, practices in Clarksville and was born about eight miles north- west of the city, his natal day being December 1, 1884. He is a son of W. D. and Mar- garet (Poteet) Reynolds, also natives of this state, the former born in Yell county and the latter in Conway county. They were married in Johnson county, Arkansas, where they were reared and educated. The former is a son of W. D. Reynolds, a native of Tennessee, who hecame a pioneer settler of Arkansas, and the latter was a daughter of Elijah Poteet, who became one of the early residents of Conway county, this state. The marriage of W. D. Reynolds and Margaret Poteet was celebrated in Johnson county and they hegan their domestic life on a farm, to which Mr. Reynolds gave his time and attention until 1914, when he removed to Clarksville, where his wife departed this life in 1919. Both held membership in the Presbyterian church and Mr. Reynolds is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. His family numbered five children, of whom four are living: J. S., who is estate tax agent in the treasury department at Little Rock; Nannie, the wife of S. T. Frost, living on a farm in Johnson county; Jesse, of this review; and Burr R., who is engineer of the power plant in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Jesse Reynolds obtained his education in the College of the Ozarks and for pro- fessional training he went to Lebanon, Tennessee, where he pursued his law course in Cumberland College until graduated with the class of 1909. He then engaged in gen- eral practice in Clarksville, opening an office in connection with his brother, J. S. Rey- nolds, in 1912. This association was maintained until 1916, when their partnership was dissolved and Mr. Reynolds has since practiced alone. His ability is manifest in the thoroughness and care with which he prepares his cases and in the clear, concise and forceful manner in which he presents his cause before the courts. The records bear testimony to many favorable verdicts which he has won and his professional colleagues

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and contemporaries attest his skill and power in the law. He has been admitted to practice in both state and federal courts and has a good clientage for one of his years.

In 1916 Mr. Reynolds was married to Maude (Maye) Moore, a stepdaughter of Jobn Morgan of Clarksville, who was well known by reason of the fact that he was head of a mining union. Mrs. Reynolds was born in Oklahoma and is a daughter of John Moore, who came to Clarksville and followed mining to the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have one child, Mary Jess, now in her second year. In his political views Mr. Reynolds has been a democrat since attaining his majority and is now filling the office of city attorney. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and they enjoy the high regard of all who know them, the hospitality of the best homes of the city and county being freely accorded them.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 142

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