Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 143

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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WALLACE TOWNSEND.

Wallace Townsend, who since 1910 has engaged in the practice of law in Little Rock, where he has gained a large clientage of a distinctively representative character, was born in Dewitt, Clinton county, Iowa, August 20, 1882, his parents being John R. and Italia (James) Townsend, the former a native of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, New York, while the latter was born in Clinton county, Iowa. In early hoyhood John R. Townsend left the Empire state with his parents and became a resident of Clinton county, lowa, where he was reared to manhood, after which he removed to Custer county, Nebraska, and later became a resident of Omaha, there engaging in the live stock business. It was in 1880, at Dewitt, Iowa, that he wedded Italia James and after residing in Jowa and Nebraska for a number of years they removed to Little Rock in 1894 and have since made their home in this city.

Wallace Townsend was a lad of twelve years when the family home was established in Little Rock, where he continued his education that had been begun in the public schools of Omaha, Nebraska. He remained a student in the Little Rock schools from 1894 until graduation from the high school in 1899 and later entered Hendrix College at Conway, Arkansas, where he pursued his more specifically literary course, being graduated in 1902 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. Having thus laid broad and deep the foundation upon which to build the superstructure of professional knowledge, he matriculated in the law department of the University of Arkansas and completed the regular course, winning his LL. B. degree in 1906. The same year he accepted the principalship of the Little Rock high school and continued active in the educational field in that connection until 1910, when desirous of concentrating his efforts and at- tention upon his law practice, he opened an office and has since followed his profession in Little Rock. He has displayed marked ability in handling intricate and involved legal problems, is clear in his reasoning, logical in his deductions and sound in his arguments, and his devotion to the interests of his clients stands as one of the strong points in his professional career.

On the 15th of April, 1914, Mr. Townsend was married to Miss Bessie Voss, who was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in 1889 and is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Voss, then of Pine Bluff but now residents of Little Rock. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend have become parents of an interesting little daughter, Eleanor Katherine. They are mem- hers of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and in social circles they occupy an en- viable position, having many friends in the capital city. Mr. Townsend is a republican, having been in 1916 and 1920 his party's candidate for governor of Arkansas. He has rendered valuable public service in various connections and during the World war was a member of the State Council of Defense, acting as a director thereof from August, 1917, until July, 1919. His aid and cooperation can at all times be counted npon to further plans and measures for the general good and he stands as a splendid example of American manhood and chivalry.

CHARLES ADDISON SMITH.

Prescott numbers among her representative citizens, Charles Addison Smith, presi- dent of the First State Bank of Prescott, a member of the board of directors of the Caddo Valley Bank at Wamble and likewise a director in the Montgomery County Bank of Mount Ida. He was born in Marion county, Texas, on the 4th of May, 1869, a son of Addison C. and Elizabeth (George) Smith, the former a native of Mississippi and the latter of Alabama. They were but children when they removed with their parents to Texas and in that state they were reared and married. The father is living in Atlanta,

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Texas, at the age of eighty-three years. He was prominently identified with the mer- cantile business in Marion county for fifty-five years, having engaged in that business immediately after the close of the Civil war. He was active in that connection until 1920, when he disposed of his interests and is now living retired. Mrs. Smith died in 1897, her death coming as a severe blow to her many friends in the community.

In the acquirement of an education Charles Addison Smith attended the schools at Queen City, Texas, and after graduating from the high school there, entered South- western University at Georgetown, Texas. Upon putting his textbooks aside he secured a position as clerk in his father's mercantile store and in 1890 he made his initial step into the financial world as collector for the Citizens Bank, now the First National Bank, at Atlanta, Texas. His father was at that time president of the institution. For six years Mr. Smith remained in the employ of that bank and then, severing his rela- tions there, came to Arkansas and established himself in the mercantile business at Mena, Polk county. About 1900 he disposed of his store and entered the Citizens Bank of Mena as assistant cashier. Mr. Smith was one of the dominant factors in the or- ganization of the First National Bank in Mena in 1904 and he was elected president of that institution, in which important position he was active until 1913. In that year he sold his interests in the bank and bonght an interest in the Merchants and Planters Bank at Texarkana, accepting the position of cashier of the institution. In 1917, after four years of service in that capacity, he sold his interests and came to Prescott, organizing the First State Bank, which took over the Nevada County Bank, the new institution opening its doors in August, 1917. Mr. Smith was elected president of the bank and is still active in that connection. The First State Bank has a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, with an average deposit of two hundred and fifty thousand-a splendid record for an institution but five years old. The structure, of pressed brick and stone, stands on one of the best business locations in town and has the most modern equipment.

In 1891 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Linnie May Scott, a daughter of Captain P. R. Scott of Atlanta, Texas. Captain Scott is one of the pioneer settlers of the Lone Star state and the town of Atlanta was laid out on his farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith three children were born: Scott Addison, deceased; Rene Elizabeth, wife of Dr. J. B. Hesterly, practicing physician of Prescott; and one child who died in infancy. Mrs. Smith died on the 20th of April, 1914.

Fraternally Mr. Smith is identified with the Masons, having membership in Texar- kana Lodge, No. 341, F. & A. M .; Texarkana Chapter, No. 78, Royal Arch Masons; Coeur de Lion Commandery, No. 6, Knights Templars of Texarkana; and Sahara Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is likewise a member of the Knights of Pythias, be- longing to the Atlanta, Texas, lodge. The religious faith of Mr. Smith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and he is a member of the board of stewards. He is one of Prescott's foremost citizens and his aid may be counted upon in the furtherance of any movement for the improvement and development of the general welfare.

MERRITT O. ALCORN.

Among the leading educators in Arkansas is Merritt O. Alcorn, who is serving his third term as superintendent of the schools at Wynne. He was born at Titusville, Indiana, on the 15th of September, 1880, a son of G. W. and Leah ( Wycoff ) Alcorn. Both the Alcorn and Wycoff families are of American descent many generations back and the paternal ancestors came to this country, locating in North Carolina, prior to the Revolutionary war. The father was born and reared in Indiana and was for some fifty years engaged in educational work. He is now living retired in Mountain Home, this state, at the age of sixty-nine years. At Cross Plains, Indiana, in March, 1878, occurred the marriage of Mr. Alcorn to Miss Leah Wycoff, who died at Cold Springs, that state, in 1892, in her thirty-eighth year. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Alcorn five children were born, three boys and two girls. Merritt O., whose name initiates this review, was the second in order of birth.

In the acquirement of his education, Merritt O. Alcorn attended the common schools of his native state and of Cave City, Arkansas. In due time he enrolled in the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and was graduated from that institution with the B. S. degree in 1915 and with the degree of Licensed Instructor, which latter degree had been conferred npon him in 1910. In 1920 he received the Master's degree from that institution. Mr. Alcorn acquired his higher education as the result of his own intelligently directed efforts, for he taught school during the summer vacation. He began his career as an educator in 1898 in a school near Center, Sharp county. In 1911 he became superintendent of the schools at Huntington and was active in

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that position until 1916, when he accepted a like position at Rogers. In 1919 he came to Wynne and is now serving his third term as superintendent of the schools here. Since he has taken charge, there has been a good increase in the enrollment, and from the high school, which is accredited, a large number of students have entered higher institutions of learning each year. Wynne boasts of the most modern school buildings, with the best equipment and Mr. Alcorn as head of the educational system in this community has won the confidence and respect of both his pupils and his fellow townsmen. That he is one of the leading educators of the state is evidenced by his membership in the local, state and national educational associations. He served as first vice president of the Arkansas Educational Association and is now chief executive of the Cross County Teachers' Association.

At Cove, Arkansas, on the 6th of Juue, 1911, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Alcorn to Miss Maude Barton, a daughter of W. J. Barton, a well known resident of that community. To their union two boys and two girls have been born: Margaret, nine years of age; George, seven years of age; Dean Jewel, five years of age; and Merritt O., Jr., one year old.

Although Mr. Alcorn has never taken a particularly active interest in political affairs, he is ever cognizant of the duties and responsibilities, as well as the privileges, of citizenship and to that eud is never too busy to give his aid in the furtherance of any movement for the upbuilding of the community. He is a conscientious and pro- gressive educator and deserves prominent mention in a work relating to Arkansas and the men who have contributed most to its development.

SMITH HUMPHREY.

Smith Humphrey is the senior partner in the Humphrey-Elefson Battery Company, conducting an auto repair and battery shop. He is a western man by birth, training and preference and his life is actuated by the spirit of progress and enterprise which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of this great and growing section of the country. He was born in Kosoma, Oklahoma, while his education was largely acquired in the schools of Fort Smith and in the State University of Arkansas. When his student days were over he became identified with the Merchants National Bank and later embarked in business on his own account.

Mr. Humphrey established his present business in 1914 in partnership with Sidney Collier, who died in 1917. The beginning was very small, but the patronage of the firm has steadily grown until the enterprise has become one of very substantial success. The company now occupies seven thousand, five hundred square feet of floor space. It deals in automobile accessories, tires, batteries and does all sorts of repairing on motor cars. It operates service cars and employs fifteen people. When the war was declared Mr. Humphrey joined the regular army, continuing therewith for a few months, after which he was transferred to the shipping board in Philadelphia and spent about two years in that city, remaining there for some time after the war was over. At this time he faced the problem of a complete collapse of his business upon going to the front and, therefore, took George Elefson into partnership, leaving the business in his charge. Mr. Elefson was formerly proprietor of the Smoke Shop on Sixth and Garrison streets in Fort Smith. With his return to Fort Smith, Mr. Humphrey resumed active connection with the business, which is today one of the important commercial enterprises of the city.

Mr. Humphrey is a young man who has a reputation for doing things. In a word he accomplishes what he undertakes and when obstacles and difficulties seem to bar his path he overcomes these by persistent effort and resolute will, ultimately reaching his objective. He is well known as a member of the Tire Dealers Association, also of the Auto Dealers Association and of the Business Meu's Club and his support and cooperation can at all times be counted upon to further plans and measures for public benefit.

GEORGE D. HESTER.

Among the younger representatives of the Desha county bar is numbered George D. Hester, who since 1919 has been a member of the firm of Moore & Hester, leading attorneys of Dumas. His birth occurred at La Fayette, in Christian county, Kentucky, February 21, 1892, and he is a son of John B. and Sally E. (Moseley) Hester, also natives of the Blue Grass state, the former born in Graves county and the latter in Christian county, the mother's birth having occurred shortly after the removal of

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hier parents from Virginia to that section. The paternal grandparents also weut from Virginia to Kentucky, arriving in that state some years prior to the advent of the Moseley family, and there John B. Hester engaged in merchandising until 1908, when he came to Arkansas, settling near Magazine, in Logan county, where he has since followed the occupation of farming.

Following the completion of his public school course George D. Hester entered Ouachita Academy, from which he was graduated with the class of 1911, and in the succeeding year he became a student iu the law department of Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee, which conferred upon him the LL. B. degree in 1915. Having passed an examination before the state board of Arkansas, he was admitted to practice at Booneville and entered upon the work of his profession at Magazine, this state, continuing active in his chosen vocation until December, 1917, when he enlisted for service in the World war. He was sent to Camp Dix, Georgia, and from that point was transferred to Wrightstown, Canada, where his regiment received orders to proceed overseas. They sailed from Montreal, Canada, and landed at Southampton, England, where they remained for about a month, heing then sent to Bordeaux, France. Mr. Hester was attached to the Army Service Corps and after the signing of the armistice was attached to the adjutant general's department. On July 16, 1919, he sailed for the United States and was discharged at Camp Pike, Arkansas, on the 31st of July. He came to Dumas on August 16, 1919, becoming associated in law practice with I. N. Moore, a well known attorney of this place, under the firm style of Moore & Hester, a relationship that has since been successfully maintained, and they now have a large clientele, while their business in the courts is constantly increasing in volnme and importance. Mr. Hester has much natural talent but is withal a hard student and is never content until he has mastered every detail of a case, believing in the maxim: "There is no excellence without labor," and following it closely. He is an able attorney, well versed in all branches of jurisprudence and holding to high standards in pro- fessional service.

On the 31st of July, 1921, Mr. Hester was united in marriage to Miss Fannie A. Massey of Warren, Arkansas, who is a Baptist in religious faith. To his chosen life work Mr. Hester gives his undivided attention, being most thorough and conscientious in the conduct of his legal interests. He is an enterprising and progressive young man who is rapidly coming to the front in his profession and his upright policy and genuine worth have won for him the respect and confidence of all with whom he has been associated.

C. C. SIMS, D. D. S.

Dr. C. C. Sims, who throughout the period of his professional career, dating from 1892, has engaged in the practice of dentistry at Dardanelle, was born in Mississippi, February 15, 1868. His parents were John and Eliza (Mullings) Sims, the former a native of South Carolina, while the latter was born in Alabama. They were married, however, in Mississippi and after residing in that state for a number of years arrived in Logan county, Arkansas, in 1876. The father was a farmer and both he and his wife died on the homestead farm in Logan county. They were consistent members of the Christian church and he was a democrat in politics. He served throughout the Civil war with the Confederate army and on one occasion was wounded. To this worthy couple were born ten children, seven of whom are living: J. Alonzo, who resides on a farm on the western part of Yell county; C. C .; Dr. F. L., a deutist of Little Rock; D. B., who is engaged in farming in Yell county, where he also has a country store; Lee, a bookkeeper at Little Rock; Laura, who is the widow of James Cates and lives at Centerville, Arkansas; and Susan, who is the wife of Jack Canada of Sebastian county, Arkansas.

C. C. Sims acquired his education largely through his owu efforts, for his father died when the son was quite young, leaving four boys, whose ages ranged from six to fourteen years. The necessity of providing for their own support forced C. C. Sims to leave school for a time but afterward he resumed his education at Belleville, Arkansas, and when he had completed his studies there he took up the profession of teaching. He paid his way through school and he also contributed to the support of the younger sons of the family. He proved an able educator, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired and he taught his last day of school on the 19th of September, 1890, for it was his desire to enter upon other professional activity and he eagerly utilized every advantage pointing toward that end. At length he matriculated in the dental school of Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Tennessee, where he was graduated in 1892. Immediately afterward he came to

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Dardanelle, where he opened an office. He was at that time in debt between seven and eight hundred dollars but from the beginning the public recognized his efficiency, thoroughness and faithfulness in aïl professional work. Moreover, he was fortunate in that the oldest established dentist of the city moved to Ft. Smith and Dr. Sims succeeded to much of his practice. Dr. Sims steadily has advanced in his chosen calling and his labors have heen crowned, moreover, with financial success. He has a well appointed office, equipped with the latest instruments known to the dental profession and he is most efficient in their use. He has taken postgraduate work, pursuing a course of study in St. Louis, Missouri, in December, 1919, and he also kept in touch with the trend of modern professional thought through his membership in different dental societies. He is an honored member of the State Dental Society and was elected its president. He also served as a member of the state dental board for several years.

On the 20th of June, 1900, Dr. Sims was married to Miss Lula George, who was born in Dardanelle and is a daughter of Jesse J. George, who was a farmer. They became parents of three children, but only one is living, a daughter, Lee, who was horn November 3, 1901, and was educated in the Lindenwood College at St. Charles, Missouri. In 1920 she taught in the schools of Dardanelle.

Dr. Sims and his wife belong to the Christian church and are prominently known socially, having a circle of friends in Dardanelle that is almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. Politically the doctor has always been a democrat but never an office seeker. His life record is indeed commendahle and should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may he accomplished through individual efforts, intelligently directed. He has ever been actuated by a laudable ambition and his close application and thoroughness, developing his ability, have placed him in the front rank in the dental profession in the state and have made him an honored and valued citizen of Arkansas.

GEORGE L. LOCHRIDGE.

George L. Lochridge, deceased, who was an honored resident of Arkansas, con- nected with commercial pursuits at Kingsland and at Orlando, was born in Princeton, Dallas county, this state, October 13, 1859, and was of the fifth generation of the family resident in America. His ancestors were Scotch-Irish people, who came to the new world in the early colonial period in the history of the country. James Lochridge, whose parents were the progenitors of the family in the new world, was reared and married in Georgia. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and in the year 1800 he removed to Maury county, Tennessee, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in the '30s. The grandparents of George L. Lochridge in the paternal line were Thomas M. and Deborah (Wright) Lochridge, the former a native of Maury county and the latter of Bedford county, Tennessee, horn in the years 1801 and 1804, respectively. They removed to Marshall county, Mississippi, and in 1849 became residents of Dallas county, Arkansas, settling in the midst of the forest near Princeton, where Mr. Lochridge cleared land and cultivated the soil. He died in 1861, while his wife survived until 1875. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years and took active part in the moral progress as well as the pioneer development of southern Arkansas.

Their son, George W. Lochridge, was born in Maury county, Tennessee, in 1831 and accompanied his parents to Arkansas in 1849, after which he assisted his father in clearing the old home place. He acquired a fair education in the common schools and also pursued a course of study in the Princeton (Ark.) Academy. When twenty- one years of age he started out independently and became a clerk in a store. He was married in 1854 to Miss Indiana Russell, a daughter of Jesse and Mary Russell, who were natives of Tennessee, where they remained until 1836, and then became residents of Dallas county, Arkansas, when that was a frontier district. There they spent the remainder of their days, the father departing this life in 1841, while the mother sur- vived until 1874. Mr. Russell was a farmer hy occupation and served with the rank of lieutenant in the War of 1812, being on duty under General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. His daughter, Mrs. Lochridge, was born in Tennessee and by her mar- riage became the mother of ten children. George W. Lochridge resided in Princeton and there engaged in the grocery business until the Civil war, whence he removed to a farm nearby and in 1867 took up his abode in what is now Cleveland county. He resided in Saline township until 1887 and then established his home in Kingsland, where he had a good farm of thirty-six acres. . He was a man of marked honesty and integrity and was classed among the representative residents of his section of the state. He served for some time as justice of the peace in Cleveland county and also

GEORGE L. LOCHRIDGE.

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filled the position of deputy sheriff while a resident of Dallas county. In 1861 he joined Company I of the Twelfth Arkansas Infantry and was engaged in military operations in Kentucky and Tennessee until captured at Island No. 10. Soon afterward, however, he made his escape and joined his command at Memphis. A few months later he was granted a furlough and paid a visit to his home, after which he rejoined his regiment, which was then operating in Texas. He received his discharge near Marshall, that state, in April, 1865. Politically he was a democrat, casting his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce in 1852. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity for many years, and he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal · church.

Their son, George L. Lochridge, whose name introduces this review, was early trained to every phase of farm work and while assisting in the labors of the fields he acquired a common school education in his home locality. Later he had the benefit of five months' training in the Little Rock Commercial College and then started out in mercantile business on his own account at Kingsland with a stock of goods worth three hundred and eighteen dollars. Through capable business management and close application he developed his interests and became one of the leading merchants of his county, increasing his stock to meet the growing demands of his trade, which steadily expanded until his large patronage had brought to him a most gratifying competence. He engaged in business at Kingsland, Arkansas, for a number of years and then re- moved to Van Alstyne, Texas, where he continued in merchandising for seven years.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 143

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