Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 152

Author: Herndon, Dallas T. (Dallas Tabor), b. 1878
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Chicago, Little Rock, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1172

USA > Arkansas > Centennial history of Arkansas > Part 152

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"We, his friends, may say from our hearts, as Montague said of the great Bacon: 'No man knew better or felt more deeply the duties of friendship than he. He did not think friendships mere abstractions, metaphysical nothings, created for contempla- tion only. He felt that friendship is the alloy of our sorrows, the ease of our passions, the sanctuary of our calamities; that its fruits are peace in the affections, counsel in judgment, and active kindness; the heart, the head and the hand.'

"There was nothing passive about H. K. Cochran.

"Our loving sympathy goes out to the dear woman, to whom he so freely gave, throughout the years, the plenitude of his devoted and loyal affections and loving care; to his sons, on whose shoulders he has placed the wealth of his sterling manhood, with confidence that they will wear it, as he taught them, by precept and example, in honor and in faithful service.

"'Nothing is so difficult as to preserve a lasting and unbroken friendship to the end of life.'-Cicero. From the day when I stood by his side, at his marriage, to the last moment of his life, twenty-nine years, there was never even a cloudlet in the bright, warm sky of our friendship; and I exclaim from my heart in the words of Cicero: 'Among all the blessings for which I am indebted to nature or to fortune, there is not one on which I set a higher value than the friendship in which I lived

965

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

with Cochran, for he was indeed that noblest and most valuable ornament of human life, a worthy and faithful friend.' His virtues can never die.

"The image of this honest, energetic, capable business man, public-spirited citizen, loyal, helpful, generous son of his church, devoted husband and father and true friend will live in the hearts of all who had the good fortune to know him.

"Closely intertwined with my sorrow for his loss, is and will remain with me, the joy of having for my friend this always human, sometimes inconsistent, thoroughly reliable, always admirable, and lovable Christian gentleman."

WILLIAM BREATHWIT, M. D.

Dr. William Breathwit, physician and surgeon of Pine Bluff, was born at Rowell, Cleveland county, Arkansas, in 1871, a son of William and Laura (Tucker) Breath- wit, the former a native of Belfast, Ireland, while the latter was born in Mississippi. The father came to America with his parents, Alexander and Jane ( Greenlees) Breathwit, the family home being established.in Alabama. He and his brothers, Hugh and James, served in the Confederate army during the Civil war, the first named being an officer. The brother, James, was wounded at Corinth and died from the effects of the injuries there sustained. The Breathwits all removed from Ala- bama to Arkansas, settling in Lonoke county, and there the grandfather, Alexander Breathwit, died. The Greenlees were an old family of Mississippi, the par- ents of Mrs. Alexander Breathwit being Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Greenlees. The Breath- wits became prominently connected with agricultural interests in this state, purchas- ing three thousand acres of land near Rowell in 1847, and this remained in possession of the family until 1889. Mr. and Mrs. William Breathwit resided thereon until 1890 and then removed to Kingsland, Arkansas. They reared a family of seven children: John L .; James R .; Jane Elizabeth, the wife of John T. Nivens; Hannah, the wife of E. R. Buster; Alexander, a physician who has departed this life; Hugh, also deceased; and William.

The last named was educated in Hendrix College and in the Central University of Kentucky, in which he completed his more specifically literary course. He later studied medicine in the Louisville Medical College and was graduated therefrom with the class of 1894. He afterward located for practice in Kingsland, where he re- mained for eleven years and then went to New York city, where he studied the eye. ear, nose and throat. On his return to Arkansas he opened an office in Pine Bluff. where he has since engaged in practice, confining his attention largely to his special- ty, and as an oculist, aurist and laryngologist he has won success and prominence.

At the time of the World war Dr. Breathwit served as chairman of the appeal board for four counties and he was likewise a member of the medical advisory board. He asked for a commission in the army and was called to service, being commissioned a captain but the armistice was signed before he had opportunity to get overseas or do active work in the army camps on this side.

In 1896 Dr. Breathwit was united in marriage to Miss Osa Burnham, a daughter of Robert Burnham, and they have become parents of two children: Ellice, a teacher of e :pression in Galloway College; and Alexander. The family is prominently known in Pine Bluff and their social position, like the professional rank of Dr. Breathwit, is one of prominence.

HORACE CHAMBERLIN.

Horace Chamberlin, representative member of the Arkansas bar, engaged in practice in Little Rock, was born in Vicksburg, Warren county, Mississippi, January 15, 1881, and is a son of William McPherson and Sallie Gage ( Fulkerson) Chamber- lin. The father was born in Jefferson county, Virginia, (now West Virginia), in 1839, but for many years made his home at Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he engaged in the insurance business to the time of his death in 1907. During the Civil war he served as a captain of Company I, Third Missouri Infantry, being on active duty from the beginning of the war until the capture of Vicksburg, where he was incarcerated. Following the close of hostilities he decided to remain in that city and continued a resident thereof until he was called to his final rest on the 30th of December, 1907. His political allegiance was always given to the democratic party. His wife was born in Mississippi in 1847 and their marriage occurred in Vicksburg in 1869. She had a family of three sons and six daughters and all are living, with the exception of one

966

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

daughter. The father of Mrs. William M. Chamberlin was Horace S. Fulkerson, who was born in Kentucky and served as a colonel in the Confederate army and was captured in 1863. He was purchasing agent for the southern troops. Mrs. Cham- berlin died on January 20, 1893.

In the schools of Vicksburg Horace Chamberlin pursued his early education until graduated from the high school as valedictorian and as first honor man of his class in 1897. He continued a resident of his native city until January, 1903, when he came to Little Rock and accepted a position as drug clerk, continuing to act in that capacity for the succeeding period of four years. His desire to become a mem- ber of the bar led to his matriculation in the law department of the University of Arkansas, then located at Little Rock, and he was graduated therefrom with the LL. B. degree in 1906. He has engaged in law practice since 1907 save for the period of his service in the World war. He has tried many kinds of cases and tried them well, his arguments eliciting warm commendation not only from his associates at the bar, but also from the bench. Recognizing the necessity for thorough preparation, he industriously prepares his cases and his handling of a cause is always full, com- prehensive and accurate, while his analysis of facts is clear and exhautive.

On the 14th of January, 1914,. Mr. Chamberlin was married to Miss Keatts Biscoe, who was born in Little Rock, January 16, 1882, a daughter of John E. and Elizabeth (Keatts) Biscoe, who are now residents of Little Rock. Mrs. Chamberlin was educated in the Hollins Institute near Roanoke, Virginia, from which institution she was graduated. By her marriage she has become the mother of an interesting little daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, born March 5, 1917.

After America's advent into the World war Mr. Chamberlin served from the 6th of September, 1917, to the 23d of August, 1918, as chairman of local exemption board, No. 2, of Little Rock. He volunteered for active service in February, 1918, and was accepted in the following August, at which time he was commissioned major and assigned to the judge advocate general's department at Augusta, Georgia. He was sent to Camp Hancock, Georgia, where he served from the 23d of August, 1918, until the 22d of January, 1919. In politics he is a democrat and is always well informed on the vital questions and issues of the day, so that he is able to support his position by comprehensive and intelligent argument. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and also to the First Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as deacon. In fact, he takes a most active and helpful interest in all of the branches of the church work and manifests a helpful attitude toward all those forces which make for public progress and improvement along material, intellectual, social and moral lines.

CLYDE E. PETTIT.

Clyde E. Pettit, a representative member of the Arkansas county bar, practicing at Stuttgart since 1902, was born in Mount Sterling, Iowa, in 1881. His parents were Edwin and Annie B. (Means) Pettit. The father, a native of Iowa, was a son of Jesse Pettit, a member of one of the old pioneer families of that state. Edwin Pettit, who for almost forty years has been and still is in the active practice of law, following a most successful legal career, removed to Arkansas with the family in 1883 and took up his abode at De Witt, while subsequently he became a resident of Stuttgart. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Annie B. Means, was a native of Missouri and by her marriage she became the mother of four children: Clyde E., Lela Maude, Ethel and Arthur. The elder daughter is now the wife of Floyd Wingo, now state commander of the American Legion, Department of Arkansas, and a brother of Congressman Otis G. Wingo. Mrs. Floyd Wingo is a graduate of Columbia University, New York, also of the Woman's College of Frederick, Maryland, and she devoted some time to sociological work in New York city. The second daughter, Ethel, attended the Belmont and Columbia universities and became an accomplished vocalist, winning fame as a prima donna in several noted musical productions. She is now the wife of Arthur Somers Roche, a distinguished novelist living in New York.

The younger son, Arthur, is a graduate of the University of Illinois and also of Columbia University of New York and is now engaged in the practice of law in New York city. He served as a naval aviator during the World war.

Reared in a family of innate culture and refinement, where education is valued at its true worth, Clyde E. Pettit was accorded liberal advantages along educational lines and supplemented his early training by study in Yale University at New Haven, where he received his B. A. degree in 1901, and in the law department of the State University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

His thorough preparation for the bar well qualified him for the onerous duties of

967

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

the profession and in 1902 he opened an office in Stuttgart, where he has remained. He has long been recognized as one of the leading lawyers of the state with an exten- sive and important practice.

Mr. Pettit was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Oberly of Stuttgart. Fraternally Mr. Pettit is a Mason of high rank, having become a member of the lodge, chapter, council, Knights Templars Commandery and Scottish Rite Consistory, as well as of the Mystic Shrine, and he likewise belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

HENRY H. NIEHUSS, M. D.

Dr. Henry H. Niehuss, physician and surgeon of El Dorado, was born at New Trux- ton, in Warren county, Missouri, October 31, 1876. His birth occurred on a farm and there he spent his youthful days, enjoying the liberty, the freedom and the opportuni- ties of rural life, while at the same time he learned lessons regarding industry and per- severance as factors in the attainment of success. His early education was acquired in the public schools and he afterward attended the Central Western College at Warrenton, Missouri, while he was graduated from Memphis Hospital Medical College in the year 1902. Removing to Arkansas he settled at Wesson, where he remained for eight years and then came to El Dorado, and has here since made his home, covering a period of more than a decade. He is well qualified for the responsible duties of the profession, by reason of his college training and his private study and investigation, which have kept him in touch with the trend of modern professional thought and progress. In May, 1921, he formed a partnership with Dr. T. J. Bush and established the Niehuss and Bush Sanitarium, a well equipped modern institution, fully adequate to meet the demands of the present age.

Dr. Niehuss is skillful in surgery and has performed many important operations. He belongs to the Union County Medical Society, the District Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He was chairman of the local war board and chairman of the district medical advisory board. He also acted as chairman of the Red Cross and was the medical member of the Council of Defense during the period of the World war. He has likewise been health officer at El Dorado and as such did everything in his power to promote sanitary conditions and lessen the possibility of the spread of disease. His deep interest in community welfare and upbuilding is further shown in the fact that he organized and became the first president of the El Dorado Rotary Club and has done everything in his power to bring about the adoption of the high business and civic principles upon which that order is based.

ARDIS TYSON.

Ardis Tyson, owner and editor of the Chronicle published at Atkins, has figured in newspaper circles in this state for about five years. He was born on a farm three and a half miles north of Atkins, December 19, 1883, and is a son of John Marshall Tyson and a grandson of James Tyson, the latter a native of Tennessee, whence he removed to Pope county, Arkansas, in 1850 and here purchased a farm on which he spent bis remaining days. His son, John Marshall Tyson, was born in Tennessee, January 19, 1845, and was brought by his parents to this state, when hut five years of age. He was married in Pope county, February 14, 1875, to Elizabeth Catherine Boyd, a native of South Carolina, born August 23, 1849, and a daughter of Samuel A. Boyd, who was likewise a native of that state and on coming to Arkansas about 1860 settled in Jefferson county, where he remained during the Civil war period. In 1866 he removed to Pope county and purchased a farm three miles east of Atkins, on which he spent the rest of his life. John M. Tyson was for many years owner and occupant of one farm-in fact continued to live on the old family homestead until bis death, save for the period of his service in the Civil war, in which he joined Hughey's battery and was on active duty under General Price. He was with the famous Tiger battery and volunteered when but sixteen years of age, remaining with the army for four years. For two years after the close of hostilities he attended school at Dover and thus qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. He was a successful farmer and stockman and acquired an excellent property, owning four hundred acres of valuable land upon his demise. Before his marriage he erected thereon one of the best homes in the county. He also brought into the county the first mowing machine and also the first Ford car and at all times he manifested a most progressive spirit

968

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

in the improvement of his farm and the development of his place. He departed this hfe November 21, 1914, and was survived by his wife until March 14, 1921. Mrs. Tyson was a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist church. In politics Mr. Tyson was a democrat, always giving loyal allegiance to the party. This worthy couple had a family of five children, of whom three are living: The eldest, Mrs. Ora Evans, now a widow, resides on the old homestead and she has a son, Clarence Evans, who is a junior in the State University; Ardis is the next of the family; Rufus resides on the old home farm with his sister.

Ardis Tyson was educated in the rural schools and in the high school at Atkins, before spending four years as a student in the State University of Arkansas at Fay- etteville, there completing his studies in 1910. In the meantime he had taught school during summer vacations and thus earned the money necessary to defray his expenses while a university student. He continued to engage in teaching until 1914 and was principal of the Dover schools during the last three years of that period. He after- ward retired to his farm, where he had built a nice country home, hut on the 9th of November, 1917, he turned his attention to newspaper publication, purchasing the Atkins Chronicle, which he has since owned and edited. The paper has a circulation of fifteen hundred and in addition to the paper Mr Tyson maintains a job office, in which he is accorded a liberal patronage. He also handles real estate and farm loans and the various branches of his business have brought to him a substantial and gratifying return. In all business affairs he displays keen sagacity and indefatigable energy and his farming, his newspaper interests and real estate business are all proving sources of gratifying profit.

On the 18th of June, 1911, Mr. Tyson was united in marriage to Miss Ila Mat- thews, who was born in Pope county, a daughter of J. H. Matthews, also a native of this county, where his father was one of the earliest settlers, taking up his abode at Atkins. He was a builder and erected some of the most substantial buildings in the town. Mr. and Mrs. Tyson are parents of three children: Van, Le Roy and John Henry, aged respectively nine, seven and four years. Mr. and Mrs. Tyson hold mem- bership in the Missionary Baptist church and fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World. Politically he is a democrat and has always taken an active interest in local, state and national politics. He is now serving as mayor of the city and carefully directs the public business affairs. He is president of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the commissioners having in charge the drainage ditch. His active cooperation can at all times he counted upon to further any plan or project looking to the welfare and benefit of his part of the state. His ideals are high and his labors of practical worth and his endorsement of any measure always insures its success, tor it is characteristic of Mr. Tyson that he never stops short of his objective.

G. L. VINCENT.

G. L. Vincent is at the head and is owner of the Monumental & Cut Stone Con- pany at Fort Smith, one of the most important and successful enterprises of the city. He has been identified therewith since November, 1919, and has become firmly estab- lished as one of the representative business men of the state. Mr. Vincent is a native of Ohio, his hirth having occurred in Pomeroy. In early life he learned the stone cut- ting business and has done work of this character throughout the country, many evidences of his skill and handiwork being seen in different sections. He came to Fort Smith in 1901 and worked on the Confederate monument, which is standing today in the courthouse yard. At length he organized the Fort Smith Marhle & Granite Works and afterward founded the Fort Smith Marble Company, while in 1919 he acquired the Monumental & Cut Stone business.

Mr. Vincent did the stone cutting in connection with the stone work on the Watson and Aven huilding, also on the New Joie Theatre, the Midland Valley Depot at Fort Smith and also the Methodist Episcopal church at Spiro, Oklahoma. He like- wise furnished the cut stone for the Colored Baptist church, also the cut stone for the new Methodist Episcopal church of Fort Smith, which has eight large columns, making a facade in front. Each column is twenty-four feet and six inches in height and three feet in diameter, and each column is in three sections, each piece weighing nine thousand pounds or twenty-seven thousand pounds for the entire column. It required two carloads of stone for the construction of the front steps. There is also much tile work in the building done by the company of which Mr. Vincent is the head. This concern excels in monuments and markers of granite, marble and other stone and has an extensive business, which is steadily growing as the excellence of its work becomes recognized.

969

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

Mr. Vincent was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Barbee and they have one son, Ernest A. Vincent, who has served in the United States Artillery with the rank of sergeant and was on active duty in France during the World war.

Mr. Vincent is widely known and is highly esteemed by reason of the sterling traits of character which he has displayed in every relation of life. Activity, energy and persistency of purpose have enabled him to overcome any difficulties and obstacles in his path as the years have gone on and today he is at the head of one of the important industrial concerns of Fort Smith, his success being the direct outcome of his ability, while his course should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what can he accomplished by individual effort.

JOHN KOCOUREK.

John Kocourek, engaged in merchandising at Hazen, is numbered among the pioneer residents of this section of the state, where he has conducted business as a planter as well as a merchant. He was born in central Bohemia, near Pisek, in 1862, his parents being Joseph and Christina Kocourek. He spent his boyhood and youth in his native country and when a young man came to the new world, making his way first to Chicago, while later he removed to Minnesota. Settling in Jackson county, that state, he there engaged in farming for a time but about thirty-two years ago came to Arkansas, establishing his home in Hazen. Here he also took up farming and in addition established a real estate office. He has since been instrumental in bringing many of his countrymen into this region, sixty-five different families having located here and become landowners in Prairie county, thus forming the nucleus of a substantial Bohemian population in this section of the state. Mr. Kocourek has also been instrumental in bringing seventy-five Slovak families to settle in Prairie county, their settlement being established about ten miles south of Hazen. His labors have thus been an important element in promoting the growth and develop- ment of this part of the state. In 1906 Mr. Kocourek erected a large brick building in Hazen that he now occupies as a hardware merchant, carrying an extensive line of shelf and heavy hardware. The building is one of the substantial structures of the city and his store one of the leading mercantile enterprises here. In addition to his stock of hardware he deals in farm implements and his trade has reached extensive proportions. Moreover, he has extended his efforts into other fields by becoming vice president of the Bank of Grand Prairie and as a planter he is prominently known, being the owner of two thousand acres of land. He was one of the first to undertake rice culture in this region and his labors have demonstrated the possibility for the production of the crop in this section of the state, thereby contributing in large measure to the material prosperity of the district.

Mr. Kocourek was united in marriage to Miss Anna Rehacek and they have become parents of three children: Frank J., Christine and Anna. The son was on duty at Camp Pike as a sergeant during the World war. Mr. Kocourek was very prominent in promoting the Liberty Loan drives, selling many thousands of dollars worth of bonds to the Bohemian and Slovak farmers of this section. He was presi- dent of the county council of defense and did everything in his power to further the interests of the government by advancing its financial condition and in molding public opinion concerning the vital questions at stake. Mr. Kocourek certainly deserves great credit for what he has accomplished since coming to the new world. Arriving in this country in limited financial circumstances he has steadily worked his way upward, utilizing every opportunity that has come his way and his lahors have been of a character that have contributed to public progress and prosperity, as well as to individual success.

RICHARD W. RIGHTSELL.

Richard W. Rightsell, vice president of the American Bank of Commerce and Trust Company, is more than a banker inasmuch as his life activity has had other aims besides the accumulation of private wealth. He is a political economist who accepts as scientifically sound the philosophy of finance which views private wealth as a public trust. He is a business man who has read widely and understandingly the principles of economics and is recognized today as a man of notably sound judg- ment and of broad public spirit.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 152

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