Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 166

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

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On the 31st of January, 1860, Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Latta, the wedding being celebrated near the town of Evansville, Arkansas. Her father John Latta, was a native of South Carolina and her grandfather was Thomas Latta, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. John Latta was united in marriage to Miss Jane Starr, representative of an old family of considerable wealth and influence in South Carolina. At his death Professor Mitchell was survived by his widow, three sons and three daugh- ters. The children are: William S., Horace G., James, Jr., all of Little Rock; Alice, the wife of John E. Coates; Jennie, the wife of Ashley Cockrill; and Fanuie. One daugh- ter, Mamie, died in young womanhood. The family circle was again broken by the hand of death when after an illness of two months Mr. Mitchell died in a sanitarium at Little Rock, on the 26th of June, 1902, his remains being interred in the family lot in Mount Holly cemetery in Little Rock. On December 1, 1920, Mrs. Mitchell passed to eter- nal rest, loved and respected by all who knew her.

Throughout his life Professor Mitchell had been a contributing factor to the de- velopment and progress of the city. He used the Arkansas Democrat as a factor in pro- moting public progress and upbuilding the material resources of the state and in sup- porting many public enterprises of worth. His pen, purse and influence were always ready to aid in every public measure and charitable undertaking of merit. Never seek- ing public office or political preferment for himself he did much to advance the aspira- tions of others and exercised a potent influence in state policy. He was an ardent but conservative democrat and adhered to the doctrine of the greatest good to the greatest number. He was one of the chief advocates for a creditable exhibit of the resources of Arkansas at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 and largely aided in securing private subscriptions and a state appropriation for that purpose. Governor James P. Eagle appointed him one of the World's Fair commissioners and he was elected presi- dent of the state board. He always manifested the greatest interest in educational af- fairs and his long experience in teaching equipped him for most effective influence and worth in educational councils. He served as a member of the public school board of Little Rock and for years held a commission from the governor of the state as one of trustees of the State University, to which institution he rendered valuable aid, making it a most creditable element in the educational development of the state. On a number of occasions he was urged to become a candidate for governor but always declined. In May, 1893, he was appointed postmaster of Little Rock by President Cleveland and con- tinued to fill the office until 1897, after which his attention was given to the editorial management of the Democrat.

Fraternally Mr. Mitchell was a Mason and also connected with the Knights of Py- thias. He possessed an ability which caused him to be recognized as one of the leading minds of the southwest and had a character for honesty and integrity and fidelity to every trust reposed in him, while his business and social standing was such as is enjoyed by few men of Arkansas. A poet of old has written:

"Honor and fame from no condition rise; Act well your part-there all the honor lies."

And this Mr. Mitchell did. A man of broad vision and high ideals, simply endeavoring to do his duty day by day and contributing in so far as possible to the world's work he left behind him a memory that is honored and cherished by all who knew him.

JEFFERSON D. SOUTHARD, M. D.

Dr. Jefferson D. Southard, a well known representative of the medical profession at Fort Smith, was born in Franklin county, near Charleston, Arkansas, in April, 1861, a son of the Rev. Micajah and Sarah (Murrel) Southard. The father was a minister of the Methodist church and one of the early circuit riders of the state. He was

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born in Buncombe county, North Carolina, and removed to Tennessee, where he engaged in preaching the gospel. The Murrels were from the latter state and the father of Mrs. Sarah (Mnrrel) Sonthard was the son of a Revolutionary war soldier. The Sonthard family comes of English ancestry and was founded originally at Gravesend, Long Island, the founders of the family in the new world being Thomas, Abraham and Henry Southard, three brothers who in early colonial days crossed the Atlantic. Henry Southard was the father of Samuel Lewis Southard, from whom Dr. Sonthard of this review is directly descended. Samuel Lewis Southard settled in New Jersey and hecame a man of prominence in that state. He served as governor and also as United States senator and was at one time secretary of war in the national cabinet. Through its members the family has contributed in large measure to the political, intellectual, social and moral progress of various parts of the country. The Rev. Micajah Southard did splendid work in upbuilding the church, devoting the greater part of his life to the ministry, and he was a member of the Holston conference. His demise occurred in Charleston, Arkansas, a life of great usefulness heing thus ended. To him and his wife were born ten children: Jefferson D .; Dr. R. M. Sonthard of Fort Smith, one who died in infancy; Bascom; Dempse; Wilbur; Sarah, the wife of D. Y. Berry, founder of the Berry-Beall Dry Goods Company of Fort Smith; Jane Lucretia, the wife of F. D. Proctor; Mary, the wife of John Pettigrew; and Martha, who married James D. Davis.

Dr. Southard acquired a common school education and afterward attended the University of Louisville at Louisville, Kentucky. There he prepared for a professional career and entered upon the practice of medicine at Fort Smith, where he has re- mained. He has served as president of the board of health, is one of the trustees of the Arkansas Tuberculosis Sanitarium and president of the clinical staff of Sparks Memorial Hospital. He has ever exemplified the most advanced ethics of the profession in his daily practice.

Dr. Southard was united in marriage to Miss Corinne Sherlock of Fort Smith. a daughter of Captain S. H. Sherlock, who won his military title hy service in the Civil war. Dr. and Mrs. Southard have hecome parents of three children: Jefferson Sherlock, Anna Corinne and Ruth. The elder daughter is now the wife of Wilbur H. Hntsell. The son, Jefferson Sherlock Southard, was educated at the University of Missouri, from which he was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1917. He then entered the army at Fort Riley, Kansas, going into the First Officers Train- ing Camp. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and was assigned to Camp Beauregard with the One Hundred and Forty-second Field Artillery, being there an instructor in signal service and wireless. He went overseas as instructor in wireless and after the armistice attended the University of Montpelier, France. He is now a senior medical student in Tulane University at New Orleans, Louisiana

He belongs to the Alpha Kappa Kappa, a Greek letter fraternity, and also to the Alpha Tan Omega. Aside from his professional interests Dr. Southard is a director in the Berry-Beall Dry Goods Company and is interested in a number of business enterprises.

BEN MCCRARY.

Ben Mccrary, lawyer, editor and hotel proprietor, whose life of intelligently di- rected activities brought substantial results and who made for himself an enviable po- sition in the esteem and regard of his fellowmen, made his home during the latter part of his life in Hot Springs, where he owned the MeCrary Hotel. He was a native of the neighboring state of Missouri, his birth having occurred on February 22, 1846, in Bu- chanan county, on the site where the town of Easton now stands. He was one of a fam. ily of six children born to Elijah and Eliza ( Martin) Mccrary. The father was a pros- perous farmer and merchant and became the owner of three extensive farms in Bu- chanan county, Missouri. His business affairs were wisely and carefully managed and he won a most substantial competence.

Ben Mccrary was educated in the public schools of Buchanan county. Missouri, and pursued his college course in St. Joseph, thus laying broad and deep the founda- tion of general learning, on which he built the superstructure of professional knowl- edge. Having determined upon the practice of law as a life work he completed a course of law study and was admitted to the har of the state of Missouri in 1868. He then en- tered upon the active practice of his profession as junior partner in the law firm of Young & McCrary at St Joseph, Missouri. This association was maintained for two years, at the end of which time Mr. MeCrary removed to Denton, Texas, where he be- came a partner in the law firm of Carroll & McCrary. Some time afterward he turned his attention to newspaper publication and hecame the editor and proprietor of the

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Gainesville (Texas) Gazette. He remained an active factor in the conduct of that jour- nal until 1877, when he largely put aside business cares and responsibilities, owing to ill health. In 1880 the family removed to Hot Springs and Mr. Mccrary established the present Mccrary Hotel, but owing to the condition of his health, he traveled extensively. hoping to be benefited thereby. His death, however, occurred in St. Joseph, Missouri, on the 16th of March, 1886, and his remains were laid to rest in the family lot in the cemetery at Easton, Missouri, the town which stood upon land formerly owned by his father.

Mr. McCrary was survived only by his widow. On the 12th of January, 1872, he had wedded Mrs. Mathilde Anna Penelope. They became the parents of two children: Julius Q., who was horn July 4, 1876, and died September 24, 1879; and Julius O., who was born June 1, 1880, and died on the 3d of January, 1886.

Mr. McCrary was a member of the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with St. Jo- seph Lodge. He attended the First Presbyterian church and his entire life was actuated by a spirit of helpfulness and progressiveness. He never lightly regarded his duties as a citizen. He served as a member of the Texas legislature, giving thoughtful and earn- est consideration to the vital questions which came up for settlement in that connection. The sterling worth of his character was widely recognized and wherever he went he made friends who esteemed him highly and regarded his friendship as a prized posses- sion. His political allegiance was always given to the democratic party and it was characteristic of him that he was most loyal to any cause which he espoused. Mrs. Mccrary is a devout member of the Episcopal church and occupies an enviable social position in Hot Springs. After the death of her husband she completed and has since improved the Hotel Mccrary, which she still conducts. This hotel is noted for the re- finement and comfort, the excellence and convenience which pervades the place and for the most thoroughly reliable business methods. Mrs. McCrary has maintained the highest standards of hotel service and has made the institution a valuable addition to the hostelries of Hot Springs. For forty-two years the name of the Mccrary Hotel has been well known in this city and has figured prominently in connection with hotel service.

MATT S. DIBRELL, M. D.

Dr. Matt Shrewsbury Dibrell, a strong and forceful representative of the medical profession, practicing in Van Buren, was horn in Little Rock, Arkansas, December 3, 1866, and is a son of J. A., Sr., and Emily (Pryor) Dibrell. His father, long a successful physician, practiced in Van Buren as early as 1840. His life was one of broad use- fulness, so that deep regret was felt when he died February 23, 1897. He graduated from the University of Nashville. He completed a course in medicine in the University of Pennsylvania, with the class of 1893, and in the following year he came to Van Buren, at which time there were but two graduates of medicine in this vicinity. Settling in what was then a frontier region he rode horseback throughout the country and min- istered to his patrons. His life was indeed one of great service and benefit to his fel- lowmen, at a period when there were but two graduate physicians in this part of the country. Dr. Dihrell was twice married and by his first marriage had one son, Dr. J. A. Dihrell, Jr., who practiced medicine for a long period at Little Rock, but is now dead ; and three daughters. For his second wife he chose Emily Pryor, representative of a prominent old family of Nashville, Tennessee. They became parents of two sons, who also followed in the professional footsteps of their father; and two daughters. Dr. E. R. Dibrell. the elder son, now deceased, located at Little Rock.

Dr. Matt S. Dibrell, the younger, was educated in the Van Buren high school and later entered the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he attended three years. He completed his course of study in 1889 in the medical department of the Arkansas University, thus qualifying for the practice of medicine and surgery. He later took postgraduate work in New York and other medical centers, and throughout the intervening period he has remained a close and thorough student of his profession. Returning to Van Buren he has since engaged in practice here and has won a notable measure of success, having now an extensive general practice, for his record has added to the laurels of the family name that for more than eighty years has been an honored one in connection with professional interests in Van Buren. Dr. Dibrell volunteered his services in the World war, served on the local examining hoard in connection with war service and was a member of the medical advisory board of Fort Smith.

Dr. Dibrell was married to Miss Eula I. Peirce, a daughter of James and Artilla ( Beauchamp) Peirce, who, removing from Indianapolis, Indiana, to the south, settled in Water Valley, Mississippi. The father died at Grenada, Mississippi. His widow is living in Van Buren with Dr. Dihrell's family. They had two sons: Edward and Wil-

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liam. Edward, who was general solicitor for the Rock Island Railroad Company at Chi- cago, was the father of a son, James, who served as an aviator in France during the World war. Both Edward and William are deceased. Dr. and Mrs. Dibrell have two children: Artilla Pryor and James Peirce. Pursuing the even tenor of his way undis- turhed by criticism and actuated by laudable purpose, Dr. Dibrell has made constant advance in his profession and the service he has rendered has been of great benefit and value to his fellow townsmen.

J. E. COWNE.

One of the leading mercantile establishments of Greenwood is that conducted by the firm of Cowne & Townley. They have developed a trade of substantial pro- portions and have ever held to the highest standards in the line of goods carried, in the treatment accorded patrons and in the personnel of the house. J. E. Cowne, the junior partner, was born in Greenwood in 1886 and is a son of R. L. and Mahalie E. (Baker) Cowne. The father was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, and coming to Arkansas, was for some years actively engaged in farming and also for a considerable period conducted a hotel, spending his remaining days in this state. He wedded Mahalie E. Baker, a daughter of James J. Baker, who served as a private in the Confederate army throughout the Civil war and afterward established his home in Greenwood, where he conducted a grocery store. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Cowne were eight children: J. E., of this review; J. T., deceased; Arthur W .; Anna Belle, who is the wife of John Snodgrass; Susan J., who gave her hand in marriage to Minor Gordon; Virgie, deceased; Ed, deceased; and Robert L., who is also deceased. Cameron Cowne, a son of J. T. Cowne, and Robert Cowne, son of A. W. Cowne, nephews of J. E. Cowne, served in the World war.

J. E. Cowne spent his hoyhood and youth in Greenwood, pursuing his educa- tion in the public schools, and after his texthooks were put aside he started out in the business world in the mercantile establishment of C. R. Owens. He thus gained a thorough knowledge of the trade and of business methods and in 1912 he became associated with H. L. Townley in organizing the present firm of Cowne & Townley. They established a grocery store, which they conducted successfully for a decade, and in 1920 they purchased the store of Mr. Cowne's former employer, C. R. Owens. They are conducting a large general merchandise establishment, carrying an exten- sive line of goods, and their business is steadily growing, owing to their progressive methods. The neat and tasteful arrangement of the store and the thorough relia- bility of the partners have been the salient elements in the continuons success which they have enjoyed.

Mr. Cowne was united in marriage to Miss Emily C. Lane of Plumerville, Ar- kansas, and they are now parents of three children: Dorothy Lane, John E. and Robert Herman. Mr. Cowne has always taken a deep interest in community affairs and served as local secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association during the war period. His cooperation can at all times he counted upon to further any plan or measure for the general good and his worth as a man and citizen is widely acknowledged.

CAPTAIN HOWELL BREWER.

Captain Howell Brewer is a native son of Arkansas of whose record the state may well feel proud. He rendered valuable services to his country with the Punitive Expedi- tion in Mexico and in the World war. He is a self-educated, self-made man who has already won a position of prominence in the medical profession, although one of its younger representatives. He was born on a farm near the little village of El Paso, Arkansas, April 25, 1887, a son of James Richard and Martha Frances (Vann) Brewer, the latter also a native of that place. The father was born in December, 1863, near Montgomery, Alabama, and was but a child at the time of the removal of his parents to Arkansas. On reaching manhood he followed the profession of teaching for a time, afterward filling the office of deputy sheriff of Faulkner county, Arkansas, for several years. Later he became the owner of a large plantation in Lonoke county, this state, which he operated successfully until failing health compelled his retirement, after which he spent several years in travel. He died at El Paso, Arkansas, December 24, 1905. The mother survives and is now a resident of Vilonia, Arkansas.

In the public schools and Central College of Conway, Arkansas, Captain Brewer pursued his education, afterward hecoming a pupil in the Lonoke high school. He

CAPTAIN HOWELL BREWER

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next entered Hendrix College at Conway, where he completed his literary studies, but was forced to leave the institution before graduation, owing to the ill health and death of his father. He then took a year's course in shorthand, bookkeeping and typewriting, mostly at night school, due to the fact that he had been thrown upon his own resources. In 1906 he took up the study of medicine in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Little Rock, Arkansas, but after the first year he was forced to discontinue his studies on account of insufficient funds. In 1909 he was able to resume his studies and for a year attended the medical school of Georgetown University at Washington, D. C. The next two years were spent in replenishing his funds and in the fall of 1912 he became a student in the medical department of the University of Arkansas, where he attended three years, being graduated as a member of the class of 1915. He also passed the Arkansas state hoard of medical examiners the same month of the same year. For eight weeks thereafter he served as surgeon for the Wesson Lumber Company at Wesson, Arkansas, after which he located at Clarksville, in Johnson county, where he continued in practice for one and a half years. He was then called into the service of the United States government, having previously passed his examination at the Army and Navy General Hospital at Hot Springs. On the 15th of November, 1915, he was commissioned a first lieutenant of the Medical Reserve Corps and on the 23d of June, 1916, was called to duty at the Army and Navy General Hospital at Hot Springs. Shortly thereafter he was ordered to the Base Hospital at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and about a week afterward volunteered for active service in the field. He then joined the Eleventh United States Cavalry at Colonia Du Blan, in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, General Pershing being in command of the expedition. The following day he was assigned to the Seventh United States Cavalry, of which he served as surgeon during part of the campaign. During this time he also acted as assistant camp sanitary inspector; organ- ized and put into force the bureau of registration and prophylaxis for civilian employes; as well as inspecting all beef furnished the camp by the Corrollitas ranch. A written and photographic report of all this work was made by Lieutenant Brewer and is now on file in the surgeon general's office.

In 1917 the evacuation began and Lieutenant Brewer was placed in charge of a section of the motor ambulance train, which carried the sick and wounded and a few refugees along the line of communication to Columbus, New Mexico, and was in such service up to February 4, 1917, when the troops were assembled at Palomas, Mexico, and returned to the United States. Following this, Lieutenant Brewer was ordered to Deming, New Mexico, for the purpose of examining the National Guard in preparation for its muster out of service. This duty performed he was sent to Fort Logan H. Roots, Arkansas, and given a thirty-day leave of absence. During this period war was declared against Germany and Lieutenant Brewer organized a company of infantry at Clarksville, Arkansas, recruiting it at his own expense. He resigned from the regular service to accept a commission of captain of the company of the National Guard which he had organized and on the 4th of August, 1917, his command was drafted into the federal service by proclamation of the president, being designated as Company L, Third Arkansas Infantry, while later it became the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth United States Infantry. Two months afterward this company, with three others, was made a separate battalion known as the One Hundred and Forty-first Machine Gun Battalion, his command being designated as Company A, due to his seniority of rank. They were first stationed at the home rendezvous for thirty days, then Fort Logan H. Roots, Arkansas, and later transferred to Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, where they remained until their embarkation to France on the 3d of August, 1918, leaving by way of the port of Newport News, Virginia. They landed at Brest, France, and were lodged at Napoleon's old headquarters, the Pontanezzen barracks, whence they were ordered suc- cessively to Vingue, Peroigny and Noidant and at the latter place were formed into an anti-aircraft machine gun battalion, retaining their battalion number and company letters. While they were stationed at this point the armistice was signed and they were returned to America, hy way of the port of St. Nazaire, landing at Newport News, Vir- ginia, on New Year's day, 1919. They returned to Camp Pike, Arkansas, on January 8, 1919, and there the troops were mustered out of the service. Captain Brewer then took the examination for the regular service and was commissioned a captain of cavalry, being placed in command of Company G of the Fifty-seventh United States Infantry. Upon his own application he was discharged from the service on the 15th of October, 1919.

During his service in the United States army, Captain Brewer was awarded medals showing active service in Mexico and in France. He also holds certificates of qualifica- tion as pistol expert and sharpshooter. During the influenza epidemic of 1918-19 he treated the officers and enlisted personnel of his command and as a consequence all escaped the disease.

Upon again taking up the life of a civilian he located in Hot Springs, Arkansas,

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and resumed the practice of his profession, which he has since continued to follow with a gratifying measure of success. He is thoroughly familiar with the scientific basis upon which his work rests and is correct in the application of his knowledge to the needs of his patients. He is thorough and conscientious in the discharge of his professional duties and his practice is steadily growing as his skill hecomes recognized.

In 1918 Captain Brewer was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Letitia Farris of Conway, Arkansas, and they have become the parents of a daughter, Billy Lou. Dr. Brewer is a member of the Presbyterian church at Clarksville, Arkansas, and his poli- tical allegiance is given to the democratic party. He is a member of Warren Townsend Post No. 13 of the American Legion and the Business Men's League, both of Hot Springs, and is also a member of the Arkansas Automobile Association. He is a prominent Mason, belonging to Hot Springs Lodge No. 62, F. & A. M .; Shreveport Consistory No. 2, A. & A. S. R .; and El Karubah Temple of the Mystic Shrine, also at Shreveport, Louisiana. He is dictator of Hot Springs Lodge No. 504 of the Loyal Order of Moose and is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, being affiliated with Hot Springs Lodge No. 380. Dr. Brewer is also a member of the Chi Zeta Chi (X. Z. X.) National Medical Fraternity, the Fraternal Aid Union and the Woodmen of the World. He is a member of the staff of St. Joseph's Hospital and a member of the active staff of the United States Government Free Clinic, both at Hot Springs, Arkansas. He keeps in touch with the advancement that is constantly being made in the medical profession through his membership in the Hot Springs Garland County Medical Society, the Arkan- sas State Medical Association and the Southern Medical Association. He is also a fellow of the American Medical Association.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 166

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