Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 172

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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Judge Basham has always voted the democratic ticket since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. For eight years he filled the position of county judge and was circuit court judge for an equal period, his decisions being characterized by marked fidelity to duty and by a masterful grasp of the various problems presented for solution. He has also been mayor of Clarksville and a member of the school board and his aid and influence have ever been a strong factor in the development and pro- gress of city, county and state. He and his wife are consistent members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and have always been strong factors in the moral development of the community. Judge Basham has likewise served as a trustee of Hendrix Col- lege for three years. Fraternally he has been identified with the Knights of Pythias since 1887 and is a past chancellor of his local lodge, which he has likewise repre- sented in the Grand Lodge. His attention, however, is now given almost exclusively to his professional interests, which are of an important character and which connect him with much of the leading litigation heard in the courts of his district. Over his official record there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil and his public course has always been faultless in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in repu- tation.

JOHN WALKER COONTZ, D. D.

Dr. John Walker Coontz, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Little Rock, the largest church of this denomination in Arkansas, was born in Paris, Mis- souri, March 4, 1876, and is a son of William and Mildred ( Walker) Coontz. He is also a descendant of Anthony Coontz, who came to America in 1801 and settled in Virginia. On the Walker side his great-grandfather was a native of Holland and became an interior decorator of that country. He was brought to America by Thomas Jefferson for the purpose of advising upon the decoration of the Jefferson home, and well pleased with the new world, he never returned to his native land. His de- scendants went west and various representatives of the family are now found in dif- ferent sections of the country. The father of Dr. Coontz was born in Ohio, to which state his father had removed in pioneer times.

Dr. John Walker Coontz is the seventh in order of birth in a family of eleven children and he acquired his early educational training in Nevada, Missouri. He was graduated from the Scarritt College of Missouri, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and from Princeton University in 1897, with the Ph. D. degree. He afterward pursued a theological course in Drew Theological Seminary and was graduated from that institution in 1898, while in 1905 Princeton conferred upon him the D. D. degree.

Following his admission to the ministry Dr. Coontz was in charge of the Wash- ington Street Methodist church, South, in Kansas City, where he labored for three vears. He was then sent to the Neosha, Missouri, Methodist church, South, where he remained for about eighteen months. He was next attached to the St. Louis conference and served for a year at Holden, Missouri. Through the succeeding seven years he was pastor of the Oakhurst Methodist church in Kansas City, Missouri, and during that period built one of the finest churches in the city. The succeeding three years were spent as pastor of the Dr. Fry Memorial church at St. Louis, Mis- souri, and later he was sent to take charge of the Methodist church at Webb City.

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Missouri, which was burdened with a debt of twenty thousand dollars. Within five years, through his tireless efforts in winning the cooperation and support not only of the church people but of the public, he had succeeded in wiping out the indebted- ness and left the church in splendid financial conditions and with an increased mem- bership. He possesses marked executive ability and unfaltering energy and attacks everything with a contagious enthusiasm. He next labored at Cairo, Illinois, where he remained for four years and was then assigned to his present charge. Here he has continued and under his guidance the First Methodist Episcopal church is making continued progress, the various departments of his work being splendidly organized, while the results achieved are most satisfactory. On the 6th of September, 1898. Dr. Coontz was united in marriage to Miss Maude Lillian Dixon, a daughter of Thomas Dixon, a native of Kentucky and later a Missouri farmer and stock raiser. He served as a Confederate soldier during the Civil war and is a cousin of General Thomas Price. Mrs. Coontz was born in Missouri and by her marriage she has become the mother of six children: Rachel Gertrude, who is a high school graduate and a student in the Women's College at Jackson, Arkansas, possesses a wonderful musical gift and is a brilliant performer on the piano and organ; John W., who served in the navy during the World war, is now a draftsman; Lura Frances is a high school student; Claudia Spencer, Edward Catlin and Eleanor are also attending school.

Dr. Coontz is a Knights Templar Mason and has filled all of the chairs in the com- mandery. A deep student, he is also a finished pulpit orator, and his eloquence and his logic make strong impress upon the minds of his hearers. He is well known as a book reviewer. He possesses marked executive ability, keen sagacity and unfalter- ing energy, combined with the broadest human sympathy, which is manifest in un- faltering devotion to the welfare of his parishioners and in a keen interest in the uplift of all mankind. Churches under his care have prospered in seemingly mar- velous degree, while his intellectual force and kindly nature have won for him a most extended circle of friends and admirers.

JOHN P. SMITH.

Since 1898 Jolin P. Smith has engaged in the mercantile business in Fayetteville. where he is recognized as a representative citizen. He was born in Collin county, Texas, on the 28th of November, 1855, a son of William C. and Catherine ( Hunter) Smith, His parents were both born in eastern Tennessee and removed to Texas in early life, their marriage being celebrated in that place. In 1858 they came to Wash- ington county and the father purchased land. He became a successful and represent- ative farmer, which occupation he followed until his death. He was killed by Federal soldiers during the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were parents of six children: Jobn P .; William C., engaged in the oil business in Muskogee, Oklahoma; Mary, the wife of William Gaskell, an employe of the railroad at Shawnee, Oklahoma; Susan, the wife of a Mr. Morrison, a farmer of Washington state; Bettie, who mar- ried W. H. Morton; and Kate, the wife of Mack Morten of Farmington, a large fruit man. The family were reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church and the father was a stanch supporter of the democratic party.

In the acquirement of an education, John P. Smith attended the schools of Farmington, Arkansas. Until he was forty years of age he lived on a farm, but in 1898 disposed of his land at a substantial profit, and came to Fayetteville. Since that time he has engaged in the mercantile business and carries a large and high grade line of stock. His business methods have won for him a steady and ever in- creasing patronage and he is considered one of the representative men of Fayette- ville. Mr. Smith has other interests, being assistant manager of The Leader and having a large interest in the New Model, as well as in other stores in Fayetteville. He is tireless in his devotion to his business interests and the success he enjoys is well merited.

In 1888 occurred the marriage of Mr. Smith to Miss Mary B. Engles, a native of Farmington and a daughter of William H. Engles. Her father was a pioneer of Washington county, where for many years he was actively identified with farming and milling interests. His death occurred at the age of eighty-seven years. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith five children have been born: Gladys, Beulah, Isabelle, Catherine, and John P., Jr., the last tour of whom are living at home. The eldest daughter is the wife of Peter M. Bragg, who was superintendent of the high school at Helena. Arkansas, for some time. He is now holding a like position in the schools at Tex- arkana.

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Since age conferred upon Mr. Smith the right of franchise he has taken an active part in the affairs of the democratic party and while residing on the farm was even more active than he is now. He was county assessor from 1890 to 1894. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally lie is identified with the Masons. In every undertaking Mr. Smith has enjoyed substantial success and he has won an enviable reputation in business circles.

COLONEL WILLIAM H. HALLIBURTON.

No history of Arkansas would be complete and satisfactory were there failure to make reference to Colonel William H. HalliBurton, who was one of the pioneer educators of the state and who for sixty-five years practiced law in Arkansas. He witnessed the building of three county courthouses in De Witt and his name now reposes in the corner stone of the present edifice of justice here. Colonel HalliBurton was born in Stewart county, Tennessee, in 1816, and was a son of Thomas and Lucinda (Herndon) HalliBurton, the former also a native of Tennessee, while the latter was born in North Carolina and accompanied her parents to Tennessee, the family home being established in Stewart county, that state, where she hecame the wife of Thomas HalliBurton.

While Colonel HalliBurton became a well-read man, he was largely self-educated. He attended school for only eight months in Tennessee but throughout his life he possessed an observing eye and retentive memory and thus stored up many points of useful knowledge, while at all times he gleaned much information from reading and study privately pursued. At the age of seventeen years he clerked in a country store and when twenty-two years of age he was married, his first wife being Miss Catherine Alton, who was born in Humphreys county, Tennessee, and became the wife of Colonel HalliBurton in Henry county, that state. She was the daughter of a Baptist minister. To this marriage were born seven children: Juliet; Henry, who became a minister of the Baptist church; Gulnare, the wife of William Stillwell; John, deceased; Bobo; one who died in infancy; and John. The wife and mother of these children departed this life in Arkansas and later Colonel HalliBurton was married at Arkansas Post, having met his wife there with her parents. She bore the maiden name of Hannah Jacobs and was a daughter of William and Margaret (Henry) Jacobs, representatives of an old family of West Virginia, Hannah Jacobs having been born in that state. To this marriage were born four daughters: Jennie; Margaret, deceased; Catherine, and Lucinda, the last named now occupying the old homestead at De Witt, while to her the historian is indebted for the interesting account of her father.

It was in the year 1845 that Colonel HalliBurton came to Arkansas, then a young man of twenty-nine years, settling in the southern part of Arkansas county. He first located at Arkansas Post and while there residing his second wife died. He later wedded Mary Patrick, a daughter of William B. Belknap, who emigrated from Boston, Massa- chusetts, to St. Charles, Arkansas.

It was after his removal to this state that Colonel HalliBurton secured a certificate to teach and then rode horseback through the country in search of pupils. He estab- lished a small private school and thus entered upon a professional career here. It was his desire, however, to become a member of the bar and he made teaching only a stepping stone to other professional labor. Taking up the study of law he at length entered upon the practice of the profession, which he followed continuously in Arkansas for more than sixty-five years. He long enjoyed an extensive and important practice and was one of the honored pioneer lawyers of the state. While actively connected with the bar he witnessed the building of three courthouses in De Witt and practiced law in all of them. He assisted in erecting the first old log courthouse and later was a commissioner appointed for the erection of the second courthouse. When this, too, became inade- quate to the purposes for which it was intended he also was appointed for similar service in the erection of the present courthouse and in all ways took active part in furthering the interests of law and justice. Not only was he prominent as a representa- tive of the bar but he also served as deputy sheriff and at the same time acted as county clerk. As clerk he issued papers and then rode miles on horseback to serve them as sheriff. He also filled the position as tax collector, riding from house to house to collect taxes, carrying the money in saddlebags. In this way he journeyed from De Witt to Little Rock on horseback to deposit the money in the treasury, and never carried arms of any kind.

Six months before the war Colonel HalliBurton removed to Little Rock, where he was associated with Augustus Garland and was also appointed war tax collector for Arkansas by Jeff Davis. When the Federal troops made their way into Arkansas he placed his family and his possessions, his negroes and his mules on a flatboat, which he

COLONEL WILLIAM H. HALLIBURTON

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hoated down the river to Jefferson county. With the help of his slaves he there built a log cabin and the family resided there for some time, removing later to De Witt. When the war was over and conditions had somewhat again reached the normal he once more took active part in public affairs. He served for three terms in the state legis- lature and later was appointed as agent to clear the titles to swamp lands, spending some time in this work in Washington, D. C.

As a means of diversion Colonel HalliBurton collected rare coins and books and on one occasion he gave a miscellaneous collection of more than two thousand books to Ouachita College. He received a silver medal and a diploma with it, at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, for the best collection of original manuscripts relating to the Louisiana purchase, having gathered these from county archives. Colonel HalliBurton was also the author of a history of Arkansas county, which is a splendid work, giving most authentic and accurate information concerning the early events which shaped the history of this section of the state, as well as later progress. Twenty years prior to his death he retired from the active practice of law, yet only a few months before his death, which occurred when he was ninety-six years of age, he acted as special judge at a term of circuit court. On the 18th of November, 1912, "Arkansas county's grand old man" as he was called, passed to the home beyond. His life had covered almost a century and he had been a witness of many events which shaped the history of the nation, had lived through the period of three wars, had seen the settlement of the great west and had borne active and helpful part in shaping the history of Arkansas. To him had come "the blessed accompaniment of age honor, riches and hosts of friends."

Miss Lu HalliBurton, a surviving daughter of Colonel HalliBurton, who lives in the old homestead, was his constant companion during his later years. In early life she was a music teacher, having studied music in the Mary Sharp College in Tennessee and she is now president of the Music Club of De Witt. She traveled extensively with her father, thus becoming familiar with many sections of the country. She is also his- torian of the local chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy and she takes a keen interest in all those forces which make for individual uplift and cultural advancement in the community.

GUY E. THOMPSON.

Guy E. Thompson, whose views have ever found expression in prompt action rather than in theory and whose labors have found culmination in the development of the business of the Bankers Trust Company of Little Rock, of which he is the vice president, has been a lifelong resident of Arkansas, his birth having occurred in Monticello, December 3, 1872, his father being Woodville E. Thompson. At the usual age he became a pupil in the Monticello schools and after mastering the branches of learning therein taught, spent two years as a student in the schools of Little Rock and later was graduated from the Little Rock Commercial College. He afterward studied for a time in the law department of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock but never entered upon active practice as an attorney. In fact throughout his business career he has given his attention to financial interests and for two terms, from 1907 until 1911, he filled the office of treasurer of Little Rock. His identification with the Bankers Trust Company dates from February, 1917, and he is now filling the position of vice president, in which connection he is giving thorough study to the opportunities of the business and the problems involved in its successful conduct. His judgment is sound and his enterprise unfaltering and the results achieved have been most satisfactory.

Little Rock was the scene of Mr. Thompson's marriage to Miss Elizabeth Barton Collins on the 15th of November, 1899. His wife was born in this city November 2, 1870, and is a daughter of Charles S. and Kate (Comfort) Collins. The father, a native of Pennsylvania, is now deceased, but the mother still makes her home in Little Rock, where Mrs. Thompson was reared and educated, being a graduate of the high school. Three sons and a daughter have been born of this marriage: Claude S., Henry V., Guy E. and Mary Elizabeth.

Mr. Thompson is a democrat where national issues and questions are involved but at local elections largely casts an independent ballot. During the World war he stanchly supported every interest for the benefit of the government and had charge of the canvass for war stamps in Little Rock and took part in promoting the sales on all bond drives. Fraternally he is a Scottish Rite Mason, while his religious faith is manifest in his membership in the Second Presbyterian church, in which he is now serving as an elder. He is prominent as a man whose constantly expanding powers have taken him from humble surroundings to the field of large enterprises

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and continually broadening opportunities. His experiences have brought to him a clear understanding that readily solves complex problems and unites into a har- monious whole unrelated and even diverse interests.

JACOB L. PRESSON.

Jacob L. Presson, owner of a general mercantile store at Mansfield, this state, is a representative business man and citizen. A substantial success has attended his efforts, although a short time ago he met with a great loss when fire destroyed his store and the adjoining property owned by him. He has rebuilt his store, however, and is hopefully starting again. Epictetus has said: "Difficulties show men what they are. -In case of any difficulty God has pitted you against a rough antagonist that you may be a conqueror, and this cannot be without toil."

Jacob L. Presson was born in Tennessee in 1859, a son of Mathew James and Nancy Presson. The father was a farmer throughout his life and gained substantial success. In 1881, J. L. Presson came to Arkansas and located near Greenwood. There he engaged in farming and was active along that line until about eight years ago, when he came to Mansfield and purchased an interest in the Dixon-Rogers Company. Four years ago he hought out the business and conducted it with great success until a short time ago, when he was burned out. He has rebuilt, however, and his business is assuming larger proportions. Mr. Presson is a capable business man, resourceful and energetic and the continued success of his enterprise is assured because of his tire- less effort and determination of spirit, the qualities that invariably win for their pos- sessor the reward for which he strives.

Forty-one years ago in West Tennessee, occurred the marriage of Mr. Presson to Miss Almeda Mathew and to them thirteen children have been born, ten of whom are living. One son, Luther, served his country in the World war as a member of the Thirty-ninth Division Heavy Artillery and was overseas eleven months; and a daughter, Bertha, is engaged in teaching school. Mr. Presson is' a public-spirited citizen and is actively interested in the growth and development of Mansfield. Loyal in his friendships and honorable in his business relations, he stands on a firm footing in the esteem of his fellow citizens.

AUGUST WALTER MILLING.

August Walter Milling, county agent of Crawford county, residing at Van Buren, is a strong exponent of all of those progressive measures which are bringing about advanced agricultural methods, commercial development and the improvement of the public highways. Alert to the opportunities of the age he is employing practical methods in the attainment of high ideals. A native of Denmark, he was born at Aal- borg, in 1874, and is a son of A. W. Milling, who was a wholesale merchant of that country. He pursued his education in the schools of Denmark, while spending his youthful days under the parental roof and after mastering the elementary branches of learning matriculated in the University of Copenhagen, from which he was grad- uated iu 1892, having pursued special courses in agriculture and dairying. He also served in the Danish navy in early manhood and later hecame assistant manager of a large estate. The opportunities of the new world, however, attracted him and in 1879 he came to the United States, making his way westward to La Salle, Illinois. He spent several years in that state and in December, 1904, came to Arkansas, where he secured a tract of land in Pulaski county and engaged in farming. He has always been recognized as an exponent of the most progressive scientific methods of agriculture and kindred interests and by reason of his leadership in this regard was appointed in 1917 to the position of county agent of Franklin county, serving in that capacity for two years. He came to Crawford county in 1919 and has been county agent here through the intervening period. He is a stanch advocate of good roads as the best means of agricultural development, enabling farmers to market readily their merchandise. His own thorough university training and his broad practical experience enables him to speak with authority upon many questions relative to the production of crops, to the care of the stock and dairying interests. He has largely advocated truck gardening, fruit culture and berry growing in this section of the state and he has recently organ- ized a cooperative creamery company. He has likewise been active in introducing pure bred cattle and educating the farmers as to their value for daily purposes. He is plan- ning a community dairy to be owned by the farmers, which will be established in Van Buren. The proceeds of a part of the cream sold by each farmer will be used in the

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liquidation of the debts incident to the establishment of the dairy and the stock in the business is to be paid for in the same manner. Mr. Milling has organized various community clubs where questions of general interest are widely and thoroughly dis- cussed, bringing knowledge to many members. His plans and work have produced excellent results, manifest in the stimulated interest in everything that means for progress and improvement in agricultural, dairying and stock raising interests.

Mr. Milling was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Hopkins, a daughter of Frank and Jennie (Buckley) Hopkins. The family was originally from Virginia and has long been prominent in connection with the public life of Arkansas. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Milling was at one time mayor of Little Rock. Mrs. Hopkins is a leader in the Eastern Star, having served as grand secretary of the order. Mr. and Mrs. Milling occupy an enviable social position and have an extensive circle of friends, whose warm regard they receive and merit. Mr. Milling is making valuable contribu- tion to the world's work and tangible evidences of his labor are everywhere manifest throughout Crawford county.

WINFIELD W. JERNIGAN.

Winfield W. Jernigan, vice president of the First National Bank at Hartford, has won his success through an alertness and enterprise in business, coupled with that persistency of purpose that seldom fails to reach its objective. He was born in Independence county, Arkansas, in 1885, and is a son of W. M. and Savannah Vic- toria Jernigan. The father was a farmer, devoting his life to the work of tilling the soil.

The youthful days of Winfield W. Jernigan were spent under the parental roof and when he had mastered the elementary branches of learning he continued his education in the high school at Sulphur Rock. He then took up the profession of teaching, which he followed with success in Independence county, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge he had acquired. It was not his desire to devote his entire life, however, to this calling and when opportunity came to enter upon a more remunerative pursuit he did so. He became a railroad agent and operator for the Missouri Pacific and was in the employ of that corporation for five years. Still watchful of chances for advancement, he later secured the position of cashier in the First National Bank at Newark, Arkansas, and thus gained his initial experience in connection with the banking business. In 1921 he came to the First National Bank at Hartford, of which he is now the vice president, and as one of its officers he is giving his attention to constructive effort and executive control.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 172

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