Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 18

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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Since attaining his majority Mr. Barham has given his political endorsement to the democratic party, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in

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good government. His religions faith is that of the Christian church and for some time he has been active as secretary and treasurer of the Sunday school. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, holding membership in Chickasha Lodge, No. 134, A. F. & A. M. of Blytheville and the Royal Arch Chapter here. He likewise belongs to the local lodge, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. During the World war Mr. Barham put all per- sonal interests aside and was tireless in promoting the government's interests. He was a member of the legal advisory board of Mississippi county, food administrator for the west end of this county and one of the Four-Minute men. Mr. Barham is readily con- ceded to be one of Blytheville's leading citizens and he has wielded a great influence for good in this community. Although he was thirty-seven years of age when he took up the study of law, he has achieved more than substantial success as a practitioner and is ranked with the leading attorneys of Mississippi county and the state.

A. N. FALLS.

A. N. Falls, who represents the third generation of the family in Arkansas, is now serving as cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Russellville and is recognized as an able financier and a man of thorough reliability and strict integrity. He is a member of one of the pioneer families of the state and was born in Pottsville, Pope county, in May, 1875, a son of Erskine B. and Mollie (Sinclair) Falls, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Tennessee. As children they came to Pope county, being playmates during their youth, and their marriage occurred near Pottsville. For a number of years the father followed the occupation of farming and later he engaged in merchandising in Pottsville, successfully conducting his mercantile interests there for a period of fifteen years. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian and in his political views he was a democrat, but never aspired to public office, although in all matters of citizenship he was public-spirited and progressive. Mr. and Mrs. Falls became the parents of three children: Gregory S., deceased; A. N .; and Roy, a leading merchant of Pottsville. The eldest son was associated with his father in business and was called to public office, serving for two terms as county clerk of Pope county, and was filling that office at the time of his death, which occurred when he was but thirty-four years of age, a most promising career being suddenly terminated. The paternal grandfather, A. N. Falls, was a native of North Carolina and became a resident of Mount Noir, that state, whence he made his way to Arkansas, becoming one of the early settlers of the state. He purchased land and continued to follow agricultural pursuits until his demise. Although his advanced years prevented his participation in the Civil war, he con- tributed two sons to the cause of the Confederacy and but one returned home at the end of the conflict, the other losing his life on the field of battle. The maternal grand- father, Gregory Sinclair, was a native of Ireland and after emigrating to the United States he first settled in North Carolina, whence he removed to Tennessee, and later came to Arkansas, where he made his home the rest of his life.

A. N. Falls became a traveling salesman, continuing to act in that capacity for three years, and then engaged in merchandising at Danville, Arkansas. Subsequently he entered the financial field as an employe in a bank at Danville, being connected with that institution for ten years. He then secured a position in the Farmers Bank at Dardanelle, with which he remainded for nine years, thus gaining a comprehensive knowledge of modern finance. In 1919 he came to Russellville and assisted in organizing the Farmers State Bank, of which he has since been cashier, and is doing able, sys- tematic work. He is faithful to the interests in his charge and is doing all in his power to promote the success of the institution. He is a stockholder and director of the bank and also owns stock in the Farmers Bank at Dardanelle, while he likewise has made investments in valuable farm property in Pope and Yell connties, being an astute, farsighted business man, whose plans are carefully formulated and promptly executed.

In 1909 Mr. Falls was united in marriage to Miss Annie Davis, who was born in Wilmar, Drew county, Arkansas, a daughter of Grier Davis, a native of Mississippi, who removed from that state to this section at an early period in its development and devoted his attention to the cultivation of a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Falls have become the parents of five children: Irma, Etta and Erskine, all of whom are attending school; and Harold and Helen, twins, aged three years.

Mr. and Mrs. Falls have been earnest and active members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church for the past three years at Russellville, and for nine years he served as one of the elders of the Southern Presbyterian church at Dardanelle. His political support is given to the platform and candidates of the democratic party and he is a Knights Templar Mason, being also identified with the Knights of Pythias. He has

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led an active and useful life, employing every opportunity to advance, and he deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for his prosperity is the direct result of his persistency of purpose and undaunted energy. He is always loyal to any cause which he espouses and faithful to every trust and his record as a man and citizen is an enviable one.

WHARTON CARNALL.

Wharton Carnall, real estate agent, is identified with this line of business in Fort Smith, where he has handled many important realty transfers during the past forty years. He has thoroughly acquainted himself with conditions bearing on property interests in this city and his knowledge enables him to speak with authority on many matters that have to do with the valuation of real estate holdings in Sebastian county. Much of his life has been devoted to this line of business. He was born in Sebastian county in 1862 and is a son of John and Frances (Turner) Carnall. The father came to Arkansas from Fauquier county, Virginia, making his way to this state in order to take up the profession of school teaching here. He afterward became sheriff of Craw- ford county and also filled the position of clerk of the United States court at Van Buren. He was elected the first clerk of this county and at all times discharged his public duties with promptness, capability and fidelity. He also became identified with the purchase and sale of land and likewise took up the business of newspaper publication. He was a most public-spirited citizen and he distributed gratis the first write-up that Fort Smith ever had, in order to promote the interests and advantages of Fort Smith, making wide distribution of the paper at the Louisville exposition. He assisted in laying out various additions to the city and in every possible way contrbuted to its growth, progress and improvement. Mr. and Mrs. John Carnall reared five children: J. Henry; Turner B .; Wharton; Virginia, the wife of William Gardner; and Emma C., the wife of Will W. Wheeler. It was the father of Wharton Carnall, with whom the idea originated that has developed the magnificent school fund for Fort Smith. This was consummated by a donation of the old Military Reserve now in the heart of Fort Smith. This was John Carnall's thought and later his political assistant brought it about. J. Henry Carnall, brother of Wharton Carnall, who was in 1885 mayor of the city, made the first sale of lots on that reserve for school purposes.

Wharton Carnall obtained his early education in the schools of Sebastian county and throughout his life he has remained a student of events which have their influence upon the public welfare and the general interests of society. He has learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience and the worth of his opinions on vital questions is widely acknowledged. At maturity he turned his attention to the real estate business and to newspaper publishing in connection with his father. He was the originator of the movement for the building of the greater sewer and paving districts in Fort Smith and worked untiringly to secure results along those lines, to the end that the town now has more miles of paving and sewer than any other city of its size in the world. He is constantly alert to. the opportunities for Fort Smith's upbuilding and substantial development and his financial aid and active cooperation can at all times be counted upon to further public plans and measures of a beneficial character. He is likewise one of the board of directors of the Goldman Hotel. His life has been passed in Sebastian county and those who analyze his career must readily recognize the integrity of his business principles and methods and his devotion to the general good, while at the same time he has so conducted his individual affairs that legitimate prosperity has come to him.

M. F. LAUTMAN, M. D.

Dr. M. F. Lantman, physician and surgeon of Hot Springs, was born in Meriden, Connecticut, April 18, 1890. He was reared in New Britain, that state, and the public schools accorded him his educational opportunities until he had mastered the high school course. He entered Yale University in 1907 and was gradnated with the class of 1911. Even as a hoy he had been keenly interested in the science of medicine and it was to this that he turned when making choice of a life work. Having completed his college course, he became connected with the army on the 12th of February, as a representative of the medical division, being commissioned a first lieutenant and sta- tioned for service at Chattanooga, Tennessee, and also at San Antonio, Texas, where he received his discharge on the 20th of December. He is now a captain of the Medical

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Reserve Corps. He was connected with Mount Sinai Hospital of New York as interne for three years and then opened an office in New York city, where he practiced for a time. He came to Hot Springs as medical director of the Levi Hospital, which position he filled for a year, and he is now serving on the hospital staff. He is also chief of the clinic at the United States Public Health Service clinic.

Dr. Lautman belongs to the Masonic fraternity and has attained high rank in the order, as indicated in the fact that he is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His attention and activities, however, are largely concentrated upon his professional duties and he belongs to the Garland County Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society, the Southern Medical Association and the American Medical Association. Through the proceedings of these bodies he is thoroughly in touch with the advanced thought and scientific investigation of the profession and employs the most progressive methods in his prac- tice. Already he has attained a most creditable position for one of his years and his future career will be well worth watching.

WILLIAM A. McHENRY, M. D.

Dr. William A. McHenry, who has been continuously engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Rogers through the past fifteen years, was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, in 1859, a son of W. M. and Amanda (McGuffey) McHenry, both of whom were natives of Ohio, in which state their marriage was celebrated. They removed to Minnesota in the early '50s, at which time the Indians were still numerous in that region. The father preempted a tract of land and carried on farming for a number of years, bringing his property to a high state of cultivation and improvement. He passed away in the state of Oregon in 1908, having for almost four decades survived his wife, who was called to her final rest in 1869. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party, while his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. To him and his wife were born seven children, four of whom survive, namely: James, who follows farming in Oregon; William A., of this review; Sam, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Texas; and Lizzie, who is the widow of John Nelson and resides in Dakota.

William A. McHenry obtained his education in the schools of St. Charles, Minnesota, and after putting aside his textbooks assisted his father in the operation of the home farm until he decided to enter professional life and with that end in view matriculated in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, from which he was graduated with the class of 1906. In that year he came to Arkansas and at once opened an office in Rogers, where he has since remained and has built up a practice of gratifying propor- tions, his patronage steadily increasing as he has demonstrated his skill and ability in coping with the many complex problems which continually confront the physician in his efforts to restore health and prolong life. He owned a drug store in Rogers for four years but now devotes his entire time to his professional duties. He is a valued member of the Benton County Medical Society and also belongs to the Arkansas State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

On the 25th of July, 1883, Dr. McHenry was united in marriage to Miss Sadie Miller, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Joshua and Huldah Miller, the former born in Massachusetts and the latter in Pennsylvania. Joshua Miller, who was engaged in business as a barber and laborer, lived in the states of Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri and died in 1903 in Santa Barbara, California, passing away in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a devoted and consistent member. He participated in the Civil war as a member of the Eighteenth Iowa Infantry, remaining with that command until the close of hostilities between the north and the south. He was in- jured while on a forced march and this disabled him throughout the remainder of his life. His wife passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. McHenry, in Rogers, Arkansas, December 23, 1914. They became the parents of six children, four of whom are yet living, as follows: Mrs. McHenry; William A., who is a farmer residing in Rochester, Minnesota; Herbert A., who is identified with journalistic interests in Mon- tana; and Edith, the wife of Charles F. Harris, a contractor of Bellingham, Washington.

Dr. and Mrs. McHenry are the parents of five children: Maude E., at home; Percy W., who is engaged in the drug business in St. Louis; Blanch, who is the wife of Milton Brown, of Rogers, Arkansas; Ralph Ray, a physician who is engaged in Red Cross work in Serbia; and Edith, who has been a teacher of domestic science during the past five years and is now a resident of Rogers, Arkansas. The last named was educated in the high school at Rogers, Arkansas, and also pursued a course of study in Baker University of Baldwin, Kansas. Ralph Ray McHenry served in the World war with

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the rank of captain for nineteen months and was given a medal for bravery by King George, who pinned it on his coat in Buckingham Palace on the 19th of December, 1918. He was one of the physicians loaned to the English government by the United States.

In politics Dr. McHenry is a republican, having stanchly supported the men and measures of that party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. His re- ligious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, while fraternally he is identified with the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen. He holds to the highest ethics and standards in the performance of his professional duties and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his colleagues and contemporaries as well as of the general public.

ANDREW J. RUSSELL.

One of the representative citizens of Berryville is Andrew J. Russell, who for many years has engaged in the practice of law here. He was born in Springfield, Missouri. on the 20th of November, 1865, a son of Willis C. and Mary Ann (Goforth) Russell, both natives of Carroll county, this state. The paternal grandfather, Lewis Russell, was born in North Carolina and resided in that state until his removal to Illinois in early life. In 1842 he came to Carroll county, being one of the early pioneers here. The grandfather on the maternal side was William Goforth, a native of South Carolina. He came to Carroll county at an early day and resided here until his demise. Willis C. Russell was born on the 16th of April, 1843, and was but eighteen years of age at the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1861 he entered the army from Carroll county and after doing home guard service, became a member of Company E, Seventy-third Missouri Infantry. He served throughout the war and participated in many of the most im- portant battles, and personally assisted in the capture of General Marmaduke. After receiving his discharge he resided in Springfield, Missouri, for one year, returning to Carroll county. Previous to the war Willis C. Russell had little time for education but on returning to this county he commenced to study at home, learning to read and write, and in due time he took up the study of law. He became one of the successful attorneys of the county and continued in active practice until his demise, October 1, 1919. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Russell four sons and one daughter were horn: Andrew J., whose name initiates this review; Jesse L., a newspaper man of Harrison, Arkansas; Margie, the wife of Lee H. Smith, owner of a garage and automobile business in Green Forest; Martin B., special newspaper writer with residence in Seward, Nebraska; and Henry Berry. The last named enlisted for service during the World war as a member of the Twenty-seventh Mining Engineers and was in active service in France for twelve months. While returning to the United States on the transport Dakotan, his death occurred on the 14th of March, 1919, and his body was brought to his home in Carroll county, burial taking place on the 26th of that month. The family was reared in the faith of the Baptist church, one of the ancestors of Mrs. Russell, John Oneal, being clerk of a Baptist Association in Scotland more than one hundred and fifty years ago. Mr. Russell was an exemplary member of the Masonic craft. His political allegiance was always given to the republican party. Mrs. Russell is now living in Carroll county, enjoying the best of health, at the age of seventy-nine years.

In the acquirement of an education Andrew J. Russell attended the common schools of Carroll county and in due time entered Clarke's Academy at Berryville. For eight years, after putting his textbooks aside, he engaged in teaching school and subsequently, deciding upon a legal career, he read law in his father's office and took a correspondence course. For ten years he published a newspaper at Green Forest, but upon his admission to the bar in 1906 he disposed of all business interests at Green Forest and located in Berryville and he has practiced here since, gaining for himself a place among the successful lawyers of the state. A stanch republican, he has taken a prominent part in that party's activities, being a delegate at large to the last two national conventions and for two terms he served as circuit clerk. In 1911 he was a member of the state legislature and he has been recommended as United States marshall for the western district. For some time he was chief executive of Green Forest and he has likewise been mayor of Berryville. Aside from his legal and political connections he is president of the Berryville Wholesale Grocer Company and is a director in the Harrison Whole- sale Grocer Company and is recognized as an elert and progressive business man.

In 1891 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Russell to Miss Mattie Lamb, a native of Boone county, this state, and a daughter of Jerry Lamb, one of the pioneer farmers of Boone county. To their union six children have been born: Lucille, who is the wife of Herman Dodson, a merchant at Joplin, Missouri; Lillian, the wife of Thomas Clark, a merchant of Galena, Kansas; Raymond, attending a dental college at Denver,

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Colorado: Andrew J. Jr., a student in the University of Arkansas; and Louise and Lewis, attending the Berryville high school.

The family is affiliated with the Baptist church, Mr. Russell being chairman of the board of deacons for many years. He and Mrs. Russell are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Russell became a Mason the night he was twenty-one, and he is now a Knight Templar and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He has served as master of both lodges, at Green Forest and Berryville, and he is now secretary of the blue lodge and high priest of the Royal Arch Chapter at Berryville, and grand master of the Second Veil of the Grand Chapter of Arkansas. His sons Raymond and A. J., Jr., are also Masons. A stanch advocate of education, Mr. Russell is a member of the Berryville school board and also of the county educational board. He is one of the substantial citizens of the county and one whose aid may always be counted upon in promoting any movement for the development and improvement of the general welfare, being president of the Berryville Commercial Club.

JOHN E. ALFORD, M. D.

Dr. John E. Alford, physician and surgeon, successfully practicing in Okolona, Arkansas, was born near Kirby, in Pike county, this state, May 22, 1871. His father, Dr. W. D. Alford, was born in Alabama and came to Arkansas with his parents when a small boy. The grandfather, the Rev. Ewing Alford, after serving in the Mexican war, being on active duty in Texas, came to Arkansas. In the early '40s he had removed from Texas to Pike county, this state, and cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of that locality. The family comes of English ancestry and was established on American soil before the War of 1812, the first representative of the name settling in Virginia and afterward participating in the second war with England under General Jackson, taking part in the battle of New Orleans. Thus for considerably more than a century the Alford family has been found on this side of the Atlantic and for more than two- thirds of a century has been represented in Arkansas. Dr. W. D. Alford, father of Dr. John E. Alford, is still living at the notable age of eighty-seven years, his home being in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, where he formerly engaged in the practice of medicine for a long period but is now retired. He was at one time county treasurer of Pike county for two terms and during the Civil war he served as head steward in a hospital at Little Rock, where he was stationed when the city was captured by the Federal troops under General Steele. He was with the army throughout the four years' period of the war. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Rebecca Sharp, died in Murfrees- boro, Arkansas, in 1898, at the age of fifty-eight years. She was born near Greeneville, Tennessee, and the Sharp family removed from that state to Pike county, Arkansas, in 1840, being also numbered among the early pioneer settlers of that locality. The Sharp family is of Irish lineage, the grandfather of the Doctor having come from Ireland to America in the '30s. He fought under General Jackson in the Seminole Indian war in Florida. It was near Murfreesboro, Arkansas, in 1870, that Rebecca Sharp became the wife of Dr. W. D. Alford and to them were born three sons, all of whom are living.

Dr. John E. Alford, the eldest of the family, was educated in the common schools of Pike county and in the high school at Murfreesboro, after which he took up the profession of teaching, which he followed in Hempstead and Pike counties for four or five years, or until 1894. In that year he began studying medicine in the Barnes University of St. Louis, Missouri, and later was graduated from the Gate City Medical College at Texarkana, Texas, winning his M. D. degree in 1906. From the time when he began the study of medicine in 1894 he was engaged in practice in Pike, Montgomery and Clark counties, although he did not obtain his professional degree until 1906. His medical education was acquired through his own efforts, his earnings supplying him with the money necessary to meet his tuition and the other expenses of his college course. In 1900 he opened an office in Black Springs, Montgomery county. Arkansas, where he remained until 1908 and then went to Polk county, this state. A little later

he located at Caddo Gap, where he continued from 1909 until 1918, successfully prac- ticing medicine there. In the latter year he came to Okolona, where he has remained, and here he is successfully and extensively engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery. He is also serving as health officer of Okolona and during the World war he was a member of the Volunteer Medical Corps.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 18

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