Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 19

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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Dr. Alford was united in marriage to Miss Occo Mauney, a daughter of M. M. Mauney of Murfreesboro, Arkansas, the wedding being celebrated July 21, 1897. They are parents of a son and a daughter: Millard Williams, nineteen years of age, who is attending the Henderson-Brown College at Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he is studying

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for a Bachelor of Arts degree and is also editor in chief of the Star, a college manual; and Alice Dell, who graduated from the Okolona high school in 1922.

Dr. Alford is a Mason, belonging to Rob Mori Lodge No. 106, A. F. & A. M., of Okolona, of which he is past worshipful master, while at the present time he is serving as secretary. He was raised a Mason in Pike Lodge, No. 91, at Murfreesboro in 1899. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and along profes- sional lines he is connected with the Clark County Medical Society and the Arkansas State Medical Society. He has reached high standards in his profession and his ability is constantly increasing as the result of his experience, his wide study and thorough investigation. He holds to the highest ethical standards of the profession and he com- mands the respect of his professional brethren and of the laity as well.

O. A. GRAVES.

O. A. Graves, one of the most prominent attorneys of Hope, was born on a farm near Mineral Springs, Howard county, Arkansas, July 17, 1876. His youthful days were those of the farm-bred boy. He attended the country schools and in the summer months worked in the fields from the time of early planting until crops were harvested. He likewise continued his education in the public schools at Mineral Springs and next entered the Henderson-Brown College, in which he completed his classical course, being graduated in 1898 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. On the expiration of that period he began teaching school, which he followed for a year at Mineral Springs, and later spent two years as a teacher at Columbus. During the summer of 1901 he was a student in the law office of Judge Eakin of Washington. He had determined to become a member of the bar and with that end in view entered the law school at Lebanon, Tennessee, from which he was graduated in June, 1902. He then located for practice at Hope, where he has since remained. While advancement at the bar is proverbially slow, no dreary novitiate awaited him. He soon secured a liberal practice that has steadily grown in volume and importance as the years have passed and he now has a large clientage. His first partner was Judge W. M. Green, with whom he was associated for two years or until the death of the judge. He afterward became a partner of J. D. Montgomery in 1906 and this association was maintained until 1910. Mr. Graves was then alone in the practice of law until April, 1919, when he admitted E. F. McFaddin to a partnership under the firm style of Graves & McFaddin.

On the 19th of June, 1907, Mr. Graves was united in marriage to Miss Jett Black, and they have one child, Albert. Mr. Graves is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has filled various offices in the local lodge, serving as junior and senior warden and as worshipful master. He also belonged to the council and to the commandery and is a member of the Modern Woodmen. He has held membership in the Metho- dist Episcopal church from the age of seven years and its teachings have ever been the guiding spirit in his life. He has filled many public offices, serving as county examiner of Hempstead county from 1900 until 1902, as mayor of Hope from April. 1904, until April, 1905, as prosecuting attorney from 1906 until 1910, while in 1917 he was a member of the constitutional convention. He has thoughtfully and earnestly considered the vital questions which have come up for settlement and has lent the weight of his aid and influence to support all measures which he has deemed of worth and of moment to the community and the commonwealth at large.

. L. L. GREEN.

L. L. Green, who since 1911 has been the cashier of the Bank of Booneville and is a representative and progressive resident of the city in which he makes his home, has spent much of his life in Logan county, his birth having here occurred upon a farm January 2, 1884. His grandparents, Robert O'Riley and Nancy Caroline Green, were natives of North Carolina, whence they removed to Mississippi and afterward to Alabama, there residing until they came to Arkansas. The grandfather was a quarter- master sergeant in the Civil war, serving throughout the period of hostilities. The grandfather of L. L. Green in the maternal line was Buck Wagnon, a native of Alabama, in which state he passed away. It was in Alabama that J. L. Green and Louise Wagnon were married. The former was born in Mississippi in March, 1851, and the latter in Alabama, October 20, 1849. They came to Arkansas in 1881 and both are still living. Mr. Green rented a farm the first year but ere the close of the year purchased forty acres of land on which was a little log house that hecame the birthplace of his son.

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L. L. Green. The parents still reside upon the old homestead, but in appearance and extent it bears little resemblance to the place which he secured on coming to Arkansas, for from time to time he has extended the boundaries of his land until he now owns twelve hundred acres, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation and to which he has added many modern improvements. Although he arrived in Arkansas a poor man, he is today one of the affluent citizens of his part of the state. To him and his wife have been born ten children, of whom five are yet living: L. L .; Mande, the wife of J. L. Franks, who occupies a farm near Booneville; O. O., of the Superior Builders Supply Company of Little Rock; Ruth, the wife of Gus Mclaughlin, living on a farm in Logan county; and Charles H., also a resident farmer of Logan county. The parents are loyal members of the Christian church and in politics Mr. Green is a democrat. He has served as justice of the peace and was also postmaster at Golden City, Arkansas. In various ways he has contributed to the upbuilding and progress of this section of the state and he deserves classification with its representative and honored residents.

L. L. Green was educated in the district schools and through the period of his hoyhood and youth lived and worked upon the home farm, early taking his place as a hand in the fields. He likewise taught four schools in early manhood and in 1908 he removed to Booneville, where he secured a position in the Bank of Booneville, being made assistant cashier. In 1911 he was advanced to the cashiership and has since occupied that position. He is likewise a director in the bank, of which his father is one of the largest stockholders and also a director. The hank is capitalized for twenty- five thousand dollars, has a surplus of equal amount and average deposits of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Its surplus has been acquired from the earnings of the bank, which has always been wisely and conservatively managed. Aside from his connection with the bank L. L. Green is identified with agricultural interests, being now the owner of four hundred and seventy-four acres of well improved land, which re- turns to him a gratifying annual income. However, he devotes the major part of his attention to the bank and has made for himself a creditable position in financial circles.

In 1908 Mr. Green was married to Miss Nola Young, who was born in Booneville, a daughter of George W. Young, a merchant and farmer who became one of the early residents of this city. Mr. Green always votes with the democratic party but has never heen an aspirant for office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, which have been wisely and carefully managed. Both he and his wife belong to the Baptist church and they occupy an enviable position in social circles where true worth and intelligence are accepted as the passports into good society.

JOSEPH P. RUNYAN, M. D.

Dr. Joseph P. Runyan, the sole owner of St. Luke's Hospital of Little Rock and a man of high professional standards and attainments, is also keenly interested in the welfare of his city and stands at all times for those activities and interests which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride. His labors have been a most helpful factor in promoting the welfare and progress of the capital city as well as in upholding those high standards which have ever characterized the medical profession of Little Rock. Dr. Runyan was born on a farm in Columbia county, Arkansas, January 29, 1869, and is one of a family of three sons and a daughter, whose parents were Wil- liam and Paulina (Boyd) Runyan. By a former marriage of his father Dr. Runyan had four half brothers and two half sisters, all deceased. The father was born on a tarm in Talladega county, Alabama, in 1830, and the mother's birth occurred on a farm in the same county in 1844. They were married in Columbia county, Arkansas, in 1866, Mr. Runyan having removed to that county in the year 1858. He devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and was ranked with the representative and successful farmers of Columbia county to the time of his death, which occurred in 1873. His political views were in accord with the principles of the democratic party. His widow long survived him, departing this life November 18, 1903. Of their family two of the sons are living in Little Rock, Joseph P. and I. O. Runyan.

While spending his youthful days under the parental roof Dr. Runyan attended the country schools of Columbia county and his more advanced education was oh- tained in Tulane University, where he pursued his medical course, being graduated in 1890. He has specialized in surgery throughout his professional career and has made steady and substantial progress, ranking high among the ablest surgeons of the state. In 1911 he became the founder and promoter of St. Luke's Hospital of Little Rock and in 1916 was joined in operating the hospital by Dr. H. H. Kirby, while a third partner, Dr. Sheppard, was admitted in 1917. This is a private hospital

DR. JOSEPH P. RUNYAN

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owned by Dr. Runyan and rented to the firm of Runyan, Kirby & Sheppard. It is splendidly equipped with all modern appliances for the care of medical and surgical cases and its patronage taxes the capacity of the institution .. Dr. Runyan has held many professional positions of honor and trust. He was president of the state board of health of Arkansas from 1904 until 1906. He had previously, from 1901 to 1904, been secretary of the Arkansas Medical Society and in the latter year was elected to the presidency, filling the position for one term. He was also secretary of the state medical board of the Arkansas Medical Society from 1903 to 1906. He was dean and president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Little Rock from its organization in 1906 until it was merged with the medical department of the Arkansas University in 1912. Dr. Runyan belongs to the Pulaski Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the Southern Medical Association, the American Obstetrical and Gynecological Association, the Rock Island Railway Surgeons Associa- tion and the American Railway Surgeons Association. He likewise belongs to the South- ern Railway Surgeons Association, being entitled to membership in these last named organizations by reason of the active work he has done as a railway surgeon.

On the 5th of June, 1895, Dr. Runyan was married to Miss Callie Jackson, who was born in Columbia county, Arkansas, January 7, 1870. Dr. Runyan is a democrat and fraternally is connected with the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His religious faith is indicated in his membership in the Second Baptist church, in which he is serving as a deacon. He takes the keenest interest in all that has to do with the welfare and progress of his fellowmen and is now presi- dent of the Civitan Club of Little Rock. He was the first person chosen to this office and reelected thereto. He is also the vice president of the International Association of Civitan Cluhs for the improvement and beautifying of cities. The motto of all such organizations is "Builders of good citizenship." He withholds his support from no plan or project that looks to the betterment of Little Rock and has been the instigator of many projects which have been of direct value to the city. He possesses initiative and enterprise and when he becomes convinced that an idea would be of practical value to the capital he at once seeks to put this idea into force and his plans and methods are at all times far-reaching and resultant.

JOSEPH MORRISON HILL.

Joseph Morrison Hill, for thirty-four years a member of the Fort Smith bar, save for his four years' service as chief justice of the supreme court of Arkansas, was born September 2, 1864, at Davidson College, Mecklenburg county, North Carolina. His father, Daniel Harvey Hill, was a descendant of Colonel William Hill, commander of a regiment in Sumter's brigade, and also of Thomas Caheen, who served as a private in Sumter's brigade in the Revolutionary war. Daniel Harvey Hill was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point with the class of 1842. He was pro- moted from the rank of second lieutenant to that of major during the Mexican war and later he was professor of mathematics in Washington College, now the Washington and Lee University. He afterward filled the position of professor of mathematics at Davidson College and next was superintendent of the North Carolina Military Institute at Charlotte in that state. He served in the Confederate army as a colonel of the First North Carolina Regiment and became successively brigadier general, major general and lieutenant general, C. S. A. He was afterward well known as editor, writer and educator and filled a notable place in connection with the history of the south. From 1877 until 1885 he was president of the University of Arkansas. He married Isabella Morrison, a daughter of the Rev. Robert Hall Morrison, a distinguished Presbyterian minister and the first president of Davidson College. On the maternal side Judge Hill is descended from Joseph Graham, a lieutenant of the American army in the Revolu- tionary war and later a major general.

Judge Hill pursued his classical education in the University of Arkansas and after- ward attended the Lebanon Law School of Lebanon, Tennessee, from which he was graduated with the LL. B. degree. He was admitted to the bar at Berryville, Carroll county, Arkansas, September 11, 1883, and was engaged in the practice of law at Eureka Springs, this state, from that date until 1887. He then removed to Fort Smith and has since been a representative of the bar of this city, save for the four years of his service as chief justice of the supreme court of the state, to which office he was called on the 1st of November, 1904, remaining in active connection with that high tribunal until February 1, 1909, when he resigned to accept the position of chief counsel for the state in the railroad rate cases, which he won for the state before the supreme court

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of the United States. He now has an extensive clientele and has long heen regarded as one of the most eminent representatives of the har in the southwest.

On the 19th of November, 1890, at Lake Village, Arkansas, Judge Hill was married to Miss Kate Reynolds, a daughter of General D. H. Reynolds, who was a brigadier general in the Confederate army, also a member of the Arkansas state senate and a most distinguished lawyer. Judge and Mrs. Hill have two daughters: Martha, the wife of David R. Williams; and Isabel Preston, the wife of John C. Hill. Judge Hill belongs to the Country Club of Fort Smith, to the Elks lodge and to the Masonic fraternity, being a past master of Belle Point Lodge, No. 20, F. & A. M. In politics he has always been a stalwart democrat and was permanent chairman of the state democratic convention in 1920. In 1918 he served as a member of the district exemption board of the western district of Arkansas, and since June, 1909, he has been president of the board of trustees of the Arkansas Tuberculosis sanitarium. His keen interest in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of the state has been manifest in many tangible ways, while his service on the bench was one that reflected honor and credit upon the people who had honored him.

THOMAS J. GAUGHAN.

Thomas J. Gaughan, of the firm of Gaughan & Sifford, prominent attorneys at law in Arkansas, makes his home in Camden. He was born in Ouachita county, this state, on the 4th of December, 1864, his birthplace being the farm upon which he was reared. He is a son of Patrick and Caroline (Patterson) Gaughan, the former a native of County Mayo, Ireland, while the latter was horn in Meriwether county, Georgia. Patrick Gaughan was a youth of nineteen years when in 1847 he came to the new world. He spent some time in New York city and then made his way to Georgia, where he met and married Caroline Patterson. In 1858 they came to Arkansas, settling on a farm in Ouachita county, and Mr. Gaughan was identified with the work of tilling the soil and raising stock during the years of his active life. It is said of him that he was not only a good farmer but also displayed notably sound judgment as a breeder of live stock. Through the careful management of his business affairs he became one of the successful men of Ouachita county and was also classed with the most influential and representative farmers and citizens. He lived to the age of seventy years, while his wife survived him and reached the age of seventy-nine years.

Thomas J. Gaughan was educated at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, where he won the Bachelor of Arts degree as a member of the class of 1885. Returning home, he was offered and accepted the position of deputy circuit and county clerk, in which capacity he continued to serve for a year. During this time and later he studied law in the office and under the direction of Colonel H. B. Bunn and was admitted to the har in February, 1888. He immediately began practice in partnership with Colonel Bunn, his former preceptor, and when the latter was appointed chief justice of the state supreme court, Mr. Gaughan entered into partnership with John T. Sifford under the firm style of Gaughan & Sifford, a connection that still exists. Advancement at the bar is proverhially slow and yet no dreary novitiate awaited Thomas J. Gaughan. who rapidly advanced to a most creditable position in the ranks of the attorneys of his section of the state. In 1891 he was elected a member of the state senate of Arkansas for a two years' term, being one of the youngest men ever chosen to the office in this state. In 1896 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the thirteenth judicial district and served in that important position with notable ability for four years. His course in office has always been characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty and by earnest effort to promote the general welfare.

While he maintains a most creditable standing as a lawyer, he has also become well known in other business connections. He is the vice president of the Ouachita Valley Bank of Camden, is a director of the Frost-Johnson Lumber Company, a director of the Valley Lumber Company, president of the Gloster Lumber Company, president of the Rockwell Manufacturing Company, president of the Valley Oil Company and a director of the Union Sawmill Company. He is likewise attorney for all of these cor- porations and also for several railroads. He is the state president of the Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic. Mr. Gaughan is the president of the Catholic Lay Council of Arkansas and has heen a lifelong member of the Catholic church.

On the 10th of October, 1888, Mr. Gaughan was married to Miss Lulu B. Higgins of Montgomery, Alabama, and they became the parents of three children: John Emmet, an attorney who is associated in practice with his father; Ruth, at home; and Thomas J., deceased. The wife and mother departed this life in 1896 and on the 12th of Septem- ber, 1899, Mr. Gaughan was married to Miss Helen Bragg of Camden, Arkansas. To

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their marriage have been born seven children: Josephine, deceased; Caroline, who was educated at St. Mary of the Woods Academy in Indiana; Virginia, who is attending St. Mary of the Woods Academy; Ethel M. and Helen B., who are high school pupils in Camden; and Mary Alice and Thomas J., who are yet in the grades.

Mr. Gaughan belongs to Camden Lodge No. 40, B. P. O. E., also to Pine Bluff Council No. 1153 of the Knights of Columbus. He is active in civic affairs and church work and also is a stalwart champion of the cause of education, having served for seven years as a member of the school board.

EDWARD LEVENS GAUNT.

Edward Levens Gaunt, of the firm of Chase, Wallin & Gaunt, public accountants of Little Rock, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, August 21, 1895. He was one of a family of four sons and three daughters, of whom three sons and three daughters are living. The parents are Jesse Stebbins and Annette Mary ( Puthoff) Gaunt. The father was born in Booneville, Missouri, in 1862, and the mother's birth occurred in St. Louis in 1865. They were married in that city in 1884 and they now reside in Benton, Arkansas, where the father conducts business as a lumberman. He votes with the democratic party.

In early boyhood Edward L. Gaunt hecame a pupil in the public schools of St. Louis and afterward continued his education in the public schools of Pekin, Illinois, and of Corning, Arkansas. He next became a high school pupil at Benton, Arkansas, and was there graduated with the class of 1911. He completed a course in a business college in Little Rock and likewise attended a commercial school in Chicago. His train- ing was thus thorough and comprehensive and well qualified him for the responsible duties that have devolved upon him in later years. He came to Little Rock on the 9th of September, 1912, and was with the Foster Hardware Company for a period of five and a half years. He then entered the ordnance department as a civilian accountant and was so engaged until January, 1919. At that date he went to Chicago, where he was employed by a firm of public accountants for a period of eight months, after which he returned to Little Rock. On the 12th of August, 1919, the firm of Chase, Wallin & Gaunt was organized in the capital city. Their clientele, however, is not limited to Little Rock for their work calls them to all sections of the state. The three partners are men of acknowledged ability in their profession and their business is now a sub- stantial and growing one.

On the 11th of September, 1920, Mr. Gaunt was married to Miss Charlotte Marie Betten, who was born September 29, 1896, in Orange City, Iowa, and is a daughter of Dirk and Mary (Noteboom) Betten, the former a native of Pella, lowa, while the latter was born in Salem, Oregon. Mrs. Gaunt was educated in Ames College of Iowa and is a lady of liberal culture. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gaunt are held in high esteem in social circles and they are well known as members of the Presbyterian church. At the time of the World war Mr. Gaunt enlisted for service in May, 1917, but was rejected on account of physical disability. It was then that he entered the ordnance department as a civilian accountant in the department at Rochester, New York, serving there for eight months. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party and he is a firm believer in its principles. Fraternally he is a Mason and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert. He likewise belongs to the Kiwanis Club and to the Cooperative Club and of the latter he is treasurer.

LOUIS KEENER MENARD.

Louis Keener Menard, making his home in De Witt, now occupies the bench of the county court of Arkansas county and his judicial record has been characterized hy the utmost faithfulness to duty and by strict fairness and impartiality in his rulings. He had previously practiced law in De Witt and Arkansas county numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred on a farm, in the year 1876. His father, N. B. Menard, was born at the same place and was a son of Frank and Lucille (Nady ) Menard. The old homestead farm was likewise the birthplace of the grandfather, hav ing heen secured as a family home hy the great-grandfather, Julian Menard, who was the first of the family to locate in the southwest. The Menards originally came from the southern part of Illinois and were of French-Canadian extraction, being among the first of the early French settlers here. The Nadys were pure French, the grandmother

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 19

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