Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 21

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. Black was united in marriage on the 30th of June, 1920, to Miss Fern Burhop and they now have one child, Natta Lee. Dr. Black is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and also of the Knights of Pythias, while along professional lines he is identified with the Garland County Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medi- cal Society, the Southern Medical Association and the American Medical Association. His interest in his profession has its root not only in a desire for success but also in broad humanitarian principles and he maintains the highest standards in his practice, anxious at all times that his service shall be of real practical benefit to his fellowmen.

C. M. RICE.

C. M. Rice, a member of one of the pioneer families of Arkansas, has long occupied a position of prominence at the bar of Bentonville and has also served as mayor of the town. He was born in McMinn county, Tennessee, September 5, 1859, a son of Charles W. and Julia A. (Cobb) Rice, who were also natives of that state. They were married in Tennessee and in 1859 came to Arkansas, locating at Pea Ridge. The father became the owner of a large farm in that section, on which he and his wife spent their remain- ing years. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he was identified with the Masonic order, holding membership in the chapter. He was a democrat in his political views and in an early day served as circuit clerk of Benton county. He was a widely known and highly esteemed resident of his community, being numbered with the pioneer settlers of Arkansas whose labors were resultant factors in the develop- ment and upbuilding of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Rice became the parents of thirteen children, of whom eight are living, the subject of this review being one of the younger members of the family. R. S. and C. A. Rice are prominent physicians of Rogers, this state, and Roland, W. C. and M. B. Rice are successful business men residing in Ben- ton county.

In the acquirement of an education C. M. Rice attended the schools of Benton county, after which he became a student in the State University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. from which he was graduated with the class of 1886, on the completion of a law course. Returning to Arkansas, he opened an office in Bentonville in 1887 and here has since engaged in professional work, his ability being attested in the large clientage accorded him. He has heen admitted to practice in all the courts and is now serving as president of the examining board of the supreme court of the state. In a profession where advance- ment depends upon individual merit and ability he has gradually worked his way upward. his success coming to him because of his close reasoning, his logical argument, his correct application of legal principles and his ability to present his contention in the strongest possible light.

In 1885 Mr. Rice was married to Miss Martha Ragan, who was born near Petersburg, Illinois. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Ragan, were natives of Virginia and in the '70s they became residents of Arkansas, and died in Benton county. Her paternal

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grandfather, John H. Ragan, lived to a very advanced age, being one hundred and four years old at the time of his demise. Mr. and Mrs. Rice have become the parents of five children: Russell, the eldest in the family, has been connected with government work since 1916 and is now occupying the position of finance clerk at Camp Pike, near Little Rock, Arkansas; Ethel Anderson is a teacher in the schools of Oklahoma; Jef- ferson Randolph was educated in the grammar and high schools of Bentonville, after which he pursued a law course in the State University of Arkansas, and is now asso- ciated in practice with his father; Phillip pursued a course in electrical engineering at the Arkansas State University, standing at the head of his class, and is now man- ager for a large electrical plant at Rochester, New York. During the World war he entered the British army as a volunteer and was subsequently transferred to the Ameri- can forces. His term of service covered two years, during which he participated in all of the major engagements of the war; Paul, who was also in the service of his country, became ill in camp and has not yet entirely regained his health.

Mr. and Mrs. Rice are members of the Baptist church and fraternally Mr. Rice is identified with the Masons, holding membership in the lodge. He is a stanch demo- crat in his political views and takes an active interest in the welfare and success of the party but has never been an aspirant for public office, although he has been called upon to serve as mayor of Bentonville and was also president of the school board, mak- ing a most creditable record in both connections. He has always been loyal to any trust reposed in him and puts forth every possible effort for the benefit and npbuilding of his community, county and state, doing effective service for the public good, while in his law practice whatever he does is for the best interests of his clients and for the honor of the profession.

HARRY CLYDE KING, M. D.

Dr. Harry Clyde King, a surgeon of notable capability, by reason of thorough train- ing and long experience and who at all times is most conscientious in the performance of his professional duties, was born in Luray, Clark county, Missouri, December 16, 1871, and is the youngest of a family of eleven children, whose parents were Alfred A. and Ellen (Dennis) King. The father was a mechanical engineer, who served in the Civil war, there being seven brothers in the family who joined the army and all were killed save two.

Dr. King of this review was but nine years of age at the time of his father's death. He soon afterward left home to attend school in Cherokee, Kansas, and there lived with a married sister, remaining at that place until he had completed a high school course. He afterward removed from the Sunflower state to Wisconsin, where he continued his studies in a private school and still later he became a student in the University of Chicago. After a preparatory course there pursued he entered Rush Medical College, which is the medical department of the University of Chicago and has an endowment from the Rockefeller foundation. Lacking necessary funds to meet his tuition and the regular expenses of a college course, yet determined to qualify for the practice of medicine Dr. King slept in the basement of the college in order to save room rent and paid for his tuition by acting as an orderly and waiting on table in the student's boarding hall, thus providing for his board and maintenance. Notwithstand- ing his financial handicap his fellow students recognized his personal worth, ability and high character and elected him to the position of secretary of his class, which was the first four-year class being graduated from that institution. He completed his studies in 1899, gaining thereby his much coveted degree of M. D. In later years Dr. King has taken postgraduate work in New York. On leaving the east he went to Weir City, Kansas, where he established himself in the practice of medicine in connection with his brother, Dr. Dennis W. King, who was then the physician and surgeon for the Central Coal & Coke Company of Weir City. During an epidemic at Bonanza, Arkansas, Dr. King was sent to that place by the Central Coal & Coke Company and continued for a period of six years. He was not only prominent as a physician there but was also- a recognized leader in connection with many interests of great public importance and moment. He served as mayor of the city, was chief of police and occupied other posi- tions of public honor and trust, thus displaying his devotion to the welfare and progress of the community.

It was in 1906 that Dr. King came to Fort Smith, where he has followed his pro- fession for a period of fifteen years and he is today recognized as one of the leading physicians of the city. He has developed great skill and ability as the years have passed and his efficiency is manifest in many ways. He has always specialized in surgery and he possesses intimate knowledge of anatomy and the component parts of

DR. HARRY C. KING

Vol. 11-9

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the human body and thoroughly understands the onslaught made upon it hy disease. From 1907 until 1916 he acted as chief surgeon for the Midland Valley Railroad and he has been chief surgeon for the Fort Smith Light & Traction Company since 1906. In 1915 he organized the Union Hospital Association among the Union Mine Workers of District No. 21, comprising Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The present member- ship is ten thousand, representing fifty thousand people. Almost every year Dr. King leaves home to attend an important clinic in the larger medical centers of the country. While in Chicago he did service in the Cook County Hospital. He is a local member of the Surgeons College at Rochester, Minnesota, and he belongs to the Sebastian County, the Arkansas State and the American Medical Associations. He was a member of the Medical Reserve Corps during the World war, but could not get overseas, as it was thought best that he should remain at home on account of his duties as chief surgeon of the mine workers.

Dr. King was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Cummings of Toronto, Canada, and they have become parents of three children: Linton, who attends the Southwestern University; Eleanor; and Juanita. Mrs. King is a most active club woman and is inter- ested in many of the projects and problems that have to do directly with the welfare .and benefit of the people at large. She is now president of the Anti-Tuberculosis Asso- ciation of Sebastian county and during the World war she acted as chairman of Liberty Loan drives in Fort Smith. Dr. King belongs to the Lions Club and the Country Club of Fort Smith, is also a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Masonry, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert. Both he and his wife are recognized leaders in the field in which they labor and to which they direct their attention and they are actively interested in all those concerns which are of vital worth to the community, their influence being ever on the side of progress and improvement.

W. A. BURKS.

The legal fraternity of Bentonville finds a leading representative in W. A. Burks, who also has important business interests, and in both lines of activity his efforts have been attended with a gratifying measure of success. He is a native of Kentucky, his birth having occurred in Logan county in February, 1871. His parents were A. L. and Sallie A. (Terry) Burks, who were also natives of the Blue Grass state, the birth of the former having occurred in Logan county, while the latter was horn in Barren county. They were married in Kentucky, remaining residents of the state until 1891, and the father devoted his attention to farming, in which he was very successful. On leaving Kentucky he made his way to Bentonville, Arkansas, and here lived retired until his demise. Mrs. Burks was a member of the Christian church, while he was a Baptist in religious faith, and his political allegiance was given to the democratic party. In their family were three children: B. T., a prominent merchant of Bentonville; Lizzie, the wife of W. T. Dudley, who is also engaged in merchandising here; and W. A., of this review.

In the pursuit of an education Mr. Burks attended the public schools of Kentucky and on starting out in life for himself he first took up the occupation of farming. Later he entered upon the study of law in the office of C. M. Rice of Bentonville, and in 1896 he was admitted to the bar, having successfully passed the required examination. He began the practice of law in association with Mr. Rice, with whom he continued for eight years, and then organized the Fidelity Savings Bank & Loan Company, of which he was president for several years. Following the liquidation of the bank he resumed the work of his profession in connection with bonds and mortgages and the list of his clients is now an extensive and representative one. He is local attorney for the 'Frisco & Kansas City Southern Railway Company and he has been connected with a number of important cases which have come before the courts of his district. He is a man of logical mind, studious, well versed in the law and therefore highly qualified to take care of important litigation. He is a prominent figure in business circles of Bentonville, being president of the Monarch Investment Company, and he is also presi- dent of the Texas Oil & Refining Company and the Blue Hawk Refining Company, for which he likewise acts as attorney. In addition he had made extensive investments in land in Benton county and is an astute, farsighted business man, whose plans are carefully formulated and promptly executed.

In 1902 Mr. Burks was united in marriage to Miss Essie Smart, a native of Benton- ville and a daughter of Dr. John Smart, who has for many years been numbered with the leading physicians of the town. Mrs. Burks is a member of the Presbyterian

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church and Mr. Burks is affiliated with the Christian church. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, of which he is a past chancellor commander. His entire career has been actuated by a spirit of progress and enterprise that has been productive of substantial results. He has constructed his own success and in business and professional circles of Bentonville his standing is of the highest.

OLIVER W. CLARK, M. D.

Dr. Oliver W. Clark, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Pine Bluff and owner of the Clark Sanitarium and member of the Pine Bluff Clinic, is regarded as a most valuable addition to professional circles here. He utilizes the most advanced and scientific principles and at all times keeps abreast with the progressive thought of the times bearing upon the treatment of disease. Because of his wide and favorable acquaintance in Pine Bluff and this section of the state his life history cannot fail to prove of interest to many of the readers of this volume. Dr. Clark was born at Nash- ville, Arkansas, in 1875, a son of George M. and Amelia (Anderson) Clark. His father was a captain of the Confederate army during the Civil war and afterward devoted his life to merchandising. He became a pioneer in the southern section of the state and erected the first building in Texarkana, Arkansas. He was a native of Alabama but removed to Arkansas sixty-four years ago and in various ways contributed to the progress and upbuilding of this state, just as his father, William Clark, had done in Alabama, where he was rated as a distinguished citizen. The mother of Dr. Clark was a daughter of O. P. Anderson, representative of one of the old families of South Carolina that was later established in Mississippi and thence removed to Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. George Clark were parents of three children: Oliver W .; A. B .; and Mrs. J. R. Hill of Texarkana.

Dr. Clark enjoyed liberal educational opportunities. He attended the Ouachita College, there completing his more specifically literary course, and later he entered the Memphis Medical College, which constituted the initial step to his further study in Tulane University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1903. He then put his theoretical knowledge to the practical test by serving in St. Joseph's Hospital at Memphis for a year, gaining that broad and valuable experience which is never so quickly acquired in any other way as in hospital practice. In 1904 he came to Pine Bluff, where he has continued in the active work of the profession, enjoying a large general practice for a decade. He toured Europe in 1914 with members of the American Clinical Congress of Surgeons, visiting chief medical centers, and after returning he established the Clark Sanitarium, in association with Dr. W. H. Simmons and Dr. J. S. Jenkins. This institution is now devoted exclusively to the service of the Pine Bluff Clinic, heing supplied with every modern surgical equipment and appurtenance. The physicians in charge are all men of marked ability and progressiveness and the work accomplished there is of a most advanced and highly satisfactory character. In addition to his connection with the medical profession Dr. Clark is well known as a successful oil operator, owning producing wells in Louisiana, and he has sold oil acreage, owned in fee by him, for thousands of dollars. He is now actively interested in the develop- ment of a part of his holdings and his work in this connection is making substantial contribution to his annual resources.

Dr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Willie Jean Atkinson of Pine Bluff and they have become the parents of two children: William George and Sterling Moore. Dr. Clark and his family are most widely and favorably known here, enjoying the hospitality of many of the best homes, and their friends are legion.

BENJAMIN L. ROSS.

Prominent in the financial circles of Arkansas is Benjamin L. Ross, cashier of the Merchants & Planters Bank at Eudora, of which institution he is also a director. He is a native son of Arkansas, his birth having occurred at Arkadelphia, on the 27th of August, 1885. His father, Robert R., who died in 1918 at the age of sixty years, was for many years active as a bookkeeper and for some time held the office of circuit clerk in Clark county. He was also in the land office at Camden for many years. Mr. Ross died in Arkadelphia and his passing came as a severe blow to his many friends in the community. One of his brothers, Jesse A. Ross, was a major in the Confederate army during the Civil war. The Ross family was one of the pioneer families in Clark

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county. In Memphis, Tennessee, in 1883, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Ross to Miss Sue John Ligon, a native of Mason, that state. She is now making her home in Memphis, aged fifty-five years. To their union two boys and one girl were born, all of whom are living. Benjamin L., whose name introduces this review, was the second in order of birth.

In the acquirement of an education, Benjamin L. Ross attended the public schools of Arkadelphia, and after graduating from the high school there he took a two-year literary course at Ouachita College. His higher education was acquired through his own efforts, for he worked in a sawmill during the summer vacations in order to secure enough money to pay his tuition. In 1907 he went to work with the Gulf Congress Company of Little Rock, as clerk, and was active in that capacity for one month. The following three months were spent as clerk in the State National Bank at Little Rock, at the termination of which time he was transferred to the Bank of Lake Village, being promoted to the position of assistant cashier. For about one year he was con- nected with that institution and was then transferred to the Bank of Eudora, being employed in the same capacity. All of these banks were branches of the Bankers Trust Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Two years later, or in 1910, Mr. Ross became cashier of the Citizens State Bank at Lake Village and remained with that institution until 1911, when he returned to Eudora. Subsequently he organized the Merchants and Planters Bank here, of which he was elected cashier and has remained active in that capacity since. The success of the institution seemed assured from the start and today the deposits amount to some one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The bank was organized with twenty-five thousand dollars, paid up capital, and since organization it has paid about seventy per cent dividends. The surplus and undivided profits now total twenty thousand dollars. Mr. Ross is one of the stockholders in the bank and is acting as secretary and director of the Eudora Congress Company of this city.

Mr. Ross was married on the 24th of December, 1908, at Eudora, to Miss Essie Crab- tree, a daughter of Benjamin Crabtree, a well known resident here. To their union four children have been born: Benjamin L., Jr., aged twelve years; Sue Elizabeth, ten years of age; Roberta A., eight years of age; and Robert Harlan, aged six months. The three older children are attending the Eudora public schools.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church, which Mr. Ross serves as deacon. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, holding member- ship in Concord Lodge, No. 23, A. F. & A. M., of Eudora; Eudora Chapter, No. 132, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is high priest; Arkansas Consistory at Little Rock; and Sahara Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Pine Bluff. He is a Scottish Rite Mason. During the World war Mr. Ross took a prominent and active part in all activities and served on various committees in the interest of Red Cross, Liberty Loan and other drives. He is one of Eudora's most public-spirited and representative citizens and is never too busy to give his aid in the furtherance of any movement for the development and improvement of the community, Mr. Ross has many stanch friends throughout the county and state who appreciate his true personal worth and he is held in high esteem by his fellowmen.

OTTIS GRADY HIRST, M. D.

Arkansas numbers among her native sons Dr. Ottis Grady Hirst, a member of the firm of Drs. Buchanan, Buchanan and Hirst of Prescott. He was born on a farm in Nevada county, on the 4th of July, 1897, a son of Judge Jesse J. and Susan A. (Also- hrook) Hirst, both natives of this county. The paternal and maternal grandparents came to this state at the same time, in the '40s, the former emigrating from Virginia and the latter from Georgia. Judge and Mrs. J. J. Hirst are still living, making their home on the old farm in the southern part of Nevada county. For four years the father held the office of county judge of this county and he is one of the influential men here, having done much for the development and improvement of both county and state.

In the acquirement of an education Ottis Grady Hirst attended the public schools of Cale, and after graduation from the high school there with the class of 1914, entered the medical department of the University of Arkansas. He received his M. D. degree on the 29th of May, 1918, and for the following year he served as an interne in the Logan H. Roots Memorial Hospital at Little Rock. In May, 1919, he came to Prescott and formed a copartnership with Drs. Buchanan & Buchanan, further mention of both being made on another page of this work, and he has remained active in that associa- tion. Although Dr. Hirst is but twenty-four years of age he has demonstrated his skill both as a practitioner of internal medicine and as a surgeon.

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Along strictly professional lines, Dr. Hirst has membership in the Nevada County Medical Society, Arkansas State Medical Society, American Medical Association and Southern Medical Association and through these hodies he keeps in constant touch with the advancement heing made by eminent members of the profession. Fraternally Dr. Hirst is a member of Chi Zeta Chi, a Greek letter college fraternity, and he is identified with the Order of the Eastern Star; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he holds membership in Nevada Lodge, No. 203; and Prescott Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons. Dr. Hirst has many friends in this community who have known him since boyhood and the consensus of public opinion places him among the representative mem- hers of the profession in the state.

D. M. WATKINS.

No history of the business development of Mena, of Hatfield and of this section of the state would he complete were there failure to make reference to D. M. Watkins, who is actively associated with its commercial and industrial development. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, March 23, 1871, and is a brother of William E. Watkins, in connection with whose life history on another page of this work mention is made of their parents and ancestry. D. M. Watkins started out in the business world as an employe in the mills of Birmingham. He was thus engaged for seven years and gained good practical business experience during that period. In 1900 he came to Mena, where he joined his brother, W. E. Watkins, in the establishment and conduct of a hardware store. Since that time they have constantly developed and expanded their interests and are now owners of a hardware store at Hatfield and of large lumber and sawmilling interests, while their property holdings incInde both farm lands and city real estate. Their investments have been most judiciously made and are representative of the sound judgment, broad intelligence and keen discrimination of the brothers, who have been so long and so successfully associated in their business undertakings. D. M. Watkins has charge of the hardware business, while his brother is the active manager of their lumber trade.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 21

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