Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 24

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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In 1896 Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Rosemonde Cooper, a native of Kansas and a daughter of George W. Cooper, who served as a soldier in the Union army

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during the Civil war. Mrs. Lewis was educated at Vinita Academy of Vinita, Oklahoma, and by her marriage she has become the mother of four children: H. Wyric, the eldest of the family, is his father's assistant in business. Previous to the World war he was stationed with the United States troops on the Mexican border, and on the 8th of Sep- tember, 1918, he reached France, being attached to the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Arkansas Regiment. He enlisted from Fayetteville, Arkansas, and became corporal and battery clerk. He volunteered for service in company with another young man from Gravette, and in 1919 returned to the United States. Jesse D., an automobile mechanic residing at Taos, New Mexico, is the only member of the family who has married. L. Frank is attending the Gravette high school, and Sadie Lea is also in school.

The family are all members of the Christian church, with the work of which Mr. Lewis has been actively identified for a period of twenty-five years. He has served as clerk and elder and for fourteen years has been superintendent of the Bible school, working untiringly to upbuild the interests of the church. His fraternal connections are with the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has taken the Rebekah degree. He is a democrat in his political views, and during his residence in Gravette has been called upon to fill a number of public positions, serving at clerk of the school board for nine years, and he has also been city clerk. That he is public spirited and progressive is indicated in the fact that during the entire period of his residence here he has acted as secretary of the Commercial Club. In 1920 he spent seven months in Little Rock as publicity director for Jim G. Ferguson. For several years he has been a member of the Authors and Composers' Society of that city. He has been a close student of the questions and issues of the day as affecting the welfare of community, state and nation, and has made the News-Herald the champion of every movement tending toward the upbuilding of Benton county along intellectual, political, material and moral lines.

ROBERT WARREN QUARLES.

Robert Warren Quarles, a dental surgeon practicing at Van Buren, his professional standing being indicated in the fact that be has been honored with the presidency of the Arkansas State Dental Association, was horn at College Hill, Mississippi, in 1853. a son of J. J. and Sallie E. (Buford) Quarles. The father was graduated with first honor in the first class that completed the course in the University of Mississippi and afterward became a professor in the Synodical College at La Grange, Tennessee. He continued his teaching there until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Confed- erate army from Mississippi and served until his death, which occurred in a hospital at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1863, in the midst of the conflict.

Dr. Quarles was reared and educated in his native city and in young manhood hecame a student and assistant in the office of Dr. J. S. MeCorkle of Oxford, Mississippi. In 1884 he came to Van Buren, where he has since followed his profession, and for many years has been accorded an extensive practice. He has kept informed concerning the latest researches and discoveries of the dental profession through his membership in the Fort Smith Dental Society, the Northwest District Dental Society and the Arkansas State Dental Association, and in the last named has filled the offices of secretary and president. He likewise has membership with the Knights of Pythias.

In October, 18SS, Dr. Quarles was married to Miss Minnie Hynes, a daughter of Charles J. Hynes, editor of the Warrensburg Democrat, published at Warrensburg, Missouri. R. S. Hynes, an uncle of Mrs. Quarles, was the founder of the Crawford County Bank in Van Buren. Dr. and Mrs. Quarles have become parents of four children: Ashwell J., Donald A., Kathryn E. and Virginia C. Ashwell J., who was graduated from Cornell University, is now residing in Montreal, Canada, where he has charge of a department in a large machinery jobbing house, their trade extending to all parts of Canada, so that the position of Ashwell J. Quarles is an important one. Donald A., a Yale graduate, who completed his course at the university with a record in mathematics and entered the first training camp organized in the United States at Fort Benjamin Harrison, coming ont as first lientenant, and he afterward hecame identified with the Rainbow Division, while subsequently he was promoted to captain and transferred to the First Division in the Army of Occupation. He had gone overseas to receive special training in artillery given by the French and assisted in establishing an artillery training school for American artillery officers in France. Since his return he has become identified with the experimental laboratory of the Western Electric Company in New York city. Of the daughters, Kathryn E. is now the wife of Lawrence Harrison, a minister in Ontario, Canada, while Virginia C. has just graduated from the Fort Smith high school.

Such in brief is the history of Dr. Quarles and his family, who have long occupied

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an enviable social position, while in his profession the Doctor has made steady progress. He is also regarded as one of the public-spirited citizens of Van Buren, giving ready and helpful support to all those plans and projects which have to do with the progress and improvement of city, county and state.

WILLIAM J. WAGGONER.

William J. Waggoner, filling the position of prosecuting attorney of Lonoke, was born in Lonoke county in 1889, his parents being Thomas J. and Nancy ( Munsch) Waggoner. The father was a native of Tennessee and belonged to one of the old southern families. The mother was a daughter of Nicholas Munsch. Thomas J. Waggoner and his wife resided in Illinois for some time after their marriage, making their home near Decatur, but about thirty years ago came to Arkansas, first settling in White county. but later removing to Lonoke county. They became the parents of a family of ten children, five of whom are living: William J .; John; Jess; Joseph; and Viola, the wife of Charles Hudson.

Reared under the parental roof, William J. Waggoner pursued his education in the schools of Lonoke until he had completed his high school course. A review of the broad field of business led him to the determination to make the practice of law his life work, and with this end in view he became a law student in the University of Arkansas. from which he was graduated in 1913. He then located in Lonoke for practice, entering upon the active work of the profession in which he has made steady advancement. While progress at the bar is proverbially slow, he soon gained recognition of his ability, and his powers have constantly expanded through experience and broad study, for he is most careful in the preparation of his cases. He is also numbered among the law- makers of the state, for he served in the legislature in 1915 and 1917, nor did he lightly regard the duties that devolved upon him in this connection. In the latter year he was made a delegate to the constitutional convention.

Mr. Waggoner also has a military chapter in his life record, for he entered the army at Camp Leon Springs, Texas, and was commissioned a second lieutenant, after which he was assigned to duty at Camp Gordon, Georgia, and later at Camp Pike, Arkansas, as an infantry officer. He went overseas on the 24th of August, 1917, and was assigned to the Thirty-second Division. He was in reserve at St. Mihiel, in the offensive in the Argonne Forest and was wounded in battle, being thus incapacitated for further service. His wound was sustained on the 30th of September in the drive on Montfaucon, his left hand and his left leg both being injured. Later he was assigned to the One Hundred and Seventh Ammunition Train of the Thirty-second Division and was stationed at Heimbach, Germany, for two and a half months, with the Army of Occupation. Subse- quently he returned to the United States, making the voyage on the battleship Louisiana and reaching the American shore on the 13th of May, 1919. He was then sent to Camp Merritt, New Jersey, and afterward to Camp Pike, Arkansas, where he received his discharge on the 27th of August, 1919. Following his return home Mr. Waggoner was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney and hy reelection is still filling this position. He is proving a splendid official, prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties, and his conscientious service, coupled with his ability as a lawyer, has won him high endorsement.

On the 14th of February, 1919, Mr. Waggoner was married to Miss Ruth Bradford. a daughter of John C. and Lula (Eagle) Bradford of Lonoke and a granddaughter of Judge H. T. Bradford. Mr. Waggoner belongs to the Masonic fraternity, having attained the thirty-second degree, and is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Work- men. He belongs to the Christian church, while his wife is a Baptist. They are well known socially, having many warm friends in this part of the state, and their record at all times commends them to the confidence and high regard of those who know them.

G. C. ELLIS.

The high educational standards to which Arkansas is rapidly approaching are fully maintained in the efforts of G. C. Ellis, county superintendent of schools in Scott county. Actuated by a laudable ambition, he is doing everything in his power to promote the interests of the schools and during his incumbency in this position has introduced various improvements. A native of Tennessee, he was born in Rockwood, December 7, 1884, his parents being John and Mary Elizabeth (Bacon) Ellis, who are also natives of Tennessee, in which state they were reared and married. The father was a son of

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Monroe Ellis, a native of Tennessee, who owned a large plantation there, together with about one hundred negroes. The grandfather in the maternal line was John Bacon, who was likewise born in Tennessee and was a direct descendant of Nathaniel Bacon. John Bacon served as a Confederate soldier in the Civil war and was badly wounded. In 1899 John and Mary Elizabeth ( Bacon) Ellis left Tennessee and came to Arkansas, settling upon a farm in Scott county, where they still make their home. They are stanch supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, in which they hold membership, and in politics Mr. Ellis is a democrat. He served in the Confederate army under General Joseph Wheeler for four years and on one occasion was slightly wounded and also was captured, but soon afterward was exchanged. To Mr. and Mrs. John Ellis there were born the following children: G. C., whose name introduces this review; Claude, a farmer living at Mansfield, Arkansas; Jarvis, who married Henry Presson and is located at Dayton, Arkansas; Mae, the wife of Leota Waters, a farmer of Huntington, Arkansas; Cole Y., who is a school teacher at Mansfield, and Jane, who married Earl McDonald and lives at Shawnee, Oklahoma.

G. C. Ellis pursued his education in the Arkansas State Normal School at Conway and in the State Normal at Tyler, Texas. He took up the profession of teaching in 1905 and continued to engage therein until elected county superintendent of schools in Scott county in 1918. Throughout the intervening period to the present he has made a most excellent record in office, and the county is to be congratulated upon having at the head of its school system one who is so thoroughly informed concerning modern methods and who is so thoroughly interested in bringing about the best possible conditions in the schools over which he has supervision.

In 1907 Mr. Ellis was married to Miss Willie Simpson, who was born in Scott county. Arkansas, a daughter of S. W. Simpson, a native of this state and now living at Mansfield, where he owns considerable land. To Mr. and Mrs. Ellis have been born three sons, Byron, Weston and Merrill, all in school.

Mr. Ellis is a democrat in his political views. He has membership with the Masons, with the Odd Fellows and the Junior Order of American Mechanics, and he is likewise a consistent and faithful follower of the teachings of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. His labors have been a potent force in bringing about intellectual and moral progress in his community and he has accomplished a work the results of which are immeasurable.

HON. ANTHONY HALL.

Hon. Anthony Hall, lawyer and lawmaker, who in years of practice in the courts of Arkansas has left indelibly his impress upon the history of the state bar and also as a lawmaker upon the legislative enactment of the state, serving in the house of repre- sentatives during the forty-third general assembly, and is a splendid example of those men of foreign birth who, coming to America, have espoused American principles and have stood for the highest standards of American manhood and chivalry. Mr. Hall was born in Biersted, Allborg, Denmark, in September, 1857, and is a son of August Peter and Inger Marie (Mueller) Hall. The father was born in Randers, Denmark, in January, 1808, and the mother in Allhorg, in 1830. They were married at Biersted in 1850, and in the year 1870 August Peter Hall brought his family to the new world. Notwithstanding he was then sixty-two years of age, he had the hardihood to sail with his wife and children for the United States, and after a brief period spent in Illinois came to Arkansas, where he devoted his attention to farming until his death in Septem- her, 1878. He became a naturalized citizen and the sterling worth of his character commanded for him the respect and confidence of all who knew him. His wife died in November, 1875. They were the parents of five children: Harold, August, Anthony, Mette and Nelson.

Anthony Hall was a lad of thirteen years when he accompanied his parents to the new world. He had pursued his education in his native country up to that time, mastering not only the common branches of learning but also studying sciences and history under a private tutor. After the family reached Illinois he became a pupil in the public schools of that state, eagerly applying himself to his studies for a year. Circumstances later kept him out of school for a time hut in 1879 and 1880 he was again an apt and eager pupil in the public schools. In the meantime, how- ever, he had removed with his parents to Arkansas and this state has since been his home. In two years, from 1880 until 1882, he completed the regular four years' high school course in Dardanelle. Already he was planning to become a member of the bar and he eagerly availed himself of the opportunity of pursuing his studies under the preceptorship of George S. Cunningham, then judge of the circuit court. In 1884

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he successfully passed the required examination admitting him to the bar and in the following year he opened a law office in Paris, where he has remained. In less than a year after taking up his abode in Paris he was made deputy prosecuting attorney of Logan county. In this connection a contemporary writer has said that the fact that he was called to this position "speaks for itself of Mr. Hall's personality. Nor has the early good impression which he made upon his neighbors ever suffered a reversal in almost forty years of his career among them. Few men, indeed, are more genuinely esteemed than he for unfailing integrity and kindliness of character. He is the sort of man to whom the so-called honors of public office make no appeal; in accepting for a period of four years the mayoralty of Paris, he was simply and solely actuated by a high sense of duty to society; in the selfsame spirit did he accede to the wishes of public opinion-and only when drafted for the post-to represent at once the county of Logan and the state of Arkansas in the house of the forty-third general assembly." His official record is one over which there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil. He has always been a stalwart believer in democratic principles and his opinions have been the result of thorough study and investigation of the political issues and conditions. Therefore by reason of his high sense of the duties of citizenship he has been impelled to perform any task assigned him for the good of his party. He served continuously on the democratic central committee of Logan county from 1886 until 1918, or for a period of almost a third of a century, and acted both as secretary and chairman of the committee. In 1918 he was elected to the state central committee and again he rendered signal service to the party in this connection hy reason of his executive ability, his keen insight into situations and his recognized standards of honor in all matters of citizenship. As a lawyer he has long stood in the front rank. While advancement at the bar is proverbially slow, he soon won recognition of his ability and his powers have been continually augmented through his comprehensive reading and study.

On the 28th of September, 1887, Mr. Hall was married to Miss Julia Idelle Daniel, who was born in Alabama, in May, 1867, and is a daughter of Dr. John E. and Eliza J. (Teagne) Daniel, who resided at Roseville, Logan county, after removing to Arkansas. Mrs. Hall is a graduate of Hendrix College and by her marriage she has become the mother of five children: Edgar A., who died at the age of eighteen years; Marie; Daniel A .; Julia Lucille and Elizabeth Pearl. The son, Daniel A., volunteered for service in the World war and after training at Camp Beauregard, was sent to France as a second lieutenant in the outfit of the One Hundred and Forty-first Machine Gun Battalion. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are active and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He has given generously of his time and means in support of the work, has acted as chairman of the building committee and also as trustee. A recog- nition of the threefold nature of man, physical, intellectual and moral, has led to his earnest support of all agencies or projects which make for development and improve- ment of the individual, that he may serve the highest purposes of life and maintain the most advanced standards of individual worth and of public good. His own career has been one of signal service and usefulness to his fellowmen and he is today ac- counted one of the prominent lawyers and legislators of the state.

ROSCOE GREEN JENNINGS, M. D.

It is in the pioneer history of a community, where unusual demands are made and where opportunities and advantages are few, that the real nature of the individual stands most strongly forth. Meeting every exigency and every requirement with the strength that comes from steadfast purpose and high ideals, Dr. Roscoe Green Jen- nings, pioneer physician of Little Rock, made for himself a prominent place in the affections of the people and in the regard of all who knew him. He was born at Leeds, Kennebec county, now Androscoggin, Maine, June 11, 1833, and was the fourth son and fifth child in the family of Perez Smith and Johanna (Lane) Jennings. The father, a man of considerable local prominence, devoted his attention to farming and served for some time as justice of the peace, rendering decisions that were strictly fair and impartial. He was a son of Samuel Jennings, a native of Salem, Massachusetts, who figured prominently in that historic old town. The great-grand- father had settled in Salem at an early period. He, too, was Samuel Jennings and was one of three brothers who came to America in 1703, emigrating from England to the new world. He held an important office under King George Ill while this country was still numbered among the colonial possessions of Great Britain. He suffered confiscation of his estate hy reason of his loyalty to the crown and was forced to flee into the wilderness of the "eastern territory" which afterward became the

DR. ROSCOE G. JENNINGS

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state of Maine. The mother of Dr. Jennings was a daughter of James Lane, a lumber- man of Fayette, Maine, who married a member of the well known Ledbetter family, whose representatives were particularly prominent because of their physical stature. General Ledbetter of Confederate fame belongs to one branch of this family.

The boyhood days of Dr. Jennings were spent on the banks of the Androscoggin river, working on his father's farm in the summer seasons and devoting the winter months to the acquirement of a public school education. He early learned the value of earnest toil and discharged his duties promptly and faithfully in every relation. When but seventeen years of age he had become so proficient in his studies that he was chosen to teach the school in which he had previously been a student, his salary being but fourteen dollars per month without board. His earnings as a teacher enabled him later to attend school in Wayne village, where he came under the in- struction of Oliver O. Howard, subsequently a major general in the army. Dr. Jennings afterward attended the academy at Monmouth and also the Kent Hill Seminary at Readfield, Maine, and his work as a teacher in the summer seasons enabled him to meet the expenses of his advanced education. As he pursued his studies it was always with the hope of entering Boudoin College, but his plans in this direction were frustrated by his father's death in 1851. Up to that time he had never been more than twenty miles from home, but he determined to see something of the world, and borrowing one hundred dollars, he made his way to New York city, afterward to Pennsylvania and eventually to Port Golden, New Jersey, where he took charge of a boys' school noted for the rough treatment accorded former teachers. He met the situation with determination, proved himself the conqueror of the unruly pupils and continued to teach there for four months, after which he entered upon preparation for the medical profession under Dr. William Cole. Soon afterward, however, he returned to Maine, where he further studied under the preceptorship of Dr. Alonza Garcelon, who was later governor of that state. He next attended a course of lectures in the Dartmouth Medical College and continued his studies in the Medical School of Maine at Brunswick, from which he was graduated with honors in 1856.

Dr. Jennings at once made his way westward and after living at several places for a short time, took up his abode in Lapeer, Michigan, where he successfully practiced until December, 1857, when he became a resident of New Orleans. He afterward made his way to Washington, Arkansas, where his eldest brother, Hon. Orville Jen- nings, had previously established his home. Dr. Jennings formed a partnership with Dr. Jett, one of the pioneer physicians, and entered upon regular practice, while later he also became interested in the ownership and conduct of a drug store. He became attached to the institutions and ideals of the south and in 1861 was appointed a surgeon of the Twelfth Arkansas Infantry in the Confederate army. In August of that year the regiment was sent to Memphis, Tennessee, and afterward to Columbus, Kentucky, subsequent to which time they participated in the battle of Belmont. In December the regiment was ordered to New Madrid, Missouri, where it remained during that winter and until March, 1862, when the place was captured by General Pope. His regiment, already greatly reduced by disease, escaped to the Tennessee side of the Mississippi and Dr. Jennings was ordered with the transport of one hundred and fifty sick and wounded past the Federal batteries at Point Pleasant, at night, to Memphis, which he reached safely. As the hospitals at this place were full, he was then ordered to Vicksburg, Mississippi, with an additional transport and one hundred and fifty men sick and wounded, where he placed one hundred and fifty in the city and the same number in the Marine Hospital, and then he rejoined the army in time to take part in the evacuation of Island No. 10 and witness the capture of most of his regiment. On April 7, 1862, near Tiptonville, Tennessee, he was captured with others of his regiment but escaped and for two weeks wandered in the bogs and swamps of that region, finally making his way to Memphis and then to Corinth, and reported to the surgeon general of Beauregard's army. He was assigned to duty as surgeon of Jackson's brigade, Withers' Division of Trapiers' Corps. After the battle of Farmington, in May, he was attacked by camp fever and was unfit for duty many weeks. In August he returned to Washington, Arkansas, and remained until the following spring, when he was able to rejoin his command at Jackson, Mississippi, but here was stricken with typhoid pernicious rheumatic fever and forced to resign his commission. He returned to his home and in March, 1864, was given permission to pass the lines to Little Rock, then in possession of the Federal forces, for treat- ment. Great sickness prevailed in the camps there and after a partial recovery he was offered the position of contract surgeon in the United States army. He accepted and served with satisfaction till the end of the war, later continuing duty in the Freedmen's Hospital.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 24

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