Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 38

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 the acquirement of an education John Hoover attended the common schools of Monticello and after graduating from the high school there, he enrolled in Hendrix College at Conway, this state. There he took a two-year literary course and subsequently took a four-year Methodist Conference course of study, acquiring his theological education

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by home study. In order to obtain his higher education John Hoover taught school. In 1908 he entered the ministry and his first charge was at Hermitage, where he remained from 1908 to 1910. From 1910 to 1913, he was at Parkdale and Wilmot, and the latter part of 1913 and 1914 he was at Snyder and Montrose. From 1914 to 1918 he was in charge at McGehee and in the latter year came to Crossett, where he has remained. Since he took charge of the church here there has been a constant and substantial in- crease in the membership and as a church it has done more for Methodism in general than any other church in the state of its numerical strength. The Sunday school has a large enrollment of active members and the things it has accomplished have become known throughout the state. Mr. Hoover has a most pleasing personality and is quick to make friends, these friends soon recognizing his true personal worth and many sterling traits of character.

At Hermitage, Arkansas, on the 2d of December, 1910, occurred the marriage of John Hoover to Miss Mary Gammill, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Gammill, well known residents of that place. To their union one son has been born, Paul Williams, who is ten years of age and a student in the public schools of Crossett.

Fraternally Mr. Hoover is identified with the Masons and is conceded an exemplary member of that craft. He belongs to Desha Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Valley Chapter, and Ellsworth Council, all of McGehee. He has taken the degrees of the Scottish Rite and is a member of Albert Pike Consistory at Little Rock and Sahara Temple of the Mystic Shrine in Pine Bluff. Mr. Hoover is always intensely interested in any movement for the betterment of the general welfare and Crossett is indeed proud to number him among her representative citizens.

NATHAN E. MURPHEY, M. D.

Dr. Nathan E. Murphey has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine at Clarendon for nearly a quarter of a century and enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the skilled and successful representatives of the profession in Monroe county. His birth occurred in Decatur, Alabama, in 1868, his parents being J. I. and Sallie (Steven- son) Murphey, the latter a daughter of Arthur Stevenson. J. I. Murphey, who served as a soldier of the Confederate army during the Civil war, was also a native of Alabama. L. G. Murphey, brother of Dr. Murphey of this review, is a successful attorney practicing at Holly Grove, Arkansas.

Nathau E. Murphey obtained his more advanced education in the University of Alabama and further prepared for a professional career as a student in the medicai department of the University of Louisville at Louisville, Kentucky. It was in 1898 that he took up the work of his chosen profession at Clarendon, Arkansas, and here he has remained continuously to the present time, being accorded a practice that has steadily grown in volume and importance as he has demonstrated his skill in checking the ravages of disease and restoring health. He belongs to the Monroe County Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society, the Southern Railway Surgeons Association and the American Medical Association, and through the proceedings of these bodies keeps thoroughly informed concerning the latest scientific researches and discoveries of the profession. Aside from his professional interests he is a director of the Merchants & Planters Bank of Clarendon.

In early manhood Dr. Murphey was united in marriage to Miss Anna L. Palmer of Kansas City, Missouri, a daughter of Mrs. A. T. Palmer. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, while fraternally he is a Knight Templar Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine. During the period of the World war he served on the advisory board for two counties. In his practice he has ever conformed to the highest ethics and standards and has therefore won the confidence and esteem of his professional colleagues and contemporaries as well as of the general public.

FAY L. DUNN.

Fay L. Dunn, now serving his second term as county treasurer and a member of the jewelry firm of Hempstead & Dunn, was born in Summerville, Calhoun county, Arkansas, on the 18th of August, 1881. His father, J. D. Dunn, was born in Calhoun county and reared to manhood there. The paternal grandparents were originally resi- dents of Carolina but came to Arkansas in 1850, being among the early settlers of Calhoun county. The grandfather on the paternal side served throughout the Civil war

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as a private in the Confederate army. J. D. Dunn was for thirteen years identified with the furniture and undertaking business at Fordyce and was one of the prominent business men of that community. His demise occurred there in 1898 when but forty-five years of age. On the 26th of October, 1880, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Dunn to Miss Catherine M. Jones, a native of Bradley county, this state, where she was reared to womanhood. She is now living, at the age of sixty-two years. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Dunn seven children were born, five of whom are living. Two died in infancy. Fay L., whose name initiates this review, is the eldest child.

In the acquirement of his early education Fay L. Dunn attended the common schools of his native county and in due time enrolled in the Clary Training School at Fordyce. He spent one year at the University of Arkansas, taking a literary course, and after becoming thoroughly familiar with stenography he secured a position with A. B. Banks, in 1901. For eighteen years he was in charge of the claim department of the Home Life and Accident Insurance Company. On the 20th of September, 1920, he entered into partnership with Mr. Hempstead in the conduct of a jewelry business, the firm becoming Hempstead & Dunn. Mr. Hempstead had engaged in that line of business for over twenty years previous to the partnership with Mr. Dunn, and he achieved substantial success. The firm is one of the most reliable in the county and has built up a large patronage. For the past three years Mr. Dunn has been active in the office of county treasurer and he is now finishing his second term. He was city treasurer of Fordyce from 1910 to 1918. In both political and business circles Mr. Dunn has won the confidence of his fellowmen and he is conceded one of Fordyce's most influential citizens.

On the 31st of January, 1910, at Stamps, Arkansas, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Dunn to Miss Clyde Chisolm, a daughter of Dr. Chisolm, one of the prominent physicians and surgeons of Lewisville, this state. To their union one daughter hrs been born: Frances Catherine, who is ten years of age and a student in the high school at Fordyce.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist church and Mr. Dunn is a steward of the church and secretary and treasurer of the Sunday school. His political allegaince is given to the democratic party.

LEIGH KELLEY.

Prominent among the energetic, farsighted and successful business men of Fort Smith is Leigh Kelley, who is the vice president of the Kelley Trust Company and the vice president of the Mansfield Gas Company. His activities and interests are of an important character and he displays marked capability in their management and control. Mr. Kelley comes to Arkansas from the neighboring state of Kansas, his birth having there occurred in the city of Burlington on the 15th of May, 1887, his parents being Harry E. and Kate (Henderson) Kelley. His paternal grandfather, Captain Harrison Kelley, was a Civil war veteran, serving with the Union army. The father, Harry E. Kelley, has been a prominent figure in the business affairs of Fort Smith for many years. He has been active in the real estate field and is now prominently known as a capitalist and landowner and as the founder of the Kelley Trust Company.

Leigh Kelley pursued his early education in the public schools of Fort Smith, for during his infancy the family home was removed to this city. In fact he was but three months of age when his parents came to Fort Smith and with the interests of the city he has been closely associated throughout the intervening period, save for the time when he was pursuing his education in the Leland Stanford University of California, where he studied civil engineering. He then followed his profession for three and a half years in various parts of Arkansas. He has since been identified with financial interests of Fort Smith as vice president of the Kelley Trust Company, which was organized in 1905. He has closely studied all the problems relating to the business, has made himself familiar with every phase of the work and has accomplished excellent results through his superintendency of the interests of the corporation in the position of vice president. He has also become the vice president of the Mansfield Gas Company and in business affairs he displays notably sound judgment and unfaltering energy.

Mr. Kelley attended the First Officers' Training Camp at Fort Logan H. Roots and was commissioned a first lieutenant, heing assigned to the Three Hundred and Thirty- fourth Field Artillery. In June, 1918, he was promoted to the rank of captain and went overseas in August After reaching France he was assigned to the training school at Bordeaux and while there he was placed on detached service on the general staff of Base Section, No. 2. He was mustered out on the 7th of March, 1919. He is a prominent and valned representative of the American Legion, having been chosen state commander for a term of one year, beginning in 1920.

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Mr. Kelley was united in marriage to Miss Fay Alexander, a daughter of J. H. Alexander of Fort Smith, and they have become the parents of three children, namely: Gordon, Elizabeth and Alexander. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley are well known in Fort Smith, where they occupy an enviable social position and where his standing as a business man is very high. He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution, and his close application to business and his excellent management have largely brought to him the high degree of prosperity which is today his. It is true that he became interested in a business already established, but in controlling and enlarging such an enterprise many a man of even considerable resolute purpose, courage and industry would have failed. Mr. Kelley, however, has demonstrated the truth of the saying that success is not the result of genius but the outcome of clear judgment anl experience

B. W. COYLE.

B. W. Coyle, a planter of De Valls Bluff, where he is acting as manager of the Gates estate, was born in Mississippi, in 1864, a son of A. 1. and Julia (Moore) Coyle. The father was a native of Lexington, Kentucky, while the mother's birth occurred in Ten- nessee. Mr. Coyle removed with his family to Arkansas, settling near Hickory Plains, in Prairie county, in 1870, and there B. W. Coyle attended school, his training fitting him for life's practical and responsible duties. He started out in the business world as clerk in a store and from that point has steadily worked his way upward, wisely utilizing his time, talents and opportunities as the years have passed by. Removing to De Valls Bluff in 1893, he secured employment in the Gates store and through years of active association with Mr. Gates familiarized himself with all of the details connected with the Gates holdings, including thousands of acres of land. Upon the death of Mr. Gates, Mr. Coyle was entrusted with the management and development of this land, exceeding ten thousand acres, and thus he has become one of the foremost planters of Arkansas. He has managed this vast property prudently and profitably and as the years have passed has introduced most progressive methods in the care of the soil and the development of the place, much of which is devoted to rice culture. His unfaltering energy, his broad vision and his keen sagacity have been vital forces in the attainment of success and he ranks today as one of the most prominent representatives of agricul- tural life in Arkansas.

Mr. Coyle was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Espich, a daughter of Henry Espich, who removed from Indiana to Arkansas, Mr. Coyle and his wife are keenly interested in all those forces which make for public progress and improvement, and his own labors have constituted a valuable contributing force to the upbuilding of the state. Especially have his labors been of great worth in demonstrating what can be accomplished in the way of rice production in the Prairie lands of Arkansas, hitherto regarded as of little value.

MEYER F. GATES.

Meyer F. Gates, assistant treasurer of the Bankers Trust Company at Little Rock, comes to Arkansas from Memphis, Tennessee, where his birth occurred January 8, 1892. He is a Harvard man and throughout his entire life has wisely used the talents given him and the opportunities that have come to him in the course of the years. His parents were Ferdinand and Tillie (Schamburg) Gates. The father was horn in Bavaria, Ger- many, in 1832, and coming to America in early life, devoted his attention to business affairs in Memphis for many years. On crossing the Atlantic, however, he first located at Hickory Plains, Arkansas, and it was in 1890 that he removed to Memphis, Tennessee, where his remaining days were spent, his death occurring July 9, 1909. He had been a merchant and planter and at the time of the Civil war he put aside all business con- siderations and joined an Arkansas regiment of Confederate troops, serving from the beginning of hostilities in 1861 until the middle of the year 1865. His political endorse- ment was given to the democratic party. His widow, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1859, is still living in Memphis. They were married in her native city in 1890 and their family numbered a son and three daughters, but two of the daughters are deceased.

Meyer F. Gates pursued his education in the public and high schools of Memphis and in a preparatory school before entering Harvard University, from which he was graduated in 1915 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, having completed a classical

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course. In 1916 he became connected with the Bankers Trust Company in the capacity of messenger and through the intervening period has won various promotions until he is now treasurer, having been called to this office in January, 1921. He is thus active in connection with one of the foremost financial interests of the state and his ability is widely recognized.

On the 30th of November, 1915, Mr. Gates was married to Miss Gladys Theresa Frauenthal, who was born in Conway, Arkansas, November 30, 1896. They are now parents of one son, Meyer F. Gates, born October 17, 1916.

During the World war period Mr. Gates served on various drives in connection with financing the war. He is a democrat in his political belief and religiously he adheres to the Jewish faith. He belongs to the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith and also to the Concordia Club. He has steadily worked his way upward not only in the sense of success in business but also in the regard of his fellowmen and is today one of the highly esteemed young representatives of financial circles in Little Rock.

D. A. RANSOM.

D. A. Ransom, starting out in the business life with limited opportunities and meager advantages, has steadily worked his way upward and is now one of the owners and editors of the Democrat-Enterprise, published at Ozark. Born in Alabama in 1868, he is a son of David and Mary E. (Gallups) Ransom, who were also natives of that state. At an early day they removed to Georgia and subsequently to North Carolina, whence they came to Arkansas in 1890, settling in Johnson county. The father filled various county offices while in Alabama and after coming to this state he turned his attention to the occupation of farming and also conducted a country store near Clarks- ville. He has always given his political allegiance to the democratic party and during his early manhood he served under General Joe Wheeler in the Confederate army for four years. On one occasion he was wounded while engaged in military duty. His wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Both have departed this life. Their family numbered nine children, five of whom are living: D. A., whose name introduces this review; John, a printer, located at Clarksville, Arkansas; W. T., living in Little Rock; Simon, who follows farming in Johnson county; and Annie, now Mrs. Pollard, residing in East Texas.

D. A. Ransom received but limited educational opportunities. He began working at the early age of seven years in a printing office and was thrown entirely upon his own resources when but a child. He continued to work in the printing office, learning every phase of the business and was employed at various places in Alabama, Georgia. North Carolina and Arkansas. He has followed the printing business throughout his life, with the exception of one year, which he devoted to farming near Clarksville, this state. At length he purchased an interest in the Enterprise, a paper published at Ozark, of which he became part owner in May, 1908. This was his first independent venture. He later consolidated this paper with the Democrat and his publication is today called the Democrat-Enterprise. The paper has a circulation of abont thirteen hundred and fifty and the company does considerable job printing, having a well equipped office with a linotype machine, large presses and everything for turning out first-class work. In fact, theirs is the best equipped office of any plant of the size in the state and Mr. Ransom holds to high standards in the character of work turned out.

Mr. Ransom belongs to the Missionary Baptist church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias, being a past chancellor in the latter organization. He is also identified with the Woodmen and is a past consular commander in that order. In politics he is a democrat and stanchly advocates the principles of the party but has never been an aspirant for office, devoting his entire time and attention to his newspaper business. In this undertaking he is a partner of Sid Forrest, both of them doing editorial work on the paper and together owning the plant.

THOMAS E. HELM.

Thomas E. Helm, attorney at law, practicing independently in Little Rock, was born at LaCrosse, Izard county, Arkansas, on the 1st of January, 1874, his parents being David N. and Mary A. (Hesterly) Helm, who were natives of Kentucky and Missouri, respectively. In his early childhood the father accompanied his parents to Tennessee, where the period of his minority was passed and soon afterward he accompanied his widowed mother to Arkansas, where they established their home just prior to the

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outbreak of the Civil war. Becoming a resident of Izard county, David N. Helm, when nineteen years of age, joined the Confederate army as a member of an Arkansas regiment and later he was transferred to the army of the Tennessee. He proved gallant and his courage was demonstrated on many a southern battle field. He participated in the engagements at Shiloh and at Murfreesboro and in many other hotly contested battles of the war, including much of the fighting in and near Chattanooga and in other sections of Tennessee. He was also actively engaged in the Atlanta campaign and was with Hood's army in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, following the engagement at Atlanta. When the war was over he returned to his home in Izard county and there concentrated his efforts and attention upon mercantile pursuits. For many years he was on the road as a traveling salesman and eventually took up his abode in Batesville, Independence county, Arkansas, where he lastly lived retired until his death, which occurred May 1, 1904. His widow is still a resident of that place. They reared a family of two sons and two daughters, all of whom are living.

Thomas E. Helm largely acquired his education in the schools of his native town. He attended the public schools until he had completed the regular course and later became a student in the LaCrosse Collegiate Institute. In 1893 he matriculated in Hendrix College, at Conway, and was there graduated as a member of the class of 1896, at which time the Bachelor of Arts degree was conferred upon him. He then entered upon the profession of teaching and for three years occupied the position of principal of the high school at Clarendon, Monroe county, but he regarded this merely as an initial step to other professional labor. He proved a capable teacher, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge he had acquired, hut his desire to become a member of the legal profession led him to enroll as a law student in the University of Arkansas and there he completed his course as a member of the class of 1900, at which time the Bachelor of Laws degree was conferred upon him. Immediately after- ward he was admitted to practice in all the courts of Arkansas and took up the active work of the profession in connection with De E. Bradshaw. In 1907 they were joined by Lewis Rhoton, forming the firm of Bradshaw, Rhoton & Helm, which firm was con- tinued until November, 1916. At that time Mr. Bradshaw moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where he engaged in the practice of his profession and Lewis Rhoton and Thomas Helm continued in the practice, separately, at Little Rock. In all of his professional work Mr. Helm displays a thorough grasp of the law and ability accurately to apply its prin- ciples and these qualities make him an effective and successful advocate, at a bar which numbers many distinguished representatives.

Politically Mr. Helm has always been a democrat and loyally supports the principles of the party, but has never aspired to office. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias and is a worthy follower of the teachings of these societies, exemplifying in his life the beneficent spirit upon which the orders are based. A lifelong resident of Arkansas, he has made wise use of the opportunities accorded him and has steadily advanced to a most creditable position in the legal profession, in which progress depends entirely upon individual merit and ability.

RISLEY N. LYON.

One of the well known citizens of Hampton is Risley N. Lyon, who since 1918 has been engaged in the abstract business here. He was born near Hampton on the 1st of July, 1874, a son of Henry L. and Catherine Means Lyon. The maternal ancestors came from Ireland to America at an early day, first locating in New York. From there they removed to Fairhaven, Vermont, arriving there in the latter part of 1700, and Matthew Lyon represented that state in congress during Adams' administration. An- other member of the Lyon family, James Lyon, served in the Revolutionary war. Henry L. Lyon was born in Sullivan county, Tennessee, and came to Arkansas in 1872. For many years he engaged in farming here, achieving substantial success. Upon the out- break of the Civil war he enlisted for service in the Confederate army, becoming a private in Company G, Fourth Alabama Cavalry. For many years previous to his death he was active in the local chapter of the United Confederate Veterans at Pine Bluff. At Hampton in 1873 occurred the marriage of Mr. Lyon to Miss Catherine Means. She was born in Huntsville, Alabama, but came to this state with her parents, who located at Hampton in 1850. They were among the pioneer settlers of Hampton. The Means family is of English-Irish extraction, one branch of the family, the Bradfords, having come to this country on the' Mayflower. Grandfather Means served in the Civil war. Henry L. Lyon died at Pine Bluff in 1918, at the advanced age of seventy-four years. Mrs. Lyon

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died at Hampton, in 1919, aged seventy-five years. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lyon four children were born, all of whom are living; Risley N. being the eldest.

In the acquirement of an education, Risley N. Lyon attended the public schools of Hampton and after graduating from the Warren high school he enrolled in the Woodbury Institute at Woodbury, a town which is not now in existence. He then took a course in the Central Business College at Sedalia, Missouri, and in six months completed his course there. In 1901 he became associated with the Cotton Belt Lumber Company as book- keeper, remaining active in this position until 1902. From 1902 to 1904 he was employed in like capacity with the Hampton Stave Company and from 1904 to 1908 was with the Marsh & Reilly Wholesale Grain & Commission Company at Pine Bluff. In the latter year he returned to Hampton and kept books for the Furlow & Dunn Company until the 1st of December, 1910, when he went with the Stout Lumber Company at Thornton, this state, as land commissioner. In March, 1914, he severed his relations with that con- cern and removed to Little Rock, where until May, 1915, he was engaged as abstractor for the Guaranty Title & Trust Company. Subsequently returning to Hampton he served as deputy circuit clerk under W. L. Furlow until the fall of 1918, when he entered the abstract business on his own account. He has since been identified with this business and is now located in the courthouse here.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 38

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