Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 39

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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On the 6th of October, 1901, at Hampton, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Lyon to Miss Maude Means, a daughter of Thomas N. and Belle (Black) Means of this com- munity. To their union six children have been born: Katie Belle, who died in infancy; Claude J., nineteen years of age; Clyde B., seventeen years of age; Herbert L., age twelve years; R. N., Jr., ten years of age; and Madge, seven. All of the children are students in the Hampton public schools.

Mr. and Mrs. Lyon are members of the Methodist church and fraternally Mr. Lyon is identified with the Masons, having membership in Southern Star Lodge, No. 53, A. F. & A. M. of Hampton, and he and his wife are members of Lodge No, 363, Order of Eastern Star of Hampton. During the World war he served on the legal advisory board and on the local Red Cross committee and gave generously of his money in support of his government's interests. He is one of the alert and enterprising citizens of Hampton and recognizing the duties and obligations of citizenship, is never too busy to aid in any movement for the development and improvement of the general welfare.

REV. E. M. FREYSCHLAG.

It is said that "no other profession demands half so much mental labor as the clerical," and for many years Rev. Mr. Freyschlag, minister of the Presbyterian church at Mount Comfort and Walnut Grove, has labored tirelessly in serving his denomination. He is a native son of Arkansas, his birth having occurred near Fayetteville on the 12th of November, 1863, a son of Edward and Lucy W. (Hawkins) Freyschlag. The father was born in Monheim, Germany, and the mother was horn in Kentucky. Their marriage was celebrated in Washington county, Arkansas, having hoth come to this county with their parents in early life. Eight children were born to their union, four of whom are living: Jennie, the wife of John Stanberry, a mine worker in Kansas; Mary, the widow of Anderson Davis of Washington county; E. M., whose name initiates this review; and Sarah, who is residing with the mother on the home place. The father was a consistent member of the German Lutheran church and always gave his political allegiance to the democratic party. For a short time he was in the Confederate army and he served as an officer in the campaigns against the Indians on the frontier. Through- out his life he followed farming and achieved substantial success in that connection. His death occurred in 1906, at the age of ninety-two years. Mrs. Freyschlag is still residing on the old farm of one hundred and sixty-nine acres in Washington county, where she has lived since she was sixteen years of age. She is now ninety-three and in the best of health. Her son, Rev. E. M., of this review, looks after the farm for her.

In the acquirement of an education Rev. Mr. Freyschlag attended the common schools of Washington county and a private Episcopal school in Fayetteville. For two years he was a student in the State University and then went to Chicago, where he attended the Moody Bible Institute for two years. He united with the Presbyterian church and was ordained in Arkansas and subsequently went to school to Dr. Earl of Canehill, this state. In 1891 he entered the ministry and filled a charge at Berryville for one year. For one year he served his church at Mount Comfort and Rogers and then for six years was minister of the Presbyterian church at Prairie Grove. In 1908 he came to Fayetteville to educate his children and has since resided in this community. He is now pastor of the church at Mount Comfort and Walnut Grove. The church owns a farm of twenty-five acres at Walnut Grove and Rev. Mr. Freyschlag attends to its

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cultivation, on the side. The church hought the farm on time, under his supervision, and since its purchase seven years ago the farm has netted some ten thousand dollars. There is a modern home on the farm, electrically lighted and with all improvements of the present day. The church also owns a moving picture machine and shows an exceptionally fine grade of educational and Bible pictures.

In 1897 Rev. Mr. Freyschlag was united in marriage to Miss Ida Appleby, further mention of the family being made in the sketch of George Appleby, to be found on an- other page of this work. Two children have been born to their union: Jessie, a graduate of the State University with the class of 1921; and Helen, attending high school. Since attaining his majority Rev. Mr. Freyschlag has given his political support to the democratic party, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good government. He has devoted his life to church work. In his sermons the Rev. Mr. Freyschlag is "positive but not dogmatic; earnest, but not denunciatory; tender, but not sentimental; scholarly, hut not pedantic; simple, but not commonplace: impassioned, yet graceful; popular, but not vulgar." He serves to the best of his ability his church and congregation and he has the love of the entire community.

JOHN E. MILLER.

John E. Miller of Searcy and prosecuting attorney of his judicial circuit comprising five counties, was born in Aid, Missouri, May 15, 1888, and is a son of John A. and Mary K. (Harper) Miller, who are natives of Stoddard county, Missouri. The father, a farmer by occupation, has given much attention to stock raising, handling high grade cattle and hogs. He has carried on an extensive business and has met with substantial success in his agricultural and stock raising interests, which he began following his service in the Civil war, in which he was with the Confederate army, spending much of his time at Cape Girardeau and Bloomfield, Missouri. He participated in several skir- mishes and was on active duty until the close of hostilities, whence he turned his attention to the work of developing his land and raising stock. He has now reached the age of seventy-three years, while his wife is sixty-nine years of age. Both are members of the Baptist church. In their family were eight children, five of whom are living: E. E., who makes his home near Puxico, Missouri, where he follows farming; Eunice May, who is a graduate of the Cape Girardeau Normal School and is now teaching at Caruthersville, Missouri; Iva Beatrice, also a graduate of the Cape Girardeau Normal School and now a teacher in the high school at Bloomfield; Oden Ray, who is pursuing a pharmaceutical course in the Washington University at St. Louis, Missouri: and John E. Two of the children died in infancy, while one daughter, Edith Victoria, became the wife of T. J. McDowell and died in 1899 at the age of twenty-five years, leaving two sons: Alfred L. and Samuel H. The former is with her parents and the latter is now employed in the transportation department of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad at Danville, Illinois.

John E. Miller pursued his education in the rural schools of Stoddard county, Missouri, in the high school at Bloomfield and in the State Normal at Cape Girardeau, while later he took a law preparatory course at Valparaiso University. He did not study continuously but at intervals taught in six different rural schools of Stoddard county, Missouri, and thus earned the money which enabled him to continue his education. At the age of eighteen years he was elected principal of his home school. He never abandoned his plan of becoming a member of the har, however, and was graduated from the Kentucky State University of Law on the 6th of June, 1912, with the B. L. degree. On the 13th of June he hecame a resident of Searcy, where he opened an office, entering into partnership with J. N. Racheals, with whom he was connected until 1915 He then formed a partnership with C. E. Yingling and is still associated with him in general law practice. He served as assistant attorney for the Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad for two years and he has always enjoyed a good private practice. He likewise filled the office of city attorney for three years and on the 1st of January, 1919, became prosecuting attorney of the first judicial circuit, comprising White. Woodruff, St. Francis, Lee and Phillips counties. He handled the prosecution in connection with the Elaine race riots in 1919 and has tried many other important cases. For the past two years he has heen attorney for the Arkansas Hydro Electric Company, of which he is also one of the directors. Aside from his professional interests he has investments in farm lands.

On the 21st of October, 1914, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Ethel Lucile Lindsey, a native of Lee county, Arkansas, and a daughter of R. H. Lindsey. They have one child, Mary Louise, now two years of age. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and Mr. Miller is serving on the board of stewards. He is a Chapter

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Mason, belonging to Searcy Lodge No. 49, A. F. & A. M., and Tillman Chapter, No. 52, R. A. M., in which he has filled all of the chairs. He is likewise identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and aside from serving as city attorney and prosecuting attorney he was a member of the constitutional convention of 1917, being the second youngest member of that body which framed the organic law of the state. His ability is widely recognized and has brought him to a point of leadership in connection with public interests in his section of the state.

PHILANDER K. ROOTS.

Philander K. Roots, one of the venerable and highly honored citizens of Little Rock to the time of his death on October 16, 1921, was closely connected with the development and progress of the state through his activity as a civil engineer, rail- road builder and banker. His life had been one of intelligently directed activity and of intense usefulness and Arkansas largely benefited by his labors. Mr. Roots came to the southwest from New England and his ancestry was strictly American in both the lineal and collateral branches through many generations. The line is traced back in this country to 1634, when representatives of the name came from England. The great-grandfather of Mr. Roots, a graduate of Yale College, hecame a clergyman of the Congregational church, while the grandfather was a graduate of Dartmouth College and also devoted his life to the work of the ministry, although becoming a representative of the Baptist church, in the home mission field of which he did most effective work. Benajah G. Roots, father of Philander K. Roots, was a pioneer settler of Illinois. In New England he had qualified for the profession of civil engineering and had devoted his attention to professional work of that character for a considerable period. He determined, however, to become identified with the upbuilding of the growing middle west and settled in Perry county, Illinois, where he turned his attention to educational interests and contributed much to the development of the schools in that locality. He married Martha Sibley Holt and they became the parents of four children. The wife and mother died in 1864, while the father survived until 1888.

Philander K. Roots was the second in order of birth of their children and was still an infant when the family removed to Illinois from Connecticut. He was born about twenty miles east of Hartford, in the town of Willington, Connecticut, on the 4th of June, 1838, and has therefore passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey. He was reared on a frontier farm near Tamaroa, Illinois, his father having there taken up a government claim. He early assisted his father in the development and cultivation of the fields and he likewise received a liberal educa- tional training under his father, who was a highly educated man. At a later date Philander K. Roots became a student in the Carrollton College at Carrollton, Illi- nois, where he specialized in civil engineering, and later he matriculated in the State Normal School at Bloomington, Illinois, where he continued in the same line of study to the time of his graduation. He started out in the business world as assistant to his father, who was then division engineer on the Illinois Central Railroad in Illinois. In 1853 Mr. Roots accepted a position as engineer in connection with the work of laying out the town of Centralia, Illinois, and when that task was accomplished he went to Paducah, Kentucky, where he was in the employ of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, acting as locating and constructing engineer. With the outbreak of the Civil war, however, he returned to Illinois and entered the educational field by becoming principal of the high school at Duqnoin. A year passed in this way and then, prompted hy a most patriotic spirit, he joined the engineering corps of the Union army, rendering valuable service to his country in operations between Nashville and Atlanta under command of General Thomas. He did much reconstruction work along engineering lines, following the trail of the Confederate Generals Wheeler and Forrest in that section of the south.

When the country no longer needed his aid Mr. Roots turned his attention to the west and for some time remained in Nevada and California, acting as deputy state surveyor in Nevada hut also giving considerable attention to mining inter- ests. He dated his residence in Arkansas, from 1869, where he became a partner of his brother. Colonel Logan H. Roots, in the conduct of plantation enterprises at De Vall's Bluff. In the early '70s, however, he again engaged in civil engineering, being employed as locating and constructing engineer by the Cairo & Fulton Rail- road, now a part of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad system. His lahors as a civil engineer constituted a most valuable contribution to the upbuild-

PHILANDER K. ROOTS

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ing and development of the state. He was one of the first expert representatives of his profession in the state and the value of his service can scarcely be overestimated. In 1873 Mr. Roots turned his attention to banking, becoming managing official of the First National Bank of Fort Smith, in which he held a large amount of stock to the time of his demise. Little Rock had heen his home since 1880 and for a decade he was the cashier of the First National Bank of the city but retired from active con- nection with the institution in 1890. In the meantime he had made large investments in property and along other lines here and was able in the evening of life to rest from labor and yet enjoy all of the comforts and luxuries which make for a pleasant existence.

On the 23d of May, 1866, Mr. Roots was married in San Francisco, California, to Miss Frances Maria Blakeslee, who was reared and educated in Duquoin, Illinois. They became the parents of the following named: Bishop Logan H. Roots, of the Episcopal diocese of Hankow, China; Rev. Willard H. Roots, Episcopal missionary in the state of Idaho; Mrs. Mary Emily Hall of Little Rock; and one who died in infancy. The wife and mother died on August 21, 1906, her death being the occa- sion of deep regret to her many friends. The sons and daughter of the house- hold are now all married and filling positions of great usefulness in life. The son, Logan H. Roots, married Miss Eliza L. McCook, a daughter of the Rev. J. J. McCook of Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, and they became parents of three sons and two daughters, all born in Hankow, China; Willard Holt Roots, who has de- voted his life to the work of the Episcopal ministry, married Miss Katherine Philp. of Canada, and they have two children, Mary Frances and Willard H., Jr. Both sons were graduated from the Cambridge ( Mass.) Theological Seminary; Mary Emily, the only daughter, is the wife of Walter G. Hall and they have two children, Graham Roots and Mary Emily. Mrs. Hall has been very active in Sunday school and church work and has served as president of the Young Women's Christian Association of Little Rock. Mr. and Mrs. Hall and their two children made their home with Mr. Roots and the household has ever been noted for its gracious and liberal hospitality.

Mr. Roots had long been identified with the Masonic fraternity, taking all of the degrees of the York Rite, including that of Knights Templar, while in the Scot- tish Rite he attained the thirty-second degree. His political endorsement was always given to the republican party and he never neglected any duty of citizenship. He belonged to the Protestant Episcopal church and for almost a half century Was senior warden therein, while for many years he had served as superintendent of the Sunday school. He became one of the organizers of the Young Men's Christian Association of Little Rock in 1885 and there was no good work done in the name of charity or religion that sought his aid in vain. He approached the end of life's journey with the consciousness of duty well performed, of a life weil lived, and the honor and respect accorded him were not the recognition of mere business success but of a sterling character above reproach. He died at his home, 1018 Scott street, Little Rock, Sunday, October 16. 1921, and his departure is deeply mourned by his family and hosts of friends.

S. G. PARSLEY.

S. G. Parsley, cashier of the Valley Bank at Hindsville, was born in London, Ken- tucky, September 25, 1874, a son of S. W. and Sallie (Black) Parsley and a grandson of Alexander Parsley, who was a native of Virginia, but in early life removed to Kentucky. In the maternal line the grandfather was Richard Black, who spent his life in the Blue Grass state. S. W. Parsley was born in Lee county, Virginia, but was married in Ken- tucky to Miss Sallie Black, who was born in that state. Practically his entire life was passed in Kentucky, for he was but three years of age at the time of the removal of the family from Virginia. He hecame a merchant and farmer and about 1880 removed to Madison county, Arkansas, where he purchased land and carried on general agricultural pursuits. His political support was given to the democratic party and fraternally he was connected with the Masons. Both he and his wife died in Madison county. They were the parents of four children, two of whom are living: S. G., of this review; and J. F., a merchant of Patrick, Arkansas.

In the schools of Madison and Benton counties, Arkansas, S. G. Parsley acquired his education and also attended the Pea Ridge Normal College. He took up the profession of teaching when but sixteen years of age and was thus engaged for eight years, proving a capable educator, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired. Afterward, however, he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits at Delaney, Arkansas, and was active in that line of business for eight years. Subsequently he was elected circuit clerk and so continued in office for four years, retiring from the position

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as he had entered it-with the confidence and good will of all concerned. He then removed to Hindsville and accepted the position of cashier in the Valley Bank. He has since served in that connection and is today a well known representative of financial interests in his part of the state. He started in life with nothing and has been dependent entirely upon his own resources from the age of sixteen years. Steadily he has advanced as the result of his industry, perseverance and capability and today he is well known in the banking circles of Madison county.

In 1899 Mr. Parsley was married to Miss Cynthia Brashears, who was born in Kentucky, a daughter of J. C. Brashears, also a native of that state, whence he came to Madison county, Arkansas, in the '80s and is now living at Lowell, Arkansas, where he owns a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Parsley have become parents of four children: Leola, who is a student in a college at Ozark; Keith, attending college in Clarksville; Jeraldine and Kenneth, who are also in school. Mr. Parsley belongs to the Christian church, while Mrs. Parsley has membership in the Presbyterian church. He is also identified with the Masons and the Odd Fellows and has passed through all of the chairs in the lodge of the latter order. His political support is given to the democratic party and he has served as county judge for one term since removing to Hindsville. Much of his atten- tion, however, is given to his business affairs and in addition to his work in the bank he devotes some time to real estate activity and to the supervision of the farm which he owns on the river. All that he possesses has come to him as the direct result and reward of his industry and perseverance and his life record should serve to encourage and inspire others who must start out in the business world empty-handed as he did.

SIDNEY J. WOLFERMANN, M. D.

Dr. Sidney J. Wolfermann, a physician and surgeon of Fort Smith, with offices in the First National Bank building, has qualified for his profession by thorough and com- prehensive study which has well equipped him for the important and onerous duties that devolve upon him. Moreover, he has held to the highest standards and directed his course according to the most advanced professional ethics, and thus it is that he enjoys in the highest degree the esteem and confidence of his professional brethren. Dr. Wolfermann is a native of Streator, Illinois, his parents being David and Carolyn (Heller) Wolfermann. The father was engaged in the retail clothing business for more than fifty-one years. He was desirous that his son should have excellent educational advantages, and after attending the public schools Sidney J. Wolfermann entered the University of Wisconsin at Madison and there won the Bachelor of Arts degree. Having determined to make the practice of medicine his life work, he next became a student in the medical department of the Northwestern University at Chicago and thus qualified for professional activity.

Following America's entrance into the World war Dr. Wolfermann enlisted in the army and was commissioned an officer of the Medical Corps. He was assigned to duty at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and specialized in facial surgery. He was also for a time at Camp Sevier, Georgia, and at Garden City, Long Island, as well as in the Army Medical School at Washington, D. C. There he studied plastic surgery and while sta- tioned there also took up the study of X-ray work. For a time he was on duty at Camp Grant, where he worked in the field of plastic surgery, which was largely evolved in its more advanced stages during the war period, heing used in reconstructing mutilated faces. This called for skill and application of the highest order. During his term of service Dr. Wolfermann made this his specialty and attained a high degree of efficiency in this newly developed science.

When the country no longer needed his aid Dr. Wolfermann returned to Fort Smith to resume the private practice of his profession in 1919. Here he joined the Cooper Clinic, with which he has continuously been associated since that time. He is constantly promoting his efficiency and skill through scientific research and investigation and not only has he kept abreast with the times but has become a leader in this field of practice, developing his power to a high point of efficiency.

CURNEL SAMUEL WILLIAMSON.

Curnel Samuel Williamson was for many years a resident of Hot Springs and although he now makes his home in St. Louis he still has important business interests and investments in the former city. He was born in Covington, Kentucky, April 5, 1851, and obtained his education largely in the public schools of Cincinnati, Ohio, and

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in the Chickering Institute. His parents removed with the family to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1861, and Curnel Samuel Williamson started out to provide for his own support when a youth of eighteen years, initiating his business experience as a clerk with the Peoples Ice Company of Cincinnati. At the age of twenty years he was bookkeeper with the ship chandler firm of Williamson & Company, the senior partner thereof being his uncle. In 1871 he came to Hot Springs on a visit, after which he returned to Cincinnati, but in 1872 again made a trip to this city. He did not take up his abode here at that time, however, but in 1875 returned to Hot Springs and was married on the 18th of October of that year, to Miss Fannie Gaines, a daughter of William H. Gaines, who is mentioned on another page of this work. About the time of his marriage Mr. Williamson took the management of the old Hot Springs Hotel, associated with A. B. Gaines and carried on the business until the hotel was destroyed by fire in March, 1878. At that time Mr. Williamson turned his attention to the real estate business, conducting important trans- actions of this character until 1892, when he erected the Great Northern Hotel and the Great Northern Bathhouse. He then assumed management of the hotel and bathhouse and carried on the business successfully for a long period. In 1897 he erected an addition to the hotel, making it as it now stands. In 1874 he had acted as agent for the White Star Line Packet Company, having four side-wheel steamers on the river, and was located at Memphis, Tennessee. In 1872 he had been agent for the Cincinnati & St. Louis Express Line, also having four river steamers. Mr. Williamson continued to conduct the hotel until 1903, when he removed to St. Louis, where he has since resided, although retaining his business and financial interests in Hot Springs. He is connected with the city of St. Louis in an official capacity. While in Hot Springs he laid out the Williamson and Gaines addition to the city and he owns large real estate holdings here. He still visits Hot Springs quite frequently, to look after his hotel and other interests and takes great pleasure in meeting his old friends, who are always glad to see him. He rejoices, too, in the progress and development that is taking place in Hot Springs, ever manifesting a commendable pride in what has been accomplished as the years have gone by. This is a city famous for its fine hotels.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 39

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