Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 4

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 November, 1876, Judge Martin was united in marriage to Miss Emma V. Broughton of Camden, Arkansas, and they have become the parents of seven chil- dren, six of whom are living: Henry S., a real estate man of Fort Worth, Texas; Margaret, the wife of Napoleon L. Broughton of Pinewood, South Carolina; Lucy, the wife of the Rev. Thomas Harkin, chaplain of the United States army now sta- tioned at Riverside, California; Charles M., an attorney at law, associated in prac- tice with his father; Lillian, the wife of E. B. McConnell, a commercial salesman of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Willie L., who became the wife of Joe F. Arnold of Fort Worth,

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

and died in 1919, leaving a daughter, Josephine, who is being reared by her grand- parents, Judge and Mrs. Martin; and Annie, not married.

In addition to his home in Camden, Judge Martin has extensive land holdings in Bradley and Ouachita counties. He is giving the major part of his attention, however, to the practice of law and has gained a large clientage here since his re- tirement from the bench. He prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care and his presentation of a cause is always clear and forceful. Fraternally he is con- nected with Camden Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He is widely known by reason of the important work that he has done, not only along professional lines but in the way of public improvement, and he is ac- counted one of the most substantial and valued citizens of Ouachita county and one of the best scientists and writers in Arkansas.

HARRY LASKER.

Harry Lasker, president of the Commercial Trust Company of Little Rock, is one of those strong and resourceful business men who seem to possess almost intuitive perception as to the value of any business opportunity, and, carefully directing his efforts at all times, he has advanced steadily step by step until he now occupies an enviable position in financial circles. Mr. Lasker was born in Little Rock, March 11, 1865, and is a son of Samuel and Augusta (Sheik) Lasker, both of whom were natives of Germany. Coming to America, they here reared their family of two sons and three daughters, all of whom are yet living. The parents are now deceased, the father dying in the year 1888, while the mother's death occurred in 1913.

Harry Lasker obtained a public school education in his native city. Otherwise he has learned the lessons of life in the school of experience and his training there has been thorough and comprehensive. Activity and enterprise have constituted the rounds of the ladder on which he has climbed to success. No special advantages aided him at the outset of his career. He has worked persistently and steadily upward and is today recognized as one of the prominent figures in business and financial circles in the capital city. He is president of the city market and Arcade Company, is a director in many corporations and is an outstanding figure in financial circles. He was made the president of the Lasker-Morris Company Bank in 1915 and in Jauuary, 1920, the name of the institution was changed to the Commercial Trust Company. Mr. Lasker remained as president of this institution and is re- garded as one of the strong representatives of financial interests in Little Rock. He is thoroughly familiar with every phase of the banking business and has always rec- ognized the fact that the bank which most carefully safeguards the interests of its depositors is most worthy of public support. He has always followed a business policy that will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, and the success of the Commercial Trust Company is attributable in large measure to his efforts.

On the 28th of June, 1888, in Little Rock, Mr. Lasker was united in marriage to Miss Bertie Louchheim, who was born in Galena, Illinois, a daughter of A. Louch- heim, now deceased, who was a Confederate soldier in the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Lasker have one child, Harry, Jr., born October 29, 1908.

The parents are of the Jewish faith, and politically Mr. Lasker is a democrat. He belongs to the B'nai B'rith, the Knights of Pythias and to the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks and is loyal to the high purposes of these organizations. His entire life has been passed in the city which is yet his home, and those who know him bear testimony to the fact that he has ever manifested those sterling qualities which in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard.

SIMON BLOOM.

Intense business activity and marked devotion to the public good, through his terms of office and as a private citizen as well, have placed Simon Bloom in the front rank of the representative residents of Pine Bluff. He rendered valuable aid to his city for several years during his mayoralty service, giving a businesslike and pro- gressive administration that brought about various needed reforms and improvement. His life history stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, for Simon Bloom has won distinctive prefer- ment in Pine Bluff, where his birth occurred in the year 1861. He is a son of John and Fannie ( Aschoffenberg) Bloom, both of whom were born in Alsace, now a part

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

of France. They were reared and married there and on coming to the new world settled at Arkansas Post, being among the pioneers to establish homes in that locality. About 1857 they removed to Pine Bluff and here John Bloom entered busi- ness circles, but during the period of the Civil war his losses were very heavy, for his goods were confiscated and his cotton burned. He reestablished business fol- lowing the close of hostilities between the north and the south and again he won a substantial measure of success through his wise and capable management of business affairs. He died in 1878, having for two years survived his wife. He, too, was prominent in the public life of the community, serving as one of the first aldermen of Pine Bluff and giving his aid and support to every plan and project for the city's upbuilding and advancement. He was a man of determined purpose, whose well formulated plans were carried forward to successful completion, while his personal qualities made for popularity wherever he was known. To him and his wife were born seven children: Moses, deceased; Theresa; Charles, who was a banker of Pine Bluff for thirty years but has passed to the home beyond; Sallie and Emma, also deceased; Simon, of this review; and E. B., who at one time was county clerk of Jef- ferson county and lives in Pine Bluff.

In the public schools of his native city Simon Bloom pursued his education and afterward became secretary to Congressman Clifton Breckenridge. At a subsequent period he was with the Iron Mountain Railway as commercial agent at Pine Bluff and in 1904 he became associated with the W. R. Kirby Company at Varner, Arkansas, continuing in active connection with that business for a period of eight years. In 1912 he again came to Pine Bluff and the following year was elected mayor of the city. So efficiently and capably did he discharge the duties of the position that he was reelected at each biennial period until he had served until 1919-retiring from office as he had entered it, with the confidence and goodwill of all concerned. He is now fiscal agent for the city and again he is proving his loyalty and fidelity to the interests and welfare of the district which he represents. He is, moreover, known as one of the most prominent representatives of cotton raising in the south. He has thirty-two hundred acres of cotton land and he is now actively interested in securing a cotton spinning plant for Pine Bluff, acting with the same determination and energy that have always characterized him. There is little doubt as to the success of his efforts in this connection. Situated at Pine Bluff, he is in the midst of a great cotton growing district and there is no doubt but what such an enterprise could be made a splendidly paying investment here.

In 1888, Mr. Bloom was married to Miss Sophia Rhine, a daughter of Sol and Fredericka Rhine of Memphis, Tennessee. They have one child, Sol N., now living at Varner, Arkansas, where he is engaged in merchandising and cotton raising. He was a second lieutenant, serving at Camp Pike during the World war. Mr. Bloom belongs to the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith and is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, loyally following the teachings and purposes of these different societies. He is an alert, energetic, progressive man and one whose con- tribution to Pine Bluff's upbuilding and advancement has been of most substantial and valuable character.

COLONEL JOSEPH WARREN HOUSE.

The name of Colonel Joseph Warren House, Sr., is known to nearly everyone throughout the whole of the state of Arkansas. No man is more truly or generally heloved by those who know him well. Indeed, the esteem in which he is universally held is closely akin to reverence. He has, during the many years of an eventful life, rounded out a career distinguished by public and private virtues. His outstanding characteristics are a simple and unpretentious manner, a keen sense of humor, a kindly, sympathetic interest in all children, marked chivalry toward women and the highest sense of personal honor. It would seem, therefore, that he comes as near to summing up in himself all the best virtues of the old-fashioned, ideal southern gentleman as ever did any individual.

Colonel House was born June 12, 1847, in Hardeman county, Tennessee, the son of A. B. and Eliza (Wilkes) House, who in 1858 left Tennessee and became residents of White county, Arkansas, where their remaining days were passed, the father fol- lowing the occupation of farming. The son, Joseph Warren House, attended such country schools as then existed in White county and was a youth of but sixteen years, when in May, 1863, he responded to the call of the Confederacy and enlisted in Colonel Moseley's Regiment, with which he served for two years, or until after the cessation ot

COLONEL JOSEPH W. HOUSE

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

hostilities. He then returned to his home and soon afterward entered upon the study of law in the town of West Point, White county, receiving instruction from an able representative of the bar at that place until admitted to practice in May, 1869. He then entered upon the active work of his profession in Searcy, the county seat of White county, and in 1885 removed to Little Rock, where he has since resided. For fifty-two years Colonel House has been a member of the Arkansas bar. Advancement in the law is proverbially slow, but surely and steadily Colonel House worked his way upward, proving his ability by the capable manner in which he handled involved and intricate legal problems. His clientage steadily grew in volume and importance and for many years he has occupied a foremost place in the ranks of the leading lawyers of the commonwealth.

Colonel House has long left the impress of his individuality and his ability upon the political history of the state, yet he has never been a seeker for public office. He has been active in shaping many events which have had to do with political progress in Arkansas from the Civil war period on through the days of reconstruction, through the Brooks-Baxter war and in later periods molding the political history of the present decade. In 1871 he was elected to represent his county in the lower house of the state legislature and gave most thoughtful and earnest consideration to all the vital ques- tions which came up for settlement while he served in the general assembly. He was elected to the constitutional convention in 1874, being one of the youngest men elected to that now historic body. In spite of his youth he took an active and highly creditable part in framing the fundamental law of Arkansas, under which the state has been resurrected from the ashes of reconstruction. He is one of two or three members of that convention who still survive. In 1874-75 he represented the twenty- seventh senatorial district, composed of White and Faulkner counties, in the state senate and during his connection therewith was chairman of the committee on edu- cation and as such had a large share in shaping the public school system of the state. He served as United States district attorney for the eastern district of Arkansas during the first and second administrations of President Cleveland and in 1917 he was elected without opposition as delegate to the state constitutional convention, which convened the following year. He delves deep into any question which elicits his attention, study- ing the problems of the commonwealth from every angle and his support of any meas- ure is based upon a firm belief in its value and efficacy as a factor in good government. The democratic party has long regarded him as one of its ablest exponents in Arkan- sas and there are few men who have figured so long in connection with the political history of the state, while the record of none has been more faultless in honor, fear- less in conduct, or stainless in reputation.

With the establishment of his home in Little Rock in 1885, Colonel House entered upon the active practice of his profession in the capital city, in which he has made a most notable record. His prominence is indicated in the fact that he was honored with the presidency of the Arkansas State Bar Association for the year 1906-07. For a time he was associated with his nephew, Menefee House (now deceased), in law practice, under the style of House & House, but for the greater part of his career he has practiced independently.

In 1882 Colonel House was united in marriage to Miss Ina Dowdy, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, and to them have been born two sons, Joseph W. and Archie F., and three daughters, Arline, Mary and Ina. The daughter Arline was married to Alfred M. Lund of the engineering firm of Lund & Hill of Little Rock; Mary became the wife of Horace G. Mitchell, president of the Democrat Printing & Lithographing Company of Little Rock; Joseph W., Jr., was married to Julia Clarke, daughter of the late United States Senator James P. Clarke of Little Rock. The family has long occupied a most prominent social position, their residence in Little Rock covering a period of more than a third of a century. Moreover, Colonel House is a representa- tive of one of the old southern families, holding to the high traditions and ideals of the south and ever standing as a splendid example of American manhood and chivalry.

M. E. BURGESS, M. D.

Dr. M. E. Burgess, successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Clarksville, was born in Pope county, Arkansas, August 26, 1879, and is a son of Iverson Carter and Dulcenia (Jolly) Burgess both of whom were natives of North Carolina, where they were reared and married. Removing westward they settled in what was then Johnson but is now Pope county, Arkansas, taking up their abode in this state soon after the Civil war, in which I. C. Burgess had served as a Confederate soldier. He was in limited financial circumstances when he arrived in this state

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

and here he devoted his attention to farming and to school teaching, winning a sub- stantial measure of success and continuing active in business until his health failed about six years prior to his demise. He always voted with the democratic party and both he and his wife were members of the Missionary Baptist church. They became parents of eight children, seven of whom are living: Gilford B., who is a farmer of Pope county, Arkansas; Henry, who is teaching in Oklahoma; I. C., an attorney and abstractor of western Texas; T. E. and M. E., twins, the former a physician of Lamar, Arkansas; Marinda, the widow of Finis Burns and a resident of Texas; and Arah, the wife of H. Kennedy, living in Doyle, Oklahoma.

Dr. Burgess of this review was a student in the State University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he pursued his medical studies for two years. Later he was gradu- ated from the Gates Medical College at Texarkana, with the class of 1903. He also attended the Arkansas Normal College at Sulphur Rock before entering upon his medi- cal studies, having thus laid broad and deep the foundation upon which to build the superstructure of professional knowledge. In early manhood he taught school for three or four years, so that he had some experiences in life before entering upon his chosen professional career. After completing his studies he practiced medicine for three years in the Indian Territory and then removed to Lamar, Arkansas, where he remained for seventeen years. In December, 1920, he came to Clarksville, where he already has gained a large practice, his ability being known to the public even before he took up his abode here. He is thorough and most careful in his diagnosis of a case and is seldom, if ever, at fault in planning a course of treatment. The results that he has achieved have been most gratifying and his professional colleagues and contemporaries acknowledge his ability in his chosen field.

On the 31st of December, 1904, Dr. Burgess was married to Miss Alice Cowan, who was born in Johnson county, Arkansas, a daughter of Dr. J. M. Cowan, who practiced medicine at Lamar, Arkansas, for a number of years. Dr. and Mrs. Burgess are parents of three children: Roy, who was graduated from the high school at Clarks- ville at the age of fourteen years and is now a pupil in the College of the Ozarks; Glenn, who is attending high school; and Truett, also in school here. Dr. and Mrs. Burgess have ever been deeply interested in educational progress and in all those forces which make for the uplift of the individual and the benefit of the community at large. They belong to the Baptist church and Dr. Burgess is a member of the state executive board of the church, being the only representative on the board be- tween Fort Smith and Conway. In all branches of the church work he takes deep and helpful interest and is now serving as superintendent of the Sunday school, a posi- tion which he also occupied at Lamar for fifteen years. He was elected superintendent in Clarksville almost immediately after his arrival here and has been continued in that position, his labors being an effective force in holding the interests of the pupils and in working out a plan of instruction that will be of the greatest possible benefit. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Order of United Workman. In politics he is a democrat and is now filling the position of county health officer. His time is divided between his church work and his professional interests and in the latter connection he has mem- bership in the County and State Medical Societies and is secretary of the former. He has taken postgraduate work in Little Rock on diseases of women and he engages in general practice, his patronage steadily growing.

ALBERT JOSEPH DEMERS

Through a decade Albert Joseph DeMers has been connected with the Little Rock bar, entering upon practice here in 1911, following the completion of his prep- aration for his calling. He is a native of the state of New York, his birth having occurred in the city of Buffalo, April 3, 1884. His father, Albert Norbert DeMers, was also a native of Buffalo, born in 1869, and after arriving at man's estate he wedded Rosalie Thomas, whose birth occurred in Canada, the same year. Their marriage was celebrated in Buffalo in 1883 and they became the parents of four sons and two daughters, all of whom died in infancy, with the exception of Albert J. DeMers. The father in 1884 removed with his family to Montreal, Canada, and in later years became a resident of Little Rock, where he continued in the practice of law from 1902 until 1914, when he retired and is now enjoying a well earned rest. His political endorsement has ever been given to the democratic party. His wife died while residing in Montreal, in 1895.

Albert J. DeMers was only six months old when the family home was established in Montreal, Canada, where he remained until 1900. He was a pupil in the Montreal

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

schools, completing his course, there in the Montcalm school. Then he came to Little Rock in 1901, two years after the arrival of his father, who had taken up his ahode in the capital city in 1899. In 1909 Albert J. DeMers entered upon the study of law, which he pursued in the law department of the University of Arkansas, from which he was graduated with the class of 1911. He then entered upon active practice, and while advancement at the har is proverbially slow he has steadily progressed and is now accorded a good clientage, which is indicative of his ability in the trial of cases before the court. He is now local attorney for the Security Benefit Association, is attorney for the Eclair Oil Company of Arkansas and secretary of the Arkansas Oil Exchange. He is likewise financier of the Security Benefit Association.

Mr. DeMers was married to Miss Anna Elizabeth Penzel, who was born in Little Rock in September, 1886, a daughter of Adam C. Penzel of Little Rock. They have become parents of three children: Albert Penzel, Adam William, and Rosalie Charlotte.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church, and politically Mr. DeMers is connected with the democratic party. He is a master workman of Capitol Lodge, No. 26, A. O. U. W., and he is the secretary and treasurer of the Alumni Associa- tion of the Arkansas Law School. A resident of Little Rock from the age of sixteen years, he has become widely known in this city and has made for himself a creditable name and place through his professional connections.

RICHARD HANCOCK ALLEN.

Richard Hancock Allen, circuit clerk of Arkansas county and a resident of De Witt, is well known in this part of the state, by reason of his stalwart championship of all those interests which make for public progress and improvement. His devotion to the general welfare has, therefore, led to his selection for office, the duties of which he has promptly and efficiently performed. Mr. Allen was born on a farm five miles east of De Witt in 1881 and is a son of R. C. and Belle ( Williamson) Allen. The father was a native of Shelby county, Mississippi, and his father became one of the pioneer settlers of this state, arriving in 1858 and taking up his abode on a farm in Arkansas county, while the Williamson family had previously been established in this county and was also connected with the agricultural life of the community.

Richard H. Allen acquired his education in the common schools and later pursued a commercial course, after which he took up the business of bookkeeping. His interest in public affairs, his capability and his devotion to the general welfare caused him to be selected for official duties and he was elected county treasurer in 1912, continuing in that office for four years. He has also served as deputy collector for four years and with his retirement from the office of deputy collector in 1920 he was elected circuit clerk and is the incumbent in that position.

Mr. Allen was married to Miss Bertie Parker, a daughter of Joseph Parker of St. Charles, Arkansas, and they have three sons: Robert, R. H., Jr., and Gleason. Mr. Allen is identified with the Masonic order, heing a member of Albert Pike Consistory at Little Rock, Arkansas; also the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks. His fellow members in these societies attest his sterling worth and give him their warm friendship and kindly regard, while his official record has also gained him high position in the esteem of his fellow townsmen.

ALBERT M. BYRNES.

Albert M. Byrnes, a contractor of Fayetteville, is numbered among the sons of the Emerald isle who have sought the opportunities of the new world and have made good here in the attainment of success through untiring industry and progressive busi- ness methods. Mr. Byrnes was born in Dublin, Ireland, August 2, 1849, and is a son of Michael and Charlotte (Hatton) Byrnes, also natives of that country, in which they Michael Byrnes early learned the wagon maker's trade and in 1852 he came to the were reared and married. The grandfather was Peter Byrnes, a farmer of Ireland, and he and all of his descendants have been faithful followers of the Catholic church. United States, making his way first to California, while later he went to New Orleans, where he became a victim of the yellow fever.

Albert M. Byrnes is the only survivor of the family which numbered parents and two children. His educational opportunities were very limited and in early youth he learned the carpenter's trade after his mother brought him to Fayetteville in 1866, fol- lowing the death of her husband. Here she was married to Joseph Zilleh, and they became

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 4

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