Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 5

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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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

the parents of two children: John Zilleh, who is now street commissioner of Fayette- ville; and Mrs. Mary Goss, whose husband is an electrician of Fayetteville.

Albert M. Byrnes was married in 1872, when twenty-three years of age, to Miss Mary E. McCoy, who was born in Providence, Rhode Island, a daughter of Phillip and Mary McCoy, who are mentioned in connection with the sketch of their son, W. J. McCoy, on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Byrnes became the parents of seven children, of whom five are living: Mrs. D. M. Benbrook, a widow residing at Krehs, Oklahoma, where she is teaching music, having a very large class; Mrs. J. Wythe Walker, living in Fayetteville; Mrs. R. L. Putman of Chicago, whose husband is general man- ager of the National Lumber Association; Mrs. B. H. Barnes, a widow residing with her parents; and A. H., who is cashier in the office of the Frisco Railroad at Spring- field, Missouri, having been connected with the company for many years.

In the year in which he was married Mr. Byrnes began contracting and building in Fayetteville. He has done much work for the railroads and for the government. He had contracts with the Frisco Railroad which amounted to thousands of dollars. He is now engaged in the construction of a large dormitory and other school buildings for the government in Oklahoma, the contract being for one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. This was awarded him over several competitors. He has heen very success- ful in his building operations and is today numbered among the prominent contractors of western Arkansas. In 1873 Mr. Byrnes purchased two beautiful lots in Fayetteville at a cost of sixty-six dollars and a half each. He built thereon a home in 1876 and has since occupied it. The lots are today worth several thousand dollars, showing something of the growth and development of Fayetteville, resulting in the rapid rise in realty values. Mr. Byrnes has erected all of the school buildings in Fayetteville and he removed the Arkansas building to this city from the Louisiana Purchase Exposi- tion, held in St. Louis in 1904. He has built hundreds of the homes in the city, was the builder of the Engineers Hall in connection with the state university and also the boys' dormitory. In various localities stand substantial structures which are a monu- ment to the enterprise, skill and ability of Mr. Byrnes and all recognize the fact that he well deserves the success which has come to him. He owns a large block of stock in the Northwest Arkansas Lumber Company and is serving on its board of directors.

Mr. Byrnes and his family are communicants of the Catholic church and his political endorsement is given to the republican party, but while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, he has never sought or desired office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his building operations. He was brought to the United States when fifteen years of age and has always remained on this side of the Atlantic. The spirit of western enterprise and progress has actuated him in everything that he has undertaken and step by step he has advanced until he has climbed to the plane of affluence and now has the opportunity to select those business contracts which he desires to execute.

T. J. BOWERS.

T. J. Bowers, editor of the Searcy News, was born in Greene county, Tennessee, August 19, 1861. He is a representative of one of the oldest families of Pennsylvania, his ancestors coming to the new world during William Penn's time. The family is noted for longevity. The grandfather, Lewis Bowers, was born in the Keystone state and removed to Tennessee, where he followed the occupation of farming. His son and namesake, Lewis Bowers, was born in Greene county, Tennessee, and after arriving at adult age, there married Barbara A. Cobhle, who was also born in that county. Mr. Bowers was actively interested in politics prior to the Civil war and was serving as sheriff of Greene county when the war broke out. He enlisted for service with the Con- federate troops while seven of his eight brothers fought against him, being members of the Union army. He was under Bragg and participated in many of the most impor- tant battles of the war. On one occasion a bullet struck a Bible which he carried in his pocket and thus prevented him from being wounded. He served with the infantry forces and on one occasion was captured. At another time he saved the life of a Union general by carrying him off the field. He was court-martialed for furnishing arms to the Confederate army but was paroled. He had become quite wealthy prior to the war hut lost everything during that conflict, having been an extensive landholder and slave- owner. Later he went to Huntsville, Alabama, where he engaged in farming, leasing a plantation there for eight years. He shipped his first crop of cotton but never received anything for it. He then removed to St. Francis county, Arkansas, settling in Forrest City in 1874, and was there engaged in farming until he took up his abode in Cushman, Arkansas, where he conducted a hotel and also served as justice of the peace. He after-

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

ward removed to Washington, D. C., where he died in 1910, at the advanced age of eighty- five years, while his wife departed this life in 1908 at the age of eighty-one years. They were the parents of ten children, of whom the eldest died in infancy. The others are: Sarah E., who is the widow of J. A. McGall and is living in Washington, D. C., at the age of seventy-six years; Rebecca, the wife of J. F. Engles of Washington, D. C .; Mat- tie, who became the wife of J. F. Eslinger, but both are now deceased; Mary E., who is the wife of I. D. W. Cobb, living near Huntsville, Alabama; Andrew J., a machinist, residing at Batesville, Arkansas; T. J., of this review; C. C., a stockman, residing in Comanche, Texas; Fay I., the wife of F. J. Headstream, living near Roby, Texas, where he owns land and is engaged in dairying; and Lillie A., the wife of J. W. Simmons of Washington, D. C. The parents were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and Mr. Bowers was a democrat in his political views and fraternally was connected with the Odd Fellows and the Masons. The mother was a daughter of William Cobble, who was a carpenter and contractor of Tennessee.

T. J. Bowers pursned his advanced education in a college at La Crosse, Arkansas, under Professor Kennard, there studying in 1883 and 1884, while in 1885 and 1886 he attended the State University at Fayetteville. He then returned to Independence county and became a teacher in the rural districts, after which he spent three years as a teacher in Cushman, Arkansas. He next turned his attention to merchandising at that place, where he remained until 1896, when he came to Searcy and here entered the grocery business. Later he spent three years in Blue Mountain, Arkansas, hnt in 1904 he re- turned to Searcy and for three years was on the road as a traveling salesman. He afterward purchased a general merchandise husiness in Searcy, which he conducted for a time and then sold. Subsequently he concentrated his efforts and attention upon the insurance and real estate business and at the same time filled the office of justice of the peace. In June, 1918, he purchased the Searcy News and has continued as its manager and editor. This is a weekly paper of merit, devoted to the dissemination of general and local news and in addition to printing the paper Mr. Bowers does job work of all kinds. He has improved the equipment of the office, so that excellent work is turned out and he has largely built up the paper, which today has a circulation of one thousand. He devotes his entire time to his newspaper interests and real estate busi- ness and for many years he has figured prominently in connection with the hnsiness development and progress of the community.

In 1894 Mr. Bowers was married to Miss Quilla Crow, who was born in Arkansas, a danghter of Joe Crow. They have many friends in Searcy and the hospitality of their home is greatly enjoyed by their large circle of acquaintances. Mr. Bowers is a democrat in his political views and he and his wife hold membership in the Missionary Baptist church, its teachings constituting the basic principles of all their acts.

PROFESSOR DONALD MACQUEEN.

Professor Donald MacQueen, city superintendent of schools of El Dorado, was horn in Milledgeville, Georgia, on the 26th of March, 1886, and is a son of Dr. Donald and Martha (Windsor) MacQueen. The father is a native of South Carolina and the mother is a native of Georgia. They were married in Milledgeville of the latter state, in the year 1883. Dr. MacQueen is a Presbyterian minister, npon whom has been conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity and he is now filling a pulpit at Palatka, Florida.

Professor MacQueen of this review was educated in Center College at Danville. Kentucky, and in the University of Wisconsin, which conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1906 and that of Master of Arts in 1916. Following his gradua- tion he began his educational work as principal of the high school at Carlisle, Kentucky, and later he was made superintendent of the city schools at that place. He remained in Carlisle for four years, giving excellent satisfaction in his administration of educa- tional affairs. While there residing he was married on the 23d of December, 1909, to Miss Elizabeth Taylor Calliver of that place, and to them has been born a son, Donald (IV).

In 1910 Professor MacQueen was called to Fredericksburg College at Fredericksburg, Virginia, to fill the chair of English and remained there for a year, at the end of which time he resigned and came to Arkansas for the benefit of his health. In 1911 he accepted the presidency of the Warren Presbyterian Training School at Warren, Arkansas, where he remained for two years. In 1913 he went to Monticello as head of the department of English in the Arkansas State Agricultural School, in which capacity he served for five years and in 1918 he was offered and accepted the superintendency of the El Dorado schools, in which important position he has remained. He has always held to the highest

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

standards of his profession, ever making it his purpose so to instruct that his training shall be of practical value as a preparation for life's responsible duties.

Professor MacQueen is well known in fraternal circles, being a Knights Templar Mason, a member of El Dorado Lodge, No. 1129, B. P. O. E., and also of the Knights of Pythias. Of the Rotary Club of El Dorado he is the president and is keenly interested in the high purposes and plans of that organization for the benefit of the city along material and civic lines. He has membership in the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the board of directors of the Warner Brown Hospital. Keenly interested in the work of the Presbyterian church he is serving as one of the elders, also as superintendent of the Sunday school and is likewise president of the County Sunday School Association. He is scout-master of the Boy Scouts, Troop No. 1, and he gives his hearty aid and support to all measures which tend to uplift the individual and promote the welfare of the community at large. His lahors in the field of his pro- fession have been far-reaching and highly resultant and he ranks today among the most capable of the educators connected with the public school system of Arkansas.

J. P. WOMACK.

Among the well known educators of Arkansas is J. P. Womack, superintendent of the schools of Jonesboro. He was horn at Centerton, Arkansas on the 25th of July, 1871, a son of James W. and Elizabeth Jane (Gamble) Womack. The father, who is now in his seventieth year, is living retired in Centerton. He was for many years engaged in farming near that point and achieved more than gratifying success. He was born in Tennessee and located in Centerton with his parents when a boy of six years. The Womacks were among the pioneer settlers of that community and Richard Womack, grandfather of our subject, built the first church at that point, of Methodist denomina- tion. In 1868, in Centerton, was celebrated the marriage of James W. Womack to Miss Elizabeth Jane Gamble, whose demise occurred in 1916. She was born and reared in Arkansas, her parents having come from Northern Alabama and located near Centerton at an early day. Grandfather Alex G. Gamble served as assessor of Benton county for many years. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Womack, nine children were horn, five boys and four girls. All are living except one boy who died in infancy. J. P, whose name initiates this review, was the second in order of birth.

In the acquirement of an education J. P. Womack attended Pea Ridge Academy at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and later Rogers Academy at Rogers, this state. He spent three years at the State University, studying for the A. B. degree, having received the L. I. certificate from that institution in 1902. He was thirty-two years of age at the time the A. B. degree was conferred upon him. His higher education was acquired hy work- ing his way through college. He went to high school after his marriage and taught school for seven years to obtain enough money to begin his college career. In 1903 he went to Stephens, Arkansas, as principal of the school, there, a position in which he was active until 1909, when he became superintendent of the Magnolia schools. For four years he remained in that place. At the termination of that time he removed to Conway and was superintendent of the schools at that point until 1917. In that year he came to Jonesboro and has been active in educational circles here since. He is now serving his sixth consecutive year as superintendent of the local schools. He has won for himself a prominent place among the educators in Arkansas, for since coming here he has doubled the attendance of the high school and placed it in the Southern Asso- ciation of Schools and Colleges. The high school has a normal attendance of four hundred. The school term has also heen lengthened from eight to nine months. During the five years, 1913-18, Mr. Womack attended the summer sessions of the Peabody College and he received the M. A. degree from that institution in 1918. In 1912 he was president of the State Teacher's Association and he is director for Arkansas of the National Moral Educational Association. He is a member of the education commission of the North Arkansas conference, secretary of the Board of Education of the North Arkansas conference, and has been delegate to the General Conferences of the Methodist Church, South.

On the 21st of May, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Womack to Miss Lottie Belle Lee, a daughter of James C. Lee, a prominent resident of Pea Ridge.

Since age conferred upon Mr. Womack the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party and the principles for which it stands. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, holding membership in Conway Lodge, A. F. & A. M. and Conway chapter, Royal Arch Masons. Mr. Womack is a consistent member of the Methodist church and active in all church and Sunday school work. He is lay leader, steward and a teacher in the Sunday school. He is an accredited Sunday school teacher,

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

having received his training under the supervision of the general Sunday School Board of the Methodist Episcopal church. During the World war Mr. Womack gave generously of his time and money in promoting his government's interests and as one of the Four- Minute men made many speeches throughout the county. There is no movement for the development and improvement of the general welfare which seeks Mr. Womack's aid in vain and he is readily conceded to be one of the most public-spirited and substantial citizens of Jonesboro and Craighead county.

NOBLE ROBERT TOWNSEND, M. D.

Dr. Noble Robert Townsend, a physician and surgeon, who is now senior member of the firm of Townsend & Townsend, practicing successfully at Arkadelphia, has been a lifelong resident of Arkansas, his hirth having occurred in Lawrence county, Feb- ruary 28, 1866. His parents were John Woods and Anna E. (McGee) Townsend, natives of Alabama and of Tennessee, respectively. The father came to Arkansas some years prior to the Civil war, settling in Lawrence county. He was twice married, the mother of Dr. Townsend being his second wife. The father was also a physician and for some years after coming to Arkansas he practiced his profession but on account of failing health he gave up active work of that character. Later he entered the ministry of the Baptist church and was one of the pioneer preachers of that faith in the state. He became one of the founders and the moderator of the Spring River Association. He was also the editor and publisher of a small newspaper at Smithville for many years, this paper being known as the Sketch Book. Rev. Dr. Townsend was a man of broad education and liberal culture for his day and wielded a wide influence for good in the communities in which he lived and labored, his efforts heing most effective in connection with the intellectual and moral progress of the state.

Dr. Noble R. Townsend was educated in the public schools of Smithville and in the La Crosse Collegiate Institute and in 1888 he took up the study of medicine, being graduated from the Hospital School of Medicine at Louisville, Kentucky, as a member of the class of 1889. Following his graduation he located at Black Rock, Arkansas, where he remained in active practice until 1903. He then came to Arkadelphia, where he has continued and through the intervening period has built up an extensive practice of a most important character. In 1892 he took up a special course of study at Louis- ville, Kentucky, covering six months and in 1896-7 he pursued a course in the medical department of Tulane University at New Orleans, Louisiana. He was graduated from the medical department of that institution in 1897. For some years he was associated in Black Rock with Dr. C. E. Witt, now of Little Rock, and for a considerable period was in partnership with Dr. J. C. Wallace of Arkadelphia, who is deceased. Dr. Town- send has always held to high professional standards and his capability is widely recognized. He is a member of the Clark County Medical Society, also of the Arkansas State Medical Society and belongs to the Southern Medical Association.

On the 16th of October, 1887, Dr. Townsend was married to Miss Roxie Creekmore of La Crosse, Arkansas, and they became parents of three children, a daughter and two sons, but the daughter died in infancy. The sons are: Dr. Charles Kennard Townsend and Ernest Witt Townsend, the latter now a senior in the medical depart- ment in Tulane University.

Like his father, Dr. Noble R. Townsend is not only a physician for the body but also for the soul as he is an ordained minister of the Baptist church and at the present writing is doing supply work for a small suburban church. Occasionally he fills the pulpit for a brother minister and in all possible ways aids in the promotion of the church work. His life is characterized by high and lofty ideals and as a representative of the medical profession he holds to the most advanced professional ethics and standards. In 1919 Dr. Townsend established a private sanitarium in association with his son and Dr. Rowland and Dr. Doane. He is continually extending a helping hand where aid is needed and he is prominently known as one of the representatives and honored residents of Arkadelphia.

H. L. THOMPSON.

It is a noticeable fact that a great majority of men who have operated successfully at the oil fields of the southwest have come to this section of the state from Pennsylvania, where the first oil discoveries of the country were made. They are men who have hecome familiar with the oil industry in the east and have recognized the possibilities and Vol. 11-3

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

opportunities in this direction in this section of the country. To this class belongs H. L. Thompson, a well known oil operator of Fort Smith. He was born in Sugar Grove, Warren county, Pennsylvania, his parents being John H. and Ella ( Phillips) Thompson, the former a newspaper man. The son was educated in the public schools of Irvington, Pennsylvania, and became a drilling operator in the oil fields of his native state. To this business he has since given his attention and has done a contracting business in drilling wells, following the business successfully in Ohio, West Virginia, New York, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas. Thus he has made his way westward in con- nection with the discovery and development of oil fields in various sections of the country, at length turning his attention to the southwest when operations were begun in the oil fields of this part of the country. He has made his home in Fort Smith since 1916. He is thoroughly familiar with the oil industry in every department and his sound judgment, persistency of purpose and undaunted energy have brought him gratifying success.

Mr. Thompson has been married twice. He first wedded Neva English and they became the parents of three children: Winona, who is now a student in Wellesley College near Boston, Massachusetts; Edwin; and Harry. The wife and mother died and later Mr. Thompson married Elizabeth Garner of Clarendon, Pennsylvania. His life history is an interesting one, for opportunity has ever been to him a call to action-a call to which he has made ready response. At the outset of his career he recognized the qualities which are essential to success and has cultivated those qualities in the conduct of his business affairs until activity and energy have made him one of the representative oil men of Arkansas.

G. N. GILLEY.

G. N. Gilley, who conducted one of the large and profitable automobile sales agencies of Hot Springs, to the time of his death on November 7, 1921, established business in August, 1918, and had handled the Franklin, Paige and Hupmobile cars. He had de- veloped a large business in this connection and was thoroughly acquainted with every phase of the automobile trade. Mr. Gilley was born in Alabama and spent his youth in Dalton, that state. He was educated in the public schools and when he started out in the business world he became proprietor of a furniture store in Jackson, Alabama. Later he continued in the same line of business at Birmingham and afterward was identified with the furniture trade in both Texas and Louisiana. In the latter state he conducted a general mercantile business at Lake Charles.

Mr. Gilley dated his residence in Arkansas from 1906, in which year he took up his abode at Fort Smith, there residing until his removal to Hot Springs in 1914. Here in 1918 he established his sales agency for handling the Hupmobile, Paige and Franklin cars and his business had grown to large and gratifying proportions. He was very thorough and energetic in all that he undertook and strictly reliable in all of his business transactions. Aside from conducting his sales agency he was identified with the Superior Bath House as vice president and one of the directors. Mr. Gilley belonged to the Rotary Club and was also a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He had gained many friends during the period of his residence in Arkansas and had made for himself a creditable position in business circles. His entire record was characterized by steady progress since he started out in business on his own account. He always carefully utilized his opportunities and chances for advancement and step by step he had reached the position which he occupied as a prominent representative of the commercial interests of Hot Springs.

JULIUS GIGER.

Julius Giger, who dates his arrival in Benton county from 1896, has been well known in business circles of Bentonville as the owner of a first-class garage and in association with his brother. Henry Giger, he has become the owner of a fine fruit farm of two hundred and sixty-five acres, constituting one of the best improved and most valuable agricultural properties in the county. He has recently exchanged the garage for a large stock farm in the northwest corner of the county. He is an enterprising and pro- gressive business man whose plans are carefully formulated and in their execution he is prompt and determined. Mr. Giger is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Madison county on the 31st of March, 1865. His parents were Daniel and Marietta (Todd) Giger, who were also natives of that county. In 1884 they removed to Kansas, where the father purchased a farm, which he continued to cultivate until 1901, when

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he made his way to Arkansas, but subsequently returned to the Sunflower state, where he spent his remaining years, departing this life in Lyon county, where the mother's demise also occurred. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in his political views Mr. Giger was a republican, while fraternally he was connected with the Masons. In their family were six children: Julius, the subject of this review; Mildred Alberta, the wife of John Boosinger, who follows farming in Lyon county, Kansas; Emma, who married C. L. Saffer, a farmer residing at Bentonville; James, who is operating a farm in the state of Kansas; Clem, a farmer in Allen, Kansas; and Henry, who resides in Bentonville and is associated in business with the subject of this review.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 5

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