Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 54

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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is not familiar and his broad understanding of the trade enables him most carefully to direct the interests which are now under his control. Forceful and resourceful, he has become a dynamic force in the commercial circles of Arkansas.

H. E. MCCOLLUM.

H. E. MeCollum, mayor of Clarendon and the general manager of the Clarendon Pearl Button Company, is thus largely influencing the development and progress of the city through his business and political activity. In both fields his course is marked by a steady progress that indicates his commendable ambition on behalf of his own interests in business and in connection with the welfare and upbuilding of the city, over which he is now presiding. Mr. McCollum was born in Franklin, Illinois, in 1882, and is a son of J. W. and Lydia (Roundtree) McCollum. The father came to Arkansas in 1893 with his parents, the family home being established in Clarendon. He sold the first ton of mussel shells taken from White river, and he thus instituted a business enterprise that has been of large value and worth to the community.

H. E. McCollum spent the first eleven years of his life in his native state and then in company with his parents came to Arkansas, where he continued his education in the public schools. As the years have passed he has steadily advanced in his business connections until he is now a commanding figure in connection with the manufacturing interests of this part of the state. The Clarendon Pearl Button Company, of which he is the general manager, was organized in 1901 by the citizens of Clarendon, but after eighteen months was sold to the Ontario Pearl Button Company. In 1913 the plant was purchased hy the Harvey Chalmers & Son Company of Amsterdam, New York, and the machinery was given to them by the Clarendon citizens on condition that they operate the plant for three years without a shutdown of more than thirty days, or until they had paid out thirty-five thousand dollars to labor. They paid this amount to labor in two years and they have operated the plant continuously since. It has a capacity of two hundred and fifty thousand gross of pearl blanks for buttons per year. Employment is given to fifty-six men who cut pearl button blanks from mussell shells. The by-product of the factory consists of chicken grit shipped out in carload lots. The business is under the direct management of Mr. MeCollum, who is familiar with every phase of the work and therefore most wisely and carefully directs the labors of those who serve under him. High standards have been maintained in the factory, in the worth and value of the product and the industry has become one of much importance in connection with the material growth and business development of Clarendon.

Mr. MeCollum was united in marriage to Miss Goldie Farris, a daughter of Georg? Farris of Clarendon, and their children are: Harry C. and Leah May. Mr. McCollum belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and upon this ticket he was elected to the office of mayor of his city, in which capacity he is now serving. He studies public problems with the same thor- oughness that he manifests in connection with business questions, and he is giving to the city a progressive and businesslike administration, carefully meeting municipal needs and directing advancement toward the adoption of high civic standards and principles.

PAT McNALLEY.

Pat McNalley, one of the foremost members of the Arkansas bar, is now practicing at El Dorado, where he enjoys an enviable reputation as a most learned and successful attorney. He is a native of Dublin, Ireland, where his birth occurred on the 21st of February, 1867, his parents being Michael and Elizabeth (O'Neill) MeNalley. It was in the year 1880 that they emigrated to the United States, first taking up their abode near Erie, Pennsylvania, while subsequently they removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Michael MeNalley, who devoted his attention to railroad work after coming to the new world, passed away in 1896, five years prior to the demise of his wife, which occurred in 1901.

Pat McNalley, who was a lad of thirteen years when he came to this country with his parents, completed a public school education by graduation from the Indianapolis high school as a member of the class of 1887. His professional training was received as a student in the Indiana Law School, from which institution he was graduated in 1895. Prior to entering upon preparation for a legal career, however, he had learned the painter's trade, had taught school and had been otherwise employed. Following his admission to the bar he took a trip to Ireland and after his return to the United States

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located at Danville, Indiana, where he was actively and successfully engaged in the practice of law until 1903. He then took another trip to his native land, and on again returning to this country located for practice at El Dorado, Arkansas, here continuing until 1915, after which he spent five years in the development of some silver mining properties which he owned in Arizona and in Mexico. In November, 1920, he came back to El Dorado and here practiced his profession in partnership with Judge R. G. Harper until the latter's death on the 30th of August, 1921, since which time he has been alone. The zeal with which he has devoted his energies to his profession, the careful regard evinced for the interests of his clients and an assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all the details of his cases, have brought him a large business and made him very successful in its conduct. His arguments have elicited warm commendation not only from his associates at the bar but also from the bench. He is a very able writer; his briefs always show wide research, careful thought and the best and strongest reasons which can he urged for his contention, presented in cogent and logical form and illustrated by a style unusually lucid and clear. Mr. MeNalley belongs to the Union County Bar Association, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Catholic church. He is highly esteemed in both social and professional circles of the community in which he makes his home, his course having ever been such as to commend him to the confidence and regard of those with whom he has been associated.

LEWIS D. COOPER.

Lewis D. Cooper, a dynamic force in the business circles of Arkansas, the potency of his labors and the soundness of his judgment being manifest in the splendid results which he has achieved, is now engaged in the wholesale grocery trade in Hot Springs, is vice president of the Security Bank and also the president of the Cooper Dickerson Grocery Company of Little Rock. What he attempts he accomplishes and in his vocabulary there is no such word as fail. He early recognized the fact that energy and persistency of purpose will overcome obstacles and difficulties and by reason of his determination he has advanced steadily until he is a dominant figure in commercial and financial circles in the state. He was born in Tulip, Dallas county, Arkansas, October 4. 1862, and is a son of Dr. L. D. and Catherine (Yawber) Cooper, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, where they were reared and married. Immediately afterward they removed to Arkansas, settling at Tulip, where the father continued in active practice up to within five or six years of his death. Following the death of his wife he removed to Malvern, where he afterward lived retired. He had three brothers who served through- out the Civil war in the Confederate army and who remained residents of Arkansas to the close of hostilities.

Lewis D. Cooper had but limited educational opportunities. The entire period of his attendance at school covered only about six months. His education has been almost self acquired through reading and study and in the school of experience he has also learned many valuable lessons. On attaining his majority in 1883 he came to Hot Springs and here purchased a small book store, which he owned for six or eight years. He had been in the store for only six months, however, when he secured a position with the Texas Produce Company, which was operating trading cars through the south on the Iron Mountain Railroad. Mr. Cooper became representative of the company at Hot Springs and subsequently purchased the business at this place. The Texas Produce Company had the agency for the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company and while associated with the company Mr. Cooper became acquainted with Adolphus Busch, an acquaintance that ripened into a strong personal friendship. One day Mr. Cooper received a telegram from Mr. Busch asking him to come to St. Louis. He responded to the telegram and in the conference which ensued Mr. Busch handed him twenty-five thousand dollars in order to establish himself in business and to take charge of the brewery product at Hot Springs. From that time Mr. Cooper's business career was assured. Throughout the lifetime of Mr. Busch the closest personal friendship existed between the two men and he continued the representative of the latter for a long period. This important event in Mr. Cooper's life occurred in 1895 and with his return to Hot Springs be established a wholesale grocery business in connection with maintaining the agency of the Anheuser- Busch Brewing Company. Since then he has constantly broadened the scope of his activities.

In 1891 Mr. Cooper was united in marriage to Miss Etta Buffington of Hot Springs and they became parents of two children: Lewis D., Jr., who is a graduate of the law department of the University of Michigan of the class of 1916 and is also a graduate of Blee's Military Academy at Macon, Missouri. He is now employed in connection with his father's business. He served during the World war as a first lieutenant of the

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Seventeenth United States Cavalry. The daughter, Nellie, is deceased, and the wife and mother died in 1899. In August, 1916, Mr. Cooper was married to Estelle Kirkland of Hot Springs. He is well known through his fraternal associations, belonging to Hot Springs Lodge, No. 380, B. P. O. E .; Hot Springs Lodge, Knights of Pythias; and also . to the Rotary Club and to the Hot Springs Country and Golf Club. He is a man of social genial nature and of unfeigned cordiality. In his business career he has worked his way steadily upward. While he was denied practically all advantages in youth he has nevertheless carved out his opportunities for the attainment of success and is today one of the strong factors in the business circles of the state.

CLYDE C. COLVERT.

One of the prominent educators of Arkansas is Clyde C. Colvert, who has been superintendent of the Marion public schools since 1920. He was horn in Vesey, Texas, on the 29th of September, 1899, a son of W. H. and Lou Ella (McCain) Colvert. On the paternal side he is of English descent, members of the family having come to this country at an early day, settling in Maryland. W. H. Colvert was born in Fordyce, this state, his parents being among the pioneer settlers of the southern part of Arkansas. He is now living in Eagle Mills, where he is engaged as a stationary engineer. He is one of the prominent citizens of that community and is particularly active along educa- tional lines. He has been a member of the local school board for many years. In December, 1896, at Vesey, Texas, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Colvert to Miss Lou Ella McCain, whose demise occurred at Eagle Mills at the age of thirty-nine years. She was of Scotch-Irish descent, although her ancestors have lived in this country for many generations. She was a native of Texas, and was reared to young womanhood on a farm near Clarksville. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Colvert seven children were born, six boys and one girl, all of whom are living. Clyde C., whose name initiates this review. is the eldest.

Clyde C. Colvert received his early education in the public schools of Eagle Mills and in due time entered Ouachita College at Arkadelphia. Subsequently he enrolled in the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville but withdrew the year before graduation. He expects, however, to have the B. S. degree conferred upon him by that institution next year. Mr. Colvert worked his way through school. In 1917 he began his career as an educator accepting a position as teacher in the schools at Elliott, this state, where he remained one year. At the termination of that time he went to Eagle Mills to fill out an unexpired term as superintendent of the schools there, and during 1918 and 1919 he was employed in a similar capacity at Oak Grove. In 1920 he came to Marion as superintendent of schools and since that time the enrollment here has increased fifty per cent. The schools are conducted on the basis of psychological and educational tests and measurements relative to the mentality of students. This system has proved quite successful. Mr. Colvert has won an enviable position for himself among the educators of the state and his genial and pleasing personality have won the confidence and trust of the many students under his control. He is identified with the National, Arkansas, Crittenden and Marion Educational Associations and during 1920 and 1921 he was vice president of the latter hody. In 1922 he was elected president of the Crittenden Connty Association, his term of office to expire in 1923. He likewise holds membership in the Red Red Rose, a secret organization of school superintendents and principals from the majority of the southern states.

Although the greater part of his time and attention is devoted to his educational interests, Mr. Colvert gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good government. He is ever cognizant of the duties and responsibilities, as well as the privileges, of citizenship and there is no movement for the development and improvement of the general welfare that seeks his aid in vain. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church and he holds member- ship in the church at Eagle Mills.

A. A. McKELVEY, M. D.

Great are the demands that are made upon the physician-perhaps greater than upon any other representatives of the professions. If a minister holds himself aloof from his fellows it is supposed to be because he is engaged in the contemplation of things beyond the understanding of the majority of his fellows; if a lawyer is brusque and crabbed, it is believed that he is engaged in the solution of intricate and involved

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problems of vital interest to mankind. The physician, however, must never allow per- sonal feelings'to bias or influence his opinions or his actions but must ever display tact and kindliness, combined with professional skill, when he visits his patients and attempts to obviate the ills to which human flesh is heir. Meeting all of the requirements of the modern-day physician, Dr. A. A. McKelvey is now successfully practicing in Fort Smith. He was born in Lawrence county, Arkansas, July 16, 1866, and is a son of Dr. J. W. and Mary Ann McKelvey. The father was a native of Tennessee and in that state practiced medicine for a number of years and also engaged in preaching the gospel as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He afterward removed to Arkansas, settling first in Franklin county, then hecoming a resident of Sebastian county in 1872, taking up his abode in Greenwood. He was one of the early circuit riders of this part of Arkansas and as such ministered to the spiritual welfare of many in pioneer times. During the same period he also practiced medicine and thus healed both physical and spiritual ills. It was while in the midst of preaching a sermon that he became ill himself and asked the Rev. J. Holland, a Baptist minister, to come to the pulpit and take his place. Returning to his home, he never rallied and passed away the same week. To him and his wife were horn twelve children, all of whom reached adult age and were married. Two of these, J. K. and I. S., became ministers of the Methodist church.

Another son, Dr. A. A. McKelvey, followed in the professional footsteps of his father as to the practice of medicine. He acquired his early education in the common schools and afterward took up the study of medicine in St. Louis, also studied for a time in Little Rock and still later in the University of Chicago. His thorough preliminary training well qualified him for the onerous and responsible duties of the profession and he entered upon active practice at Bloomer. Later he resided for a time at Greenwood, Arkansas, and then came to Fort Smith, where he has remained. For sixteen years he occupied the position of district health officer in the Greenwood district and he has been district health officer at Fort Smith for a period of about three years.

Dr. McKelvey was married to Miss Minnie Fry of Bloomer, Arkansas, daughter of J. T. Fry, and they have become parents of two children: Althea, the wife of A. H. West; and Aaron. They have gained many friends during the period of their residence in Fort Smith, while the Doctor has made for himself a most enviable position in pro- fessional circles. He is a man of broad sympathies and kindly spirit and is continually. extending a helping hand where aid is needed. His ability has brought him an im- portant practice of large proportions and he is accounted one of the leading physicians of his adopted city.

HON. A. L. SMITH.

Hon. A. L. Smith, a member of one of the old and prominent families of Arkansas which has long figured conspicuously in public affairs and in legal circles of the state, is one of the leading attorneys of Siloam Springs and has also represented his district in the state legislature. He was born in De Witt, Arkansas, February 23, 1880, a son of L. C. and Elizabeth (Hill) Smith, the former a native of Arkansas county, Arkansas, while the latter was born in Charleston, South Carolina. They were married in Arkansas and for many years the father has been numbered with the able and successful attorneys of De Witt, Arkansas. His fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to public office and for five terms he served as sheriff, while for two terms he filled the office of judge of Arkansas county, making a most creditable record in both connec- tions. He was twice mentioned for governor of the state but met defeat at the primaries. He is a democrat in his political views and a leader in the ranks of the party and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of seven children, of whom two survive: R. V., a well known planter of Spiro, Oklahoma; and A. L., of this review. L. C. Smith's father, J. Floy Smith, was also a native of this state and became a large slave-holder. He was a son of Colonel James Smith, who served as a member of the first Arkansas senate. The maternal grandfather, Alexander Hill, was a native of Mississippi and hecame a captain in the Confederate army during the Civil war.

In the pursuit of an education A. L. Smith attended the grammar and high schools of De Witt, Arkansas, and the Normal School at Chillicothe, Missouri, completing a law course at Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1911, at which time the degree of LL. B. was conferred upon him. Previous to taking up his law studies he had served for five years as cashier of a bank at Clarendon, Arkansas, and entered upon the practice of his profession at Siloam Springs in 1911. He has been admitted to practice in all the courts and has followed his profession in western Arkansas and Oklahoma. While advancement at the

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bar is proverbially slow, he has made substantial progress. He has built up a representative clientage, connecting him with much of the important litigation tried in' the courts of the district. Aside from his professional connections he has other interests, having invested in farm lands in Benton county and also being a director in the State Bank of Siloam Springs.

On the 22d of November, 1905, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Addie Eleanor Branch, a native of Monroe county, Arkansas, and a daughter of William W. Branch, who was born in Tennessee and came to Arkansas in 1854, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of the state. To this union have been born two children, Marjorie Eleanor, and Arthur L., Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, Sonth, and his fraternal connections are with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias, while he is also identified with Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a college fraternity. He is a stanch democrat in his political views and in 1920 was elected to represent his district in the state legis- lature, in which he served for one session, being a member of the committees on federal relations, education and corporations. On the 12th of September, 1918, lie enlisted for service in the World war and was sent to the Officers Training School at Camp Pike, Arkansas, receiving his discharge in December of that year, His time and attention are concentrated upon his law practice, and in a profession demanding keen intellectuality and individual merit he is making continuous progress, ranking with the leading attorneys of Benton county.

ERNEST W. CHANEY.

Hon. Ernest W. Chaney, representative to the state legislature and actively identified with agricultural pursuits in Woodruff county, makes his home at MeCrory and is one of the valued and highly esteemed citizens of his section of the state. He was born March 30. 1874, in Haywood county, Tennessee, and is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families there. His grandfather, Fleming W. Chaney, was also born in Tennessee and became a merchant and planter at Chaney's Landing on the Hatchie river, a place which was named in his honor. He owned an extensive plantation and many slaves prior to the Civil war. He had interesting military ex- periences in connection with both the Seminole and Mexican wars, being a captain in the former on active duty in Florida. During the period of the Civil war he suf- fered severe losses and for sixty years the family has had a claim before congress to be recompensed for some of the losses sustained at that time. He died in 1877 at the age of seventy-one years and was survived by his wife until 1912, her death occurring when she had reached the age of eighty-eight.

Their son, John N. Chaney, was born in Haywood county, Tennessee, and after attaining his majority owned and conducted a store at Stanton, that state. He fol- lowed commercial pursuits to the time of his marriage to Miss Frances Hawkins, also a native of Haywood county and a daughter of J. H. Hawkins, who was likewise born in Tennessee and was a practicing physician, whose professional calls took him up and down the Mississippi river for some distance from his home. On one of these trips he was drowned while making his way from one boat to another. His widow became the wife of Fleming W. Chaney, who in the meantime had lost his first wife.

After his marriage John N. Chaney turned his attention to farming in Haywood county, Tennessee, and in 1880 came to Woodruff county, Arkansas, where he rente l land for a time. Later he purchased land near McCrory and continues to engage in general agricultural pursuits and stock raising on the old homestead, which has been in his possession for many years. He has reached the age of seventy-three, while his wife is now seventy-one years of age. For more than fifty-two years they have traveled life's journey happily together. They are members of the Baptist church, and the Chaney family has been identified with that religious denomination for more than two hundred years. In his political views John N. Chaney is a democrat. To him and his wife have been born nine children: Minnie, who is the widow of Ed Woolruff, of Chicago, Illinois; Anna Bird, the wife of H. H. Holder, a farmer of Grays, Arkansas; E. W .; John H., a farmer of Emhouse, Texas; Fannie K., the wife of W. A. Burkett. a retired merchant of Houston, Texas; N. H., a farmer of Jelks, Arkansas; Thomas, who cultivates a farm near McCrory; Robert, who is engaged in farming near Cotton Plant; and Paul, who owns and cultivates land near Jelks.

Ernest W. Chaney pursued his education in the common schools of Woodruff county and on attaining his majority took up the profession of teaching. He taught school altogether for twenty-six terms, three months in the summer and three months in the winter and at the same time carried on his farming interests. On the expira- tion of that period he concentrated his entire attention upon his land and is today

ERNEST W. CHANEY

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 54

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