Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 56

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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Four days after the declaration of war Mr. Mallory enlisted and later was commis- sioned. He was called to active duty on the 15th of August, 1917, and rose from a second lieutenancy to captain and adjutant of the Three Hundred and Twelfth Train Head- quarters. He went overseas in August, 1918, and there remained until January, 1919, when he returned to America and on the 8th of February of that year he received his honorable discharge.

Mr. Mallory was married August 20, 1919, to Miss Edwina Reid, who was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1893 and is a daughter of J. Lawson and Mary ( Parker) Reid. Her father, who was born in Georgia, died in 1907. Her mother was born in Little Rock. representing one of the old families of the city. Mrs. Mallory completed her education in the Higbee school at Memphis, Tennessee, and is a lady of liberal culture and refine- ment. By her marriage she has become the mother of an interesting little daughter. Mary Elizabeth.

Fraternally Mr. Mallory is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and his religious faith is evidenced in his membership in and loyal support of the Pres- byterian church. Politically he is a republican and has continuously filled the position of secretary of the state central committee since the state convention of 1914, save for the period of his service in the army. He takes a most active interest in politics and does all in his power to promote republican successes. He has received the endorsement of the Arkansas republican state central committee for the office of United States marshal, but whether in office or out of it Mr. Mallory is always a loyal and progressive citizen, holding to high standards in relation to civic betterment and the general advancement of the community and commonwealth.

ALVIN LOUIS PETTER, D. D. S.

Dr. Alvin Louis Petter, who has been actively engaged in the practice of dentistry at Stuttgart for the past seven years, is widely recognized as an able young representa- tive of the profession in eastern Arkansas. He was born in Paducah, Kentucky, in 1891, a son of Frank and Sophie (Mamman) Petter, his father being also a native of Paducah. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Petter fought in the Civil war.

In the acquirement of an education Alvin L. Petter pursued a high school course in his native city, while his professional training was received as a student in the Indiana Dental College of Indianapolis, Indiana. It was in 1915 that he took up the work of his chosen profession at Stuttgart, Arkansas, where he has remained to the present time and where a large and gratifying practice has been accorded him. He dis- plays marked skill in handling the many delicate little instruments which constitute the equipment of the modern dentist and his work is of a most satisfactory and com- mendable character. During the period of the World war he hecame a member of the Dental Reserve Corps, remaining in camp for two months.

Dr. Petter married Miss Marie Grable, daughter of August Grable of Stuttgart, and they are well known and highly esteemed socially. The Doctor is a Scottish Rite Mason and an Elk, while his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. He bas gained an extensive circle of friends during the period of his residence in Stuttgart and enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the successful young dentists and representative citizens of Arkansas county.

DAVID YANCEY THOMAS, Ph. D.

David Yancey Thomas, Ph. D. educator and author, who is filling the chair of history and political science in the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, was born in Fulton county, Kentucky, January 19. 1872, his parents being James Fuller and Eliza Ann (Ratliff) Thomas. He comes of Scotch-Irish. English and German ancestry, but the family from whom he is descended has lived in America from colonial days and its representatives have fought in the Revolutionary and subsequent wars of the country.

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His grandmother in the maternal line was one of the few pensioners of the War of 1812 at the time of her death, which occurred in 1896.

The public schools of Kentucky afforded Professor Thomas his early educational privileges. He spent two years in preparatory work in Marvin College at Clinton, Kentucky, and then matriculated at Emory College of Georgia, from which he was graduated in 1894 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. During his student days he won several prizes and was also editor of the college magazine, while in a class of thirty-five he won second position in scholarship. On commencement day he delivered the salutatory in Greek and one of his prize essays was afterward published in the Methodist Review of Nashville under the title, The Origin of the English Drama.

Following the completion of his college course Professor Thomas devoted two years to public school teaching in Perote, Alabama, and Coleman, Georgia. He was then awarded a scholastic fellowship in Vanderbilt University. which he held for two years and on the completion of his course there he was awarded the Master of Arts degree. Continuing his work in the educational field he filled the chair of Latin and Greek in Hendrix College for three years and during that period he decided to specialize in history and political science, so that he devoted the long summer vacation periods to study along those lines in the University of Chicago. In 1901 he was awarded a university fellowship in history at Columbia University and spent a year as a member of the student body there, passing all the examinations for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, but his thesis not being quite ready for publication the degree was not formally awarded until the following year, 1903.

In September, 1902, Professor Thomas resumed his connection with Hendrix College, accepting the chair of history and political science, which he filled for three years. He next became identified with the University of Florida, occupying a similar position for two years, when he resigned to become professor of history and political science in the University of Arkansas.

In the meantime, or on the 21st of June, 1905, Professor Thomas was married to Miss Elizabeth Janney of Conway, Arkansas, and they have become parents of two children: Mary Elizabeth and Albert Janney. Mrs. Thomas is a lady of liberal culture. who was president of the University Club of Fayetteville in 1920 and is now the presi- dent of the local missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church. Professor Thomas gives his entire time to teaching and writing and through the latter connection has become most widely known. He is the author of A History of Military Government in Newly Acquired Territory of the United States, which was published in New York in 1904. He has written numerous magazine articles on literary, educational, historical and political subjects. In October, 1902, his article on The South and Her History, appeared in the Review of Reviews and from July until October, 1905, there appeared in the South Atlantic Quarterly a series of articles from his pen on The Development of the Executive Prerogative. His Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness in Modern Society, was published in October, 1907, and an article on The Impending Crisis Fifty Years After, was published in Uncle Remus Magazine in November, 1907. His other writings include A Forgotten Work cf Victor Hugo, published by the Methodist Review in January, 1908: The Law of Impeachment in the United States, appearing in the American Political Science Review in May, 1908; A Year of Bench Labor Law, published in the Political Science Quarterly in March, 1909; The Need of Agricultural Education in the South, in the Annals of the Academy of Social and Political Science in January, 1910; and he was one of the contributors to The South, in Building of the Nation, to the Cyclopedia of American Government, and to the Encyclopedia Americana (1919). His Next Step in Railway Legislation, appeared in the Unpopular Review of 1917 and an article on The Land and the People appeared in the Nation in January, 1920. He also wrote an article on Filling the Coal Bin, which appeared in the Independent in January, 1918, and he is the author of Syllabus on Studies in Citizenship, published by the general extension department of the University of Arkansas; also Reorganization of State Government with Special Reference to Arkansas. He also published Commerce, Concession and War, in the South Atlantic quarterly in April, 1921. While in the University of Florida Professor Thomas prepared reports on the Florida archives for the annual report of the American Historical Association. The Carnegie Institution also engaged him to write a history of banking in Florida and a history of the free negro in that state before 1865. He belongs to the American Historical Association, to the Arkansas Historical Association, the American Political Science Association, the Arkansas Educational Association, the Southwestern Political Science Association, of which he is the vice president, the University Commission on Race Relations and the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Aside from his connection with the Arkansas State University he has been a member of the summer faculty of Peabody College tor Teachers at Nashville, Tennessee, and practically his entire time is devoted to teaching and authorship. Fraternally he is a Mason, politically, a democrat and religiously, a Methodist. These

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connections indicate the nature of his interests outside of professional life. His studies and researches have resulted in valuable contribution to the world's work and the University of Arkansas has reason to be congratulated upon having at the head of its history and political science department a man as capable as David Yancey Thomas.

AVERY M. BLOUNT.

Avery M. Blount, attorney at law at Searcy, is a representative of one of the old American families. His great-grandfather, Jesse Blount, held the office of high bailiff in England but due to his sympathy with the American struggle for independence he resigned bis position and made his way to the colonies. after which he enlisted in the American army, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and served throughout the Revolutionary war, giving valiant aid to the cause of liberty. He remained a resident of the new world, becoming the founder of the family on this side the Atlantic. His son, Jesse Fields Blount, was born in Rhode Island and removed to Virginia. He was a teacher by profession and organized an academy in West Tennessee. He served as justice of the peace and was a man of prominence and influence in his community. His liberal education, his high standards and his sterling worth made him a forceful factor for good in the community in which he lived. He was at one time a slave-owner but becoming convinced of the injustice of this method he freed his slaves. He made ex- tensive investments in land in Tennessee and he sold each of his slaves forty acres, giving them their freedom when their land was paid for. The greater part of his life was devoted to educational work and he made valuable contribution to progress and advancement throughout his life. He married a Miss Hyatt, who was reared in Penn- sylvania and both died in Tennessee, his death occurring at the beginning of the Civil war. They were the parents of Addison L. Blount, who was born in West Tennessee and became a contractor and builder. He worked on railroad construction on the Illinois Central in the rebuilding of the roads after the Civil war. Throngh experience he learned engineering and removing to Arkansas be settled near Marianna, in Lee county, where he became overseer of a plantation. At a later date he bought land in St. Francis county near Palestine and continued to devote his attention to agricultural pursuits for five years, his place heing mostly given over to the cultivation of cotton. Due to the condition of his health he removed to Harrison county, where he engaged in prospecting and in 1885 he came to White county, purchasing land on the Bayon des Are creek near Searcy. Some time afterward he sold most of his land bnt continned thereon until he retired from active business life and took up his abode in Searcy. In yonng manhood he wedded Louise Brown, also a native of West Tennessee and a daughter of John Brown, who was a distant relative of John Brown, the apostle of antislavery. Her father was a native of North Carolina and owned slaves that he later freed. On leaving North Carolina he removed to West Tennessee and had become a resident of Indiana prior to the Civil war. He was a millwright by trade and engaged in the con- struction of several mills in West Tennessee, making most of the machinery by hand. His death occurred while the Civil war was in progress. He had married Eliza Wood, a native of Alabama and after his demise she returned to Tennessee with her family and departed this life in that state. It was her danghter, Louise, who became the wife of Addison L. Blount and to this marriage there were born eight children, four of whom are living: Robert Lee, a farmer of Armstrong Springs, Arkansas; Benjamin F., who follows farming at Rosebud, Arkansas; John B., an accountant of Canada; and Avery M. Those who have departed this life are: Walter, who died in 1907 at the age of thirty- three years, up to which time he had been associated with his father in the development of the home farm: Albert, who died in 1903 at the age of twenty years; and two children who died in infancy. The death of the father occurred in 1920, when he was seventy-two years of age. The mother is still living, at the age of sixty-nine years.

From the foregoing it will be seen that Avery M. Blount is descended from ancestry whose outstanding characteristic has been loyalty to their honest convictions and fidelity in following the principles in which they believed. Avery M. Blount was born in White county. September 6, 1888, and his life has been in harmony with that of the ancestral record. He pursued his education in the public schools and in Batesville Business College and afterward studied stenography and accepted a position of that character. He did stenographic work and studied law in the office of W. D. Davenport and also pursued a correspondence course in law through the La Salle Extension University of Chicago. He was admitted to the bar in the circuit and chancery courts and in 1919 was admitted to practice before the supreme court. He entered upon general practice, in which he continues and he also has farm and timber lands in Arkansas, from which he derives a good rental. Actuated by a laudable ambition he has made steady progress

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in his professional career and his success has come as the result of thorough study, close application and marked devotion to the interests of his clients. His entire time is given to his law practice and to his real estate interests.

Mr. Blount was married to Miss Grace D. Burkett, a native of Ohio, and they enjoy the warm esteem of an extensive circle of friends in Searcy and the surrounding country. Mr. Blount helongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America and in the latter organization is now state clerk, having been elected to the office in 1921, in 1917 and again in 1919. He was a district delegate of the order to the national convention and he has also served as clerk of the local lodge. In politics he is an independent voter, exercising his right of franchise as seems to him is beneficial to the community at large. He ever seeks the welfare and progress of his community and cooperates in all plans and projects which he believes will prove of public benefit.

SAMUEL BASCOM KINARD.

Samuel Bascom Kinard, whose death occurred in 1919, was long closely associated with the industrial development of his section of the state, being engaged in the opera- tion of a sawmill in Ashley county at the time of his death. He was born in Columbia county, Arkansas, July 14, 1879, and was a son of Robert and Margaret (Kelly) Kinard, who are now residents of El Dorado. The son was hut a small boy when his parents removed to this city and his education was acquired here in the public schools. He possessed natural mechanical skill and ingenuity and in very early life identified himself with the sawmill business. At the age of seventeen years he was a mill foreman and served in that capacity up to the time of his demise, being killed in the mill which he had built on his own account in Ashley county. He was in some way caught in the machinery and sustained injuries which caused his death on the 23d of March, 1919.

Mr. Kinard was married on the 23d of November, 1904, to Miss Lena Renfroe of Ouachita county, who was born near Camden, and is a daughter of William C. Renfroe, one of the prominent farmers of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Kinard became parents of three children: Corine, Early and Clifford. Mrs. Kinard is a member of the Baptist church and has many friends in El Dorado. Mr. Kinard belonged to the Masonic fraternity and the Woodmen of the World and at one time was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and he lived his life according to its teachings, trying at all times closely to follow the golden rule.

GILES LUCAS, M. D.

In a thorough preparatory course and later in postgraduate work, Dr. Giles Lucas laid the foundation for the success and progress which he has attained as a practitioner of medicine and surgery. For twenty-eight years he has followed his profession in Van Buren, at all times keeping in touch with the advancement that is being made hy those who are regarded as leaders in this field. He was born in Harnett county, North Caro- lina, in 1860, a son of Alfred Lucas and Penelope (Giles) Lucas. His father was a successful turpentine producer and upon the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted in the Confederate army, serving throughout that conflict.

Dr. Giles Lucas was one of twelve children, six boys and six girls, and at the age of fourteen years he left the parental roof. For sometime he wandered about, working on farms for six dollars a month and following other occupations and he secured enough money to further his education by teaching in the country schools. He had early deter- mined upon a medical career and in 1884 enrolled in the College of Physicians and Sur- geons at Baltimore, graduating from that institution with the M. D. degree in 1887. Two years later he came to Arkansas and for two years resided at Alma, Crawford county. In 1893 he graduated from the Missouri Medical College, which is now a part of the Washington University in Missouri. In that same year he came to Van Buren and has resided here ever since. In 1895 he took a postgraduate course at the New Orleans Polyclinic. Dr. Lucas is ever careful in the diagnosis of his cases and his judgment is sound and reliable. His work has commanded the respect of his professional brethren, for he displays keen ability in the administration of remedial agencies. His time is not only taken up with his general practice hut he is now serving as city health officer and he has likewise large farming and stock interests.

Dr. Lucas was first married in 1879, near Fayetteville, Cumberland county, North Vol. 11-23

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Carolina. He has one son by that marriage, William Erich Lucas, who is in the National Bank of Commerce at Seattle, Washington.

In 1900 occurred the second marriage of Dr. Lucas, when he wedded Miss Lucy Jane Pool of Hiattville, Bourbon county, Kansas, and to their union one child has been born: Lucy Jane, sixteen years of age. Dr. Lucas is a member of the city council and is interested in any plan for the development of Van Buren and the promotion of its material interests. He displayed the elemental strength of his character in his efforts to obtain an education and the same spirit of determination and laudable ambition have characterized him in his later life work, bringing him to a creditable position as a representative of the medical profession in Van Buren and throughout the state.

MAJOR T. E. STANLEY.

Major T. E. Stanley, whose life record includes an important military chapter as well as the record of prominent connection with the bar and with the banking interests of Augusta, died on the 16th of June, 1904, while attending the Confederate reunion at Nashville, Tennessee. He was born in Lawrence county, Alabama, October 15, 1844, and was therefore sixty years of age at the time of his demise. His parents were Joe H. and Jane (Hill) Stanley, both natives of Alabama, where the father followed agricultural pursuits.

The son was educated in the public schools of his native county until he matricu- lated in the La Grange Military Academy in January, 1860. He was assigned to Company A of the Cadet Corps and, although in the fourth class, his conscientious and capable performance of his duties earned for him a corporalship within his first year. Following the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south he enlisted as a private in Company B, Tenth Alabama Infantry, on the 10th of June, 1861, and by October of that year had won promotion to the rank of first sergeant. He afterward became a lieu- tenant of Company G in the same regiment and thus served from 1863 until the close of the war.

During the days of peace Major Stanley devoted his attention largely to the practice of law, becoming a member of the bar at Augusta, Arkansas. He soon gained a large clientage of an important character and proved his capability to successfully handle intricate and involved legal problems. He likewise served as probate judge of Woodruff county and was called to other positions of public honor and trust. He became a member of the Arkansas state legislature, was made speaker of the house and was defeated by only eight votes in the convention for the democratic nomination for governor. Through- out his life he remained an active factor in political circles and one whose opinions carried great weight in the councils of the party. Aside from devoting his attention to the practice of law he became active in the establishment of a banking institution known as the Bank of Angusta & Trust Company and his successful management of this and various other enterprises brought to him a handsome fortune. He found his greatest happiness in his success through the fact that it enabled him to provide liberally for his family.

It was on the 1st of May, 1873, that Major Stanley was married to Miss Laura McCurdy, a native of St. Francis county, Arkansas, and a daughter of I. M. and Sarah Elizabeth (Quiett) McCurdy, the former a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the latter of North Carolina. They became pioneer settlers of St. Francis county, Arkansas, where Mr. McCurdy took up his abode about 1850. He entered land from the govern- ment and there engaged in farming, while at the same time he carried on merchandising in connection with his brother at Mount Vernon, Arkansas. He likewise served as sheriff of St. Francis county and in 1855 he removed to Woodruff county, where he again carried on mercantile pursuits. He had charge of the commercial business on the White river before and during the Civil war. He held membership with the Masonic lodge of Augusta and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. His political allegiance was always given to the democratic party and he continued active in its support until his death, which occurred when he was seventy years of age, his wife surviving to the age of seventy-five years. In their family were two children, Mrs. Laura Stanley and Junius McCurdy, both living in Augusta. By her marriage Mrs. Stanley became the mother of seven children: Baxter, deceased; MeCurdy; Mrs. J. R. Vinson; Hugh, deceased; Thomas, who is married and lives in Augusta, where he is connected with the Augusta Mercantile Company; Joe H., who is the first vice president of the Southern Trust Company of Little Rock, Arkansas; and one who died in infancy.

The family circle was again broken by the hand of death when on the 16th of June, 1904, Major Stanley suddenly died while attending the Confederate reunion in Nash-

MAJOR T. E. STANLEY

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ville, Tennessee. There were many friends who mourned his loss as well as his imme- diate family, for he had endeared himself to all with whom he came into contact by reason not only of his husiness capability and the success he achieved but also by reason of the many admirable traits of character which he manifested. He was thor- oughly reliable and progressive in business, was kindly and generous in spirit and genial in disposition and thus his strongly marked traits won for him the friendly regard of all.

IRVIN T. SIMS.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 56

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