Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 59

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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HON. GEORGE THORNBURGH.

Hon. George Thornburgh, lawyer, author and editor, who since the 1st of January, 1919, has heen superintendent of the Arkansas School for the Blind, was born in Havana, Mason county, Illinois, January 25, 1847, a son of Eli and Elizabeth (Thoman) Thornburgh. The father was born in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, August 11, 1809, and the mother's hirth occurred in Pennsylvania, September 20, 1810. They were married in Ohio, November 30, 1830, and became residents of Smithville, Arkansas, where the father followed mercantile pursuits. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party. He died November 14, 1884.

The son, George Thornburgh, was but eight years of age when the family removed to Smithville, Arkansas, in December, 1855, and there he was reared to adult age, He attended law school at Cumberland University and was admitted to the bar in 1868, devoting several years to the practice of law. In 1886 he became identified with news- paper publication through the establishment of the Walnut Ridge Telephone and the following year he founded a Masonic paper known as the Masonic Trowel, of which he was the editor until July, 1919, when he transferred it to other hands. In November. 1889, he took over the business management of the Arkansas Methodist, published at Little Rock, and removed to the capital city. For fourteen years he continued as man- ager of that publication in partnership with Rev. Z. T. Bennett, D. D., and later with Rev. J. E. Godbey, D. D. On retiring from active connection with that paper he con- centrated his efforts and attention exclusively upon his editorial work in connection with the Masonic Trowel and other Masonic publications. He had been extremely successful in his work as manager of the Arkansas Methodist, increasing its subscription list from about seven thousand to nearly twelve thousand.

Mr. Thornburgh early entered actively unon the work of the church. He first con- fessed Christ in a country church at Shady Grove, a few miles south of Smithville, in Lawrence county, in 1863, and soon afterward was received into the membership of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, in Smithville. Almost continuously since reaching the age of nineteen years he has served as one of the church stewards, was Sunday school superintendent for more than forty years in Smithville, Powhatan, Walnut Ridge, and in the First church and Winfield Memorial church at Little Rock. He is the author of a Sunday school catechism and a catechism of church government, has also compiled class books and a Sunday school record, which have been widely used. He is the anthor of the stub form of reports of preachers to be made at the annual conference and for fifteen years he served as the secretary of the Batesville district conference, while for a decade he acted in a similar capacity in connection with the White River annual con- ference. Twice he was a lay delegate to the general conference from the White River conference and once from the Little Rock conference.

Mr. Thornburgh's activities have covered a very wide scope. He has always felt that to live in the world one should be a part of it, should find a place of activity where his efforts would prove of benefit to his fellowmen and further the interest of community, commonwealth and country at large. In early manhood he served for four terms as a member of the state legislature of Arkansas and in 1881 was speaker of the house. In the Brooks-Baxter war he was commissioned a colonel, first by Elisha Baxter, governor, and afterward by Governor Augustus H. Garland. He has not been an active factor in politics since 1885, though frequently urged to become a candidate for governor.

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In more recent years his activities have been directed into other channels which have more closely affected the general interest of society, especially in uplift work. He was one of the organizers of the Anti-Saloon League in Arkansas and for many years has filled the office of president. When the executive committee of the Anti-Saloon League agreed upon the bone dry measure he prepared the bill and gave it to Senator Great- house to introduce into the senate. The house bill was copied from it. During the final passage of the bill in the house Mr. Thornburgh, by courtesy of the speaker, occu- pied the stand with him. Mr. Thornburgh was also one of the organizers of the Method- ist Orphanage, became its first secretary and has been president thereof since October, 1906. He was the president of the Arkansas Press Association and was the first president of the Lawrence County Sunday School Association, filling the office in 1885. He assisted in organizing the State Sunday School Association, was honored with its first presidency and thrice has been reelected to that position. At the request of the trustees of the Methodist Orphanage he undertook to raise funds to build a home for the orphans and was eminently successful in this work, raising more than fifty thousand dollars and building a commodious home for the little ones in Little Rock, accepting no compensa- tion for his service in that connection.

On the 30th of September, 1868, Mr. Thornburgh was married to Margaret C. Self, who was born in Missouri, January 27, 1847, a daughter of the Rev. J. M. Self. They became the parents of six children: Lillie and Daisy, both deceased: Margaret Elizabeth, the wife of Dr. J. M. Workman; Celestine and Edna Georgie, who are deceased; and Agnes Eva, the wife of R. P. Ramsey. Mr. Thornburgh was married again in 1903, when Mrs. L. B. Green became his wife. She, too, is a daughter of a Methodist preacher, the Rev. W. P. Gibson of the St. Louis conference.

Mr. Thornburgh has long been prominently known in Masonic circles and was elected to the highest office in the gift of the Masonic grand bodies of Arkansas. By request of the Grand Lodge of the state he wrote a book known among Masons as The Monitor, which was adopted by the Grand Lodge as the exclusive work for the lodges of this jurisdiction. It has been remarkably popular and twenty-one editions of a thousand each have been published. In 1914 he wrote a history of Freemasonry, which has found a ready sale, the seventh edition having already been published. The hon- orary thirty-third degree of Masonry has been conferred upon him and to him is given credit of leading the Grand Lodge in its advanced legislation against the liquor traffic and of putting the Masonic fraternity of the state on record as favorable to prohibition. His life has been devoted to service for his fellowmen, and on the 27th of December. 1918, he was chosen superintendent of the Arkansas School for the Blind, though not an applicant for the position, and he took charge on the 1st day of January, 1919, On the 1st of October, 1921, he entered upon another term of service to cover two years. He is doing splendid work in this connection, greatly improving conditions for the unfortunates under his charge. His life has ever been actuated by the highest ideals and in every possible way he has reached out a helping hand to his fellowmen and has labored untiringly in support of those things and interests which are looking toward the uplift of the individual, the betterment of the community and the adoption of those high principles which find their root in Christian teachings.

WALTER H. SIMMONS, B. S., M. D.

The rapid industrial and commercial development of Pine Bluff in recent years has made this city also a fruitful field of labor for the able professional man, and thus it is that Dr. Walter H. Simmons established an office here for the practice of medicine and surgery. He has made steady progress in his chosen calling through the inter- vening period and his patronage is now extensive and his service of important character. Dr. Simmons was born in Carrollton, Mississippi, in July, 1879, and is a son of Harry and Della (Johnston) Simmons. The father was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and removed from that state to Mississippi, where he remained for a number of years, eventually becoming a resident of St. Louis, Missouri. His wife was a daughter of Peter Johnston, a native of Scotland, who in young manhood married Eliza Garrett, who was born in Alabama and was a sister of James Garrett, who was a law partner of United States Senator Underwood of Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Simmons became parents of two sons, Walter H. and Harry W., the latter now an oil operator.

Dr. Simmons was educated in the public schools, in Bethel College at Russellville, Kentucky, and in Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Tennessee. He completed a literary course as a member of the class of 1901, and continuing his studies as a medical student he finished his professional course in 1903, He then began practicing at Coal City, Alabama, and was surgeon for the Seaboard Air Line, construction work. He removed

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to Fordyce, Arkansas, in December, 1904, and through the intervening period to the Ist of January, 1918, continued in active practice there, making steady progress as the result of his wide knowledge of the principles of medicine and surgery and his experience. He then came to Pine Bluff and has since been connected with the Clark Sanitarium of this place, the staff of which is now operating as the Pine Bluff Clinic. He has ever displayed a characteristic thoroughness in the diagnosis of his cases and his judgment is seldom, if ever, at fault. He manifests the utmost zeal in the care of his cases and his ability has frequently been demonstrated in the splendid results which have attended his labors.

Dr. Simmons was married to Miss Lida A. Cook, a daughter of R. T. and Sue (Rowland) Cook of Hot Springs and a relative of the distinguished Augustus Garland of Arkansas. Dr. and Mrs. Simmons are the parents of three children: Elizabeth, Walter and Barbara Dell. Mrs. Simmons is very prominent in social, club and literary circles of Pine Bluff. She has been the president of the Musical Coterie, the leading musical organization of the city, and is now president of the Federated Music Clubs of Ar- kansas. She is also a member of the Authors and Composers Club and is keenly inter- ested in everything that tends to stimulate literary and musical culture in the state. Both Dr. and Mrs. Simmons are consistent and helpful members of the Presbyterian church. The Doctor is president of the Pine Bluff Battery Company and fraternally he is a Mason, having taken the degrees of both York and Scottish Rites, while in the com- mandery he has served as generalissimo, in the chapter as high priest, and in the blue lodge as master. He is a member of the Sahara Shrine and the Pine Bluff Court of the Royal Order of Jesters.

WILLIAM ARCHIE MCDONNELL.

The history of the bench and bar of Arkansas is one which in the main reflects credit and high honor upon the annals of the state. The younger representatives of the legal profession are fully sustaining the reputation of the lawyers of an earlier period, and holding to high ideals and to the advanced ethical standards of its calling, William Archie McDonnell has gained a creditable name and place among the attorneys of Little Rock. The story of his professional record and of his military experiences is a most interesting one. He was born in Altheimer, Jefferson county, Arkansas, November 20, 1894, and is' the second in order of birth in a family of four children, whose parents were James Smith and Susie Belle (Hunter) McDonnell. The father was born in Huntsville, Madison county, Alabama, in 1858, while the mother's birth occurred in Star City, Lincoln county, Arkansas, in 1867, their marriage being celebrated in the latter place in 1889. The mother was a daughter of Joseph Hunter, who served as a captain in the Confederate army during the Civil war. James Smith McDonnell spent his youthful days to the age of nineteen years in his native city and then removed to Altheimer, Arkansas, where he has long resided, becoming prominent in its business circles in connection with general merchandising and as a dealer in cotton. His polit- ical endorsement has for many years been given to the democratic party. The children born to him and his wife are: Joseph Hunter, William A., Susie Belle and J. S.

During his youthful days William Archie McDonnell had the opportunity of pur- suing his education in the excellent public schools of Denver, Colorado, and later of Little Rock, being graduated from the high school of the capital city in 1912. A review of the broad field of business led him to the determination to make the practice of law his life work and he began preparation therefor, becoming a student in Vanderbilt Uni- versity of Tennessee, in which he won the LL. B. degree upon graduation with the class of 1917. He made excellent record in college and received the Founders Medal. He also enjoyed two years' training in the academic department of the same university. studying the more classical lines from 1912 until 1914. After his graduation he entered upon active practice, but after a few months his professional duties were put aside. for he felt that his loyalty to his country demanded his offer of active service in the army. It was on the 27th of August, 1917, that he enlisted, serving until May 5, 1919. He became first lieutenant on the 26th of November, 1917, being assigned to the Eleventh Field Artillery, and afterward was advanced to the rank of captain on the 16th of July, 1918, in the Sixth Field Artillery Brigade. When he enrolled he was assigned to the second Officers' Training Camp at Leon Springs, Texas, where he con- tinued from the 27th of August, 1917, until the 26th of November, 1917, when he received a commission as first lieutenant of the Field Artillery and was sent to Douglas, Arizona. There he continued until April, 1918, when he was sent with the Eleventh Field Artillery to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he continued until July 6, 1918. He was afterward with his regiment at Camp Mills, near New York, and sailed on the 14th of July, 19IS. for

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France, disembarking first at Liverpool on the 26th of July and crossing the channel about the 5th of August, landing at Cherbourg, France. Soon afterward he was sent to Camp Valdahon, twenty miles from the Swiss border, where he remained until Sep- temher 1, 1918. Having received his commission as captain on the 26th of August of that year, he was transferred on the 1st of September, following, to the Sixth Field Artillery Brigade and attached to the First Field Artillery Brigade on the line north of Toul. On the 12th of September, 1918, he participated in the fight at St. Mihiel, the engagement continuing for about two weeks, this being one of the hotly contested sectors where the American troops were stationed. Captain McDonnell was returned to the Sixth Field Artillery Brigade, then located at Camp Valdahon, and remained with that command until April 1, 1919, when he was transferred to the Twenty-eighth Division and returned to the United States, arriving about the 15th of April, 1919, while on the 4th of May he received an honorable discharge at Camp Dix, New York, and returned to Arkansas.

Mr. McDonnell had been admitted to the bar on the 5th of July, 1917. On resuming the duties of private life he entered upon active practice in Little Rock and is making steady progress, already having gained a creditable position as one of the younger members of the bar of this state. He has many friends in the Masonic lodge, in which he holds membership and is recognized as a worthy and exemplary follower of the craft. He votes with the democratic party, but has never sought nor desired office. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and he is now serving as superintendent of the Junior department of the Sunday school.

LOUIS K. BUERKLE.

Louis K. Buerkle, postmaster at Stuttgart and a public-spirited citizen, interested in all that pertains to the general welfare of his community, was born in Findlay, Ohio, in August, 1875. His father, the Rev. M. Buerkle, was a native of Stuttgart, Germany, and was educated for the ministry in that country, being graduated from the University of Heidelberg. Louis K. Buerkle now has in his possession a ruby ring, the set of which was mounted on a jeweled pencil and given to his father on his graduation from the famous old Heidelberg University. In 1859 Rev. Mr. Buerkle left his native land and came to the new world, first settling in Lansing, Michigan. He began preaching,

however, at Crestline, Ohio, and afterward was located at New Bremen, that state. In 1891 he came to Arkansas, although he had previously visited the state in 1878 and had here purchased land before the town of Stuttgart was laid out. In 1881, while on a visit to this locality, he founded the town and named it in honor of his old home town in Germany. He was accompanied to the new world by his brother, Adam Buerkle, who was also a minister of the gospel and who lived for a time in Lansing, Michigan, while later he settled in Woodville, Ohio. Following his removal to Arkansas, Rev. Adam Buerkle settled at Gum Pond and both brothers engaged in preaching, serving the same church. Rev. M. Buerkle continuing the work of the church after the death of his brother. In large measure he contributed to the moral progress and development of the community and in connection with his work as a preacher of the gospel he edited the Stuttgart Germania, a German paper, which was discontinued in 1913. His land holdings were very extensive at one time, but prior to his demise he disposed of all but three hundred acres of his land. He departed this life on the 4th of January, 1918, and was survived by his wife until 1920 She bore the maiden name of Minnie Hennings and by her marriage had become the mother of six children: Louis K .; Catherine, now the wife of Charles Barton; Marie, the wife of John Bittner; Augusta, the wife of Emil Hill: Ida, deceased; and William.

Louis K. Buerkle, spending his youthful days in his native state, supplemented his early education by study in the Defiance (Ohio) College, and in 1891 he came to Arkansas, settling on a farm. After a time he removed to Stuttgart, where he engaged in the insurance business and as the years have passed he has become identified with other business interests of importance. He is now the vice president of the First Na- tional Bank of Stuttgart and aids in directing the policy and promoting the growth of that institution, which is regarded as one of the strong and sound money concerns of this part of the state. He likewise owns three hundred acres of land and from the property derives a substantial annual income.

While successfully managing his business affairs Mr. Buerkle has also responded to the call made upon him for public service and has proved a most capable official. He was elected a member of the city council at Stuttgart and exercised his official preroga- tives in support of various measures for the general good. In 1908 he was elected to the state legislature and during his connection with the general assembly his influence was

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ever on the side of order and of progress. In 1913 he was appointed postmaster and is now filling that office. While serving in the general assembly he introduced a bill to permit the erection of a high school in Stuttgart by issuing bonds and was successful in securing its passage. He acted as chairman of publicity in relation to all war move- ments and was chairman of the local chapter of the Red Cross.

Mr. Buerkle married Miss Ida Kesterson and they now have one daughter, Lonise. Their religions faith is that of the Lutheran church and fraternally Mr. Buerkle is con- nected with the Masons, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His life record is one which will bear close investigation and scrutiny, for at all times he has been actuated by high principles and worthy motives and his record reflects credit and honor upon the people who have honored him with election to office.

FRANK BAUDINO.

Frank Baudino, engaged in merchandising at Tontitown, was born in Italy, July 14. 1880, and is a son of John and B. Victoria (Perassi) Baudino, who were also of Italian birth and spent their entire lives in that sunny land. The father is still living, but the mother died in 1893. They were the parents of six children, five of whom survive: Frank, of this review; Angelia and Frederick, who are in Italy; Mary and Vincent, in South America. The father is a shoemaker by trade and has followed that pursuit throughout his entire life. He has also been a consistent follower of the Catholic church. His father, Dominick Bandino, spent his entire life in Italy and was also a shoemaker. The maternal grandfather, Chiaffredo Perassi, was a miller.

Frank Baudino acquired his education in Italy and there learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed in his native country until 1907, when he crossed the Atlantic to New York. He first made his way westward to Wisconsin, settling at Rib Lake, where he engaged in shoemaking for about three years. He then removed to Arkansas, taking up his abode in Tontitown in 1911. Here he has since engaged in merchandising and is now proprietor of a large store. He carries an extensive stock and enjoys a liberal patronage, his trade steadily growing as the years go by. He devotes his entire time to business and aside from his connection with mercantile interests he is the owner of forty acres of land, ten acres of which is planted to grapes.

In 1902 Mr. Baudino was married to Miss Maddalena Mollar, who was born in Italy, a daughter of Chiaffredo Mollar, also of Italian birth. Her father was a farmer by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Baudino have become parents of five children, of whom four are living: Leo, who is a graduate of a business college; Armando and Victoria, in school; and Pauline, who is not yet of school age.

The parents are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Baudino is connected with the Catholic Knights of America, and the Knights of Columbus. In politics he is a republican and has served as mayor of Tontitown. He is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of the community and he supports many projects for the general good. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world. for in this land he has found the opportunities which he sought and through the careful direction of his business affairs has gained a substantial measure of success.

R. C. MANN.

R. C. Mann, who is a prominent figure in journalistic circles of White county as editor of the Judsonia Advance, was born in Jackson county, Missouri, October 1, 1888, his parents being Arthur and Amelia (Merchant) Mann, who were natives of New York. The former was a son of Gilbert L. Mann, also born in the Empire state, where he extensively engaged in dairy farming near Franklin. He married a Miss Carr and in later life retired from active business and removed to Kansas City, Missouri, where he made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Mann, and there he died at the age of eighty-six years. The grandfather of R. C. Mann in the maternal line was Herman W. Merchant, who was also born in the state of New York, where he followed general farming until he, too, retired, spending his last days in Kansas City, where he reached the notable old age of ninety-four.

Removing westward from New York to Kansas, Arthur Mann settled near Dodge City, where he homesteaded and carried on the work of tilling the soil and producing crops. He afterward removed to Kansas City, where he entered the government service as a post office employe, spending forty years in that connection. He filled various

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positions in the post office and was superintendent of mails at the time of his death. which occurred in July, 1920, when he was sixty-four years of age. His widow survives and yet makes her home in Kansas City. In his political views Mr. Mann was an earnest republican and fraternally he was connected with the Knights of Pythias, while his religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church. To him and his wife were born five children, of whom three are living. Chester, a graduate of the School of Engineering of the University of Missouri, is now state highway engineer, with offices in Jefferson City, Missouri. R. C. is the second of the family. Robert was educated in the University of Missouri and is now a teacher in the School of Journalism there, being assistant to Dean Williams. Two of the family died in infancy.

Liberal educational opportunities were accorded R. C. Mann, who, passing through consecutive grades in the public schools, was ultimately graduated from the Manual Training high school in Kansas City with the class of 1906. He later spent four years in the express business there, advancing from the position of collector to that of cashier. He afterward worked in the office of the Kansas Lumber Company and of the Hutchinson Lumber Company and for one year was in New York with the Adams Express Company as hill clerk. In 1910 he came to Judsonia, Arkansas, with the Kansas City Bridge Company, acting as timekeeper and paymaster in connection with the construction of bridges for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. At a later date he returned to Kansas City but again came to Judsonia and purchased the plant of the Judsonia Advance. He was a novice in connection with the printing business but has continued in this to the present time. He installed new machinery, also a cylinder press, linotype machine and other equipment and now has a splendid plant, while the circulation of the paper has been huilt up almost from nothing to six hundred. He does all kinds of job printing as well and any work turned out from his office is first-class. He likewise writes fire insurance, representing eight different companies, and he acted as assistant receiver of the First National Bank from July 15, 1920, until April 1, 1921. His life has thus been one of marked business activity and his industry and perseverance have been the dominant factors in bringing to him the prosperity which he now enjoys.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 59

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