Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 6

Author: Herndon, Dallas T. (Dallas Tabor), b. 1878
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Chicago, Little Rock, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1172

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In the schools of 'Illinois Julius Giger acquired his education and on starting out in life independently took up the occupation of farming, which he followed in Lyon county, Kansas, until 1896, when he came to Arkansas, purchasing eighty acres of un- improved land in Benton county, and in order to gain a start he was obliged to borrow money, having a capital of less than three hundred dollars when he arrived in this locality. He devoted every energy to the cultivation of his land, utilizing the most modern and progressive methods and gradually converting it into a rich and productive property. He was at length able to discharge all of his indebtedness and as his resources increased he gradually enlarged his holdings, until he now has in all six hundred and eighty acres, of which sixty-five acres is devoted to the raising of fine apples. He is interested in all modern developments along agricultural lines and has equipped his farm with the most labor saving machinery. He formerly had the best horses in the county but now utilizes three trucks and two tractors and has also installed a water- works system on the place, keeping abreast of the times in every way. He has wrought a remarkable transformation in the appearance of the property, which at the time it came into his possession was the poorest piece of land in the county but is now classed with the most highly developed and valuable farms of this section. His brother, Henry Giger. is part owner of the property and is also associated with him in his other business interests. In 1920 he took up his residence in Bentonville, where he at first became connected with the feed business, later opening a garage and also engaging in the lumber business. He now devotes all of his attention to the management of his farms and his his efforts have been crowned with a substantial measure of success.

In 1889 occurred the marriage of Julius Giger and Miss Alice H. Curt, a native of Vermilion county, Illinois, and a daughter of Thomas H. Curt, who served as a captain in the Civil war, receiving two severe wounds. Mr. and Mrs. Giger have had no children of their own but reared an adopted daughter, Cora Hatcher, who is now residing in Benton county. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. The cause of education has ever found in him a strong advocate and he is deeply interested in the schools of the county. For a number of years he was a director of the country schools and is now serving as school director of Bentonville, in which connection he is doing effective work. Energy, perseverance and thrift are recognized the world over as the foundation of material prosperity and these three qualities are possessed by Mr. Giger. He enjoys the esteem of many friends and fully deserves the honor that is accorded the fortunate individual who has fought and won in the great hattle of life.

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JAMES YOUNG STEVENS.

James Young Stevens, one of the prominent attorneys of Arkansas and chancellor of the seventh chancery circuit, was born near Haynesville, Louisiana, on the 30th day of April, 1856, a son of James Bailey and Mary Elizabeth (Foster) Stevens. The Stevens family are of English origin, members of the family having come to America at an early date. The father was born in Alabama and was carried by his parents to Mississippi. He lived there until manhood and with his father went to Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, in 1851. He followed farming the greater part of his life. His demise occurred at Mag- nolia, Arkansas in 1909, when seventy-six years of age. In 1861, upon the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted in the Confederate army and was in the active service for nearly the entire four years. He was wounded at the seige of Vicksburg. He was a noncommissioned officer in the infantry. Near Gordon, Louisiana, in 1855, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Stevens to Miss Mary Elizabeth Foster, and to their union five children were born, one boy and one girl dying in infancy. Of the three remaining children, all sons, James Young is the eldest. Mrs. Stevens died in 1902 at Magnolia.

In the acquirement of an education, James Young Stevens attended the country schools of Louisiana and the Haynesville Academy at Haynesville in said state, and after putting his textbooks aside he engaged in educational work for some time. From

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

1880 to 1886 he taught in the public schools of Louisiana and Arkansas, the most of the time being at Center Point, a country schoolhouse in Louisiana, and one year at Chalebyate Springs in Columbia county, Arkansas. About 1884 Mr. Stevens began the study of law at night and in his spare time, and in September, 1886, he came to Magnolia, continuing his studies under the preceptorship of Col. H. P. Smead, one of the leading attorneys of that day. In June, 1887, he went to Camden, Arkansas, and after passing an examination as provided by law he was admitted by the court to practice his chosen profession. He then returned to Magnolia and has since practiced here. He has an extensive general practice, and handles much important litigation before the courts. In 1908 Mr. Stevens was called to his first public office, being elected prose- cuting attorney of the thirteenth judicial circuit comprising Columbia, Ouachita, Calhoun and Union counties, and he served for two terms with no opposition, the last term ex- piring in 1912. In 1920 he was elected chancellor for the seventh chancery circuit for a term of six years and he took over the duties of that office on the 1st of January, 1921. His circuit comprises Lafayette, Columbia, Ouachita, Union, Calhoun and Dallas coun- ties. In addition to his legal and political interests he is a director in the Columbia County Bank of Magnolia and occupies a prominent place in financial circles.

On the 15th of November, 1894, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Stevens to Miss Effie J. Mullins, a native of Columbia county and a daughter of J. W. Mullins. Mr. Mullins was a successful farmer for many years in the county and afterwards moved to Magnolia and became a merchant. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Stevens two children have been born: Ethel May, who married Herbert Jones of Pine Bluff, where she is now residing; and James Curtis, who is a student in Henderson-Brown College, Arkadelphia. He enlisted in the navy on the 1st of February, 1919, and served until receiving his honorable discharge in June or July, 1921.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist church and Mr. Stevens is now serving as a steward. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias. Upon the entrance of the United States into the World war Mr. Stevens put all personal interest aside and took a prominent and active part in promoting his government's interest. He was a director of most of the Liberty Loan drives and served on the committee of the Three-Minute men and made speeches for the cause he represented. The success that has come to Mr. Stevens in a professional way is evidenced by the clientage accorded him. He has won a creditable position as a representative of the Arkansas bar. He is one of the estimable citizens of Magnolia who can always be depended upon to meet his obligations in hoth public and private life.

HON. THOMAS CHIPMAN MCRAE.

Hon. Thomas Chipman McRae, whose political career has extended over a period covering almost half a century and who has long been recognized as one of the dis- tinguished statesmen of Arkansas, is now serving as the twenty-sixth governor of the commonwealth, having been elected in November, 1920. His birth occurred at Mount Holly, Union county, Arkansas, on the 21st of December, 1851, his parents being Duncan L. and Mary Ann (Chipman) McRae, who were natives of North Carolina and Georgia, respectively. In the paternal line the family comes of Scotch ancestry. Duncan L. McRae took up his abode among the pioneer settlers of this state, here becoming a successful planter and a citizen of prominence and influence whose efforts contributed in no inconsiderable degree to the work of general improvement and progress. He died July 30, 1863, while his wife, surviving him for a third of a century, was called to her final rest on the 19th of April, 1897. Both were residents of Columbia county, Arkansas, at the time of their demise. Two sons of the family still survive.

Thomas C. McRae largely acquired his early education in private schools of Shady Grove, Mount Holly and Falcon, Arkansas, and subsequently spent one year as clerk in a general store at Shreveport, Louisiana. He next removed to New Orleans, where he completed a course in the Soule Business College by graduation with the class of 1869, after which he was employed in a store at Falcon, Arkansas, for a year. Having determined upon a professional career, he then entered the law department of the Wash- ington and Lee University at Lexington, Virginia, in 1871, this institution conferring upon him the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1872. In January, 1873, at Rosston, which was then the county seat of Nevada county, Arkansas, he was admitted to the bar and there commenced his work as a representative of the legal fraternity. In January, 1876, he was admitted to practice in the supreme court of the state and in January, 1886, to the supreme court of the United States. In 1917 he was elected president ot the Arkansas Bar Association.

The county seat of Nevada county was changed from Rosston to Prescott in 1877

HON. THOMAS C. McRAE

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

and in July of the same year Mr. McRae established his home in the latter place, where he won notable distinction in the practice of law. His political career began in 1874, when he was appointed election supervisor for Nevada county. In 1876 he was elected to represent that county in the lower house of the state legislature, while three years later he became a member of the city council of Prescott, of which he was likewise chosen recorder and city attorney in 1879. He has always remained a stanch supporter of democratic principles and has long been one of the leaders of the party in Arkansas. In 1880 he was made presidential elector on the democratic ticket and in 1884 he served as chairman of the democratic state central committee of Arkansis, while in the latter year he was also sent as a delegate to the democratic national convention. From 1896 until 1900 he was the democratic national committeeman from Arkansas. During the period between 1890 and 1893 he acted as school director and for several terms was special judge of the district composed of Lafayette and Pike counties. At a special election in 1885 he was elected representative of the third congressional dis- trict of Arkansas in the United States congress. By successive reelections he remained in the national halls of legislation for eighteen consecutive years or until he volun- tarily retired in 1903-a record that has not been equaled by that of any other con- gressman from this state. Popular appreciation of his services was thus shown in an unequivocal way, and as a diligent, conscientious and able member of the United States congress his record became an integral part of the history of that body during the long period of his active and effective service therein. He was appointed a men- ber of the state board of charities in April, 1909, and was elected as a delegate to the constitutional convention of 1917. The highest honor within the gift of the state was conferred upon him when he was elected governor in November, 1920, and is now ably guiding the destinies of the commonwealth. He is now a candidate for reelection.

While engaged in law practice at Prescott, Mr. McRae also became identified with varied and extensive husiness interests there and he is still the president of the Bank of Prescott. In 1909 he was honored with the presidency of the Arkansas Bank- ers' Association.

On the 17th of December, 1874, Mr. McRae was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Ann White, daughter of Captain William R. and Mary Jane (Clarke) White, of Ross- ton, Arkansas. Her father, one of the honored citizens of Nevada county, was at that time serving as county clerk. Mr. and Mrs. McRae became the parents of nine chil- dren, six daughters and three sons: Ethel, who is the widow of Horace Bemis of Prescott, Arkansas; Herbert, who died at the age of five years; Mary, who is the widow of Dr. F. H. Montgomery and resides in Prescott, Arkansas; Alice, twin sister of Mary, who died in infancy; Corrie, who died at the age of seventeen years; Thomas C., Jr., who is cashier of the Bank of Prescott at Prescott, Arkansas; Norvelle, who died at the age of eleven years; Duncan L., an attorney practicing as a member of the firm of Tompkins, McRae & Tompkins; and Mildred, the wife of John D. Barlow of Hope, Arkansas.

Fraternally Governor McRae is well known as a representative of the Masonic order, in which he has attained the Knights Templar degree of the York Rite and the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is likewise identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder and to which his wife also belongs. Not seeking honor but simply endeavoring to do his duty, honors have yet been multiplied to him and prosperity has followed all his undertakings. No man in public life perhaps has had so few ene- mies. Even those opposed to him politically entertain for him the warmest personal regard and admiration. His life record finds embodiment in the words of Pope:

"Statesman, yet friend to truth, of soul sincere,

In action faithful and in honor clear;

Who broke no promise, served no private end,

Who gained no title and who lost no friend."

HON. W. K. OLDHAM.

On the pages of Arkansas' history the name of the Hon. W. K. Oldham stands prominently forth, for he has rendered to the state important public service as a member of the upper house of the general assembly and also as acting governor. He makes his home in Pettus, from which point he superintends his business interests, although his political activity has called him into many sections of the state. A native of Kentucky, he was born in Richmond, in 1865, and is a son of W. K. and Catherine (Brown) Oldham. His father was also a Kentuckian by birth, the place of his nativity

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

being in Madison county. He was a son of Hezekiah Oldham, who was born in central Kentucky, the family having resided in that state from pioneer times. W. K. Oldham was a soldier of the Confederate army during the Civil war, serving under General John Morgan. His wife was a daughter of Dr. R. Brown and her people, too, were well known in the Blue Grass state. Hezekiah Oldham, the grandfather, married Polly Cavanaugh and in Kentucky they reared their family, as did also W. K. Oldham and his wife, who became the parents of six children: Mary, the wife of Governor Eagle of Arkansas; Kate, who became the wife of W. H. Miller; Margaret, the wife of John Doty; W. K., of this review; Kie, who was a lawyer of Little Rock and also a member of the state senate of Arkansas but has now departed this life; and Ira B., a physician, living in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

W. K. Oldham, whose name introduces this review, was accorded liberal educational opportunities in preparation for his life work. He supplemented his early studies by attending the Central University at Richmand, Kentucky. Following his graduation he came to Arkansas, arriving in Pettus in 1885. Throughout the intervening period of thirty-seven years he has resided in this city and has been closely associated not only with the development of his locality but of the state as well. He rode horseback to Pettus on coming to Arkansas, where he joined his sister, who had become the wife of Governor Eagle and their home was in this place. In the years which have since been added to the cycle of the centuries Mr. Oldham has become an important factor in connection with the agricultural progress of the state and today controls fifteen hundred acres of land. He follows diversified farming and is prominently known as an extensive cotton planter. He also raises blooded live stock and along various lines has led to the improvement of the live stock industry and to the advancement of agricultural methods in this state. He has at all times been actuated by a spirit of progress and his labors have brought most satisfactory results.

Mr. Oldham was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Munroe, a daughter of L. W and America (Thompson) Munroe. They have become the parents of two children: W. K., who served during the World war; and Lillian, who was educated at Rome, Georgia, and is now teaching in Fordyce, Arkansas.

Mr. Oldham is a Baptist in religious faith and has served as moderator of the Caroline Baptist Association, also as president of the Baptist state board of Arkansas. In other words he has been a most active and earnest worker in the church and in many ways has promoted its welfare and success. He has also been most active in advancing the interests of the schools in and near Pettus. Fifteen years ago the school in his neighborhood had an attendance of only six white children. Mr. Oldham liberally donated funds for the establishment of a modern grade school, which is called the Oldham school. A building was erected and there is now an attendance of three hundred pupils. Mr. Oldham has exerted a widely felt and beneficial influence over public affairs through his political labors. He served in the Arkansas house of representatives in 1907 and from 1911 until 1913 he was state senator, acting as president of the senate in 1913 and proving most fair and impartial in his rulings. In the spring of that year he also became acting governor. While a member of the house he introduced a bill repealing the anti-trust law, thus allowing insuranec companies to reenter the state and the public to benefit by insurance, while in the senate he was the promulgator of good road legislation and introduced bills that resulted in the first road being built in Lonoke county. He has done everything in his power to promote the building of good roads, his labors have been an effective force in improving the public highways in the state and his influence in this direction can scarcely be overestimated, as good roads are a founda- tion upon which is built much of the prosperity and development of a community. Mr. Oldham also served on the state board of charities and in this connection aided in carrying through an extensive building program, furnishing adequate care for the un- fortunate. His life has, indeed, reached out along many lines of service and of usefulness and as the years have passed the state's indebtedness to him for valuable aid has been piled up until today Arkansas acknowledges her obligations to him in large measure for the progress that has been brought about through his labors.

JAMES W. BUTLER.

James W. Butler, cashier of the Washington State Bank, is proving a capable and obliging official of that institution and the thoroughness with which he takes up his work and carries on his duties day by day constitutes a contributing factor to the success of the business. Mr. Butler was born in Batesville, Arkansas, November 9, 1869. His youthful days were spent in the town and his education was acquired in the public schools, supplemented by study in Arkansas College. Starting out in the

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

business world, he was employed on the Cotton Belt Railroad for a period of fourteen years and, removing from Texarkana to Washington in 1909, he here became associated with the Lesser-Goldman Cotton Company of St. Louis, having charge of their plantation of sixteen hundred acres as manager. Though the duties were heavy and manifold, he measured up to the standards demanded by his employers, giving to them the benefit of capable and efficient service. In 1918 he became cashier of the Washington State Bank and is now one of its stockholders. He is also one of the stockholders of the W. J. Johnson Mercantile Company and is thus closely associated with the commercial and financial interests of the town.

In 1913 Mr. Butler was united in marriage to Miss Lenora Trimble and their circle of friends in Washington is almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. Mr. Butler is a member of the Masonic fraternity, recognizing the brotherhood of man and the obligations thereby imposed. He is also a faithful member of the Presbyterian church and his aid and influence are ever on the side of reform, right and progress.

IVERSON H. JEWELL, M. D.

Dr. Iverson H. Jewell, who since 1908 has been a representative of the medical pro- fession in Arkansas and who has been successfully practicing in Paris as a surgeon since 1911, was born in West Tennessee, April 18, 1878, and is a son of I. C. and Frances (James) Jewell, who were natives of Middle Tennessee, and the former was of Scotch descent. The grandfather, Elihu Jewell, was born in Scotland and on coming to America in young manhood settled in Tennessee, where he followed the blacksmith's trade. The grandfather in the maternal line was Alva James, a native of Virginia, who spent most . of his life in Tennessee, where he departed this life. The birth of I. C. Jewell occurred in 1852 and his death in 1897. His wife, who was born in 1848, died in 1904. They were married in Middle Tennessee, whence they removed to the western part of the state and in 1880 came to Logan county, Arkansas, where Mr. Jewell homesteaded and began farm- ing. He purchased more land from time to time and at his death was the owner of an excellent property, both he and his wife dying on the farm. They had a family of eleven children, seven of whom are living: I. H .; N. C., a farmer of Sugar Grove, Arkansas; E. V., who was for a time engaged in the oil business and is now farming at Chickasha, Oklahoma; A. C., who is occupying the old homestead; J. B., living on a farm near Paris: V. C., who has charge of the commissary for the farmers' union in Oklahoma; and V. L., who is practicing medicine in Blaine, Arkansas. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, in Paris, and Mr. Jewell gave his political endorsement to the democratic party.

Iverson H. Jewell pursued his early education in the rural schools of Logan county and continued his studies in the high school at Paris, after which he spent a year in the State University of Arkansas. For six or eight years he engaged successfully in teaching school but regarded this merely as an initial step to other professional labor and eagerly availed himself of the opportunity to become a student in the medical col- lege of the State University at Little Rock, where he was graduated in 1908, receiving the medal from the medical department of the university for the highest standing in the four-year course. He then began practice in the capital city, where he remained for three years and was in the city hospital at Little Rock from 1907 until 1910. In 1911 he as- sisted in organizing the hospital at Paris and still owns a third interest in this institu- tion. He makes a specialty of surgery and is particularly capable and successful in this branch of the profession. He entered the army and was commissioned a first lieu- tenant of the Reserve Corps of the regular army in 1914. He was called out for active service on the Mexican border in 1916 and following his return home was appointed a member of the draft board, on which he served in 1917 and 1918. In the latter year he was commissioned a captain in the regular army and did laboratory work at Whipple Bar- racks in Arizona for a time, after which he was transferred to Camp Pike and served on the surgical staff there until after the signing of the armistice. Later he returned home and began the active practice of medicine and surgery at Paris, was commissioned a captain in the Medical Reserve Corps and was also commissioned examiner of the war bureau insurance and was made county health officer in 1914, serving until June, 1921, except while in active service. He has done much important public work in the field of his profession in addition to a large private practice and is regarded as one of the foremost physicians and surgeons of Logan county.

In September, 1913, Dr. Jewell was married to Miss Mosella Lauhon, who was born in Ozark, Arkansas, a daughter of J. W. Lauhon, an early settler and well known farmer of Franklin county. Dr. Jewell and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and he belongs also to the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World

CENTENNIAL IHISTORY OF ARKANSAS

and to the American Legion. His political endorsement has always been given to the democratic party and he is most loyal to any cause which he espouses. He belongs to the Pulaski County Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society, and is a mem- ber of the American Medical Association, and he devotes his entire time to the practice of medicine and surgery, having a liberal patronage. His ability, which has been devel- oped through earnest study and broad experience, is today widely acknowledged not only by the laity but by his professional colleagues and contemporaries as well.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 6

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