Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 62

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 acquirement of an education Gaston Percy George attended the public schools of Hamburg and later enrolled in the Southern Normal University, at Huntington, Ten- nessee, where he took a three-year literary course. Determining upon a professional career, Mr. George then returned to Hamburg and entered the law office of R. E. Craig. In 1898 he was admitted to the bar and immediately started into active practice. He has built up an extensive and important clientage and practicing in all courts in southern Arkansas, has won a place among the foremost lawyers in the state. In 1917 he was elected to attend the constitutional convention as a delegate from the seventh congressional district and he was presidential elector from that district on the Wilson- Marshall ticket in 1916. In addition to his legal and political activity, Mr. George is also prominent in financial circles, being president of the Farmers Bank & Trust Com- pany of Hamburg and a director in the Fountain Hill Bank, at Fountain Hill.

At Hamburg on the 7th of January, 1907, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. George to Miss Abbie Wilson, a daughter of A. H. and Eliza (Thompson) Wilson. Her parents were among the pioneer settlers of this community and are representa- tive and highly respected citizens. Mrs. George has made many friends in Hamburg, most of whom have known her from childhood, and she is prominent in the club and social affairs of the town.

Both Mr. and Mrs. George are consistent members of the Methodist church and he is a trustee, in which position he has been active for some years. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, holding membership in Prairie Lodge, No. 465, at Ham- burg; Olive Chapter, No. 2, Royal Arch Masons; Albert Pike Consistory at Little Rock; and Sahara Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Pine Bluff. He is a Scottish Rit?

MR. AND MRS. GASTON P. GEORGE

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Mason. In the line of his profession he is identified with the American and Arkansas State Bar Associations, and as a citizen who nas the good of the community ever at heart, he is a member of various bodies whose object is the development and im- provement of the general welfare. During the World war Mr. George gave generousiy of his time and money in promoting the government's interests and he received recogni- tion from Washington, D. C., for service tendered in behalf of raising money in Liberty Loan drives and various other war activities. He is readily conceded to be one of the influential and highly respected citizens of Hamburg and this community is proud to claim him as a native son.

J. R. DOBYNS, LL. D.

Dr. John R. Dobyns, superintendent of the Deaf Mute Institute at Little Rock, Arkansas, has been spoken of as one of the most conspicuous educators of the deaf in the country and a man whose private character is above reproach. For more than a third of a century he served as superintendent of the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb at Jackson, Mississippi, and later was called to his present position. Dr. Dobyns is a native of Missouri, his hirth having occurred at Columbus, Johnson county, March 31, 1850, his parents being Benjamin F. and Margaret Ruth (Morrow) Dobyns. His father was born in Mays Lick, Kentucky, in 1807, and the mother's birth occurred in Columbus, Missouri, in 1827. They were married in Columbus in 1849 and became parents of four sons and a daughter, of whom three sons survive. Leaving his native state, Benjamin F. Dobyns removed to Columbus, Missouri, and for many years engaged in the practice of medicine in that state, for he was a physician who was graduated from the Louisville Medical College. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and he remained an honored and respected resident of Columbus until his death, which occurred in 1867, while his wife died in 1878 near Marshall, Missouri.

Dr. Dobyns of this review began his education in one of the old-time log school- houses at Columbus, Missouri. and in 1874 he was graduated from the Westminster College, a Presbyterian institution of learning at Fulton, Missouri, winning the degree of Bachelor of Arts, while later the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him and eventually that of Doctor of Laws. In 1881 he became superintendent of the Mississippi School for the Deaf at Jackson, Mississippi, and remained there until 1914, or for a period of a third of a century. His work there was one of the greatest possible value to the institution and when he left the board of trustees issued a booklet, telling of his good work as compiled from the reports of trustees and of investigation boards from time to time. In 1896 he was tendered the position of superintendent of the Missouri Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and thinking to accept sent in his resigna- tion to the governor of Mississippi, who replied as follows:

State of Mississippi, Executive Department. Jackson, Miss., April 27, 1896.

Prof. J. R. Dobyns, Jackson, Miss.

My Dear Sir :- I am in receipt of your resignation of the superintendency of the Deaf and Dumb Institute. If you have no reason for my immediate action I will take no action on the resignation as long as I can delay it consistent with my official duty, in the hope that you may see your way clear to withdraw your resignation.

I have given very careful thought and attention to the institution, and to the ascer- tainment of what would redound most to its advantage, and of course I have thoroughly canvassed the subject of its superintendency, and I am sure no man could be found anywhere, under whose superintendency it would be safer. Therefore my great solicitude for the unfortunate people who are compelled by their infirmities to seek the beneficent hand of the institution makes me hope as well as desire that you will continue to occupy the position which I feel you have so long adorned.

Faithfully, etc., A. J. McLaurin,

Governor.

After carefully considering every phase of the question Mr. Dobyns decided to rem&in and the governor, in order to secure his release from his promise to go to the Missouri institution, sent a letter to the board of managers and a personal representative to present the letter to that board.

On one occasion charges were made against Dr. Dobyns as to extravagance and the management of the institution. At Mr. Dobyns' request the governor immediately appointed an investigating committee and after receiving the report of that committee wrote to Dr. Dobyns as follows:

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March 8, 1912.

Dr. J. R. Dobyns, Jackson, Miss.

Dear Dr. Dobyns: Your favor of the 7th inst. received. There is no questiou but what the institution has prospered for many years under your management, and I feel sure that it will continue to do so. I knew that there was nothing in the fight being made against you, and am certainly glad that the closest scrutiny verified the investiga- tion as reported to me before I sent your name to the Senate.

Yours very sincerely, Earl Brewer,

Governor.

The auditors' report on the institution contained the following: "During the 1912 session of the legislature charges were preferred by a sub-committee of the appropria- tions committee of the house of representatives, that the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb was being extravagantly managed. When we started our audit at this institution we were apprised of these charges by you, the state investigating committee, and were asked to investigate, among other things, whether too high prices were paid for supplies during the period, from October 1, 1911, to August 31, 1913, that we were to audit. Instead of finding anything to confirm the charges, the exact antithesis of each suspected set was shown in everything we examined, and our examination was thorough, for we looked into everything and from every conceivable angle. In fact, we found the real condition of things at the institution to be so diametrically opposite to the alleged con- ditions, that, if the subject had not been of a serious nature and actually coming from the legislature, we would have branded the charges as a huge joke. From all outward appearances, J. R. Dobyns, the superintendent, is the very highest type of man. Ap- parently, he possesses a nobleness of character rarely met in the world. In culture, education, business acumen, integrity of purpose in both material and ethical things, mastery of detail and progressiveness, Dr. J. R. Dobyns seems to us to be in a class where few follow. If our observations are correct, it seems like the gravest injustice to impugn a man of his character, and, the state really should be thankful that it has, as superintendent of the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb at the salary paid, a man who, if he entered the business world, would probably have an income five times as large."

The Chicago Herald once wrote of Professor Dobyns as follows: "Governor McLaurin did a wise thing when he named Professor J. R. Dobyns as superintendent of the Deaf and Dumb Institute, at Jackson. Tender as a father to those under his charge. Professor Dobyns has won the love of all, and his ability as an instructor of the deaf and dumb has placed this institution among the leading schools of its kind in the south, and it is fortunate that Mississippi can retain his services."

At length, however, Dr. Dobyns severed his relation with the school with which he had been identified for a third of a century and from September, 1914, until January, 1917, was president of the Southwest Presbyterian University at Clarksville, Tennessee. At the latter date he became president of the Stonewall Jackson College at Abingdon, Virginia, and from September, 1919, to the present time has been super- intendent of the Deaf Mute Institute of Arkansas. He has also been the active head of the International Association of Instructors of the Deaf and held the vice presidency of that organization for two terms.

In many ways Dr. Dobyns has been honored hy the instructors of the deaf in the United States during the past few years, one of the notable occasions being in May, 1911. when he was chosen to deliver the address on the retirement of Dr. E. M. Gallaudet and the installation of Professor Percival Hall as president of Gallaudet College in Wash- ington. In December, 1910, he was also chosen to deliver the address at the laying of the corner stone of the new building of the Oklahoma school for the deaf. The North Dakota Banner once wrote of him, "Superintendent J. R. Dobyns, vice president of the convention of American instructors for the deaf, was the live wire in the recent successful convention at Delavan. Wisconsin, which was held last summer, and which was probably the largest and, without reflection upon the others, perhaps the best con- vention ever held. Mr. Dobyns will have charge of the convention to be at the Virginia school in 1914, and has already started out on a campaign, the object of which is to make that convention the 'Best and Biggest ever.' Those who know Dr. Dobyns per- sonally and his untiring zeal and strong executive ability, know that he will accomplish what he sets out to do." A most interesting indication of Dr. Dobyns' standing in Mississippi, where he so long resided, is indicated in an article which appeared in the Alabama Messenger: "In striking contrast to some of the appropriation fights that have been waged at this session was the action of the senate on Saturday in calling up, reading for the third time, and passing the deaf and dumb institute bill within a period of five minutes, and without a single dissenting vote. And yet this bill carried a very goodly sum in addition to the regnlar support fund, which is to he used in the erection of new buildings and making needed improvements, the sum total being almost equal

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to the cost of the new building now occupied by the institution. The action on this measure is a silent but effective demonstration of the high regard in which Dr. J. R. Dobyns, the superintendent, is held by the legislature. The members realize that the additional allowances would not have been asked by Superintendent Dobyns if not needed, and for this reason they granted the appropriation without question or debate."

On the 26th of June, 1878, at Mineral Point, Missouri, Dr. Dobyns was married to Miss Eliza Roxanna Webster, who was horn in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1850. They have become parents of three children: Ashbel Webster, an attorney; Richmond Smoot; and Robert Morrow. The eldest son, A. W. Dobyns, was in the service of the American army during the World war and was also on border service in the United States. The youngest son, Robert Morrow Dobyns, was with the Young Men's Christian Association in France for about two years.

Dr. Dobyns has always given his political allegiance to the democratic party. He is a member of the Beta Theta Psi but of no fraternal orders. He has membership in the First Presbyterian church of Little Rock, of which lie is now an elder. He is making for himself a place in the life of Arkansas just as he did in that of Mississippi and is spoken of among his constantly increasing circle of friends and acquaintances as a generous, big-hearted Christian gentleman and prince of good fellows.

JOHN WILLIAM NEWMAN.

John William Newman, for thirteen years actively engaged in the profession of law and numbered among the representatives of the Little Rock bar since 1910, was born on the 4th of Angust, 1882, in Maryville, Nodaway county, Missouri. He comes of southern ancestry, representing one of the old families of Virginia. His father, James Blakey Newman, was born in the town of Orange, Orange county, Virginia, on the 30th of May, 1852, and received liberal educational opportunities in his native state, studying law under Prof. John B. Minor at the University of Virginia and having prepared for the practice of law he removed from Orange, Virginia, to Maryville, Missouri, where for twenty-five years he continued actively in the practice of law, winning prominence as a representative of the bar of that state. He was remarkable among lawyers for the wide research and provident care with which he prepared his cases. Moreover, he threw himself easily and naturally into the argument with a self-possession and a deliberation that indicated no straining after effects, but on the contrary showed a precision and clearness in statement and acuteness and strength in his arguments which bespoke a mind trained in the severe school of investigation, to which the closest reason- ing had become habitual. At length he retired from the active work of the profession and in 1906 returned to his native state, where he is living retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party. It was on the 30th of May, 1879, in Jacksonport, Jackson county, Arkansas, that James B. Newman was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Jones, who was horn October 21, 1857, in Jacksonport. Her father was a distinguished member of the bar, practicing law for many years in Jacksonport and in Newport, Arkansas, as a partner of the firm of Jones & Doswell and later of the firm of Jones & Jones, the junior member thereof being his son Gustave Jones, now of Newport, Arkansas. To the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. James B. Newman were born four children: Lucile, who is residing in Somerset, Virginia; John W., of Little Rock; Mrs. Kate Scott, living at Orange, Virginia; and Nannie, who is located at Somerset.

Reared under the parental roof, John W. Newman largely spent his youthful days as a public school pupil in Maryville, Missouri, but afterward attended the Woodberry Forrest Academy at Orange, Virginia, and still later became a student in the Virginia Military Institute, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1904. In preparation for a professional career he attended the law school of the University of Missouri in 1904-5 and later became a student in the Washington and Lee University of Virginia, which conferred upon him the LL. B. degree at the com- nletion of his course in 1908. From 1905 until 1908 he was assistant professor of the Virginia Military Institute. In 1908 he was admitted to the bar of Virginia and has since engaged in practice, making his home in Little Rock since 1910. Already he has made a lasting impression upon the bar of the state, by reason of his legal ability and his personal quality. He is constantly studying along broadening professional lines and wide experience in the courts is bringing to him comprehensive knowledge. The patient care with which he ascertains all the facts hearing upon every case with which he is connected makes his position largely an incontrovertible one and his opinions are seldom seriously questioned in court.

On the 29th of December, 1910, Mr. Newman wedded Mattie Garland Ayres, whose

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birth occurred in Lexington, Rockbridge county, Virginia, December 31, 1884, her parents being Dr. Brown and Kate (Anderson) Ayres. Her father was professor of physics in Tulane University and was president of the University of Tennessee from 1904 until 1919. He remained in educational work at New Orleans, Louisiana, until 1904 and then removed to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he continued as president of the college to the time of his death, which occurred January 19, 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Newman have become parents of an interesting little family of two sons and a daughter: John Ayres, born February 20, 1914; James Blakey, horn January 10, 1917; and Katherine Anderson, born July 4, 1919. Mrs. Newman received liberal educational opportunities, attending private schools and later becoming a member of Newcomb College at New Orleans, Louisiana, from which she was graduated on the completion of her course with the Bachelor of Arts degree.

Mr. Newman is a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a college fraternity, and he is likewise a hlue lodge Mason, while his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. He belongs to the Episcopal church and he loyally holds to any cause which he espouses, giving his aid and influence to many measures which he deems of value in the promotion of public welfare and the upholding of civic ideals.

CHARLES R. HAM.

Charles R. Ham, local manager for Fairbanks Morse & Company of Stuttgart and thus prominently identified with business interests in this part of the state, was born at Verona, in southwestern Missouri, in 1888, his parents being W. J. and Flora (Talhert) Ham. He is descended in the paternal line from an old Kentucky family, his grand- father having been a native of the Blue Grass state, whence he removed to Henry county, Missouri, and while there enlisted for service as a Confederate soldier in the Civil war. The Talhert family was from Shelbyville, Indiana.

Charles R. Ham, having completed his education in the high school at Verona, Missouri, became associated with his father in the hardware and sheet metal manu- facturing business. When twenty-one years of age he entered the employ of Fairbanks Morse & Company, with which firm he has since heen identified, his long association therewith being incontrovertihle proof of his capability, efficiency and fidelity. He was first employed in the practical construction department at St. Louis and came to Stutt- gart as assistant manager, acting in that capacity until 1913, when he was advanced to the position of local manager of the Fairhanks Morse agency at this place. His territory covers Monroe, Prairie, Lonoke and Arkansas counties. The company makes a specialty of building irrigation engines for irrigating the rice fields and in this connection Mr. Ham has developed a business of extensive proportions and is one of the efficient and capable representatives of the company. In addition to his connection with Fairbanks Morse & Company, Mr. Ham is- a director of the First National Bank.

In 1910 Mr. Ham was married to Miss Mabel Titterington, a daughter of Dr. J. Titterington of Marionville, Missouri, and their children are, Betty Jane and Charles. Fraternally Mr. Ham is a Knights Templar Mason and also a member of the Mystic Shrine. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church, in which he is serving as one of the stewards. He is keenly interested in all that makes for moral as well as material progress in the community in which he lives and he gives his influence at all times on the side of right, reform and improvement.

W. E. ROSSER.

W. E. Rosser, who was well known as a surveyor of Arkansas, was born in Campbell county, Virginia, October 7. 1842, and died on the 14th of May, 1914. His parents, John and Martha (Johnson) Rosser, were also natives of the Old Dominion and in early life became residents of Texas. The father was a well-to-do and prominent citizen, who exerted considerable influence over public thought and action in the locality in which he lived. He had one son, Thomas L. Rosser, who served with the rank of brigadier general under General Robert E. Lee in the Civil war. He was a graduate of the West Point Military Academy and was on active duty throughout the period of hostilities between the north and the south. John Rosser, the father, was married four times and became the father of seventeen children, horn of three of the marriages. His last marriage was to the mother of W. E. Rosser. In February, 1868, he removed with his family from Texas to Arkansas and his remaining days were passed in this state.

W. E. Rosser spent his youthful days in his father's home and having arrived at

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years of maturity he was married in 1866 to Miss Virginia Hudson, who was born in Mississippi and is a daughter of John and Mary (Hartley) Hudson, the former a native of Mississippi, while the latter was born in Alabama. They removed to eastern Texas and it was there that Mrs. Rosser was reared. The father was a merchant, thus providing for the support of his family, which numbered five children, all of whom have departed this life with the exception of Mrs. Rosser. There was one, a brother, Thomas J. Hudson, who died while held as a prisoner of war by the northern army during the conflict between the north and the south. Mr. and Mrs. Rosser became parents of seven chil- dren: Mary, the wife of D. W. Moore, who is a minister of the Christian church now located at Liberty, Missouri; Judge Malcolm E., who was graduated in law at Charlottes- ville, Virginia, and is now a prominent attorney of Muskogee, Oklahoma; Obeira, the wife of J. A. Dearing, engaged in the hardware and furniture business at Shawnee, Oklahoma; John Thomas, who is engaged in the furniture brokerage business; Florence, who is a twin of John Thomas and is now the wife of Dr. W. D. Pigg, a physician of Shawnee, Oklahoma; Olga, the deceased wife of E. M. Hunter; and Annie, the wife of J. G. Cubage, of Little Rock.

W. E. Rosser was educated in Virginia, pursuing his advanced studies in Emory and Henry College. He entered the Civil war when young, joining the army at the outbreak of hostilities and served for four years. In 1868 he came to Fayetteville and taught school for a number of years. He was a teacher in the State Normal for ten years and an able educator who imparted readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired, making for himself a creditable name and place in educational circles. In the latter years of his life he followed surveying and won a very substantial measure of success in that husiuess. His political endorsement was given to the democratic party and his religious faith was that of the Christian church. He commanded the confidence and good will of all and as the years passed he gained friends wherever he went. He had reached the age of about seventy years when death called him and he left behind him the record of an untarnished name.

ROBERT H. WILLIAMS.

Robert H. Williams, filling the office of county judge at Pine Bluff, is a native son of this city and his life record, therefore, stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, for in the place of his birth Judge Williams has steadily won recognition of his powers and has been called upon for important judicial service. He was born in 1865, a son of Mack H. and Sarah J. (Young) Williams, who were natives of Nashville, Tennessee, and of Jefferson county. Arkansas, respectively. The former was a son of Willoughhy Williams, who was one of the first sheriffs of Davidson county. The grandfather in the maternal line was Richard Young of Louisville, Kentucky, who removed from that state to Jefferson county. Arkansas, making the trip by boat in 1828. Two of his sons, James and John, served in the Civil war and the latter died while a member of the army. Two of the sons of Willoughby Williams, Andrew and Willoughby. Jr., were also Confederate soldiers dur- ing the period of hostilities between the north and the south. Mack H. Williams became a well-to-do planter of Jefferson county and was a highly esteemed citizen, he and his wife enjoying the warm regard of all with whom they came into contact. Their children were four in number: Alice, the wife of Virginus Murbaugh; Richard; Nannie, the wife of Lanier Tanner; and Robert H.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 62

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