Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 67

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 1902 occurred the marriage of Mr. Kimbrough to Miss Maud Mickel, a daughter of Dr. F. A. Mickel of Crawford county. To their union four children have been born, three girls and one hoy: Melba, who is attending the Arkansas State Normal; Jean, a student also in the State Normal; Lois, ten years of age, attending the schools of Van Buren; and N. D, Jr., eight years of age and also attending the grade schools. Mr. Kimbrough always takes an active and helpful interest in all matters pertaining to the public welfare and the development of the community and he is conceded to be a repre- sentative citizen. In addition to his interest in the Kimbrough company he owns an eighty-acre farm and he is quite active in agricultural circles.

CHARLES KENNARD TOWNSEND, M. D.

Dr. Charles Kennard Townsend, a physician and surgeon, active and conscientious in the performance of his professional duties and junior partner with his father in the firm of Townsend & Townsend of Arkadelphia, was born at Black Rock, Lawrence county. Arkansas, August 14, 1890, his parents being Dr. Noble Robert and Roxie (Creekmore) Townsend, mentioned at length on another page of this work. Having attended the public schools of his native city he continued his education in Onachita College of Arkadelphia and in 1910 matriculated as a medical students in Tulane University at New Orleans. From that institution he was graduated with the class of 1915, at which time his M. D. degree was conferred upon him. One year during his attendance at college he was connected with the Shreveport (La.) Charity Hospital. Following his graduation he served for two years as an interne in Tanro Infirmary of New Orleans and thus gained broad and valuable experience. In 1917 he returned to his home at Arkadelphia and in May, 1918, he enlisted in the Medical Corps of the United States army for service in the World war. He was assigned to duty at Camp Gordon, Georgia,

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and was later transferred to Fort Bayard, New Mexico, where he remained until re- eeiving his discharge in May, 1920. He was commissioned a first lieutenant at the time of his enlistment.

Following his return to Arkadelphia, Dr. Townsend was admitted to a partnership by his father, Dr. Noble Robert Townsend, and they have since been associated in practice. They are called upon for important professional duty and the son, like the father, is recognized as an able physician and surgeon, carefully diagnosing his cases and per- forming his professional service with the utmost conscientiousness, realizing fully the responsibility that devolves upon the physician and surgeon.

On the 5th of July, 1919, Dr. Townsend was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Pratt of El Dorado, Arkansas, and they have many friends in the city where they make their home. Dr. Townsend is a member of Arkadelphia Lodge, No. 1149, B. P. O. E. He is also identified with three Greek letter societies, the Pi Cappa Alpha, the Phi Beta Pi and the Alpha Omega Alpha. He is likewise a member of the Baptist church and along strictly professional lines he is connected with the Clark County Medical Society, with the Arkansas State Medical Society, the Southern Medical Association and the American Medical Association.

L. C. SHACKELFORD, M. D.

Dr. L. C. Shackelford, who in August, 1898, located for the practice of medicine at Foreman, has since been numbered among the most able and successful representatives of the profession in the city and surrounding district. Arkansas is his native state and here he has always remained. His birth occurred in Prescott, Nevada county, on the 18th of December, 1871, and his youth was spent on a farm near Okolona, in Clark county. The public schools afforded him his early educational opportunities, while his professional training was received in the medical department of the University of Louis- ville at Louisville, Kentucky. In 1895 he began practice in Okolona, there following his profession until August, 1898, when he opened an office in Foreman, where he has re- mained continuously since with the exception of the year 1900, which he spent in recuperating his health and strength. He has devoted his attention to the general prac- tice of medicine and surgery and has built up a patronage of extensive proportious as he has demonstrated his skill and effectively utilized his professional learning in check- ing the ravages of disease and restoring health. Dr. Shackelford was one of the di- rectors of the Citizens National Bank until he sold his interest in the institution in 1919, and on the 20th of February, 1922, became president of the Merchants & Planters Bank of Foreman. He owns four hundred acres of valuable land on the Red River bottom.

In January, 1896, Dr. Shackelford was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Reddell of Russellville, Arkansas, and they became parents of two children: Joyce, who is now the wife of Henry A. Hawkins; and Claudius, who died at the age of two years. The religious faith of the family is that of the Baptist church. The Doctor enjoys high standing in both professional and social circles of southwestern Arkansas and has been an interested witness of the progress and development of the state through the past half century. He is a member of Little River County and Arkansas State Medical Societies.

THOMAS H. LANDERS.

Thomas H. Landers, superintendent of schools at De Valls Bluff and holding to the highest standards in his educational work, was born in Waveland, Arkansas, in 1897, his parents being Thomas P. and Sarah C. (Walker) Landers, the former a native of Atchison, Kansas, while the latter was born in Walker, Missouri. Her parents settled in Logan county, Arkansas, at an early day and the Landers family was also founded in the same county. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Landers there were born five children: Thomas H .; O. C., who is superintendent of the schools at McGehee, Arkansas: A. J .: Lila; and Cora.

Liberal educational advantages were accorded Thomas H. Landers, who after master- ing the branches of learning taught in the public schools continued his education at Hendrix College of Conway, Arkansas, and there won the Bachelor of Arts degree. He began teaching at Center Point, this state, but when America entered the World war he put aside all business and personal considerations and enlisted in the navy, becoming an electrician of the third class, on duty at New York and Norfolk. In 1921 he came to De Valls Bluff as superintendent of schools and already the educational interests of the city have felt a decided stimulus as the result of his labors and high standards. His

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methods are of a practical character and he is making substantial contribution to the growth and development of the schools.

Mr. Landers was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Westmoreland, a daughter of W. W. Westmoreland of Conway, Arkansas. Fraternally he is a Mason, exemplifying in his life the beneficent spirit and purposes of the craft, and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. His life is one of valuable service to his fellowmen along the lines of intellectual and moral progress and he has already made for himself a most creditable position in educational circles in the state.

JUDGE EMON O. MAHONY.

Judge Emon O. Mahony of El Dorado stood as a man among men, honored by reason of his marked ability in his profession and his fidelity to the highest activi- ties and standards of life. He was a representative of a family whose impress has been indelibly left upon the history of Union county, and none of the name has done more to promote the welfare and progress of the county than he. His interest cen- tered in those forces which make for good and hy reason of his ability and sterling qualities his position was one of leadership in his home city. He was born in El Dorado, September 4, 1873, and his entire life was passed in his native town, where he laid down the burden and cares of this world on the 28th of August, 1920. Just entering upon the prime of life, it seemed that he should have been spared for years to come, yet within the comparatively brief period of his earthly existence he accom- plished much more than do many men of almost twice his age. He was the second in order of birth in a family of five sons and one daughter whose parents were Edmund and Mary Mahony. The father, a native of Ireland, came to the new world in the early '60s and throughout his entire life followed the tailor's trade, which he had learned in early manhood in his native country. His death occurred in El Dorado. His wife in her maidenhood was Mary Klopher. Her father came to this country from Saxony in the early '40s and married Signor Torpin, who was of Norwegian ancestry. His death occurred in El Dorado when his daughter, Mrs. Mahony, was only three years of age and Mrs. Klopher afterward became the wife of James Mellor, an Englishman, who in his boyhood witnessed the coronation pro- cession of Queen Victoria of England and saw the great. throngs of people who on that eventful occasion stood in and near Kensington square for the whole day long.

In early life Emon O. Mahony was left an orphan and upon him devolved not only the responsibility of providing for his own support but also of contributing to the support of the younger members of the family. In fact almost his entire earn- ings in his young manhood went to the care and education of his younger brothers and sister. He faced hardships, privations and trials in so doing, but he never counted the cost nor regarded it as a sacrifice to do for those of his own household. One of his biographers at the time of his death said: "During these years of priva- tion and trial for those whom he loved and considered himself responsible for. he was necessarily forced into contact with much that was vicious and corrupt, but he in no way became a part of it. The same inherent love for mental cleanliness, truth and honor that so distinguished the works of the man in after life kept the boy unstained in his unfortunate environments. By his untiring energy and great determination of purpose he lived to see all the younger children well educated and established in their chosen callings and professions-one in law, one as a physician and the sister a school teacher."

Judge Mahony himself attended the public schools of El Dorado and after- ward enjoyed the benefit of instruction in the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He determined upon the practice of law as a life work and conscientiously prepared himself for the calling, being admitted to practice at the bar at El Dorado in 1896. No dreary novitiate awaited him, notwithstanding the fact that advancement at the bar is proverbially slow. He soon won recognition as an able lawyer, preparing his cases with great thoroughness and care and ever presenting his cause with clearness and force before the court. In 1898 he was elected county and probate judge of Union county and so capably served in that position that he was twice reelected. The affairs of the county at that time were in a deplorable financial condition. There was a considerable county indebtedness and the county warrants were sold at a large discount, while the courthouse, which was built in 1848, was fast falling into decay. ness and he also was instrumental in erecting the present courthouse. In 1903, when legislative provision brought about the establishment of chancery court districts,

JUDGE EMON O. MAHONY

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Judge Mahony was appointed by the governor of the state as judge of the seventh chancery district, embracing Union, Ouachita, Columbia, Calhoun, Dallas and Lafay- ette counties. For six years he continued in this position, discharging his duties with credit to himself and marked satisfaction to the bench and bar of the state. In 1912 he was elected prosecuting attorney for the thirteenth judicial district and served in the office for two terms, or four years, when he withdrew and entered upon the private practice of his profession in El Dorado. His work in the office of prosecuting attorney had been of a most fair and impartial character, yet he had heen zealous and vigorous in the prosecution of all evildoers, so that his name hecame a terror to those who did not hold themselves amenable to law. In 1917 he received from Hon. J. T. Robinson, United States senator from Arkansas, appointment to the position of United States district attorney for the western district of the state, with head- quarters at Fort Smith, and on the 30th of September, 1917, he was reappointed to the office hy President Woodrow Wilson, continuing to serve until his demise. Over his official record there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil. His duties were ever discharged with marked promptness and fidelity and his native powers were used to the utmost in the faithful performance of the tasks that devolved upon him.

Throughout his entire life Judge Mahony was a stalwart advocate of democratic principles and a recognized leader in party ranks in Arkansas. When the state con- vention met in June, 1920, he was selected a delegate from his congressional district to the national democratic convention, which met in San Francisco, but on account of the serious illness of his sister at that time he did not attend.

Judge Mahony was married January 27, 1898, to Miss Pattie Wright, who was also born and reared in El Dorado. They were playmates from early childhood, sweethearts from early youth and their companionship following their marriage was largely an ideal one. Mrs. Mahony is a daughter of Colonel John C. and Mary A. Wright, representatives of one of the old pioneer families of southern Arkansas, her father having valiantly served as a Confederate soldier in the Civil war and ranking at all times as an honored and highly respected citizen of Union county. Judge Mahony always made his home in El Dorado but was the owner of a splendid farm six miles southeast of the city, and it was his delight when the duties of his office were over for the day to mount his saddle horse and ride to his farm. He found much recreation in supervising the place, which was devoted to the raising of thoroughbred white-faced cattle, there being more than six hundred head on the farm at the time of his death.

The greatest happiness in his life, however, came to him through the compan- ionship of his wife, his interests at all times centering in his home. However, he continually found opportunity to aid his fellowmen and he constantly left the impress of his ability and of his character upon the conditions of society and the people whom he met. As the years passed on he prospered in his undertakings and had gained the plane of affluence ere he was called home. His delight in his success came by reason of the fact that it enabled him to do for others and he was constantly extending a helping hand where aid was needed. He studied the great laws of life and saw back of them the hand of the Creator. He passed on August 28, 1920, and the high esteem in which he was uniformly held was best indicated in the great concourse of people that followed his remains as they were laid to rest in El Dorado cemetery. The humble and the great stood by his bier. People of prominence came from all parts of the state and the beautiful floral offerings expressed the high regard every- where tendered him. His life burned with an intense desire for the good of all and for all that is best for the race, and his life was attuned to the divine and to the good that lies within his fellowmen. His memory is enshrined in the hearts of all who knew him and remains as a blessed benediction to those who were closely associated with him.

ANDERSON WATKINS, M. D.

Dr. Anderson Watkins, engaged in surgical practice in Little Rock, is a representa- tive of one of the old and honored pioneer families of the city. His grandfather in the paternal line was George C. Watkins, who came to the Arkansas capital at the age of ten years with his father, Isaac Watkins, and both remained residents of Little Rock to the time of their death. Both were natives of Shelbyville, Kentucky, and came of an ancestry previously represented in Virginia. Walton Watkins, father of the Doctor, was horn in Little Rock, where his life was passed. He wedded Susan Trezevant, who was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1850, and was a descendant of one of the French

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Huguenots who sought political and religious liberty in the new world. At the time of the Civil war Walton Watkins joined the Confederate forces and was a member of Cleburne's command. He was commissioned a captain and actively participated in many engagements until wounded and captured in Missouri, after which he was in- carcerated on Johnsons island as a prisoner of war. He died in the year 1884, while his widow survived until January, 1902. Their family numbered but two sons: Dr. Watkins of this review; and Heyward Watkins, who died in 1908, at the age of twenty-nine years.

Dr. Watkins was born July 19, 1876, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He pursued a public school education in Little Rock, the place of his nativity. He has always continued a resident of this city. He was graduated from the high school with the class of 1893 and later pursued the work of the freshman and sophomore years in the University of Tennessee. He then entered the University of Arkansas for the study of medicine and was graduated in 1897. He has since given his attention largely to surgery and is a member of the surgical staff of St. Vincent's Hospital, chief of the surgical staff of the Baptist Hospital and chief of staff of the Little Rock City Hospital. He is likewise professor of surgery in the medical department of Arkansas University and he is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He likewise belongs to the Pulaski County Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

On the 30th of November, 1901, Dr. Watkins was married to Miss Mary Helen Hammond, who was born at Little Rock. January 24, 1880. They attend Christ Episcopal church and Dr. Watkins is also a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political views are in accord with the basic principles of the democratic party and while he has never sought nor desired office his loyalty to all those projects which have to do with the public welfare is a recognized factor in his career. During the World war he served on the council of defense of Pulaski county. His attention has naturally been given most largely to his professional duties and his developing powers have placed him in the front rank of the eminent surgeons of the state.

MAJOR CHARLES HENRY MILLER.

Major Charles Henry Miller needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for he has an extremely wide acquaintance by reason of his connection with the Miller- Butterworth Company, engineers and contractors, of which he is the president and also by reason of the valuable service which he rendered the country in the World war. His professional ability is of an extremely high order and his success is indicated in the large number of important contracts with which his firm has been favored. He has made his home in Little Rock since 1911, but comes to this state from Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Strasburg, Lancaster county, in November, 1866. His parents, Henry B. and Elizabeth ( Bartholomew) Miller, were also natives of Lancaster county, the former born in 1837 and the latter in January, 1845. They lived for many years in their native county, the father there following the occupation of farming in order to provide for his family. At the time of the Civil war, however, he put aside all business and personal considerations and responded to the country's call for aid to preserve the Union. With the Boys in Blue of the One Hundred and Twenty-second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry he served during the last nine months of the war. His political allegiance was at all times given to the republican party, of which he was a stalwart supporter, although never an office seeker. He died in December, 1890, and is survived by his widow who still makes her home in Strasburg. Pennsylvania. They were the parents of three children: Charles H., of this review; Enos H., living in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania; and John Milton, whose home is in Strasburg.

Charles Henry Miller attended the public schools of his native city and was gradu- ated from the Strasburg high school with the class of 1884. He afterward took up the study of civil engineering in Lehigh University at South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and the C. E. degree was conferred upon him at his graduation with the class of 1888. Through the intervening period he has engaged in business as a civil engineer and contractor. Immediately following his graduation he became identified with the im- provement of the Mississippi river, under the direction of the United States Engineer Corps, handling surveys, dredge work, bank revetment, dike construction, levee and (liteb construction and in fact all character of work pertaining to that improvement. He was thus engaged for thirteen years, during which time he served as instrument man, draftsman, assistant engineer. chief of the survey party and superintendent of construc- tion. At the close of the thirteen-year period, or in 1901, he was made superintendent of construction with the MeClintic-Marshall Construction Company of Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania, and had charge of the building of their Pittsburgh plant, which manufactures

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steel bridges and buildings and does all class of general construction work, consisting of concrete foundations, erection of iron buildings, placing of railroad yard tracks and placing of waterworks and sewers. For four years Mr. Miller remained with the Mc- Clintic-Marshall Construction Company and then from 1905 until 1911 was engineer of river protection for the Missouri-Pacific & Iron Mountain Railway System, having charge of all river-bank protection work as well as drainage work along the lines of these railways and at the same time handled a considerable amount of special consulting work pertaining to river protection and drainage for a half dozen or more other railway systems. He next spent six years, from 1911 until 1916, as president of the Miller Engineering Company, now the Miller-Butterworth Company of Little Rock, Arkansas, engaged in the general engineering and contracting business. He was chief engineer for a number of very large drainage districts in Arkansas and Missouri and also became a member of the board of consulting engineers for the Dayton flood committee and handled a considerable amount of consulting work for drainage districts and railways. As con- tractors the company built about five miles of bank protection for the Caddo levee board of Shreveport, Louisiana, built several miles of Macadam road in Lonoke county, con- structed Dam No. 2 of the Ouachita river, for the United States government and also dikes and bank work for the government in the Mississippi river between Grafton, Illinois, and Louisiana, Missouri. At the present time the company is engaged in the construction of thirty-three miles of "Warrenite" road in Arkansas county.

In the midst of a highly successful business career, Mr. Miller put aside all thoughts of personal interest because the country needed his service in connection with the World war. He enlisted in June, 1917, and was on duty until April, 1919. From the first date until December, 1917, he was located at Deming, New Mexico, as constructing quartermaster in the building of Camp Cody, near Deming, erecting buildings to accom- modate thirty thousand soldiers. When this work was almost completed, about the middle of November, 1917, he was transferred to the Twenty-third Engineers and stationed at Camp Meade, Maryland, while later he went to Laurel, Maryland, organizing and getting ready for overseas duty as a member of the Highway Regiment, being major in command of the Second Battalion and having charge of several construction jobs around Camps Meade, Laurel and Humphreys. From the 13th of April, 1918, until April, 1919. Major Miller was in France. He was in charge of construction work on the Nevers Cut-off (Railroad) to the 4th of July and then in charge of construction at the Advance Overhaul Motor Park, No. 2, at Dijon, until the 11th of October. He was next placed in charge of construction at Base Hospital Center, motor spare parts and overhaul park of the army school camps at Langres, France, where he continued until December 10 and was then assigned in addition all building work and repairs in training areas seven to twenty-two inclusive. On the 18th of December, 1918, he was given charge, in addition, of all road repair work, handling this in conjunction with the several division engineers. Being a district engineer he made reports direct to the chief engineer of the advance section, the road work involving a total of approximately seven thousand miles of road. This was gradually turned over to the divisions as they came hack from the front and cecupied nine of the training areas.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 67

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