Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 68

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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It was in February, 1919, that Major Miller was transferred to the Three Hundred and Seventh Engineers of the Eighty-second Division and early in March received orders to report to the commanding officer at Brest for return to the United States, reaching Newport News on April 2, 1919, while three days later he was honorably discharged at Washington. He at once returned to Little Rock and took up his work in connection with the Miller-Butterworth Company, since which time this company has been engaged in the general contracting and engineering business, their contract work being prin- cipally in line with good road construction. The engineering work handled by Mr. Miller personally has involved principally general consulting practice. In this connection he received appointment from the supreme court of the United States as a member of the commission to settle the boundary between Arkansas and Mississippi, a short distance below Friars Point, Mississippi. He was also consulting expert engineer for the United States government in the sunk land cases in eastern Arkansas and consulting engineer for the United States government in the boundary dispute between Texas and Oklahoma near Wichita Falls.

It will be of interest in this connection, as showing the value of Major Miller's service when on duty overseas, to include in his history letters received from his com- manding officers at the close of the war. W. M. Black, major general, chief of engineers, wrote to him as follows: "1. The signing of the armistice with the Central Powers having made further sacrifice on your part unnecessary, I wish to convey to you my appreciation of your efforts in behalf of your country during the recent emergency. The engineers of the United States have by their patriotic and self-sacrificing conduct well merited greater thanks and appreciation than it is possible for me or any other one man to give them. I am sure, however, that when it is possible to relate in full the

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efforts and accomplishments of American engineers, both overseas and in this country, the people of the United States will show appreciation of their efforts in no uncertain terms. 2. That you have heen one of these engineers and have contributed your part toward this successful accomplishment constitutes in itself an honor greater than any official expression of opinion. Permit me, however, to extend to you my personal thanks and those of the corps of engineers for your efforts and assistance."

From L. S. Chappelear, adjutant general, Major Miller received a communication reading, "There is inclosed herewith extract copy of letter received from Brigadier General 1. W. Littell, Quartermaster Corps National Army. The department appreciates the splendid service rendered by you in connection with the work of cantonment con- struction and advises that a copy of the letter from Brigadier General Littell has been filed with your records in this office." The inclosure signed I. W. Littell, Brigadier General, Q. M. Corps N. A., was as follows: "1. Having just received orders relieving me from duty in charge of the Cantonment Division, I take this occasion to especially commend the officers of the Engineer Corps named helow. 2. The magnitude of the work with which they have been connected is best shown by the fact that construction work to the extent of an average of eight million dollars had to be performed within a period of six months in connection with the cantonments and the expenditure of approximately two million dollars within a shorter period of time in connection with each National Guard camp. The short time in which this work had to be completed is the element which makes these achievements remarkable. 3. In view of the unusual task which has been accomplished by the constructing quartermasters in the development and construction of these camps, with but a limited amount of assistance from other officers, it is desired that this great service shall not go unnoticed, but that there shall be placed upon the record of the officers who had charge of this work the definite state- ment from this office that the service which each has rendered is worthy the highest commendation within the power of this office to express. 4. The problems involved in laying out the cantonments and camps, development of systems of water supply, sewerage and electric lighting, and the design and construction of systems of roads, both within the camps and between the camps and the nearby cities and towns, have all been of such character as in civil life are handled by consulting engineers of established reputa- tion. The fact that these officers were able to plan and execute the great problem of design and construction shows conclusively that they are deserving of well merited recognition. Major Charles H. Miller, Engineer R. C., was the constructing quarter- master at Camp Cody, Deming, N. M."

Major Miller is most pleasantly situated in his home life. He was married October 9, 1900, in Luna Landing, Arkansas, to Miss Edna Ward, who was born there in June, 1881, a daughter of Francis M. and Virginia (Bryan) Ward. The father, a native of North Carolina, died in December, 1897, while the mother lives at Little Rock, Arkansas. Mrs. Miller was educated in a high school of her native town and by her marriage has become the mother of two daughters: Anne Charlene, now the wife of Captain Edgar A. O'Hair, U. S. A .; and Marion Edna.

Both Major and Mrs. Miller are members of the Second Presbyterian church of Little Rock, in which he is filling the office of deacon, and fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In politics he maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party, and preferring at all times to concentrate his efforts and his attention upon his professional interests and duties. He is well known to the profession because of his frequent contribution of articles to leading technical journals, his writings appearing often in the transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, in the proceedings of the American Railway En- gineering Association and in the Engineering-News Record, besides other publications. He has always maintained the highest professional standards and an indication of the advanced position which he fills is found in the fact that he has been admitted to mem- bership in the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Railway Engineering Association and the American Association of Engineers.

CLARENCE BURNETT CRAIG.

Clarence Burnett Craig, attorney at law at Pine Bluff, with offices in the Citizens Bank building, was born in Hickman county, Kentucky, in 1885, his parents being Joseph and Martha (Hicks) Craig. The father was born in Perry county, Tennessee, and at the time of the Civil war joined the Confederate forces, being wounded in action. The mother was a representative of one of the old families originally from Virginia. To Mr. and Mrs. Craig were horn the following named: Clarence Burnett; J. T., an attorney living at Paragould, Arkansas, who formerly served as a member of the state legislature;

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W. A., a physician living at Eudora, Arkansas; Sam V., an attorney, residing at Clinton, Kentucky; Claude, an educator of Oklahoma; Betty, the wife of the Rev. Ernest Peters; Viva, the wife of David B. Graham; Jesse of Clinton, Kentucky; and John, who follows farming in Kentucky.

Clarence Burnett Craig pursued his education in Marvin College of Clinton county, Kentucky, in the State Normal School at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and in the Cumber- land University at Lebanon, Tennessee, in which latter place he pursued his law course and won his professional degree. He afterward practiced at Paducah, Kentucky, for several years and there filled the position of county attorney of McCracken county for four years. In 1918 he enlisted for service in the United States army at Camp Gordon, Georgia, and was assigned to the Officers Training School. After leaving the army he removed to Pine Bluff, where he has since engaged in law practice, and although one of the younger representatives of the bar here, he has made steady progress and has already reached a position which many an older lawyer might well envy.

Mr. Craig was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Rabb Kirkland of Paducah, Kentucky, and during the period of their connection with Pine Bluff they have won many friends here and have been accorded a cordial welcome in the social circles of the city. Fraternally Mr. Craig is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

G. R. HOLBROOK.

G. R. Holbrook, who is the efficient cashier of the Huntington State Bank at Huntington, Arkansas, was born in Kansas, and after acquiring a public school education he entered railroad service in a clerical capacity. Since that time he has steadily progressed, through the wise use of his time, talents and opportunities. After his rail- road service he was connected with the coal business at Midland and later removed to Huntington, where he has remained. Here he was also engaged in the coal trade for a time but for the past nine years has been associated with the Huntington State Bank, in which he is now cashier. His ability in this direction is recognized by his fellow officials in the institution as well as by the general public that always finds him a courteous and obliging official-one who is just as thorough in looking after the welfare of patrons of the bank as in protecting the interests of the institution. He married Miss Clara Woodson.

J. M. HARRISON.

J. M. Harrison, filling the office of postmaster at Prairie Grove, is a representative of one of the old and honored pioneer families of Washington county. From an early period in the development of this section of the state representatives of the name have here been found and have been closely associated with agricultural and other business interests leading to the upbuilding of northwestern Arkansas. The grandfather. Green L. Harrison, came by flatboat to Lewisburg, now Morrillton, and then drove across the country with ox team to Washington county, where he established his residence. His son, Richard P. Harrison, was born and reared near Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and spent his entire life in this locality, his attention being given to agricultural pursuits. He married Malinda Howell, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of Wiley B. Howell, who was an early settler of Arkansas and afterward gave a part of his original claim to his daughter, Mrs. Harrison. He, too, bore his part in the work of pioneer development here. Mrs. Harrison died on the old homestead farm, while Richard P. Harrison died at Eureka Springs. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and in politics Mr. Harrison was an earnest democrat who twice represented his district in the state legislature and left the impress of nis individuality upon the laws enacted during that period. For four years he served with the Confederate army in the Civil war. To him and his wife were born five children, of whom three are living: Mrs. John Mock, who was born August 10, 1868, and resides in Altus, Oklahoma; T. P., who was born May 6, 1871, and is now county assessor of Washington county, living at Prairie Grove; and J. M. Another child of the family, Lillie, became the wife of W. R. Campbell, who resided near Prairie Grove, where her death occurred in 1897.

J. M. Harrison was born near Prairie Grove on the 15th of April, 1878. He obtained his education in the schools of Prairie Grove, spending his youthful days on the home farm to the age of eighteen years, when he turned to mercantile pursuits and was identified with commercial interests in Prairie Grove to the time of his appointment to the office of postmaster, in which he is now serving for the second term. He is very

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prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties and has made a most excellent record in office.

On the 16th of May, 1902, Mr. Harrison was married to Miss Auda E. Morris, who was born and reared at Canehill, Arkansas. They were the last couple that Dr. Harrison Welch ever married. Mrs. Harrison is a daughter of Larkin M. and Elba (Edmiston) Morris, natives of Georgia and of Washington county, Arkansas, respectively. Following their marriage they spent their entire lives in Washington county, where Mr. Morris followed shoemaking. Mr. and Mrs. Morris had three children, two of whom survive: Frank, who is manager for the office of the Arbuckle Coffee Company at El Paso, Texas; and Mrs. Harrison. Both Mr. and Mrs. Morris were members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Morris belonged to the Masonic fraternity, loyally following the teachings and purposes of the craft. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison have become parents of two daughters and a son: Lillian, who is now attending college at Chickasha, Oklahoma; Grace, who is a high school pupil; and Morris, who is in his last year in the grammar school grades. The family is highly esteemed, warm-hearted hospitality being extended to them throughout the community in which they make their home.

Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are faithful followers of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and his membership relations also extend to the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. He is a past chancellor in the former organization and has also filled all of the chairs in the Woodmen camp. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he received his appointment to his present office under the adminstration of Presi- dent Wilson. He is proving a most capable official, loyal in every way to the duties reposed in him, and he has won not only commendation for his faithfulness and cap- ability in office but also has gained the high respect of all with whom social, business or official relations have brought him into contact.

W. A. CLARK, M. D.

Dr. W. A. Clark, successfully following his profession in Bald Knob, was born in Hardin county, Tennessee, on the 1st of January. 1868, and is a representative of one of the old families of that state. His paternal grandfather was also born in Tennessee and devoted his life to the work of the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He was the father of J. H. Clark, whose birth likewise occurred in Hardin county, Tennessee, and who obtained his early education in subscription schools there, while later he continued his studies in the State Normal School at Carhondale, Illinois, gaining a liberal education for that time. He afterward taught in the rural schools and later was principal of a high school at Henderson, Tennessee, for three years. At the ontbreak of the Civil war he enlisted under Colonel Williams and served throughout the period of hostilities, being wounded at the battle of Shiloh by a gunshot which ter- minated his military career. He then returned to his home and resumed the profession of teaching. In 1881 he removed to Franklin county, Arkansas, and taught in the rural districts near Ozark and Lonelm. In December, 1888, he removed to Bald Knob and taught in district No. 63 during 1889 and 1890. Subsequently he engaged in the hotel business in Bald Knob for several years, after which lie returned to his former home in Tennessee, but died in White county, Arkansas, when on a visit here in 1916, at the age of seventy-five years. In young manhood he had married Harriett Alexander, who was also born in Hardin county, Tennessee, and was a daughter of John Alexander, whose birth occurred in South Carolina, whence he removed to Hardin county, Tennessee, where he owned and conducted a large plantation, He was also the owner of fifty-five slaves at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war and he had an extensively and splendidly developed plantation but lost everything during that period of strife. He died in 1877, at the age of seventy-eight years. His daughter, Mrs. Clark, survived her father only until January, 1879, and was but thirty-two years of age at the time of her demise. By her marriage she had become the mother of six children: Jennie, who is the widow of S. H. Rosseau and resides in St. Lonis; W. A., of this review; R. C., proprietor of a drug store at Bald Knob: Mollie, the wife of A. L. Stokes of Malden, Missouri; J. F., of Gallup, New Mexico; and Hattie, the wife of W. H. Worsley of Paragould, Arkansas, where he is cashier in the Green County Bank. After losing his first wife I. H. Clark was married to Mary E. (Alexander) Pickens and they had two children: Anna, the wife of a Mr. Weber of St. Louis: and Edna, the wife of S. H. Vandine of St. Louis. For his third wife Mr. Clark chose Miss Mary Beard. He was a lifelong member and supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church and he also belonged to the Masonic fraternity, while his political allegiance was given to the democratic party.

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Dr. Clark mastered the branches of learning taught in the country schools of his native state and at the age of eighteen years began teaching in the rural schools of Franklin county, Arkansas, but he regarded this merely as an initial step to other professional labor, as it was his desire to enter upon the practice of medicine and he began reading for that purpose when nineteen years of age. He afterward became a student in the Missouri Medical College and was graduated from the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons with the class of 1892, winning the M. D. degree. He opened an office at Bald Knob in 1889 and through the intervening years, covering a third of a century, has here continued in the general practice of medicine and surgery, his labors being of marked value and benefit to his fellowmen. He has taken postgraduate work in the Chicago Polyclinic and he is justly accounted a most skilled and able physician. He is extremely careful in the diagnosis of his cases and is seldom, if ever, at fault in his opinion. He devotes practically his entire time and attention to his profession and yet is the owner of farm lands, from which he derives a substantial annual income.

Dr. Clark was married to Miss Ollie Lumpkin, a native of Arkansas, and they have two children: L. C., who is engaged in the confectionery business in Tucson, Arizona : and Lucile, the wife of O. J. Clark. proprietor of a variety store at Bald Kuob. Dr. Clark gives his political endorsement to the democratic party. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason and is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South, while his wife is of the Baptist faith and both are held in high esteem throughout the community in which they live. Along strictly professional lines Dr. Clark is connected with the White County and Arkansas State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association and thus keeps thoroughly informed concerning advanced professional thought and modern research and investigation.

WALLER O. GREEN.

Waller O. Green, secretary and a member of the board of directors of the Missouri Lumber Company of Hot Springs, his close application, his thoroughness and his progressiveness winning for him a place among the representative business men of the city, was born in Marceline, Missouri, October 3, 1884, and is a son of Robert and Missouri E. (Hainds) Green, both of whom were also natives of Missouri. The father was for many years prominently identified with the cattle bree ling and cattle dealing industry of Missouri, continuing in the business to the time of his death, which occurred about 1906. His widow survives and resides on the old home farm near Marceline, which has been her home for the past forty-two years.

Waller O. Green was educated in the public schools of Marceline and in the William Jewell College at Liberty, Missouri, following which he turned his attention to mer- chandising at Meadville, Missouri, and was successfully engaged in business of that character until 1901, at which time he went to Kansas City and for four years was employed as a shoe salesman in one of the large establishments of that character in Missouri's western metropolis. In 1905 he removed to Kirksville, Missouri, and was employed by the Adair Lumher Company, of which his brother-in-law, W. O. Creason, was general manager. Mr. Green remained in that position for two years and then came to Hot Springs, where in connection with his brother-in-law he purchased the business of the Missouri Lumber Company. They then incorporated their interests under the same name, with a capital stock of seventy-five thousand dollars, all owned by Mr. Green and Mr. and Mrs. Creason. The company does an extensive business as dealers in lumber and in fact ranks with the leading lumber firms of this section of the state. They have developed their trade along substantial lines and their business is now one of most gratifying proportions. Mr. Green is likewise a member of the Green- Wheeler Lumber & Coal Company of Manchester, Kentucky. He is watchtul of every opportunity pointing to advancement and success in business. . He readily discriminates between the essential and the non-essential in all commercial affairs and his determina- tion and energy have enabled him to overcome obstacles and difficulties and push steadily forward to the goal of prosperity. In addition to his lumber interests he is a stockholder in the Rowland Oil Company of El Dorado, Arkansas, which has two producing wells, and he is a member of the Arkansas Oil & Mineral Association. He is likewise a heavy landholder in Garland county, on the Little Rock and Hot Springs highway, and his holdings constitute a valuable oil prospect, which is being developed and a well is now being drilled.

Mr. Green was married in Meadville, Missouri, in 1904, to Miss Mary K. Creason and they became parents of one son, Onis Creason Green. Fraternally Mr. Green is connected with the Hot Springs Lodge of the Knights of Pythias and he also belongs

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to the Rotary Club. The religious faith of Mr. Green is that of the Baptist church, while his wife worships at the Christian church. They are both most highly esteemed people, enjoying the warm regard of all with whom business or social relations have brought them into contact. Mr. Green deserves much credit for what he has accom- plished. He started out in the business world without capital save the qualities of industry and perseverance. He early recognized the fact that success plays as a will-o'- the-wisp before the dreamer, tauntingly slips away from the sluggard but yields its rewards to the man of earnest purpose and thorough reliability. He therefore culti- vated these qualities and as the years have passed on has advanced steadily, step by step, until he occupies a place in the front rank among the foremost business men of his adopted city.

JOHN ALBERT BELL.

For twenty-eight years John Albert Bell was numbered among the representatives of merchandising in Lonoke, for throughout this entire period he was proprietor of a grocery store and at the time of his death was also owner of the Queen Theatre, a mov- ing picture house. A native of Lonoke county, he was born in Brownsville in 1860 and was a son of William and Mary Ann (Liggett) Bell, who were natives of Mis- sissippi and of Arkansas, respectively. The father served in the Confederate army as a private and throughout his entire life was a loyal defender of any cause which he espoused. To him and his wife were born six children, three of whom are yet living.

John Albert Bell pursued his education in the schools of his native county and in his youth divided his time between his studies, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. He continued to assist his father on the farm for some time after leaving school but at length determined to enter commercial circles and established a grocery business in Lonoke in 1894. In addition to conducting a retail store of large proportions Mr. Bell also sold to the wholesale trade and was a dealer in feed, conducting this branch of his business under the name of the Bell Commission Company. He carried a large and well selected line of staple and fancy groceries. The neat arrangement of his store, the excellent line of products which he handled and his thoroughly reliable business methods were the salient features in the attainment of his success. Ever watchful of opportunity he also entered upon another field of labor as proprietor of a moving picture house, which added materially to his annual income and he furnished to the public the best film attractions, therefore making his theatre worthy of a liberal patronage.

Mr. Bell was married to Miss Barbara Alice Johnson, of Lonoke county, a daughter of William Johnson, who was a native of Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Bell were born the following children: Alta is now Mrs. W. N. Morton of Lonoke; Walter, the eldest son, is an ex-service man, having done active duty in the World war; Myrtle is de- ceased; Minnie is the wife of George Martin of El Dorado; John is also deceased ; Ila is a professional motion picture operator and, being of a mechanical turn of mind, is perhaps one of the best operators in the state of Arkansas; Wesley, Eugene, Grace. Wallace and Clyde are at home. Having lost his first wife Mr. Bell was married to Mrs. Lola Peel and they had two children: Dorothy and Francis. By her former mar- riage Mrs. Bell has one son, Remmel Peel. now eleven years of age.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 68

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