Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 69

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 public affairs Mr. Bell was always keenly and helpfully interested and, called to the office of mayor of his town, he was continued in the position by reelection for eight years, during which time he gave to the city a businesslike and progressive administration, productive of many excellent results in the way of advancing civic standards and civic service. Fraternally he was a member of the Knights of Pythias. He died at his home in Lonoke, December 18. 1921, honored and respected by all who knew him.

DAPHNEY E. WHITE, M. D.

Dr. Daphney E. White, a well known physician and surgeon of El Dorado, was born in Monticello, Arkansas, February 22, 1898. His parents, John W. and Elizabeth (Rog- land) White, are both representatives of old southern families. The father was born in Drew county, Arkansas, while the mother's birth occurred in Macon, Georgia. They have resided continuously in Drew county and in Monticello since their marriage, having for the last thirty years made their home in Monticello. Mr. White served as sheriff of Drew county for a period of four years and has long been prominently known through- out the southern part of the state as a leading dealer in live stock.

JOHN A. BELL

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Dr. White, having completed a course in the Monticello high school, spent one year in the pursuit of a premedical course in the University of Arkansas and then devoted four years to the study of medicine in Vanderbilt University of Tennessee. There he won his M. D. degree as a member of the class of 1919 and made high standing, becoming the honor man of the class, being awarded the Founder's Medal, which is conferred upon the scholar having the highest average during the four years' course. He was also further honored by being made president of the scholarship fraternity known as the Phi Kappa Chi, membership in this fraternity requiring a yearly average of not less than ninety for the first three years. These high positions to which he attained indicates the splendid work he did through his university course, thus qualifying for the great responsibilities that devolve upon the physician and surgeon. Following his graduation he served as interne for eighteen months in Vassar Brothers Hospital at Poughkeepsie, New York, and during that period took special instruction in eye, ear, nose and throat work. In June, 1921, he came to El Dorado and entered upon the active practice of the profession in partnership with Dr. Cathey, thus forming the medical firm of Cathey and White. In this connection Dr. White specializes upon diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, while his partner gives his attention to other divisions of medical and surgical practice, mainly surgery. The firm is recognized as one of prominence in southern Arkansas and Dr. White is accorded high rank by reason of his splendidly developed ability in his chosen field. He belongs to the medical fraternity, the Phi Beta Pi. also has membership in the Union County Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society. the Tri-State Medical Society, the Nashville Academy of Medicine and the American Medical Association.

On the 29th of June, 1919, Dr. White was united in marriage to Miss Mary Lynn Jaggers of Monticello, Arkansas. Dr. and Mrs. White occupy an enviable social position and they hold membership in the Presbyterian church, their interest centering in those channels through which flows the greatest good to the greatest number.

GORDON FRIERSON.

Gordon Frierson, one of the well known attorneys of Jonesboro and a member of the firm of Frierson & Penix, was born at Forrest City, Arkansas, November 18, 1872, a son of James Gordon and Emma G. (Davis) Frierson, of whom an account is given on another page of this volume.

Gordon Frierson, after the usual public schooling, entered the law school at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock and in 1896 received his B. L. degree. In 1893 and 1894 he was executive clerk to Governor Fishback and in 1895 and 1896 held the same position under Governor Clarke.

After his graduation and admittance to the bar Mr. Frierson came to Jonesboro and here remained until the opening of the Spanish-American war, when he enlisted in Company C of the Second Arkansas Volunteer Infantry. In this branch of the army he remained throughout his period of service.

In 1905 and 1906 Mr. Frierson assumed the duties of private secretary to Senator Clarke, one of the most distinguished citizens and statesmen of Arkansas. In July, 1906, he went to the republic of Panama and served in the department of civil administration until September, 1907, when he returned to Jonesboro and resumed the practice of his profession. Mr. Frierson served as potice judge of Jonesboro, having been elected in 1903 and again in 1905. He was mayor during two terms, beginning in 1917 and ending in 1921.

On the 14th of March, 1912, Mr. Frierson was married to Miss Pearl Clardy, daughter of the late Hon, Martin L. Clardy of St. Louis, who was vice president and general solicitor of the Missouri Pacific Railroad.

Mr. Frierson is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He is a democrat and a member of the Presbyterian church.

JUDGE JOE BEASLEY.

Judge Joe Beasley, a man of high intellectual attainments and a leading repre- sentative of the Bentonville bar, is now serving for the second term as judge of Benton county and his record upon the bench is in harmony with his record as a man and citizen-distinguished by marked fidelity to duty and by a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution. He is a native of Tennessee and a representative of an old family of that state. He was born at Murfreesboro in 1884, a son of B. F. and

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Ann (Bowen) Beasley, who were also natives of that state, where they continued to make their home until 1896, when they removed to Benton county, Arkansas, the father following the occupation of farming. They were members of the Christian church and in his political views Mr. Beasley was a populist. He died in 1903, but the mother survives and is a resident of Hiwasse, Arkansas. Of their family five children are living: Sam, a prominent attorney of Bentonville; Joe, of this review; Hattie, who is serving as postmistress of Hiwasse; Esther, who resides at home and is a teacher in the country schools; and Noble, who is a student at the West Point Military Academy. The paternal grandfather, John E. Beasley, was a Confederate soldier, serving for four years in the Civil war. He married Catherine Hall, who is still residing in Tennessee, having reached the very advanced age of ninety-five years.

In the acquirement of an education Judge Beasley attended the district schools and the State Normal School of Arkansas, after which he entered Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee, from which he was graduated in 1915 on the completion of a course in law. Coming to Bentonville, Arkansas, he opened an office and has since engaged in practice here. He has been accorded a good clientage, for he has displayed marked skill in the conduct of intricate cases and has won many verdicts favorable to the interests of those whom he represents. In 1918 his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to the office of county judge of Benton county, and so creditable a record did he make in that connection that he was honored with reelection in 1920 and is now serving in that capacity. He is strictly fair and impartial in all of his rulings and his decisions are sustained by the higher courts upon appeal.

On the 15th of June, 1920. Judge Beasley was united in marriage to Miss Kate Fair, a native of Benton county and a daughter of S. T. Fair, who was born in Tennessee and on reaching mature years followed the occupation of farming and also engaged in teaching school. Subsequently he removed to Benton county, Arkansas, where he enlisted for service in the Civil war. Mrs. Beasley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, while the Judge is affiliated with the Christian church. In his political views he is a stalwart democrat, active in the interests of the party, and he has been chosen to fill the office of justice of the peace. His fraternal connec- tions are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masons. He is a member · of Hiwasse Lodge, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master, and he is also identified with the chapter. He holds to high ideals in his professional service and is proving an able presiding officer over the tribunal of which he has charge.

J. H. BROCK.

J. H. Brock, member of the Clarksville bar, was born on a farm in Pope county, Arkansas, March 12, 1875, and is a son of David and Jane ( Booher) Brock, who were natives of Mississippi and of Pope county, .Arkansas, respectively. The former was a son of Russell Brock, who was born in Mississippi and in 1857 removed with his family to Pope county, Arkansas, where he followed farming. He served with the rank of major in the Confederate army during the Civil war. The grandfather in the maternal line was William Booher, who was born in Arkansas and spent practically his entire life in Pope county. He, too, was a Confederate soldier, who reached the rank of lieutenant.

The marriage of David Brock and Jane Booher was celebrated in Pope county and in 1883 they removed to Johnson county, where he purchased a farm, both residing thereon until called to their final rest. The farm comprised one hundred and sixty acres of productive land, which he carefully, systematically and successfully culti- vated. He, too, was a Confederate soldier, serving from 1862 until the close of hostili- ties and on one occasion he was slightly wounded. He voted with the democratic party and in religious faith he and his wife were connected with the Methodist Episcopal church. They had a family of fifteen children, of whom nine are living: Lou, who is the wife of J. P. Underwood, a farmer and trader of Clarksville; J. D., a farmer living in Piney, Arkansas; Tempie, the wife of C. W. Smith, who follows farming in Oklahoma; J. H., of this review; Susie, the wife of H. M. Smith, a miner of Colorado; Zeta, the wife of Robert Lowery, a teacher of Blaine, Arkansas; Thomas, who follows farming at Blaine, Arkansas; Maude, the wife of John Cagle, a farmer of Knoxville, Arkansas; and Lizzie, the wife of Willis O'Neal. who devotes his attention to agricultural pursuits in Clarksville.

An old log schoolhouse was the little temple of learning in which J. H. Brock pursued his education. He read and studied whenever opportunity offered and through this means and through the experiences of life has learned many valuable lessons. Turning his attention to farming in early life he devoted thirty-five years to the work

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of tilling the soil and brought his farm under a high state of cultivation. He also traded in horses, sold goods, operated a sawmill and utilized every opportunity for advancement and step by step he has steadily progressed,

On the 16th of December, 1896, Mr. Brock was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Townsel, who was born in Logan county, Arkansas, a daughter of James Townsel, who was a native of Ohio and received his discharge from the Union army in Arkansas, after which he decided to remain in this state and here spent the rest of his days. Mr. and Mrs. Brock became parents of six children, three of whom are living: Icie, the wife of E. E. Wright, a farmer and merchant of Piney, Arkansas; James, who is living with his father; Townsel, who is in school. The wife and mother died September 4. 1915, and on the 22d of April, 1917, Mr. Brock was married to Miss Jean Phillips, who was born in Johnson county, Arkansas, a daughter of Robert Phillips, a native of Scotland, who came to this state in 1879 and here followed farming and mining. Mr. and Mrs. Brock are parents of a daughter, Jean, three years of age. They belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and he is an exemplary member of the Masonic tra- ternity, being a past master of his lodge. In politics he is a democrat and for a number of years he served as justice of the peace.

All of these interests and experiences finally led Mr. Brock into the field in which he is now active. It was in 1905 that he began the study of law, having purchased and borrowed books and pursued his law study independently. In 1912 he was admitted to the bar. He had practiced in a justice court soon after he began to study and he entered upon the real practice of law in 1914 in Clarksville, where he has remained. Steadily he has progressed and has made for himself a creditable position in the ranks of the legal fraternity of Johnson county. In 1917 he was appointed deputy prosecuting attorney by H. H. Ragon, under whom he served during his term of office. He was then appointed to the same position by Sant Rorex and is still serving in that capacity. He devotes all of his time and attention to his official duties and to the private practice of law. However, in addition he owns three hundred and seventy-five acres of land, about one-half of which has been placed under a high state of cultivation. Thereon he raises cattle, hogs and horses and likewise produces large crops in grain and cotton. He has made every dollar that he possesses and has proudly won the American title of a self- made man. Energy, ability, force of character and determination have constituted the strong elements in his success and his course commands for him the respect, confidence and good will of all who know aught of his career.

JOHN H. HAMILTON.

John H. Hamilton, one of the successful real estate dealers of Mena, well known in the business circles of Polk county, was born in Alabama in 1851 and is descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry. His grandfather, Abraham Hamilton, was a native of South Carolina and a millwright by trade. He spent his last years in Tennessee. His son, John Hamilton, was born in South Carolina in 1818. He started with his parents in a covered wagon to Tennessee and while en route the parents of John Hamilton with their family met the family of Martin Hamilton, who was a native of Virginia and a farmer by occupation. He was on the road with his family to Mississippi, also traveling in a covered wagon. It was at this time that John Hamilton formed the acquaintance of Jane Hamilton and they were married. and likewise another son and daughter of the two Hamilton families were married while they were on their way westward. After their marriage John and Jane Hamilton continued on their way to Hamilton, Marion county, Alabama, where he engaged in merchandising and in mechanical pursuits, in- cluding blacksmithing. He prospered in his undertaking there and afterward went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he purchased a stock of goods, which he shipped by hoat for some distance and then hauled his goods ninety miles by ox team and wagon from the river to his destination. During the opening year of the Civil war he joined the Six- leenth Alabama Infantry and died from disease at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and his wife belonged to the Eastern Star. In politics he was a democrat, but was a stanch advocate of the Union cause, having entered the service of his country as soon as hostilities were inaugurated. Both he and his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. He died in 1863, while his wife survived for a quarter of a century, departing this life in 1888, being then seventy-two years of age, her birth having occurred in Virginia in 1816. In their family were eleven children, four of whom are living: Mrs. Hannah Vaughn, a widow, residing in Tupelo, Missis- sippi, at the age of seventy-eight years; Julia, the wife of J. A. Morgan, a farmer living at Tupelo; John H., of this review; and Fannie E., the wife of Gahie Brown, a farmer and money loaner of Calvin, Oklahoma.

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John H. Hamilton, whose name introduces this review, was educated in Vernon, Alabama, and in young manhood devoted his attention to mercantile interests. He re- mained in the business in Detroit, Alabama, for a number of years, and in 1880 took up his abode at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, becoming one of the early merchants of that · place. He also served as postmaster of the town under President Cleveland's first ad- ministration. He likewise filled the office of county clerk of Carroll county, Arkansas, for one term and following his retirement from office he engaged in the real estate busi- ness, which he capably and successfully conducted. In July, 1896, he came to Mena, arriving a few days before the completion of the railroad to this point. He built the third house in the town, it costing him fifty-six dollars to complete the structure, which he rented for a dollar per day. He had charge of land for the railroad company, making the sales for the corporation, and when this was accomplished he continued in the real estate business on his own account and has won substantial success in the careful and sagacious conduct of his affairs. As opportunity has offered he has made judicious investments and now owns considerable farm lands and city property. He is also a stockholder in the Planters' State Bank. He started out in the business world empty- handed and had enjoyed no special advantages in the way of education or along other lines. Moreover, he had a widowed mother whom he had to support, receiving, the first two years he worked, fifty cents a day. He learned the multiplication tahle after he was seventeen years of age and notwithstanding various handicaps he has made his way steadily upward until he is today one of the prosperous and representative business men of western Arkansas, conducting an extensive real estate and loan agency.

In 1876 Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage to Miss Michael Key, who was born in Georgia and died in 1887, leaving a son, Paul K., now at Birmingham, Alabama, where he is engaged in the wholesale and retail commission business. On the 7th of November, 1920, Mr. Hemilton was again married, his second union being with Pearl M. (Dean) Brewer, who was born in Sebastian county, Arkansas, where her father settled in pioneer times. He was an Indian scout and also served as United States marshal for a number of years. Mrs. Hamilton clerked in the Mena post office for fourteen years before her marriage. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all of the chairs. In politics he is an earnest democrat and in 1907 and 1909 was elected to the state legislature, in which he served for two terms, giving thoughtful and earnest consideration to the vital ques- tions which came up for settlement during his connection with the general assembly. He was mayor of Mena for two terms and for twenty years served on the school board, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion and one whose labors were of practical benefit in the upbuilding of the schools. He organized the first school in Mena and he has been closely associated with the development and progress of the city in many ways. There were no houses in Mena when he came here and his first place of abode was a tent that stood on the site now occupied by his office, it being cn the main street of the city. Today he owns the entire block, which is built up with good business property and returns to him a very gratifying annual rental. Mr. Hamil- ton also has a military chapter in his life record. He was one of the youngest Confed- erate soldiers, entering the aimy in 1864 and serving with Forrest's cavalry. He had twenty-one relatives who were also with the Confederate forces. His entire time and attention are given to his business affairs as a real estate dealer in Mena and his capa- hility is manifest in the substantial results which he achieved as the years passed by. He truly deserves all the credit that is implied in the term a self-made man and his life record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accomplished through individual effort intelligently directed.

EARNEST ERVIN.

Earnest Ervin. con lucting an abstract business in Booneville, was born in 1882, near the city in which he still resides, and is a son of J. C. and Eliza ( McCaskill) Ervin. The father, a native of Tennessee, is still living at the age of sixty eight years, but the mother, who was born in South Carolina in 1858, died on the 13th of May, 1916. The former was a son of Jonathan Ervin, who was born in Tennessee, but became a resident of Arkansas and during the period of the Civil war served as county jailer in Polk county. The mother was a daughter of W. K. McCaskill, a native of North Carolina, who arrived in Arkans's when Logan county was still largely an undeveloped district and here spent his remaining days. The marriage of J. C. Ervin and Eliza MeCaskill was celebrated near Booneville and they became parents of five children: Ollie, who is the widow of W. M. Burgess and resides in Cowlington, Oklahoma; J. K., a farmer

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of Booneville; Earnest, of this review: Lafayette, who is city salesman for the Western Grain Company at Fort Smith, Arkansas; and Mays, a jeweler and watchmaker by trade, now living at Tulia, Texas. The father is a member of the Baptist church, to which Mrs. Ervin also belongs. He likewise has membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. For many years he followed farming, making that occupation his life work, but is now living retired, making his home with his daughter in Oklahoma.

Earnest Ervin, having attended the public schools of Logan county, afterward pur- sued a course in bookkeeping at Arkadelphia. He started out to provide for his own support as a farmer and continued to give his attention to agricultural interests until twenty-four years of age, when he turned to commercial pursuits, becoming a shipping clerk in a wholesale grocery house at Fort Smith. There he continued for three years and later spent a similar period upon the road as a traveling salesman. He next engaged in the grocery business at Booneville for twelve months and later obtained a position in the office of the circuit clerk, there remaining for two years. In 1912 he was ap- pointed deputy county clerk and has been associated with the office in this connection continuously since. He likewise conducts an abstract business under the name of the Booneville Abstracting Company and has gained many clients, so that his business is now a substantial one.

In 1904 Mr. Ervin was married to Miss Addie Westmoreland, who was born in Mis- sissippi, a daughter of H. M. Westmoreland, who came to Logan county, Arkansas. about 1888, and is now living on a farm near Booneville. Mr. and Mrs. Ervin are the parents of three children, Edward, Virginia and Elizabeth, all in school. Politically Mr. Ervin is a democrat. He is interested in all those forces which make for public progress and civic betterment and his cooperation can at all times be counted upon to further any movement for the general good. He has a wide acquaintance in Logan county, where his entire life has been passed, the sterling traits of his character gaining for him the respect, confidence and good will of all with whom he has been associated.

PROFESSOR WILLIAM FRANKLIN HALL.

Professor William Franklin Hall, city superintendent of schools at Camden, was born in Booneville, Logan county, Arkansas, November 29, 1882, his parents being Ben- jamin F. and Mary A. (Graham) Hall, who were natives of Kentucky and North Carolina, respectively. In young manhood and young womanhood, immediately after the Civil war, they had come to Arkansas and were married in this state. Benjamin F. Hall served in the Confederate army throughout the period of hostilities between the north and the south and following his removal to Arkansas he took up a homestead claim in what is now Logan county, residing thereon to the time of his death in 1890, his labors winning him place among the leading and representative farmers of that locality. His wife is still living and makes her home with her son, William F.

As a student in the Magazine Academy at Magazine, Arkansas, following the com- pletion of his public school course, Professor Hall entered upon higher educational work and also attended Ouachita College, from which he received his Bachelor of Law degree in 1910. He displayed the elemental strength of his character by paying his own way through high school and college, for his father died when the son was but eight years During his high school of age and he was early thrown upon his own resources. course he had to discontinue his attendance for a year and teach school in order to secure funds to meet the further expenses of his high school days. While a college student he taught school in the summer vacations. Following his graduation from col- lege he became a high school principal at Booneville, filling the position for one year and then went to Portland, Arkansas, as principal of the high school of that place. A year later he was chosen superintendent of schools there and continued to fill the posi- tion for two years. He next went to Russellville, Arkansas, as principal of the high school and after occupying the position for one year he was made superintendent of schools, continuing to act in that responsible position for five years. In 1920 he was called to Camden as superintendent of schools and has remained here, winning many stanch friends during the period of his residence in this city, while his work here has added to his reputation as a most successful educator. Professor Hall is a student as well as a teacher and in the many years of his educational work he has made use of his vacation periods either in travel to broaden his views or in postgraduate work. He took special work at the Chicago University in the summer of 1911 and attended Peabody Institute in the summer of 1914. The summer of 1919 was spent in the Teachers College of Columbia University, New York city, while the summer of 1920 was devoted to special work at the Arkansas State University. He plans to take his master's degree

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 69

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