Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 77

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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John R. Linder is indebted to the public school system of White county, Arkansas, for the educational opportunities which he enjoyed. He remained at home until he had attained his majority and began reading law at the age of eighteen years. He entered upon practice in the justice court and in 1901 and was admitted to practice in the district and circuit courts. He opened his law office in Beehe, where he has continued in the general practice of law and has been connected with much important litigation. He is also numbered among the lawmakers of the state, having served in the general assem- bly in 1905, through election on the democratic ticket. He gave thoughtful and earnest consideration to the vital questions which came up for settlement and at all times he has been actuated by devotion to the general good in his attitude toward all public questions.

Mr. Linder was married to Miss Mattie E. Hill, a native of White county, Arkan- sas, and they have become parents of nine children, six of whom are living: Harvey, now residing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he is engaged in vocational training, is a veteran of the World war. He enlisted in St. Louis in the regular army in 1917, was at Jefferson Barracks and later was sent to Boston, Massachusetts, where he was in training. He then went overseas and was connected with the Medical Corps in France for six months. After his return home he again went to France, where he married a French girl; Pearl, the second of the family, is the wife of W. E. Davis, a farmer of Beebe, Arkansas; Bernard, who is a bookkeeper with the Buckeye Cotton Oil Company of Little Rock, married Marie Westbrook, a native of Arkansas; Robert is following the profession of nursing at Little Rock; Earnie and Mabel are at home. Ruth and Thomas died at the age of two months and three years, respectively, while one child died in infancy. The religious faith of the family is that of the Baptist church and Mr. Linder is serving as clerk. He also belongs to the Woodmen of the World. The greater part of his time and attention is given to his profession and he has made steady progress in a calling where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit and ability. He is a close student of the principles of law and is seldom, if ever, at fault in the application of these principles to the point in litigation.

JOHN HARDEMAN CORDELL.

John Hardeman Cordell, who built up an extensive business as a contractor in railroad ties, continuing in this line of activity to the time of his death, belonged to one of the old and well known pioneer families of the state closely associated with the development and progress of Arkansas from an early day. John H. Cordell was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, July 19, 1843, a son of Richard and Leona ( Hardeman ) Cordell. His ancestors were members of an old and influential family of Virginia. The first of the name in this country was John Cordell, who emigrated to the new world from England at an early period in the colonization of Virginia. Later he served through the Revolutionary war as chaplain with the rank of captain. The direct line of descent comes down from Captain Jolin Cordell through George Edward, Presley and Richard to John Hardeman Cordell. The grandfather, Presley Cordell, came west with his family in an early day, settling in St. Louis, where hoth he and his wife died during the cholera epidemic of 1849. Two of his sons, Richard and Enos, went to Jefferson City, Missouri, where they became established in merchandising and won prominence in business circles there.

John Hardeman Cordell, reared under the parental roof, turned his attention to the banking business by establishing a private banking institution in Marshall, Missouri, this becoming the first bank of Saline county. Mr. Cordell conducted the business suc- cessfully until 1893, when he became involved in the widespread financial panic that swept over the country in that year. He then went to St. Louis and for some time was employed by the Bagnell Timber Company, large contractors in railroad ties. During

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his association with that firm he made various trips throughout the southwestern country as an inspector of railroad ties. Subsequently he established himself in the tie business, getting his contracts through the Bagnell Company, and thus he operated throughout the southern states. In 1906 he established his family in El Dorado, where they have since lived. As a tie contractor Mr. Cordell manifested splendid executive ability and. administrative direction and built up a wonderful organization. When ties were needed for some railroad in a great hurry he had delivered as high as seven hundred thousand in three months' time, due to the splendid organization which he developed, whereby man-power and commodities could be requisitioned at a moment's notice to meet any emergency. Mr. Cordell continued an active factor in the business to the time of his death, which occurred at Stafford Springs, Mississippi, where he had gone for the benefit of his health. His life's labors were ended on the 12th of January, 1909, when he was sixty-six years of age.

It was on the 29th of April, 1868, that Mr. Cordell was united in marriage to Miss Alice Ann Montague, a native of Demopolis, Alabama, the town which was founded by the French refugees during the administration of Thomas Jefferson. Mr. and Mrs. Cordell hecame the parents of nine children, all of whom are living: Robert Vaughan Montague, who is a broker of El Dorado; Leona H., who is employed in the public library at St. Louis; Emily, the wife of Dr. H. D. McCallie, a Presbyterian missionary at Mokpo, Chosen, Japan; Alice, who is a twin sister of Emily and for twenty years has been engaged in educational work, spending eight years as a teacher in the schools of Kansas City, Missouri: Annie, at home: Fannie, the wife of J. L. Lee of El Dorado; Catherine S., the wife of C. F. Hurd, city editor of the Post-Dispatch at St. Louis; St. George T., who is general manager of the national agency for the Burroughs Adding Machine Company at Nashville, Tennessee; and John H., living on the Forest Home plantation near Bosco, Louisiana. The mother and three of the daughters, Emily. Alice and Fannie, are all members of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The family has long occupied a prominent social position and the name of Cordell is closely associated with the history of the state. John H. Cordell was recognized as one of the representative business men in the south, forceful and resourceful, a man to whom difficulties and obstacles seemed to serve as an impetus for renewed effort on his part. As the years passed he steadily worked his way upward and became a dominant figure in connection with the tie contracting business in this section of the country.

WILLIAM HENRY ELLIS.

William Henry Ellis, a pharmacist of Hot Springs, who is proprietor of the National Park Pharmacy and of the Ellis drug store, was born in Clinton, Alabama, on the 6th of April, 1876, his parents being Dr. Robert A. and Jennie (Calhoun) Ellis, the former a native of Fairfield, Alabama, while the latter was born in Newman, Georgia. The father was graduated from the Tulane Medical College of New Orleans with the class of 1870 and was in active and successful practice for forty-two years. He first opened an office in Fairfield, Alabama, and in 1880 removed to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he continued in practice for nine years, coming to Hot Springs in 1889. He was recog- nized as one of the leading medical practitioners of this city for twenty-three years, or to the time of his death, which occurred in 1912.

William Henry Ellis was educated in the public schools of Tuscaloosa and of Hot Springs and was graduated from a high school of the latter city as a member of the class of 1894. Soon afterward he made his initial step in the business world by accepting a position in the drug store of Sorrells & Carr, while subsequently he worked for J. W. Angle in the drug business, continuing in that connection until 1905, when he resigned his position to engage in business for himself. He established a drug store on Ouachita avenue, on the present site of the Moore drug store, and three years later removed to his present place of business at No. 233 Valley street. On the 4th of May, 1913, he purchased the Majestic drug store, located in the Majestic Hotel build- ing, and removed the stock to 242 and 244 Central avenue, changing the name to the National Park Pharmacy. This is by far the finest drug store of the city, a most progressive policy being maintained in its conduct. It is beautifully appointed, taste- fully arranged and measures up to the highest standards of the trade in every particular.

On the 16th of January, 1898, Mr. Ellis was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Sutton, of Hot Springs, a daughter of Captain J. J. Sutton, who owned and operated the famous quarries of the Arkansas Oil Stone. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis have become parents of three children, but only one is living, Marjorie Louise.

Fraternally Mr. Ellis is a Mason, having membership in Hot Springs Lodge, No. 62, A. F. & A. M .; Hot Springs Chapter, No. 47, R. A. M .; Hot Springs Council, R. & S. M .:

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and Hot Springs Commandery, No. 5, K. T. He likewise belongs to Sahara Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. and to Hot Springs Lodge, No. 380, B P. O. E. He has membership in the Lions Club and in the Business Men's League and he and his wife are consistent and active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Mr. Ellis is serving as head usher in the church, as chairman of the district confer- ence and member of the board of church stewards. During the years of the state fair, held at Hot Springs, he was a member of the board of directors of the fair associ- ation and has at all times been active and helpful in civic affairs, being a most public spirited citizen and one whose labors are of a practical nature, highly resultant. While he has won substantial success in business, he has never allowed his commercial interests to monopolize his time to the extent of excluding opportunity to aid in public affairs and his cooperation has been a helpful element in much that has had to do with the development and commercial progress of Hot Springs.

JUDGE CHARLES H. DAVIS.

Judge Charles H. Davis, judge of the county and prohate courts of Garland county, was born in Hot Springs, December 11, 1875, and is a son of Henry C. and Mary E. (Goode) Davis, both of whom were natives of Georgia, where they were reared and married. They afterward removed to Camden, Arkansas, where they took up their abode in 1871 and a year later they hecame residents of Hot Springs. The father devoted his life to the profession of bookkeeper. Both he and his wife are deceased.

Judge Davis obtained his education largely in the public schools of Hot Springs, but also enjoyed the benefit of a year's instruction in Bethel College at Russellville, Kentucky, following which he returned to Hot Springs and hecame identified with news- paper interests. For fifteen years he was connected with the Sentinel Record, working in every department of the paper, and in November, 1908, he came into the courthouse as deputy county clerk, a position which he filled for four years. In 1912 he was elected county clerk and was chosen to that office for two terms without opposition. He afterward served for two terms, or four years, as county treasurer and in the fall of 1920 was elected judge of the county and probate courts, in which important capacity he is now serving. Over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil. He has always heen loyal to the trust reposed in him and the many times he has been reelected to office is unmistakable proof of his capability and fidelity in discharging the duties that have devolved upon him.

In December, 1908, Judge Davis was married to Miss May Peters of Hot Springs, Arkansas. He belongs to Hot Springs Lodge, No. 62, A. F. & A. M .; Hot Springs Chap- ter, No. 47, R. A. M .; Hot Springs Commandery, No. 5, K. T., of which he was eminent commander in the year 1920; and Sahara Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Pine Bluff. He also has membership in Hot Springs Lodge, No. 380, B. P. O. E., of which he is past exalted ruler and he belongs to the Business Men's League, of which he is serving as a member of the board of governors. His interest in community affairs is manifest in many tangible ways. He seeks ever the welfare and good of the city in which he makes his home and is truly a public-spirited citizen.

LEONIDAS H. MCGILL.

Leonidas H. McGill, a leading representative of the Benton county bar, has fol- Iowed his profession continuously in Bentonville since 1887 and is now associated in practice with his son, J. T. McGill, under the firm style of McGill & McGill, the list of their clients being an extensive one. He comes of English and French Huguenot ancestry, early representatives of the family settling in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. He was born in Kentucky, February 22, 1854, and passed a portion of his childhood in Tennessee, leaving that state in the fall of 1861 and going to Titus county, Texas, whence he removed to Gilmer, in Upshur county, that state, where he attended a private high school conducted hy Morgan H. Looney, this institution ranking with the best in Texas. In March, 1873, he left the Lone Star state and came to Arkansas, completing his high school course at Bentonville under the same teacher. In 1874 and 1875 he engaged in educational work, acting as assistant to his brother, John T. McGill, who was then a high school teacher, but for the past forty years has been a member of the faculty of Vanderbilt University and is a man of high intellectual attainments.

In 1875 Leonidas H. McGill became a law student in the office of Judge S. N.

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Elliott of Bentonville, with whom he continued until 1876, and in October of that year he was admitted to practice here. He formed a partnership with Judge E. S. McDaniel, with whom he was associated until May, 1880, when he removed to Ozark, Arkansas, and was in the law office of Judge W. W. Mansfield until January, 1881. He then went to Morrillton, Arkansas, where he became a partner of Colonel E. B. Henry, a relationship that was continned until January, 1883, when Mr. McGill returned to Bentonville, continning to follow his profession here until October of that year, when he became private secretary to Governor James H. Berry. He filled that position until July, 1884, when he again took np his residence in Bentonville. While at Little Rock he attended law lectures delivered by some of the leading attorneys of the city, including U. M. Rose, Judge Henry C. Caldwell, John M. Moore, W. G. Whipple and Judge Joseph W. Martin, pursuing a night course. In October, 1885, Mr. McGill removed to Clarksville, Arkansas, where he formed a partnership with the late A. S. McKennon, and was thus associated until Jnly, 1887, when he returned to Bentonville and has since resided here. He again became a partner of Judge E. S. McDaniel, with whom he re- mained until the elevation of the latter to the bench of the circuit court in 1894. and four years later, or in 1898, he associated himself with F. G. Lindsay, a relationship that was maintained until the 1st of April, 1917, when Mr. Lindsay went to Little Rock as attorney for the insurance department of the state. Mr. McGill then formed a part- nership with his eldest son, J. T. McGill, and their interests are conducted under the firm style of McGill & McGill. The father was admitted to practice before the supreme court of Arkansas in 1882 and in the United States supreme court in April, 1909. His knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence is comprehensive and exact and the zeal with which he prepares his cases, the carefnl regard evinced for the interests of his clients, combined with his assiduous and nnrelaxing attention to all the details of his cases, have brought him a large business and made him very successful in its conduct.

At Bentonville, Arkansas, on the 26th of December, 1881, Mr. McGill was united in marriage to Miss Mit Peel, a danghter of Colonel S. W. Peel, a well known resident of this place, and they have become the parents of ten children, six sons and four daughters, all of whom are living, with the exception of a daughter, who met an accidental death when but ten years of age. The sons are: J. T. and L. H., Jr., both of whom are mar- ried; Charles B .; Samuel P .; William A .; and James Berry. The daughters are: Elizabeth, who married S. C. Bohart; Catherine, the wife of Bennett Dickson; and Mary. Mr. McGill and his wife are domestic in their tastes, finding their greatest happiness in the midst of their family, and Mrs. McGill has never exercised her right of franchise, feeling that her housesold duties require her undivided attention. Mr. McGill is a member of the State and American Bar Associations and he is a democrat in his political views, interested, in the welfare and success of the party, and he was a member of the constitutional convention of 1917-18. Early recognizing the fact that industry and perseverance must constitute an important element in the attainment of success, along those lines he has lahored for advancement, and wisely and conscientionsly utilizing the talents with which nature has endowed him. he has won a prominent position at the Benton county bar, his upright policy gaining for him the confidence and respect of his colleagues and associates.

CHARLES ASTYNAX OVERSTREET.

Charles Astynax Overstreet, president of the Third District State Agricultura! School, is one of the representative. citizens of Magnolia. He was born in DeKalb, Mississippi, on the 27th of July. 1891, a son of James A. and Winnifred Penelope Over- street, both residing at that place. The father is a native of Mississippi and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits there for many years. He is now living retired, how- ever, at the age of sixty-seven years. In 1878 was celebrated the marriage of James A. Overstreet to Miss Winnifred Penelope Hull, the ceremony being performed at De Kalb, and to their nnion ten children were born, six boys and four girls. Charles A., whose name initiates this review, being the eighth in order of birth. All of the children are living with the exception of one daughter. Mrs. James A. Overstreet was born in DeKalb sixty-eight years ago.

In the acquirement of an education Charles A. Overstreet attended the rural schools near DeKalb and later became a student at the Mississippi Agricultural College, Stark- ville, from which institution he was gradnated in 1913, with the degree of B. S. He then tanght agriculture in the Tangipahoa Parish Agricultural School at Chesbrough, Louisiana, until December, 1915, when he came to Columbia county, this state, as connty agricultural agent. In that capacity he gave demonstrations and advice concern- ing agricultural problems and achieved substantial success. He resigned that position,

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however, on the 11th of July, 1921, at that time being elected president of the Third District Agricultural School, in which connection he is now active. This school has the important mission of teaching the problems of agriculture to the growing generations and is located at Magnolia because here it is more central and more accessible to the children of neighboring farmers. Since its inception in 1910 the school has grown rapidly and is now one of the most popular institutions of its kind in the state. Mr. Overstreet is well fitted for the duties that devolve upon him as chief executive of the institution.

On the 16th of June, 1915, occurred the marriage of Mr. Overstreet to Miss Nina Maude Kemp, a native of Ponchatoula, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Kemp, well known citizens of that place. Both Mr. and Mrs. Overstreet are consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and they are generous contributors to its support. Fraternally he is a Mason, helonging to Columbia Lodge, No. 82, A. F. & A. M., which he has served as worshipful master; and to Magnolia Chapter, No. 112, Royal Arch Masons. He has likewise served as high priest and is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. During the World war Mr. Overstreet gave gener- ously of his time and money in the promotion of the government's interests and he made many speeches in behalf of the Liberty Loan, Red Cross and other drives, etc.

BERNIE BABCOCK.

The name of Bernie Babcock is written high on the list of American authors and her fame has reached far beyond the confines of the American continent. She was christened Julia Burnelle Smade and is a daughter of H. N. and Charlotte (Bur- nelle) Smade. 'The ancestral line is traced back to an early date in the settlement of Canada and she is descended from English and French Huguenot stock. She was educated in the public schools of Russellville, Arkansas, and in the Little Rock University and her literary talent first found expression in a poem which was writ- ten when she was but six years of age. When a little maiden of hut twelve summers she wrote a drama, but owing to the religious scruples of her parents, this was destroyed. Her first work that gained publicity was an essay called "Marketable . Brains," which was published in the Arkansas Gazette, and about the same time she contributed poems to the Saturday Bee and the Democrat. She also became one of the leading contributors to the Woman's Chronicle.

In 1886 Julia Burnelle Smade put aside her pen to take up the role of wife, becoming the bride of William Franklin Bahcock, a son of Colonel E. F. Babcock, a veteran of the Civil war, who located in Arkansas and was one of a group of men who were responsible for bringing the superiority of Arkansas fruit to the notice of the world. Prominent as a pomologist, Colonel Babcock, in association with Professor Thomas and Jay Gould, placed the Arkansas apple in competition with the apples of other sections, and they were rewarded by winning for the state first prizes at exhibits in New York and elsewhere, gaining recognition on the famous Arkansas Blacks and other fruit in New Orleans, California and other sections, gaining first prizes wherever their fruit was exhibited.

William Franklin Babcock was educated in the public schools of Little Rock and, being of an independent turn of mind, started to work as a bridge tender when comparatively young, continuing his education at night. He afterward entered the employ of an express company and rose from a humble position through successive promotions until he became one of the prominent officials, thus serving to the time of his death in 1897.

An early marriage and the arrival of five interesting little children interfered naturally with the literary activities of the gifted mother to some extent, yet she never allowed her household duties to shut out all literary activity, for at night after the little ones were put to bed she would he found at her writing desk. In 1900 she published The Daughter of a Patriot, a prohibition story which sold as a serial and later was published in book form, the issue being one hundred thousand copies. Other works which she produced in 1901 and 1902 were Justice to the Woman, pub- lished by A. C. McClurg & Company of Chicago, and An Uncrowned Queen, published by Revell & Company of New York and London. This was the popular life of Frances E. Willard. In 1903 The Civilized Gotham and Paul were published and in 1906 Mrs. Babcock founded a high-class quarterly called the Arkansas Sketch Book, which she continued to publish until 1910. Pictures and Poems of Arkansas, was issued in 1908, while Santa Claus, the Stork and the Widow and The Man Who Lied On Arkansas were published in 1909 and 1910. The year 1911 witnessed the production of The Giant Killer and The Devil and Tom Walker and the sale of the latter reached

BERNIE BABCOCK

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one hundred thousand copies. During 1912 she published a series of leaflets on socialistic subjects. Mammy, A Drama of the Old South, was published by Neale & Company of New York, and Yesterday and Today in Arkansas was published in 1917. In 1919 Mrs. Babcock published a work that has so added to her reputation as an authoress is to place her in the front rank of American writers. This was The Soul of Ann Rutledge, for in addition to being a mother, editor and author, this gifted woman found time to study the life of Abraham Lincoln. In her researches she found that while many writers mentioned Lincoln's friendship and love for Ann Rutledge, none lay particular stress upon this great passion which so influenced the life of our immortal statesman. Tarbell, Nicolay, Hay and Rankin were carefully studied and finally Mrs. Babcock found a copy of Herndon's suppressed lecture on Lincoln's love affair, early days in New Salem and the poem Immortality. The result of all this research and labor was the production of the book entitled The Soul of Ann Rutledge. which tells in a sympathetic and appealing way Lincoln's early romance, which was cut short by the death of the young woman whom he so ardently loved and whose influence was felt throughout his life. In 1921 Mrs. Babcock published The Coming of the King, a Biblical romance in which the human side of the Christ is treated. One of the local papers, commenting on the work, said: "The chorus of praise and approval rings loud and is a fine sign of the broadening vision and interest in Biblical matters written for twentieth century understanding and a love for the human Christ whose overshadowing personality marks the romance. As echoes of comment and opinion the following quotations are interesting: 'The Bookseller, Newsdealer and Stationer,' New York, closes a review by saying, 'With the triumph of the resurrection the narrative closes, the latter marked by exceptional power and pathos, making the whole a profoundly human and vivid picture of the greatest of all dramas.' 'Mrs. Babcock writes,' says the Philadelphia Public Ledger, 'with fine literary dis- tinction. Those who admire Ben-Hur will find this an absorbing book and one of better literary quality.' Of religious opinion there is much. William 1. Clarke, editor of the New Era Magazine, official organ of the Presbyterian church, in his excellent review of 'that notable new book, The Coming of the King,' says: 'General Lew

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 77

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