Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 79

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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Mr. Lazarus, who has been a contributing factor to the success of the institution, was born in Camden, July 7, 1863, and is a son of John Lazarus, who came to the United States as a youth of seventeen years. He landed in New York city, where he spent some time, but eventually made his way to New Orleans and after a period passed in the Crescent City went up the Mississippi river to St. Louis. He continued there for but a brief period and then came to Arkansas, arriving in Camden on the 14th of October, 1858. He was a young man without friends, but he possessed a substantial capital in his laudable ambition to win success, in his unfaltering enterprise and his unflagging industry. He soon made friends and eventually established himself in the mercantile business, in which he continued for forty years, being prominently identified with the commercial interests of Camden. He reached the psalmist's allotted span of threescore years and ten, for he was born October 14. 1834, and died November 22, 1904. He was a life-long Mason, loyal to the teachings and high purposes of the craft, and was a man of prominence and influence in the section of the state in which he lived.

His son, A. Lazarus, was educated iu the public schools of Camden and when a youth of fourteen he became a wage earner, securing a clerkship in one of the mercan- tile establishments of the city. For eight years he worked for others, gaining an inti- mate knowledge of business methods and commercial standards. In 1886, in company with J. C. Ritchie, he organized the wholesale grocery firm of Ritchie & Company, estab- lishing a business that grew in importance with the passing years until today, after an existence of more than a third of a century, the company operates seven wholesale houses and controls one of the most important mercantile interests of the state. In 1903 the business was reorganized and incorporated, at which time Mr. Lazarus was made secretary and treasurer of the company, in which capacity he has continued. From the beginning he has been an important factor in the attainment of success. His

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plans have ever been carefully formulated and promptly executed and his energy and determination have enabled him to overcome all obstacles and difficulties in his path. Step by step he has advanced along the lines of legitimate trade, holding ever to high commercial standards and ethics and throughout the period no business man has enjoyed to a larger extent the confidence and high regard of contemporaries and colleagues.

Mr. Lazarus is a member of Camden Lodge, No. 1140, B. P. O. E., and also of the Woodmen of the World. While not affiliated with any church, he contributes to the support of Christianity without regard to denomination. He has always been active in support of educational and civic affairs and is a member of the Camden school board and of the Chamber of Commerce. Today there is not a man in social or business life in Camden who is held in higher esteem by reason of the many sterling traits of character which he has ever displayed. He is liberal in his charities and notwithstanding his successes has never lost the human touch. He never misses an opportunity to assist his fellowmen or to aid in promoting public progress, and Camden could indeed ill afford to lose Mr. Lazarus from the ranks of her citizens.

GORDON N. PEAY, JR.

Gordon N. Peay, Jr., one of the alert and enterprising young business men of Little Rock, conducting a bond brokerage business, was born in the capital city August 8, 1890, and is a representative of two of the best known pioneer families of the state. He is a great-grandson of Major Nicholas Peay, who became a resident of Arkansas in 1825, a grandson of Colonel Gordon N. Peay, who won distinction as a Confederate soldier and also as receiver of assets for the old Real Estate Bank of Little Rock. Both are men- tioned at length on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Gordon N. Peay, Sr., president of the W. B. Worthen Company Bank and the father of him whose name introduces this review.

Gordon N. Peay, Jr., obtained a public school education and afterward attended the Stone Preparatory School in the state of New York. Returning to Arkansas, he has since been identified with the bonds and stocks business and is rapidly gaining a good clientele in this connection. In May, 1917, however, he put aside all business and personal considerations and was engaged in military duty for his country until Feb- ruary, 1919, becoming major of the Seventy third United States Infantry. He went first to the officers' training camp at Fort Logan H. Roots, in Pulaski county, and on the 15th of August, 1917, was commissioned a captain and assigned to Company F of the Three Hundred and Forty-sixth Infantry Regiment. In August, 1918, he was com- missioned major at Camp Dix, New Jersey, near Trenton, and was assigned to the Seventy-third Infantry, commanding the Third Battalion. In October, 1918, he was sent by the war department to the field officers' school at Langres, France, to learn modern warfare, and there remained until the armistice was signed, spending two months in Langres.

On the 29th of August, 1918, Mr. Peay was united in marriage to Miss Rosalind Byrne, who was born in Maplewood, New Jersey, November 30, 1893, a daughter of Joseph and Victoria (Hobart) Byrne, the former a native of New York. They now reside at East Orange, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Peay have become parents of a daugh- ter, Victoria Hobart. In his political views Mr. Peay is a democrat, stanchly supporting the party, but never seeking office. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is also a member of the Country Club, and the nature of his interests and the rules which govern him in all relations of life are further indicated in his membership in Christ Episcopal church.

REV. HANSON A. STOWELL.

Rev. Hanson A. Stowell, rector of the Trinity Episcopal church of Pine Bluff, was born in Tubingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1871, his parents, Edward and Jennie (Cook) Stowell, being at that time temporary residents of Germany, although both were of American birth. In both the paternal and maternal lines Hanson A. Stowell is de- scended from old New England stock. His grandfather Stowell was a pioneer of Chicago and planned and constructed the Chicago harbor as it was at that time. Edward Stowell, father of Hanson A. Stowell of this review, was a distinguished linguist and possessed splendid literary attainments. He was graduated from the Phillips Exeter Academy and graduated later from the University of Tubinger. He also translated many German works into English.

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The Rev. Hanson A. Stowell was educated in the University of Illinois and in a theological seminary at Chicago, that state, being graduated from the latter institution in 1898. Having thus qualified for the work of the ministry, his first pastorate was at Arcola, Illinois, while later he was called to the Episcopal church at Carlinville, Illinois. Subsequently the scene of his labors was transferred to Ironton, Missouri, and in 1908 he came to Arkansas, remaining in pastoral charge of the church at Batesville until 1913. In that year he accepted a call from the Trinity church at Pine Bluff and has here remained through the intervening period of nine years. Trinity church was founded in 1861 and the present house of worship was erected a decade later. The church now has a membership of three hundred and fifty and the work has been carefully organized in its various departments under the leadership of Rev. Mr. Stowell, who is an earnest, forceful and convincing speaker and a wise pastor, of broad sympathies and keen sagacity, so that he is able to give needed aid, counsel or encouragement to individual cases, as well as to instruct and admonish his people from the pulpit.

Rev. Hanson A. Stowell was united in marriage in 1902 to Miss Ethel Laycock, a daughter of Robert and Jennie (Bourne) Laycock. Mrs. Stowell has been of great assistance to her husband in his work and, like him, is very popular among his parishioners. During the World war Mr. Stowell served as chairman of the local Red Cross and he is now a director of the Associated Charities and also chaplain of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His interest reaches out to all those projects and activities which affect the welfare of his fellowmen and he is a close student of all those questions which are vital in connection with the uplift of the individual and the progress of the race.

F. WALTER CARRUTHERS, M. D.

Dr. F. Walter Carruthers, an eminent surgeon of Little Rock, is in charge of the department of bone and joint surgery of the St. Luke's Hospital, is also bone and joint surgeon of the Arkansas Children's Home, physician of the Arkansas Blind School and district consulting bone and joint surgeon for the Rock Island Railroad, the dis- trict covering Louisiana, Arkansas and east Oklahoma. He has not yet passed the thirtieth milestone on life's journey and yet has gained a prominence in his profession that many an older physician and surgeon might well envy. His thought and energy directed in the path of duty have brought him steadily to the front and his service has been of great benefit to his fellowmen.

Dr. Carruthers was born at Blooming Grove, Texas, in the fall of 1891, his parents being F. Walter and Viola (Davis) Carruthers. While his father was a merchant the male members of the family have for generations followed the medical profession. Early in the seventeenth century two brothers, John and James Carruthers, came to America, settling in Pennsylvania. Their children scattered through the south and many are to be found in the Carolinas, Florida and Texas, the doctor belonging to the Texas branch. His early education was obtained in the public and high schools of Corsicana, Texas, and his collegiate course was pursued in the Southwestern Uni- versity, while his professional training was received in the medical department of the Baylor University of Texas. Following his graduation with the M. D. degree, he entered upon active practice in Hillsboro and was almost immediately elected county physician of Hill county, Texas. Having early determined to specialize he practiced in his home town and in Dallas for four years and then decided to move to a larger city, where he would have a wider field for his specialty but war intervened at this period. In 1916 he joined the army and was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Medical Reserve Corps. In January, 1918, he was called to service and spent sixteen months in Pennsylvania hospitals and at the Reconstruction Hospital at Chicago, Illi- nois. This latter service gave him the opportunity of displaying his ability in the field of bone and joint surgery. He did splendid work there in rehabilitating the maimed and wounded veterans of the World war and was mustered out with the rank of captain in the summer of 1919.

Dr. Carruthers then came to Little Rock and became associated with the firm of Runyon, Kirby & Sheppard, with which he is still identified, this firm occupying a high place among the eminent physicians and surgeons of the state. Gradually Dr. Carruthers has developed and expanded his powers through experience, study and research and his skill and efficiency have brought him into prominent connections. St. Luke's has called him to take charge of its department of hone and joint surgery and he occupies a similar position in the Arkansas Children's Home. He has heen made physician of the Arkansas Blind School and is district consulting bone and joint surgeon for the Rock Island Railroad in the territory that embraces Louisiana. Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. He is likewise one of the directors of the Arkansas

DR. F. WALTER CARRUTHERS

Vol. 11-32

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Children's Home and in his practice is at all times actuated by a broad humanitarian spirit.

In 1918 Dr. Carruthers was united in marriage to Miss Kate Gibson of Texas, a daughter of the Rev. G. M. Gibson, D. D., the ranking pastor of the Methodist faith in Texas, having the distinction of serving seven years in one church, while his life work also covers other extended pastorates. Mrs. Carruthers was graduated from Central College in 1910 and from the Kidd Key Conservatory of the North Texas Female College in 1914. For the period of a year following her gradnation she taught voice culture in the conservatory. As a soloist she has few superiors, possess- ing a beautifully trained voice that has been heard with much pleasure by her many friends. Dr. and Mrs. Carruthers have one child, Mary Catharine, an infant.

Both Dr. and Mrs. Carruthers are consistent and prominent members of the Methodist church, taking active part in the work of the Winfield Memorial church of Little Rock. He is also a thirty-second degree Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine and is a deep thinker on all questions that effect the general interests of society and the welfare of the race. He is now chairman of the board of directors of the Civitan Club of Little Rock and is president of the Civitan Clubs of Arkansas. His interest centers in all those fields which have to do with public progress and civic advancement. Along the line of his profession he is connected with the Pulaski County, the Arkan- sas State and the Southern Medical Societies and also with the American Medical As- sociation and the Association of American Railway Surgeons. He presented before the Southern Medical Society at its 1920 meeting an example of his handiwork in hone and joint surgery. The subject was a youth who, having been stricken with infantile paralysis when eleven years of age had previous to the doctor's operation been hor- ribly misshapen and unable to move or turn. When he was a youth of sixteen Dr. Carruthers had so far corrected the shape of the boy that he has hecome no longer a care and promises to develop into a useful citizen. Dr. Carruthers is one of those who are proposing the building of a hospital for the Arkansas Children's Home. He is also one of the proponents of a children's clinic for Methodist churches of Little Rock. This is a need that for its support should require no urging from either the members of the Methodist faith or from those of other denominations. Dr. Carruthers' span of life thus far covers but thirty years and only ten years of this time have been devoted to his professional interests. What he has thus far accomplished leaves no doubt as to his future advancement and success, and his whole life work is a valuable contri- bution to the welfare of his race.

HON. GEORGE VAUGHAN.

Hon. George Vaughan, state senator of Arkansas from 1919 to 1921 and well known as a lawyer, as well as a lawmaker, practicing at the Little Rock bar as senior member of the firm of Vaughan & Rector, was born in Fayetteville, Washington county, Arkansas, May 20, 1873.

His father, George Allen Vaughan, was born in Carroll county, Georgia, July 23, 1840, and in early life took up the profession of school teaching and afterward followed civil engineering, devoting his entire career to these two professions. He served as a private in the Confederate army from 1861 until 1865. Having taken up his abode in Sevier connty, Arkansas, in 1859, he resided from 1870 to 1878 in Washington county, after which he removed to Lockeshurg, Sevier county, where he practiced his profession to the time of his death, which occurred on the 4th of May, 1904. He was county and prohate judge of Sevier county from 1894 to 1896. Judge Vaughan was very prominent in Masonry, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. His wife, who hore the maiden name of Frances Elizabeth Williamson, was born in Brandon, Mississippi, December 24, 1847, their marriage heing celebrated in Lockesburg, Arkansas, July 11, 1872. To them were born the following named children: George Vaughan, the subject of this sketch, now living in Little Rock; Birdie M., the wife of Benjamin G. Lambright, also of Little Rock; Fannie E., the wife of W. C. Grady, residing at Lockes- burg; Hał H. Vaughan, who makes his home in Shamrock, Texas; Emma L., the wife of Amos Wilson, living in Sanford, Colorado; and Rosebud M., the wife of Dwight L. Savage, a resident of Lonoke, Arkansas.

George Vaughan was quite young at the time the family home was established in Lockesburg and he there attended the public schools until fourteen years of age. He next entered upon an apprenticeship in the office of a country newspaper, where he spent three years and he was likewise employed as prescription clerk for two years in a drug store. Later, in 1891, he entered the University of Arkansas, in which he pursued a classical course, winning his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1896. He continned as a student

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in the law department of the university at Little Rock, and was graduated in 1898 with the B. L. degree.

Since 1897, when he was admitted to the bar, he has devoted his attention to the active practice of his profession, first opening an office in Lockesburg, where he re- mained from 1898 until 1904. In October of the latter year he removed to Little Rock, and entered the law firm of Vaughan & Vaughan, his associate being Judge F. T. Vaughan, not, however, a relative. This connection was maintained for five years, or until 1909, when George Vaughan withdrew and practiced law alone for eleven years, or until January, 1920, when he formed a connection with his present law partner, W. H. Rector, under the firm style of Vaughan & Rector.

Mr. Vaughan has always specialized in corporation and real estate law and con- tested tax cases and has been special counsel in tax matters for the state and for Pulaski and Saline counties from 1909 until 1921. His professional skill and ability have brought him into prominence and he has become identified with a number of the leading legal and kindred organizations. He is a member of the American Association of Title Men, of which he served as treasurer from 1908 until 1910, as vice president in 1911, and as president in 1912. He has also been a member of the National Tax Association since 1910 and is now serving on its executive committee.

Mr. Vaughan also holds membership in the following professional and civic organ- izations: The Little Rock, the Arkansas and the American Bar Associations; the Ameri- can Economic Association, Yale station at New Haven, Connecticut; the Academy of Political Science in the city of New York; the American Academy of Political and Social Science ( Philadelphia) ; the National Municipal League of New York; National Economic League (Boston ) ; the American Association for Agricultural Legislation ( Madison, Wis- consin ) ; and American Library Association. His study and research have covered an extremely wide and important scope, having to do not only with the legal profession, but many of the vital questions which touch the general interest of society and constitute forces in national progress. On the 25th of March. 1921, Mr. Vaughan was elected presi- dent at Austin, Texas, of the Southwestern Political Science Association, which includes the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona.

On the 17th of April, 1901, was celebrated the marriage of George Vaughan and Miss Frances Emily Edwards, who was born near Richmond, in Little River county, Arkansas, February 28, 1878. She is the daughter of William Burton and Virginia John (Gilliam) Edwards, who resided at Lockesburg, Arkansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan have been born five children: Burton Edwards, nineteen years of age; Frances, aged fifteen; George Allen, aged eleven; and Paul and Virginia Eleanora, twins, who are four years of age.

Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and he has served continuously since 1909 on the board of stewards of the First M. E. church cf Little Rock, known as "the cathedral of Methodism in Arkansas." Senator Vaughan's political endorsement has always been given to the democratic party, and while withont ambition for public office he has stanchly advocated the principles for which the party stands. He belongs to the Spring Lake and the Country Club of the capital city and to the Kappa Sigma, a college fraternity, being one of the early initiates of the chapter at the University of Arkansas, and every organization or cause which he espouses finds in him a stalwart champion.

HON. JOHN N. TILLMAN.

Hon. John N. Tillman, lawyer, jurist, educator, platform lecturer, author and now serving for the fourth term as a member of congress from Arkansas, makes his home, when not busy with official duties, in Fayetteville. His entire course has reflected credit and honor upon the state that has honored him. He stands as a splendid representative of the class of substantial builders of a great commonwealth who have served faithfully and long in the enterprising southwest. An eminent American statesman has said: "In all this world the thing supremely worth having is the opportunity, coupled with the capacity, to do well a piece of work the doing of which shall be of vital significance to mankind." This opportunity has come to John N. Tillman and the processes which he has followed are those that win results.

Mr. Tillman was born near Springfield, Missouri, December 13, 1859, and is a repre- sentative of one of the old southern families, his grandfather being Samuel Tillman, a native of North Carolina, who removed thence to Tennessee and afterward became a resi- dent of Missouri, where his demise occurred. His son, N. J. Tillman, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Tennessee, and, having arrived at years of maturity, wedded Miss Mary Mullins, who was a native of North Carolina and a daughter of Judge Thomas

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Mullins, who was also born in North Carolina and became one of the pioneer settlers of Washington county, Arkansas, where he engaged in farming and also filled the office of county judge. Following their marriage, which was celebrated in Tennessee, Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Tillman became residents of Missouri, settling upon a farm near Spring- field. Following the war between the states, in which Mr. Tillman served with the Confederate army and in which he was severely wounded, the family came to Arkansas and again the father concentrated his efforts and attention upon agricultural pursuits. He died in 1896, at the age of sixty-three years, while the death of his wife occurred many years earlier. They were members of the Christian church, and Mr. Tillman gave his political endorsement to the democratic party. Their family numbered five children, of whom two are living, John N. and Annie, the latter now the widow of F. M. Boyd and a resident of Fayetteville.

John N. Tillman obtained his early education in the public schools and was graduated from the University of Arkansas with the Bachelor of Latin Letters degree as a member of the class of 1880. He worked his way through college, thus displaying the elemental strength of his character-a strength that has been manifest in the accomplishment of his purposes throughout his later life. Ambitious to gain an education, he left no stone unturned toward that end and when he had completed his more specifically literary course he took up the study of law under Judge Pittman and after thorough preliminary reading was admitted to the bar in 1883. He then entered upon the active practice of his profession, and while advancement at the bar is proverbially slow, no dreary novitiate awaited him. He soon demonstrated his ability to cope with intricate and involved problems of the law and he was called to the office of prosecuting attorney of his district, in which position he served for six years. He was later elected to the circuit court bench and made a notable record by the fairness and impartiality of his decisions. His mind is analytical, logical and inductive. With a thorough and comprehensive knowl- edge of the fundamental principles of law, he combines a familiarity with statutory law and a sober, clear judgment which makes him not only a formidable adversary in legal combat, but has given him the distinction, while on the bench, of having few of his decisions revised or reversed. He made a record in breaking up blind tigers while acting as prosecuting attorney and in all of his official positions he has contributed largely toward upholding the legal and moral status of the community. Following his retirement from the bench he was elected president of the University of Arkansas and remained at the head of this institution from 1905 until 1912. When he retired from the educational field he formed a law partnership with his son, Fred A. Tillman, and thus continued in active practice until elected to congress in 1914. He is now serving for the fourth term in the national legislative halls and is leaving the impress of his individuality and ability upon the laws which govern the country. He gives his entire time to the duties of his office and most thoroughly and earnestly considers the vital questions which come up for settlement. He has ever been a stalwart champion of demo- cratic principles and was a delegate to the national conventions which nominated Grover Cleveland for the second time and which nominated Alton Parker. In congress he is now serving on the judiciary committee and prior to this time he served on the committees on public lands and Indian affairs. He is the author of a bill to establish federal schools for the benefit of the mountain children; to return the cotton tax illegally collected after the war between the states to the Confederate soldiers; also bills in behalf of national prohibition and in aid of the veterans of the World war. He has discussed on the floor of the house all of the leading questions and has been a very active and prominent member of congress. Many of his speeches in congress have been pub- lished in leading dailies of the country. Before he was chosen as representative to congress he served as a member of the state senate of Arkansas from 1888 until 1891 and was the author of the separate coach law of Arkansas. He has lectured quite extensively hefore Chautauqua assemblages and is the author of a number of short stories which have been published in magazines.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 79

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