Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 80

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 1880 Judge Tillman was married to Miss Tempe Walker, a daughter of M. K. Walker, who was a brother of Judge David Walker, one of the supreme court judges of Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Tillman are parents of three children: John Walker, who is en- gaged in the practice of law in Pawhuska, Oklahoma; Fred A., who is associated with his elder brother in law practice at Pawhuska; and Kathleen, the wife of L. B. Shaver, a relative of General Shaver and a member of a prominent family in Arkansas. They now reside in Denton, Texas, where Mr. Shaver is a civil engineer. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas. The second son, Fred A. Tillman, entered the service after America's advent into the World war, volunteering soon after war was declared. He was trained in France and was in the aeroplane fighting service. He brought down three German planes and the French government conferred upon him the Croix de Guerre aud made him a member of the Legion of Honor. The American government also decorated him with the Distinguished Service medal. He is the only son of an American congress-

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man who won three medals for bravery and gallantry in action. His father was in France when he was decorated and it was a proud moment to Judge Tillman. Lieutenant Tillman received his discharge following the close of the war, having participated in all of the campaigns and battles in which the American forces took part. He was twice wounded in action.

Judge and Mrs. Tillman are consistent members of the Baptist church and he is a faithful follower of Masonic teachings. He belongs to the blue lodge and chapter and has also taken fourteen degrees of the Scottish Rite. He is likewise connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias and has been supreme representative of the Knights of Pythias and past grand chancellor, while in the Odd Fellows lodge he has filled all of the chairs. He has taken active part in shaping the history of commonwealth and country, actuated at all times by high ideals and by marked devotion to duty.

J. A. LIVINGSTON.

J. A. Livingston, editor of the Courier-Democrat, published at Russellville, and well known in newspaper circles throughout this section of the country, was born in Faulkner county, Arkansas, in October, 1877, his parents being A. E. and Miranda B. (Whiteley) Livingston, who were natives of Illinois and of Indiana, respectively. The former is a son of J. J. Livingston, who was born in the state of New York in 1804 and in yonng manhood went to the west, traveling across the country to the present site of Chicago. He afterward removed to central Illinois, where he engaged in business as a contractor and cabinetmaker, continuing in that state to the time of his death. J. J. Whiteley, the grandfather of J. A. Livingston in the maternal line, was born in Indiana and removed to Arkansas in pioneer times, devoting his attention to farming, his last days being spent in Faulkner county.

It was in that county that Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Livingston were married, the latter having been brought to this state during her early girlhood by her parents, while A. E. Livingston came as a young man of twenty years. He was engaged in merchandising in Conway, Arkansas, for about thirty years and was accounted one of the leading business men of that section of the state. He had made his home on a farm until 1890, when he removed to Conway and there won a most substantial success in his business affairs. He still owns valuable land in Faulkner county and good property in the city of Little Rock, where he now makes his home, having retired from active business. He certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, as he started out in life empty-handed and has worked his way upward entirely through his persistency of purpose and inde- fatigable energy. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Woodmen of the World and in politics maintains an independent course. He was at one time candidate for representative to the state legislature on the ticket for the alliance party, which was the only time that he ever took active part in politics. To him and his wife six children were born: J. J., who is engaged in the optical business in Little Rock; J. A., of this review; W. E., who is a real estate dealer of Little Rock; Lucy, at home; Mrs. J. W. Downs, whose husband is manager for the Cupples Woodenware Company in Arkansas and makes his home in Little Rock; and Mrs. Booker T. Clift, whose husband is engaged in merchandising at Conway. The mother is a member of the Baptist church, while her husband is a church attendant, although holding no membership therein.

J. A. Livingston was educated in the public schools of Conway and in Hendrix Col- lege at that place. He became identified with newspaper publication when but twelve years of age and his since been identified with this line of business. His uncle, A. F. Livingston, established the first paper published at Conway, known as the Log Cabin, and conducted it for a long period. It was as an employe on this paper that J. A. Liv- ingston first became engaged in the newspaper business, and at eighteen years of age he was a partner in the publication of the Conway Democrat, which he owned for two years. In 1897 he came to Russellville and worked as a printer on the Pope County Courier, which was soon afterward consolidated with the Democrat and took its present name, The Courier-Democrat, Mr. Livingston filling the position of mechanical foreman of the paper. He then left Russellville and was employed on different papers in New York and Chicago. He purchased a half interest in The Courier-Democrat in 1903 and later acquired the remaining interest, becoming sole proprietor. In August, 1920, he sold a half interest in the paper and acts as editor and manager of this journal, which is a weekly publication and has a circulation of two thousand. In connection with the printing of the paper a large job office is maintained and a liberal patronage is enjoyed, the work turned out being of the highest grade.

In 1906 Mr. Livingston was married to Miss Ruby Erwin, who was born in

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Van Buren, Arkansas, a daughter of W. T. Erwin, who came to Russellville when small and was a mechanic and railroad mau. His father was J. B. Erwin, the first sheriff of Pope county following the war and the first mayor of Russellville, filling the position in 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Livingston are parents of a son and a daughter: Arthur Erwin, thirteen years of age; and Rita Fay, ten years old. Mrs. Livingston was educated in the public schools of Van Buren and has attained considerable experience as a magazine writer of both short stories and poetry. She is a member of the Arkansas Authors and Composers Club and of the American Pen Women of Washington, D. C. She attends most of the meetings held in Little Rock and is active on the program of the Authors and Composers. In 1919 one of her stories was classed as one of the best published in that year by a critic on the Boston Transcript, which was a negro dialect story and published under the title of Forty-four Dawson.

Mr. and Mrs. Livingston hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and he is identified with the Modern Woodmen, the Rotary Club and the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks. He has always voted with the democratic party since age con- ferred upon him the right of franchise and has served as secretary of the democratic county central committee. He is secretary of the school board of Russellville and has been very active in the Arkansas Press Association, of which he served as president in 1912. He started in business in Russellville with absolutely no capital and through the intervening years has built up a good paper and has also accumulated a handsome estate, owning two large brick buildings, one of which is occupied by his newspaper office. In addition he has an attractive home in this city and his real estate is the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift. He has always made good use of his time, talents and opportunities as the years have gone by and his ability is widely recognized in journalistic circles.

Mr. Livingston is a believer in the future greatness of Arkansas, the Wonder State, and is an indefatigable booster for his town and community, contending that this should be the chief aim and purpose of a newspaper man. Personally and through his paper his influence has always been on the side of progress and development in municipal im- provements, good roads and educational and civic advancement.

IRVIN S. KELLER.

While Hot Springs is known to the world at large as a great health resort, those who visit it find a progressive city whose activities and interests are wisely, carefully and successfully directed by most capable, energetic and farsighted business men. To this class belongs Irvin S. Keller, assistant manager of the A. C. Jones Ice Company. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, August 23, 1886, and is a son of Murray P. and Mary (Standeford) Keller, the former a native of Tuscumbia, Alabama, while the latter was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in which city they were married, Mr. Keller having taken up his abode there in young manhood. In early life he was appointed general passenger agent of the Monon Railroad, which important position he filled for several years, resigning to engage in the manufacture of wagons and carriages. Later, however, he disposed of his holdings in that business to associate himself with the French wine house that produced the famous Pomeroy Sec champagne. He became a heavy stock- holder in the business and for a time was the firm's western representative in the United States, with headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. Subsequently he was made general agent for the entire country and removed his office to New York city. He was widely known as a sportsman and in early life had a national reputation as a breeder of race horses. While a resident of Louisville he was the owner of a string of famous horses and won many a trophy upon the track. He belonged to the Lambs Club, to the Friars Club and to the Riding Club of New York city, also to the South Shore Country Club of Chicago, the Illinois Athletic Club, the Lincoln Club and Chicago Yacht Club, all of Chicago. He was born May 16, 1857, so that he was in the sixty-first year of his age when he died March 28, 1918.

The life history of James McDonald Keller, grandfather of Irvin S. Keller, was also an interesting one. He served as a surgeon general of the Confederate army during the Civil war and while in the service his plantation was devastated and the buildings were burned by the Federal troops, his family being carried away by the Union soldiers and abandoned in the Kentucky swamps. With the family was a faithful old slave, the former bodyguard of the general, and through his loyal service the wife and children of General Keller were taken care of and provided for. Four years passed, however, be- fore the general learned of the whereabouts of his family.

Irvin S. Keller was educated in the Smith Academy at St. Louis and in the Hot Springs high school, while still later he attended the University of Arkansas and won

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the Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation with the class of 1905. Following the completion of his course he returned to Hot Springs and became associated with the A. C. Jones Ice Company as a member of the office force. About 1914 he was made assistant manager of the company, in which important position be has continued, bending his energies to administrative direction and executive control.

On the 15th of February, 1911, Mr. Keller was married to Miss Winifred Warren of Fort Worth, Texas, and to them have been born two children: Warren Murray and Ruth Standeford. Both Mr. and Mrs. Keller are members of the Episcopal church and he is active in all movements pertaining to the civic welfare of Hot Springs. He has attained high rank in the York Rite of Masonry, belonging to Hot Springs Lodge, No. 62, A. F. & A. M., Hot Springs Chapter, R. A. M., and Hot Springs Commandery, No. 5, K. T. He is also connected with Sahara Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Pine Bluff, and is a member of Hot Springs Lodge, No. 380, B. P. O. E. He is a Rotarian and is also identified 1. ith the Business Men's League. He maintains the high standards of the Rotary Club in all the relations of life and has made for himself a creditable name and place in business circles.

CHARLES E. HURLEY, M. D.

For many years the name of Hurley has figured prominently in medical circles of Bentonville and Dr. Charles E. Hurley, who is following in the professional footsteps of his father, is worthily sustaining the traditions of the family in this respect. For thirty-two years he has followed his profession in Bentonville, his ability being attested in the large practice accorded liim. He is a native of Bentonville and has here spent his life, covering a period of fifty-three years, for he was born in February, 1868. His parents were Dr. Thomas W. and Maria L. (Neal) Hurley, the former a native of Alabama, while the latter was born in Indiana. They became residents of Dallas, Texas, going from there to Springfield, Missouri, whence they removed to Bentonville in January, 1868. They had also made their home at Oxford, Mississippi, Memphis, Ten- nessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana. While residing at Dallas and Springfield the father had engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery and after coming to Bentonville he here opened an office and successfully followed his profession to the time of his death. At the outbreak of the Civil war he became a surgeon in the Confederate army and served until the close of hostilities. Dr. and Mrs. Hurley were members of the Cumber- land Presbyterian church and he was a democrat in his political views, while fraternally he was connected with the Masons. He built up a large practice in Bentonville and was a man of high professional attainments who enjoyed the respect and goodwill of a large circle of friends. Dr. and Mrs. Hurley became the parents of nine children, five of whom survive: Mrs. M. E. Richards, who is the wife of E. L. Richards of Los Angeles, Cali- fornia; A. W., an able financier, who is vice president of the First National Bank of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and president of the Pawhuska ( Okla.) Bank; Charles E., of this review; Mrs. J. S. Stevenson, a resident of Bentonville; and Mrs. Eva E. Tucker, who is a widow and resides at Joplin, Missouri.

In the public schools of Bentonville, Dr. Hurley pursued his education and afterward became a student in the medical department of the State University of Arkansas, from which he was graduated in March, 1889. Entering his father's office in Bentonville, he continued as his associate until the latter's demise, since which time he has remained alone in practice, giving special attention to diagnosis and to the treatment of children's diseases, in which he has developed expert ability. He has never lost the attitude of a student toward his profession and has taken postgraduate work at New Orleans, Louisiana, and at Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri, thereby greatly promoting his knowledge and skill. His ability has developed with the passing years and the list of his patients is now a large one. He keeps in touch with the progressive work that is being done in the profession through his membership in the Benton County Medical Society, of which he served as secretary for ten years, the Arkansas State Medical Society. the American Medical Association, the Southern Medical Association and the South- western Medical Association.

In 1890 Dr. Hurley was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Deutsch, a daughter of Jacob Deutsch, who died in Indiana. She was born in Corydon, Indiana, and there acquired her education. She is a member of the Presbyterian church and guides her life by its teachings. Dr. Hurley is a stanch democrat in his political views and he has been called to public office, serving for four years as health officer of Benton county and making a most creditable record in that connection. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he is also con- nected with the Masons, in which he has attained the Knights Templar degree. His life has been passed in Bentonville, where he is widely known and highly respected. In

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the field of professional service he has made continuous progress, prompted in all that he does by laudable ambition and broad humanitarian principles, and as a member of the medical fraternity he has attained high rank among those whose skill is uniformly acknowledged.

ALBERT S. MATLOCK.

Albert S. Matlock, filling the position of postmaster at Van Buren, was born at Stattler, Crawford county, Arkansas, April 12, 1880, his parents being William and Harriet (Stewart) Matlock. The father removed from Overton county, Tennessee, to Arkansas, while Jesse Stewart, the grandfather of Albert S. Matlock in the maternal line, came from Cincinnati, Ohio, and settled about five miles north of the Figure Five post office. Mr. and Mrs. William Matlock became parents of nine children. Of this family E. L. Matlock is now an attorney of Van Buren, while J. D. Matlock is an official of the Arkansas Coffin Company. The family was represented by service in the World war, Fred M .: tlock and E. L. James, two nephews of Albert S. Matlock, serving with the United States army during the period of hostility with Germany.

Having acquired a common school education, Albert S. Matlock, in 1904, became a railway mail carrier and through his entire business career has been identified with the mail service. After acting in his original position until 1917 he was appointed a clerk in the Van Buren post office and in 1919 received the appointment to the position of postmaster for the regular four years' term. His previous experience well qualified him for the duties of this position-duties which he discharges with marked promptness, accuracy and fidelity.

In 1904 Mr. Matlock was married to Miss Mina Wood, a daughter of J. C. Wood of Uniontown, Arkansas, and a sister of Dr. T. F. Wood, who was a captain in the Medical Corps of the United States army during the World war, spending a year and a half overseas. Mr. and Mrs. Matlock have become parents of seven children: Joseph B., Crystal, Goldie May. Jeanette, Albert, Armstrong and Jack Pershing. The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church, to the teachings of which Mr. and Mrs. Matlock loyally adhere, taking an active interest in all those forces which make for the uplift of the individual and the benefit of the community at large. He ccoperates heartily in all matters for the welfare of city and state and the sterling worth of his character has established him high in the esteem of his fellow townsmen.

GEORGE NORMAN.

Among the prominent attorneys of Hamburg is George Norman, who was born here on the 4th of May, 1869, a son of George W. and Eliza J. (Sharpe) Norman. The Norman family came from England to America prior to the Revolutionary war and located in Virginia. George W. Norman was born in Bibb county, Georgia, and in 1858 came to this state, locating in Union county. He had graduated from the University of Georgia in 1849, with the LL. B. degree, and immediately started to practice law. In 1858 he moved to Union county, Arkansas, where he remained until 1860. In that year he came to Hamburg. He was in active law practice for sixty-eight years. He became one of the leading attorneys of the state and was also numbered among the oldest practicing lawyers in the state at that time. Mr. Norman was a member of the constitutional convention in 1868, as a representative from Ashley county and he served in the state senate for several sessions after the reconstruction period. At Forsyth, Georgia, on December 11, 1860, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Norman to Miss Eliza J. Sharpe, a native of that state, and to their union five children were born, three boys and two girls. George, whose name initiates this review, was the youngest child. Mrs. Norman died in Hamburg in 1900, when sixty-eight years of age. At the time of Mr. Norman's demise in 1918, he was in his ninety-first year and was the oldest living graduate of the University of Georgia.

In the acquirement of an education, George Norman attended the public schools of Hamburg and later enrolled in the University of Arkansas, taking a two year literary course. He then entered the law office of his father and remained there until 1893. when he started into practice on his own account. He has continued in active practice here and has gained an enviable reputation among his professional brethren in the state.

In Little Rock, Arkansas, on the 17th of April, 1911, occurred the marriage of Mr. Norman to Miss Mattie Watson, a daughter of E. D. Watson, a well known resident of this community. She has many friends here and is active in all club and social affairs.

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The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church and fraternally Mr. Norman is identified with the Masons, holding membership in Prairie Lodge, No. 465, A. F. & A. M. and Olive Chapter, Royal Arch Masons of Hamburg. He is also a member of Albert Pike Consistory and Sahara Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Pine Bluff, and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Norman has remained a constant student of his profession and is a member of the American Bar Association and the Arkansas State Bar Association. During the World war he was chairman of the legal advisory board of Ashley county and chairman of the county council of defense and received recognition for his services during the war from the secretary of war and Governor Charles Brough of Arkansas. Mr. Norman is an alert and enterprising citizen and although a great part of his time is taken up by his professional duties, he is never too busy to aid in the furtherance of any movement for the development and improvement of the general welfare.

CALVERT-McBRIDE PRINTING COMPANY.

The Calvert-McBride Printing Company, conducting one of the leading industrial enterprises of Fort Smith, was incorporated in 1910, with C. C. Calvert as president, John R. McBride as vice president and George A. Lane as secretary and treasurer. Mr. Calvert, who was originally from Kansas City, was for a number of years identified with the Times Record of Fort Smith. Mr. McBride has now retired from the business. Mr. Lane was born in Mississippi and worked in Memphis. In 1907 A. D. Sutton and Mr. Lane established a bindery at Fort Smith, Mr. Sutton being a practical binder.

It was in 1910 that the Calvert-McBride Printing Company was organized, being the outgrowth of the Sutton-Lane venture. This concern has since been carefully directed and has developed into a diversified printing business of large proportions, having now the contract for state printing. Its specialties are catalogues, loose-leaf directories and school annuals and its office is splendidly equipped. The company occupies the entire building at No. 19 North Eighth street and employs twenty people. Prior to Mr. Lane's venture in this business in Fort Smith he was with the old Lawson-Thrash Company and later with the Thrash-Lick Company. The men at the head of the enterprise are all men of experience in their particular lines, capable, energetic and determined. Step by step they are advancing in a field where results are certain because of their excellent work- manship, their progressive methods and their thorough reliability. Like his associates, Mr. Lane has made constant advancement. His experience has brought him valuable knowledge, qualifying him for the successful conduct of the business affairs now under his direction. He is a man of determined purpose, carrying forward to successful com- pletion whatever he undertakes, and he is contributing in large measure to the success of the Calvert-McBride Printing Company, with which he has been identified as secretary and treasurer throughout its entire existence.

OSCAR C. LANDERS.

Oscar C. Landers, a native son of Arkansas and a member of one of its pioneer families, is numbered among the able educators of Desha county and is now capably filling the office of superintendent of the MeGehee school. He was born in Logan county, Arkansas, June 10, 1891, a son of-Thomas P. and Sarah C. (Walker) Landers, the former a native of Kansas and the latter of Missouri. As children they accompanied their parents to Logan county, Arkansas, and it was in this section that their marriage occurred. The father is a leading business man of Magazine, Arkansas, having for many years success- fully operated a sawmill and cotton gin at that place.

Following his graduation from the Magazine high school Oscar C. Landers became a student at Hendrix College at Conway, Arkansas, which in 1916 conferred upon him the A. B. degree. He then took up educational work and in the fall of 1917 accepted the position of superintendent of the Magazine school, continuing to act in that capacity until August 31, 1917, when he enlisted for service in the World war. He was sent to the Officers' Training Camp at Leon Springs, Texas, where he was commissioned a second lieutenant on the 5th of December of that year. He then was granted a two weeks' furlough, rejoining his command five days before Christmas, and on the 12th of February, 1918, he was assigned to the Three Hundred and Twenty-ninth Field Artillery, which formed a part of the Eighty-fifth Division. He was stationed at Battle Creek, Michigan, until July 15th, when he was ordered overseas, and sailed on the 2d of August. He was stationed at Coequidan, France, until October 16th, when he was sent to the front, taking a position in the Toul sector on November 2d. He was attached to the Seventh

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 80

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