Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 82

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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Rufus J. Nelson pursued his education in the country schools and in the State University, from which he received the L. I. degree as a member of the class of 1903. The following year the Bachelor of Science degree was conferred upon him and in 1907 that of Master of Science. He spent the year 1908 as a student in Cornell University at Ithaca, New York. While in college he taught school and for eight years after com- pleting his course he continued in that profession, becoming recognized as one of the able and eminent educators in connection with the public school system of the state. He was assistant principal of the schools of Foreman, Arkansas, and he had charge of the experimental rice station at Lonoke, Arkansas, where he remained for three years. He also spent one year as professor of agriculture in the State University and since attaining manhood he has been closely associated with the development of farming interests in the state. On the 1st of January, 1910, he went to Dallas, Texas, as editor-in-chief of the Farm and Ranch, an agricultural paper. There he remained for ten years and is still a member of the staff of that paper. Returning to Washington county he took charge of his farm, which he purchased on the 1st of September, 1911. At that time he had a tract of ninety-two acres, but has since extended the boundaries of his property until he now has one hundred and ninety-three acres of rich land, which he has highly cultivated and developed. He has given his attention largely to fruit raising and the propagation of seeds and intends to engage also in the live stock business. He is now purporting to devote his entire time and attention to his farm and his labors have been actuated by a most progressive spirit. He has greatly improved seed production and expects to specialize on the shipment of seed. In addition to the active work of caring for his trees, preparing the soil and otherwise advancing his horticultural interests he gives some time to literary and editorial work and has done considerable scientific writing. He started out in life empty-handed, gained an education entirely through his own labors, doing all kinds of work that would bring him an honest living. Step by step he has progressed, constantly gaining a broader ontlook and wider opportunities and for some years has been a recognized authority upon fruit raising in this section of the country.

On the 24th of June, 1908, Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Flossie Sanderford, who was born in Comanche county, Texas, a daughter of Andrew J. and Sarah Ella (Griffin) Sanderford, natives of Mississippi and of Georgia, respectively. Her father went to Texas at the age of seventeen years and there engaged in business as a dairyman. He is now actively following farming, still making his home in the Lone Star state. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have become parents of five children, four of whom are living, while one son, Rufus J., died at the age of two months. The others are: Alice Ella, Edna Lucile, Arthur Lee and Helen Elizabeth. The first three are in school. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have membership in the Missionary Baptist church and formerly he was identified with the Knights of Pythias. His political views are in accord with the principles and teach- ings of the democratic party, but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. His life has been concentrated upon his business affairs and thoroughness, energy and determination have characterized him in everything that he has attempted and have brought splendid results to him in his efforts at improving horticultural con- ditions in this part of the country. Practical experience and broad scientific knowledge

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enable him to speak with authority upon many questions relative to fruit production and his writings are of great interest to orchardists throughout the southwest.

Members of Self Help Clubs have received a great deal of help in the organization. There are forty of these clubs in Washington county. Mr. Nelson organized the first club of this county and has assisted in all of them. He is the editor of the Rural Directory of Washington County and Registry of Farms, one of the early achievements of the Washington County Self Help Club. The book is filling a long-felt want, not only to farmers and business men of the county but to visitors as well. Both the press and distinguished people interested in agricultural pursuits have given the directory most favorable commendation.

W. A. MONTGOMERY, M. D.

Dr. W. A. Montgomery, physician and surgeon of Atkins, was born in Abbeville, Mississippi, November 27, 1856, his parents being J. N. and Martha J. (Nichols) Mont- gomery, the former a son of James Montgomery, a native of Tennessee, who owned a small farm there and spent his life in that state. The mother was a daughter of Andy Nichols, a native of Mississippi. J. N. Montgomery was born in Tennessee in 1820 and his life record covered the intervening years to 1896, when he was called to his final rest. His wife, a native of Mississippi, survived him for several years, dying in 1904. They were married in Mississippi and they had a family of nine children, eight of whom are living, W. A. Montgomery being the eldest. The father was a democrat in his political views and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In . early life he became a minister of that denomination but afterward took up the study of medicine in Memphis, Tennessee, and later practiced medicine in Abbeville, Mississippi, for about thirty years. He then came to Arkansas in 1880, settling in Conway, where he continued in active practice until 1892, when he purchased a farm in Yell county, after which his time and attention were divided between his medical practice and the further development and improvement of his farm, upon which both he and his wife spent their last days. At the time of the Civil war, however, they went as refugees to Mud creek, Mississippi.

W. A. Montgomery, whose name introduces this review, attended Longstreet's Academy at Abbeville, Mississippi, after pursuing his early education in the public schools of that place. In young manhood he began teaching, devoting a year to pro- fessional activity of that character and also raising a cotton crop. In this way he made enough money to meet his expenses while attending medical college and matriculated in Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Tennessee, which he attended for one term. He afterward practiced medicine for eight years in order to make enough money to continue his college training. He was first licensed to practice in 1883 and was a well known physician in Arkansas for a time, after which he practiced in Mississippi. Later he entered the Memphis Hospital Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1889. He then began practice at Harmontown, Mississippi, where he had practiced before his graduation, continuing at Harmontown for sixteen years after completing his college course. In 1896 he removed to Atkins, where he located for practice and here he has remained.

In 1880 Dr. Montgomery was married to Miss Azalea T. Huston, who was born at Free Springs, Mississippi, a daughter of William Huston, a farmer of that state. Dr. and Mrs. Montgomery have become parents of six children: Irma H., the wife of A. M. Embry, an insurance man of Sedalia, Missouri; Ola, the wife of Roy N. Griffin, express messenger at Texarkana, Arkansas; Effie L., the wife of W. H. Bost, a carpenter and money loaner of Atkins; Vida F., the wife of George E. Wren, conducting a moving picture house at Atkins; Willie E., the wife of J. A. Holloway, a farmer of Atkins; and Lucile E., the wife of R. V. Denney, a resident of Missouri, where he is connected with the offices of the Missouri Pacific Railroad,

Dr. and Mrs. Montgomery are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is also a Royal Arch Mason. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party and he served as school director for twenty-one years, after which he refused to con- tinue longer in the office. He was also on the county board of education for a year and then resigned. He has served as president of the medical examining board and he belongs to various societies, including the Pope County, the Arkansas State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. Several times he has been president of the County Medical Society and is a most honored representative of the profession in this part of the state. In 1904 he did postgraduate work in Chicago and throughout his professional career has ever endeavored to promote his knowledge and thus increase his efficiency. He devotes the major part of his time to his professional duties, yet is vice

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president of the Merchants and Farmers Bank of Atkins and gives some attention to the supervision' of his property interests, for he is the owner of six hundred acres of land in Pope county and two business houses of this city. His prosperity is the direct result of his earnest labors intelligently directed and his wise investments. He has always enjoyed a large practice and has been reasonably successful in the treatment of cases. He is today one of the oldest physicians in the county and enjoys an enviable reputation, which has always placed him in a position of leadership. His professional duties make constant demands upon his time and energy and he is the loved family physician in many of the best homes of affluence.

JOHN B. HINER.

John B. Hiner, an attorney, practicing at the Fort Smith bar, was born in Logan county, Arkansas, August 27, 1875, and is a son of Edwin and Martha ( Williams) Hiner. All of the male members of his father's family had been killed in the service in the Civil war except his fourteen-year-old brother. Edwin Hiner took up the study of law and became a prominent attorney, practicing at Booneville and later in Fort Smith. He won a most creditable position as a representative of the bar and also as a most highly esteemed citizen. He passed away in April, 1920. His wife belonged to the Williams family, prominent at Springfield, Missouri. Their children were six in number.

John B. Hiner was educated in the schools of Booneville, Arkansas, and afterward took up the study of law with the firm of Evans & Hiner, the junior partner being his father, while the senior partner was Judge Evans. After qualifying for the bar John B. Hiner entered upon active practice and has been a representative of the Fort Smith . bar for twenty-five years. He was associated with his father in a partnership relation until the latter's death, when he became a partner of John D. Lighter, an association that is still maintained. Mr. Hiner was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Huber.

SAM. G. SMITH.

The life of Sam G. Smith, vice president of the Hamp Williams Hardware Company of Hot Springs, one of the principal mercantile establishments of Arkansas, is a record of earnest endeavor and of indefatigable industry intelligently directed. He is indeed a self-made man in the truest and best sense of the term, for he was early thrown upon his own resources and has essentially formulated his own character as well as builded his success. Mr. Smith was born in Montgomery county, Arkansas, December 15, 1887, and is a son of William and Mary (O'Neal) Smith, also uatives of this state. The father died when the son was but three years of age and he was left an orphan by his mother's death when a little lad of but seven years. He was thus thrown upon his own resources and his development in every way has been the direct result of his own efforts and the laudable plans which he has formed for his own advancement. The education he acquired was obtained in the common schools and when he was a youth of but fourteen he had displayed such aptitude in his studies that he was able to pass the coeducational board examination and secured a teacher's license. He then began teaching school and for five years was thus connected with the district school system of the state. In 1907, however, he turned to commercial interests by securing a position in the hard- ware store of Hamp Williams, acting for some time as porter aud utility man. He worked without wages for three months and at the end of that time was paid the munificent salary of six dollars per week! He thus labored for about six months, at the end of which time he was advanced to the salary of fifty dollars per month. By August, 1911, he had risen to a position of trust with the company, being sent to Benton, Arkansas, to establish a branch store of which he was placed in charge. There he remained until 1914, at which time he was elected vice president of the company and called back to Hot Springs, taking supervision of the business. In this position of large responsibility he has continued. The firm handles a general line of hardware, farm im- plements and automobiles and does a business amounting to more than five hundred thousand dollars annually. Thus from the obscure position of porter he has risen to a place second in command of one of the largest enterprises of the kind in the state. No outside aid or influence served him in winning his promotion. He gained his advance through hard work and loyalty-qualities which always win their reward.

In 1912 Mr. Smith was married to Miss Winnie Williams, a daughter of Hamp Williams, founder of the hardware business, and to them has been born one daughter, Mary Varine. Mr. Smith belongs to Sumpter Lodge, No. 419, A. F. & A. M .; Hot

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Springs Chapter, No. 47, R. A. M .; Hot Springs Commandery, No. 5, K. T .; Albert Pike Consistory, No. 1, A. & A. S. R .; and Sahara Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Pine Bluff. He likewise has membership in Hot Springs Lodge, No. 380, B. P. O. E .; in Saline Lodge, No. 174, I. O. O. F .; and in the Lions Club, holding to the high standards of citizenship and of business inculcated by the last named organization. In politics, too, he has been somewhat active and is now a member of the city council of Hot Springs, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many plans and measures for the city's upbuilding and improvement. His wife is a member of the Methodist church and they are most highly esteemed residents of Hot Springs, enjoying the hospitality of the best homes where intelligence and true worth are accepted as a passport into good society. Mr. Smith is a man of great strength of character and his life record should serve as an inspiration and source of encouragement to others who start out empty-handed as he did.

W. J. SOMERS.

Commercial enterprise finds a worthy exponent in W. J. Somers, who is owner of a store at England. He was born in 1874 in the city in which he still resides, his parents being John D. and Sallie (Darby) Somers, the father a native of Trenton, Tennessee, while the mother was born at Little. Rock, Arkansas. The former served as a private in the Confederate army during the Civil war and during days of peace devoted his attention to the occupation of farming. He settled at England in 1854 and there spent his remaining days, his attention being given to the cultivation of his lands. To him and his wife were born three children: John, Lee and W. J., but the second named is now deceased.

W. J. Somers acquired his education in the schools of England and afterward engaged in various occupations which would enable him to earn an honest livelihood and gradually work his way upward. At length his industry and economy brought him sufficient capital to enable him to engage in business on his own account, which he did in 1902, by establishing a grocery store. In this project he won a substantial measure of success, conducting the business in a careful and competent manner and eventually, in 1917, he was able to open store No. 2. This is a general store, in which he carries a line of dry goods, hardware and other commodities. Like the first establishment, his trade has steadily increased here and he now does a business amounting to five hundred thousand dollars annually. In addition to his mercantile interests he owns twelve hundred acres of land, of which six hundred and forty acres are devoted to rice culture. His various business activities are wisely managed and success in substantial measure has crowned his labors.

Mr. Somers was united in marriage to Miss Lottie Ford, a daughter of John S. Ford, a merchant of Lonoke, who at one time was county clerk of the county and was also a veteran of the Confederate army. To Mr. and Mrs. Somers have been born two chil- dren: William and James Ford. Fraternally Mr. Somers is a Mason, loyally following the teachings and purposes of the craft and the sterling worth of his character is attested by all who know him. He is a forceful and resourceful business man, alert, energetic and progressive and he carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.

ERNEST L. HUTCHISON, M. D.

For the past fourteen years Dr. Ernest L. Hutchison has engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Grady and he has won a well established position in the ranks of his profession, his pronounced ability being attested by his colleagues and associates and also by the general public. He is a native of Arkansas, his birth having occurred at Calamine, in Sharp county, on the 18th of February, 1883. His parents were Jasper and Emma (Allen) Hutchison, also natives of Sharp county. Both the Hutchison and Allen families were residents of Tennessee and came to Arkansas prior to the Civil war, the paternal grandfather, William Spencer Hutchison, serving throughout that conflict. His son, Jasper Hutchison, is a retired farmer and is now residing at Evening Shade, in Sharp county. For eight years he served as sheriff of the county and is now a member of the board of commissioners of the Pershing highway, being recognized as one of the foremost men of this part of the state.

Ernest L. Hutchison completed his high school course at Cave City, Arkansas, in 1903, and in the same year entered the American Medical College at St. Louis, Missouri, from which he was graduated in 1907. In the spring of that year he came to Grady,

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where he has since resided, and in the intervening period he has built up a large practice He has never regarded his professional education as completed with the termination of his college course and in 1910 and 1911 he took postgraduate work at the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, thereby promoting his knowledge and skill. He is thoroughly conscientious in the discharge of his professional duties and excellent re- sults have attended his lahors. He also has business interests, being associated with James H. Talliaferro in the conduct of a drug store in Grady.

In 1913 Dr. Hutchison was united in marriage to Miss Frankie Talliaferro of Tamo, Arkansas, and they have two children, Frances Rebecca and Ernest Lee, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Hutchison are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and Dr. Hutchison is serving on its board of trustees. His professional connections are with the State and National Eclectic Medical Associations and he is prominent in Masonry, being a member of Branchville Lodge, No. 256, F. & A. M .; Albert Pike Consistory, No. 1, A. & A. S. R .: and Sahara Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He is also connected with the Woodmen of the World, belonging to White Oak Camp, No. 429. His innate talent aud acquired ability have brought him success and prominence in his profession, while his ambition keeps him abreast with the trend of the times in the field of modern medical and surgical practice.

JONATHAN ADAMS ENO.

The great English historian, Macaulay, has said that the history of a country is best told in the lives of its people, and an important chapter in the record of Van Buren is that contained in the life story of Jonathan Adams Eno, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Crawford county, having located here almost seventy years ago. He was born in Simsbury, Connecticut, and was a representative of one of the old and honored New England families. The Eno family came originally from France and was represented for some time in England. James Eno was the first of the name to arrive in the new world, being one of the early colonists at Windsor, Connecticut, where he settled about 1646. Later he and others went to Simsbury, Connecticut, and there founded the first Episcopal church of the state. Jonathan Eno, father of Jonathan Adams Eno, was also a native of Connecticut and married Orpha Adams, a daughter of Abel Adams, one of the Revolutionary soldiers of Connecticut. In many ways the family history is closely inter- woven with that of New England.

In his native state Jonathan Adams Eno spent the period of his boyhood and youth, and having arrived at years of maturity, was married there to Miss Ellen Ward, who was born in Middleton, Connecticut, and was a daughter of Truman and Bethiah ( Plumb) Ward, who were likewise representatives of old families of that state. Bethiah Plumb was a daughter of Jesse Plumb, one of the heroes of the war for independence, who mar- ried Miss Mary Churchill, daughter of Captain Joseph Churchill of Revolutionary war tame. The marriage of Jonathan A. Eno and Ellen Ward was celebrated in Connecticut and in the year 1853 they removed to the southwest, settling in Van Buren. Mr. Eno had previously come to this state in the '40s but had returned to New England, and following his marriage brought his bride to Arkansas. For a short time they resided at Green- wood, Arkansas, but spent the greater part of their days in Van Buren. Mr. Eno engaged in the drug business in Van Buren, where he also filled the position of post- master. He served in the Quartermaster Department in the Confederate army during the Civil war and died in 1862. He and his wife were parents of two children: Clara B., now of Van Buren; and Jonella, deceased.

Miss Clara B. Eno is the reecognized local historian of Van Buren and has given invaluable aid to the state department of history in furnishing many historical items concerning Van Buren and this section of the state. For twenty years she was a most capable and successful teacher of Van Buren and also taught at different times in Clarks- ville and Conway. She has ever imparted readily and clearly to others the knowledge she has acquired and has thus done much to advance the interests of the schools in the localities where she has served. Moreover, she has been very prominently identified with club work and has been an important factor in keeping the club spirit alive in Van Buren. She is a leading member of the Civics Club, is identified with the State Federa- tion of Women's Clubs and has at all times held to the high standards of the organizations which she represents. She is a charter member of the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, in which she has been regent; is a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and is president of the Pioneer Workers Association of the Arkansas Federation of Women's Clubs. She was chairman of the committee of the Daughters of the American Revolution for the location of Revolutionary soldiers' graves in Arkansas and has done much active work in connection with the local chapter.

CLARA B. ENO

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She is also a member of the Arkansas History Commission, has rendered valuable service in gathering material for the Confederate history and is serving her third year as register of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She has membership in the Episcopal church and is an active worker in both church and Sunday school. She is now acting as librarian of the Woman's Literary Club, of which she is a charter mem- ber, and is well qualified for the position. During the World war she was a member of the County Council of Defense, acting as county chairman of the Red Cross, and was also county chairman for the sale of Christmas seals for the Red Cross, the money to be used in the prevention of tuberculosis. Every good work done in the name of charity or religion receives her endorsement and to the extent of her time and strength she aids in the work of public welfare and improvement. She represents one of the old and honored pioneer families of the state, the name of Eno having long been closely associated with the material, intellectual, social and moral progress of Arkansas.

HENRY L. YANCEY, D. D. S.

Dr. Henry L. Yancey, successfully engaged in dental practice at Des Arc, was born in Faulkner county, Arkansas, in 1890. He is, therefore, a comparatively young man, but already has achieved success and attained a position in professional circles that many a man of twice his years might well envy. He is a son of Dr. J. W. Yancey, who was born in Tennessee and on coming to Arkansas settled in Lonoke county, where he engaged in the practice of medicine for a number of years. He was the son of a Confederate veteran of the Civil war and represents one of the old southern families. He married Susan Crain, who was born in Tennessee.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 82

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