Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 84

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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Dr. Hale acquired his early education in the public schools of Columbus, Mississippi, and afterward attended the Atlanta (Ga.) high school, from which he was graduated with first honors in 1896. He next entered Emory College at Oxford, Georgia, and there com- pleted his course by graduation with second honor in 1899. His further studies were pursued in the University of Chicago and he received the Master of Science degree in 1902. As Harrison Fellow in Chemistry he won his Ph. D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania with the class of 1908.

Dr. Hale took up the profession of teaching in 1899 at Edgewood, Georgia, where as assistant principal of the schools he taught for two years. He was afterward called to Drury College at Springfield, Missouri, as instructor in chemistry, while later he became assistant professor in chemistry and subsequently professor, occupying the chair until called to the University of Arkansas in 1918. While living in Springfield, Missouri, he also served as city chemist, as consulting chemist for the Springfield Water Company and chemist for the state food commission in southwestern Missouri. Dr. Hale came to

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Fayetteville as head of the chemical department of the University of Arkansas and his position is now that of professor of chemistry.

On the 22d of December, 1904, Dr. Hale was married to Miss Mabel Hays, who was horn in Sullivan, Indiana, a danghter of James A. and Francena M. Hays, also of the Hoosier state, whence they removed to Missouri in 1883, the father there engaging in the contracting business. He died in 1909 and is still survived by his widow. Dr. Hale and his wife are parents of three children: Arthur Hays, born in April, 1908; Harrison, in No- vember, 1909; and Mabel Elinor, in December, 1913.

The religious faith of the family is indicated in their connection with the Central Presbyterian church, of which Dr. Hale is an elder. His wife, a lady of liberal culture and a graduate of Drury College of Springfield, Missouri, presides with gracious hospi- tality over their home and is actively interested in educational and other community affairs. Dr. Hale has membership in an undergraduate and in a graduate college fra- ternity-Kappa Alpha and Phi Eta. His political endorsement has always been given to the democratic party and his interest in community welfare is shown in the fact that he is now president of the Chamber of Commerce of Fayetteville. He has ever taken an active part in civic affairs, supporting all those plans and projects which are based upon civic needs and opportunities for municipal development. He has never disregarded the duties of citizenship, although the demands of his profession are many and insistent.

He was recently active in organizing the Arkansas section of the American Chemical Society and he has written and published a work entitled "American Chemistry," while various articles from his pen have appeared in numerous chemical journals of the coun- try. He is an acknowledged authority in his chosen field of science and has done much to push forward the wheels of progress in this regard.

J. F. ARMSTRONG.

In business circles of Russellville. J. E. Armstrong occupies a leiding position as owner and operator of the local telephone company, a line of activity with which he has been identified for the past twenty-three years, and much of his life has been de- voted to the promotion of public utilities, in which connection he has accomplished valuable and far-reaching results. He was born in Richmond, Virginia, December 6, 1859, a son of James and Kate (Gilman) Armstrong, both of whom were natives of Virginia. They were married in that state and soon after the close of the Civil war removed to Texas, but the father died before he had long been a resident of that state. For many years he acted as engineer on a steamboat and he was a veteran of the Civil war, serving throughout that conflict. He was wounded shortly before the close of hostilities and returned to Richmond, but never recovered from his injuries. His polit- ical allegiance was given to the democratic party. His father, James Armstrong, was a native of Virginia and married a Miss Jones, whose hirth occurred in France, while the parents of her husband were natives of England. The maternal grandfather, William Gilman, was a prominent millwright of Richmond, Virginia, and was employed on the construction of the largest mill in the south, the plant being located in that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong were born seven children, of whom two are living: J. E., of this review, who was the oldest in the family: and William P., a leading jeweler of Caruthers- ville, Missouri. Three years after her husband's death Mrs. Armstrong was again mar- ried and removed with her family to Dyersburg, Tennessee, where she reared her children.

In the common schools of Tennessee. J. E. Armstrong acquired his education and on starting out in life for himself he became connected with navigation interests, working on one of the river boats running out of Dyersburg. . When eighteen years of age he secured a special license and then obtained employment on larger boats plying on the Mississippi river, first acting as stoker, later winning promotion to the position of assistant engineer and at length becoming chief engineer. For about twelve years he was thns occupied and then became identified with the A. M. Stevens Lumber Company, with which he remained for a number of years, having charge of their boats. He then went to Ripley, Tennessee, where he engaged in constructing water works and also light and ice plants, and from that point he made his way to Forest City. Tennessee, arriving there in 1899. He was a resident of that city until 1902, devoting his attention to the telephone business, and then went to Missouri, becoming the organizer and builder of the Southeastern Missouri Telephone Exchange, of which he was made general manager. in which connection he had charge of twenty-five exchanges. In 1911 the enterprise was purchased by the Bell Telephone Company and Mr. Armstrong stayed with that corpo- ration as district manager until 1919, when he came to Russellville and bought the Home

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Telephone Company. Later he also acquired the local interests of the Bell Company and consolidated the two enterprises, which he is now successfully controlling. When he took over these plants they were in poor condition and he has installed the most modern equipment, operating the undertaking along the most efficient and progressive lines. From its inception the enterprise has enjoyed a rapid growth and in a comparatively short period he has increased the number of subscribers from three hundred to five hundred. Broad experience has given him an expert knowledge of the work in which he is engaged and he is giving to the residents of Russellville one of the most satisfactory telephone systems in this part of the state. He has devoted a number of years to the development of public utilities, later disposing of them profitably, and in the manage- ment of his business affairs he displays keen discernment, enterprise and marked execu- five ability.

In 1898 Mr. Armstrong was united in marriage to Miss Iva Louise Moss, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and a daughter of W. T. Moss, who was the owner of city property and a farm in that vicinity. Mrs. Armstrong has had liberal educational advantages, attending three schools in Nashville, one of these being Ward Seminary, and she is a woman of culture and refinement. Two children have been born of this union: Joe E., Jr., who for a year attended the Gulfport ( Miss.) Military School and is now a junior at the naval academy at Annapolis, Maryland; and Katherine M., who is a senior at the Holly Springs School of Mississippi.

The family are members of the Presbyterian church and fraternally Mr. Armstrong is identified with the Woodmen of the World, while his political support is given to the platform and candidates of the democratic party. His life has been an intensely active and useful one and with progress as his watchword, his business career has been marked by continuous advancement. He is a man of notable administrative powers and initiative spirit, whose efforts have been resultant factors in whatever he has under- taken. His labors have ever been of a constructive character, proving a source of benefit to others as well as to himself, and Russellville is fortunate in claiming him as a citizen.

JOSEPH WALTIN YOUNG.

One of the well-known real estate men of Fort Smith is Joseph Waltin Young, who has his offices in the First National Bank building and who has gained a large clientele, whereby he has been connected with many of the most important realty transfers of the city in recent years. A native of South Carolina, he was horn at Pickens, in 1853, a son of Archibald and Mary (Seeright) Young. The father was a Confederate veteran, who was wounded in the battle of Missionary Ridge, near Chattanooga, Tennessee, and afterward died from the effects of the injury there sustained. In the family were four sons and a daughter, one brother of Joseph Waltin Young being the Rev. W. L. Young, a Baptist preacher.

Joseph Waltin Young was educated in the old field school houses in Pickens county and in the school of experience, and after the death of his father he became the main support of his mother's family. He devoted his attention in early manhood to farming in his native state. He afterward removed to Arkansas and having married Melissa McWhorter in South Carolina they established their home in Sebastian county, near Excelsior. In 1882 he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, but afterward re- moved to a farm near Greenwood. There he continued for six years, devoting his time and attention to the cultivation and development of his land. He next went to Hunting- ton, Arkansas, where he again engaged in the conduct of a store and he was likewise very prominent in the public life of the community, serving as the first postmaster of Huntington and also as mayor of that town. At a subsequent period he again took up farming, locating on a tract of land near Greenwood. In 1895 he began selling machinery for the Aughtman Miller Company and also for the Kansas City Hay Press Company. His next business venture was in the line of contracting at Fort Smith and three years ago he turned his attention to the real estate business, in which he has continued. He was a successful contractor, doing cement and paving work and enjoying a liberal patronage. Associated with him in his real estate activity is his son, J. M. Young, and both have become heavy property owners in Fort Smith. Mr. Young is a most alert. wide awake and progressive business man, watchful of all opportunities pointing to suc- cess and whatever he has undertaken he has carried steadily forward, reaching his objective.

To Mr. and Mrs. Young have been born the following named: R. A., who is a coal operator; J. M., who is associated with his father in business; Walter A., a hardware merchant; Zeno, who is carrying on mercantile pursuits at Hodgen, Oklahoma; John H.,

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a merchant of Heavener, Oklahoma; Bryant B., who is a coal operator; Bernard, a con- tractor of Fort Smith; George, deceased; Mrs. Lee M. Poole; Beulah; Bessie; and Thelma. The son, Bryant B., served in the World war.

Mr. Young is a Mason and a past master of Pulliam Lodge, No. 133, A. F. & A. M. He has taken many of the advanced degrees of the order and is now a member of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he enjoys the confidence and goodwill of his fellow members of these fraternities to an unusual degree. He is a man of notably progressive spirit and his life has been actuated by that steady advancement which comes from intelligently directed industry and persistency of purpose.

J. M. Young, the junior partner in the firm of Young & Young, was educated in Buckner College and initiated his business career by becoming a bookkeeper for the firm of Sims & Foster of Stigler, Oklahoma. He afterward engaged in general merchandis- ing in Le Flore county, Oklahoma, for twenty years ,but three years ago joined his father in the conduct of the real estate business, which they are still carrying on in Fort Smith. He married Georgia Forbes, a daughter of Dr. R. T. Forbes of Hartshorne, Okla- homa. and the young couple, like his parents, occupy an enviable social position, all having many friends who highly esteem them for their sterling worth.

THOMAS J. REYNOLDS.

Thomas J. Reynolds, manager and secretary of the Valley Planing Mills Company of Hot Springs, was born in Randolph county, Arkansas, June 12, 1889, his parents being James B. and Melissa H. (Brown) Reynolds, the former a native of Middle Tennessee, while the latter was born in Arkansas and died in February, 1908. The father is living and makes his home in Hot Springs, to which city he removed in 1914, since which time he has been engaged in the grocery business.

Thomas J. Reynolds was educated in the public schools of Ravenden Springs, Ar- kansas, passing through consecutive grades until he had completed the high school course, while later he attended the Springfield ( Mo.) Business College, from which he was graduated in 1908. The following year he became identified with the lumber trade, being employed as a member of the office force of the J. Wahrenberger Lumber Company of Conrce, Texas. He remained in that positiou for eighteen months, after which he accepted a position with the Oualline Lumber Company at Willis, Texas. A year later, or in April, 1912, he came to Hot Springs and the following June entered the employ of the Valley Planing Mills Company in the capacity of bookkeeper. On the 1st of July. 1914, he resigned that position to become identified with the Lynch Brothers Lumber Com- pany of Garland county, with which he continued for a year. He next served with the Clark County Lumber Company at Gurdon, Arkansas, and when a year had passed in that Lumber Company. He was next employed by the Cochran Foster Lumber Company of Little Rock for two years and then returned to Hot Springs to accept the secretaryship of the Valley Planing Mills Company. He has continued to act in this office of responsi- bility and is contributing to the further success and development of the business by reason of his comprehensive understanding of the lumber trade, his practical experience, his unremitting industry and his close application.

On the 6th of March, 1909, Mr. Reynolds was married to Miss Eva M. Halford of Ravenden Springs, Arkansas, and they have become parents of three children: Thomas Preston, Babe Helen and Jack Halford. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are members of the Second Baptist church and are most highly esteemed, for they have always been sup- porters of those interests which contribute to the uplift of the individual and the better- ment of the community at large.

D. W. PEEL.

One of the foremost figures in financial circles of Benton county is D. W. Peel, president of the First National Bank of Bentonville and a representative of one of the most prominent families of the state. He was born in Carroll county, Arkansas, Novem- ber 8, 1860, a son of S. W. and Mary E. (Berry) Peel, the latter of whom departed this life in 1902. The father, who has reached the venerable age of ninety years, is still a resident of Bentonville. He became one of the pioneer bankers of Arkansas, was also for many years a leading attorney of Bentonville and likewise took a prominent part in pubilc Vol. II-34

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affairs, being chosen a member of congress. He ranks with the foremost citizens of Arkansas and his name is inseparably associated with the history of the state.

D. W. Peel is one of a family of nine children and in the acquirement of an educa- tion he attended the schools of Bentonville, afterward spending one year as a student in the State University of Arkansas. On starting out in life for himself he first engaged in merchandising in Bentonville, continuing to follow that line of activity until he was called to Washington, D. C., as clerk of the committee on Indian affairs. For six years he acted in that capacity and then returned to Bentonville, entering financial circles as cashier of the First National Bank, a position which he continued to fill until 1920, when he was made president. For twenty-seven years be has been connected with banking interests and is therefore thoroughly familiar with every phase of the business, so that he is well qualified to discharge the duties of his present office. In the control of the institution he displays marked business ability, foresight and enterprise and he ranks with the most able financiers of Benton county. He also deals to some extent in real estate, but concentrates the greater part of his attention upon his financial interests, which are extensive and important.

On the 28th of March, 1884, Mr. Peel was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Arring- ton, a native of Missouri and a daughter of John Arrington, who became one of the early representatives of the Bentonville bar. To this union six children have been born, namely: Rex W., who is serving as first vice president of the First National Bank of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and for sixteen years was associated with his father in the banking business; Terry, a traveling salesman residing in Bentonville; D. W., cashier of the First National Bank of Bentonville; Frances, who married J. R. Rice, a leading attorney of Bentonville; Marion, the wife of Walter Bryan, who is engaged in the fruit business at Santa Barbara, California; and Nelle Berry, who is at home with her parents and is attending school.

Mr. Peel gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, while fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Masons, having membership in the York Rite Consistory and the Shrine of the last named organization. He is a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the state and the work instituted by his father is being continued by him, for he is proving himself an able financier and public-spirited citizen who in advancing individual interests has also promoted the general welfare and prosperity.

LAMARTINE BASCOM LEIGH.

Lamartine Bascom Leigh of Little Rock, who is at the head of the largest insur- ance business of the state and is one of the most progressive citizens of the capital, occupying a prominent place in both the business and social circles of Arkansas, was born near Rome, Georgia, September 14, 1851, his parents being Richard and Sarah Ann (Clary) Leigh. The father's birth occurred in North Carolina in 1809 and he became a planter and also a minister of the Methodist church. James Leigh, the great-great-great-grandfather of L. B. Leigh, is recorded as one of the early settlers of what was known as the James River section of Virginia about the year 1700. His descendants drifted to North Carolina, Georgia and Arkansas, where each generation has upheld the name of Leigh through fidelity to all the highest standards of manhood and citizenship.

Lamartine B. Leigh acquired his education in private schools and under private tutors, as was the custom with the children of the better families of the old south. He became one of the important figures in the Brooks-Baxter war and was wounded in the leg in that historic struggle, a certain slight lameness yet giving evidence of his patriotism. He was captain and aid to General Churchill of the state militia. Mr. Leigh has ever evinced a hearty public spirit and is foremost in all civic matters, stanchly supporting every plan or measure which he believes will prove of public benefit. Politically he is a democrat and in 1876 was elected to the office of city treasurer, serving for four years. In 1907 he was elected to the legislature and was reelected to the position for a second term in 1909. In 1917 the voters, realizing that conditions were such as to require the services of the very hest men in the state, again called upon Mr. Leigh and elected him to the house of representatives for the term of 1917 to 1919. In 1907 he introduced and was instrumental in secur- ing the passage of the bill readmitting insurance companies to do business in Arkansas, such companies having been driven out by the trust laws fathered hy the late Jeff Davis. In 1917 Mr. Leigh introduced and secured the passage of the bill permitting surplus school funds to be loaned to the banks. This measure resulted in the school funds heing largely augmented by the interest thus received.

LAMARTINE B. LEIGH

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Aside from his public activity and continued service for the general welfare Mr. Leigh has successfully managed private business interests and is now president of the L. B. Leigh Company, handling insurance, president of the Commonwealth Building & Loan Association, vice president of the Capital Building & Loan Associa- tion, vice president of the People's Building & Loan Association, vice president of the American Bank of Commerce and Trust Company, and vice president of the Rose City Cotton Oil Company. His interests are thus broad and varied and his activity is accounted a valuable asset in connection with the successful conduct of every enterprise with which he is associated. In all business affairs his sound judgment enables him to discriminate readily between the essential and the non-essential and he marshals his forces with the precision of a military commander, thus reaching his objective and gaining the desired results.

In 1911 Mr. Leigh was united in marriage to Miss Olive Gilliam Gatling of Forrest City, Arkansas, who is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Gilliam) Gatling. Mrs. Leigh is a graduate of the Randolph-Macon College of Virginia, in which she won the Bachelor of Arts degree. By virtue of her ancestral line through the Gilliam family Mrs. Leigh is a Daughter of the American Revolution. The Gilliams were pioneer residents of North Carolina and trace their ancestry back through the Blount family to Siegfried, the Dane, first count of Guisne, A. D. 935. In this line comes Harold, fourteenth king of Denmark, from Gonman and Estrude of Flanders, daughter of Arnold the Great, who was the great-grandmother of Matilda, the wife of William the Conqueror. The American branch of the family was founded by Captain James Blount, who went to Virginia in 1655 and died in North Carolina in 1686. His descendants are many in all parts of the country. Charles Worth Blount was a distinguished soldier of the Revolutionary war. One of the descendants of the Blount family married into the Gilliam family of North Carolina. Captain Thomas Howell Gilliam was a distinguished soldier of the Civil war, being commended by his government for gallantry in hoisting the Confederate flag over Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island in the face of tremendous danger. Mrs. Leigh, though very active in club work and church affairs, is also a model mother. Her children are Elizabeth, Patricia, Sarah and Lamartine B., Jr. Mrs. Leigh is a member of the Federation of College Women and is serving as president of the organization. She shares with her husband in his deep interest in civic welfare and betterment and lends him her aid and support in many measures for the public good. Mr. Leigh has for fourteen years been a director of the Little Rock school board and was chairman of the board for four terms. He was for a number of years trustee of Hendrix College, and is now president of the board of trustees of the Galloway Female College at Searcy, Arkansas. The cause of education has always found in him a stalwart champion and his efforts in behalf of the schools have been far-reaching and beneficial. In religion he is an active member of the Methodist church, is serving as a member of the church board, as a teacher in the Sunday school and has three times been a delegate to the Gen- eral Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He is also a most active worker in the Young Men's Christian Association, of which he has been a director for twenty years. Thus in the midst of intense business activity and of notable public service he has always found time for the higher, holier duties of life and lends his aid and support to all measures which make for the uplift of the individual and the betterment of mankind in general.

C. W. PHILLIPS.

One of the pioneer lumbermen of Arkansas is C. W. Phillips, who has been a resident of Eureka Springs only since 1920. Mr. Phillips is one of the self-made men of this com- munity and though he has resided here but a short time he has won the admiration and high regard of his fellowmen. Mr. Phillips is a southerner by birth, born in North Carolina in 1846, a son of William and Esther (Berryman) Phillips, both natives of Moore county, that state. The Phillips family originally came from Scotland and located in North Carolina at an early day. The paternal grandfather, Louis Phillips, was born in that state, as was the maternal grandfather, Stephen Berryman. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips were married in North Carolina and they spent their lives as residents of that state, the father achieving substantial success in agricultural circles. He was likewise a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, South. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips seven children were born, four of whom are living: C. W., whose name initiates this review; R. D., for many years a merchant at Laurinburg, North Carolina, and now a farmer near that place; Jesse L, postmaster at Trinity, North Carolina; and Louis H., operating a cotton mill and hosiery manufacturing business at Newton, North Carolina.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 84

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