Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 85

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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The father was always a consistent supporter of the democratic party, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good government.

In the acquirement of an education C. W. Phillips attended the public schools of his native state. Upon putting his textbooks aside he learned the carpenter's trade and in 1870 he went to Kansas. Subsequently he engaged in the grocery business in Joplin, Missouri, for some time, in addition to carpentering and contracting, and in 1878 he came to Arkansas, locating in Springdale. In 1886, the lumber business attracting his attention, he started one of the pioneer lumberyards in the state and from the start he made a success of the venture. He became the largest lumberman in Washington county and he continued to be active in that connection in Springdale until 1896, in which year he removed to Fayetteville. He took over the management of a plant there, but disposed of it in 1910 and returned to Springdale. He bought his old plant back again and operated it with gratifying success until 1915, when he again disposed of it. He bought two thousand acres of timber land near Havana which he cut and manu- factured into lumber and he subsequently purchased seven thousand five hundred acres of timber land in Madison county. This is mostly virgin timber, however, and although he is cutting some of it, he intends to delay extensive operations until the oppor- tune time. C. W. Phillips' success has not been a matter of chance or circumstance. His qualities of mind, his activity, energy and resource, his sound business judgment and his honorable principles have made success inevitable. He thoroughly under- stands the value of hard work and close application and there is no phase of the lumber business with which he is not familiar. When he came to this state his only assets were a horse and wagon. He now owns four nice residential properties in Fayetteville and he recently purchased the property in Eureka Springs on which he resides.

In 1874 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Phillips to Miss Cornelia Lowdermilk, a native of North Carolina, and to their union three children have been born: Mabel G., at home; Oliver, state bank examiner at Little Rock, who was married in 1917 to Ethel Harker, and Grace, the wife of M. E. Hollis, associated with the Standard Manufacturing Company of Fort Smith.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and Mr. Phillips is a generous contributor to its support. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythi?s, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Ancient Order of United Workmen. Since attaining his majority he has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party and the principles for which it stands, although he has never sought nor desired public preferment. Arkansas owes Mr. Phillips a debt of gratitude, for his originality and resourcefulness, his power of initiative, his faculty for organization and his rare business ability have been valuable assets to her commercial and industrial life.

JUDGE YOUNG WILLIAM ETHERIDGE.

Judge Young William Etheridge, county and probate judge, with residence at Han- burg, was born at Berea, Ashley county, on the 26th of April, 1888, of English descent on the paternal side and of Scotch-Irish descent on the maternal side. The maternal grandfather, Hogan Allen, was a member of the house of representatives and the state senate from Ashley county, following the reconstruction period at the close of the Civil war. The paternal grandfather, George Etheridge, served in the Confederate army, dying in the service He was a man of considerahle wealth, all of which was lost during and after the war and as a result thereof. W. W. Etheridge, the father of Judge Ether- idge, is living at Hamburg, hale and hearty, at the age of seventy-six years. He was born near Meridian, Mississippi, and came with his parents to Arkansas in 1850, being then but a small boy. He was a well-borer and farmer by occupation and achieved substantial success in those connections. Near Berea, this state, in 1882, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Etheridge to Louisiana Hastletin Allen, and she is like- wise residing in Hamburg at the age of seventy-six years. She was born near Raleigh, North Carolina, and came with her parents to Arkansas when a baby. The journey was made at the time of the gold rush and Mr. and Mrs. Allen and family crossed the plains in ox-drawn wagons. They also brought with them a number of slaves. Mrs Etheridge was twice married and has one child by the first marriage, Monroe Smith of Hamburg. Six children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Etheridge, three boys and three girls, each of whom was given a good education. Judge Etheridge, whose name initiates this review, was the fourth in order of birth.

In the acquirement of an education Young William Etheridge attended the public schools of Hamburg and after graduating from the high school here, enrolled in the University of Arkansas. He was graduated from that institution in 1911, with the B. A. degree. and then removed to Tyler, Texas, where he took a stenographic course

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at the Tyler Commercial College. Subsequently for five years, from 1916 to January 1st. 1921, he was stenographer in the tenth circuit court at Hamburg and during this time was acquiring a law education. On the 1st of January he was elected to the office of county and probate judge of Ashley county and he is one of the youngest county judges in the state of Arkansas. Aside from his duties in that official capacity, Judge Etheridge is practicing law under the firm name of Y. W. Etheridge, having a large general practice and handling much important litigation before the courts. Judge Etheridge was a member of the constitutional convention in 1917, having been appointed to represent Ashley county by Governor Brough.

On the 5th of June, 1918, Judge Etheridge was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Stapleton of Stewartville, Minnesota, a daughter of W. F. and Fannie Stapleton, resi- dents of that place, the ceremony being performed at Little Rock. To their union two children have been born: Frances Lois, three years of age; and Florence Evangeline, one year old.

Fraternally Judge Etheridge is identified with the Masons, holding membership in Prairie Lodge, No. 465, A. F. & A. M., of Hamburg and the Eastern Star lodge here. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church and he has been a clerk in that church for some years. During the World war he gave generously of his time and money in promotion of the government's interests and not only served on the legal advisory board, but made speeches throughout the county in behalf of all war drives, etc. He received official recognition of services rendered his country. Judge Etheridge is one of Hamburg's most representative citizens and is never too busy to give his aid in pro- moting any movement for the development and improvement of the general welfare. He has won an enviable place among his professional brethren in the state and Ashley county is indeed proud to number him among her native sons.

RICHARD H. HARDIN, D. D. S.

Dr. Richard H. Hardin, who for fourteen years has engaged in the practice of dentistry in England, is a native of Mississippi, his birth having occurred near the town of Meridian in 1880, his parents being S. C. and Mattie (Wilkinson) Hardin, whose family numbered two sons and two daughters, the others being: Dr. Eugene D. Hardin. who is a graduate of Tulane University at New Orleans and is now engaged in the practice of his profession; Mary, the wife of Munro Schamberger of Toomsuba, Missis- sippi; and Anna, who is a music teacher in Alabama. The son, Dr. Eugene D. Hardin, is a veteran of the World war, having served in the navy and is now in the Philippine Islands. He will soon return to America and take up his profession.

In the acquirement of his education Dr. Richard H. Hardin attended the public schools of his native state and then, deciding upon the practice of dentistry as a life work, prepared for his chosen calling as a student in the Atlanta Dental College of Atlanta, Georgia, from which he was graduated with the class of 1908. Immediately afterward he located in England, where he has remained, devoting his attention to his profession with growing success. He has a well equipped office, supplied with all the delicate little instruments with which the dentist works, and his mechanical skill and ingenuity, combined with his scientific knowledge, have made him a most capable repre- sentative of the profession. He also owns and supervises two small cotton plantations in this section of the state.

Dr. Hardin was united in marriage to Miss Gladys Higman of Bastrop, Louisiana, a daughter of J. B. Higman, and to them have been born two sons: Richard and Philip. Fraternally Dr. Hardin is a Mason and is also connected with the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church and he is loyal to every cause which he espouses. He stands for progress and improve- ment in all things and his aid and influence are ever on the side of right and advance- ment. He has attained a creditable professional position and at the same time occupies a place in the front rank in the regard of his fellow citizens.

CLYDE O. WAHLQUIST.

Clyde O. Wahlquist, editor and publisher of the Augusta Free Press, issued at Augusta, Woodruff county, was born in Fulton county, Arkansas, January 8, 1894, and is a son of W. H. V. and Anna (Melton) Wahlquist, the former a native of Missouri, while the latter was born in Arkansas. He pursued his education in the public schools and after mastering the work in the grades continued his studies in the high school

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of Mammoth Spring, this state. While he was still in school he learned the printer's trade under the direction of his father, with whom he worked until he was twenty years of age, thus gaining broad and valuable experience in connection with news- paper work. In association with R. S. Dills he afterward purchased two newspapers known as the Mammoth Spring Democrat and the Mammoth Spring Republican. These were consolidated under the name of the Mammoth Spring Progress and Mr. Wahlquist was associated with the publication of the new journal for eight months, at the end of which time he sold his interest to his partner. He then went to Marvell, Arkansas, where he began the publication of the Marvell Herald, and while there located he also established the Holly Grove Leader at Holly Grove, Arkansas. After selling his inter- ests at Marvell he went to Earl and there established the Crittenden County News, while about the same time he purchased the Parkin Sentinel of Parkin, Arkansas. He continued to edit and publish the papers at Parkin and Earl and in 1921 he came to Augusta, where he purchased the Augusta Free Press, of which he has since been editor and manager. In connection with all these various papers he has maintained a job business and at the present time he has a splendidly equipped job office, containing an excellent cylinder press. The paper has a circulation of one thousand, which has been increased from two hundred and eighty since he took charge. He devotes his entire time and attention to the paper and the Free Press was the only country paper mentioned in the Arkansas Gazette in connection with the Arkansas Marketing Asso- ciation. Mr. Wahlquist maintains a most progressive policy in the publication of the paper and that he is issuing a most interesting journal is indicated in the steady and rapid growth of its subscription list.

Mr. Wahlquist was married to Miss Mabel Brown, a native of Arkansas, and they have become parents of three children: Woody, Arlene and Clyde, Jr.

Mr. Wahlquist is a democrat in his political views, but publishes the Free Press as an independent paper. He belongs to the Christian church and his entire life has been guided by high and honorable principles, making him a man whom to know is to esteem and respect.

EVERETT C. MOULTON, M. D.

This is an age of specialization. In every profession there are men who never attempt to cover the entire scope of knowledge concerning their chosen calling, but con- centrate their efforts and attention npon a single line, thereby attaining a degree of efficiency that could not otherwise he acquired. Following this tendency Dr. Moulton, while well versed in the general principles of medicine and surgery, is giving his atten- tion largely to diseases of the eye, ear and nose and has become recognized as an authority on this branch of the profession. A native of Iowa, he was born in Stewart, in 1889, and is a son of Dr. H. and Lynn (Crockett) Moulton, whose family numbered but two children, the daughter being Elizabeth Moulton. The father is also a physician and his specialty, like that of his son, is diseases of the eye, ear and nose. He has devel- oped his skill and ability to a high degree, winning a notable place in his particular field of practice.

Dr. Everett C. Moulton was quite young when the family residence was established in Fort Smith and here he pursued his education in the ward and high schools, until graduated from the latter with the class of 1907. He further continued his education in the Northwestern University at Chicago and received his Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation with the class of 1911. He returned to the university then for medical study and obtained his professional degree in 1914. Since that time he has taken postgraduate work at Harvard University and has done much private study, thus keeping thoroughly informed concerning the latest researches and discoveries of the profession. Follow- ing his graduation, Dr. Moulton returned to Fort Smith to engage in practice with his father. During his college days he had received various honors, becoming a member of the Sigma Xi, an honorary scientific society, also of the Alpha Omega Alpha, election to which is in recognition of efficient work done as a medical student. Step by step he has advanced in his chosen calling and is now in an enviable position. Becoming much interested in diseases of the eye, ear and nose, he concentrates his energies upon this particular field. He belongs to the Sebastian County Medical Society, to the Ar- kansas State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and to the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Oto-laryngology and the Southern Medical Association. He is also a member of the Phi Delta Theta and the Phi Rho Sigma, two Greek letter fraternities. He is serving on the clinical staff of the Sparks Memorial Hospital and in addition he enjoys an extensive private practice. During the World war he was in the service for nine months, becoming a lieutenant of the medical corps, stationed at Camp Greenleaf, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.

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Dr. Moulton was united in marriage to Miss Juliette Gates and they have one son, Everett C., Jr., who is now five years of age. Dr. Moulton belongs to the Fort Smith Business Men's Club, is also a member of the Noon Civics Club, the Lions Club and the Civic Council, of which he is secretary. He is greatly interested in everything that has to do with the general welfare, progress and improvement of his community and gives loyal and earnest support to all those interests and projects which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride. He is constantly seeking to induce others to uphold the highest standards of citizenship and he stands as a splendid example of American manhood and chivalry.

ROBERT COWGER, M. D.

Dr. Robert Cowger, physician and surgeon of Danville, was born in Dardanelle, Arkansas, December 28, 1872, and is a son of William and Jane (Jones) Cowger, the former a native of Mississippi and the latter of Yell county, Arkansas. The father was a son of Ira Cowger, who was also born in Mississippi and in 1848 brought his family to Arkansas. He was killed by federal soldiers during the Civil war. The grand- father in the maternal line was James Jones, a pioneer farmer of Yell county. William Cowger was a youth of sixteen years when he came to Arkansas and here he devoted his attention to farming until he joined the Confederate army, serving for some time during the period of hostilities between the north and the south. He was wounded at Corinthi and was taken prisoner and afterward received his discharge at Vicksburg. With the close of the war he returned to Yeil county, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in 1905, while his wife died in 1893. They had two children: Mrs. C. E. Scott of Poteau, Oklahoma; and Robert. The parents were members of the Baptist church and in his political views Mr. Cowger was a democrat. He kept well informed not only on the issues and questions of the day along political lines, but upon all questions having to do with public progress and the general welfare.

Robert Cowger supplemented his common school education by a year's study in the State Normal School and further study in Ouachita College, thus laying an excellent foundation upon which to build professional knowledge. Having determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he became a student in the medical college at Mem- phis, Tennessee, in 1898, attending two terms there. He afterward studied for a year in the medical department of the University of Kentucky and then returned to Memphis, where he was graduated in 1902. Locating for practice in Yell county, he later went to Oklahoma, where he remained for two years, but in 1905 returned to Danville, where he has since continued and in the intervening period of seventeen years his practice has steadily grown in volume and importance.

In 1901 Dr. Cowger was married to Miss Bennie Burnett, who was born in Yell county, a daughter of B. H. Burnett, a farmer and sawmill man who for four years served as sheriff of the county. Dr. and Mrs. Cowger have become parents of seven children: Aubrey, who has just completed a course in the University of Arkansas; Meck, who is attending high school; Vida, Robert, Jr., and Janie, all in school; Herbert, five years of age; and Charles, who is in his third year.

Dr. Cowger attends the services of the Baptist church, of which Mrs. Cowger is a member. Fraternaily he is a Royal Arch Mason, has served as master in the blue lodge and as king in the chapter. He has always voted with the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he has served as school director, but has never sought political office. His entire time is devoted to general practice and he has displayed much ability in coping with the intricate problems of disease, so that his patronage is now one of gratifying proportions.

FRANK VINSONHALER, M. D.

Dr. Frank Vinsonhaler, an ophthalmologist of pronounced ability, practicing his profession in Little Rock, comes to Arkansas from the neighboring state of Missouri, his birth having occurred in Graham, Nodaway county, April 14, 1864. He is a son of George and Sarah (Rea) Vinsonhaler, the former born in Adams county, Ohio, January 14, 1821, while the latter was born in Newcastle, Lawrence county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1831. They were married in 1857 at the Iowa and Sac mission on the Mis- souri river near St. Joseph, the bride being a teacher in the mission at the time of their marriage. Mr. Vinsonhaler lived in Jefferson county, Kentucky, in early man- hood and in 1841 removed to Missouri, where he continued to reside for more than a

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half century, or until 1910, when he came to Little Rock. He devoted the major part of his life to the occupation of farming and died at Little Rock, May 21, 1913. To hini and his wife were born five sons and three daughters, of whom three daughters and one son died in infancy, while the youngest son died in 1914, at the age of sixty years. Three sons of the family survive.

Dr. Vinsonhaler, who was the third in order of birth in this family, acquired his early education in the public schools of Graham, Missouri, and afterward attended the Northwestern Normal School at Oregon, that state. He next became a student in Columbia College of New York, where he pursued his medical course, winning his professional degree in 1885. He located for practice in Little Rock in 1893 and has made steady progress through all the intervening years. He has utilized every opportunity to promote his proficiency in his chosen life work, and in 1892 took up postgraduate study in Vienna, while in 1892 and 1893 he continued his postgraduate work in London. For twenty-nine years he has specialized in ophthalmology and is regarded as one of the most skilled representatives of this branch of the profession in the southwest. He belongs to the American Medical Association, to the Arkansas State Medical Society, to the Academy of Ophthalmology and Oto-laryngology and is a fellow of the Southern Medical Association and of the American College of Surgeons.

On the 9th of February, 1898, in Little Rock, Dr. Vinsonhaler was married to Miss Wrenetta Beidelman, who was born in this city and is a daughter of John Wilmer and Marian (Peterson) Beidelman. The father was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for many years they resided in that city, where the father died, while the mother departed this life in Little Rock in 1919. Mrs. Vinsonhaler was graduated from The Cedars, a female finishing school in Washington, D. C. By her marriage she has be- come the mother of four children: Marion Wilmer, Frances, George and John Wilmer. The last named, however, died in infancy.

Dr. Vinsonhaler's military record covers active service in the World war. He was commissioned a captain in the Medical Corps in July, 1917, and was promoted to major on the 17th of November of the same year, while on the 2d of May, 1919, he was ad- vanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He went overseas October 25, 1918, landing in Liverpool on the 7th of November and reaching France on the 10th of November, the day before the armistice was signed. He received his discharge May 31, 1919, at Camp Dix, having been in command of Base Hospital, No. 109, at Vichy, France, for six months. Dr. Vinsonhaler has given his political allegiance to the democratic party. He is affiliated with the First Presbyterian church and belongs to the Masonic fraternity, having received the honorary thirty-third degree, while he is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Country Club, the Quapaw Club and to the Fifteen Club and his social prominence is equal to his high professional standing.

RABBI LEONARD JULIUS ROTHSTEIN.

Leonard Julius Rothstein, the rabbi of Anshe Emieth Temple of Pine Bluff, was born in Russian Poland and was brought to America in October, 1880, when but a year old by his parents, Isaac and Yetta (Rosenberg) Rothstein. His grandfather in the paternal line was a rabbi and the family has long been active in the work of the ministry. After coming to this country the parents of Rabbi L. J. Rothstein settled in New York city, but subsequently removed to Cincinnati and there their son, Leonard, attended the public schools, passing through consecutive grades to his graduation from the Hughes high school. Later he attended the University of Cincinnati and also the Hebrew Union Theological College. In 1904 he accepted a call to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he labored for three years and then went to Alexandria, Louisiana, where he remained for eleven years. He organized and was president of the Rotary Club there and was made a life member of that club. He also served on the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce and on two occasions was chairman of the Liberty Loan drives in Rapides parish. He was likewise vice president of the associated charities of that place and was president of the Chautauqua Association. In a word, he was most deeply and helpfully interested in all that pertained to public progress and improvement and in all those forces which have to do with civic advancement and improvement.

Rabbi Rothstein enlisted as a chaplain in the army, being commissioned in October. 1918. He was assigned to Camp Beauregard and later asked for overseas service, so that he was ordered abroad in November, but the armistice intervened and he then resigned. Later he enlisted for service with the Jewish welfare board and was sent overseas, acting as chaplain with the Twenty-ninth division for six months.

The Pine Bluff Congregation cabled to him in Paris, offering him his present charge.

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and he came to this city on the 15th of September, 1919. He is now rabbi of Anshe Emeth Temple, in which he is doing excellent work as successor to most competent men. In 1904 the Pine Bluff Congregation was served by Rabbi Joseph Kornfeld, who is now minister to Persia. He was succeeded by Rabbi Ephraim Frisch, who served until 1908, at which time Rabbi Joseph Jasin was called to the congregation. He is now regional director of Ohio for the rehabilitation of Palestine. The next to take charge at Pine Bluff was Rabbi Raphael Goldenstein, an ardent Zionist, now making a first-hand study of Zionism in Jerusalem. On the 15th of September, 1919. Rabbi Rothstein took charge and his labors here are productive of excellent results. He works for the entire community as well as for his local congregation. He was elected a member of the executive committee of the central council of American rabbis at Washington, D. C., in April, 1921. He is now serving as vice president of the local associated charities and gives active and helpful support to all plans and measures which are looking to the upbuilding of the community and to the advancement of its civic and moral standards.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 85

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