Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 91

Author: Herndon, Dallas T. (Dallas Tabor), b. 1878
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Chicago, Little Rock, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1172

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Mr. Oliver has built many miles of road for various counties and states and also for the nation and has won a reputation for integrity and ability that is surpassed by none. His financial standing is such as to insure the completion of any job that may be placed in his hands. For the past twenty years his business has run into millions. A five million dollar road building contract for Cnban highways, a ten million dollar contract for highways in Tennessee and the building of the Carolina Southern Railroad are a few of the many huge tasks he has successfully accomplished. Mr. Oliver takes a just pride in the fact that none of his jobs have ever been other than satisfactorily completed on time and as per contract. He marshals his forces with the precision of a military commander.

In Oswego, Kansas, Mr. Oliver was united in marriage to Miss Nellie B. Gill, a daughter of John Gill, a pioneer of Kansas, whose ancestors were pioneers of Illinois and colonial pioneers of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver have one daughter, Lucille, who is a graduate of Ward-Belmont Seminary and who possesses a remarkably fine soprano voice which has been improved by a postgraduate course in voice culture. Should she desire to make use of her voice professionally in the future, her success would be assured.

Mr. Oliver is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Mystic Shriner. He is also an active elder of the Presbyterian church and is the chairman of the Pulaski Sunday School Association, also a member of the executive committee of the State Sunday School Association. He is not at all of the "holier than thon" class. On the contrary, he is a genial, companionable, enterprising business man, who, while he does not seek to thrust his views upon others, sincerely believes that the Christian religion makes for the best citizenship and the highest ideals of life and that a faithful following of the rules laid down in Christian teaching must make a man or a community better. With a regiment of men under his control made up of all classes of society and all nationalities he has never had a strike or a threat of one. This shows the human- itarian principles that underlie his treatment of those in his employ. He believes in a fair wage, promotion when opportunity offers and the recognition of faithfulness and of loyalty. While he has built up a vast system of business it is not a machine and he recognizes the right of each individual for the development of his own powers and for advancement in the business world. If more men followed the rules and practiced the precepts of Robert Butler Oliver the question between capital and labor would be forever at an end.

CONNELLY HARRINGTON.

Few men attain to positions of leadership, the great majority being followers. In hnman achievement, however, it is the leader who makes for progress, who organizes and marshals forces to success. To this class belongs Connelly Harrington, whose name has long been an honored one in business circles of northwestern Arkansas. A splendid commercial enterprise stands as a monnment to what he has accomplished and its in- fluence npon industrial activity in Benton county can scarcely be over-estimated.

Mr. Harrington is a native of Missouri, his birth having occurred in Platte county on the 14th of December, 1864. His parents were Richard N. and Laura E. (John- son) Harrington, who were also natives of that county. The father was a Confederate soldier in the Civil war, serving nnder General Sterling Price at the battle of Pea Ridge and continuing in the army throughout the period of hostilities. He became well known as an attorney and journalist and died in Missouri in 1896. He was a member of the Christian church and fraternally was identified with the Masons. He was a stanch democrat in his political views and served as postmaster of Dearborn, Missouri, under the Cleveland administration. Mrs. Harrington survives and is now a resident of Dear- born. In their family were two children: Connelly, of this review; and William P., a prominent banker of Dearborn, Missouri. The paternal grandfather, Miles Harrington, became one of the pioneer farmers of Missouri, establishing his home in that state in

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1836. The maternal grandfather, Andrew Johnson, was a native of Kentucky and he also became one of the early settlers of Missouri, arriving in the state as early as 1837 and there spending his remaining years.

In the acquirement of an education Connelly Harrington attended the public schools of Platte City, Missouri, after which he learned the printer's trade. He then taught school for a time, devoting his leisure hours to the study of law, and following his admission to the bar he engaged in practice at Hailey, Idaho, where he remained for two and a half years. He then returned to Missouri and in 1895 arrived in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, coming here for the purpose of opening a branch of the Benton County Hard- ware Company, which he had previously founded at Bentonville. Mr. Harrington has remained in charge of the plant at Siloam Springs and with the passing years the business has steadily grown until it has assumed large proportions, now including fifteen allied companies and constituting one of the largest commercial undertakings in the entire state. Mr. Harrington possesses the foresight, self-reliance and business sagacity necessary to carry on a large enterprise successfully and he has also become interested in financial affairs, being made cashier of the First National Bank of Siloam Springs on the 1st of June, 1897. He resigned that office to become vice president of the institution, but is not now active in its management. He has made extensive investments in city property and in 1914 erected a beautiful home, which is said to be the largest and finest residence in Siloam Springs. His attention is chiefly devoted to the management of the Benton County Hardware Company, which is capitalized for seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and he is also serving as chairman of its board of directors. He possesses a genius for organization and au aptitude for successful management and is seldom in error in matters of judgment when passing upon the value of any busi- ness opening. That he has made wise use of his time, his talents and his opportunities is demonstrated in the fact that he came to Siloam Springs thirty-six years ago with a cash capital of ten thousand dollars and is now rated as a half millionaire.

On the 28th of April, 1892, Mr. Harrington was united in marriage to Miss Minnie C. Kemper and they have many friends in this part of the state. They are faithful and consistent members of the Christian church, of which Mr. Harrington has been an officer for a quarter of a century, while for the past ten years he has been a member of its board of elders. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in Masonry he has attained the thirty-second degree. He was the first eminent commander of the commandery at Siloam Springs and for about six times has been the incumbent in that office. He is also a member of the Shrine. He is a stanch democrat in his political views and has taken an active part in public affairs of his community, having served on the city council since 1910. Mr. Harrington is essentially a member of the class of doers. His success has been the result of close application, unwavering courage, self-confidence and the readiness to assume responsibility. His labors have ever been of a character that have contributed to public progress and prosperity as well as to individual aggrandizement and Arkansas numbers him among her foremost citizens.

R. A. MORGAN.

R. A. Morgan, closely associated with the business development and with the finan- cial stability of Clarksville, where he is connected with mercantile interests and with banking as president of the Farmers National Bank, was born on a farm in Johnson county, Arkansas, November 17, 1872, and is descended from old southern families. He is a grandson of Thomas Morgan, who was born in Virginia, thence he removed to Ten- nessee and eventually became a resident of Arkansas. His son, A. J. Morgan, was born in Tennessee and became a resident of Johnson county, Arkansas, in 1856. When of age he purchased a farm and remained thereon to the time of his death. He was truly a self-made man and one who gained a substantial measure of success as the years passed by, owing to his unfaltering enterprise and firm determination. He always gave his political endorsement to the democratic party and was one of the early Masons of the state, loyal to the teachings and purposes of the craft. He belonged to the Pres- byterian church. In early manhood he wedded Eliza King, who was born in this state and was a daughter of Reuben King, a native of Alabama, who settled in Johnson county, Arkansas, at an early period in the development of that section, where he owned and improved a good farm. Mrs. Morgan died in 1874 and of her fonr children, two are living: Minnie, the wife of N. W. Gammill, who is engaged in the grocery business in Clarksville, Arkansas; and R. A., of this review. Having lost his first wife A. J. Morgan was married to Hulda King and they became the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are living: Mrs. Addie Martin, who makes her home near Little Rock;

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Lydia, the wife of W. V. Harris, a merchant of Clarksville; T. J., a meat cutter, located at Los Angeles, California; Mrs. L. Martin, whose husband follows farming, near Clarks- ville; Lee, who is engaged in clerking in a store in Clarksville; Norma, the wife of Homer Lewis, a drayman of this place; Mrs. A. C. Lemley, whose husband is a farmer of Johnson county; and Jewell, at home. The mother is still living, but Mr. Morgan, who was born November 13, 1848, departed this life on the 25th of April, 1917.

Having acquired a good practical education in the public schools of Johnson county, R. A. Morgan started out to earn his living by working as a farm hand and was thus employed for several years. In 1882 he took up his abode in Clarksville; where he entered the employ of Q. B. Poynor, a merchant, for whom he clerked until he was ahle to establish a small store of his own in 1900, he and his partner having a capital of about three thousand dollars, a part of which they had borrowed. Mr. Morgan was associated with F. A. Blackburn in the business for four years, when he purchased the interest of his partner and increased his stock until he now has one of the largest gen- eral stores in the county, conducted under the firm style of R. A. Morgan & Son. He purchased a large building, seventy by one hundred feet and two stories in height, and he has this full of merchandise, meeting practically every demand of the purchasing public. He has thus gradually increased his stock and developed his store until he now ranks as one of the most prominent and successful merchants of this part of the state. He is also the president of the Farmers National Bank, which he assisted in organizing in 1919, although he devotes the major part of his time to his mercantile interests. He also owns several business properties and is now erecting some brick buildings, which stand as monuments to his enterprise and his success.

In 1895 Mr. Morgan was united in marriage to Miss Cordelia Blackburn, who was born in Johnson county, Arkansas, a daughter of B. M. Blackburn, one of the early pio- neer farmers of Johnson county. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have two children: Flaude A., who was born in Clarksville, January 15, 1896, pursued a high school course and following his graduation took a business course in Little Rock and is now in partnership with his father; the daughter, Flora, is the wife of Fred J. Eustice, who is also in the store with Mr. Morgan.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Morgan hold membership in the Presbyterian church, taking an active part in the work of building up the church and making it a potent force for good in the community. In politics he is a democrat and has served as a member of the town council. He is keenly interested in everything that pertains to public progress and improvement and his aid is ever found on the side of advancement along material, intellectual, social and moral lines.

WILLIAM EDGAR MEEKS.

One of the substantial citizens of Arkansas City is William Edgar Meeks, who has been active as county clerk of Desha county for many years. A native of Arkansas, he was born near Tillar, on the 15th of September, 1869, a son of William Floyd and Emma Amelia (Cook) Meeks, both of whom are deceased. The father was a planter. He was born in Georgia and came to this state with his parents prior to the Civil war. Upon the outbreak of the war, putting all personal interests aside, William Floyd Meeks enlisted in the Arkansas Infantry, receiving a commission as first lieu- tenant. He served throughout the conflict and participated in many of the most strategic battles. At the close of the war he returned to his plantation near Tillar, and he achieved more than substantial success in its conduct. A public-spirited man, he took an active part in the upbuilding of the county and state and was frequently called to public office. For four or five years he was active as deputy sheriff of Desha county, at Napoleon, Arkansas, serving in that capacity to the best of his ability. His death occurred iu March, 1918, in Arkansas City, at the advanced age of seventy nine years. The Meeks boast of American ancestors back many generations. On the 28th of February, 1867, occurred the marriage of Mr. Meeks to Miss Emma Amelia Cook, the ceremony being performed near Tillar in Desha county. She was a native of this county, her parents having been among the pioneer settlers here. Her demise occurred in 1900, in her fiftieth year. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Meeks five children were born, two boys and three girls, of whom one boy and one girl are living. Willam Edgar, whose name initiates this review, was the second in order of hirth.

William Edgar Meeks received his preliminary education in the common schools of Desha county and subsequently enrolled in Searcy College, at Searcy, this state, from which institution he was graduated in 1900. At the time he went to college Mr. Meeks was financially embarrassed aud through the courtesy of the head of the college

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credit was extended to him. Later he paid every cent of the tuition which was due that institution. For two years he was employed as bookkeeper and manager of the plantation store of G. B. Greer, in Jefferson county, but in the latter year he resigned his position to become a teacher. The following two years he taught in the country school near Tillar and while active in that connection was appointed deputy clerk, serving under his brother, Ben G. Meeks, now deceased. For some time his brother was circuit clerk of Desha county. From 1903 to 1905 he served as deputy clerk under J. W. Davis, the latter holding the office of circuit and county clerk of Desha county, but in the latter year the legislature abolished the Watson district office, and Mr. Meeks served as circuit, chancery clerk, and ex-official county and probate clerk from 1906 through 1910. In 1910 the Federal census separated the county and probate offices from the circuit and chancery, and he was elected county and probate clerk. in which office he has served continuously to the present time. He is well fitted for carrying out the duties that devolve upon him in this capacity and the esteem in which he is held by his fellowmen is evinced at every election, when he receives a large majority of votes.

On the 11th of June, 1905, at Dumas, this state, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Meeks to Miss Annie Statia Pertuis, a daughter of T. L. Pertuis. Her ancestors were among the early French settlers in this state. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Meeks six children have been born: William Edgar, Jr., fourteen years of age; Raymond, twelve years of age; Wyverne, aged eleven years; Malcolm Marion, seven years of age; Anna Bernice, aged three years; and Wilton, whose demise occurred at the age of six months.

The religious faith of Mr. Meeks tends toward that of the Methodist church and fraternally he is a Scottish Rite Mason, belonging to Omega Lodge, No 547, A. F. & A. M. of Dumas; Albert Pike Consistory at Little Rock; and Sahara Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Pine Bluff. He is likewise affiliated with the Knights of Pythias of Dumas, and the Woodmen of the World at Arkansas City. Since attaining his majority Mr. Meeks has given his allegiance to the democratic party, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good government. During the World war he put all personal interests aside and gave generously of his time and money in pro- moting the government's interests. For thirty days he served on the registration board and was ninety days active on the exemption board. Mr. Meeks is one of Arkansas City's representative and public-spirited citizens and the success he is now enjoying is well merited.

DRED R. DORENTE, M. D.

Dr. Dred R. Dorente, a Fort Smith physician of marked capability and a veteran of the World war, having served in the United States army with the rank of captain, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in October, 1881, and is a son of Norwood Ed and Mary Jane (Rumley) Dorente. The father came to Fort Smith about eighteen years ago and here engaged in the newspaper business, afterward becoming editor of the News Record. He was born in California and died in Arkansas in 1913. Both he and his wife were theatrical people and Dr. Dorente was born while his parents were on the stage, but later his father practiced law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from which city he removed to Fort Smith and was thereafter identified with newspaper publication until his life's labors were ended. He was a son of a soldier of the Spanish army, so that Dr. Dorente is of Spanish descent.

The latter was one of a family of six children. He completed his more specifically literary education in the West University of Pennsylvania and received his profes- sional training in the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery, from which he was graduated with the M. D. degree as a member of the class of 1907. In his practice he has specialized on diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat and there is no man in this branch of the profession in the southwest territory who has a more extensive or impor- tant practice. He located in Fort Smith in 1907 for professional work and in the inter- vening years his practice has steadily increased. Before joining the army he acted as eye, ear, nose and throat examiner on the draft board for the three counties of Sebastian, Crawford and Scott. On the 12th of June, 1918, however, he enlisted, join- ing the United States army and was commissioned a captain of the Base Hospital at Camp Stafford and also served at Camp Beauregard, in Louisiana. He acted as head and neck surgeon while in the army and was honorably discharged on the 18th of January, 1919. He then returned to resume the private practice of his profession in Fort Smith, where his ability has brought him prominently to the front.

Dr. Dorente belongs to the Knights of Pythias and also to the Benevolent Protec-

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tive Order of Elks and is a thirty-second degree Mason, being a loyal follower of the teachings and high purposes of these organizations. He likewise belongs to the Rotary Club and to the Noon Civics Club and every question of vital interest to the commu- nity is of deep concern to him. His cooperation can at all times be counted upon to further the general welfare. Nevertheless, he gives much time and attention to his important professional duties and has steadily advanced in his chosen calling. He now has membership in the Sebastian County Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society, the Medical Association of the Southwest, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Oto-laryngology.

J. W. BIARD.

J. W. Biard, who is conducting a dry cleaning establishment in Fort Smith, where he has carried on business since 1905, was born in Paris, Texas, in 1885, and there spent the period of his boyhood and youth, acquiring his education in the schools of that city. He started out to earn his living as a cowboy on the ranches of Texas and was thus employed in his later teens. He next became identified with a dry goods company at Paris, Texas, and worked in that way until he reached the age of twenty, when he left the Lone Star state to come to Arkansas. He was first employed in singing illustrated songs for the Fort Smith Traction Company of this city. Subsequently he was identified with R. C. Ballinger, a piano merchant of Fort Smith and also with the Bijou Theatre. In 1905 he established a pressing business, at which time his equipment consisted of an ironing board and two irons. Today he owns and occupies a large building on North Sixth street and operates two trucks in collection and delivery of the suits which he presses and cleans. He is enjoying a fine business as a dry cleaner and dyer, his trade having reached most gratifying pro- portions.

Associated with Mr. Biard in his work at all times has been his wife, Mrs. Lillie Grace (Sickles) Biard, a daughter of C. E. Sickles of Fort Smith. They have put forth a most earnest effort to please their patrons and their excellent work and reliable business methods have constituted the foundation upon which success has been built. Both Mr. and Mrs. Biard are much interested in the welfare of the city and contribute to every plan and measure for the general good. Mr. Biard belongs to vari- ous organizations, including the Masonic fraternity, the Woodmen of the World, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Lions Club and the Credit Men's Association. In these connections are indicated the rules which govern his conduct and shape his relations with his fellowmen. He is a man of business capability, of sterling personal worth and of progressive citizenship and by reason of these qualities he well deserves mention in the history of his adopted state.

CHARLEY YOUNG FORT.

Charley Young Fort, sawmill foreman for the Cotton Belt Lumber Company at Bearden, is one of this town's progressive and enterprising business men. He is a native of Arkansas, his birth having occurred on the 13th of November, 1880, in La- fayette county, his parents being Wilson N. and Elizabeth (Young) Fort, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Charleston, South Carolina. Their marriage was celebrated in Arkansas, to which state they had removed with their parents at an early age and the father died when Charley Young was but seven years of age. Mrs. Fort survived her husband until 1913.

In the acquirement of an education Charley Young Fort attended the district schools of Lafayette county and was reared to manhood on his father's farm. He lived there with his mother and sisters and as soon as he was large enough to hold the plow handles he helped to cultivate the land. At the age of nine years he had put in a crop which he tended and harvested himself. He was the sole support of the family and he operated the farm until his twenty-first birthday. He then apprenticed himself to the car- penter's trade and subsequently became a member of the construction force putting up several mills throughout Arkansas and Louisiana. He became thoroughly familiar with that line of work and later accepted a position with the Stout Lumber Company as operating millwright at their Thornton, Arkansas, plant. After two years in that connection he was transferred by his employers to their mill at Bearden, the Cotton Belt Lumber Company, and he has since been in full charge of the mill operations at this point. The business career of Mr. Fort illustrates in no uncertain manner what Vol. 11-37

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may be accomplished through individual effort without the assistance of family, friends or financial resources, and proves that success is ambition's answer.

In 1901 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Fort and Miss Lorena Burke of Buck- ner, this state, and to their union eight children have been born: Elizabeth, Nelms, Leroy, Sue Lee, Charles S., David, Edna Pearl, and Ralph. All of the children are living at home. The religious faith of the family is that of the Baptist church and Mr. Fort is a generous contributor to its support. Fraternally Mr. Fort is identified with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, holding membership in Buckner Lodge, No. 121, at Stamps, this state; and he is likewise a member of Mizpah Chapter, No. 124, Royal Arch Masons of the same place. He is considered an exemplary member of the craft, the teachings of which he follows in his everyday life. Always alert for every chance to advance himself, Mr. Fort has availed himself of every opportunity held out to him and is now accounted one of the representative business men of Bearden. He is recognized as a man of well-rounded character, whose interests are varied and who at all times keeps in close touch with the trend of modern thought and progress.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 91

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