Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 93

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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Since attaining his majority Mr. Dowell has been a stanchi supporter of the demo- cratic party, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good govern- ment. Although he has always taken an active part in political affairs he was for the first time a candidate of the party when running for county judge. The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church and they are consistent members of that organi- zation. Mr. Dowell is well known throughout the state and is held in high esteem for his personal integrity, his thorough manliness, his whole-hearted spirit and his generosity.

W. F. TURNER.

W. F. Turner, filling the position of postmaster at Atkins, Pope county, is one of the substantial citizens Georgia has furnished to Arkansas, his birth having occurred near Altoona, in the former state, October 9, 1868. The family has been represented in Georgia through several generations. The grandfather, Zachary Green Turner, was born in that state, where he was extensively engaged in farming and owned a large number of slaves prior to the Civil war. He also held several positions of public honor and trust in Bartow county. His son, Columbus M. Turner, father of W. F. Turner, was born near Altoona, Georgia, in 1841, and in that state he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Brooks, whose birth occurred near Cartersville, Georgia, and who was a daughter of William Brooks, who spent his life in the vicinity of Cartersville, where he followed the occupation of farming. Some years after their marriage, or in 1871, Mr. and Mrs. Columbus M. Turner came to Arkansas, settling in Pope county, where two years later he homesteaded an eighty-acre tract of land, continuing to own the farm until his death. Before removing to this state he had served throughout the Civil war, joining the Confederate army as a member of the Philip Legion, which went from Georgia, in July, 1861. He participated in a number of the important battles of the long and sanguinary conflict and took part in the cam- paigns in Virginia and West Virginia and the second battle of Bull Run. The end of the war found him without funds, owing to the devastation which is always brought by strife, and he came to Arkansas in a destitute condition, having but five dollars in cur- rency when he arrived. He first rented a farm, but after two years he secured his home- stead and began its cultivation, transforming it eventually into a splendid farm. He was a democrat in politics and religiously he adhered to the faith of the Primitive Baptist church, while his wife was a member of the Missionary Baptist church. They had a family of ten children, of whom W. F. is the eldest. The others are: Z. G., a farmer of Chandler, Texas; G. R., who follows farming at Bullard, Texas; J. M., engaged in farming at Gainesville, Texas; Kirkscey, who devotes his attention to the work of tilling the soil near Tyler, Texas; Edgar, also a farmer of the same locality; Marion, likewise a farmer of that place; Mrs. Lula Bentley, a widow, living at Russellville, Arkansas; Bertha, the wife of James Reed, a contractor of Russellville; and W. H., who is engaged in merchan- dising at Atkins, Arkansas.

Acquiring a common school education in Pope county, W. F. Turner concentrated his efforts and attention upon farm work. In young manhood he also took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for twenty years in Pope county, becoming widely rec- ognized as one of the ablest educators in this section of the state. He taught school at Atkins for a period of five years, from 1894 until 1901, and in 1896 he was made county school examiner and continued to fill the position until 1900. In 1902 he was again chosen to that office and remained as the incumbent in the position until 1904. In 1898 he became

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identified with newspaper publication through the purchase of the Atkins Chronicle, which he conducted until 1917, when he sold the paper. In 1913 he had been appointed post- master of Atkins and entered upon the duties of the position on the 16th of June of that year. He served until February 20, 1922, having been reappointed to the office, the duties of which he discharges with marked capability, promptness and fidelity. He has made a popular official because of the uniform courtesies which he extends to the patrons of the office and the promptness and accuracy with which he cares for the mails that are received and distributed from this point.

In 1892 Mr. Turner was married to Miss Amanda Thompson, a daughter of Judge William Thompson of Russellville, who filled the position of county judge eight years. During the Civil war he served as a Confederate soldier. Mr. and Mrs. Turner had be- come parents of four children: Lyle, the eldest, was educated in Atkins, in Arkadelphia and in the State University, and on the 2d of June, 1917, he joined the army, being trained at Camp Brough, in Little Rock, and at Fort Logan H. Roots, also at Camp Beauregard in Louisiana, at Leon Springs, Texas, and at Camp Gordon, in Georgia. He was dis- charged December 2, 1918, and is now civil engineer, practicing his profession at Atkins; Webster, who completed a course in the Atkins high school and afterward attended the Henderson-Brown College at Arkadelphia, volunteered for the World war when nineteen years of age and was trained at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, where he received a commission and then went to Valparaiso, Indiana, and to Fort Benjamin Harrison, in Indianapolis. He received his discharge December 24, 1918, having entered the service July 24, 1917, and he is now assistant civil engineer in connection with the highways of Pope county; Kathleen, the third member of the family, supplemented her early education by a year's study in the Agricultural College at Russellville and in the State Normal at Conway, Arkansas, and is now teaching in the third grade of the public schools in Atkins; Mar- garine is a pupil in the Atkins schoos.

Mrs. Turner and the children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Turner is a Royal Arch Mason and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He has filled all of the chairs in the Masonic lodge save that of master and is a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. In politics he has always been a stalwart democrat, active in the work of the party and he served as a mem- ber of the town council and as justice of the peace. He is a member of the Arkansas Press Association and was its financial secretary for twelve years. He has served as secretary and as chairman of the democratic central committee and has been untiring in his efforts to promote democratic successes, being a recognized leader in party ranks in this section where his life has been passed and the sterling worth of his character is attested by all who know him.

HOYT KIRKPATRICK.

Hoyt Kirkpatrick, who was one of the pioneers in conducting moving picture houses in the southwest, is now the owner of two of the finest theatres of this kind in Fort Smith -the Palace and the Princess. He is also interested in the building of the new Joie theatre, which is rapidly nearing completion. His natural spirit of progressiveness is constantly manifest in connection with the line of business which he has undertaken and there is no one who has done more to advance the interests of the moving picture houses in Fort Smith, holding at all times, as he does, to the highest standards and presenting the best film productions. Mr. Kirkpatrick was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1881, and is a son of Moses and Ophelia (Pierce) Kirkpatrick. The father was a well known river captain on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers following the Civil war and during the progress of hostilities between the north and the south was a pilot on a gunboat at Fort Sumter and also served on other naval boats. On one occasion his hat was shot from his head.

Hoyt Kirkpatrick was educated in Georgetown College of Kentucky and liberal train- ing well qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. After leaving school he engaged in the dry goods business but later embarked in the promotion of amusement enterprises. He was engaged in the theatrical business at Cisco, Texas, becoming one of the pioneers in connection with the moving picture shows in the southwest. As was the custom at that time, vocal selections were rendered in addition to the showing of films and Mr. Kirkpatrick, possessing a good singing voice, not only took tickets at the theatre and operated his machine but sang songs. He also conducted a moving picture house at different times at Cleburne, Texas, Gainesville and Dallas, Texas. In 1909 he came to Fort Smith, where he opened a small moving picture theatre, and since that time his progress has been continuous, success attending his efforts in large measure. He is now the owner of the Palace and Princess theatres, two of the leading moving picture houses

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of the city, but also conducted the Lyric theatre for productions of the legitimate stage. Moreover, he is the promoter and leading spirit in connection with the building of the new Joie theatre, which is nearing completion and will be one of the handsomest moving picture theatres of the southwest and probably the finest appointed theatre to be found in any town of this size. It is being erected and equipped at a cost of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, with a seating capacity of fifteen hundred, and will be de- voted exclusively to moving pictures and high-class vaudeville. There are store rooms on the ground floor and office rooms on the upper floors of the building and the structure is indeed a credit and ornament to the city. The officers of the Joie Theatre Company are: Hoyt Kirkpatrick, president; R. K. Bonner, vice president, and J. K. Sawyer, secretary. Throughout Mr. Kirkpatrick's career as a promoter of amusement he has been ably as- sisted and counseled by his sister, Mrs. Jennie K. Sawyer, a woman of rare business ability and tact, who is the secretary of the Joie Theatre Company. She has been as- sociated with Mr. Kirkpatrick in all of his ventures and has had much to do in attaining the success of these enterprises.

Mr. Kirkpatrick has ever closely studied the trend of the times in relation to public amusements and has been ready to meet popular demaud. He has also done much to edu- cate taste in the direction of high-class moving picture productions and the finest attrac- tions of filmland are shown in the houses that he has owned and controlled.

HARVEY D. FERGUSON, D. C.

Dr. Harvey D. Ferguson, a well kuown chiropractor ,of Hot Springs, Arkansas, was born in Hot Springs, South Dakota, on the 4th of June, 1890. There he was reared and educated, attending the public schools until he passed through consecutive grades to the high school. He afterward determined to engage in the practice of chiropractic and in 1913 he entered the National Chiropractic School at Chicago, Illinois, from which in due course of time he was graduated. He also attended the Palmer School of Chiropractic at Davenport, Iowa, and thus gained comprehensive knowledge along the line of his chosen life work. His skill and ability have been greatly developed through experience and he is today very successful. He came to Hot Springs in the winter of 1914 and in addition to his work as a chiropractor he uses the X-ray in his profession.

Dr. Ferguson was married in 1913 to Miss Winifred Moody and they have gained many friends during the period of their residence in this city. Dr. Ferguson belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and also to the Masonic fraternity, being a thirty-second degree Mason and Shriner, and he is a loyal follower of the high teachings and purposes of the craft.

M. A. BUNDY.

M. A. Bundy, who traces his ancestry to the Pilgrims, made a most creditable record as mayor of Bentonville and in business connections has become well known as a success- ful oil operator, while he is now conducting real estate and automobile interests. His plans are carefully formulated and promptly executed, for he is a man of determined purpose who carries forward to a successful termination whatever he undertakes. He is a native of Missouri, his birth having occurred at Hartville, in 1864. His parents, Rev. S. G. and Camelia (Knapp) Bundy, were natives of the state of New York and subse- quently removed to Wisconsin, whence they made their way to Missouri. While residing in Wisconsin the father enlisted as a soldier in the Civil war, going with Sherman on his memorable march to the sea and participating in many notable engagements, his service covering a period of four years. Mr. and Mrs. Bundy became the parents of five children: O. S., who follows agricultural pursuits, his home being at Terrell, Texas; G. S., of Bon- ham, Texas, who is connected with railroad interests; M. A., of this review; Laura, who is the wife of Carl Smith of Oneonta, New York, and Frank, a farmer residing at Albany, New York. Mrs. Bundy died near Guthrie, Oklahoma, her demise being caused by drown- ing. Some time after her death Mr. Bundy returned to New York, where his second mar- riage occurred. He died in New York state at the venerable age of eighty-two years. He was a deeply religious man and for a number of years was identified with the ministry, first as a representative of the Methodist church, while later he became a Baptist in religious faith, his labors being a strong moving force for moral progress in the com- munities which he served. He also engaged in farming aud for about thirty years made his home in Texas. He was a hard working, industrious man and success in substantial

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measure rewarded his efforts. He was a son of Stephen Bundy, whose ancestral record was traced back to the Pilgrims.

In the Lone Star state M. A. Bundy acquired his education and he began life as a section hand, continuing in railroad work for a period of twenty-five years. For thirteen years he acted as general agent for the Fort Worth & Denver Railroad Company at Wichita Falls, Texas, witnessing the rapid development of the town and taking a prominent part in public affairs of that locality, acting as police and fire commissioner and also serving for a number of years as a member of the school board. In 1918 he left the service of the railroad and entered the oil field, in which he was very successful, becoming the first president of the Texas Petroleum Refiners' Association, of which all of the refineries in the state were members. While there residing he became a charter member of the Rotary Club and he also joined the blue lodge of Masons and the Knights of Pythias. In 1919 he arrived in Bentonville, where he has since made his home, and is now engaged in the automobile business, having the agency for the Chandler and Cleve- land cars. He also deals in real estate and has built up a business of substantial pro- portions in both lines of activity, for he possesses marked executive ability, keen dis- cernment and enterprise, which are essential elements in the attainment of success. He has become the owner of two well improved farms in Benton county, one of which is devoted to the raising of fruit.

On the 27th of March, 1900, Mr. Bundy was united in marriage to Miss Emma Cray- croft, a native of Sedalia, Missouri, and they have become the parents of three children: Paul, who is attending the State University of Arkansas; Mabel, a high school student, and Frank, a pupil in the grades.

Mr. Bundy is an earnest and faithful member of the Christian church and while a resident of Wichita Falls, Texas, was active in religious affairs, serving as chairman of the church board from 1919 until his removal to Bentonville in 1920. In politics he is a democrat with independent views and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his wortlı and ability, elected him to the mayoralty on the 30th of December, 1920, just one year after his arrival here. Their faith in him was amply justified, for he gave to the town a businesslike and progressive administration, his influence being ever on the side of advancement and improvement. During the World war he was chairman of the Home Service committee and was also active in Red Cross work, with which he is still con- nected, now serving as chairman of the Benton County Chapter of that organization. Mr. Bundy deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in a business way, for he started out in life empty-handed and has worked his way steadily upward by persistent energy and unfaltering enterprise. He has ever directed his business by the rules which govern strict integrity and his history proves that success and an honored name may be won simultaneously.

HUGH G. POPE.

Hugh G. Pope, filling the position of deputy county clerk, with office at Van Buren, was born in 1892, in the city in which he still resides, his parents being G. E. and Alice (Jennings) Pope. The grandfather in the maternal line was John Jennings, who served as a captain in the Union army during the Civil war. The paternal grandfather was Andrew Pope, who was a native of Ohio and removed from that state to Camden, Arkan- sas. The Jennings ancestors were originally from Virginia and after leaving that state settled at Chester, Kentucky, whence John Jennings, grandfather of Hugh G. Pope, came to Arkansas. It was in the year 1880 that G. E. Pope established his home in Van Buren, where he took up the business of contracting and building, thus becoming closely identified with the improvement and progress of the city. He and his wife had a family of three children, Hugh G., Lawrence and Maude, the last named deceased.

Hugh G. Pope, spending his youthful days under the parental roof, pursued his edu- cation in the public schools of Van Buren and after his textbooks were put aside engaged in newspaper work here, but following America's entrance into the World war he joined the army on the 26th of April, 1917, and was assigned to the supply train of the Second Arkansas Infantry, which was later made the One Hundred and Forty-second Field Artillery. He was trained at Camp Beauregard and afterward was sent overseas, arriv- ing at Brest, France, on the 7th of September, 1918. He then went to Coquedon, where the regiment was divided, Mr. Pope's battalion being sent to Valdahon. He returned to the United States in August, 1919. While overseas he became a member of a soldiers' theatrical troupe. Following his return to Van Buren, Mr. Pope was appointed to the office of deputy county clerk, in which position he is now serving, discharging his duties with promptness and faithfulness, accuracy characterizing all of his work. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. By reason of his war

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service his experiences in life have been broad and varied, bringing to him that rapid development of manhood which would never come with the passage of time in the ordi- nary routine of life.

HAL L. NORWOOD.

Hal L. Norwood, attorney at law, practicing at the bar of Mena, Polk county, was born in Sevier county, Arkansas, September 26, 1871. He is a son of Lewis H. Norwood and a grandson of Ben Norwood, who was born in North Carolina and became one of the earliest of the pioneer settlers in Sevier county, Arkansas. He owned the first store in the county, hauling the lumber from Camden to build the store and bringing his goods from Gaines landing. This store is still standing, one of the mute evidences of pioneer times and conditions. His son, Lewis H. Norwood, was born in North Carolina in 1836, and was married in Paraclifta to Frances Gilliam who had first married Capt. Robert C. Gilliam. She was born in Tennessee in 1836, her father having been John Russey, who came to Howard county, Arkansas, at an early day and built the first brick farm residence in the county, and it is still standing. He was a successful agriculturist in this part of the state and owned a few slaves. Lewis H. Norwood devoted his life to merchan- dising and conducted a store at Paraclifta and also at Lockesburg, both he and his wife spending their last days in Lockesburg. The father was a Confederate veteran, serving with the southern army for four years. In business he was quite successful and the sterling worth of his character was attested by all who knew him. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church and he gave his political allegiance to the democratic party. To him and his wife were born five children, three of whom are living: J. P., who is a farmer of Lockesburg; Hal L., of this review, and M. L., also living at Lockesburg, where he is engaged in the practice of medicine. The father died in 1894.

Hal L. Norwood, after attending the common schools, continued his education at Hendrix College at Altus, Arkansas, and later spent one term as a student in the State University. He next matriculated in Washington and Lee College at Lexington, Virginia, where he pursued a law course and was admitted to the bar in July, 1893. He then began practice at Lockesburg and not only became recognized as an able lawyer but also as a lawmaker, being elected to the state legislature before he was twenty-one years of age as representative from Sevier county. He served for one term and later was elected prose- cuting attorney, continuing in that position for two terms. On his retirement from the office he removed to Mena in 1898 and here entered upon active practice in connection with Judge J. D. Shaver, now chancellor of the district, with whom he practiced until 1901, when he was elected to the state senate, the district comprising Polk, Sevier, Howard and Little River counties. During the session of 1901 a new district was created com- posed of Scott and Polk counties and through legislative enactment Mr. Norwood became representative from this district. He served for one term and in 1901 was instrumental in securing the passage of a bill creating the chancery district and Judge Shaver was made chancellor thereof. This of necessity terminated the law partnership and Mr. Norwood afterward became a partner of J. 1. Alley, with whom he practiced until 1908. In that year Mr. Norwood was elected attorney general of the state and served for four years. With his retirement from this position he entered upon the private practice of law in Little Rock, where he continued until 1918. He then returned to Mena, where he once more became a partner of Mr. Alley and the association has since been main- tained. Mr. Norwood was also a candidate for the office of governor against Robinson and Donaghey but withdrew and nominated Robinson in the state convention. He has exerted a widely felt influence over political thought and action and over many questions of public concern and his aid has ever been given on the side of progress and advance- ment.

In 1892 Mr. Norwood was married to Miss Kate Anderson, who was born in Texas, a daughter of T. T. C. Anderson, who became an early resident of Little River county and has taught school for more than a half century, being now a teacher at Fulton, Arkansas, although seventy-seven years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Norwood have been born four children: Hal received his education at Hendrix College and Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and is now holding a clerical position in Mena. He served with the American army before the war and was in France for almost two years during the period of World strife, being connected with the engineering department; Frank Anderson, the second son, was educated in the literary and medical departments of the Arkansas State University, and is now practicing his profession in Lockesburg. He was a member of the medical corps during the World war and was in France, serving with the rank of lieutenant; Kate Ellen, a graduate of the University of Arkansas is the wife of J. R. Wood, a merchant of Ashdown, Arkansas; Raymond is a bookkeeper at Whitecliffs. He was educated at the

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Tyler Business College in Tyler, Texas, and thus qualified for the position which he is now filling.

In politics Mr. Norwood has always been a stalwart democrat and an active worker in the party ranks. He was a delegate to the national convention in Baltimore when Woodrow Wilson was nominated and was made a member from Arkansas to notify him of his election. He has attended many conventions and at all times has taken a deep and helpful interest in party work. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church. In 1893 he was made World's Fair commissioner at Chicago. He now devotes his entire time to his practice and he and his partner enjoy a very extensive clientage, the firm of Norwood and Alley figuring most conspicuously at the bar of Arkansas. Mr. Norwood was the first attorney general of the state to furnish a printed report of the affairs of that office. He has at all times advocated the publicity of the work of county and state officials. His own record is one which will hear the closest investigation and scrutiny and his efforts have been a potent force in upholding the legal status and maintaining the high standards of citizenship in the state.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 93

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