Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 97

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. Wilkinson was married in 1902 to Miss Myrtle Means and they have become parents of three children: Louise (deceased) and Means and Lillian. The family is well known in Greenwood and this part of the state, the hospitality of many of the best homes being freely accorded them. During the World war period Mr. Wilkinson served as chairman of the War Savings Stamps committee and otherwise did everything in his power to uphold the interests of the government. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which he takes active part, serving now as ruling elder, and he is also identified with the Masonic fraternity, being equally loyal to the teachings and high purposes of the craft.

WILLIAM A. WOODCOCK.

William A. Woodcock, of Hot Springs, is a native of England, in which country he was reared, remaining there through the period of his minority or until twenty years of age. He then crossed the Atlantic to the new world and first settled in Union county. North Carolina, where his father had previously located. There William A. Woodcock continued to reside for two years, at the end of which time he came to Arkansas, set- tling in the southern part of the state, where he continued for three years. In 1878 he re- moved to Hot Springs and secured a clerkship in the store of Walter Moore & Company. remaining in that position for two years. He afterward established business on his own

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account in connection with his brother, J. H. Woodcock, opening a dry goods store. Later he established the present store of Woodcock & Lawson, dealers in dry goods and other merchandise. In fact they have a large and well appointed store, carrying on a business of very substantial and gratifying proportions, Everything is strictly modern in their establishment and the line of goods which they handle, together with their reasonable prices and thoroughly reliable methods, has secured to them a very liberal and grati- fying patronage.

In 1881 Mr. Woodcock was married to Miss Loretta E. Hale, a daughter of John Hfale, one of the early pioneers of Hot Springs, in whose honor the Hale Bath House was named. Mr. and Mrs. Woodcock became parents of three children: Lillian, the wife of E. L. Bryant of Hot Springs; William Cleveland, now living in Denver, Colo- rado; and one child who died in infancy. The wife and mother died in 1916, and Mr. Woodcock has since married Miss Clara E. Loyd. They reside in the Wood- cock Apartments, which MI. Woodcock owns. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his religious faith is that of the Methodist church. The life record of Mr. Woodcock indicates what can be accomplished through the utilization of opportunity and the exercise of diligence and perseverance as factors in the attainment of success. Coming to the new world empty-handed when twenty years of age, he has since made steady advancement and with him each day has marked off a full-faithed attempt to know more and to grow more. Thus his labors have become increasingly forceful in business circles and he is today one of the leading merenants of his adopted city.

A. BURTON BANKS.

A. Burton Banks, a native of Arkansas, fifty-three years of age and a successful business man, has risen steadily by reason of his own capacity and powers, his energy and determination carrying him steadily forward until he ranks today as one of the representative financial men of Arkansas. Born in Little Rock, April 2, 1868, he is a son of Richard Tunstall and Sarah (Robertson) Banks, who removed from Pulaski county, Arkansas, to Monticello. The father was a native son of this state, horn in 1838, and devoted his life to merchandising. He was descended from an old Virginia family represented in this country from early colonial days. During the pioneer epoch in the history of Alabama representatives of the name went to that state and in 1827 came to Arkansas. Several members of the family were soldiers of the Colonial and Revolutionary wars, while Richard T. Banks enlisted as a private and rose to the rank of captain in the Confederate army during the Civil war from 1861 until 1865. As a citizen, as a soldier and as a business man he was highly esteemed wherever known, His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and his opinions, political and otherwise, were a matter of influence in the community in which he lived. He mar- ried Sarah Ann Robertson, a native of Mississippi, whose ancestors had settled in that state during its early pioneer period. The death of Mr. Banks occurred in 1899, while his wife survived for two decades, departing this life in 1920.

A. Burton Banks was educated in the schools of Monticello and afterward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for five years. He then established an insurance agency at Fordyce, Arkansas, and that he entered upon a field for which he was particularly fitted is shown in the fact that he is still active in that line and that he is ranked today among the foremost representatives of insurance interests in the southwest. In 1900 he became one of the organizers of the Home Accident Insurance Company and soon thereafter was elected to the presidency. In 1905 he was associated with others in organizing the Home Fire Insurance Company, of which he became and is still president. In 1913 the Home Accident Company was reorganized as the Home Life & Accident Insurance Company and is still conducted under that name and under the presidency of Mr. Banks. While the latter has achieved prominence as an insurance executive, he has not devoted his talents to that line alone. He is largely interested in the lumber business, is vice president of the Hodge-Hunt Lumber Company of Hodge, Louisiana, and vice president of the Arkansas Vancouver Lumber Company of Van- conver Island, British Columbia. He is likewise interested in the Adams-Banks Lumher Company of Morton, Mississippi, and in other large lumher corporations. It is perhaps in banking circles, however, that he has become most widely and prominently known, being recognized as one of the representative men of finance in the south. He is the president of the Southern Trust Company of Little Rock, one of the most important banking institutions in this part of the country. The bank is capitalized for five hun- dred thousand dollars, has assets of four million, five hundred and seventy-five thousand

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dollars and carries deposits of nearly three million dollars. Mr. Banks is also president of the Bank of Fordyce and is interested in several other banking institutions in Arkansas. In addition to his financial interests of this character he is also actively connected with mercantile concerns, including the Hampton Grocery Company of Fordyce and the Bauxite Mercantile Company of Bauxite, Arkansas. The prosperity which he has won is indeed well deserved, for not only has he builded his own success but his time, his means and his intellect have always been employed in the upbuilding of Arkansas and his investments have been so placed as to be of great advantage to the people of the state, both in direct employment of many and also by reason of the use- fulness of the enterprises which he has fostered and promoted,

In 1893 Mr. Banks was united in marriage to Miss Anna McFadden, a daughter of Theodore McFadden, a well known planter whose ancestors settled in South Carolina. She possessed all of the fine characteristics and kindly hospitality of her southern ancestors. She died in 1903, leaving three children: Lawrence, A. Burton, Jr., and Robert Theodore. The first named, like his honored ancestors, fought for his country when the alarm of war was sounded. He entered the service in connection with the conflict with Germany and was commissioned a first lieutenant of the One Hundred and Forty-first Machine Gun Battalion, with which he served until the close of the war. He is now with the Home Insurance Company.

On the 1st of November, 1905, Mr. Banks married Miss Lottie Holmes, a daughter of Ben H. Holmes, a well known merchant of Princeton, Arkansas, and they have become parents of two children: Sarah A. and Richard Holmes, who are, respectively, pupils in the high and graded schools of Little Rock.

A democrat in politics, Mr. Banks has never sought nor accepted public office save that he once served as alderman of Fordyce-a position which he accepted solely for the benefit of the city, He was also a member of the constitutional convention as a delegate from the sixth congressional district and again he felt it to be his personal duty to bear his part in shaping the policy of the state through its organic law. He was. appointed one of the regents of the University of Arkansas by Governor Robinson in 1913 and served as well under Governors Hays, Brough and McRae, or for a period of nearly ten years. The only fraternal organizations with which he is identified are the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in the former he has filled all of the chairs, In religions faith he is a Presbyterian, serving as an elder in the Second Presbyterian church of Little Rock, in which he has his membership. Both he and his wife are members of the Country Club and their social position, like his business standing, is one of leadership.

FRANK P. HARRIS.

Frank P. Harris, a native son of Arkansas and a representative in both the paternal and maternal lines of old and prominent families of the state, has devoted practically his entire life to journalistic interests but recently has also taken up municipal work, acting for a time as recorder and collector in the heat, light and power plant of Ben- tonville. He was born in Fayetteville, this state, May 18, 1883, a son of William D. and Julia L. (Anderson) Harris, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Arkansas, They were married in this state and shortly afterward the father enlisted in the Con- federate army, heing wounded during Price's raid into Missouri, He served in Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi until the close of the Civil war, after which he located near Red Bluff, this state, near his father's plantation in Jefferson county and there resumed the growing of cotton and conducted a mercantile business. Subsequently he went to Fayetteville, Arkansas, making the journey by team and wagon, and there engaged in merchandising for a number of, years, Mr. and Mrs. Harris were members of the Baptist church and fraternally he was identified with the Masons, belonging to the lodge and chap- ter, while his political allegiance was given to the democratic party. He died on the 19th of May, 1912, His widow survives and is yet a resident of Bentonville. They became the parents of eight children, six of whom are living: Laura, who is a talented artist and maintains a studio in Bentonville; Mrs. F. C. Holland, the wife of a well known cotton planter, real estate dealer and cotton operator of Lake Village and Pine Bluff, Arkansas: Robert ('., who resides at St. Louis, Missouri, and acts as traveling representative for the cigar house of F. R. Rice & Company; Rowena, living in Benton- ville; Alice, also residing there; and Frank P., of this review. The paternal grand- father, Robert Godlock Harris, was a native of MeLemoresville, Tennessee, but the family originally settled in the Carolinas. He married Sarah Thomas Daugherty and they came to Arkansas about 1845. They continued residents of this state nntil their demise, Mr. Harris becoming the owner of a large plantation, on which he successfully engaged

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in the growing of cotton. His only surviving son, C. D. Harris, is yet living on this plantation, which is still owned by members of the family, and the only surviving daugh- ter, Mrs. N. S. Achard, resides near the old home. The maternal grandfather, Antoine Barraque, was a native of France and was educated for the Catholic priesthood. He afterward entered the army, serving under Napoleon Bonaparte, of whom he was a warm admirer. After the banishment of his commander Mr. Barraque emigrated to the United States, landing at New Orleans, Louisiana, whence he made his way to Jefferson county, Arkans. s, where he took up land and there spent the remainder of his life. He became the owner of a large plantation, having many slaves, and raised cotton on an extensive scale. Mr. Barraque was also one of the earliest residents at Arkansas Post, which place he helped to establish. He was a progressive and successful business man and operated one of the first mills in Arkansas, its machinery being sent from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by water. He was one of the most prominent citizens of his community and his career was a long, active and useful one, his demise occurring after he had passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey.

Following his graduation from the Bentonville high school Frank P. Harris started out in life on his own account, obtaining a situation with the Benton Hardware Com- pany, with which he remained for a period of nine years. He had always been interested in journalism, and deciding to enter that field, he leased the Benton County Democrat, a weekly newspaper published in Bentonville, and later started the Bentonville Daily. He subsequently became the owner of the Daily Democrat, which he has conducted per- sonally up to this time, with the exception of a short period when he was serving the city of Bentonville in the capacity of recorder and collector.

Mr. Harris gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He has served as alderman and recorder of Bentonville. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, having membership in the lodge and chapter, and for the past three years has been master of his lodge.

REV. CARROLL D. WOOD, JR.

One of the representative citizens of Lake Village is Rev. Carroll D. Wood, min- ister of the Baptist church here. He is a native son of Arkansas, his birth having occur- red at Monticello on the 27th of September, 1880. He is of Scotch-Irish descent on his father's side, the paternal ancestors having resided in Georgia and other southern states for many years after coming to this country. In 1840 the Wood family came to Arkansas and located in Lacy, where they were one of the pioneer families. The father of Carroll D. Wood is Judge Z. T. Wood, who was born in Lacy, this state, and is now residing in Monticello at the advanced age of seventy-two years. For twenty eight years he has been engaged in the practice of law and during that time has held various public offices. For eight years he was circuit judge of the tenth judicial district and for ten years was chancellor of Drew, Ashley, Bradley, Chicot and Desha counties. He is one of Monticello's best beloved citizens. At Monticello, in 1875, Judge Wood was united in marriage to Miss Tommie Stanley, who was born near Holly Springs, Mississippi. Her parents came to Arkansas in 1857, and located four miles west of Monticello, being among the early pioneer families there. Mrs. Wood is living and is now sixty-seven years of age and enjoying the best of health. To the union of Judge and Mrs. Wood three boys and two girls were born, of whom two boys and one girl are living. Carroll D. Wood was the fourth in order of birth.

In the acquirement of an education Carroll D. Wood attended the public schools . of Monticello, and later entered Ouachita College at Arkadelphia, from which institu- tion he was graduated in 1904, with the A. B. degree. Subsequently he enrolled as a student in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, Kentucky, and was graduated from that institution in 1907, with the Th. G. degree. In that year he accepted a charge at Fordyce and after remaining there six months he took a six months postgraduate course in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary of Louisville, Ken- tucky. Subsequently he went to Dyersburg, Tennessee, as pastor of the Baptist church, from 1908 to 1910, and in the latter year he came to Arkansas, locating at Tillar, where he was pastor of the churches at that place at Portland and at Arkansas City for one year. From 1911 to 1914 he was pastor of the First Baptist church at Pine Bluff and in the latter year he came to Lake Village, where he is now residing. Mr. Wood preaches three Sundays out of every month in Lake Village and the other Sunday in Tillar. He is now planning on building a new church here, the cost of which will amount to over thirty thousand dollars, and which will be up-to-date in every particular. The present church was founded in 1861 and is one of the oldest churches in Lake Village.

On the 21st of October, 1908, Carroll D. Wood, Jr., was united in marriage to Miss

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Julia McIver, a daughter of Judge A. W. McIver, a prominent resident of Caldwell, Texas, where the ceremony was performed. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wood three sons have been born: Thomas Julian, twelve years of age; Robert Carroll, ten years of age; and William McIver, seven years of age, Mrs. Wood is a woman of much cul- ture and refinement and a leader in club, church and social circles.

Fraternally Mr. Wood is identified with the Masons, holding membership in B. H. Reynolds Lodge, No. 563, A. F. & A. M., and the Knights of Pythias. While heavy de- mands are made upon the time and attention of Mr. Wood, he has yet found opportunity for cooperation in many public movements whereby the welfare and upbuilding of the city have been promoted. He has many admirable traits and among his noble qualities is his large capacity for friendship.

W. M. LAMBERT, M. D.

Dr. W. M. Lambert, engaged in the practice of medicine at Winthrop, is a native son of Arkansas, his birth having occurred in Drew county, December 16, 1858. He was reared on a farm with the usual experiences of the farm-bred boy who divides his time between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. After acquiring a common school education he made his plans for a professional career and entered upon a course of study in the Pennsylvania Medical College at Philadelphia, where he was graduated with the class of 1880, on the completion of the full course of study. Having thus qualified for professional duties, he returned to Arkansas, where he practiced for a year and then removed to the Indian Territory. In 1885 he located in Sevier county but in 1889 removed to Little River county, opening an office at Wilton, where he also established and conducted a drug store. He re- mained in active practice at Wilton until 1894, when he came to Winthrop and here, too, he opened a drug store, which he equipped with a line of drugs and druggists' sundries, and was soon successful in building up a large trade. He has continued throughout the intervening years in the active practice of medicine and his ability is recognized in the liberal patronage accorded him.

In 1892 Dr. Lambert was married to Miss Allie Belle Dupree and they have become parents of six children, five sons and a daughter. Dr. and Mrs. Lambert are members of the Methodist church and take an active interest in those forces and agencies which make for higher standards of living, for the uplift of the individual and the benefit of the community at large. Dr. Lambert has served as school director for a number of years and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He has also been prominent in connection with other public duties, being the first postmaster of Wilton and serving in that capacity for three years. He was also town recorder and at all times has been most loyal to the trust reposed in him, discharging his public duties with the same thoroughness and efficiency that has characterized his professional activities.

EMMETT D. BUTLER, M. D.

Since establishing his office in Wilmar, Dr. Emmett D. Butler has built up a large practice and his pronounced ability has won for him recognition as one of the lead- ing physicians and surgeons of this part of the state. He was born in Amite county. Mississippi, January 7, 1885, his parents being Jabez W. and Sarah Elizabeth (Jack- son) Butler, who were also natives of that county, in which the father still resides, having become the owner of a well improved and productive farm. The mother died on the 24th of July, 1919.

In the acquirement of an education Emmett D. Butler attended the public schools of Mississippi, afterward becoming a student at the Ruskin Cave College of Ruskin, Tennessee, in which he completed a two years' conrse, spent one year at the Mississippi College, at Clinton, Mississippi, and in 1909 entered the medical department of Tulane University at New Orleans, Louisiana, from which he was graduated with the class of 1913. Coming to Arkansas, he opened an office in Wilmar, where he has since successfully followed his profession and as the years have passed his practice has steadily grown. In 1919 he was appointed physician and surgeon for the Gates Lum- ber Company and he is earnest and conscientious in the discharge of his professional duties. Close study has formed the basis of his advancement, and combined with an appreciation of the scientific phases of his profession is a deep and abiding sympathy that prompts him to put forth earnest and effective effort where the welfare of his fellowmen is involved. Feeling that progress should be the watchword of the profes-

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sion at all times, he keeps in touch with the great truths which science is constantly revealing, through his membership in the Drew County and Arkansas State Medical Societies.

On the 6th of October, 1914, Dr. Butler was united in marriage to Miss Edna Lea of Liberty, Mississippi, and they have two children: Mary Frances and Monette Lea. Dr. and Mrs. Butler are members of the Baptist church and their lives are guided by its teachings. He holds to high ideals in his professional labors and is accorded the respect of his fellow practitioners and also of the general public.

CLAUDE H. KYLE.

Claude H. Kyle, cashier of the Bank of Magazine, is well known in the financial circles of Logan county and is accounted one of the representative and progressive citi- zens of the town in which he makes his home. He was born in Magazine, December :7, 1879, his parents being W. N. and Fannie (Neeley) Kyle, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. The Kyle family has long been represented in that state. The grand- father, J. P. Kyle, was born in Tennessee and spent his entire life there. He served with the Confederate army in the Civil war and was shot through the body but recovered from his injuries and lived to an advanced age. The marriage of W. N. and Fannie (Neeley) Kyle was celebrated in Waynesboro, Tennessee, and in 1878 they came to Arkansas, making the journey by wagon and afterward clearing the land upon which the town of Magazine now stands. W. N. Kyle owned one hundred and twenty acres of land, which he converted into a well improved farm, and his entire life was devoted to agricultural interests. He died in 1918, having long survived his wife, whose death oc- curred in 1892. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Kyle was a democrat in politics. Fraternally he was connected with the Woodmen. To him and his wife were born five children; Claude H .; Myrtle, the wife of F. T. Nix, who is en- gaged in the insurance business in Los Angeles, California; Cecil, who is in the oil fields near Los Angeles; Ulysses, also connected with oil development work at Los Angeles; and Sidney L., a railway operator at Abilene, Texas.

Claude H. Kyle pursued his education in the public schools at Magazine and made his initial step in the business world by entering a dry goods store. with which he was connected for twenty years. Eventually, however, he turned his attention from mer- cantile to financial pursuits by entering the Bank of Magazine as cashier in 1917. He has since occupied this position and has made a most courteous, obliging and competent bank official, doing everything in his power to promote the interests of the institution and safeguard the depositors. The bank has a capital of twelve thousand five hundred dollars and a surplus of eleven thousand dollars, while the average deposits are one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

In 1899 Mr. Kyle was married to Miss Rinnie Carpenter, who was born in Franklin county, Arkansas, a daughter of J. N. Carpenter, a pioneer farmer and merchant of Franklin county, now living at Branch, Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Kyle have become par- ents of three children, of whom two are living, Heston and Winton, both in school.

Politically Mr. Kyle is a democrat and has filled different town offices, being ever loyal and faithful in the discharge of his public duties. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows and has passed through all of the chairs of the local lodges of the last two organizations. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church and are highly esteemed because of their sterling worth, having many warm friends in the community in which they now reside.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 97

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