Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 98

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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JOHN HERMAN KRONE.

John Herman Krone, who is the senior partner in the firm of Krone Brothers, manufacturers and wholesale distributors of cigars, tobacco and candy at Fort Smith, is a representative of that class of alert and enterprising business men who never neglect an opportunity nor fail to take advantage of the chances for honorable advance- ment aloug business lines. He was born in Little Rock in 1857 but was only six months old when brought to this city, where he has since made his home. His parents were Paul R. and Mary Anna Krone. The father became a resident of Little Rock in 1853 and was one of the first photographers of the state. In 1869 he turned his attention to merchandising and he it was who erected the first substantial business block on Garri- son avenne, now the main commercial thoroughfare of Fort Smith. Before the outbreak of the Civil war he was a member of the Bell Point Guards and with the inauguration

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of hostilities between the north and the south he was made color sergeant and it was he who took down the stars and stripes when the state voted to secede. Subsequently he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant.

John Herman Krone, one of a family of six children, was educated in the schools of Fort Smith and in St. John's College at Little Rock. When his school days were over he turned his attention to the cigar trade, in which he has been engaged since 1870 or for a period of more than a half century. The firm in which he is a partner manufacture such well known brands as the "Receipt" cigar and also the "K. B's." They are likewise distributors of tobacco and candy and their trade today covers a wide territory, their liberal patronage being secured by reason of their progressive and thoroughly reliable business methods. Associated in the undertaking with John Herman Krone is his brother, Charles A. Krone.

In 1881 John Herman Krone was married to Miss Katie M. Kerr, daughter of James and Marie Kerr of Fort Smith. She was born on Garrison avenue in this city and has here spent her entire life. By her marriage she has become the mother of nine children: Herman; Bessie, deceased wife of C. F. Parker: James R .: Gus; Katherine; Marie; Gladys; Frances; and Timothy. The sou Gus, mentioned elsewhere in this work, is engaged in the same line of business as his father, being proprietor of the Southern Cigar & Candy Company.

Mr. Krone has voted with the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and for two terms he has served as a member of the city council. He was one of four men who organized the paid fire department of Fort Smith as it exists today and for twenty-one years previously he had served as one of the volunteer firemen of the city. For two terms he was also city park commissioner. The nature of his interests and activities aside from business is indicated in the fact of his con- nection with the Catholic Knights of America, the Knights of Columbus, the Woodmen of the World and the Business Men's Club.

DONOVAN BROWN RENFRO.

Donovan Brown Renfro has been the cashier of the Central Bank of Little Rock since July 1, 1917, but his actual banking experience covers a period of more than eighteen years, during which time he has made steady progress as he has familiarized himself with every phase of the business, so that he is now qualified to meet the re- sponsibilities and duties that devolve upon him.

Mr. Renfro is a native son of Arkansas, his birth having occurred at Holly Grove, Monroe county, February 5, 1880. He is one of a family of three sons and two daughters, all of whom are living, whose parents were Donovan Brown and Susan E. (Smith) Renfro. Both parents, however, have passed away. The father was born in Maury county, Tennessee, May 1, 1843, and in 1866, when a young man of twenty-three years, became a resident of Holly Grove, Arkansas, where he conducted business as a merchant and farmer. He had recently returned from service in the Civil war, having become a private in General J. E. Johnston's command, with which he served for four years. He was captured on one occasion and held as a prisoner of war for a year. He always voted with the democratic party. His wife was born in Holly Grove, Arkansas, Feh- ruary 10, 1849, and in 1870 there became the wife of D. B. Renfro. She died September 22, 1910,. while Mr. Renfro survived until February 4, 1916.

Having mastered the branches of learning taught in the public schools of his native city, Donovan B. Renfro of this review continued his education in the Spears-Langford Military Institute at Searcy, Arkansas, which he attended for two years. After Ieav- ing school he resided in Holly Grove, Arkansas, for a time and was employed in a mercantile store as salesman. His identification with banking interests dates from the 16th of February, 1903, when he entered the Bank of Helena at Helena, Arkansas, in the position of assistant hookkeeper. There he continued until January 1, 1907, when he went to Corning, Arkansas, and entered the First National Bank as cashier. Since the 5th of August, 1909, he has resided in Little Rock and on that date hecame teller of the Bank of Commerce, while on the 1st of July, 1917, he entered into active associa- tion with the Central Bank as its cashier. Through the intervening period of four years he has occupied this position and is regarded as one of the strong and forceful figures in financial circles in the capital city. In April, 1921, he was made secretary of the Little Rock Clearing House Association.

Mr. Renfro is most pleasantly situated in his home life. He was married October 20, 1907, at Corning, Arkansas, to Miss Florence Camille Gilliland, whose hirth occurred at Vanndale, Cross county, this state, February 21, 1885, her parents being James Mc- Ferrin and Annie (Davis) Gilliland. Her father died in 1890, but the mother is still

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living in Little Rock. Mr. and Mrs. Renfro became parents of three sous: Ray Hornor, who was born July 22, 1909; Donovan Bryan, who was born May 4, 1911, and passed away July 15, 1915; and Charles Gilliland, whose birth occurred March 21, 1915.

Since reaching adult age Mr. Renfro has voted with the democratic party but has held no offices save that of justice of the peace, his ambition lying in other directions. He is a Master Mason and a member of the First Presbyterian church and in these asso- ciations are found the rules which govern his conduct and shape his relations with his fellowmen. He has ever been actuated by a laudable ambition in his business career, nor has he ever sought success that does not measure up to the highest standards of business integrity as well as business enterprise.

CHARLES P. HARNWELL.

Charles P. Harnwell, deserving of prominent mention as a representative of the Little Rock bar, specializing in corporation law, in which field his practice is extensive and important, is a native of Memphis, Tennessee, while his parents were from Ohio. Soon after the Civil war, however, they removed from the Buckeye state to Tennessee, where they resided for a number of years, but afterward returned to Ohio. The father was born in England, but had been brought to America during his infancy by his parents, who established their home in Ohio.

It was in that state that Charles P. Harnwell was reared and educated. His early educational opportunities were supplemented by a course in Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio, from which in due course of time he was graduated and later he took up the study of law in Cincinnati, his liberal training well qualifying him for the active work of the profession.

It was late in the year 1889 when Mr. Harnwell came to Little Rock and in December of that year he was admitted to practice before the supreme court of the state. He did not enter actively upon the work of the profession, however, until 1893 and since that time, or for a period of twenty-eight years, he has devoted his attention almost ex- clusively to railroad, commercial and corporation practice, representing large and ini- portant interests of Little Rock and of other points in the state. He became one of the directors and the general attorney for the Gould Southwestern Railway Company and also for the Pine Bluff & Northern Railway Company and in addition to his law practice he is engaged in the cultivation of a rice plantation in Lonoke county, Arkansas.

Mr. Harnwell was united in marriage to Miss Louise Budd of Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of Christ Episcopal church and Mr. Harnwell has served as a member of the vestry. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. During the World war he served on all hond drives and on the questionnaire board and at all times he gives helpful support to those projects and measures which are looking 10 the welfare and benefit of his adopted city. At the same time he most carefully man- ages his professional interests and his constantly developing ability has brought him to the front as one of the leading corporation lawyers of the capital city.

J. M. PHILLIPS.

J. M. Phillips, of the Phillips Spoke Company of Alpena, controlling one of the lead- ing industrial enterprises of the state, was born in Benton county, Arkansas in November, 1862. His father, James H. Phillips, who was a prosperous farmer and stock raiser of Washington county, was born in North Carolina, July 25, 1830, and his parents were McCager and Elizabeth ( Willie) Phillips, who were natives of Virginia. They were reared, however, in North Carolina and on the farm where he spent his hoyhood and youth the father departed this life in 1856. He and his wife were both consistent mem- bers of the Baptist church. They had a family of eight children, which number in- cluded James H. Phillips, who was horn and reared in Wilkes county, North Carolina, where he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until 1859. He then removed westward, settling on a farm in Benton county, Arkansas. He was married in 1852 to Sarah Lewis, a native of Surrey county, North Carolina, and two children were born to them: Mary Frances, living near Vinita, Oklahoma, and William Newton, who died. Some time after the death of his first wife James H. Phillips wedded Phoebe D. Brown, a native of Middle Tennessee and a daughter of Hezekia Brown, likewise a native of Tennessee, who came to Benton county in an early day. The second marriage was celebrated in Benton county, September 19, 1861. They became the parents of eight children, of whom six are living: J. M., of this review; Sarah Flora, the wife of T. T. Ward, a spoke manu-

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factor and farmer of Fayetteville; J. K., who is in business with his brother, J. M., in spoke manufacturing in Alpena; Elijah Lee, an electrician of Franklin, Nebraska; Myrtle C., the wife of Jesse Hammer, living at Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and Daisy D., the wife of Walter Marshall, also of Oklahoma. In 1862 James H. Phillips enlisted in the Confederate army as a member of Captain Tenon's company of Bryant's Battalion and served until the close of the war, surrendering at Fayetteville in June, 1865, three years from the day that he entered the service. After residing in Texas for three months fol- lowing the war he came to Washington county, Arkansas, and located on a farm in Elm Springs township. In 1884 he removed to a farm of two hundred and twenty acres, spend- ing his remaining days in this county. He was very successful and became one of the leading fruit raisers of Washington county. As he prospered in his undertaking he ex- tended his landed possessions and at the time of his death was the owner of three good farms. He greatly enjoyed hunting and fishing and was very skillful in following those sports. In his business affairs he displayed energy, enterprise and initiative. He was the first man to own a mower and binder in his community. His political belief was that of the democratic party and his religious faith that of the Christian church.

J. M. Phillips was reared on the home farm and spent his youthful days in Washing- ton county, acquiring a public school education. When a young man he was called to the office of deputy sheriff, in which capacity he served for eight years. He later filled the position of county commissioner for a period of five years and had charge of convict lahor. He supervised the building of the county jail and thus was closely connected with public interests and the general welfare for a number of years. In 1900 he turned his attention to the timber business and after engaging for a time in the manufacture of staves he organized the Red Star Spoke Company of Fayetteville, in 1902. For seventeen years thereafter he conducted the plant and then sold his business in 1919, at which time he and his brother organized the Phillips Spoke Company of Alpena. They have two plants in northern Arkansas and ship their product all over the United States. They manufacture automobile spokes, buggy spokes, rims and all things along the line of wood- work for automobiles and carriages. Their business has steadily grown and is now one of substantial volume.

On July 5, 1894 Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Ada Webster, who was born at Elm Springs, Arkansas, a daughter of Thomas F. Webster, a native of Washing- ton, who followed merchandising for many years and died in Washington county. Mr. Phillips and his wife have eight children: Harvey, who is employed by the water company at Fayetteville; Lola and Maude; Ada, who is a student in the University of Arkansas; James T., who is also attending the State University; Grace, in high school; J. M., Jr., m high school, and Robert, who is a pupil in the public school. Mrs. Phillips belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, Sonth. Mr. Phillips has membership with the Knights of Pythias and has passed through all of the chairs in the lodge. Politically he is a democrat and has served on the city council for five years, while for three years he was mayor of Fayetteville. All of the street improvements were started under his administration. He built roads with convict labor for five years and in that way learned to improve roads and public highways. His efforts have been most thoroughly resultant in all that he has undertaken. As a public official he has accomplished great good and over the record of his career there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil. At the present time he is giving his entire attention to his manufacturing interests and is thus con- tributing to the material development of the state, while in the conduct of his affairs he is not only building up a substantial fortune but is also winning that honored name which is rather to be chosen than great riches.

J. S. COMBS.

J. S. Combs, attorney at law at Huntsville, and also prominently known as a worker in local political circles, was born in Madison county, this state, on the 3d of December, 1866, a son of Hiram and Mary ( Walker) Combs, both natives of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather, Elijah Combs, was a native of Kentucky and he lived in that state through- out his life. Christopher Walker, the maternal grandfather, was likewise born in Ken- tucky but he came to Arkansas in later life, where he resided until death. The parents of J. S. Combs were married in Kentucky and came to Arkansas in the '50s. They located in Madison county, where the father purchased land and engaged in general farming. He achieved substantial success in that connection but upon the outbreak of the Civil war he put all personal interests aside and enlisted in the Confederate army, receiving the commission of captain. He participated in many of the important battles of that war and served throughout the period. At the close of the war he resumed his farming and although he had lost most everything in the war, he succeeded in regaining a substantial

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amount of his fortune. Mr. Combs was not only active in agricultural circles but lie took an active interests in politics. He was a stanch supporter of the democratic party and for some time served as deputy sheriff of Madison county. The religious faith of both himself and wife was that of the Missionary Baptist church. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Combs seven children were born, two of whom are living: J. S., whose name initiates this review, and Virgie A., a prominent farmer and merchant of Combs.

In the acquirement of an education J. S. Combs attended the common schools of Madison county and after graduating from high school determined upon the study of law. He read law in the office of J. B. Lewis for some time and in 1903 was admitted to the bar. He began the practice of his profession at Huntsville in association with J. B. Lewis. and that partnership was maintained until the death of Mr. Lewis. For a time there- after Mr. Combs practiced in connection with Sid Garrett and S. M. Johnson but sub- sequently he severed those relations and has since been practicing alone. Although the greater part of his time is devoted to his law practice he is active in commercial circles, having an interest in a hardware store at Huntsville and a half interest in the Palace Drug Store. In political life Mr. Combs has also been quite active, having served his fellowmen in the state legislature from 1907 to 1909 and he was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney, which position he filled from October, 1914, to October, 1918. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party. Mr. Combs has one of the most extensive and important law practices in the county and he handles much important liti- gation before the courts. In 1918 he was admitted to practice in the supreme court of the state and the federal court.

On the 19th of March, 1885, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Combs and Miss Martha A. Brashears, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of Jesse Brashears. Her father was likewise born in Kentucky and he resided in that state for many years. Sub- sequently, however, he moved to Lowell, Arkansas, and is now residing there, retired. He engaged in agricultural pursuits for the greater part of his active life and achieved more than substantial success in that connection. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Combs three children have been born: A. Garland, a prominent citizen of Huntsville, where he is conducting a hardware business; Harvey G., associated with the railroad commission at Little Rock, and Walter L., engaged in the abstract business in Huntsville. .

The family is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally Mr. Combs is identified with the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is past noble grand of the latter organization. A man of good presence, intelligent and practical, he made a favorable impression from the very first and consequently met with little or no difficulty in building up a good practice. Mr. Combs' preparation for his work has been very thorough, and in addition to this he has a logical mind, fine reasoning faculties and an exceptionally good command of English, all of which are of inestimable value and are absolutely indispensable to a successful legal career. He is conscientiously devoted to the interests of his clients and exercises exceeding care and precaution in the preparation of his cases, overlooking none of the minor points upon which the decision of a case so often hinges. He is readily conceded to be one of the most able lawyers in Madison county and a substantial citizen of Huntsville.

COLUMBUS ALLEN RILEY.

Columbus Allen Riley, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Gunnells-Riley Com- pany of Little Rock, was born March 12, 1888, near Hamburg, Ashley county, Arkansas, and in his career has demonstrated what the young man of the new south can accom- plish in the business world. His father, John R. Riley, was born in 1851, on the same plantation on which the birth of Columbus A. occurred, and belonged to one of the pio- neer families that had made history in that section of the state and whose forbears ranked as leading southern planters in the old days of the south. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Georgia Taylor, was also a member of one of the old and honored southern families. Mr. and Mrs. John R. Riley became parents of the following named children: James R. and Hunter P., who constitute the Riley Lumber Company of Little Rock; John R., also of Little Rock; Joe Pat, who is living in Montrose, Arkan- sas. To a second marriage the following children were born: Jesse, a physician, who is superintendent of the El Paso Hospital; David C., who makes his home at Montrose, Arkansas; Hattie, the wife of Luther Gregory of Montrose; and Columbus A., of this review.

The last named was but eighteen months old when his mother died. He pursued his education in rural and high schools of Ashley county and in Ouachita College. When his textbooks were put aside he early displayed marked business ability and soon won the reputation of being a young business man of more than average sagacity and wisdom.

COLUMBUS A. RILEY

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Steadily he has worked his way npward through the wise use of the opportunities that have come to him and is now the secretary, treasurer and manager of the Gunnells-Riley Company of Little Rock. This company has built, at the corner of Eleventh and Main streets, the handsomest auto supply honse in America. This statement, though seemingly a broad assertion, is borne ont by the facts. The space occupied is a corner seventy-five by one hundred and forty feet. One-half of this is covered by a two-story brick and con- crete building, the lower floor of which is occupied by a complete accessory salesroom, while the second floor contains the offices of the company and the stock rooms. The extreme corner is adorned with a pergola with five passageways for antomobiles, each equipped with gas and oil tanks and surrounded by the accessory salesroom in semi-cir- cnlar form. The driveways are reached from both Eleventh and Main streets, thus giving rapid service at all times. The firm, in addition to carrying the largest stock of acces- sories in the state, acts as special agent for the Howe and Kelly-Springfield tires. The rear of the building is used as the workshop for battery service, the company being agents for the Exide battery service. Under the guidance of Mr. Riley the business has grown to immense proportions and the enterprise is largely a monnment to his efforts, energy and marked business ability. He is also the treasurer of the Riley Lumber Company, another one of the large and important commercial concerns of the city.

On the 26th of Angust, 1914, Mr. Riley was married to Miss Winnie Mae Craig, a danghter of the Rev. L. C. Craig, one of Arkansas' most beloved preachers. He is of the Methodist faith and has filled a pulpit in this state for more than twenty years. Mrs. Riley is a young woman of much beanty and mental charm. She is a native of Cato, Arkansas, and an honor graduate of Central College. She is regarded as a most tactful and entertaining hostess, and many friends enjoy the hospitality of the home. Mr. and Mrs. Riley have become the parents of one son, named for his father and called C. A. Fraternally Mr. Riley is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Shriner, and a member of the Odd Fellows. His religions faith is manifest in the fact that he is an earnest member of the Baptist church, in which he is serving as deacon and as snperintendent of the Sunday school. He possesses a most genial manner and kindly disposition, mak- ing for personal popularity wherever he is known, and he has a host of warm friends.

CALVIN MCFADDEN FERGUSON.

A representative and progressive business man of Pine Bluff was Calvin McFadden Ferguson, whom death called on the 9th of February, 1911. He had long been closely associated with the commercial interests of the city as a retail and wholesale grocer and the establishment which he developed was a contributing factor to the material progress and hnsiness expansion of the city. Mr. Ferguson was born in Chester county, Sonth Carolina, April 15, 1852, his parents being William P. and Martha N. ( McFad- den) Ferguson. The father was one of the extensive planters of Sonth Carolina and there reared his family. The son attended the common schools and in young man- hood turned his attention to merchandising in South Carolina, continning there to carry on business until his removal to Pine Bluff, where he arrived on the 18th of February, 1893, when a young man of about forty-one years. Here he embarked in bnsi- ness as proprietor of a retail grocery honse and with the development of his trade he formulated plans whereby he converted his business into a wholesale grocery establish- ment and conducted this enterprise with marked snccess until his demise. It was sub- sequent to his death that the warehouse was destroyed by fire, cansing a considerable loss with consequent temporary delay in business. With characteristic energy, however, his son, Hartwell H., who is still operating under the name of C. M. Ferguson & Son. hegan the task of erecting a new warehouse-a structure of brick with a floor space of eight thonsand one hundred square feet. In addition two other buildings give to the firm warehonse facilities, so that they ntilize twenty-one thousand square feet of space in this way. As the years have passed they have built np an extensive trade covering a wide territory and they have ever found that satisfied patrons are their best advertisement. The business has steadily grown and is one of the important commercial interests of Pine Bluff.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 98

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