Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 99

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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On the 6th of March, 1879, Mr. Ferguson was united in marriage to Miss Sallie Cnlp, a daughter of Winfield S. Culp, representative of a prominent and well known family of South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson became the parents of five children: Hart- well H., who was associated with his father in the grocery business and succeeded him in the firm, being now classed with the representative merchants of Pine Bluff; Arie, who is now the wife of George V. Bell and is living in Pine Bluff. She first married John Quincy Nash, of Georgia and she has one son, John Quincy Nash, Jr .; Calvin B., deceased; and Price and Ernestine, who have also departed this life. Mrs. Ferguson

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survives her husband and makes her home at No. 906 West Fourth avenue in Pine Bluff. Her religious faith is indicated in her membership in the Baptist church, while her son, Hartwell H., is a Presbyterian. Mr. Ferguson's interest in the moral progress of the community was of tangible character, being manifest in his generous support of the church and his efforts in its upbuilding. He always voted with the democratic party but had no aspirations for office holding. His remains were interred in Bellwood ceme- tery. His death left a great vacancy in the family home, for Mr. Ferguson found his greatest happiness at his own fireside and his keenest joy in ministering to the welfare and comfort of his wife and children.

CHARLES H. DAWSON.

A most progressive and thoroughly up-to-date general merchandise establishment i:, that owned by Charles H. Dawson, who has been engaged in the business in Greenwood since 1903. A native son of Arkansas, he was born in Sebastian county, his parents being Benjamin and Martha (Morris) Dawson. His youthful days passed without event of special importance to vary the usual routine of boy life. He was educated in the local schools and when his textbooks were put aside he turned to the business world and be- came identified with general merchandising in Arcadia. There he remained until 1903, when he came to Greenwood, and in that year the firm of Dawson & Stewart was formed, the partner of Mr. Dawson being C. C. Stewart, now deceased. They opened a store op- posite the present location, handling dry goods, groceries, implements, shoes, farm wagons and other lines of general merchandise. At length a removal was made to the present location, where for the past fourteen years the store has been housed in a large brick building. An extensive line of goods is carried and the business methods of the house are of a most progressive character. Mr. Dawson assumed full control of the business in 1920 and is now sole owner. He has ever recognized the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement and has put forth every effort to please his customers, the number of whom has continually expanded.

Mr. Dawson was united in marriage to Miss Eva Wilson and they are parents of a daughter, Reba. Mr. and Mrs. Dawson are well known in Greenwood, where they have a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. Mr. Dawson has never sought to figure prominently in public affairs outside of business, concentrating his efforts and attention upon the opportunities which have come to him for the develop- ment of his trade and the extension of his commercial relations. He is today widely known as a most enterprising business man and one whose success is well merited by reason of the high business principles which he has ever followed.

GRAYSON E. TARKINGTON, M. D.

Nature seems to have been lavish in her gifts to almost every section of the country. There are regions where great forests abound, offering splendid opportunity to the lumher- man. There are great agricultural districts and vast stretches of land which, though sur- face opportunities are small, are found to be underlaid with rich deposits of minerals, coal or oil. Her gift to Hot Springs came in her waters with their curative powers, in her splendid scenic environment and excellent climatic conditions. These things annually draw thousands to the city in search of health and many of these have profited by the skillful and scientific care of able physicians, for no city of equal size has a greater number of efficient medical practitioners than Hot Springs. To this class belongs Dr. Grayson E. Tarkington, who was born in Oakland, Louisiana, December 25, 1894. He was but two years of age, however, when his father removed with the family to Texas; but after a short time the latter returned to Louisana, settling in Shreveport.

The father, Addison R. Tarkington, was a native of Louisiana and in making choice of a life work favorably regarded the medical profession. He then entered the Memphis Medical College, from which in due course of time he was graduated, and in 1903 he re- moved with his family to Hot Springs, where he devoted his remaining days to the prac- tice of his profession, the period, however, being comparatively brief, for he passed away on the 2d of February, 1905. He had married Vanila Chandler and they were the parents of four sons: Dalton, who died at the age of two years; Grayson E .: P. A., who is now studying engineering following his service in the navy during the World war and his previous service on the Mexican border, and Dewey H., who completes the family. The father was well known in fraternal circles, having membership with the Masons and also with the Odd Fellows.

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Dr. Grayson E. Tarkington was nine years of age when he entered the public schools, having up to this time heen instructed by private tutors. He passed through consecutive grades to the high school and in 1913 he entered the University of Maryland at Baltimore and was graduated therefrom in 1917. He then acted as interne in Kernan's Hospital and was clinical assistant thereto prior to his graduation from college. In Sep- tember, 1917, he entered the Medical Corps of the United States army and was com- missioned a first lieutenant, while later he was recommended for a captaincy. He was stationed at Camp Greenleaf for two months and was then transferred to the medical department of the aviation service at San Antonio. Next he was sent to the Gerstner Field and was executive officer of the hospital at Gerstner Field, Lake Charles, Louisiana, for fourteen months, receiving his discharge on the 31st of January, 1919.

With the close of his military service Dr. Tarkington returned to Hot Springs and formed a partnership with Dr. Wootton. Through the intervening period he has success- fully engaged in practice here, largely specializing in internal medicine. He is a member of the Garland County Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society, the Southern Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He likewise helongs to the National Tuberculosis Association and is keenly interested in everything that has to do with progress and advancement in his profession. He is a director of the Levi Clinic Hospital and is serving on its executive board, is a member of the house staff of St. Joseph's Hospital and is chief of the syphilis staff of U. S. P. H. S. Clinic.

Dr. Tarkington helongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the Knight Templar degree in the York Rite, and he is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and he has attractive social qualities which make for popularity among his large circle of friends. He is one of the younger representatives of the medical profession in Hot Springs but already has attained a position which many an older practitioner might well envy.

DENNIE P. TERRY.

Dennie P. Terry, a native son of Arkansas, has been a resident of Tillar since 1900. and for fifteen years he was a prominent figure in its mercantile circles but is now devot- ing his attention to the supervision of his property interests, having demonstrated his faith in the future of this part of the state by making extensive investments in farm lands. He has also filled several important public offices and his lahors have constituted effective forces in promoting the development of his district along many lines. Mr. Terry was born in Lincoln county, Arkansas, February 6, 1868, his parents being Samuel S. and Flavelia (Berry) Terry, both of whom were natives of Mississippi. The father came to Arkansas as a young man, locating at Napoleon, in Desha county, during the '50s. Sub- sequently he removed to Lincoln county, this state, where he became identified with agricultural interests, continuing active along that line until his demise, which occurred in that locality in 1894, when he was sixty-four years of age.

Dennie P. Terry attended the public schools until he reached his fifteenth year, when he became a wage earner, securing a position as clerk and general utility boy in a store at Dumas, Arkansas. He was thus engaged for two years and then entered the employ of R. A. Pickens of Walnut Lake with whom he remained for about twelve years in the capacity of clerk and bookkeeper. In 1900 he came to Tillar and formed the firm of D. P. Terry & Company, continuing the business under that name until 1907, when it was reorganized and incorporated under the firm style of the D. P. Terry Company. In 1915 the establishment was destroyed by fire, at which time the mercantile end of the business was discontinued, and two years later Mr. Terry became sole owner of the enterprise, which he has since conducted independently, devoting his attention to the supervision of his invested interests. He is one of the leading agriculturists of southeastern Arkan- sas, owning and operating fifteen hundred acres of land in Desha county, and in the culti- vation and improvement of his property he utilizes the most modern and progressive methods, his intelligently directed efforts resulting in the attainment of a substantial degree of prosperity and also in the development of the agricultural resources of the state.

In 1891 Mr. Terry was united in marriage to Miss Sadie Bancroft of Augusta, Arkan- sas, who died on the 17th of February, 1921. They became the parents of five children, three of whom survive, namely: Bertha, who married Jewell S. Tillar, a prominent resi- dent of this community; Burton C., assistant cashier of the McGehee Valley Bank, and Dennie Bancroft, at home.

Mr. Terry is a member of the Baptist church and an active worker in its behalf. serving as one of its deacons. His fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to public office of honor and trust and for three years he served as mayor of Vol. II-40

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Tillar, being the first chief executive of the town after its incorporation and standing tor the strict enforcement of the law and for progress, reform and improvement. For a number of years he was a member of the school board, in which capacity he did all in his power to promote educational standards in his district. He is a member of the board of commissioners of the Arkansas-Louisiana Highway Commission, which on the 28th of October, 1921, completed one of the finest boulevard systems of highways in the state. It extends from the southeastern portion of Arkansas into Louisiana and is one hundred and fifty-eight miles in length, being constructed of gravel and asphalted concrete. Through his work in this connection Mr. Terry has performed a service of great im- portance and value to his state and he is in every sense of the term a loyal, progressive and public-spirited citizen whose labors have at all times heen beneficially resultant. Along the path of opportunity open to all he has reached the goal of notahle success, and his record is one which reflects credit and honor upon the state.

JACK S. GREGG, M. D.

Dr. Jack S. Gregg, a physician, practicing in Fort Smith, was born in West Alexan- dria, Ohio, in 1885, his parents being William and Katherine (Smith) Gregg. The father was a soldier in the Union army in the Civil war. The family home was maintained in the Buckeye state through the period of Dr. Gregg's boyhood and youth and in the acquirement of his education he attended the Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the class of 1904 on the completion of a course in pharmacy. Later he took up the study of medicine, his attention being directed thereto through his pharmaceutical work and he hecame a student in the Miami Medical School, a department of the University of Cincinnati, which conferred upon him the M. D. degree in 1908. He was afterward graduated from the Eclectic Medical College with the class of 1910 and entered upon the active practice of his profession in Thomas, West Virginia, where he remained from 1911 until 1912. In the year 1913 he removed to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where he opened an office and devoted his attention to practice until 1919. On the 15th of May of the latter year he arrived in Fort Smith, where he has remained, giving his attention to general practice, although specializing to a considerable extent on diseases of women and children. He has thoroughly informed himself concerning this branch of the profession and his efficiency has constantly been augmented by his study and ex- perience. That he has accomplished excellent results is shown by the large practice now accorded him.

Dr. Gregg was married in 1913 to Miss Bessie Robertson aud they have many friends in Fort Smith, being most widely and favorably known in the city. The doctor is a Mason, who has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is also a Mystic Shriner. He belongs likewise to the Fraternal Order of Eagles and to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, while along strictly professional lines his connection is with the Sebastian County and Arkansas State Medical Societies. He never lightly regards the duties of his profession but is most conscientious in the performance of every task that devolves upon him and is keenly interested in everything that tends to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life.

REV. E. G. PHILLIPS.

For the past thirty years Rev. E. G. Phillips has been connected with the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and his is a sincere and devoted service in behalf of a cause to which he has voluntarily given the best energies of his life. He was born in Louisiana, April 10, 1868, and acquired his education at Georgetown, Texas. Inspired by the desire to uplift mankind, he took up the work of the ministry and as an evangelist has become well known in various parts of the country. His wisdom has been gained by study of the Bible and the revealed word, by observation, reading and meditation, and he gives his whole heart to the work in which he is engaged. He is a strong and eloquent speaker, and imbued with a firm faith in the doctrines which he teaches he has succeeded in influencing many to choose the higher path in life.

In 1900 Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Addie Connelley, a daughter of Bernard and Martha (Powell) Connelley, the former a native of Pennsylvania, while the latter was born in Siloam Springs. Her father arrived here in 1868. For a number of years he was connected with stock raising interests and subsequently was appointed United States marshal by President Cleveland, also serving under President Harrison. He died while in the service of the government, being killed as he was about to make

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an arrest at Muldrow, Oklahoma. Mrs. Phillips is the only one of their children living. The maternal grandfather, Dr. Henry Powell, was a well known physician and also ministered to the spiritual needs of his fellowmen, being one of the early circuit riders. He took up his residence at Siloam Springs previous to the Civil war and served as a chaplain in the Confederate army. He was very successful in the management of his business affairs and at his death left a large estate. He was a native of Tennessee. Mrs. Phillips received the benefit of a liberal education, attending the Ward Seminary at Nashville, Tennessee, and Harrell Institute at Muskogee, Oklahoma. She has large property interests, owning land near Bloomfield, Arkansas, and a beautiful residence situated on a hill overlooking Siloam Springs, the grounds comprising an entire block. She is now erecting a new home adjoining her present place and is an excellent business woman, most capably managing her affairs. By her marriage she has become the mother of a son, Phillip Bernard, now six years of age. She is a member of the Presbyterian church, while Mr. Phillips is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. He gives his entire time to evangelistic work and his life has been one of great usefulness and far-reaching influence, devoted to the service of others.

WYLIE H. NICHOLS.

Wylie H. Nichols, senior partner in the firm of Nichols & Hutson, general merchants at Carlisle, has spent much of his life in this city, of which he is a native son. His birth liere occurred in 1867, his parents being Wylie and Mary (Baker) Nichols. The father was a native of Johnston county, North Carolina, while his wife came from Franklin county in the same state. Removing to Arkansas, they lived at Walters Chapel during their remaining days. The mother was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Baker, who spent much of their lives in Franklin county, North Carolina. To Mr. and Mrs. Nichols there were born five children: Wylie H .; Anne, who is the wife of George White and has one son, Joseph, who served in the World war; Mary, the wife of W. Y. Mann; Henry, and T. A.

Wylie H. Nichols largely acquired his education in the schools at Oxford. Nortlı Carolina, and when his textbooks were put aside concentrated his efforts and attention upon the occupation of farming. He was twenty years of age when he removed to Robin- sonville, Mississippi, and there, having put aside agricultural pursuits, he entered mercantile circles by securing employment in a store. He was afterward connected with the Middlesex Bank of Middletown, Connecticut, but in 1905 he returned to his native city and here he drew upon his previous commercial experience for success in a mercantile field. He entered into partnership with R. A. Hutson in the establishment of a general store, which they have since conducted under the firm style of Nichols & Hutson, and from the beginning success has attended their labors. They closely watch the trend of the times in the matter of trade and their progressive spirit and thoroughly reliable methods brought to them a most gratifying patronage. In addition to his other interests Mr. Nichols is also a director of the Bank of Carlisle.

It was in the year 1895 that Mr. Nichols was united in marriage to Miss Irene Wille- ford, a daughter of William Willeford, who lived for a time in Lonoke county but after- ward removed to Memphis, Tennessee. To Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have been born three children, two sons and a daughter. George, Evelyn and Wylie H., Jr. The older son served in the Marine Corps during the World war.

Mr. Nichols fraternally is connected with the Masons and is a loyal follower of the teachings and purposes of the craft. Both he and his wife belong to the Baptist church and their interest centers in those channels through which flows the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number. By reason of their many sterling traits of character, their upright lives and their successful accomplishment they enjoy the high regard of all with whom they have been brought in contact.

GEORGE HILLIARD SETZLER, M. D.

One of the prominent physicians of Crossett is Dr. George Hilliard Setzler, a member of the medical staff of the Crossett Lumber Company Hospital. He was born in South Carolina on the 22d of October. 1864, a son of Adam and Elizabeth (Pester) Setzler, both deceased. The father was born in Germany and came to America in 1842, locating at Newberry, South Carolina. He was a miller there and gained substantial success in that connection. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate army and

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participated in most of the important battles of that conflict. Mr. Setzler married Miss Elizabeth Pester, the ceremony being performed in Sonth Carolina. She was a native of Webster, Mississippi, in which state she was educated and reared to young womanhood. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Setzler three children were born, George Hilliard, whose name initiates this review, being the eldest child. One daughter died in infancy. Mr. Setzler died in 1867 at the age of thirty-five years. Mrs. Setzler died in 1883, at the age of fifty-five years.

In the acquirement of his early education George Hilliard Setzler attended the com- mon schools of Chester, Mississippi, receiving the equivalent of high school training. Determining upon a medical career he then entered the Hospital Medical College at Memphis, Tennessee, and was gradnated from that institution with the M. D. degree in 1896. He immediately entered into the active practice of his chosen profession in Mississippi, locating in the Delta and continuing there nntil 1903. In the summer of 1897 he took a postgraduate course at the Hospital Medical College and did postgraduate work at Tulane University, New Orleans, in 1911. In 1903, giving up his practice in the Delta, he came to Arkansas and practiced at Hamburg until 1907. Removing to Whitlow, he practiced there until 1910 and then came to Crossett as one of the physi- cians of the staff of the Crossett Lumber Company Hospital. During the years of his residence in Ashley county he has won an enviable position among his professional breth- ren and is considered one of the leading physicians in Crossett.

It was at Huntsville, Mississippi, on the 10th of November, 1895, that Mr. Setzler was united in marriage to Miss Onie Poole a daughter of Robert A. and Susan (Kindred) Poole of Virginia. The former was born in Alabama and served in the Confederate army throughout the Civil war as first lieutenant. To the union of Dr. and Mrs. Setzler four children have been born: Claudine, who died at the age of four years; George Byren, twenty-three years of age, who graduated from the medical department of Tulane Uni- versity, New Orleans, and is now at the United States Marine Hospital; Fred Poole, twenty years of age, who is a sophomore in the dental school at Tulane University, and Kenneth, sixteen years of age, a member of the freshman class of the Crossett high school

The family is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church, Sonth, and Dr. Setzler is a generous contributor to its support. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, holding membership in Crossett Lodge, No. 576, A. F. & A. M., of Crossett, and Olive Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Hamburg. Dr. Setzler remains a constant student of his profession and through postgraduate work and membership in leading medical associa- tions he keeps in touch with the advancement being made by eminent members of the profession throughout the world. Along strictly professional lines he is connected with the American Medical Association, the Ashley Medical Society and the Arkansas State. Medical Association. Dr. Setzler recognizes the duties and obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship and his aid may always be counted upon in the furtherance of any movement for the development and improvement of the general welfare. Crossett is proud to number him among her foremost citizens.

RAS STAMPS.

Ras Stamps, cashier of the People's Bank of Berryville, was born in Newton county. Arkansas, June 29, 1880, and is a son of John P. and Kate (Bunch) Stamps. The grand- father in the paternal line was Elijah Stamps, a native of Tennessee, who was killed while serving in the Confederate army in the Civil war, while the maternal grandfather, Larkin Bunch, was killed while on duty at Pilot Knob, Missouri, in the struggle between the north and the south. John P. Stamps was born in Newton county, Arkansas, while his wife was born in Madison county, this state. They were married in Madison county and he is still living upon the old home farm near Kingston, Arkansas, but his wife died in 1899. He has always given his political allegiance to the democratic party and served as justice of the peace for a number of years. He belongs to the Presbyterian church, of which his wife was a lifelong member. They had a family of nine children, seven of whom are yet living: Eugene, who occupies a farm near Kingston, Arkansas; Ras of this review; Bee who carries on farming near Kingston: Ewing, who is a farmer of Johnson county, Arkansas; Eliza, the wife of J. H. Combs, a farmer of this state; Mary Allie, the wife of J. N. Whorton, a successful agriculturist of Madison county, and Maggie, the wife of Milton Whitaker, who follows farming in the vicinity of Coaldale, Arkansas.

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Centennial history of Arkansas, Part 99

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