USA > Arkansas > Historical review of Arkansas : its commerce, industry and modern affairs > Part 17
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G. AVERY WEBB, agent of the Cotton Belt Railroad at Jonesboro, is a representative of a family of railroad men and he has been familiar with the various phases of this interesting field since his earliest youth. Like most men of his calling he has a wide acquaintance and in his own particular community he enjoys the confidence and esteem of the people in general. He is still to be numbered as among the younger genera- tion, his birth having occurred in Forest City, Arkansas, May 8, 1877. The Webbs are a Southern family, and the subject's father. S. H. Webb, was born in Camden, Tennessee, in the '40s. His father, Hiram Webb, adopted as his own what Daniel Webster called the most important labor of man-farming. S. H. Webb was married to Martha Finlay, a native of the district of his own birth, and although his youth was passed amid the wholesome surroundings of his father's farm, he himself abandoned the great basic industry and became a railroad man in the year 1874. He was one of the pioneer conductors of the old Memphis & Little Rock Railroad, and maintained his home for some time previous to his demise in Memphis, Tennessee. During the scourge of yellow fever in 1879 he fell a victim to the dread malady and died, leaving a widow and a fam- ily of young children. These children were all sons and as follows : Edward L., who died as a railroad man in the service of the Cotton Belt Railroad and has no living issne; Albert S., a traveling salesman out of St. Louis, Missouri : Allen L., a Cotton Belt employe at East Prairie, Missouri, who served as train dispatcher for various railroads, namely.
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the Santa Fe, Roek Island, Kansas City Southern and others. Mr. Webb of this review was the youngest of the quartet and naturally followed in the footsteps of his honored father and elder brothers in the choice of a life work. The mother, who had so successfully reared her children to useful maturity, was summoned to the Great Beyond in 1896.
G. Avery Webb received his education in the common schools of Arkansas at the various points at which his mother resided and began life's serious service when just entering his 'teens. This was at Reetor, Arkansas, and was in the employment of the Cotton Belt Railroad. In course of time, having proved faithful and efficient in small things and having learned telegraphy at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, he received more important trusts and he was advaneed rapidly and served as both agent and operator at the various points along the Houck line and the Cotton Belt system. He was Houek's agent at Cape Girardeau and also agent for the old Chicago & Texas line, now a part of the Rock Island system. Some years ago he was made agent of the Cotton Belt at Para- gould and from that point was transferred to the station at Jonesboro in 1902.
The very nature of his employment almost preeludes the possibility of Mr. Webb's entry into the polities of the community, were he dis- posed in that direction, and so he gives to publie issues merely the eon- sideration of the intelligent voter who hopes to give his ballot to the best causes. He gives heart and hand to the men and measures of the Dem- oeratie party, with which he has been aligned sinee his earliest voting days.
On August 16, 1898, Mr. Webb established a home by marriage, his chosen lady being Miss Nora Lytton, of Paragonld, in which place their union was celebrated. Mrs. Webb is a niece of Hon. A. A. Knox, of Paragould, and, orphaned in childhood, she beeame a member of her unele's household. Mr. and Mrs. Webb share their attractive home with the following children : Selma E., Knox Lytton, Virginia and Helen.
HENRY W. GRAHAM. A representative and influential eitizen of Jonesboro is Henry W. Graham, who is manager of the Southern Mer- cantile Company and president of the Arkansas Groeer Company, of Blytheville. IIe has been a resident of the state of Arkansas sinee 1902 and came hither from Frederiektown, Missouri, in the vicinity of which place he was reared and educated. He was born in Missouri on the 30th of July, 1861. and is a son of E. L. Graham, whose father founded the family near Frederiektown perhaps as early as 1830. The paternal grandfather of him whose name forms the caption for this review was a native of North Carolina, but a portion of his life was spent in the old BIne Grass state, whence he later removed with his family to Missouri. E. L. Graham was born in February, 1834, and he passed the greater part of his life in Madison county, Missouri, where he was engaged in farming and commercial pursuits and where he figured prominently in publie affairs, holding a number of important offices of publie trust and responsibility. In polities he endorsed the cause of the Democratic party, in the local couneils of which he was an active factor. For his wife he chose Miss Mary Whitener, a daughter of Henry Whitener, and to this union were born eleven children, concerning whom the following brief record is here offered : Napoleon B. resides at Fredericktown, Mis- sonri ; Virginia E. is the wife of J. M. Gale, of Frederiektown ; John W. is deecased; Henry W. is the immediate subjeet of this review; Joseph P. is a resident of St. Louis, Missouri; E. Lee maintains his home at Crystal City, Texas; Elizabeth is the wife of N. C. Griffiths, of Freder- iektown; Byrd M. is the wife of W. E. Tally. who is engaged in the
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banking and real estate business at St. Louis: Annie is now Mrs. G. W. Lampher, of Fredericktown ; and F. M. is deceased.
After terminating his student days with a two years' course in the William Jewell College, at Liberty, Missouri, Henry W. Graham en- gaged in the mercantile business as a elerk at Marquand, Missouri. His employer having another store at Bessville, Missouri, Mr. Graham was sent to that point to assume charge of that establishment. In 1888, how- ever, he decided to launch out into the mereantile business on his own account and with that objeet in view he opened a store at Marquand, Missouri, under the firm name of Graham & Brother. Subsequently he succeeded to his brother's interest, continued the business for another two years, and then purchased a half interest in a concern at Glenallen, Missouri, with E. S. Lett as a partner. Later on he became interested in a similar project with his father at Fredericktown and still later he acquired a business connection at Bloomfield, Missouri, to which point he eventually removed his family, remaining there until his advent in Arkansas. At Bloomneld he was the head of the Graham Mercantile Company, which had a store at Puxico, Missouri, as well.
The Southern Mercantile Company came into existence in 1903 and it operates a wholesale fruit and produce house at Jonesboro in addition to which it has retail establishments at Lake City, Monette, Manila and Dell, all in Arkansas, and at Steele, Missouri. Mr. Graham is financially interested in all the above concerns and is also a heavy stockholder in the Arkansas Grocer Company, of which large corporation he is presi- dent. He is a business man of splendid executive capacity, is possessed of unusual vitality and all his dealings have been characterized by square and straightforward methods. He is an active supporter of the organization known as the Business Men's Club in Jonesboro, and is chairman of the Light Rate Committee of that body.
Mr. Graham has been twice married. At Marquand, Missouri, on the 3d of October, 1887, he was united in marriage to Miss Virginia E. Mathews, who lost her life as the result of an accident on the 23d of April, 1903. The children born to this union are Harry E., Ernest M., Bessie and Constance. On the 18th of September, 1905, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Graham to Miss Constance Hogan, the ceremony having been performed at MeLeansboro, Illinois. She is a daughter of J. M. Hogan, a retired farmer at MeLeansboro, in the vieinity of which place Mrs. Graham was born and reared. There have been no children born to the latter union. The Graham family take an active interest in religions work as members of the First Baptist church, of Jonesboro, and they are prominent and popular factors in connection with the best social affairs of their community.
Mr. Graham is a stanneh Democrat in his politieal affiliations, and while he has neither time nor ambition for the honors and emoluments of publie office of any kind he is deeply and sincerely interested in all matters projected for the good of the general welfare. The only fra- ternity in which he holds membership is the Woodmen of the World. Concentration of purpose and persistently applied energy rarely fail of success in the accomplishment of any task, however great, and in tracing the career of Mr. Graham it is plainly seen that these have been the secret of his rise to prominence.
THOMAS K. EDDINS is manager of the Henry Alfrey Heading Fac- tory of Jonesboro, and his executive capacity, trustworthiness and great energy and enterprise have been important factors in the splendid sue- cess which has attended the institution and made it one of the most re- Vol. III-8
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liable and prosperous in Craighead county. This well-known and pop- nlar gentleman is a native son of the Sonth, his birth having occurred in Marshall county, Mississippi, July 7, 1869. He was reared in the town of Byhalia, and received his education in the public schools of that place. He began his career in the world of affairs as a bookkeeper and for several years was engaged in this way in Mississippi. In 1894 he made a radical change by removing to Arkansas and loeating in Jones- boro, where he accepted a position as bookkeeper with the Alfrey Con- pany. He made himself practically indespensable during the years and in 1908 became manager of the plant.
The Henry Alfrey Ileading Factory was established in Jonesboro in the same year as Mr. Eddins' first identification with the city. The plant is owned by Henry Alfrey, who is a pioneer in the whiteoak lumber and stave business, having perhaps cut into lumber more white oak trees than any other man in the world. He came to Arkansas from Craw- fordsville, Indiana, and among the people of his eraft his acquaintance extends from Boston to California.
Thomas K. Eddins is a son of O. F. Eddins, who passed a useful life as a merchant in Byhalia, Mississippi, and died there in 1904, at the age of seventy years. He was born in Alabama; like most of his asso- eiates, believed firmly in the right of states to sever their connection with the union: and accordingly enlisted, becoming lieutenant of a com- pany of Confederate soldiers from Marshall county, Mississippi. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Nesbitt, and she, likewise, was a native of Marshall county. Mrs. Eddins passed away in 1907, the mother of five sons, namely : Thomas K., Benjamin and W. D., of Joneshoro, Arkansas: John, of Byhalia, Mississippi; and Frank, of Forest, Miss- issippi.
Mr. Eddins has devoted his energies largely to business since coming to Jonesboro, has been absorbed in the affairs of his employers, and has contributed mneh as a faithful servant to the satisfactory results oh- tained by the plant. The glitter which polities possesses for some has not allured him, and while he gives to public issnes the consideration of every intelligent voter, he has permitted those who like the work to bear the honors as well as the burdens of Democratie affairs. He is not a lodge man, but is a valuable member of the Presbyterian church.
On April 15, 1902, Mr. Eddins seeured a happy life companionship by his marriage in Madison, Alabama, to Miss Clara Russell, daughter of W. A. Russell, farmer, miller and gin operator, and one of a family of five children. Mr. and Mrs. Eddins share their hospitable and attrae- tive home with a young son and daughter-Margaret and Thomas K., Jr.
JUDGE BENJAMIN FINIS GREER, county judge of Washington eonnty, Arkansas, was born near Evansville, this county, on the 30th of July, 1867. His father was James W. Greer, who accompanied his parents to Arkansas in 1854. The paternal grandfather of Judge Greer was born in eastern Tennessee, in 1803, and after marrying in his native state he moved to Lafayette county, Missouri, where his son James W. was born in 1847. lle was descended from one of three Seoteh-Irish brothers who came to America in the early Colonial days, and who fought in the war of the Revolution as patriot soldiers. Subsequently each founded a home, one in Pennsylvania, one in Virginia and one in Carolina. The Virginia Greer was the ancestor of Judge Greer. The grandfather of the Judge was a farmer and a physician by vocation and he was mur- dered during the Civil war by the Pin Indians, a faction of the Osages, who took a prominent part as allies of the Federals during the war.
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Dr. Greer married Miss Elizabeth Brown and became the father of the following children: George, Benjamin, Jo, Thomas, Greenberry, John, James W., Ephraim and Elizabeth.
James W. Greer, father of the Judge, joined the Confederate army after the death of his father and he served in the Trans-Mississippi De- partment of the Confederacy until the close of the war. He passed through service without being wounded and without once falling into the hands of the enemy. When peaec had again been established he turned his attention to farming in Washington county, Arkansas, where was celebrated his marriage to Miss Mollie E. Shannon, a daughter of Alexander Shannon, a pioneer Arkansan from Kentucky. Mrs. Greer was born in Washington county, Arkansas, and she survives her honored husband, maintaining her home with her son, Judge Greer, of this review. Mr. and Mrs. Greer became the parents of seven children, concerning whom the following brief data are here offered: Benjamin F., the im- mediate subject of this review; Ida, who became the wife of R. B. Worsham, of Evansville, Arkansas, and she was summoned to the life eternal in 1885; Walter died in Temple, Texas, as the result of injuries received in a railroad wreck; Edna married B. C. Barham and resides in St. Louis, Missouri ; Leona is the wife of A. C. Baird, of Kansas City, Missouri ; May wedded J. H. Neff and they maintain their home at Still- well, Oklahoma : and Florence is the wife of J. P. London, of Osceola, Iowa.
Judge Greer is indebted to the public schools of his native county for his educational training and he continued to reside on the home farm until after his marriage, in 1889, when he engaged in selling goods at Evansville. He was a elerk for six years and was postmaster of the vil- lage for two years, and resigning from this position he removed to Siloam Springs, where he spent three years with the Kansas City South- ern Railway Company as a mechanic. He then returned to the home farm and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until the fall of 1904, when he came to Fayetteville, to assume the office of county clerk, to which he had just been elected. The family politics of the Greers have ever been Democratie. Judge Greer's activity in the polit- ical realm began with his candidacy for county clerk in 1904, the same resulting in his election in that year and in his re-election to the same office two years later. Having given most admirable service as county clerk he aspired to the county judgeship and accordingly made the race for that office in 1908, in which he was successful. He succeeded Judge Williams and on assuming the responsibilities of his office he found the county general fund thirty-four thousand dollars in debt, besides the authorized debt for the courthouse. A bridge debt of nine thousand dollars was hanging over and the tax levy of the county was up to the limit of law. At once economy was the watchword of the new judge and as the result the county will come to a cash basis in July, 1912. The tax levy has been reduced one mill, some three and a half miles of pub- lie highway have been macadamized, from the city to the county farm, and plans for four new steel bridges have been formulated, three across the White river and one over the Illinois river. The publie roads have been improved the county over and general welfare materially aided. Judge Greer is a stockholder in the Oxford Telephone & Manufacturing Company of Fayetteville and he is half owner of an abstract concern here.
On the 10th of March, 1889, Judge Greer married Miss Inla Flinn, a daughter of J. R. Flinn. of Evansville. Mrs. Greer was born in Wash-
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ington county, this state, and her death occurred in October, 1905. Judge and Mrs. Greer became the parents of seven children, namely : James R., born December 17, 1889, was educated in the University of Arkansas and is now engaged in the abstract business at Fayetteville; and Pansy, Walter, Gladys, Fred, Thomas and Clyde remain at the paternal home. On the 8th of April, 1908, Judge Greer married Miss Lula B. Smith, daughter of W. B. Smith, a prominent and influential citizen of Price township, Washington county.
In polities Judge Greer is a staunch adherent of the principles and policies of the Democratic party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, taking an active interest in the growth and success of the party in relation to local, state and national affairs. In his fraternal connections he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Columbian Woodmen, of which latter organiza- tion he is secretary. In church matters he is a devout member of the Baptist church and his wife is a member of the Christian church,
ELMER J. LUNDY was born in Grayson county. Texas, June 10, 1880. Ile is a descendant of the original Lundy family which came from Eng- land and settled in Massachusetts in 1680, which later immigrated to Pennsylvania ; the original members of the family being members of the church originally founded by William Penn in Philadelphia. The branch of the family from which he is immediately descended settled in southwest Virginia about the year 1740. He is the son of William W. Lundy and Barbara (Burkett ) Lundy, his mother being a member of the Burkett family of North Carolina. His father, who has been prominently identified with educational matters in western Arkansas for the past twenty-five years, has lived in Scott county, Arkansas. for the past fifteen years. He was educated at Emory and Henry College, Vir- ginia, and Hiwassee College, Tennessee, at which place he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
Mr. Elmer J. Lundy was educated in the high schools and academies of Arkansas, and received the degree of Bachelor of Science from Dick- son College, of Dickson, Tennessee, in 1899. He was graduated in the department of law of George Washington University, Washington, D. C., with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1907. at which institution he won the silver medal in the annual prize debate of 1906: was president of his class in 1907. and was also president of the Association of Class Presidents in the same year : was identified with the U. S. Department of Agriculture at Washington, D. C .. for four years, and was Chief Clerk of the Bureau of Statistics in the Department of Agriculture in 1905-6-7.
He located at Mena, Arkansas, in the fall of 1907. and has since been engaged in the practice of law. He was elected city attorney of Mena in April, 1908, and was re-elected in April, 1910. He is a Dem- oerat from principle as well as birth, breeding and environment.
Mr. Lundy was married, October 11. 1904, at Bates. Scott county, Arkansas, to Clara Mabel Matthews, and is the father of four children.
CHARLES N. FAUBEL. One of the most enterprising men of Little Rock is Charles N. Faubel. ever alert to aid in the upbuilding of his city and state. He is a contractor in all lines of cement work, and to say that his sterling qualities of promptness, his broad acquaintance and many friends prove him a self-made man is to put facts lightly.
Mr. Faubel is of German parentage and was born in Harrison town- ship. Bedford county, Pennsylvania, March 24, 1857. He spent his boyhood on the farm and attended the district school. He learned the
Lewis R horton
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milling trade in the old Juniata mills at Wolfsburg, Pennsylvania, and his interest and skill in his work led him to travel and to work and to study the milling business in all of its phases-from the old stone process of flour making to the most improved use of rolls, together with differences in the handling of spring or winter wheat and other cereals. Thus schooled in the leading mills of Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Cali- fornia and Oregon, he became an expert in his line and later a mill- owner in Michigan and his own home state, Pennsylvania, but the mill- dust began to impair his health and compelled a change of oceupation.
Whatever he does is done to win and that is the secret of his success. He is one of the pioneer residents of beautiful Pulaski Heights, and mayor at the present time of this growing suburban city. Stress of business in no way subordinates his social or fraternal enthusiasm. He is at home upon the sands with the Shriner or in full dress of the white- plumed Knight.
In 1883, on August 28, he married Miss Luana Caruss at Gridley, California, a teacher and graduate from the Michigan State Normal School. She is as enthusiastie in her work as he is in his. They together have made their home a "Meeea" to the worthy boy or girl in need, and the home coming of these boys and girls or the letters of their success are ever to them a perpetual source of greatest pleasure and speak in living acts the worth of each and the high esteem which they hold in popular confidence and the welcome to their friends at their eharming home on Pulaski Heights.
LEWIS RHIOTON. There is all of consistency in according in this work a definite recognition of the serviees of Lewis Rhoton as one of the able members of the bar of Arkansas and especially of those ren- dered in the office of prosecuting attorney for the Sixth judicial cir- cuit, in which position he made a most admirable record through his efficient and loyal efforts to eonviet the members of the legislature who were aceused of receiving bribes in connection with the erection of the new state capitol. He has been the avowed foe of political corruption and official malfeasance, and his courage has been that of his eonvie- tions, while his attitude has ever been that of a broad minded and pub- lic spirited citizen. He came to Arkansas as a representative of the pedagogie profession, in which his success was marked, and he has sinee gained distinctive prestige as one of the strong and versatile members of the bar of the state, being at the present time engaged in the general practice of his profession in the eity of Little Rock.
Lewis Rhoton claims the fine old Hoosier commonwealth as the place of his nativity. He was born in Henry county. Indiana, on the 13th of May, 1868, and is a son of Franklin and Susanna (Garrett) Rhoton, the former of whom was born in the state of North Carolina and the latter in Virginia. The father devoted the major portion of his active career to farming, and both he and his wife passed the elos- ing years of their lives in Henry county, Indiana. They were folks of strong mentality and sterling character, and they ever commanded the unequivocal esteem of all who knew them. They were consistent men- bers of the Dunkard church, and in polities the father gave his allegiance to the Democratic party.
In the public schools of his native county Lewis Rhoton gained his preliminary educational discipline, and in 1889 he was graduated in the Illinois State Normal School, at Normal, Illinois. Soon after his gradua- tion Mr. Rhoton assumed the position of principal of the high school at El Paso, Illinois, which incumbency he retained until September.
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1890, when he came to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he was principal of one of the ward schools until 1894. Thereafter he was principal of the high school of this city until 1896. In the meanwhile he had initiated the study of law, and in 1894 he was graduated in the law department of the University of Arkansas. In 1896 he completed an effective post-graduate course in the law department of the historic old University of Virginia, at Charlottesville, and in December of that year he established himself in the practice of law in Little Rock, where he has since maintained his home and where he has gained indubitable precedence in the work of his exacting profession. He has shown a broad and exact knowledge of the minutiae of the science of juris- prudence and distinctive facility in the application thereof in his work as a counselor and advocate. He is resourceful and versatile as a trial lawyer, and this faet showed forth in a significant way during his ineumbeney of office as a public prosecutor. From 1901 until 1904 he served as deputy proseenting attorney of Pulaski county, and he was then eleeted prosecuting attorney for the Sixth judicial eircuit, in which office the best voucher for the efficiency and acceptability of his admin- istration is that afforded in the fact that he was elected as his own successor in 1906 and nominated for a third term in 1908. While in- cumbent of this position he put forth fearless and relentless efforts in the prosecution and conviction of the members of the legislature of 1905 who were indieted for bribery in connection with the legislation pend- ing before the legislature of 1905, and no matter of personal expediency could swerve him from his course, though he naturally created bitter antagonism in his work bringing in the malefactors to justice. He re- signed his office as prosecuting attorney in June, 1907, some time before the expiration of his second term, and declined the nomination, which was equivalent to election, for the third term. He has since given his un- divided attention to the general practice of his profession, and the law firm of which he is a member is known as one of the strongest and most sueeessful in the state. In November, 1908, Mr. Rhoton was ap- pointed assistant general attorney for the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company, of which he became general attorney in the succeeding year. Of the latter office he continued incumbent until the 1st of January, 1910, when he resigned the same to give his un- divided attention to his private practice. From 1900 until 1906 he was a lecturer in the law department of the University of Arkansas, where his work was greatly appreciated both by the faculty and the student body.
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