USA > Arkansas > Historical review of Arkansas : its commerce, industry and modern affairs > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
In politics Mr. Rhoton accords an unwavering support to the cause of the Democratic party and he takes a loyal interest in all that touches the well being of his home city and state. He has never abated his con- eern in the cause of education and he served as president of the board of education of Little Roek from 1906 to 1908, having been elected a member of the board in 1904. He was re-elected to membership on this board at the expiration of his term in 1908, but resigned within the same year. He is the author of a valuable textbook on eivil govern- ment, entitled "Arkansas and the Nation," and the same has been adopted for use in many of the public and private schools of Arkansas.
In 1896 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Rhoton to Miss Bessie Riffel, who was born in Ohio and reared in Missouri, and who is a daughter of the late James K. Riffel, a representative citizen of Arkan- sas. Mr. and Mrs. Rhoton have one son, Riffel Garret, and one daughter, Bayord Frances.
1215
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS
FRANK PACE. A distinguished figure among the members of the bar of Little Rock is Frank Pace, who has resided in the state's chief metropolis since 1907. In addition to the prestige he has won by his own personal attainments, he also enjoys honor as the son of that far- famed lawyer and jurist, William Fletcher Pace, of Harrison, whose firm hand and broad, sound humane judgment helped to guide Arkansas through the dark days of the reconstruction period.
Mr. Pace, of this review, was born at Harrison, Boone county, Arkansas, on the 25th day of July, 1874. He was reared and educated in Harrison and attained his higher classical education in the State Uni- versity at Fayetteville. When it came to the matter of choosing a pro- fession he concluded to follow in the paternal footsteps and his studies were pursued under the enlightened tutelage of his father. In 1894 he was admitted to the bar at Harrison and for several years he was in law practice at that place in association with his father and brother. For some time he held the office of prosecuting attorney of the Four- teenth Judicial Circuit.
Mr. Pace's identification with Little Rock dates from November, 1907, at which time he became established in the law in this city and he has met with a continuation of the success achieved in northwest Arkan- sas. He is associated in practice with United States Senator Jefferson Davis, with the firm name of Davis & Pace.
Mr. Pace was married to Miss Flora Layton, of Yellville, Arkansas, on the 10th day of June, 1908.
The parents of Mr. Pace were William Fletcher and Sarah J. (Howell) Pace The former was born six miles south of Temple, Texas, July 1, 1840, and his father, William Pace, had migrated there from Callaway county, Missouri. The elder William was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, in 1793, engaged in the stock business and died when the son, who was destined to become famous in the state, was a baby. Another William Pace, great-grandfather of the gentleman whose name inaugurates this notice, was a Revolutionary soldier and the founder of the family in America.
The education of the fatherless William Fletcher, in its early stages, was of a desultory character. When he was about at the attainment of his majority the Civil war began and he became a member of the Mis- souri State Guard (Confederate). He took part in the battles of Pea Ridge and Wilson's Creek and was wounded in the former engagement. When mustered into the Confederate service proper he was in General Frost's brigade and Colonel Mitchell's regiment. After the war Mr. Pace located in Woodruff county, Arkansas, and there married in 1868, bringing his bride to Boone county in an ox wagon and taking up his home in a one-room log cabin. He taught school for a time and in 1871 was admitted to the bar before Judge Fitzpatrick, well known for his connection with the reconstruction period. It was his to know the peculiarly primitive court conditions of Arkansas in that day, and he was one of the lawyers who followed the judge on horseback over ten counties, for something like thirty years. An account of his experiences and achievements is given on other pages of this work in the biography of Dr. Henry Pace, of Eureka Springs.
Mr. Pace of Little Rock is one of the following family of children : Ida, wife of Professor A. Homer Purdue, of the University of Arkan- sas ; Dr. Henry, of Eureka Springs; Miss Ada, of Harrison ; Kate, wife of H. E. Cantrell, of Harrison; and Troy, junior member of the firm of Pace & Pace of Harrison, Arkansas. The subject is second in order of birth.
1216
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS
WILLIAM E. SPENCE. Prominent among the able lawyers of Clay county stands William E. Spence, who at the present time holds the im- portant office of mayor of Piggott. Thoroughly publie-spirited and pro- gressive, he is the right man for the mayoralty and there is nothing of publie import at Piggott and the surrounding country in which he is not helpfully interested. Mayor Spence has been a resident of the state since 1876 and of this eity since 1891. He was born in Monroe county, Alabama, in February, 1860; in 1873 he accompanied his parents to Richland Parish, Louisiana, and three years later came to Arkansas, locating in Clay county.
Mr. Spense is the son of the Rev. William W. Spence, who was born in Newberry District, South Carolina, in August, 1828. The grandfather. John Spence, resided in Tennessee and was the father of the following children : James, who died in Marshall county, Tennessee, leaving one child: Samuel P., who died in Greene county, unmarried ; Martha, who married and died in Tennessee: Elizabeth, who became the wife of David D. Davis and died in Greene county, Arkansas; and Rev. William W., who died in Dunklin county, Missouri, in 1893. The latter - the subject's father-received his education in Erskine College, a famous Presbyterian college of South Carolina and one in which many of the noted men of the United States have received their training. After graduation he engaged in teaching and in 1854 founded the Cam- den Female Institute at Camden, Alabama, in connection with Dr. Mil- ler, and they conducted the school until the beginning of the Civil war. Mr. Spence had drifted into Alabama as a young man and in conse- quence of his standing as an educator he was chosen county superintend- ent of schools of the county in which he located. After the rebellion he resumed teaching in Monroe county, Alabama, and continued in the pedagogieal profession until 1873, when he went to Louisiana, and after three years in that state he came on to Arkansas. For some years after reaching here Mr. Spence was an important factor in the educational life of Clay county. His influence as a teacher and as a man was strongly impressed upon many of the business and professional men of northeastern Arkansas, who in youth came into contact with him and were in part moulded by him. A few years previous to his demise he entered actively into the ministry of the Presbyterian church, his last pastorate being at Clarkton, Missouri. He possessed ready eloquence and was familiar with every phase of his professional work. He was, in truth, a gifted, forceful, logical and eloquent man in the pulpit or upon the platform.
As a participant in the military affairs of the Confederacy, Rev. Spence enlisted from Monroe county, Alabama, and was commissioned a lieutenant of an infantry company, while in the rejuvenation of the South. Following reconstruction he acted with the Democratic party. IIe married Evelyn MeNeill, both of whose parents were of Scotch birth, and whose mother's maiden name had also been Evelyn MeNeill. Mrs. Spenee died in 1875. Of the ten children of their union only three sur- vive- William E., of Piggott, Arkansas; Mrs. Kate Barham, of San Antonio, Texas: and Lewis Spence, editor and proprietor of the Piggott Banner.
William E. Spence, whose name inaugurates this review, had the advantage of receiving an education under his father's supervision and began the serious affairs of life as a elerk. Ile entered polities in 1886, and that year was elected eirenit clerk and recorder. He was twice re- elected and in 1892, when his term closed, he resumed further prepara-
1211
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS
tion for the law and was admitted to the bar of Clay county before Judge F. G. Taylor in 1895. He entered the practice in the same court that admitted him and has continued it actively and effectively ever sinee that time. He has had professional associations with H. W. Moore in the firm of Moore & Spenee, and is now senior member of the firm of Spence & Dudley, his partner being R. H. Dudley.
In politics Mr. Spenee has ever affiliated with the dominant party of his state and has served as a delegate to state and district eonven- tions, helping to name candidates and to carry forward the preliminary work of the party in state and local affairs. He was a member of the famous "Deadloek Convention" of the first Congressional district, which brought Bruee Macon into the limelight and made him a member of Congress. In eloquent testimony of the confidenee and regard which he enjoys in relation to his fellow citizens, he has been several times mayor of Piggott and as previously stated is at the present time the in- cumbent of that offiee.
Mr. Spence is a stockholder and director of the Clay County Bank and sustains the same relations in respect to the Bank of St. Francis and the Bank of Nimmons, Arkansas. He is interested in the agricultural development of this part of the state and his attitude toward every phase of moral enterprise in the county is favorable to their utmost de- velopment.
Mr. Spence was married at Boydsville, Arkansas, December 13, 1888, his wife being Miss Mary Simmons, daughter of Dr. G. W. Sim- mons, one of the oldest practitioners of medieine of Clay county and a settler from Tennessee. Mrs. Spenee was born in Clay county in 1871, and the issue of their union are: Berney, who is a stenographer in the office of Spence & Dudley: Raymond, a member of the Clay County Corn Club for the year 1911 ; Opal. Ayleen and William. A daughter, Evelyn, is deceased.
Mr. Spenee is a past master of Masonry and has been several times a member of the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of Reetor Chapter, No. 89. He is a member of the session of the Presbyterian church of Piggott, and as a builder of his town he ereeted the first house north of Main street. He is loyally interested in all that tends to the growth and elevation of the community and he and his family hold a high place in society.
DAVID FREDERICK TAYLOR is a member of the Mississippi county bar and is postmaster of Osceola. He eame to Arkansas from Alamo, Tennessee, in January, 1901, and resumed the praetiee of the law. He was born there June 16, 1872, passed his minority upon the farm and re- ceived his higher education in the MeLemoreville Collegiate Institute, being graduated in 1892, with the degree of Bachelor of Seienee. He subsequently entered the Southern Normal University at Huntingdon, where he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1894, and then, going into the sehoolroom as a teacher, he followed the profession until 1897. His career as an instructor was of an eminently satisfae- tory character, and ineluded the principalship of the Paris sehools. Paris, Tennessee, and one year as president of the William and Emma Austin College at Stephenson, Alabama.
In the meantime a long existing ambition to become a lawyer had come to fruition, and accordingly Mr. Taylor abandoned teaching and look up the study of law with W. F. Poston, a distinguished member of the profession of Alamo, Tennessee, and was admitted to the bar of his county in 1898, before judges of the eircuit and chancery courts. John
1218
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS
R. Bond and Albert Hawkins. He began his practice with his preceptor, Mr. Poston, and continued in this association until he left the state. Mr. Taylor's politieal sentiments are Republican and having proved himself sufficiently zealous in his loyalty to do anything in support of the eause-that is, anything honorable-those who shared his convictions nominated him for congressman of the Ninth Congressional District of Tennessee (in 1900) and he made the race against the Hon. Rice Pearce in a hopelessly Democratie district, with a result which needs no comment and which was by no means an adverse commentary upon his personal popularity, trustworthiness and ability.
When Mr. Taylor came to Arkansas he resumed his politieal ac- tivity and in 1906 the Republicans in the First Congressional District nominated him for Congress, and although he made no campaign the vote showed a decided Republican inerease. He was appointed post- master of Osceola in 1902 and filled the duties of the office with such efficieney that his reappointments in 1906 and 1910 were entirely logical and highly satisfactory to the community. He is one of the most public spirited of men, ever standing ready to give heart and hand to all measures likely to prove of benefit to the people. From his earliest youth he has been loyal to the tenets of the Grand Old Party, but his enthusiastic partisanship by no means renders him oblivious to even more important matters.
Mr. Taylor is a son of David H. Taylor, who still occupies the de- lightful old farm upon which his son's birth ocenrred. The elder gen- tleman was born May 17, 1845, in the state of North Carolina, and his father, also David Taylor, was a farmer and owner of slaves. Not- withstanding, when the question of secession arose he was strong for the Union and the old flag. David H. Taylor joined the federal army and served in the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry. He bears the sears of five Confederate bullets. This noble veteran and eitizen ehose for his wife Susan E. Wingate, whose family home was originally in North Carolina. The children of this marriage were Dr. Taylor, M. D., of Osceola; the subjeet; and Mrs. Henry Robinson, of Maury City, Tennessee. The worthy wife and mother passed on to the "Undiscovered Country" in 1890, her husband having survived her for more than a seore of years.
David Frederick Taylor, our subjeet, laid the foundation of a eon- genial life companionship when on November 29, 1900, at Huntingdon, Tennessee, he was united in marriage to Miss Onie Kyle, daughter of Robert Kyle. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor share their hospitable and attractive home with one son, Fred, Jr., a promising young citizen.
Mr. Taylor finds his fraternal affiliations a source of great pleasure and recreation, these extending to the Knights of Pythias, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Proteetive Or- der of Elks. He and his wife are earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal ehureh and are valuable factors in its cam- paign for good. Mr. Taylor has been successful in the highest calling -- that of good eitizenship-and in his professional and official capacities he has proved himself a very real factor for the advancement and progress of the community.
THOMAS HINTON. A representative business man of the younger generation in the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, and one who is well upholding the prestige of the honored name which he bears is Thomas Hinton, who is a native of Hempstead county, this state, where he was born on the 10th of November, 1874. He is a son of Lovett T. Hinton, who claimed the state of Georgia as the place of his nativity and who
1219
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS
immigrated to Hempstead county, Arkansas, several years prior to the war between the states. He acquired a valuable plantation five miles south of the present site of Hope, but at the time of the inception of the Civil war he subordinated all other interests in order to tender his services in behalf of the cause of the Confederacy. He served as a faithful and gallant soldier in the Seventeenth Arkansas throughout the war and participated in many of the important battles marking the progress of that sanguinary struggle. At Corinth, Mississippi, he was badly wounded by a bullet which lodged in his knee and which rendered him partially crippled during the remainder of his life. His planta- tion was devastated during the troublous war times, and after his honorable discharge from service in 1865 he was forced to begin again at the bottom of the ladder. He engaged in agricultural pursuits on his old plantation and was therewith identified during the remainder of his active business career. His death occurred at his farm, five miles south of Hope, Arkansas, in 1886, at which time he was forty-eight years of age.
Thomas Hinton was reared on his father's farm south of Hope and was but twelve years of age at the time of his father's death. His preliminary educational discipline was that afforded in the common schools of his native county and in Onachita Baptist College, and this training he has since amply supplemented through his association with the practical affairs of life. In 1900 he located in Texarkana, and for several years he has been actively identified with the cotton business. In this connection he was formerly associated with Marx Kosminsky, the pioneer cotton buyer of this city, under the firm name of Kosmin- sky, Son & Hinton. Upon Mr. Kosminsky's removal to St. Louis, Mis- souri, Mr. Hinton became a partner with the well known firm of C. Decker & Company, an English concern, dealers in cotton. In 1910 Mr. Hinton purchased the Bronson plantation of twelve hundred acres, located in Miller county, ten miles north of Texarkana. This is one of the famous old plantations of southwest Arkansas, formerly a large prodneer of long staple cotton, but which has been in disuse since the Red River flood of 1908. Mr. Hinton has begun the work of rehabilitat- ing this estate and is gradually bringing it back to its former high state of enltivation. In connection with his business affairs he is rapidly gaining prominence as a man of unquestioned honesty and integrity and as a citizen he is loyal and public-spirited, giving his aid in support of all movements tending to advance the material and civic welfare of his home city and county. In polities he accords a staunch allegiance to the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are earnest members of the Presbyterian church.
On the 24th of December, 1896, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hinton to Miss Mina Kinser, who was born and reared in Hemp- stead county and who is a daughter of J. M. and Nettie (Hicks) Kinser, representative citizens of Hope, Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Hinton have three children-Mildred, Thomas, Jr., and Isabel.
HIRAM F. RIEFF is manager of the Rieff planing mill and lumber business, one of the largest and most important of Little Rock industries. This concern, which was established in 1899 by Mr. Rieff's father, Colonel Americus V. Rieff, one of the city's most venerable and honor- able citizens, employs a considerable number of men and does a busi- ness of about one hundred thousand dollars a year. The plant of Rieff & Son is located on West Sixteenth street, near High street, and repre- sents an invested capital of about thirty thousand dollars. Mr. Hiram
1220
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS
F. Rieff, through his signal ability and unflagging energy, has built the business up from extremely modest beginnings to its present high stand- in and importanee. As an aggressive and enterprising business man and the aetive head of one of the concerns which contribute materially to the industrial prestige of the city he is well entitled to consideration in the volume.
Mr. Rieff was born at Charleston, Franklin county, Arkansas, on the 23rd day of October, 1873, his parents being Ameriens V. and Mary J. (Spencer) Rieff. He attended school at Booneville and in Little Rock and fairly grew up in the lumber business, at an early age beeom- ing associated with his father in the same. Some time after Colonel Rieff's establishment of the Little Rock business he became a partner, the business having since been conducted under the firm name of Rieff & Son. He owns in addition valuable property interests in Little Rock, and stands as a publie-spirited young citizen, whose hand and heart are ever devoted to all good measures.
On the 12th day of September. 1906, Mr. Rieff was united in mar- riage to Miss Clara Gulley, daughter of Colonel Ransom Gulley, former state treasurer. They are popular in social eireles of the eity and their home is one of its pleasant abodes.
Colonel Ameriens V. Rieff, father of the foregoing, familiarly known as Colonel "Meck" Rieff, was born at Nashville, Tennessee, July 1, 1830. Ile came with his parents to Arkansas in 1836 and settled in Fayetteville. Some years later he became a soldier. for Colonel Rieff has the distinetion of being the veteran of two wars, the Mexican and the Civil. It has been said of him that he was a soldier who went about the business of fighting with a desire to do his work thoroughly and well. In battle after battle he displayed great gallantry and he was many times promoted. He is a man of strong and interesting indi- viduality and at the age of eighty-one years retains his spirit and his faculties in almost their pristine vigor. His life and particularly his military experiences have been vividly sketched in the following artiele recently appearing in an Arkansas publieation.
"Colonel Rieff's father was a Tennessean, who removed to Fayette- ville in 1836, bringing with him several children, of whom Colonel Rieff was the youngest, then six years of age. Mr. Rieff and his older brother, J. Fen Rieff, who was killed during the Civil war at Pine Bluff, joined Captain S. B. Engart's cavalry company, for service in the Mexiean war, young Rieff as a private, seventeen years old, and his brother as a lieutenant.
"After eighteen months' serviee they returned home and young Rieff attended the Ozark Institute and later entered the business world as a contractor and builder. He continued in this work until the open- ing of the Civil war. Early in May, 1861. he was elected captain of the cavalry company raised in Washington county. The company was about one hundred strong and the men were mounted and armed with shotguns. Captain Rieff reported by telegraph to General Ben Me- Cullough, who was then at Fort Smith, on his way to assume command of the department. General MeCullough aeeepted his services and or- dered the company, which was known later as the 'spy company,' into Missouri. The Arkansans went to Keattsville, Missouri, and then on to Cassville, where they heard that a company of Union soldiers was eamped at Big Springs, fifteen miles north. After a night's ride the Arkansans surrounded the camp of the Federals, but found at day- light that the Federals had just left. Rieff's men spent the day ehasing the Federals.
1221
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS
"The raid into Missouri caused a great cry from the state's rights advocates, who said that Arkansas troops were invading Missouri, and offered rewards for all Arkansas soldiers, especially the commander of the raiders, taken either dead or alive.
"On its return from Missouri the company was mustered into serv- ice as state troops, but later General McCullough said he could not accept state troops but would receive the company as a 'spy company.' The result of this was that the company saw all sorts of dangerous and trying service. At the battle of Dug Spring, Captain Rieff and four of his men had become cut off from the company when about twelve caval- rymen of Company C, United States Dragoons, under a sergeant, saw them and rode at them with drawn sabers. When within thirty or forty feet of the Southerners the Federal sergeant shouted, 'Surrender, you cowardly rebels, surrender!' A moment later Captain Rieff put sixteen buckshot into the sergeant and he fell in front of his squad. With the other barrel of the shotgun which he carried Captain Rieff killed another cavalryman and then, drawing his navy pistol, he shot three shots, about ten feet distant. James Mitchell and Sergeant Frank Smiley, who were with Captain Rieff and Edly Boyd, ran, but each shot a Federal soldier as he ran. Boyd stayed with Rieff. Captain Rieff had three shots left, but they were of no service to him, as the only Federals in sight were on the ground.
"Just before the battle of Oak Hills, twelve o'clock at night on the 9th, Captain Rieff, at the request of General Mccullough, detailed Lieutenant Bill . Buck' Brown and twenty men of the spy company for a seout, and this seout probably saved the Southern army from utter rout at Oak Hills. Practically all of the officers and men were ignorant of the arts of war and there had been many ludicrous false alarms, but on the night of August 9, 1861. Brown discovered the Federal army moving into position for a battle with the Confederates. Brown made a dash for headquarters and rode through a regiment of Federals on his way. He reported to Colonel McIntosh that the Federals were almost in the Confederate camp, but Colonel McIntosh chose to look at it as another false alarm. Brown then reported to General MeCullough, who immediately began preparations for battle. A few minutes later Woodruff's battery, which hekily did not have to change its position. was in an artillery duel with the Federal artillery. Those who know these details of the opening of the battle give credit to the scouts of the spy company for saving the day.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.