USA > Arkansas > Historical review of Arkansas : its commerce, industry and modern affairs > Part 40
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In the year 1883 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Wilson to Miss Nellie C. Collins, who was born and reared at Bonham, Texas, and who is a daughter of James M. and Mary Jane (Whitsitt) Collins, of Bon- ham. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have four children,-Dr. Constant Perkins Wilson, Jr., who is now senior surgeon at the Blockley Hospital in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Nellie C., a graduate of University of Lynchburg, Virginia, and the University of Arkansas; Jim C., a student at the Columbia University, Missouri; and Susan, a student in Ft. Smith High School. The mother of these children died January 12, 1897.
In his political adherency Mr. Wilson accords an unswerving allegiance to the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor and while he has never been ambitious for political prefer- ment of any description he is ever ready to give his aid and influence in support of all measures and enterprises projected for the general welfare.
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All his attention is given to his extensive and ever increasing business affairs, which are gradually assuming gigantic proportions. In their re- ligious faith the family are members of the Episcopal church, to whose charities he is a most liberal contributor. Their spacious and attractive home at Fort Smith is widely renowned as a center of culture and refine- ment and most gracious hospitality.
HON. WILLIAM N. IVIE, ex-county judge of Madison county and present register of the United States Land Office at Harrison, is a native of Huntsville, that county, and was born September 20, 1873. His was one of the substantial families to early identity itself with the in- terests of this section of the state, both from the business and profes- sional standpoints. Vardaman Ivie, the forerunner of the family, came from Tennessee, located near Huntsville and there spent the remainder of his life as a farmer, a stockman and an enterprising trader. Among his children were a son and a daughter who went to Texas; John and Rev. V. H. Ivie, both of Madison county and the latter both a farmer and a Baptist minister: and Bachns, father of William N. Ivie, of this review.
Bachus Ivie received only the fundamentals of an education in the country schools of Madison county, and from the hard work of the farm graduated to the more varied life of the traveling salesman. He married and now resides at Berryville, Arkansas, with her son, Fred Pends. The subject of this review was the only child of the first mar- riage.
William N. Ivie was able to acquire but a limited education at Iluntsville, but persistently and pluckily prepared himself for the practice of law in the offices of Lewis and Lowry, of that city. In 1901 he was admitted to practice in the lower courts before Judge John N. Tillman, now president of the University of Arkansas, and in 1903 Judge John H. Rogers admitted him to the Federal courts. In May, 1904, he was heensed to practice before the Supreme court of the state, and when he entered active professional work became a member of the firm of Lowry and Ivie, at Huntsville. Later he associated himself with J. B. Harris, and the partnership existed until 1908, when Mr. Ivie was elected to the county judgeship.
Judge Ivie comes from a family of strong Union sentiment and he has never wavered in his Republicanism since he cast his maiden vote for MeKinley, and his prononneed and strongly-expressed views soon made him more than a simple voter. As a delegate to various state conventions he formed a wide acquaintance, and in 1908 was sent as a delegate to the national Republican convention which nominated Taft, of whom he was an original supporter for the presidency. Two years before he had been the Republican nominee for congressional representative of the Third distriet of Arkansas, and earned the ad- miration of his party in the state by the vigor with which he conducted what was generally understood to be a hopeless canse in that section of Arkansas. In July, 1909, Judge Ivie resigned his place on the county bench to accept his appointment as register of the land office, the suc- cessor of John I. Worthington.
As an active aid to the growth of Republican sentiment in Ark- ansas and as a means of livelihood, Mr. Ivie acquired control of the Huntsville Republican, a weekly newspaper, and he was editor and publisher of the journal for some years prior to his assumption of federal office, disposing of the interest therein even after he came to Harrison. He has also attained promience in the fraternities, having
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been chancellor of the Huntsville Lodge of Knights of Pythias and a member of the judiciary committee of the state Grand Lodge (1900) ; he is further affiliated with the Eureka Springs herd of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Judge Ivie's wife to whom he was married December 30, 1900, was Miss Minnie Vaughn, of Huntsville, a daughter of C. W. Vaughin and a granddaughter of Benjamin Vaughn, one of the best known of the pioneers and public men of Madison county. The children of this union are Lawrence, Lillian and Jewell, aged nine, six and two years, re- spectively.
JOSEPH S. WESTERFIELD, M. D. Holding high position among his professional brethren in Faulkner county is Dr. Joseph S. Westerfield. Acute in his perceptions, widely read in his profession and skillful in applying his acquirements to practieal use, his valne as a physician and surgeon is of the highest character. Dr. Westerfield was born near London, in Laurel county Kentucky, June 17, 1852, his parents being Dr. J. C. and Nancy ( Hopper) Westerfield, both natives of Kentucky. When he was but two years of age his parents moved with their family to Knox county, adjoining Laurel, and there they resided until 1876, in which year Dr. Westerfield located in Faulkner county, Arkansas, taking up his residence in the village of Greenbrier. In these several locations, Dr. Westerfield passed the roseate days of youth and at an early age he had concluded to adopt the medical profession as his own. To this end he pursued his medical studies in the medical de- partment of the University of Louisville, from which institution he was graduated in 1880. He first hung out his professional shingle at. Greenbrier, and there he continued to practice until 1894, when he came to his present home, Conway, the county seat of Faulkner county. He also took post graduate work in the New York Polyclinic in 1895 and 1899. He is connected with numerous organizations calenlated to advance and unify the profession, such as the County, State and Ameri- ran Medical Associations.
Dr. Westerfield is very prominent as a Mason and exemplifies in his life the principles of moral and social justice and brotherly love, which since fable-environed ages have been the fundamentals of this organization. IIe is past grand high priest of the Grand Chapter of Arkansas and at the present time holds the important office of grand master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters.
Dr. Westerfield established an independent household when on the 31st day of December, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Cora Moore, daughter of M. E. Moore, of Greenbrier, in which place Mrs. Westerfield was reared. They have one daughter, Mrs. Mary Hill- iard, of Amarillo, Texas.
METZA D. HALE. Whether success in life is due to the innate characteristics of the individual or whether it depends largely on op- portunity, it is impossible clearly to determine. Yet the study of a sue- cessful life is none the less profitable by reason of the existence of this uncertainty, and in the majority of cases it is found that exceptional ability amounting to genius, perhaps, was the real secret of the pre- eminence which many envied.
Metza D. Hale is a typical American of the best elass and at the- present time, in 1911, he is serving with ntmost efficiency as county judge of Onachita county, to which office he was elected for a second term in 1910. Judge Hale is a native son of Arkansas, his birth having
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occurred on a farm near Camden, Ouachita county, on the 25th of Sep- tember, 1866. He is a son of William P. Hale, who came to Arkansas from Georgia in 1856. William P. Hale passed the first four years of his residence in this state in the employ of a clock concern, being a trav- eling salesman for that house in the southern part of the state. In 1860 he married Miss Christina Jordan and they settled on a planta- tion in the vicinity of Camden, where they reared a family of ten children and where they passed the residue of their lives, the father having been summoned to the life eternal in 1895, and the mother hav- ing passed away in 1886. Both were devout Christians and they were active factors in connection with progress and development in Onachita county during their lives. Of their ten children six are now living and of the number the Judge was the third in order of birth.
Judge Hale passed his boyhood and early youth on the home farm, in the work and management of which he early became associated with his father. His educational training consisted of such advantages as were afforded in the district schools of the county and when he had attained to his legal majority he purchased a farm for himself, on which he inaugurated operations as an agriculturist. His present es- tate is located eleven miles distant from Camden and comprises five hundred and eighty acres, most of which is in a high state of enltiva- tion. The beautiful and substantial buildings, surrounded by well culti- vated fields, indicate thrift and prosperity. In his political convictions Judge Hale is a staunch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, and while he has never been anxious for political preferment of any description he was elected to the office of judge of Ouachita county in 1908. In 1910 he was re-elected to this office as his own successor and is now serving in his second term. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with various representative organizations and he and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist church, in the different departments of which they are most active workers.
On the 16th of September, 1891, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Hale to Miss Rose Lawler. of Cropwell, Alabama. To this union have been born six children- Estella, Hattie, Horace. Herman. Lehuis and Jack-all of whom are attending school. Judge and Mrs. Hale hold a secure vantage ground in the regard of their fellow citizens. In com- munity affairs Judge Hale is active and influential and his support is readily and generously given to many measures for the general progress and improvement. His life history is certainly worthy of commenda- tion and emulation, for along honorable and straightforward lines he has won the success which crowned his efforts and which makes him one of the substantial residents of Ouachita county.
THOMAS J. WALDEN. Few citizens of Berryville are better known and none more highly esteemed than Thomas J. Walden, sheriff of Carroll county. He is a native son of the county, his birth having occurred two miles west of Beaver, July 29, 1872. He received his edu- cation in the public schools, subsequently finishing in Clarke's Academy at Berryville. His first occupation was as a teacher in the public schools and such excellent satisfaction did he give in the important capacity of an instructor that he followed the vocation for a period of seventeen years. Mr. Walden taught his last term in 1910, much to the regret of - Carroll county's parent and pupil class, leaving the school room to make the race for county sheriff, and success crowned his desires.
Mr. Walden is a son of that stanch and well-remembered pioneer. Henry Walden. The elder gentleman spelled his name "Wallen." and
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both forms of the name seem to have been corrupted from "Walling." Henry Walden, or Wallen, resembles a great many of the carly settlers of the Bear state in that he came here from the state of Tennessee to seek new fortunes. He was born in Ilawkins county, that state, in 1820 and died at Beaver; Arkansas, in 1896. His identification with Carroll county predates the Civil war by several years and during that stormy period he lived near Beaver, but gave service to the state of Missouri as a member of the Union militia of that state. His senti- ments were decidedly against secession, but four of his brothers donned the Confederate uniform and gave valiant service to the cause they be- lieved to be right.
The subject's father was twice married. His first wife bore the surname by which he was known, her name being Mollie Wallen. She died in 1862, the mother of the following children: Hannah, who mar- ried John Skelton and resides at Beaver; Martha, wife of Paul Pender- graft, they being residents of Ashland, Oklahoma; Williams, deceased ; Henry of Springdale, Arkansas; Elender, wife of J. L. Smith, of near Seligman, Missouri. For his second wife he married Mrs. Mar- tha Walden, daughter of John Johnson, and she survives her husband and maintains her residence upon the old homestead in the vicinity of Beaver. Her two children by her first husband-Rosa Roberts and John Walden-are both deceased. She and Mr. Walden were the parents of the ensuing: Webster, of Beaver, Arkansas; John, of Haileyville, Oklahoma; Thomas J., of this sketch; Sarah, wife of J. T. Dunlap, of Beaver, and formerly wife of the deceased W. J. Wedding- ton : Isabel, wife of L. C. Wright, now deceased: James and Grover, of Eureka Springs.
Thomas J. Walden was known far and wide as an enlightened in- structor of the public schools. This work failing to enlist his whole energies, he engaged in agriculture during the summer months, and he now falls back upon the stable vocation whenever his official dnties are out of the way. In 1906 he entered upon a new epoch in his career by his election at the hands of the Democratic party to the office of county assessor and his executive ability and trustworthiness in this important office amply recommended him to the voters of the community. He per- formed the feat of completing the assessing of the property of Carroll county in three months' time, and without assistance-the only instance of such expedition in the history of the county in recent years. The success of his first term won for him a second nomination and election and when he had served four years with such efficiency (and let it be added with seant peenniary reward), his party nominated him against two competitors for sheriff of the county. When the votes were counted in September it was found that he had defeated his Republican opponent by a majority of three hundred and thirty-six, and thus it came about that he succeeded Sheriff Frank Carroll in November. 1910.
Mr. Walden insured a happy and congenial life companionship when, on October 7. 1906, he was united in marriage to Minnie C. Huff- man, danghter of R. C. Huffman, a native of Carroll county, Arkansas. Mrs. Walden's mother's maiden name was Mary Reynolds and she was one of five children. The subject and his wife have two children, Johnny Irene and Allie.
An interesting and loyal member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World, and the Knights of Pythias, Mr. Walden finds great pleasure in his fraternal relations and is very popular in lodge ranks.
Vol. 111-18
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W. FRANK REEVES, of Marshall, ex-prosecuting attorney of the Four- teenth judicial district and ex-receiver of the United States land office, is a striking personal example which well illustrates a general feature of the Civil war history; as a rule, the son of a stalwart Southern soldier who fought in the Union army has firmly allied himself with the Republican party and given it his best service. The reader may closely apply this statement to the careers of W. Frank Reeves and his father, James R. The latter came to Arkansas from near Lebanon, Tennessee, where he was born on the 20th of July, 1844. He was reared on a farm near Gilbert, Arkansas, which was the paternal homestead founded by Joshua Reeves. Grandfather Reeves subsequently moved to the vicinity of Lexington, Ar- kansas, where he passed away in 1905, at the age of eighty-eight. He had married Mahala Grinder back in the old state of Tennessee, and spent most of his time in Arkansas in the performance of his migratory duties as a missionary of the Primitive Baptist church. Their children were James R. Reeves, father of Frank; Rowena, who married Jerome Grant- ham; and Tabitha, who became the wife of Alexander Mccutcheon. Rev. Joshua Reeves married as his second wife Ailsy Kester, and ten children were born to them.
James R. Reeves was but seventeen years of age at the commencement of the war, and was living near Gilbert when he entered the ranks of Company M, Second Arkansas Cavalry. He was later transferred east of the Mississippi and served under General Thomas in the campaign which included the terrific fighting around Missionary Ridge and Lookout Moun- tain ; particularly in the siege of Nashville and the demoralization of Hood's army, and during the later months of the war was doing duty in north Mississippi, receiving his honorable discharge at Memphis, Tennessee. Albeit an unwavering Republican, as when he cast his first vote in the last year of the war, the elder Mr. Reeves has remained a private citizen. Since the conclusion of the rebellion he has remained closely attached to the old farm and given himself faithfully to the care of his personal and domestic affairs. His wife (nee Berthena Petty) is a daughter of Robert L. Petty, of German descent. Ten children have been born as issue of their mar- riage.
William Franklin, or W. Frank Reeves, as he is generally known, was born twelve miles north of Marshall, the county seat of Searcy county, on the 13th of March, 1877. His education was obtained in the district and Marshall high schools and Valley Springs Academy. At twenty years of age he terminated a three-years' contract with Jesse Vinson as a farm hand at twelve dollars and fifty cents per month, after which he completed his schooling. IIe then taught in the country districts for five terms, employ- ing his spare time in reading law, but his deep and active interest in poli- ties and public matters prevented him, at that time, from completing his course. In 1899 he leased the Marshall Republican, which he edited for six months and then turned it over to others that he might give his undi- vided time to the pending campaign which involved his own election to the circuit clerkship of the county. He was chosen to that office in September, 1900, and performed its duties most acceptably for two years, when he was admitted to the practice of the law before Judge E. G. Mitchell. He en- gaged in professional work until May, 1906, when President Roosevelt appointed him receiver of the United States land office at Harrison.
Mr. Reeves resigned the receivership of the land office in September, 1908, in order to accept the Republican nomination for prosecuting attor- ney of the Fourteenth judicial circuit, and he was elected over his Demo- cratie opponent by a majority of 561 in a district which was supposed to be overwhelmingly against him and his party. At the completion of his term
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of office in November, 1910, Mr. Reeves resumed active law practice, and, as a member of the firm of Woods and Reeves, is recognized as one of the most progressive representatives of the Searcy county bar and as one of the strongest and youngest leaders of Republicanism in Arkansas. He has been in active politics since attaining his majority, and with one exception has participated in every state Republican convention since he has been legally entitled to representation. In 1910 he was chosen temporary chairman of the state convention, a most conspicuous honor to be conferred upon one so young, amidst an army of "wheel-horses" of the Republican party.
On the 16th of October, 1901, Mr. Reeves was united in marriage with Miss Cora Horn, daughter of Cephas Horn, ex-treasurer of Searcy county, and their children are Herbert and Mildred. Both as a pleasure and a source of considerable profit, Mr. Reeves has engaged to a considerable ex- tent in the raising of fruit, his orchards embracing one of six thousand Elberta peach trees and another of three thousand two hundred apple trees, near Marshall. His fraternal relations are solely with the Masonic body.
GORDON HUFFMASTER is one of the well-known attorneys of Arkansas and he has been a citizen of the Travelers' state since 1907. His services here have been such as to gain him instant recognition as one of the able members of the bar, and it is safe to say that he has before him many fruitful years of useful and brilliant service. Mr. Huffmaster is a native of the state of Texas, his birth having occurred at Terrell, Kaufman coun- ty, on the 26th day of September, 1874. His parents are Captain Joseph and Fannie (Terrell) Huffmaster, both of whom are living at the present time at Kaufman, Texas. In his own gratifying career the subject is fol- lowing in the footsteps of his father, who is one of the most prominent lawyers of the Lone Star state, his identification with the Kaufman county bar dating from the year 1869. It is said, in truth, that he and Colonel James Turner, of Marshall, are the two oldest attorneys in that neighboring state, their admission to the bar having occurred in the same year. Cap- tain Huffmaster, who is likewise distinguished as one of the most gallant of Confederate army officers, was born in Newport, Kentucky, and was reared at Rogersville, Tennessee. His youth was passed in the South, in the troublous days preceding the Civil war, and at the outbreak of the great conflict he enlisted, and it was his fate to be in the thickest of the fight, in eloquent testimony of which his regimental flag had nine hundred and seventy-eight bullet holes in it. Shortly after the termination of the war, in 1869, to be exact, the Captain went to Terrell, Texas, and formed associations, professional and otherwise, which led him to make that city his permanent home. He won as his bride Miss Fannie Terrell, daughter of the late Robert A. Terrell, upon whose land the town of Terrell was built, and who was a cousin of the Hon. A. W. Terrell of Austin, the dis- tinguished lawyer, diplomat and legislator, and ex-minister to Turkey. The Terrells are, in fact, one of the leading families of the state which has been the chief scene of their activities.
Gordon Huffmaster received his higher education in the Southwestern University and in the A. & M. College of that state. It was his privilege to study law under the excellent tutelage of his father, and he was admitted to the bar at Kaufman in 1893. In looking about him for a location he was favorably impressed by the rich opportunities and remarkable advance- ment of this section of Arkansas, and he accordingly established his home at Booneville. He has not regretted his decision, for he has won the re- gard which is usually the reward of him who serves his state with faithful- ness and distinction both as a public man and a private citizen. One of his
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principal interests is Masonry, in which he holds the Royal Arch degree, and both he and his wife are useful and consistent members of the Metho- (list Episcopal church.
On the 16th day of June, 1901, Mr. Huffmaster established a partieu- larly happy and congenial life companionship by his marriage to Miss Nannie Bass, of Harrison county, Texas, and their union has been blessed by the birth of one daughter, Nancy Dorothy Huffmaster. They are identi- fied with the best social life of the place and are hospitable and kindly in their inclinations.
CHARLES B. EATON. the popular and efficient postmaster of Cotter, has resided here only since 1902, when he removed from Batesville, Arkan- sas, but the few years have been ample to demonstrate citizenship of the highest possible character. Mr. Eaton is a Hoosier, his birth having oc- curred near Leavenworth, Crawford county, Indiana, May 13, 1861, the son of James H. Eaton. He was reared amid the rural surroundings of his father's farm (that first requisite to greatness) ; received his education in the country schools; and began life independently at the age of eighteen years as a teamster for a stave firm in Indiana. After engaging for six years in this occupation he returned to the farm and continned engrossed with agricultural pursuits until 1892, when he migrated to the Southwest and located in Batesville, Arkansas.
Mr. Eaton soon assumed nseful relations in his new community of neighbors in Arkansas and was engaged in mercantile business in Bates- ville and latterly in Cotter until his appointment in the latter place as postmaster, said appointment occurring in October, 1909.
James H. Eaton, father of the subject, was born in 1818, in Indiana, his father having gone there shortly previous from the region of Cin- cinnati, Ohio. He adopted the great basie industry as his life work, and during the agitation which led to the South's secession he favored the cause of the Union and joined the Federal army when President Lincoln sent forth the call for troops. He was one of that brave million of men who gave up their lives to the causes they deemed just in the troublous days of the '60%. his death occurring in 1863, while wearing the uniform of his country. His wife, whose maiden name was Rosanna Gibson, survived her hero husband until 1896 and passed away in Indiana at the age of sixty-three years. The children of their union were William and Samuel, who passed away in Indiana, each mourned by families; Ravilla, who be- came the wife of Hansford Holly and died in Indiana ; John J., who re- sides in Jackson county, Arkansas; George M. of Batesville; and Charles B., of this notice.
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