USA > Arkansas > Historical review of Arkansas : its commerce, industry and modern affairs > Part 44
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In the year 1903 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Prichard to Miss Mamie O. Ruffin, who was born and reared in Conway county, this state, and they have three children,-Edna Olga, Thomas J .. Jr. and
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James Elton. Mrs. Prichard is a popular factor in the best social ac- tivities of her home city, and here presides as a gracious chatelain of an attractive residence.
JAMES C. SPANN. Conspicuous among the leading and influential citizens of Luxora, Mississippi county, is James C. Spann, who is promi- nently associated with the advancement of the financial, mercantile and agricultural interests of the community, being president of the Luxora Banking Company, a stockholder in the Luxora Hardware Company, and one of the most extensive and successful cotton and grain growers of this part of the state. He was born, February 5, 1869, in Williamson county, Tennessee, being a grandson of one of the earlier pioneers of that county, Charles Spann, who emigrated from the Roanoke River valley, Virginia, to Tennessee in the early part of the nineteenth century.
Mr. Spann's father, Richard H. Spann, was born in Williamson county, Tennessee, in 1819, and there spent his entire life, being engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until his death, in 1903. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah E. Murphy, died in 1905, at an advanced age. They were the parents of five children, as follows: William M., of Nashville, Tennessee ; Eliza, who married Elijah Morgan, died at Antioch, Tennessee ; America E., wife of Charles Spann, of Triune, Tennessee; Fletcher, of Nashville, Tennessee ; and James C.
Brought up on the parental estate near Triune, Tennessee, James C. Spann was educated in the Hardeman Academy, and at the University of Tennessee, where he lacked but a few points of completing the course required for obtaining the degree of bachelor of arts. Entering upon a professional career, he taught school two years at Powder Springs, Geor- gia, and one year at Flovilla, Georgia. Coming then to Mississippi county. Arkansas, Mr. Spann had charge of the Luxora schools for three years, here concluding his work as an educator. Since 1901 Mr. Spann has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, each season extending his interests in that line. He is now acknowledged as one of the most extensive cotton and grain growers of the county, and its leading alfalfa raiser. In the culture of this profitable crop he is a pioneer, and the one hundred and thirty acres of land which he devotes to it yields on an average from five tons to six tons per acre, and as his market is good, being untramineled by disastrous competition, his net profits reach to about fifty dollars an acre. In his plantations Mr. Spann has fourteen hundred and fifty acres of rich land, a part of which he redeemed from the virgin forest, and of this he tills eight hundred acres, giving employment to a large force of men, while his abundant harvests form an important element in the do- mestic commerce of Luxora.
Mr. Spann was for some time connected with the mercantile firm of Tiger Brothers as a stockholder, and is now identified with the Luxora Hardware Company, a prosperous firm. He became a stockholder in the Luxora Banking Company several years ago, and for the past three years has rendered appreciated service to those concerned as its president. Mr. Spann married, August 25th, 1898, Mary E. Thweatt, of Bellbuckle, Ten- nessec, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. H. Thweatt, the father, a promi- nent farmer and merchant of that place. Mr. Thweatt was a descendant of one of the three Thweatt brothers who came from Wales, having obtained a grant of land from the King of England for land, which lies near Rich- mond, Virginia, during the early settlement of that state. Mrs. Thweatt was Miss M. J. Webb of Shelbyville, Tennessee. They reared eight chil- dren: Kate M., Howard B., Mary E., Hettie T., Henry P., Beulah J., Silas A., Beuford W., all of whom have made good citizens in their vari-
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ous homes. Mr. and Mrs. Spann have one child, Sarah Jeannette. Mrs. Spann was educated at Terrell College, Decherd, Tennessee. Her cheerful disposition and brilliant mind made her one of the most popular students of the college. To her economy and business qualities Mr. Spann attributes a part of his success. In national affairs Mr. Spann supports the Demo- cratic party, but in local matters he is independent, voting according to the dictates of his mind without regard to party affiliations. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and religiously he belongs to the Missionary Baptist church.
ASA M. MCCAIN. For the past six years has Asa M. McCain been incumbent of the important and highly responsible position of superin- tendent of the public schools at Camden, Ouachita county, Arkansas, and during his residence here he has been a potent force in introducing and advocating the most advanced measures for higher education. Under his able guidance the public school system has been raised to a very high standard and compares favorably with that of many of the large eastern cities.
Asa Madison McCain was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on the 18th of November, 1880, and he is a son of John M. and Ida (Dooley) McCain, the former of whom is now interested in the conduct of a large wholesale and retail concern at Pine Bluff. Concerning the McCain family history further data are given in a sketch dedicated to the father, which appears on other pages of this work, so that full particulars are not required at this juncture. To the public schools of Pine Bluff Mr. McCain, of this review, is indebted for his preliminary educational training, the same including a course in the local high school, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1899. Thereafter he was matriculated in Vanderbilt Uni- versity, at Nashville, Tennessee, in which excellent institution he pursued a three years' course. Subsequently he attended lectures on management and methods in the summer school at Knoxville for one term. While a student at Vanderbilt University Mr. McCain was associate editor of the Vanderbilt Hustler and there too he was Eminent Archon of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity
After inaugurating his active career in the pedagogic profession, Mr. McCain was principal of the First Ward school at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, for two years; was principal of the Rosedale public school, at Rosedale, Mississippi, for one year ; and is now superintendent of the Camden public schools, which incumbency he has retained for the past six years. In con- nection with his life work he has organized the Ouachita County Teachers' Association, in which he is a member of the legislative committee. He was secretary of the high school and college section of the Arkansas State Teachers' Association, in 1908; was a member of the legislative commit- tee of the Arkansas State Teachers' Association in 1909-10; is a member of the executive board of the Arkansas State Oratorical Association; is a member of the executive board of the Arkansas State Athletic Association ; and is secretary of the Camden Cup Committee.
On the 8th of September, 1904, was recorded the marriage of Mr. McCain to Miss Mattie Loving, a native of Pine Bluff and a daughter of Dr. A. B. Loving, of that city. Mrs. McCain was born in the year 1882 and she was afforded an excellent education in her youth. She is a woman of most pleasing personality, a fine companion and co-laborer with her husband and she is a prominent factor in connection with the best social activities in Camden. Mr. and Mrs. McCain have one son, Asa Madison, Jr., who was born on the 29th of April, 1908.
In politics Mr. McCain is a staunch advocate of the principles and
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policies of the Democratic party and while he has never had time nor ambition for the honors of political office he is ever on the qui vive to do all in his power to advance the general welfare of the community. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and he and his wife are devout members of the Methodist church, South. Concerning Mr. McCain's fitness for the important position he now holds the follow- ing appreciative statements have been made and the same are considered worthy of reproduction in this sketch:
"Mr. McCain has fulfilled the duties of the office he now holds in a highly efficient manner and he has improved and advertised the school and the town of Camden wonderfully by his untiring efforts. He is responsible to a great extent for the success of the Camden Cup contest and for the building of the Cleveland Avenue school. He has introduced into our school and encouraged a system of athletics that is clean and beneficial to the athletes and to the non-participants. He rules by love and not by fear and he has the respect of every boy and girl under him. He has preached and practiced the Golden Rule, thereby winning the love of his pupils and instilling in them a patriotism for the school that will last for- ever. He is a teacher of the first rank and teaches according to the ability of his pupils to grasp the subjects offered them. It is no rash prediction that he will be the leading school man in Arkansas in the course of a few years."
EDWIN H. BUCK. Splendid initiative power and extraordinary per- severance and constancy mark the work and results achieved by Mr. Edwin H. Buck in the apple and strawberry-growing industry in Arkansas. This line of enterprise requires the utmost care and attention and through well directed efforts Mr. Buck has made of success not an accident but a logical result. Young in years but ripe in experience, the successor of the late George H. Buck is worthy of the mantle he wears.
Edwin H. Buck was born near Sabetha, Kansas, July 10, 1878, and is a son of George H. and Mary E. (Marsh) Buck. Edwin H. was a youth of seventeen when he accompanied his father to Arkansas, in 1896, and took his first lessons in fruit-growing as a business. The father had come out of a rigorous northern climate into the salubrious one of the Ozark ridge as a panacea for his bronchitis affliction and he devoted himself assiduously to tree-planting, being ably assisted by his sons, Edwin H., Ben. C., Fred F., and Elisha W. He laid the foundation for a fine apple business and was permitted to see the dawn of legitimate success before death called him to the life eternal May 23, 1908.
Diverting to the family history, we find George H. Buck coming to Arkansas from Iowa, where he was a resident for some years and where he was identified with agricultural pursuits. He was born in Connecticut, in 1829, and he was a mere child at the time of his parents' removal from that state to New York city ; afterward they went to Henry county, Illinois, where he passed his childhood days and where he received his preliminary educational training. He did not have the advantages of a college educa- tion and when nineteen years old, moved by the spirit of adventure, he joined a company bound for the gold fields of California, crossing the plains by ox teams and becoming one of the famed "forty-niners." He had indifferent success as a gold hunter and after a few years in the west he returned to Illinois and there married a Miss Annis Bushnell. They be- came the parents of four children, two of whom still survive,-Bushnell H., of Vinita, Oklahoma; and Henry M., of Edwardsville, Illinois. Mrs. Buck was summoned to her reward in Illinois and after his removal to Iowa, George H. Buck wedded Miss Mary Edna Marsh, a daughter of Levi
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Marsh, who was a native of Vermont, in which state Mrs. Buek was born. George H. and Mary E. Buck became the parents of the following children : May, who is the wife of R. W. Dunham, of Pineville, Missouri; George E., of Newbury, Iowa; Hammond H., superintendent of education in the province of Batangus, in the Philippines, to which country he journeyed as a regular soldier in the Spanish-American war ; Edwin H .. the immediate subject of this review ; Benjamin C., of Grinnell, Iowa; Fred F., of Cleve- land, Ohio; and Elisha F., of Portland, Oregon.
Edwin H. Buck was educated in the public schools of Nemaha county, Kansas, and Grinnell, Iowa. Of stauneh New England ancestry, his ex- cellent home training established his character and laid the foundation of a high quality of patriotic citizenship. When his school days were ended he remained the sturdy farmer lad as of old and continued to be associated with his father in the work and management of the old family homestead until removal was made to Arkansas, where he continued a student under his father's able guidance. Since his advent in Benton county, he has affiliated with all worthy efforts looking toward the im- provement of farm and fruit conditions in his community and he has been one of the active factors in promoting the Farmers' Union, organized for the purpose of combating the sinister influenees that present themselves in the handling of the products of orchard and farm. In this associa- tion he is giving efficient service as secretary. His individual efforts Mr. Buek puts forth upon his farm of two hundred and forty acres in the creation of new orchards, and in the cultivation of the melon and straw- berry, the quick money-getter of the Benton county farmer. He resides on the old parental farm and his mother's interests have a large place in the program of his busy life.
Contrary to the opinion of the uninformed, there is work upon an orchard in winter as well as in summer. All vegetation is likely to be assailed by an enemy and when it makes itself evident a campaign of extermination must be inaugurated and maintained for the preservation of the plant. Apple trees are no exception to the rule of plant life. Many things effect their growth, chief among which are cultivation, drainage and fertilization. When these three things are not properly attended to, the real enemies of the tree and its fruit frequently render fruit growing as a business a dismal failure. Pomologists have discovered many enemies of the apple tree-the black-scab, the root rot, the codling moth and the curculio, all of which, as well as the bitter rot, affect the quality of its fruit. Sprays have been eoncoeted as antidotes for many of these ailments and they must be applied throughout the year in order to insure the safety of the orehard and its burden of luscious fruit. Mr. Buck's persistent devotion to his orchards has made him one of the most successful fruit-growers in the county. His initiative ability has manifested itself in the invention of a few useful and homely artieles for the sorting and packing of fruit and his orehard for 1910 produced a quality of Ben Davis apples of such superior nature that fifty-four selected apples constituted a bushel.
In politics Mr. Buck gives his allegiance to the Republican party and though he is not an active politician he takes a deep interest in all matters tending to advance the general welfare of the community. He holds a seenre vantage ground in popular confidence and esteem and is recognized as one of the most progressive and public-spirited citizens in the county. His religious faith coineides with the teachings of the Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder. Both he and his wife have been active factors in church work. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with various repre- sentative organizations and he and his wife figure prominently in the best social activities of the community.
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On the 14th of November, 1906, was recorded the marriage of Mir. Buck to Miss Mary A. Ross, a daughter of Perry Ross, a native of Ken- tucky. Mr. and Mrs. Buck have one child, Edwin Buck, Jr., two children, Howard Lawrence and George Ross, having died in infancy.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM M. WATKINS. Distinguished as a pioneer business man of Arkansas, and as a brave soldier of the Confederate army, Captain William M. Watkins, who spent the closing years of his life at Little Rock, was a conspicuous example of that type of men usually referred to as "old-school gentlemen,"-a class of men which shall soon be known in his- tory only.
Captain Watkins was born, in 1840, in Todd county, Kentucky, but was reared and educated at Suffolk, Virginia. While there he studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Robert Webb, an eminent Virginia physician, acquiring an excellent knowledge of the profession. Migrating to Arkan- sas in 1858, he spent a year in Desha county, in the old and famous town of Napoleon, now extinct. Returning to Virginia, he completed his medical education, and then once more took up his residence in Napoleon. Offering his services to the Confederacy at the breaking out of the Civil war, he enlisted in West's Battery of Artillery as a private. A brave and gallant soldier, he was promoted through the various ranks until made captain, and during the last year of the war was assistant surgeon to Dr. C. M. Taylor.
Locating then at Napoleon, Arkansas, Captain Watkins was there en- gaged in business for a number of years as a general merchant and a druggist. In connection with his business, the Captain practiced medicine to some extent, but as a matter of kindliness and friendship only, never charging or rendering any bills for his professional services. In 1892 he moved from Desha county to Little Rock, and in 1907 he was appointed superintendent of the Confederate Veterans' Home, at Sweet Home, in Pulaski county, and continued in that position until 1909. Captain Wat- kins spent the last days of his life in Little Rock, passing away, November 21, 1910, at the residence of his son, William T. Watkins, at No. 2200 Louisiana street. The Captain was a man of exemplary character, greatly beloved by his friends and old comrades, and at his death many fine tributes were paid to his memory, among them being one from ex-Governor Daniel W. Jones, with whom the Captain served in the army.
The maiden name of the wife of Captain Watkins was Amanda M. Truslow. She was born in Independence, Missouri, and is now living in Little Rock. She has three sons, William T., Frank and Charles.
William T. Watkins, the Captain's oldest son, was born at Napoleon, Desha county, and for a number of years was associated with his father in business, more especially as a planter in Desha county. In 1904 he came to Little Rock, and has since been connected with the railroad service, at the present time being train auditor for the Saint Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad Company. He received good educational advantages, as a boy and youth attending the schools of Memphis. He married Sallie Ashley Owen, of Lake Providence, Louisiana, and they are the parents of five children, Mollie Ashley, Bessie, Daisy, Louis Owen, and William Truslow, Jr., deceased.
CHARLES C. LEMLY. Prominent in business circles at Hot Springs, Arkansas, Charles C. Lemly is the owner of a large, well equipped drug store in this city. For two terms he was incumbent of the office of county treasurer and in the spring of 1911 he made a strong and creditable race for the office of mayor of Hot Springs.
At Jackson, Mississippi, in the year 1839, occurred the birth of Charles
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C. Lemly, who is a son of Samuel and Emeline (Steele) Lemly, both of whom are now deceased. The father was identified with the Mercantile business during his active career and he was a man of prominence and in- fluence in his home city of Jackson, where he was summoned to the life eternal. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lemly became the parents of thirteen children, five of whom are living in 1911 and of whom Charles C. was the eleventh in order of birth.
Mr. Lemly was reared to maturity in his native place and his pre- liminary educational training consisted of such advantages as were afforded in the public schools of Jackson. Prior to attaining his legal majority he learned the pharmaceutical profession and in 1875 he decided to seek his fortunes further west, migrating in that year to Hot Springs, where he became a prescription clerk in the drug store conducted by his brother, Samuel Lemly, one of the pioneer business men of Hot Springs. Mr. Lemly has resided continuously in Hot Springs since the year of his advent here.
On April 30, 1889, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Lemly to Miss Bonnie Lee Johns, who was born and reared at Jackson, Mississippi, and who is a daughter of Alfred Johns, a resident of that place. To this union have been born five children, whose names are here entered in re- spective order of birth,-David, Rosa, Mrs. Helen Powers, Bonnie and Evelyn. Mr. Lemly is affiliated with various fraternal and social organiza- tions, and his religious faith is in harmony with the teachings of the Presbyterian church, of which he and his family are members.
JETHRO P. HENDERSON. Incumbent of the office of chancellor of the Third chancery district of the state of Arkansas and known as one of the representative members of the bar of this commonwealth, Judge Henderson, of Hot Springs, finds a due meed of satisfaction in reverting to Arkansas as the place of his nativity. He is a scion of sterling pioneer families of the state.
Judge Henderson was born near Benton, Saline county, Arkansas, on the 7th of January, 1848, and is a son of John C. and Elizabeth (Chenault) Henderson, the former of whom was born in Tennessee and the latter in Alabama, whence she came with her parents to Arkansas in 1836, the year that marked the admission of the state to the Union. John C. Hen- derson was reared and educated in his native state and came thence to Arkansas in 1833, in which year he established his residence in Saline county, where for many years he was actively identified with farming and was a minister in the Missionary Baptist church. He was a man of promi- nence and influence in the pioneer history of the state and both the Hender- son and Chenault families were well known in connection with the civic and material development and upbuilding of the central part of Arkansas. The parents of Judge Henderson passed the closing years of their lives in Benton. Of their children two sons and one daughter are now living.
Judge Henderson was reared to maturity under the conditions and influences of what may be termed the middle pioneer epoch in the history of Arkansas, and he duly availed himself of the advantages of the private county schools, after which he continued his studies in old St. John's College, in Little Rock. At Benton, the judicial center of his native county, he began reading law under effective preceptorship, and there he was admitted to the bar in 1873. He soon built up a practice at Benton. He served one term as circuit clerk of Saline county, and for a period of six years he was incumbent of the office of prosecuting attorney of the Seventh judicial circuit.
In the year 1884 Judge Henderson established his residence in Hot
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John H. Holland,
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Springs, and here he was associated in the work of his profession with Judge James B. Wood for a period of twenty years, under the firm name of Wood & Henderson. In 1910 he was elected chancellor of the Third chancery district of the state. As chancellor he brings to bear the equip- ment of a well trained mind.
Judge Henderson has ever shown interest in all that touches the general weal of the community. He accords an unswerving allegiance to the cause of the Democratic party.
In the year 1873 was solemnized the marriage of Judge Henderson to Miss Mary E. Ruffin, who was born in the state of Mississippi and who was a resident of Clark county, Arkansas, at the time of her marriage. She was summoned to the life eternal in 1906 and is survived by two children,-Byrd H., who is the wife of Dr. J. H. Paget, of San Elizario, El Paso county, Texas, and Jai R., who is engaged in farming. In 1908 Judge Henderson contracted a second marriage, having then been united to Miss Sallie R. Humphrey, who was born in Clark county and who was a resident of Hot Springs at the time of her marriage.
HON. JOHN H. HOLLAND. The name of John H. Holland, repre- senting the 'Twenty-eighth senatorial district, is one which enjoys great honor in Sebastian county, where it is best known and where it is heard oftenest. The Hon. Mr. Holland, however, is of that stature of a man with whom good report is busy far beyond his own particular section of country-in his case Sebastian county, whose interests he has repre- sented so well in both houses of the state assembly. As statesman, law- inaker and judge he has manifested remarkable gifts and he has played a fine part in the recent growth and advancement of the Traveler state.
Mr. Holland is a Sontherner by birth, Taylorsville, Barto county, Georgia, having been the place of his nativity and its date the 29th day of August, 1857. His parents were the Rev. J. J. and Elizabeth ( Wilson) Holland, both of whom were natives of South Carolina, the former of whom is now living in Faulkner county, Arkansas, and the latter is deceased. The father was a clergyman of the Baptist church and engaged in his high calling for many years. In 1870 the family removed from Barto county, Georgia, to Sebastian county, Arkansas, locating on a farm near Greenwood, and there from his twelfth year the subject was reared. He attended the public schools and Buckner College in Sebastian county, and having come to the decision to take up the law as his profession it was his good fortune to be able to prosecute his studies under the tutelage of Governor Little at Greenwood, being admitted to the bar in that city in 1886 and beginning his practice there in the same year.
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