USA > Arkansas > Historical review of Arkansas : its commerce, industry and modern affairs > Part 48
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practically all over the United States and Canada, and he urges all Americans to first see the grandeurs of their own country, which are simply marvelous.
In 1907 Mr. Spencer married, and the union has been blessed with one son, George, the fourth of the name within the last century. Mrs. Spencer is the eldest daughter of Captain J. G. Botsford and his wife, Charlotte A., who is the daughter of the late Colonel James A. and Abbie B. ( Whipple) Henry.
Jefferson George Botsford was born at Port Huron, Michigan, De- cember 30, 1838. He was of English descent, his ancestors belonging to the family of that name who were the founders of the town of Bottes- ford in Leicestershire, England. In 1847 the family removed from Port Huron to what is now the city of Waukegan, Lake county, Illi- nois, but then known as Little Fort. When he was nineteen years of age J. G. left home and went further west and early in 1858 he allied himself with the regular army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, as an employe of the quartermaster's department with the Utah Expedition. From this time forward his life was filled with all the adventure and thrilling incident that one man could well go through and come out alive. He became a highly trusted attache of the Army of the Frontier, especially employed in the capacity of master of transportation of wagon trains, transporting supplies, horses and mules to different posts on the frontier. He became so thoroughly efficient in this line of work and was so faithful and trustworthy, that he gained the confidence of all the well-known army commanders who were prominent in the west- ern army of that day. In this capacity he made various trips through the old Indian Territory, on the "Santa Fe trail, to Southwestern Kan- sas, to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and to Fort Laramie in Wyoming. With the Utah expedition he arrived in Den- ver June 3, 1859, at a time when Denver consisted of only six log huts covered with canvas. Captain Botsford and others, with Colonel B. D. Williams of Little Rock in charge, were the first white men to travel up the Republican river to its head, before arriving at Denver. Dur- ing the frontier service he encamped with Major W. H. Emory, who selected the site for Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the largest military post of the Union, and they had many experiences with the then warlike Co- manches.
Ilis first trip to Little Rock was in February of 1859, leaving here for Chicago and then for Denver, after which he went to New Mexico and then to Fort Larned, Kansas. He was in the government employ when the Civil war broke out in 1861, and was engaged in transporting supplies to Fort Scott, Kansas. He was continued in his duties as master of transportation for the army in Kansas, Indian Territory and Arkansas, his headquarters being at Fort Smith for some time. While engaged in transporting the commissary between Leavenworth and Fort Scott the Quantrell massacre at Lawrence, Kansas, occurred, on August 21, 1863, and learning of the fact he turned his team from the road and succeeded in saving it by the timely assistance of troops under Major Lamb, who attacked the guerrillas at a point nearly opposite to that at which his train was coralled, the train consisting of about three hundred and forty mules and fifty wagons. On this occasion he nar- rowly escaped capture and destruction, but arrived in Lawrence in time to assist in caring for the dead and wounded, the former numbering one hundred and twenty-eight.
After the capture of Little Rock by General Steele's army in 1863 Captain Botsford came here and was actively engaged under that offi-
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cer in the quartermaster's department until the close of the war. While on the way to Little Rock he also narrowly escaped capture by For- rest's cavalry. He was with Captain John S. Haskell on the steamer City of Alton, and they were about to make a landing at Hickman, Kentucky, in 1864. The cavalry were hidden behind a large tobacco warehouse, but by a timely warning they backed the steamer off just in time to save the vessel. When the war had ended Captain Botsford located permanently at Little Rock, where he engaged in contracting for the carrying of the United States mails from Little Rock to Mon- roe, Louisiana, and other points. During this period he became mayor of the city in 1872, and for a time he was one of the proprietors of the famous old Anthony House on East Markham street, near Main, a landmark of historic interest in Little Rock. Subsequently he en- gaged in the banking business and was one of the organizers of the old Merchants National Bank, which was afterwards merged into the First National Bank. Later he became deputy United States marshal for the eastern district of Arkansas and is now director of the Bank of Commerce. For the past few years he has retired from active life, having indeed accomplished more than three average men perform in their whole lives. He still lives at his old home, No, 701 East Mark- ham street. This honse, which he built in 1869, was then sitnated among the best residences in the city, but it is now a part of the whole- sale business district. Across the street from this home the large build- ing of the Plunkett-Jarrell Grocery Company occupies the site of the old residence of Colonel Henry, Captain Botsford's father-in-law, who lived there for half a century.
Captain Botsford was married in Little Rock to Miss Charlotte A. Henry, the union resulting in seven children, four of whom are now living, namely: Charlotte, now Mrs. George Spencer; Harriet E. Botsford, Edward H. Botsford and George T. Botsford. Captain Bots- ford's brother, the late Captain Frank Botsford, was chief of police in Little Rock for many years.
Mrs. Botsford was born in New York City in 1845 and came with her parents to Little Rock in 1847. She has lived here all of her life, a witness of many historie incidents of war times and the years suc- ceeding that period. Her father, the late Colonel James Austin Henry, who died at his home at Little Rock April 25, 1899, at the age of eighty- two, was born in New London, Connecticut. Upon coming to Little Roek with his family in 1847 he became a merchant, being engaged in mercantile business near the corner of Markham and Main streets until 1863. He was one of the historic and notable characters of the city. As a citizen of Little Rock and a non-participant on either side of the war, he performed many acts of kindness and humanity in his efforts to avert trouble and disaster to women and children and non- combatants generally. For a number of years he was associated with all of the best enterprises of the city. It should be mentioned that he organized in 1853 the first volunteer fire department in Little Rock and commanded it as captain. It was known as the Hook and Lad- der Company, and he was connected with it for fifteen years. Colonel Henry was a Mason of great repute, ranking in eminence in that order in the sonth with General Albert Pike. In the Arkansas grand lodges he was Grand Secretary, Royal Arch Masons; Grand Recorder of the Grand Council, Royal and Select Masters; and Grand Recorder of the Grand Commandery, Knights Templars. He was, besides, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the thirty-third degree for Arkansas, South- ern Jurisdiction of America; also an active member of the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree for the Southern Jurisdiction of
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America. He was a Mason of such distinction that the beautiful Albert Pike Consistory building in Little Rock was dedicated to his memory. Hle was also at one time proprietor of the famous old Anthony House.
Mrs. Spencer is a most charming lady, who can well support the honors borne by her father and grandfather. She is calm, deliberate, dignified, leisurely: at the same time she is gay, graceful, sprightly sympathetic. She is severe npon occasion and upon occasion playful. She is devoted to her husband and to her son, who reciprocate in kind.
ROBERT D. DUNLAP. Success along any line of endeavor would never be properly appreciated if it came with a single effort and un- accompanied by some hardships, for it is the knocks and bruises in life that make success taste so sweet. The failures accentuate the successes, thus making recollections of the former as dear as those of the latter for having been the stepping-stones to achievement. The career of Rob- ert D. Dunlap but accentuates the fact that success is bound to come to those who join brains with ambition and are willing to work. He is the owner of the finest stock farm in Arkansas, was a pioneer in de- veloping the big coal mines of Johnson county, is ex-mayor of Clarks- ville and is a large property owner and prominent and influential eiti- zen.
A native of the state of South Carolina. Robert D. Dunlap was born on the 7th of April, 1860, and he is a son of R. J. and Margarette (Montgomery ) Dunlap, the father being now deceased. R. J. Dunlap was identified with the livery business during the greater part of his active career, and while his son, Robert D., of this notice, was still a hoy established the family home in Mississippi. In South Carolina and Mississippi Robert D. Dunlap grew to maturity. his edneational ad- vantages consisting of such privileges as were afforded in the public schools of the locality and period. In 1880 he came to Arkansas, locat- ing in Johnson county, which section has represented his home during the long intervening years to the present time. Although Mr. Dunlap is no longer financially interested in the coal mining industry of John- son county, he should be mentioned for his former activities in pro- moting and developing this prominent Arkansas industry, one of the state's most important resonrees. For a number of years he was actively and extensively engaged in establishing and operating coal mines in the Spadra district in Johnson county, and in this business he laid the foundation for a comfortable fortune. The Spadra mines produce the far famed Arkansas anthracite coal, which brings a higher price in the western market than the Pennsylvania anthracite coal.
At present Mr. Dunlap is owner and proprietor of the famous Dunlap stock farm, consisting of two hundred acres of splendid graz- ing land, the same being eligibly located one mile east of Clarksville. Mr. Dunlap became interested in the live stoek business at Clarksville abont 1890, and through his own well directed efforts he has succeeded in building up one of the noted stock farms of the country. He makes a specialty of standard bred horses, registered Jersey eattle and Tam- worth, Duroc and Jersey hogs. To quote Mr. Dunlap himself in regard to his work along stock-growing lines, the following extract from an article written by him is here incorporated :
"I have been in this business for twenty years and have spared neither time nor money to get the best. I have had at the head of my herd the great bulls Kathy's Fancy Harry. Harry of Woodland (now at the head of Forbes herd at Hackett City. Arkansas). also Roonalda Lad and Lilly's Jersey King. The last two bulls are by imported bulls
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from Jersey's Island, and the others were from the best production of Tennessee. The bull now at the head of my herd is Fern's Southern Prince. J. M. Overton of Nashville, Tennessee, paid $7,500 for his sire, so you see there are none better. The twenty head of registered Jersey cattle are from the above bulls, so you see that you will get both Jersey Island and American blood in these cattle. The grades are high grades and bred from these bulls: lots of them are full bloods. I do not hesitate to put my reputation behind these cattle in every particu- lar."
Among Mr. Dunlap's standard bred horses a notable one is Beauty Patchen, a black mare five years old, sired by Joe Patch and a half sister to Dan Patch. This mare, at a great expense to Mr. Dunlap, was shipped to New York state and bred to Joe Patch. In addition the farm is stocked with a number of other of the best brood mares that can be purchased in this country: there are also a number of registered stal- lions with hundreds of mares at the Dunlap stock farm every year. Mr. Dunlap also breeds Duroe and Jersey hogs. In partnership with his brother-in-law, Andy Ward, Mr. Dunlap conducts a large local stock market, mostly for horses and mules, in Clarksville, this project being carried on under the firm name of Dunlap, Ward & Company. The home of the market is a fine briek stable, probably the best of its kind in the entire state. In addition to his other interests Mr. Dunlap is the principal owner of and is the manager of the Arkansas Fruit Farm Company, which has a fine Elberta peach orchard of some three hun- dred acres adjoining the Dunlap farm. Associated with him in this important enterprise are a number of prominent officials of the Mis- souri Pacific Railway. Mr. Ward is also a successful general farmer. noted in this section as an alfalfa grower. Mr. Dunlap is recognized as decidedly one of the most influential citizens at Clarksville, where he is the owner of considerable valuable business property, the same including the Dunlap theater. He is one of the directors in the First National Bank at Clarksville and is financially interested in a number of local projects of important order.
On the 15th of August, 1883, at Clarksville was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Dunlap to Miss Effie Ward, who was born and reared at Clarksville and who is a daughter of David Ward. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap have one son, D. Ward Dunlap, who is associated actively with his father and his unele, Mr. Ward, in the management of the stock farm and the local stock market, previously referred to. The son is also largely interested in the coal industry in Johnson county.
In his political convictions Mr. Dunlap is a loyal supporter of the principles and policies promulgated by the Democratic party, and while he has never had time for active participation in political affairs he does all in his power to advance the general welfare of this section of the state. Ile is affiliated with a number of fraternal and social or- ganizations of a local nature, and his religious faith is in harmony with the tenets of the Presbyterian church. He is a man of broad informa- tion. splendid executive ability and tremendous vitality. He has de- voted his entire time and attention to his extensive and ever increas- ing business interests and is everywhere honored and esteemed by his fellow-men by reason of his fair and straightforward methods. His stock farm is one of the finest business enterprises of this section of the state, and his citizenship is a valuable adjunct to Johnson county.
JOHN S. COWDREY, one of the leading merchants of Yellville, was born in Marion county, Arkansas, July 15, 1846. His father was Dr.
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James M. Cowdrey, a physician and druggist, who settled in this lo- eality in 1822. The elder gentleman was a settler from Charleston, South Carolina, where he had been reared and educated. Having gradu- ated from medieal college he eame west at an early day, being at that time a single man, and he subsequently became one of the leading pio- neer physicians. He was a man of strong Southern sentiment, and during the Civil war he became a surgeon for the Confederacy and was in General Priee's army. He took up his professional duties after the great eonfliet which disrupted the states, and his life and service gave him eonsideration as one of the most influential citizens of northern Arkansas. He married Miss Agnes MeCubbin of Izard county, and his demise oeeurred in 1866 at the age of seventy-one years. He was a scholarly gentleman, prolifie and eloquent in speech, able in counsel- in fact, it might almost be said of him, "To know him was a liberal education." His wife preceded him to the Great Beyond by several years, her demise occurring in 1858. The children of this admirable couple were as follows: Harriet, who married Joseph Baweom and died in Texas; J. W., who died in Yellville, Arkansas: Elizabeth, who mar- ried Captain Dowd of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma ; Henry W., of Yell- ville ; Mary A., wife of Colonel James A. Wilson, of Yellville; John S., of this notice; Caroline, who became Mrs. R. P. Wilson and resides at Bruno, Arkansas: Emma, widow of A. M. Sloan, of Harrison, Ar- kansas; and Cornelia, wife of Professor A. W. Wickersham, of Buffalo, Arkansas.
The village schools of Yellville provided an education for John S. Cowdrey, and when he was a good deal less than twenty he joined the Confederate army. He became a member of Company C of the First Arkansas Cavalry in 1862, this being commanded by Captain W. A. Greever and Colonel Harrell, respcetively, and thus a part of General Cabell's brigade, General Fagan's division and General Price's army. He saw his first real fighting at Poison Springs and subsequently par- tieipated in engagements at Mark's Mill and JJenkin's Ferry, serving in his state practically during the whole of the war. He was at El- dorado when the end came, and his military eareer was ended withont wound or eapture.
For a short time following the close of the war Mr. Cowdrey farmed near Yellville and then entered the mercantile world as a clerk in a store in Springfield, Missouri. The charms and advantages of his youthful surroundings remained strong with him and he returned to Yellville in 1869, elerking for Berry Ellenburg until 1871, in which year he became a partner in the mercantile house of J. H. Berry & Company, this connection ending in 1883 by his selling out, and two years later he associated himself with A. S. Layton and remained a member of the firm of Layton & Cowdrey until 1890. In the latter year he purchased Mr. Layton's interest, and he has since been in business alone. Ile is vice-president of the Miners & Citizens Bank of Yellville and has served as the president of this important monetary institution. In addition to his mereautile and banking interests he is also extensively interested in farming and gives his time to his business investments and his farms as well. Ile is a Democrat without personal political ambition: is a Master Mason and exemplifies in his life the principles of moral and social justice and brotherly love, which since fabled-environed ages have been the fundamentals of this organization, and in religions conviction he is Methodist Episcopal.
Mr. Cowdrey was married in Yellville, Arkansas. December 25, 1872, his chosen lady being Miss Helen Berry, a daughter of his old
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partner, J. H. Berry. Mrs. Cowdrey's father was a cousin of United States Senator James H. Berry of Bentonville, Arkansas, and the scion of a distinguished Virginia family. He died in 1896 at about seventy years, having devoted his entire aetive career to the mercantile business and leaving to his heirs a large estate. His first wife was a Miss Wil- son, a daughter of I. C. Wilson. Mrs. Cowdrey's mother was his first wife: his second wife's maiden name was Milam. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cowdrey are Annie, wife of V. A. Wilbur, eashier of the Citizens & Miners Bank of Yellville: Ernest, who is associated with his father in business; Daisy, assistant cashier of the Miners & Citizens Bank : Roscoe, who is a part of the J. S. Cowdrey firm and whose wife was Miss Ethel LeSeur; Mabel, now Mrs. C. F. Weast of Yellville; Helen, who married W. R. Crawford of St. Louis; and Miss Lillian of Yellville.
JOHN M. MCBEE, M. D. If those who claim that fortune has favored certain individuals above others will but investigate the canse of sueeess and failure, it will be found that the former is largely due to the improvement of opportunity, the latter to the negleet of it. For- tunate environments encompass nearly every man at some stage of his career, but the strong man and the suecessful man is he who realizes that the proper moment has come, that the present and not the future holds his opportunity. The man who makes use of the Now and not the To Be is the one who passes on the highway of life others who started out ahead of him, and reaches the goal of prosperity in advance of them. It is this quality in Dr. J. M. MeBee that has won him an envi- able name in connection with business, professional and political circles in Crittenden eounty, Arkansas, especially in the vicinity of Earl, which place has represented his home for a number of years past. In 1910 Dr. Me Bee was honored by his fellow-citizens with eleetion to the office of state senator, and it is a matter worthy of note here that he met with no opposition either in the primaries or in the general election.
A native of the fine old commonwealth of Tennessee, Dr. John M. MeBee was horn at Knoxville, that state, the date of his nativity being the 26th of April, 1875. He is a son of Isaae M. and Martha ( Williams) MeBce, the former of whom was born in North Carolina, of Seoteh- Irish aneestry, and the latter of whom claimed Scotland as the place of her birth. The father accompanied his parents on their removal to Tennessee while he was still a young boy, and there he resided during the remainder of his life time. Ile was engaged in the farming busi- ness during the greater portion of his active eareer, and he was sum- moned to eternal rest in the year 1886, his cherished and devoted wife later passing away in 1899. After completing the enrrienlum of the public schools at Knoxville, Tennessee, Dr. MeBee was matrienlated as a student in Grant University, at Athens. Tennessee, and later he at- tended Jefferson Medieal College, at Philadelphia, in which excellent institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1897, duly receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately after gradua- tion Dr. MeBce eame to eastern Arkansas. locating at Earl, where he initiated the active practice of his profession and where he rapidly gained recognition as one of the leading physicians and surgeons in Crittenden county. Later, aequiring other important interests that eventually demanded his entire time and attention, he gave up the prac- tice of medicine. He is an extensive property owner in Crittenden county and is a member of the St. Francis Levee Board, the most im- portant body of its kind in the state. the same representing the interests of millions of dollars' worth of rich agricultural land.
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In his political convictions Dr. McBee is a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, in the local councils of which he has been a most active factor. In 1899 he was elected mayor of Earl, and so effective was his first administration that he was re-elected to that office in 1910. In the same year, however, he resigned the mayoralty in order to accept the Democratie nomination for and election to the position of state senator for the thirty-second senatorial district of Ar- kansas, the same comprising the connties of Crittenden and St. Francis. Dr. MeBee assumed the responsibilities connected with his new office in the session beginning in January, 1911. He was elected for a term of four years and enjoys the distinction of being the only member of that body who was elected without opposition either in the primaries or in the general election. He is a man of unusually strong personality and is possessed of remarkable exeentive ability and tremendous vitality. Quiet and nnobtrusive, he never makes any speeches, but tends strictly to his affairs and produces most effective results. A brilliant future is predicted for him in the political world. He is connected with a num- ber of fraternal and social organizations of representative character. and in their religious faith he and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian church, to whose philanthropical work he is a most liberal contributor of his time and means.
At Philadelphia in the year 1897 was solemnized the marriage of Dr. MeBee to Miss Eleanor Heiniele, who was born and reared at Philadelphia and who is a danghter of William Heinicle, long a repre- sentative citizen of Philadelphia. Mrs. MeBce is a woman of most fas- cinating personality. and she and the Doctor are popular and prominent in connection with the best social activities of their home community. They have no children.
JUDGE ANDREW I. ROLAND. In all quarters of the United States- east, west, north and south-there seems to be arising a new generation of politicians of a far different type than that of which there recently have been far too many representatives. On this higher type, whose sole aim is not self-advancement, the salvation of a nation threatened with general corruption depends. Pre-eminent among the contribution of the Southwest is Judge Andrew I. Roland. an eminent gentleman whose unselfish devotion to the best interests of his section has won him the confidence and high regard of all. A voice crying in the wilder- ness, he is coming to be known far beyond the boundaries of his own state, and one of the most conservative of American journals not long since had this to say of him (Judge Roland at that time being the Republican candidate for governor of Arkansas) : "A weighty posi- tion it is to be held up to the young men of a community as an exam- ple of civic righteousness. If the habit of righteousness is not a natural but an acquired one. it necessitates considerable mental strain and his- trionie ability. But they will tell yon in Arkansas that Andrew I. Roland is the 'real thing' in publie men. No nominee for a governor- ship ever held a better record for integrity. honor and all that goes to make up a good citizen and nseful public officer."
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