USA > Arkansas > Historical review of Arkansas : its commerce, industry and modern affairs > Part 73
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
On December 19, 1869, Dr. Norwood married Mrs. Harriet L. (Cal- houn ) Holleman, a daughter of William B. and Maria L. Calhoun. Six children have been born to Doctor and Mrs. Norwood, four of whom are living, namely: Mary M., Lulu E., William J., and Charles M., Jr.
JOHN S. ODOM, a prominent contractor and builder and a member of the city council of Little Rock, was born in Fincastle, Botetourt county, Virginia. In 1850 he was taken to Winchester, Franklin county, Ten- nessee, where he was reared to manhood, attending school and learning the carpenter's trade. In 1872 he removed to Little Rock, where he worked at his trade by the day until he began in due time to take con- tracts on his own account, and he has pushed his business gradually but persistently until his success marks him as one of Little Rock's most skillful and prominent contractors and builders. Not only in Little Rock are there many monuments to his thoroughness and efficiency, but one may find here and there throughout the state many evidences of his fine ability and noteworthy enterprise. One of the most conspicuous build- ings in Arkansas, the Saline county court house, at Benton, is a splendid testimony to the cunning of his master hand. So numerous are the dur- able and imposing business blocks and stores of his building in Little Rock that it is possible to mention here only a few of them. The Little Rock Trust Company occupies one of them which is located at Third and Main streets. The Poe shoe store is quartered in another at Second and Main streets. The Webb furniture store occupies another. Still another is at Fourth and Scott streets and the Pfeifer block at Twelfth and Main streets are noteworthy, as are also several buildings that he erected for the late Judge Foulk, the Rightsell school building and the Niemeyer flats. He has built also many beautiful residences in the Capital city and through- out the state. Not the least characteristic of his work are the magnificent Scottish Rite Consistory building at Eighth and Scott streets and the Knights of Pythias building at Third and Center streets, Little Rock.
Mr. Odom married Miss Mary Walker, a native of Tennessee, in that state, and she has borne her husband three children-Mrs. Maud Mitchell, Mrs. B. H. England and Miss Jane Odom. Mr. and Mrs. Odom are meni- bers of the Winfield Memorial Methodist church and he is a Scottish Rite Mason, thirty-second degree, a Shriner and a Knight Templar. He has long taken an active and helpful interest in the affairs of Little Rock. During the last few years matters connected with the administration of the city's affairs have assumed a scope and importance which have de- manded the service of men of the highest capabilities. In the spring of 1905 Mr. Odom was elected to represent his ward in the city council, and he was re-elected in the spring of 1907 and again in the spring of 1909. HIc has brought to his work in this capacity the same conspicuous talent that has made for his success in his private business, and he is hailed throughout the city as a public official who has the welfare of the com- munity always in mind. It is indeed probable that no member of the council in recent years has more vividly illustrated the popular ideal of the honest and successful business man in public life than has Mr. Odom.
1592
IHISTORY OF ARKANSAS
WILLIAM H. HAYNES. Descended from a line of distinguished sol- diers and patriots and himself a veteran in the Confederate service of the war between the states, General William H. Haynes was the founder of the Arkansas National Guard, of which he served as major general until his recent retirement, in 1907. General Haynes was born in Frank- lin county, Virginia, in 1837, and is a son of William Scott and Louise ( Williams) Haynes. The Haynes family in America was founded by an ancestor who voyaged from England in the ship "Angel Gabriel" and who landed at Portland Harbor, Maine, in 1662. His descendants subse- quently located in various colonies, including Virginia. General Haynes' maternal grandmother, Eliza (Scott) Haynes, was a cousin of General Winfield Scott and a granddaughter of Colonel Woody, of Danville, Vir- ginia, who served with honor and distinction in the Virginia state senate for a period of thirty years. In his early childhood General Haynes' parents removed to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was practically adopted into the home of General Andrew Jackson, at the Hermitage, and there he remained until his seventh year. Later the family removed to Lexing- ton, Mississippi, and William H., of this sketch, was sent to New Orleans for higher education. In 1856 he traveled through Arkansas, and on the inception of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate service and served with distinction throughout this sanguinary struggle. He was mustered into service as a private in the Fifteenth Mississippi Regi- ment, at Lexington, but was soon promoted to staff service, being in Virginia on the staff of General Charles Clarke during the early part of the war. Subsequently he came to the Western Army and became a member of the staff of Major Leonides Polk. Mr. Haynes enjoys the distinction of having executed the last order issued by Albert Sidney Johnston, the famous general, prior to the latter's death, at the battle of Shiloh. This order read: "Haynes, go tell General Polk to bring up Breckinridge's Reserves and to push them forward." This order was executed, and General Johnson died immediately after giving it. For gallantry at the battle of Shiloh and for other important services Gen- eral Haynes was breveted colonel. While executing the above order he was seriously wounded, being shot in the temple, and he was carried off the field by Colonel Inge and Major Buckner. After recovering he re- entered service in the Baton Rouge campaign, on the staff of General John G. Breckinridge, and later, on request, he was allowed to report for duty in the Trans-Mississippi Department under General Theophilus Holmes, who assigned him to duty at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Here his force was driven out by General Curtis, and General Haynes then pro- ceeded to Little Rock, where he remained until Federal occupation in Sep- tember, 1863. During the remainder of the war he served in the Trans- Mississippi department on the staff of General E. Kirby Smith, and he maintained his headquarters at Shreveport, Louisiana. As far as any records show, General Haynes was the last Confederate officer to sur- render and be paroled. He reported to General Canby for this purpose about sixty days after General Kirby Smith had surrendered with his forces. The foregoing is ample proof of the loyalty and patriotism of this valiant soldier and officer, and further comment in this connection would be superfluous.
After the close of the war the General returned to Lexington, Missis- sippi, where he engaged in the planting and mercantile business. In 1872 he removed to Lee county, Arkansas, and there followed agricul- tural pursuits, his being one of the largest farms in the state. Later he engaged in business in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was a prominent figure during the yellow-fever epidemic, in the fight carried on against it,
W. H. Haynes.
1593
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS
it being at his suggestion that the well-remembered camp, or tent city, was established for the purpose of isolating the disease as far as possible. In this city General Haynes became largely interested in the cotton-seed oil industry, with which he was actively identified for a period of thirty- four years, and in connection with which he eo-operated in the building of some of the largest mills in the south. He was largely instrumental in establishing the first cotton-seed oil mill in Little Rock in the early '70s, although he did not take up his residence here until 1884. Since 1905 he has lived virtually retired, and as a citizen and business man he has gained and retained the highest regard of his fellow men.
The General is a stalwart Andrew Jackson Democrat in his political proclivities, and he has ever given his aid in support of all measures and enterprises projected for the good of the community. In 1901 he organ- ized the Arkansas National Guard, of which he was placed in command with the rank of major general, of which office he remained incumbent until 1907. To him is due the admirable condition of this organization, and in his honor Governor Donaghey named the permanent encampment maneuver grounds Camp W. H. Haynes.
General Haynes has been twice married. He first wedded Miss Min- nie Spring, of Fort Smith, and her death occurred in August, 1883. They became the parents of one son, William S. Haynes, who passed away at St. Louis, on June 22, 190%, leaving two sons, Jessie W. and William S., of St. Louis, Missouri. In 1884 was solemnized his marriage to the widow of the late Robert Douglas Lee, who was born and reared at Red Fork, Arkansas.
A. H. DASHIELL PERKINS. One of the large and progressive enter- prises of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, is the Bluff City Oil Company, a concern devoted to the manufacture of cotton seed oil. This was organized in 1903 by A. H. Dashiell Perkins, who holds the office of president and general manager. This industry, utilizing as it does, one of the important prod- ucts of the South, is large in scope, and its output is transported to many quarters of the United States. It is in truth one of the concerns which contributes in largest measure to the material prosperity of the section.
Mr. Perkins is a native Tennessean, his birth having occurred in Bedford county, that state, July 29, 1845, his parents being Albert A. and Emily E. (Dashiell) Perkins. He was educated in publie and private schools and though extremely young at the breaking out of the Civil war, he was high-spirited and loyal to his section and the principles for which it was contending, and he enlisted at the beginning of the confliet. He served four years in the Confederate army, during the last two years being color-bearer of the Seventh Tennesse cavalry.
For eleven years following the close of the Civil war Mr. Perkins Followed the adventurous career of a cowboy and farmer in Texas. He carly showed marked business ability, and after returning to Memphis he gave his whole time and attention to business affairs. In 1899 he organ- ized in that city the Perkins Oil Company, an industry similar to the Bluff City Oil Company, of which he was secretary, treasurer and general man- ager. He remained in control of its destinies until 1903, when he came to Pine Bluff and has here taken his place as one of the substantial and influential eitizens. The Bluff City Oil Company was founded and put into operation very soon after his arrival.
November 21, 1867, Mr. Perkins was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth James, a native of Washington county, Mississippi. Their union was happily cemented by the advent of children, six of whom are living at the present time, as follows: Emily P., wife of W. S. Taylor, of Gaines-
Vol. 111-32
1594
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS
ville, Florida ; Albert C .; Elizabeth D., wife of P. T. Pinckney, of Pine Bluff : J. G. James; Sue B., wife of J. W. Spencer, of St. Louis, and A. H. Dashiell, Jr. The sons reside in Memphis, Tennessee, where they are engaged in business. Mr. Perkins is a member of the Masonic order and eligible to wear the white plume of the Knight Templar.
GEORGE (). PATTERSON. Among those lawyers who contribute ma- terially to Johnson county's professional prestige is George O. Patterson, of Clarksville, who is a prominent and influential figure in the varied activities of the city. Mr. Patterson is a brilliant and efficient member of the legal fraternity, and in addition to possessing an excellent native equipment is an untiring worker in his profession, preparing his eases with the most serupulous care and with the utmost regard for the detail of fact and the law involved.
Mr. Patterson is a native of the state of Arkansas and one who has paid the commonwealth the compliment of remaining within its borders. At Clinton, Van Buren county, his eyes first opened to the light of day, his parents being R. and L. J. (Greeson) Patterson, both of whom are now living at Silver City, New Mexico. The father was born in Shelby county, Tennessee, and when a boy came with his father, J. H. Patterson, to Arkansas, making location in Logan county, at Patterson's Bluff, which had received its name from the family-a prominent one in the section. Just previous to the Civil war the family removed to Van Buren county, Arkansas, and some time after the close of the great struggle between the states, they removed to Cleburne county and took up their residence at Heber Springs, the county seat. J. R. Patterson was for many years a well-known citizen of that section of the state and he enjoyed political preferment, being elected sheriff of Clebourne county. Both the father and grandfather of the subject served in the Confederate army through- out the Civil war, the latter serving under Colonel Jordan E. Cravens, of Clarksville.
The Greeson family from which the subject springs on the maternal side is an old one in Arkansas, his grandfather, H. Greeson, having been a native of Wayne county, Tennessee, who came a pioneer settler to the state, locating here as early as the year 1841. This much respected man lived to the age of ninety-one years, and passed away in Prescott, Nevada county, in September, 1910. Mr. Patterson's mother is a sister of Martin W. Greeson, vice-president of the Nevada County Bank, the oldest insti- intion of a monetary character in that county. He resides at. Prescott.
George O. Patterson studied law under Colonel Jordan E. Cravens in ('larksville, and here was admitted to the bar, beginning a successful career as a lawyer in 1893. He is a member of the law firm of Patterson & Ragon, and conducts a large general practice in all the courts.
Mr. Patterson contracted a happy marriage when he was united in Clarksville to Miss Susie McConnell, daughter of Colonel E. T. MeConnell, a prominent pioneer citizen. They share their pleasant home with two young sons-George O. and Edward Hall.
JOHN F. PRINGLE. M. D., is one of the leading representatives of the medical profession in Lawrence county, and he is the kindly friend and doctor of hundreds of families to whom for nearly a decade he has ministered in most enlightened fashion. He is also an important merehant and man of affairs. Dr. Pringle came to Arkansas and added his eitizen- ship to the state at Hoxie in 1902. He was a long-time resident of St. Charles county, Missouri, where he was born August 7. 1853. He secured the advantages of a liberal education, and finished that of a general char-
1595
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS
acter at the State University in the year 1871, receiving the degree of Master of Arts. Naturally inclined to a career as a physician, he matricu- fated in the Missouri Medical College, now the medieal department of the Washington University, and was graduated from that institution in 1874.
Ready for his life work, Dr. Pringle began his practice at Moscow Milis, in Lincoln county, Missouri, and after twenty-eight years' residence there, in which he figured as an important factor in professional, business and official life, he transferred his citizenship to Arkansas and has entered liberally and naturally into the varied affairs of this place. In evidence of his high standing in the profession is the fact that he is loeal surgeon of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad Company ; presi- dent of the Lawrence County Board of Health and the Board of Health of Hoxie. He is by no means one of those content with "Leaving well enough alone," and he pursued post-graduate courses in the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis and in the medical department of the Uni- versity of Chicago. He is affiliated with all those organizations destined to advance and bring into closer touch the members of the profession, such as the Arkansas State and Lawrence County Medical Societies and the American Medical Association.
Dr. Pringle's father was Dr. Charles W. Pringle, who was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, in 1827, and prepared himself for the medical profession in the Missouri Medical College. He passed his life praetieing in the county of his birth and died in 1898. During the Civil war he held the rank of lieutenant in the medical corps of General Price's army. Dur- ing the commencement of the war with Mexico Dr. Pringle was ordered to the frontier, to attend Maneuver Camp, Fort Sam Houston, and staved fourteen days, participating in the maneuvers of the division stationed at that place. He married Miss Meroe Edwards, a daughter of Moses Ed- wards, who removed from Kentucky to St. Charles county, Missouri. Mrs. Pringle died in 1903, the mother of Edward M., of Forestell, Missouri ;. of V. K. of Pocahontas, Arkansas ; Dr. C. E., of the same city ; Mrs. J. M. Bird, of Lubbuck, Texas; Mrs. A. R. Cutler, of Visalia, California; Miss Ora P., of Visalia, California, and Dr. John E., of Hoxie. Several ehil- dren are deceased, also, those who died leaving families being Charles Norman and Mark S., who died in Forestell, Missouri.
Dr. Pringle, of this review, established a happy household by his marriage in Lineoln county, Missouri, on February 7, 1877, the young woman to become his wife being Miss Maggie M. Wilson, a daughter of Miller Wilson, of Lincoln county, North Carolina. Mrs. Pringle's birth occurred in Missouri in 1860. This union has been further eemented by the birth of the following children: Ethel M., wife of J. L. Barker, of Springfield. Missouri : Charlotte, wife of Dr. Earl Thomas, of Hoxie; and John E., Jr., who is associated with his father in the drug business in Hoxie.
Dr. Pringle has been very active since his arrival in Hoxie and his citizenship has proved of the most valuable sort, for he has given his shoulder to many beneficial enterprises. He has a drug business and supplies the trade of the town. He is the president and helped organize the Bank of Hoxie in 1903, with its capital of ten thousand dollars, and he is a director of the Hoxie Ice and Supply Company. He is a Democrat and participated actively in political affairs in Lincoln county; he at- tended the local and state conventions as a delegate and is a member of the Board of Aldermen. He fills the office of senior captain and surgeon of the Arkansas Guard and he took charge of a battalion at the Confederate reunion at Little Rock in 1911. He stands high in Masonry, being a past master of Black Rock Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and he has at-
1596
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS
tended many sessions of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Jonesboro Lodge, No. 498, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
ROBERT HL. RUSSELL. Among the leading citizens of Mountain Home assuredly must be numbered Robert H. Russell, eashier of the People's Bank, who, in addition to his connection with this important monetary institution, is interested to some extent in agricultural matters in the neighborhood of Mountain Home. A native son of the judicial center of Baxter county, he has paid this section the compliment of remaining here throughout the course of his useful life and he has the pleasant distinction of being most highly respected wherever best known.
Mr. Russell was born November 14, 1886, on a farm not far from here. The common schools afforded him his education and early in life he concluded that the vocation of farming was not entirely congenial. Accordingly he secured a position at the county seat as a merchant's elerk, where he became acquainted with the various phases of mercantile life. In 1888, when but twenty-two years of age. he concluded to establish him- self upon a more independent footing and became associated with Mr. Morris in a mercantile venture here, the firm being known as Morris & Russell. This continued for a decade, at the end of which period Mr. Russell bought the interest of his partner, and one of his brothers becom- ing associated with him, the business was carried on for a short time under the caption of Russell Brothers. Eventually he sold out his own interest and made a radical change by engaging in the livery business, running the hack line to Gotter, as well, and continuing successfully in this line of endeavor until 1906, when he disposed of this business and entered actively into banking.
The People's Bank of Mountain Home was organized in 1906, Mr. Russell being made its first president, and eventually being chosen cashier, his assumption of the latter office occurring in 1907. He has virtually charge of the affairs of this substantial institution and in this important capacity has evinced no small amount of executive ability. F. M. Seward is president ; H. W. Redus, vice-president, and the board of directors in- cludes many of the leading citizens of Mountain Home, such as Messrs. Seward, Redus. A. A. Wolf, W. H. Douglas, and J. L. Pan]. An idea of the character of the bank may he gained from the statement that it has had no losses by reason of bad checks or slow notes and has a surplus after paying dividends in excess of the expectations of its owners and making its stock worth "two for one." As previously mentioned, Mr. Rus- sell retains interests in farming and stock-raising and has other extensive interests in and around Mountain Home.
Mr. Russell is a son of John S. Russell, who was born in Hardin county, Tennessee, in 1832: left the vicinity of Bolivar in 1856 and came to Arkansas, in whose future he had abundant faith. While primarily a farmer and residing just without the limits of Mountain Home, he also engaged in merchandising and was proprietor of a store in the little city for many years. His abilities were versatile and he was at one time county judge of Baxter county. At the time of the Civil war he gave service in the army of the Confederacy and was a quartermaster in the commissary department. Judge Russell was married in Baxter county, then Marion, to Miss Tabitha Wolf, a danghter of the pioneer and honored eitizen, Major Jacob Wolf, who located in Arkansas before the Indians left this portion of the state. Mrs. Russell was born on the farm of her father. where the old house still stands, replete with the memories of other days. Judge Russell went on to the Undiscovered Country in 1902, his wife
1597
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS
surviving him for two years. Their children were three in number-Anna, wife of J. L. Paul; Randolph, and the subject, all residing in Mountain Home.
Mr. Russell, the immediate subject, was married November 6, 1890, Lillie, daughter of A. P. Smith, a pioneer to this county from North Carolina, becoming his wife. They have no children. Mr. Russell has no fraternal affiliations.
GEORGE W. HOUSELY, general freight and passenger agent for the St. Louis. Iron Mountain & Southern Railway, reverts with a due measure of pride to the fact that he can claim as the place of his nativity the fine, enterprising city which now represents his home. Ile was born at Hot Springs, Garland county, Arkansas, in 1873, and is a son of William F. and Melinda (Williamson) Ilousely, both of whom were born in Ten- nessee, whenee they came to Arkansas in the late '60s, establishing their home at Hot Springs. Representatives of the Housely family have gained prominence in connection with the civic and material development of Hot Springs and number among the oldest pioneers of this city. William F. Housely, in company with three of his brothers-E. T., R. J. and J. M. -settled in Hot Springs and all have contributed in fair measure to the upbuilding of the city. William F. Housely was a Democrat in his polit- ical convictions and he was the first Democratie sheriff elected in Gar- land county after the war. Later he served as postmaster of Hot Springs, under appointment by President Cleveland.
George W. Housely, the immediate subject of this review, was reared to maturity in his native city and he was afforded the advantages of the public schools of Hot Springs. He initiated his independent business career as a postal clerk in the local postoffice, retaining this position for a period of three years. Subsequently he became collector of accounts for the Western Union Telegraph Company and later entered the employ of the Wells-Fargo Express Company. being identified with the affairs of this company for nine years, during the latter portion of which he had charge of the Hot Springs office. In the early part of 1909 Mr. Housely was appointed general freight and passenger agent for the Little Rock & Hot Springs Railroad and in the spring of 1910, when this road was consoli- dated with that of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway he was retained in this position with the title of general agent of the freight and passenger departments. He is recognized as one of the progressive and public-spirited citizens of Hot Springs and he is ever alert and enthu- siastically in sympathy with all measures and enterprises tending to advance the general welfare of the city and county. In politics he gives his support to the cause of the Democratic party and he is affiliated with various fraternal and social organizations of representative character.
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.