USA > Arkansas > Historical review of Arkansas : its commerce, industry and modern affairs > Part 74
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Mr. Honsely was united in marriage to Miss Franees Wade, who was born and reared in Texas and they have three children, namely-Estelle. Wade and Nancy.
EUGENE B. JETT. Prominent and influential in the State Militia, Major Engene B. Jett has done much to further the interests of the Na- tional Guard of Arkansas. He is Major-Assistant Quartermaster General, under General Ben W. Green, the Adjutant General, and he is also United States disbursing officer for the Arkansas Militia.
Major Engene B. Jett was born at Washington, Hempstead county, Arkansas, on the 13th day of November, 1853, and is a son of Doctor Benjamin P. and Hester (Block) Jett, the former of whom was born at Culpepper Court House in Culpepper county, Virginia, in 1808, and
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came to Washington, Arkansas, in the year 1829, and was married there in 1833, to Hester Block, a native of Richmond, Virginia, who was born in 1813. She came, with her parents, to Arkansas in 1826, and here she and her husband spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in Decem- ber, 1865, and the mother in 1887. Both were Presbyterians in religious faith. Doctor Jett was a prominent physician and was well and favorably known throughout the state, not only as a skilled physician but also socially and politically. He served several terms as a member of the gen- eral assembly of the state of Arkansas and in 1852 was elected speaker of the house of representatives. Ile was register of the United States land office at Washington, Arkansas, prior to the Civil war, and was one of the electors on the Breckinridge and Lane ticket in 1860. He held high rank in the Masonic order. Doctor Jett was the father of thirteen chil- dren. Five, Benjamin P., Jr., William Augustus, Almedia Rainey, Eu- gene B., and Charles H., are now living.
Major Jett was a boy of twelve years of age at the time of his father's death and he was reared and educated at Washington, continuing to reside in Hempstead county practically all the time, until he came to Little Rock in January, 1889. There he was employed in the office of the secretary of state, as library clerk, for four years under Honorable Ben B. Chism, and for the next eight years was deputy secretary of state, first under General H. B. Armistead for four years, and later under Honorable Alex C. Hull, for another four years.
Major Jett was married in March, 1879, at Washington, Arkansas, to Miss Emma C. Smith, a daughter of Captain Thomas C. and Emma C. (Fowlkes) Smith. Both parents were born in Charlotte county, Vir- ginia, the former in 1816 and the latter in 1822, and their marriage took place there in 1838, after which they moved to Nevada county, Arkansas, and a short time later to Hempstead county. The father engaged in farming and became one of the wealthiest men of the county. The mother died at Washington in July, 1889, a Presbyterian in faith, and the father died at Washington in June, 1899. Mrs. Jett's grandfather, William A. Smith, was born, lived and died in Virginia, a farmer by occupation. He served in the Revolutionary war. Her mother's father, Edward B. Fowlkes, was born in Halifax county, Virginia, and moved to southwest Arkansas about the time Mr. Smith did and here he died in 1851. his wife dying here also. Captain Smith was the father of eleven children, six of whom are now living: Edward W., Thomas C., Jr., George J., Abner, Mrs. Jennie L. Butler and Mrs. Eugene B. Jett. Major Jett is the father of five children, all of whom are now living: Mattie Kate, Rose Gaines, Emma Pendleton, Armistead Chism and Imogene.
LEONIDAS KIRBY, M. D., is the senior physician of Harrison, Arkansas, and is a worthy representative of that profession in which of Harrison, and is a worthy representative of that profession in which more sacrifices seem to be made for the good of humanity than in any other. He is able and well informed and enjoys a high prestige beyond the limits of his town and county. He is a native son of Missouri, his residence in Harrison, Arkansas, dating from April, 1871, having com- menced the practice of medicine in October of that year. A great portion of his youth was spent in southwestern Missouri, his residence being in Dade county. The birth of the subject occurred in Greene county, Mis- souri, December 1, 1850, and he is a son of Dr. B. F. Kirby, who had been a part of the citizenship of that county from his tenth year. The senior Kirby was born in Warren county, Kentucky, in 1828 and died at Dadeville, Missouri, in 1858. His father was Tully C. Kirby, also a native
Leonidas Kirby. M 2.
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of Warren county, Kentucky, born November 11, 1802. He was a farmer and old-time neighborhood doctor, who died in Dade county, Missouri, in 1886, at the age of eighty-four years. His parents, Jesse and Sophia (Choice) Kirby, were born in Virginia, and the parents of the former, David and Elizabeth ( Tarrant) Kirby, were also Virginians. The parents of David came from England, and the name originally was spelled Curby. Tully C. Kirby took as his wife Nancy C. Harrington, their children being as follows: Choice; James; John; Tully C .; Fred W .; Benjamin F .; Jesse; Mary J .; who married Martin Holder; Lucinda, who became the wife of Mitchell Heyter; and Nancy, who married Christo- pher Hulston.
The father of him whose name initiates this review, Dr. B. F. Kirby, was prepared for his profession in the old McDowell Medical College of St. Louis, Missouri, graduating from that institution in 1854 and passing away before he had much more than begun upon a career of extreme promise. He was a soldier in the Mexican war under General Philip Kearny, later a victim of the Civil war. Dr. B. F. Kirby participated in the battle of Buena Vista and other engagements of the army of General Zachary Taylor. He was located in Dadeville, Missouri, after his grad- nation, and was there residing upon the occasion of his untimely demise. For his wife Dr. Kirby chose Serena Bender, a daughter of Dr. Samuel Bender, a native of Maryland, and his father, Henry Bender, was a native of Germany. Samuel Bender was a graduate of the medical department of Transylvania University at Lexington, Kentucky, of the year 1822; he brought his family to Dadeville, Missouri, in 1839, and died at Green- field, that state, in 1867. He was Union in his convictions at the time of the Civil war and served a short time as an army surgeon. His birth date was 1795. Dr. Bender married Mary A. Dawes, of Boston, Mass., and their children were as follows: Selina, wife of Rev. David Rice; Campbell Bender ; Serena Kirby ; Clay Bender ; Dr. O. C. Bender ; Cerella, wife of a Mr. Carter; and Oscar Bender. After the death of Dr. Kirby his widow married Allen Scott. The children by her first marriage were Dr. Leonidas Kirby and Mrs. Loretta Nicholson, of Harrison, Arkansas. Those of her second union were Clarence L., Benjamin and Izora, and they reside in Green Forest, Arkansas ; Scotland, Missouri, and New York City, respectively.
Thus Dr. Leonidas Kirby is the third generation of his line to adopt the medical profession. He was reared upon a farm, and passed the rose- ate days of youth amid wholesome country scenes. Left fatherless at an early age, it was expedient for him to soon begin his battle with the serious matters of life, and his first adventures as a wage-earner were as a drug clerk with his uncle, Dr. Bender, in Linn county, Kansas, 1867 to 1870. His education was gleaned in the common schools, and he proudly relates that he had one lesson in Latin. At the age of seventeen he took up the study of medicine with his uncle, who was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, employing leisure moments while in the drug store and eventually he became a student in the St. Louis Medical College, which institution was in a way the successor of the medical school from which his father had been graduated years before. It was also destined to be the school at which two of his own sons finished their medical educations many years afterward. With the Kirby family the St. Louis Medical College and its successor appropriately bears the name and sentiment of "alma mater." After receiving his well-earned degree in 1876 Dr. Kirby came to Harrison, the scene of his maiden prac- tice. In the succeeding years he has enjoyed a busy and useful career, and has come to be the kindly friend and doctor of hundreds of families
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and it would be difficult to make mention of any one in the community more widely and favorably known than he.
Dr. Kirby has been connected with the Boone County Medical So- ciety ever since its organization in 1882, and he has served as president of both the county and Arkansas state medieal societies-of the latter for the years 1903-1904. For two years. 1872 and 1873, he was postmaster of Harrison, the only office he has ever accepted, with the exception of town alderman and member of the board of education, which latter trust he was induced to retain for no less than twenty-one years.
Dr. Kirby was married in Harrison, November 23, 1843, to Miss Rhoada V. Crump, daughter of Beverly and Frances M. G. Crump. Her paternal grandfather, George Crump, was of Bedford county, Virginia. Mrs. Kirby was born in Virginia, and she and the Doctor are the parents of Nora, wife of Dr. E. L. Evans, of Springfield, Missouri; Dr. Frank B., who is associated with his father in practice; Leonidas, Jr., Lee B., who is married to Miss Virgie Vance, he is also a member of the drug firm of Coffman & Kirby of Harrison ; Dr. Henry H., of Little Rock, Arkan- sas; and A. Crump, a student of the University of Arkansas. Dr. Frank Kirby, mentioned above. is a graduate of the medical department of Wash- ington University, St. Louis, Missouri, in the year 1904, and is married to Miss Golda Worthington. Henry Hodgen graduated from the same school in 1906.
Dr. Kirby, even were it not for his professional attainments, would be known over a large area, for he is one of the most prominent of Arkan- sas Masons. He has numerous honors, having been Deputy Grand Com- mander of the state of Arkansas, 1896-1897, and is past high priest, past master, and past thrice I master. He has large property interests in Harrison, and as a builder has aided in the substantial improvement and development of the city.
The doctor is strictly temperate, is elassed as an independent Repub- liean, and is a member of the Christian church.
AMOS JARMAN. A man of strong personality and decided force of character, Amos Jarman, of Helena, now serving as sheriff of Phillips county, holds a place of prominence and importance among the county officials, his discrimination, tact, and trustworthiness making him a most desirable officer. He was born. April 10, 1877, in Phillips county, and has spent the larger part of his life in Helena.
His father, Whitley Jarman, came from Mississippi to Phillips county. Arkansas, prior to the breaking out of the Civil war. At the age of six- teen years, a beardless bov, he enlisted in the Confederate ranks, and served throughout the entire conflict. He, too, became active in public life, in 1878 being made chief deputy sheriff, while from 1880 until 1886 he served acceptably as county elerk.
His parents settling in Helena when he was but five years of age, Amos Jarman acquired his early education in the schools of this eity. In 1900 he was elected city clerk. a position that he filled for two years. Re- signing the office, he served for four years as chief deputy sheriff under Sheriff Kitchens. Entering then the employ of the Lesser-Goldman Cot- fon Company, Mr. Jarman was head office man for some time. At the last election, in the fall of 1910, he was elected sheriff of Phillips county. and is performing the duties of his office with credit to himself. and to the honor of his constituents. He is a man of good business ability and jndg- ment, and as secretary and treasurer of the Phillips County Real Estate Company is connected with one of the progressive enterprises of this section of the state.
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Fraternally Mr. Jarman is a member, and Past Master, of Lafayette Lodge, No. 189, Free and Accepted Masons, and is prominent in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, to which he belongs. Mr. Jar- man married, April 10, 1905, Miss Joe Moore, of Clarksville, Arkansas.
L. H. HYAM. One of the leaders in the establishment of projects cal- culated to benefit the community in which he resides, L. H. Hyam, of McGehee, has ever manifested an intimate knowledge of the resources and possibilities of the enterprises with which he has been associated, and what he plans boldly he executes with proportionate celerity. An Englishman by birth, he was born, December 31, 1873, in Sheffield, and was educated in the public schools of that place, and in Hanover, Germany, where he completed the literary course of study at Hanover College.
Ilis father, Henry Hyam, a nephew of the one-time famous English explorer, Sir Ney Elias, was for eleven years British Consul at Hamburg, Germany, after which he resided for a time in Amiens, France.
Ere attaining his majority, L. H. Hyam decided to see still more of the world, and being somewhat acquainted with life in Germany and France, determined to cross the Atlantic. Landing in New York city November 11, 1892, he proceeded to Chicago, Illinois, that great metrop- olis of the west, and there for five years he was employed in various firms. The ensuing eight years Mr. Hyam succumbed to the wanderlust, and roamed over the western and southern states, working in a place for a longer or shorter time, as fancy struck him.
In November, 1905, Mr. Hyam came to MeGehee, and here, with a meagre stock of goods, opened a grocery. He later added a stock of hard- ware, and was so much better pleased with his trade in that line that he soon dropped the grocery department, and is now handling hardware ex- clusively. In the development of his business interests, he has made rapid progress, having now a large and thriving trade, and being the only mer- chant in the place to handle hardware only. He is prominent in public matters, and is contributing his full share in promoting the prosperity and growth of the community. He is now president of the MeGehee Hall and Opera House Company, and is also president of the Retail Merchants' Association.
Mr. Hyam married, in 1906, Hannah Stern, of Mayersville, Missis- sippi, and into their home two children have been born, Joseph and Law- ience. Fraternally Mr. Hyam is a member, and master, of Desha Lodge, No. 643, Free and Accepted Masons, of MeGehee : a member of Arkansas Consistory, No. 1 ; and a member of the Temple, A. A. N. M. S., of Little Rock.
YOUNG F. GOODWIN. A well-known and prosperous agriculturist, Young F. Goodwin, now serving as county treasurer of Union county, is distinguished not only for the honored ancestry from which he is de- scended, but for the ability and fidelity with which he is discharging the duties of his responsible public position. He is a native of Arkansas, his birth having occurred, February 6, 1848, in Union county.
Robert Goodwin, Mr. Goodwin's father, was born in Georgia, No- vember 27. 1812. He was there reared and educated, living in his native state until 1840. Coming in that year to Union county, he bought land lying five miles north of El Dorado, and on the farm that he cleared and improved spent his remaining years, passing away in 1883. Adding in the meantime by purchase to his original tract of land, he became one of the most extensive land owners of the county, at the time of his death having title to seventeen thousand acres, which, with his other prop-
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vrty, is now in possession of his heirs. He was influential in public affairs, during the Civil war serving as a member of the state legislature, while in 1814 he was a member of the convention that framed the constitution of the state. In 1876 he was a delegate to the national convention. He was twice married. He married first, in Georgia, Elizabeth Norell, by whom he had four children. He married second, in Union county, Arkansas, Nancy Foster, and of their nine sons six are living, namely: Young F., John, Norphlet Thomas, Moulton, and Robert T., all engaged in Union county ; and W. P., of El Dorado. The mother of these sons survived her husband many years, passing to the life beyond in 1904.
Brought up on the parental homestead, Young F. Goodwin was edu- cated in the public schools, and while yet a lad in his teens enlisted as a soldier, and served in the army during the last few weeks of the Civil war. He has since devoted his attention to the management of his land, as an agriculturist being quite successful. For a brief time he was also engaged to some extent in the grain business, owning a warehouse on the Ouachita river. As a public-spirited and worthy citizen, he has never shirked the responsibilities of public office, but has served two terms as sheriff of the county, having first been elected to the position in 1888, and again in 1900. In 1905 Mr. Goodwin was appointed county treasurer to fill a vacancy, and served so ably and satisfactorily that he has sinee con- tinued, by election and re-election, in the same high position. Mr. Good- win has been four times married, and of his thirteen children, nine are now living.
FRANK R. GARNER. A wide-awake, brainy man, full of vim and energy, Frank R. Garner, of Marvell, has been intimately associated with the upbuilding and growing prosperity of this particular section of Phil- lips county, being actively interested in all of its important industrial enterprises. Nearly a score of years ago he founded the Garner Stave Company, and began the manufacture of barrel staves, an enterprise which has grown from a small beginning to one of large proportions. At the lime of the building of the stave factory, Marvell was a small town of not more than one hundred and fifty souls, and scarce worthy of recog- mution on the maps. As his business increased, the growth of the town beeame apparent, its present population of fifteen hundred contented and prosperous inhabitants being almost entirely due to the business ability and instincts of Mr. Garner.
Born in Tennessee, ncar Memphis, Mr. Garner eame to Marvell, Ar- kansas, as a young man. and from 1875 until 1884 was clerk in a general store. Embarking then in mercantile pursuits on his own account, he was located in Clarendon, Arkansas, for two years, and was subsequently in Mississippi four years, first at Beulah, and later at Bolivar. Returning from the latter place to Marvell, Mr. Garner began the manufacture of barrel staves as head of the Garner Stave Company, and in his new under- taking met with unprecedented success from the first. As his business grew, it assumed importance among the larger enterprises of the county, and gave employment to many people, his list of employes containing from seven hundred to eight hundred names, and adding materially to the town's population.
About 1902 Mr. Garner met with a great loss, his plant at Marvell being burned to the ground. He soon rebuilt it, but on a smaller scale. He subsequently erected, however, a similar plant, fully as large as the original one, at Helena, which he afterwards sold. Mr. Garner also ex- tended his operations northward, ereeting at Waukegan, Illinois, a large cooperage plant, which he still operates in connection with his stave fac-
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tory at Marvell. Not content with his manufacturing interests, he is identified with the advancement of the mercantile prosperity of Marvell, where he is conducting a large store, and is vice-president of the Robinson- Swift Grocery Company. He has made wise investments in connection with his manufacturing, and now owns many thousand acres of farm and timber lands, and also owns and operates a large saw-mill.
On one of his farms, near Marvell, Mr. Garner is building a palatiai home, "Mound Lodge," which is located on Indian Bay, White river, and will be when completed one of the most attractive private lodges in eastern Arkansas. Built on an Indian mound, its interior is decorated with a beautiful Indian frieze, Indian portraits, and contains numerous speci- mens of Indian pottery, and many interesting Indian relics.
On September 9, 1893, Mr. Garner was united in marriage with Miss Alma Tatum, of Somerville, Tennessee, and to them four children have been born, namely : Frank, Jr. ; Alma; Samuel, and Kersting.
JOSEPH IRA ALLEY. One of the representative citizens of Mena and Polk county is Joseph Ira Alley, one of the most brilliant and efficient of the lawyers of this district. He was at one time prosecuting attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit and evinced excellent gifts of statesmanship as representative from Polk county in the state assembly. He is a native son of the state and one of the pioneer citizens of the comparatively new city of Mena. He has been a distinguished participant in the vigorous life of the growing community and at the bar he occupies an eminent place on account of his superior legal attainments and high personal char- acter which commands the greatest respect.
The birth of the Hon. Mr. Alley occurred in Searcy county, Arkansas, January 28, 1868. His parents were Stephen and Henrietta (Brown) Alley, both scions of southern families. Stephen Alley was born and reared in South Carolina; removed thence to Georgia and eventually took up his residence in northern Arkansas. After arriving in the Bear state the family made several changes of residence, going from Searcy county to Boone county and in 1880 to Mongomery county, where the elder people lived out the residue of their lives, the mother dying in 1893 and the father in 1899. The former was born in the state of Kentucky.
The youth of Mr. Alley was divided between three Arkansas counties and his elementary education was acquired in various public schools. When the momentous question of his life work had been decided he began the study of law at Mount Ida, the county seat of Montgomery county, and eventually at old Dallas (the town which is now extinct), which was the former county seat of Polk county. In the latter place he studied in the office of Colonel Pole McPhetridge and in the year 1892 he was admitted to the bar at Mt. lda. At Dallas he began his practice, experienced the usual adventures, pleasant and otherwise, which try the metal of the young lawyer, and evinced no small amount of native ability. The town of Mena was established in 1896 and in 1898 it became the county seat of Polk county, replacing Dallas, and in the latter year Mr. Alley located perma- nently at Mena. The following year he received signal mark of the high standing he enjoyed in the county in which he was best known by his election to the legislature and his services in the state body were of such character that they received unmistakable approval by his re-election in 1901. In 1902 he was elected prosecuting attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit and served in that capacity for one term. About that time he formed a law partnership with Hon. Hal Norwood, under the firm name of Norwood & Alley, which legal combination continued in satisfactory
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manner until Mr. Norwood was elected attorney general of Arkansas in 1908.
In 1898, Hon. Mr. Alley was united in marriage to Miss Linnie Martha Pirtle, daughter of the late Benjamin F. Pirtle, who at the time of his death in 1908 was the oklest settler of Polk county. He was the son of James Pirtle, who came to what is now Polk county in 1833. The first court of the county was held in his house in old Dallas. Both Mr. and Mrs. Alley are very loyal to their native state and are exceedingly popular in the community, the circle of their acquaintances being coinci- dent with that of their friends.
The supporter of all means towards progress, it goes without saying that Mr. Alley is the champion of good education and the fact that he is a member of Mena's board of education is indeed appropriate. Fraternally he belongs to the ancient Masonic order and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and in political allegiance he is Democratie, having ever been willing to do all in his power to advance party interests.
JOHN F. RUTHERFORD. In the death of John F. Rutherford, Pine Bluff and eastern Arkansas has lost one of her foremost men of affairs who contributed in the highest degree to the advancement and prosperity of that part of the commonwealth. He was of that small but illustrious brotherhood who possess the supreme gift of making great ideas realities. With ready recognition of opportunity he directed his labors into various fields wherein he achieved success, and his personal success was of that best type which redounds to the good of the many. He was, at the time of his demise, July 24, 1911, president of the Bluff City Lumber Company, and of the Citizens' Light and Transit Company.
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