USA > Arkansas > Historical review of Arkansas : its commerce, industry and modern affairs > Part 76
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Judge Sherrill was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Conrad, of Izard county, and their union was blessed by the birth of four children, namely : Clyde, Lavanda, Dewey, and Lela. Mrs. Sherrill has passed away, a useful life being terminated in its fullness. The subject married a second time, his chosen lady being Miss Julia Dobbs, daughter of Mack Dobbs. A son, Caldwell, is the issue of this union.
In his political allegianee Judge Sherrill is a Republican, and an active one, ever ready to do anything in his power to advanee the interests of the party whose policies he believes to be superior. For several years he served as justice of the peace while on the farm, this being his first public service, but it was one which amply recommended him. He was nominated by the Republicans for county judge in 1910 and was the only candidate of his party elected, defeating his Demoeratie opponent almost by the free silver ratio of 16 to 1. He succeeded Judge Holbrook to the office and his services thus far have been of the highest eharaeter.
CHARLES A. TAYLOR. A journalist of the first class, Charles A. Taylor, editor and proprietor of the Waldo News, is widely known as one of the most enterprising and successful newspaper men of Columbia county. Born, June 4, 1861, in Saint Louis, Missouri, he there at the age of eleven years, in 1872, began to learn type-setting in a printer's office. Going then to Texas county, Missouri, he was for some time employed on a weekly newspaper, working for an unele.
Having in the meantime advanced his education by study, Mr. Taylor taught several terms of school in various Texas county towns, continuing as a teacher until 1890. Going in that year to Lacompte, Louisiana, he established the Messenger, which he conducted for eight years. In 1899 Mr. Taylor founded the Monthly Equipoise, a literary and industrial magazine, published at Alexandria, Louisiana, and after managing it sue- cessfully for two years sold out at an advantage. The magazine is still in existence, and has a wide eireulation in the South. Leasing then the Enterprise, a weekly journal published at Boyee, Louisiana, he ran it for a short period, afterwards having charge for two years of a paper in Atlanta, Texas. Loeating then in Vivian, Louisiana, Mr. Taylor established the State Sun, which he condueted with gratifying sueeess until July, 1910.
Coming at that date to Waldo, Arkansas, Mr. Taylor bought the Waldo News, which had been established here in 1907. It is a weekly paper, and is in a healthy financial condition, having a paid eireulation of five hundred copies or more, with a subseription list that is constantly growing, the bright, elean, newsy sheet proving attractive to its many readers. Mr. Taylor has acquired an influential position among his fellow- citizens, and was selected as a member of the reception committee to meet and receive ex-President Roosevelt as a guest of the state of Arkansas at the State Fair held at Hot Springs, Arkansas, in October, 1910.
Mr. Taylor has been twiee married. He married first, April 2, 1888, Mrs. Mary E. (Pierson) Young, a daughter of Leonard Pierson, a mem- ber of an old and aristocratic family of Lecompte, Louisiana. She died in 1899, leaving two children, Gertrude, who died in June, 1908; and Charles Singleton, of Louisiana. Mr. Taylor married, second, October 18, 1901.
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Mrs. Eva (Meador) Spurrier, a daughter of Joel A. Meador, of Mammoth Springs, and they have two children living, Alfred Miles and Lucille.
J. W. TERRY. There is no office within the gift of the United States Government that requires more tact and discrimination in the fulfilment of the duties devolving upon the incumbent than that of the postoffice department, and the residents of Marvell, Phillips county, are fortunate in securing the services of J. W. Terry as postmaster. Genial, prompt, and accommodating, he has won the good will of the general public, and is especially popular with the people, who have a thorough conception and appreciation of the good service which lie is giving them from day to day.
Born, July 17, 1852, in Des Moines, Iowa, Mr. Terry made his first appearance on Arkansas soil October 9, 1869, locating in Helena, where for the ensuing twelve years he was connected with the Helena Commis- sion House. He was subsequently engaged in mercantile pursuits on his own account, first at Poplar Grove, Arkansas; then at Bolivar Landing, Mississippi; and later at Turner, Arkansas, where he conducted a general store for eight years.
Coming to Marvell in 1905, Mr. Terry here carried on a thriving mercantile business until appointed to his present position as postmaster, on November 17, 1907. He is well known in fraternal circles, being a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; of the Knights of Pythias ; and of the Royal Arcanum.
On October 15, 1883, Mr. Terry, who has been twice married, was wedded to Chellie J. Bonnor, of Poplar Grove, Phillips county. Twelve years later, in 1895, the angel of death crossed their threshold, and she passed to the higher life, leaving five children, namely: Eugene; John, Jr .; Margaret, George, and Chellie. Mr. Terry married second, Septem- ber 15, 1896, Dora Belcher, of Turner, Arkansas, a woman of most es- timable character, who looks carefully after the comfort and interests of the household, and gives hospitable entertainment to its many guests.
OSCAR GRAY, M. D. The medical profession in Arkansas has an able and representative exponent in the person of Dr. Gray, who is numbered among the successful and popular physicians and surgeons of the city of Little Rock, where he is also a valned member of the faculty of the medical department of the University of Arkansas.
Like many others of the valued citizens of Arkansas, Dr. Gray claims the state of Louisiana as the place of his nativity. He was born at Colum- bia, Caldwell county, that state, on the 19th of September, 1874, and he is a son of G. B. and Emma C. (Stark) Gray, both natives of the same fine old commonwealth of the American Union. Dr. Gray was doubly orphaned when but eleven years of age, and it is through his own exertions and determinate ambition that he has gained success and prestige in one of the most exacting vocations to which a person can devote his attention in con- nection with the practical duties and responsibilities of life. He is in- debted to the public schools of his native state for his rudimentary educa- tion, and after becoming dependent upon his own resources he provided the means through which he was enabled to continue his higher academic studies in Arcadia College, at Arcadia, Louisiana.
When about eighteen years of age Dr. Gray went to the city of Dallas, Texas, where he secured employment as a messenger boy for the Western Union Telegraph Company. He finally availed himself of the opportunity of learning the art of telegraphy, and after becoming a skilled operator he found employment as a telegraphist in the railroad service, in which con- nection he was employed for varying intervals by different railroad com-
Oscar Tray m.D.
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panies and was stationed in various sections of the Union. He finally came to Arkansas, where he assumed the position of operator for the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, in whose employ he was soon made chief train dispatcher in the city of Pine Bluff, where he remained some time, when he was transferred to a responsible executive position in the office of the general superintendent of this railroad in the city of Little Rock. While thus engaged he formulated and matured plans for a career of broader scope and importance, as he determined to enter the medical profession. While still retaining his position he began the study of medi- cine under effective private preceptorship, and finally he was matriculated in the medical department of the University of Arkansas, in which he con- tinued his technical studies with all of zeal and earnestness and in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1904, when he received his well-earned degree of Doctor of Medicine. For two years after his gradu- ation Dr. Gray served as interne in St. Vincent's Infirmary, in Little Rock, thus wisely availing himself of the opportunity of gaining most valuable clinical experience and there giving special attention to surgery, in which department of his profession he has been remarkably successful, having to a certain extent specialized therein, though he has built up a substantial and representative general practice. His success has been of unequivocal order and has been based both upon his acknowledged technical ability and his gracious personality. He has a deep appreciation of the dignity and re- sponsibility of his profession, is a close observer of its unwritten code of ethics, and in his work his deep human sympathy transcends mere senti- ment to become an actuating motive for helpfulness in the alleviation of suffering and distress.
Dr. Gray is medical director for the Arkansas Life Insurance Com- pany and is chief examiner in Arkansas for the Des Moines Life Insurance Company, besides which he is surgeon for the Little Rock, Maumelle & Western Railroad. His success in the educational work of his profession has been pronounced, and he now occupies the important chair of professor of clinical gynecology in the medical department of his honored alma ma- ter, the University of Arkansas. He is an active and appreciative member of the Pulaski County Medical Society, the Arkansas State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and he enjoys to the fullest extent the esteem of his professional confreres in his home city. The doctor is a Democrat in his political allegiance, but has never had any desire to enter the turbulent current of so-called practical politics. He and his wife are respected members of the First Christian church of Little Rock.
In the city of Little Rock, on the 6th of February, 1908, was solemn- ized the marriage of Dr. Gray to Miss Rose Lee Mathews, who was born and reared in Little Rock, Arkansas, and who is a daughter of J. N. Mathews, a well-known citizen of the Arkansas capital city. Dr. and Mrs. Gray have two daughters, Frances and Edna Rose.
DAVID M. WHITE, M. D. For the past fifteen years has Dr. White been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession at Sherrill, Jefferson county. Arkansas, where he has gained high repute as a physician and surgeon and where he is recognized as a citizen whose loyalty and public spirit are of the most insistent order. Dr. David Newton White was born in Hempstead county, Arkansas, on the 27th of December, 1864. His father was Benjamin Bergen White, who was a native of Blackhead county, North Carolina, whence he removed to the western part of Ten- nessee when a young man. Later he came to Arkansas and located at Piney Grove, now known as Bingen, in Hempstead county. He was a planter and blacksmith and during the Civil war was in the Confederate
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service as blacksmith, shoeing horses at his home. He married Susan Starb, a native of Hempstead county, and to this union were born six children, all of whom are living and all of whom stand as exemplars of the noble teachings of their father, who was a great believer in the moral effects in after life of a thorough religious education. Both he and his wife were devout members of the church, to whose charities and benevo- lences he was a liberal contributor. Mr. White was summoned to the life eternal in 1889, at the age of sixty-three years, and his cherished and devoted wife passed away in 1876, at the age of forty-two years.
After dne training in the common schools of his native county, Dr. White entered the Literary school at Bingen, Arkansas, and subsequently was matriculated in the Memphis Medical College, in which latter institu- tion he was graduated as a member of the class of 1890, duly receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately after his graduation he entered upon his professional practice at Hickory Plains, Prairie county, Arkansas, and shortly thereafter he removed to Pastoria, on the Arkansas river. A few months later he opened an office at Scott, Pulaski county, and there continued in active practice for a period of four years. In 1895 he established his home at Sherill and here he has built up a large and representative patronage, being recognized as one of the most skilled phy- sieians and surgeons in the county. He has gained to himself and retains the high regard of his professional confreres and he holds a secure vantage ground in popular confidence and esteem. For years he served as a mem- ber of the board of health in Sherill and he has ever evidenced a deep interest in all matters pertaining to the general welfare of the community.
On the 24th of June, 1907, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. White to Miss Angie Angus Dever, of Tuscumbia county, Alabama, who is a great-granddaughter of Lord Angus, of Scotland. Lord Angus fled from his native land to America at the time of the war between the highlanders and the lowlanders, leaving behind him a large estate. He figured as a leading character in Scott's "Lady of the Lake" and on his arrival in the United States he settled near Richmond, Virginia. Mrs. White was grad- nated in the high school of her native town and also in the State Normal School, at Florence, Alabama. As a delegate from northern Alabama, she went as an honorary member to the Southern Educational Conferences held at Richmond, Virginia, and at Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. and Mrs. White are both popular and prominent factors in connection with the best social activities of the community and their attractive home is recognized as a center of refined and gracious hospitality.
MARSHALL W. WARE has been actively identified with mercantile pursuits in Arkansas for fully three decades. Since 1902 he has resided in Moscow and here he is recognized as one of the most loyal and publie- spirited citizens and as a man of rugged honesty and sterling integrity of character. Ile was born in Mississippi county, Arkansas, on the 4th of December, 1844.
Marshall W. Ware received no educational advantages whatever in his youth. Naturally bright, however, he gathered a little knowledge here and there and by dint of experience he has become a man of broad in- formation and extraordinary executive ability. Variously occupied during the earlier years of his life, in 1880 he opened a store at Douglas, Ar- kansas, and continued to conduct the same for a period of one year, at the expiration of which he removed to Garrison Landing, where he was iden- tified with the same line of business for twenty-one years. In 1902, he established his home in Moscow, Jefferson county, and here he has built up a large and representative patronage and gained precedence as one of
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the foremost merchants in the place. During his residence in Garrison Landing he served as village postmaster and he is likewise giving most efficient service in that capacity at Moscow. Aside from his mercantile interests, he owns and operates a large plantation in Jefferson county, near Moscow. He is progressive in his civic attitude and he holds a secure place in the confidence and esteem of his fellow men and is affiliated with various social and fraternal organizations of representative character.
In 1866 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Ware to Miss Charlotte Bunfield, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania, whence she came to Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Ware became the parents of eight children, two of whom are now living, namely,-Harry L., who is in Los Angeles, Cali- fornia ; and Lucy, who is now the wife of B. F. Adams, of Moscow ; they have two children, Ruby and Jessie.
J. A. WATSON. No man of the time, mayhap, has a broader grasp of the mission of a public journal than does J. A. Watson, of Marianna, Lee county, editor and proprietor of the Marianna Democrat, which he established in June, 1910. A native of Arkansas, he was born at Camden, Ouachita county, December 13, 1862, and there, at the age of ten years, began to learn the printer's trade under the tuition of James S. Holmes, founder of the Camden Beacon.
In 1882, having become proficient at his trade, Mr. Watson went to Texarkana, Arkansas, and for awhile published the Daily Herald on the Arkansas side of the town. Continuing his journalistic work, he subse- quently published papers in various northern Louisiana towns, meeting with average success in his labors.
Coming to Marianna, Lee county, in June, 1910, Mr. Watson founded, as mentioned above, the Marianna Democrat, and that he has met with remarkable success in the venture is shown by his subscription list, which at the present time contains twelve hundred names of bona fide subscribers to his sheet. Full of personal resources, with undoubted confidence in his abilities, Mr. Watson publishes his leading articles without fear or favor, and his policy in so doing is rapidly gaining him friends, and increasing the number of subscribers to the Democrat.
GEORGE A. ZINN. A representative business man in Benton, Saline county, Arkansas, Mr. George A. Zinn has been prominently connected with contracting and building in this state for more than a quarter of a century and his success in this line of enterprise has been of distinctive order. He was born in Waterloo county, province of Ontario, Canada, in 1863. His father. George Zinn, was a native of Germany but early in life he severed the ties which bound him to home and fatherland and ventured to the new world to seek his fortunes and established his home in Water- loo county, Ontario. His wife claimed the old Empire state of the Union as the place of her nativity, her birth having occurred in New York. She has passed on to the life eternal and George Zinn is now a resident of the City of Chicago, where he is now living virtually retired from active business cares.
George A. Zinn was reared to maturity in his native county and there he availed himself of the advantages afforded in the public schols. As a young man he learned the builder's trade and he initiated his operations in this connection in Canada. In 1885 he removed to Arkansas and he has maintained his home at Benton, Saline county, since 1892. He has gained distinctive precedence as a contractor and builder and is one of the leading representatives of this line of enterprise in central Arkansas, hav- ing been for several years constantly engaged in erecting buildings. He
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owns considerable real-estate in Benton and he has a finely improved farm on the Saline river, not far distant from Benton. He is affiliated with various fraternal and social organizations of representative character.
Mr. Zinn was married to Miss Ida B. Hall, and they have seven chil- dren, namely-Eva, William, May, Fred, Frank, Clara and Gladys.
MOORHEAD WRIGHT. A scion of a fine old. Arkansas family, mem- bers of which figured prominently in the development of this now favored section in the early territorial days, Moorhead Wright is well upholding the prestige of the honored name which he bears. A successful business man of the younger generation, he was born in Little Rock on June 18. 1872, and is a son of William Fulton and Louisa (Watkins) Wright. the former of whom was summoned to eternal rest in 1908, and the latter now resides in the capital city. Fulton Wright gained eminent distinction in the Confederate army as captain of engincers, on the staff of General Churchill, and he subsequently became one of Little Rock's most prominent and influential citizens. He was a son of Moorhead and Elizabeth (Fulton) Wright. who figured among the early pioneer settlers of the state, the former having arrived in Arkansas in the year 1820, and the latter being the daughter of William Savin Fulton, the last territorial governor of Arkansas and the first United States' senator after the state's admission to the Union, in 1836. William Savin Fulton was a native of Cecil county, Maryland, where his birth occurred on the 2nd of June, 1795. In early youth he accompanied his father, David Fulton, to Florence, Alabama. When thirty-four years of age, in 1829, he was appointed territorial sec- retary of Arkansas and he forthwith removed to Little Rock. He retained this incumbency until March 9, 1835, at which time he was appointed governor of the territory of Arkansas, by President Andrew Jackson, serv- ing with efficiency in this capacity until 1836, which year marks the admis- sion to statehood of Arkansas. In the latter year he was elected one of the first two senators from the new state and he served in congress with distinction until 1841. His marriage was solemnized at Florence, Ala- bama, on February 9, 1823, the maiden name of his wife being Matilda F. Nowland. Louisa (Watkins) Wright, mother of the subject of this review, is the daughter of the late Judge George C. Watkins, who was for many years chief justice of the supreme court of Arkansas. The foregoing amply illustrates the prominence attained by this family, whose succeed- ing generations represent the highest type of citizenship and whose activ- ities cover the entire history of the state from its earliest beginnings.
Moorhead Wright, to whom this brief memoir is dedicated. received his preliminary educational advantages in his native city, afterwards grad- uating as cadet captain in 1892 at the Virginia Military Institute of Lexington. Virginia. He has gradually worked his way to the front until he is at the present time incumbent of the responsible office of vice-presi- dent and treasurer of the Union Trust Company. He is also president of the Commercial Warehouse Company and is connected with other busi- ness interests of an important order, being recognized as a man of ability in the financial world. In politics he accords allegiance to the cause of the Democratic party and though he never had aught of ambition for public office he has been loyal and public-spirited in his support of all measures projected for the general welfare of the community. In April. 1899. he was commissioned adjutant of the Second Arkansas Volunteer Infantry and served one year in the war with Spain, but withont engag- ing in battle. IIe is affiliated with varions social organizations of a rep- resentative character and he and his family are devont communicants of
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Christ Episcopal church, in which he is serving as vestryman and of which his family numbered among the founders.
On the 25th of November, 1903, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wright to Miss Hildegarde Penzel, a daughter of the late Charles F. Penzel, one of the state's strongest financial figures. He was the founder of the Charles F. Penzel Grocery Company (Wholesale), the huilder of the Exchange National Bank, and the organizer, adviser and director of many of Little Rock's best business enterprises, serving at one time as president of the Arkansas State Bankers Association. Mr. Penzel was a man of strong religious beliefs and a good soldier, having served with the capital eity guards and suffered severe wounds and imprisonment dur- ing the Civil war. Mr. Penzel died in 1906 and is survived by his widow, Mrs. Rosa (Eisenmeyer) Penzel.
Mr. and Mrs. Wright have three sons, whose names and respective dates of birth are here entered: Charles Penzel, born in 1904; Moor- head, Jr., born in 1906; and Fulton Watkins, born in 1907.
JUDGE SAM WILLIAMS. One of the influential citizens of his section is Sam Williams, county judge of Marion county, and an able member of the Arkansas bar. He is widely known in lodge eireles and in commercial as well and is an admirable exponent of the progressive spirit which is causing Marion county to forge so rapidly forward, having done much to further the material and eivie development and upbuilding of the attractive city in which he has eleeted to establish his home.
Judge Williams is a native son of the county. his birth having oc- curred within its pleasant boundaries October 14, 18:2. His father, Uriah Williams eame to the state from Missouri just after the Civil war. devot- ing his life to farming and passing away in Marion county in 1882 at the age of forty years. He married Miss Sarah Wood in Gaseonade county. Missouri, and the children of the union were Judge Sam. of this review : Fred, who was born in 1879; and Annie, born in 1881. who became the wife of H. C. Johnson and passed away in Comanche county, Texas.
Like so many of the successful men of the day and of previous periods the youth of Judge Williams was passed in the country, amid the busy, wholesome surroundings of his father's farm. The little band of young children was left without their chief natural protector when the father was summoned to the Great Beyond and as soon as possible the subject found it necessary to take a hand in the provision of the common liveli- hood. He acquired an education in the common schools, perfecting the same by mueh independent study. As soon as he possessed the necessary qualifications he beeame a teacher and while pursuing his work as an in- structor, he prepared himself for the law. He read under the direction of J. W. Black, of Yellville and was admitted to the bar of the county in 1902 before Judge E. G. Mitchell. In 190% he was admitted to practice in the supreme court of the United States and in his professional career he has been a member of the firm of Perry & Williams and of Stone & Williams. He entered politics as a Demoerat, having sinee carliest vot- ing days given hand and heart to the men and measures of the party. and he was elected county judge in September. 1910. succeeding Judge J. S. Summers. The period of his incumbenev has already been sufficient to make manifest his faithfulness, worth and capacity.
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