Attorneys & Lawyers from Little River County Arkansas

 Little River County Attorneys

From Research by

Judge John C. Finley lll

1. Joseph J. Taaffe - Died Little River County – Practiced 1866 to 1872 in Little River

County – Rocky Comfort. College education

2. A. D. Hawkins – Born 1827 in North Carolina – Practiced Rocky Comfort from

1860’s to 1903. – Educated at Jefferson College, Pa.

3. W. D. C. Hankins – Born 1838 in Little River County – Practiced in Rocky

Comfort – 1869 to 1880 – Educated at Monticello College, AR

4. J. C. Head – Born 1828 and died 1902 – Practiced law at Richmond 1868 to 1898.

Studied law

5. Hindman Head – Born 1860 died about 1898 - Practiced law at Richmond 1882 to

1898 – college education.

6. James D. Head – Born 1872 died 1946 – Practiced 1898 through 1940 – Richmond,

DeQueen and Texarkana.

7. Judge James S. Dollarhide – Born 1815 – Admitted to Bar 1866 – studied law –

Practiced in Rocky Comfort until 1883. Was County and Probate Judge.

8. Ed. W. Dollarhide – Born in Little River County – studied law – Practiced in Rocky

Comfort from 1880 until 1892.

9. Judge L. J. Joyner – born 1822 in Tennessee. Admitted to Bar in 1845 – Educated

at Brownsville Institute. Studied law after graduation – Practiced law in Richmond

1861 until about 1900.

10. William F. Joyner – born 1830 in Tennessee. Studied law, admitted to Bar in 1876.

Practiced law in Richmond until the 1890’s.

11. Ralph E. Phelps – born 1833 in Virginia. Admitted to Bar in 1855. Practiced in

Rocky Comfort from about 1868 until the 1880’s.

12. S. L. Anderson – born 1843 in Texas. Admitted to bar in 1873. A teacher and real

estate business in Richmond.

13. Lewis Davis – died 1907. Practiced law at Rocky Comfort from about 1860 until

moved to Dover, Pope County, Arkansas in1878.  His son, Jeff Davis was an

attorney, Governor of Arkansas and Senator.

14. W. S. Curran – no information available

15. Gen. Robert G. Shaver – born 1830 – Educated at Ernovy and Senry College,

Virginia, admitted to Bar 1850. Practiced until his death in 1915 in several counties

including Sevier and Little River County. Died in Foreman, AR.

16. “Bee” Smith – College of law, New Orleans and England. Moved to Little River

County after the Civil War but never practiced law.

17. T. G. T. Steel born 1816 in Virginia. Studied law after coming to Arkansas. Circuit

Judge 1873-1874 in Sevier County.

18. A. P. Steel – born 1880, admitted to Bar 1903 and practiced in several counties.

19. Judge J. S. Steel – born 1850 and died 1934. Admitted to Bar 1875 and practiced

in several counties.

20. Judge George Steel – born 1890 and died 1943. Admitted to Bar 1912, moved to

Ashdown in 1910 and to Nashville in 1924.

21. Walter Hopson – County Judge – listed in Martindale Directory in 1890-1891.

22. P. B. Williams – Born 1854 in South Carolina and was admitted to Bar 1872.

Educated at Virginia Military Institute. Practiced in Foreman from 1872 until his

death in 1921.

23. James D. Shaver – born 1861 and admitted to Bar in 1884 in Little River County.

President of Arkansas Bar from 1912-1913. Practiced in Ashdown until his death

about 1925.

24. Judge Jefferson T. Cowling – born 1862 in Arkansas and died in 1917 in Ashdown.

Admitted to Bar in 1885. Educated at Peabody Normal College, then studied law.

Started at Richmond, then the first attorney listed in Ashdown in Martindale’s 1900

Edition.

25. F. H. Taylor – born 1855 – Admitted to Bar in 1885.

26. Lon T. Jones – born 1880 in Lockesburg and was admitted to the Bar. Did not

actively practice.

27. C. E. Jones and Ernest Fair, first lawyers to establish offices in Millkin (Wilton) in

the 1890’s.

28. B. J. Stuart – Practice law in Winthrop and moved to Mena, AR prior to 1914

29. George N. Cannon – Admitted to Practice Law in Little River County in 1912.

Moved to Stephens, AR about 1914.

30. J. L. Livesay – born 1871 Missouri. Admitted to Bar in 1894 and practiced in

Foreman from 1907 until about 1930’s.

31. Otis Gilleylen – born 1884 and died 1955. Admitted to Bar in 1904. Practiced in

Foreman, AR until his death.

32. June R. Morrell – born 1886 and died about 1935. Admitted to Bar in 1909.

Practiced in Ashdown from 1911 until his death.

33. Seth C. Reynolds – Born 1878 in Faulkner, Co., AR and died in Ashdown in 1966.

Educated at the University of Arkansas School of Law. Admitted to Bar in 1907.

Practiced in Ashdown from 1907 until the 1960’s except from 1933-1939 which he

spent in Washington, DC.

34. A. D. DuLaney – born 1877 in Ben Lomond, AR and died in Ashdown in 1953.

Educated at the University of Arkansas School of Law. Admitted to Bar in 1904.

Opened office in Ashdown in 1905 and practiced here until 1930. In the 1930’s and

1940’s in Little Rock, AR.

35. John J. DuLaney – born 1885 in Ben Lomond, AR. Educated at Vanderbilt

University Law School. Admitted to Bar in 1913 and practiced in Ashdown from

1917 until 1945.

36. Frank M. Locke – born 1886 in Little River County. Educated at Vanderbilt

University Law School. Admitted to Bar in 1914. Practiced in Ashdown one year.

Managed a plantation.

37. James H. Williams – born 1883 in Foreman and died in Ashdown in 1964.

Admitted to Bar in 1923. Studied law and actively practiced law in Ashdown from

1923 until his retirement. He was a member of the Shaver, Shaver and Williams

law firm.

38. Judge Cecil E. Johnson, Sr. - Born 1888 in Lockesburg, AR. Died in 1955.

Admitted to the Bar in 1911. Practiced in Ashdown from 1918-1922. Chancellor

Judge from 1922 – 1933. Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court 1933-1934.

Studied law in an office. Practiced again in Ashdown from 1940 until his death.

39. Judge Ben Shaver – born 1888 in Howard County, died in 1969 in Texarkana.

Educated in University of Arkansas School of Law and admitted to Bar in 1914.

Practiced 54 years in Miller, Hempstead, and Little River Counties.

40. R. Coker Thomas – Born in 1915 in Ashdown and died in 1955 in Ashdown.

Educated at Cumberland University in Tennessee. Admitted to Bar in 1947.

Practiced in Ashdown from 1947 until 1955.

41. Robert Tipton – born 1914 in Oklahoma and died in 1973 in Foreman, AR.

Educated at University of Arkansas Law School and admitted to Bar in 1948.

Practiced in Foreman and taught college in Oklahoma.

42. Sam A. Davis – Practiced here less than 5 years, coming from Little Rock and Hot

Springs to Ashdown.

LAWYERS OF LITTLE RIVER COUNTY
1975

1. Cecil E. Johnson, Jr. – Graduated University of Arkansas School of Law in 1941.

Opened his office with his father in Ashdown in 1941.

2. John C. Finley, Jr. – Graduated from College of Ozarks, 1935 and the University of

Arkansas School of Law, 1938. Opened his law office in Ashdown, in January

1938 and practiced continuously except during his service in World War II. He

died in 1994.

3. John C. Finley, III – Graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 1971 and the

University of Arkansas School of Law in 1974 and began his practice of law with

his father in Ashdown.

4. Fred Embry Pickett – Graduated from A. and M. College in Monticello, AR and the

University of Arkansas School of Law in 1964l. Opened his law office in Ashdown

in 1965.

5. Eric Bishop – Graduated from Centenary College and the University of Arkansas

School of Law in 1969. He opened his office in Ashdown in 1972

6. Ted C. Capeheart – graduated from Henderson State in 1969 and the University of

Arkansas School of Law in 1975. He opened his office in Ashdown in March

1975.

The above articles are for information only and may contain erroneous information. 

published in the  LRCGS Journal

Coley's Clips & Comments Corner ~ 1

Coley’s Clips & Comments Corner

from the Little River News 
(date unknown)

We’re indebted to Olen Mitchell Sr. this week for bringing us a 1922 edition of “The Bradstreet Company” book from which we secured the following: 

Alleene — population 300, names of business listed included H. Y. Johnson, R. L. Johnson, J. T. Sikes and C. W. Wright. Arden — population 200, listings, Aden Gin Co., R. S. Davis, W. J. Perry, Virgin Lumber Company, Mrs. Eddie (E. S.) Wright Grocery. 

Arkinda — population 158, names of business owners listed, W. A. Dollar, E. M. Horn and son, May and Davidson, W. S. Pierce, J. R. Stuart, J. P. Wright. 

Ashdown — population 2,205, Businesses listed included: Arkansas State Bank, A. E. Waters, pres., J. L. Martin, cashier, Ashdown Handle Works, Ashdown Hardware Co., Ashdown Potato Curling House, M. J. Ataway, Boyer Drug Store, Brown Gin Co., G. S. Cobb and Co., First National Bank, Allen Winham, president, R. M. Bone, cashier; W. F. Gammill, Gathright and May, A. Goldsmith, Graves and Graves, Paul Kersten and Sons, Kolb and Welch, Love Bros., McCrary Hardware Co., J. F. Mills, Model Drug Co., People’s Undertaking Co., Phillips Bros., J. T. Reed and Son, Temple Cotton Oil Co., T. E. Thompson, Texas Produce Co. 

Foreman — population 1,500, listings: P. F. Alexander, Anderson and Dyer, Berry Drug Co., J. R. Bowles Lumber Co., Campbell and Cook, Citizens Bank, F. G. Campbell, president, F. F. Bell, cashier; W. B. Coley, Collins Floral Co., F. L Daniels and Son, Farmers Supply Co., Foreman Works, Foreman Hardware Co., Foreman Light & Power Co., W. M. Gathright, Frank Horner, Merchants & Planters Bank, L. C. Shackelford, president, Robert S. Morris, cashier; New Rocky Comfort Grocery Co., The People’s Store, Mack Perley, S. B. Schoolfield, Shaver Hardware Co, Joy White Gin, White Service Station.

Ogden — Population 350, listings included W. B. Brooks, Roy Budd, L. L. Cofield, Farmer’s Gin Co., H. C Hull, Dick Lewis, T. V. Nunnley, Red River Stave Co., Earnest A. Velvin, J. E. Wood Richmond — population- 200, listings R. D. Goff, C. W. Hawkins, A. T. Hemphill, McGraw Bros, W. M. Sikes, W. E. Vaughan. 

Wilton — population- 294, listings, Bank of Wilton, Joel Mills, president, Ada Mills, cashier; E. C. Cooper and Sons, S. J. Gordon and son, W. L. Hedgecock, P. S. Kinsworthy, T. W. McCall Grocery Co., S. S. P. Mills and Son, Pipkin Drug Co., S. K. Waldrop Hardware Co., Wilton Gin Co. 

Winthrop — population 750 , listings W. H. Boggs, C. J. Click, G. E. Dillon, Lambert Drug Co., Merchants and Farmers Gin Co., Morgan’s Pharmacy, Jack Nelson, W. E. Payton, R. T. Sessions, J. W. Tapp, Winthrop Banking Co., Winthrop Hardware Co. 

The population of Little River County in 1922 was shown to be 16, 301. The office issuing “The Bradstreet Company” book as inscribed on the last page was Oklahoma, Okla. And was issued to a Shawnee Okla. Firm.

Submitted by Donna Neff

LRCGS Fall 2008 Journal

1945 Little River County Happenings in Review

Ben Lomond, Arkansas School ~ 1920

Ben Lomond, Arkansas School 

1920 

Ben Lomond School News ~ 1934

Ben Lomond School News-Jan 18, 1934

From the DeQueen Bee

Submitted by Lucyndia Starks

The high school girl’s club met on Thursday to elect new officers for the last semester.  This club was formed at the beginning of school and has proved helpful and interesting to the members.  One meeting each month is given over to a social.  Here the girls become better acquainted with each other and with their teachers.  The following officers were chosen: President, Lula Tabler; Vice-President, Gladys Norwood; Secretary, Edna McCombs; Reporter, Pauline McCombs; Faculty Advisor, Miss Fomby.  The following committees were appointed to serve for this month: Social Committee: Grace Wade, Pauline McCombs, Maxine Cobb; Program Committee: Iva Shadle, Lula Tabler, Lillie Terry.  

Those receiving certificates for 20 perfect spelling lessons were: Third grade, Merle Brown, Opal Norwood. Fourth grade, Varnell Garrett.

100 per cent attendence list for third month- 

12^th grade: Lula Tabler, Edna McCombs, Louise Roberts, Paul Stoker; 

11^th grade: Ruth Mitchell, Morgan Wright; ninth grade: Flo Spigner, Edna Mae Terry, Clyde Brown, Coy Cooper; 

10^th grade: Iva Shadle, Gladys Norwood, J.C. Cooper.

Honor Roll for third month:

9^th grade, Flo Spigner, Pauline McCombs (leader)

10^th grade, Ralph Johnson (leader)

12^th grade: Edna McCombs (leader), Lula Tabler.

11^th grade: Morgan Wright (leader).

Honor Roll

First grade A- Lucinda Tabler, Mildred Bess Sutton , Ray Walker, John William Leathers and Betty Jean Wade.

First grade B- Bernice Pierce, Billy George Mize and Mildred Butler.

Second grade- George William Corbell, Patricia Ruth Mabry, Dennis Wade, Kenneth C. Crawford.

Third grade- Junior Gentry, Richard Jeffers, Stella Mae Addington, Louise Barrett, Opal Norwood.

Fourth grade- Williard Adams, Grover Tabler, Sam Wade, Rufus Medlock, Varnelle Garrett, Mattie Lee Good, Mary Kem Cooper, Edna Edith Walker, Lorita McGaha.

Fifth grade- LeRoy Stoker, Magdalene Jeffers, Finis Wade, Nathalie Leathers, Franklin Wilson.

Sixth grade- Maranel Good, Marilinda Hill, Mary Garrett, Marjorie Mitchell, Miley Thomas, Lillie Mae Good.

Seventh grade- Judy Baker, Ray Corbell, Dorothy Barrett, Majel Needham, Barney Crawford

Eight grade- Myrtie Beatrice McKay, Ruby Mitchell, Elca B Mitchell, D.P. Sample, Fannie Lou Leathers, Jake Brown. 

1947 Ashdown Football Team

from 1947 AHS yearbook

Ashdown's Early Days

ASHDOWN’S EARLY DAYS RECALLED BY SETTLERS

published:

Little River News

January 31, 1934

When S.A. Maddox, Henry Westbrook, John Coggins and a few others who are still citizens of Ashdown came to make their home, they found two log houses surrounded by fields of cotton and corn, owned by William and Maloy Waddell, uncles of George and Charley Waddell of Ashdown..  The Waddells owned eighty acres of what is now Ashdown.

William Waddell’s log house stood on the site now occupied by the R.A. Phillip’s home.  A field of corn waved its yellow tassels from about where the news office stands to the other side of the KCS railroad and from there to beyond the site of the courthouse, the land was planted in cotton.

Mr. Maddox came here from Saratoga in 1889 to take charge of the commissary, which was built at the time of the survey of the Texarkana and Ft. Smith Railroad His store was a small frame building which stood almost in the middle of what is now the street in front of Phillip’s Drug Store.  A Mr. Fricks ran the store for a short time until Mr. Maddox’s brother came to take charge.

Henry Westbrook enlarged the building and clerked in the store.

Capt. W.D. Dupree built the first frame dwelling here.  It stood on the site next door to the Albert Hamilton home.  The Baptist Church, which was the first to be organized here, held its first services in the Dupree home.

The first preacher, a man named Rogers, preached there.

The first industry was a large sawmill, which stood near the old Frisco Pond.  Mr. and Mrs. Dupree furnished rooms and board to a large number of the men who worked there.

John Coggins, who later married into the Dupree family, tells of a joke he played on Capt. Dupree.  He made a sign which he tacked up in front of the boarding house which read: “Maddox town, Westbrook Street, Dupree Hotel, and nothing to eat.” Needless to say, he had to take it down.

The railroad built at that time was owned by Bill Whitaker and was called the Texarkana and Ft. Smith railroad.  While Whitaker owned it, it only extended between Texarkana and Wilton and after five years, the Kansas City Southern bought it and extended it on to Ft. Smith.

After a short time, Mrs. Girlie, mother of Mrs. H.M. Westbrook, also from Saratoga, came and built a two-story frame hotel.  The remains of this hotel still stand next to M.S. Johnson store.

The first schoolhouse was a small one-story room built about where the Ashdown Hardware warehouse now stands.  The first teacher of this school was a man named Payne.

When the town was laid off into lots, about 1891, Judge Burns gave the lots where the grade school building now stands and a one room frame house was built.  Later another room was added.  This served until the two-story frame building that is now used as an apartment house was built in about 1900.