Times-Herald

Looking Back

Teresa McCrary,

(Editor’s Note: This column looking back at St. Francis County’s history is featured each Friday on this Lifestyles page along with the week’s History Photo. The items included in this column were printed in previous editions of the Times-Herald.)

January 1950

W.W. Campbell Day - William Wilson Campbell was born in Forrest City in 1889. He studied banking and commerce at Eastman College, New York, in 1908 and 1909, after which he returned to his hometown to launch his very successful and enviable career as a county banker with the National Bank of Eastern Arkansas. He has been president of this institution since 1923. His long and active interest in bankers' associations has been most clearly exemplified by the many offices he has held in local and national organizations. He served as Chairman and Secretary of Group One of Arkansas Association and Chairman of the East Arkansas Clearing House Association. In 1923 he was elected Vice President of the Arkansas Bankers Association and became President in 1928. He was a member of Food-forFreedom Committee in 1942-43 and has been a member of the A.B.A. Agricultural Commission for several years, having served as chairman of the Commission's Soil Conservation in 1946-47 and serving presently as Chairman of the Commission for the 1949-50 term. In November 1948 Fortune Magazine honored Mr. Campbell by selecting him as representative of "Country Banking" from throughout the nation. We salute Mr. Campbell on the deserved recognition he has won by his integrity, his ability and his sincerity and we congratulate Arkansas, St. Francis County and Forrest City upon having such a resident among us.

Cross County Hit Hard - The weather snapped from warm to bitter cold yesterday and opened a new offensive against the flood weary residents of Cross County. Meanwhile, the pelting rain, which had by yesterday swollen streams to drive at least 719 families from their homes, continued, only much colder, as a shallow cold front moved in from the northeast. The weatherman said the cold snap would be "of short duration." But at Wynne, the National Guard was ordered into action to fight the rising St. Francis and merciless ice storm. Capt. Felix Stacy, head of an emergency Guard unit of 18 officers and men, said the river had spread over a large area east of Wynne and that many residents and head of live stock were stranded. He estimated the flooded area, growing by the minute, was nine miles long, north to south, and up two two or three miles wide. Captain Stacy said: "The weather is terrible for people chased from their homes. It's been raining and sleeting since 5:30 p.m. and the temperature is below freezing. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some casualties by morning." He said many families were reported to be standing on furniture in their homes, where water had risen above the floor level. Others were said to be stranded on small knolls that were once Indian mounds.Two amphibious trucks were sent to Wynne from National Guard headquarters at Little Rock. They will be used along with Coast Guard cutters already employed in evacuation work. The National Guard and Red Cross said they would cooperate in sending trucks or supplies to the victims of the newest flood area. Tents were sent from Memphis. A refugee center was set up in Wynne. The flood situation elsewhere appeared to be virtually unchanged. Near Forrest City, the St. Francis is backing up in the region around Linden Island, Twin Bridges and south of Madison. Water is halfway up the nine-foot levee around Linden Island, which was formed when the river changed its course. If the island should be flooded, families living back of the levee would be cut off. Plans are ready to move these families out as the water rises. The Coast Guard moved into Cross County, near Wynne, to evacuate stranded families along the St. Francis River. Guard boats carried persons and their personal effects to points along the highways where the boats transferred their precious cargoes to National Guard trucks. The trucks took flood victims to Red Cross encampments. Dr. T.T. Ross, state health officer, said his staff investigated conditions in Arkansas' two largest tent cities for flood victims. Both of the camps are located near Cotton Plant.

Arrested - Leroy Howard, 19, alias James Wright. of Forrest City was arrested by Police Chief George Trusty and Officer Floyd Bryan for fraudulently soliciting funds from merchants. Howard had collected $25 from one merchant and $5 each from two others for the benefit of the Christ Church Parochial School. Father King, head of the school, said he had given no authority for the solicitation, saying "Any time funds need to be collected for the school it will be done by myself." Howard was arrested at the Recruiting Office. He was attempting to join the Army and is now awaiting hearing. He also admitted attempting to collect funds last year for Lincoln High School.

Look At Your Lawn - St. Francis County and Forrest City residents may find a lesson on optimism right in their own back yards these days. Undaunted by the fact that it's only January, flowers, grass and shrubs are already "busting out all over." The combination of balmy weather, plenty of water and impatience with winter has proved too much for daffodils, flowering quince, japonica, tulips and hyaeintins and many are either blooming or preparing to bloom already. Though their optimism is likely to be rewarded by an icy slap in the face they are certainly welcome to those who are tired of the dreary winter landscape. Only one resident was heard to gripe about the early spring. He leaned on his lawnmower handle, wiped the sweat from his brow and stated, "It just ain't natural."

Two Join - Carl W. Cathey, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Cathey, and Jimmy Bingham, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Bingham of Cherry Valley, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for four years. Both boys graduated from Cherry Valley High School and played on the basketball team. Bingham was editor of the school paper "Tiger" and Cathey was editor of the same paper. They will continue their education in the Air Force. Pvts. Cathey and Bingham reported to Lackland Air Force base, San Antonio, Texas to begin basic airmen introduction course. Their 13 weeks of basic training will prepare them for entrance into Air Force Technical Training and for assignment is specialized work.

Champion Worker - The pretty young lady Miss Nancy Schroeder, aged 5, whose grandfather, John Schroeder, operates a small store at Anna, east of here on Highway 70. Nancy qualified as one of the most effective sales workers in the present TB Seal Sale. She supervised the coin collection box left at her grandfather's place of business and asked all who entered the store to drop in a coin or two. So well did she do her task, when the box was opened this week it contained a total of 461 individual coins, amounting to $8.41.

Chicken Eater - Mrs. Winnie Amrose, armed with only a stout hickory walking stick, bagged this 35-pound chicken eating bobcat near her home early this month. She and her husband, who live eight miles southeast of Forrest City, say this animal and smaller predators have killed over 530 chickens, three turkeys and a few small pigs during the last five years.

Rat Poison Fatal - A 2-yearold boy is dead after drinking rat poison. Harold Fletcher McKinney, son of Mr. and Mrs. C.V. McKinney, died in a Searcy hospital after drinking the poison. G.L. Law, owner of the store where the poison was purchased, said it was a liquid poison with an arsenic base. Mr. Law said the boy was taken to a McCrory physician after drinking the poison and then was taken to the hospital in Searcy.

West Killed - Donald Moody West, 19, student at the University of Arkansas, was killed in Marianna when the car he was riding hit a parked truck. The driver was blinded by lights and failed see the truck. A piece of the truck bed struck Mr. West breaking his neck.

Two Fires In Four Days - Fire struck twice in four days leaving the Gibbs family, who lives west of the city, in dire need of a place to live. The home of Radway Gibbs on the old Stevens place burned, destroying all the family's household goods and some of their clothing. The family moved in with Mr. Gibbs’ father on the old Lambert place nearby. Last night the home of W.P. Gibbs, the father, also burned to the ground with all household furnishings and most of their clothing. Mr. Gibbs even lost his billfold with about $50 in cash and was in such a hurry to dress when the fire was discovered he put his shoes on without socks. Until he could buy another pair, he didn't even have a pair of socks to his name. Both families, now homeless, are now looking for a house or apartment for rent in the city. They are not destitute but are in dire need of a place to live. Cause of either of the fires has not been determined.

Mallory Appointed Appointment of Ned Mallory of Forrest City as district supervisor for the taking of the 1950 Federal Census was made in a telegram to Mr. Mallory from Representative Gathings of the First Arkansas Congressional District. Mr. Mallory's office will be located in Forrest City and will open about Feb. 1, Mr. Mallory has not completed his staff organization but will do so later this month.

Howard of Colt Died - Ben. F. Howard, 68, resident of Colt for the past 50 years, died at his home Thursday night about 10:30 following a two-week illness. He had been in ill health since suffering a stroke five years ago. Surviving him, in addition to his wife, are two sons, Robert Lee Howard and Elbert Lee Howard; two daughters, Miss Lillie Howard and Mrs. H.D. Laughlin, all of Colt.

Talk To Son - Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Wall celebrated New Years Eve by talking to their son, Pfc. Roger Paul Wall, who is stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. The long distance call was booked a week earlier and Mrs. Wall said the connection was perfect. Roger Paul had already celebrated the New Year's event as the time was 4:15 a.m. there (9:15 p.m. in Forrest City) Pfc. Wall is well and happy over the fact that he will be home the first of June with his honorable discharge.

Caldwell Soldier - Private First Class Audie E. Cagle, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Cagle of Caldwell, returned to his unit after participating in a 22-day field maneuver which was held at Mount Fuji, Japan. Pfc. Cagle is presently assigned to Company F of the 27th Infantry Regiment which is part of the 25th Infantry Division and is stationed at Camp Sakai, Osaka Japan.

Carbolic Acid - Minus Wilson, about 50, of near Forrest City, died at a Brinkley hospital after reportedly telling bystanders at a cafe he had swallowed carbolic acid. Witnesses told Brinkley Police Chief Frank Handerson that Wilson came into the cafe about 2:30 that afternoon, drank a glass of water and left. He told several persons outside later. Wilson became violently ill and was taken to the hospital, where a stomach pump was used. He died at about 5:30. He is survived by his wife and a sister, Mrs. Dora Hatory of Wynne, Mrs. Hatory was quoted by Chief Henderson as saying that Wilson had been despondent for some time over family difficulties.

The List Grows - A Forrest City family was recently honored as the 100,000th consumer to hook onto rural electric cooperative power lines in Arkansas. The family, Craig Barnett with his wife and son, Carl Barnett, watched Manager T.E. Bostick of Woodruff Electric Co-op throw the switch near their farm home to make the connection official.

Escapes Death - Floyd W. Hill, about 26, driver for the Red Top Cab Co., in Forrest City, narrowly escaped death when struck by a train at a crossing here. Hill, who was riding in a car driven by Lloyd Lancaster, jumped out when he saw the engine bearing down the car. He fell on the ice between the rails and was hit by the slow moving engine, which pushed him along in front of it without running over him. City Officer Lloyd Bryan, who investigated, said that Hill's escape was due to the ice between the rails which allowed his body to slide rather than being crumpled under the engine. Hill was taken to Crawley-Cogburn Clinic and received treatment for cuts.

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2022-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

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