Looking Back

(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.)

April 1929

Local Boy Makes Good - The recruiting officer at Little Rock received word from Fort Crook, Neb., that Nick Winfred, who enlisted in the Army in July, 1927, was making splendid progress as a soldier. He was a Private 1st Class, Specialist 6th Class and an Expert Machine Gunner. By attention to duty this young man had been able to almost double the pay he received upon entering the Army.

Fisher-Sharp - H.W. (Dad) Fisher and Mrs. Elizabeth Sharp were married at the Hobbs boarding house on the south side. The ceremony was performed by Justice of the Peace S.L. Hodges. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher expected to make their home in the country. He was 89 years old and his bride was 47.

Twister - More than a score of persons were reported killed and more than 100 were injured in a series of tornadoes which struck North and Northeast Arkansas. The largest number of dead was reported from an area about four miles northeast of Swifton, Jackson County, 23 miles from Newport. A list of 11 known dead and two missing was received from the Arkansas Gazette's Newport correspondent in the Swifton district. Ten persons were reported slightly hurt at Moorefield, Independence County and Missouri Pacific Railroad officials received a report of a damaging tornado at Princedale, about 10 miles east of Wynne, Cross County, in which at least two persons were injured. A twister also struck about three miles west of Wynne at Smith Chapel, where considerable damage was reported from which section little could be learned as to injuries to persons or possible loss of life. Several barns and outhouses were reported destroyed in the Pine Tree section west of Colt.

Two Die and 15 Hurt - Two men are known to have been killed and the injured list had exceeded 15 as reports from the tornado which struck west and east of Wynne began pouring into the dispatcher's office of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The men were reported to have been killed at Parkin, where the property damage was probably heavier than at any other point along the line. The Northern Ohio Cooperage Company's plant also was reported to have been destroyed by fire after having been flattened. Injured persons were reported in the following communities: Two injured 12 miles east of Wynne. Five or six injured at Smith Chapel. Three injured three miles west of Wynne. Telephone communication had been severed in practically all communities affected by the storm and only meager information was obtainable from persons coming into Wynne from the scattered sections.

Report On Damage - In the Smith Chapel neighborhood, seven miles southwest of Wynne about 15 families were destitute. Their homes were all blown away. Avery Mitchell was paralyzed and was carried to the hospital with two others. It was estimated in that territory about 15 injured. All the family of S.N. Clark was seriously injured. At Princedale, almost seven miles east of Wynne, things were completely wrecked and blown away. Four buildings were blown down. On the Ben Ferry farm, owned by R. Block, a family of four, J.L. Lucens, wife and two children were killed in one house. Eight small buildings were destroyed, four large houses on the place. On Lee Block's farm two miles west of Wynne, several head of mules were killed, many outhouses blown down. An appeal was being made to the Red Cross to aid these people. At Parkin, 14 miles east of Wynne, two were killed. All the sheds and stacks of staves of the Northern Ohio Cooperage Company were blown down and about 15 dwelling houses were blown and twisted off their foundations.

Fine Couple United - The home of Dr. and Mrs. J.O. Rush was the scene of a beautiful wedding when their daughter, Stella May, was given in marriage to Mr. Walter R. Rich Jr. The ring service was solemnized by the bride’s pastor, Rev. J.E. McJunkin, of the Presbyterian Church, in the presence of relatives and friends. The bride, given in marriage by her father, Dr. J.O. Rush, wore an ensemble of blue georgette with beige accessories and carried an arm bouquet of pink roses, sweet peas and gypsophilia. Miss Marjorie Shannon, of Stuttgart, a roommate of the bride during her attendance at Arkansas College, served as maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Miss Virginia Love, of Dardanelle and Miss Ellen Rich, sister of the bridegroom. Mr. Wallace Rich of Colt served as best man for his brother, and the groomsmen were Jack Rich of Earle and David Gates Jr.