t* NEWPORT BUILDERS’ SUPPLY X
X AND HARDWARE COMPANY
The origin of this company does not
date back many years, and that humble
beginning is hard to reconcile with its
present proportions. The present exec
utive head, Mr. T. B. Stewart, in part
nership with J. O. Burgess, established
the business in September, 1897, the
stock representing an investment of
$1,500 to $2,000. Mr. Stewart soon pur
chased the interest of Mr. Burgess and
took in as a partner W. R. Stewart.
In 1903 Mr. Stewart purchased his
brother’s interest and organized a stock
company, which took over not only the
business of the old firm, but also the
City Lumber Company, owned by J. O.
Burgess. The stockholders were among
the best and most substantial men in the
county and the expansion of business en
joyed by the partnership firm continued
with the corporation, which is probably
Newport Builders’ Supply and Hardware Company.
1—lYard. 2—View of Yards and Mill from Iron Mountain Track,
3—Store Building.
better known than any other firm in the
state for the time it has existed.
This firm does a general hardware and
lumber business, handling implements,
* vehicles, mill supplies, furniture and car
pets; do all kinds of roofing and metal
work; operate a planing mill, where they
manufacture odd work, such as sash and
doors, store fronts and all kinds of ex
terior and interior finish. They also do
a general contracting and building busi
ness in this and surrounding counties.
The lumber yard and woodwork factory
has 950 feet of river front and the same
amount of trackage, also 350 feet front
on Vine street.
The officers of the company are: Pres
ident, T. B. Stewart; vice-president, J.
O. Burgess; secretary and treasurer, L.
N. Nouss. They employ a large force
of men, from the common laborer to the
skilled employe, and the hardware and
furniture store on Front street is one of
the largest and handsomest mercantile
establishments in the city.
native of Arkansas and is a member of
the firm of Graham Bros., merchants at
Tuckerman.
The Board of Directors of the Arkan
sas Bank & Trust Company is made up
of some of the best business men of
Jackson and Independence Counties.
They are: B. B. Bond, merchant and
planter, Weldon; M. D. Campbell, mer
chant and planter, Tupelo; S. D. Camp
bell, attorney, Newport; G. D. Clements,
merchant and planter, Auvergne; R. F.
Drummond, undertaker, Newport; F. D.
Fulkerson, circuit judge, Batesville;
Nathan Graham, merchant and planter,
Tuckerman; J. W. Grubbs, president
Newport; C. G. Henry, cashier, New
port; C. J. Saenger, merchant and tailor
Newport; L. E. Willis, physician, New
port; Jos. M. Berger, Jr., merchant,
Newport; J. P. Duck, planter, Newport;
W. W. Dutton, druggist, Newport; R.
K. Fitzhugh, planter and merchant.
This company, in addition to caring
for money, are prepared to loan money
i ARKANSAS BANK AND TRUST CO. i
X NEWPORT, ARKANSAS X
The Arkansas Bank & Trust Company
was organized and commenced business
January i, 1903, with a capital stock of
$100,000. Its officers are: J. W. Grubbs,
president; Nathan Graham, vice-presi
dent, and Chas. G. Henry, cashier. Mr.
Grubbs is the" present mayor of New
port. He served as postmaster at New
port under President Harrison, was
delegate to the Republican national con
vention at Philadelphia, also at Chicago,
and is a member of the Republican State
Central Committee of Arkansas. Mi
Henry is a native of Indiana. He came
to Arkansas about ten years ago and has
been engaged in active business ever
since. Although both Messrs. Grubbs
and Henry have always been active Re
publicans, it has in nowise tended to di
mmish their popularity or chances for
success in business. Mr. Graham is a
Thos. B. Stewart.
in small or large quantities to reputable
parties on good collateral security or
personal indorsements. It is one of tbe
soundest institutions in the state and has
had a wonderful growth considering the
short time it has been organized. At
the close of business January 9, 1905,
the end of the second fiscal year, the
cashier’s report showed the condition of
the bank as follows:
RESOURCES.
Loans and Discounts.$131,873.79
Demand Loans on Cotton.... 47,362.58
Overdrafts . 1,283.11
Scrip, County and City. 734-76
Furniture and Fixtures. 1,367.58
Cash and Sight Exchange.. . 44,847.92
$227,469.74
LIABILITIES.
Capital Stock.$ 50,000.00
Surplus . 2,000.00
Undivided Net Profits. 6,610.23
Deposits . 168,859.51
$227,469.74
The farmer owning $100 land in the
North gets no bigger returns than the
Jackson County farmer on $20 to $50
land. Then is it not apparent that the
same capital invested in our cheaper
lands will net twice to five times the
profits of the investment in lands of the
older settled states? True it is that our
lands are not improved to the extent of
Northern farms, but this offset is met
in the mild winters we enjoy, which do
not require the expenditure of a good
portion of the crop profits to keep body
and soul together.
The oldest of the banks of Jackson
County is the Bank of Newport, and it
is known as one of the most solid finan
cial institutions of the state. Even dur
ing the “panicky times” of 1893, when
the financial storm was causing most
banks to refuse loans, even to their cus
tomers, except in limited amounts, this
institution stood like a rock before the
breakers, continuing to loan their client
age and support them in those dark days
against failure.
The Bank of Newport was organized
in June, 1889, by Mr. R. M. Johnson and
other Springfield parties, who sub
scribed for a majority of the capital
stock at that time. Its first president
was Judge John W. Stay ton, deceased,
and from the beginning the stock paid
well and was purchased by local parties
in its early years. Colonel E. L. Watson,
now deceased, was the second president
of the bank, and he was succeeded by
Captain George W. Decker. Practically
speaking, the bank has been under but
one management, for Mk Johnson has
been its cashier from the date of organi
zation and the present directors are
largely the members or heirs of the orig
inal board. The splendid position it oc
cupies in the public confidence is a trib
ute to the integrity and sound judgment
of its cashier and popular assistant cash
ier, T. D. Kinman, Sr. Mr. A. D. Bailey
is vice-president, Mr. J. L. Jones the ef
ficient bookkeeper and Miss Jennie Mc
Cauley, stenographer of the bank.