Biography of J. W. Massey - Conway Co, AR

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Submitted by: Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com>
        Date: 21 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1891.

page 86

J. W. Massey, senior member of the firm of Massey, White & Co., was
born in Morgan County, Missouri, December 31, 1860. He was the oldest
in a family of ten children born to G. D. and Charity (Moser) Massey;
parents natives of North Carolina and Ohio respectively; father
followed farming; came to Arkansas in 1871, and settled in the
northern part of Conway County, near the present site of Cleveland,
where he still resides and owns a productive farm. Our subject
attended school in Missouri and Kansas, and for a short time in the
public school of this county. He entered the State University at
Fayetteville in 1880. On his leaving school in 1882 he came to
Morrilton and clerked for Beal & Wills, Hannaford, Beal & Wills, and
Beal & Wills, till then he engaged in business for himself. Was
married March 21, 1889, to Miss Hettie Moose, a native of Indiana, and
daughter of Mr. Moose, a respected citizen of Texas. To this union was
born one child, James William. Family are members of the M. E. Church,
South. In 1890 he erected a neat and handsome residence; also owns a
tract of eighty acres in the northern part of the county. Mr. Massey
is a pleasant, genial gentleman, whose friends comprise nearly all the
citizens of Morrilton, active and prompt in business and always ready
to assist in enterprises to promote the good of Morrilton. The firm of
Massey, White & Co. is the successor of Beal & Wills, which was
established in Morrilton in 1887. The present firm, consisting of J.
W. Massey, B. G. White, J. B. Wooten and R. A. Baird, was formed
January 1, 1890. They carry a stock of about $7500 worth of general
merchandise, consisting of dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, hats
and caps, groceries, and all plantation supplies. The firm expect to
buy cotton largely, and in fact buy all plantation products, or
everything a farmer has to sell, and are prepared to sell him in
return everything of which he may have use or need. Their store and
ware-room capacity consists of a two-story brick building, 25×100
feet, and ware-room. The store is well fitted up, the goods
conspicuously and neatly displayed, and the attention from the members
of the firm or the clerks, prompt and respectful.