Desha-Arkansas County ArArchives Biographies.....Willoughby, James W. 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 August 3, 2009, 3:26 pm

Source: See Full Citation Below Biography
Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

JAMES W. WILLOUGHBY.
    For the past seventeen years James W. Willoughby has been closely connected
with the development and upbuilding of McGehee and he has thoroughly identified
his interests with those of the town, being recognized as a leader of public
thought and action and a live wire in his community. He is an able financier and
is now serving as vice president of the McGehee Valley Bank, in which connection
he is doing all in his power to broaden the scope of the institution and promote
its success. He is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Vermilion
county, on the 6th of January, 1874, and his parents were Andrew J. and Sina
(Truax) Willoughby, who were also natives of that county. Both are deceased.

    Mr. Willoughby completed his education in the high school at De Witt,
Arkansas, and afterward engaged in teaching in country schools of the state,
devoting three years to that profession. In May, 1898, he enlisted for service
in the Spanish-American war, being assigned to the Second Arkansas Regiment, and
was stationed at Camp Chickamauga for a time. From that point he was transferred
to Anniston, Alabama, where he remained with his command until discharged from
the service in February, 1899. He then returned to Arkansas county, where he had
previously been occupied with educational work, and entered the field of
journalism, being identified with the publication of a newspaper at Stuttgart
until 1903. Removing to Arkansas City, he accepted an office position with the
Kimball Lacy Lumber Company, with which he remained for a year, and early in
1905 he came to McGehee, becoming connected with financial interests as cashier
of the McGehee Valley Bank. His excellent work in that connection led to his
choice for the vice presidency in January, 1921, and he is now filling that
responsible office. Broad experience has given him a comprehensive knowledge of
the intricate and involved problems of modern finance and he has been largely
instrumental in promoting the growth and prosperity of the bank, which is
classed with the substantial moneyed institutions of this part of the state.

    In 1905 Mr. Willoughby was united in marriage to Miss Viola Edmonds of
Brownsville, Tennessee, and of their family three children are living: James W.,
Jr., Mary Lucille and Verna Mae. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church, South, and Mr. Willoughby is one of its trustees and is also serving on
the board of stewards. In civic affairs he has ever been deeply and helpfully
interested and for the past fourteen years has been secretary of the school
board and he is also an alderman of his city, rendering valuable service in both
connections. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, belonging
to McGehee Lodge, No. 165. His career has been marked by continuous advancement,
due to his close application, his study of the business to which he has turned
his attention and his unquestioned integrity and reliability. He is broad-minded
and public-spirited, a strong champion of moral progress and civic advancement
and stands as a high type of American manhood and citizenship.


Additional Comments:

Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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