Franklin-Johnson County ArArchives Biographies.....Ransom, D. A. 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 17, 2009, 8:42 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

D. A. RANSOM.
    D. A. Ransom, starting out in the business life with limited opportunities
and meager advantages, has steadily worked his way upward and is now one of the
owners and editors of the Democrat-Enterprise, published at Ozark. Born in
Alabama in 1868, he is a son of David and Mary E. (Gallups) Ransom, who were
also natives of that state. At an early day they removed to Georgia and
subsequently to North Carolina, whence they came to Arkansas in 1890, settling
in Johnson county. The father filled various county offices while in Alabama and
after coming to this state he turned his attention to the occupation of farming
and also conducted a country store near Clarksville. He has always given his
political allegiance to the democratic party and during his early manhood he
served under General Joe Wheeler in the Confederate army for four years. On one
occasion he was wounded while engaged in military duty. His wife was a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church. Both have departed this life. Their family
numbered nine children, five of whom are living: D. A., whose name introduces
this review; John, a printer, located at Clarksville, Arkansas; W. T., living in
Little Rock; Simon, who follows farming in Johnson county; and Annie, now Mrs.
Pollard, residing in East Texas.

    D. A. Ransom received but limited educational opportunities. He began
working at the early age of seven years in a printing office and was thrown
entirely upon his own resources when but a child. He continued to work in the
printing office, learning every phase of the business and was employed at
various places in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Arkansas. He has followed
the printing business throughout his life, with the exception of one year, which
he devoted to farming near Clarksville, this state. At length he purchased an
interest in the Enterprise, a paper published at Ozark, of which he became part
owner in May, 1908. This was his first independent venture. He later
consolidated this paper with the Democrat and his publication is today called
the Democrat-Enterprise. The paper has a circulation of about thirteen hundred
and fifty and the company does considerable job printing, having a well equipped
office with a linotype machine, large presses and everything for turning out
first-class work. In fact, theirs is the best equipped office of any plant of
the size in the state and Mr. Ransom holds to high standards in the character of
work turned out.

    Mr. Ransom belongs to the Missionary Baptist church. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias, being a past chancellor in the
latter organization. He is also identified with the Woodmen and is a past
consular commander in that order. In politics be is a democrat and stanchly
advocates the principles of the party but has never been an aspirant for office,
devoting his entire time and attention to his newspaper business. In this
undertaking he is a partner of Sid Forrest, both of them doing editorial work on
the paper and together owning the plant.


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


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