Pulaski County ArArchives Biographies.....Fletcher, John 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/arfiles.html
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 18, 2009, 3:09 pm

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

JOHN FLETCHER.
    As one peruses the history of Arkansas the name of Fletcher is frequently
seen, for practically all of the representatives of the name in the state have
come from the same pioneer ancestor who settled in this section of the country
before Arkansas was even organized as a territory. John Fletcher, whose name
introduces this review, was born in Pulaski county, March 10, 1849, and is a son
of Thomas and Lucinda (Beavers) Fletcher. His grandfather, Henry L. Fletcher,
belonged to one of the old families of Tennessee and married Miss Mary Lindsey,
a native of Mississippi, the wedding being celebrated in 1814, after which they
settled in Arkansas, then a part of the Louisiana purchase. This was in 1815 and
this worthy couple are the progenitors of the various Fletcher families known in
Arkansas today—men and women whose records have reflected credit and honor upon
the name and also upon the history of the state in which they have made their
home. Hon. Thomas Fletcher, the eldest son of the pioneer, Henry L. Fletcher,
end the father of John Fletcher, was a dominant factor in the growth of Little
Rock and of the state. He became a distinguished lawyer and held many offices of
honor and trust which he ably filled. He twice served as sheriff of Pulaski
county, occupying that position from 1858 until 1862 and again from 1866 until
1868. In 1862 he was elected to the state legislature and in 1885 he was
appointed United States marshal for the eastern district of Arkansas, occupying
that position until his death in 1900.

    John Fletcher, whose name introduces this review, was educated in the common
schools and in St. John's College at Little Rock and afterward took up the study
of law, pursuing his course in the Washington and Lee University at Lexington,
Virginia, from which historic old institution he was graduated in 1871, with the
Bachelor of Laws degree. He then returned to Little Rock, where he took up the
practice of his profession in the office of his father, who was a member of the
law firm of Farr & Fletcher. Soon afterward he became associated in practice
with William C. Ratcliffe, under the firm style of Ratcliffe & Fletcher and this
connection was maintained during the remainder of his life, the firm building up
one of the largest and most important law practices in the state. Mr. Fletcher
was for many years ranked with the most prominent members of the Little Rock
bar. He belonged to all of the bar associations and for an extended period
served on the general council of the American Bar Association. He served as
special judge of the circuit, chancery and supreme courts of the state and on
one occasion was candidate for the position of justice of the supreme court on
the democratic ticket, having been throughout his life an earnest and active
supporter of democratic principles.

    In March, 1875, Mr. Fletcher was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Moose, a
daughter of James M. and Emily (Stockton) Moose. Mrs. Fletcher was born in
Morrillton, Conway county, Arkansas, and is a representative of old pioneer
families in both the paternal and maternal lines. Her mother, Sophia Emily
Stockton, was descended from Richard Stockton, who signed the Declaration of
Independence as one of tha delegates from New Jersey. Mary Emily Moose was
educated in the public schools and also in the Martha Washington College. By her
marriage she became the mother of a son, Thomas, who is operating a plantation
in Pulaski county.

    Mr. Fletcher was a lifelong member of the Christian church and served as one
of its elders from the time he attained manhood until he was called to his final
rest in 1911. His life was greatly beneficial to the community in which he lived
by reason of his earnest support of all measures for the general good. He was
one of the faculty of the law department of the University of Arkansas from its
foundation until his death, and was dean of the law department and lecturer on
the laws of real property. Mrs. Fletcher's place in the social circles of
Arkansas is an enviable one. She was formerly president of the State Federation
of Women's Clubs, and served as vice president of the National Association of
Musical Clubs. She has membership in the Aesthetic Club, of which she has been
treasurer, was formerly president of the Edelweiss Club and also president of
the Musical Coterie. For eight years she was president of the State Missionary
Society of the Christian church and she is the recording secretary of the
Pulaski County Tuberculosis Association, She is an accomplished musician and was
volunteer organist of the Winfield Memorial church. She is also a member and
officer of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She ranks with the social
favorites of the city and has friends in every city and section of the state.


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


Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/pulaski/photos/bios/fletcher257bs.jpg

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ar/pulaski/bios/fletcher257bs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/arfiles/

File size: 5.6 Kb