Sebastian County ArArchives Biographies.....Echols, William Joseph 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 19, 2009, 3:27 pm

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

WILLIAM JOSEPH ECHOLS.
    William Joseph Echols, banker and merchant, who made valuable contribution
to the development and progress of Fort Smith through the many years of his
connection with the city, was born on a plantation in De Soto county,
Mississippi, in 1848, his parents being Elkanah and Louisa (Shotwell) Echols.
His grandfather, William Echols, was the owner of a large plantation in Alabama
and later became a resident of Mississippi, where he also was prominently known
as a planter. The father of William J. Echols was a resident of Huntsville,
Alabama, before his removal to Mississippi and was descended from an old
Virginia family. Like his father he was a planter and slave owner, giving his
entire life to the management of his agricultural interests.

    William J. Echols was reared on his father's plantation and pursued his
education in public and private schools in southern Mississippi. He started out
in the business world as a merchant at Senatobia, Mississippi, where he remained
for about ten years and then removed to Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 1881. Here he
opened a wholesale grocery house, which he conducted to the time of his death on
the 2d of March, 1897. Through the intervening period he built up a business of
very substantial and gratifying proportions, his ramifying trade interests
covering a broad territory. After a few years residence in Fort Smith he also
organized and founded the Merchants' Bank, now a National Bank of Fort Smith, of
which he became the first president, remaining as its chief executive officer
until his life's labors were ended. He made this one of the most substantial and
thoroughly reliable banking institutions of the state. His business policy was
always such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny and in which
enterprise, determination and progressiveness figured strongly. His plans were
always carefully formulated and promptly executed and his energy enabled him to
carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertook.

    In October, 1871, at Memphis, Tennessee, Mr. Echols was united in marriage
to Miss Elizabeth Carter, of North Carolina, in which state Mrs. Echols was
reared and educated. Three children were born of this marriage: William Joseph,
who is now president of the Merchants Bank, which his father established and he
became his father's successor in the office; Maud Shotwell, now the wife of C.
W. Hammill of New York city; and Elizabeth C. the wife of James Reynolds of Fort
Smith.

    Mr. Echols was a democrat in his political belief and his religious faith
was that of the Christian church. Since his demise Mrs. Echols has erected the
Echols Memorial Christian church in FPort Smith, at Alabama street and: May
avenue. She also built a beautiful residence on Fifteenth street, it being one
of the most attractive homes of the south. Mr. Echols was never a club man but
gave his time and energy without limit to his business affairs and his close
application undoubtedly hastened his death. By reason of his business activity
he contributed in large measure to the upbuilding and progress of the city in
which he made his home and he ever measured up to the highest standards of
manhood and citizenship in every regard. Mrs. Echols is a cultured lady of the
southern school, devoting her life to her home and her family and taking helpful
part in charitable and benevolent work, yet always without ostentation or
display. Frequently her bounty is not known save to the recipient and to herself
hut it is well known that the deserving never make appeal to her in vain. Her
friends—and they are legion—say that she is one of the most honored and most
loved women of Arkansas.


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


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