Biography of John William Alderson, Sr, St Francis County, AR

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Submitted by: Paul V Isbell
        Date: 19 Nov 2008
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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In Dec. 1902, when Rollwage & Co. dissolved, Louis Rollwage had become impressed
with the business ability of John W. Alderson, the young husband of his
daughter, Annie Katerine. Mr. Alderson was successfully operating a shoe and hat
business in Bristol, Va. -Tenn., under the name Davis-Alderson Company. Mr.
Rollwage wrote to his son-in-law to ask him to come to Forrest City to talk over
a business arrangement. Mr. Alderson came and was given an interest and took an
active part in the management of the new Rollwage & Alderson Co., which
resulted. He soon became a valuable citizen in his adopted community. He was
born in Lebanon, Virginia, the son of the Hon. T. M. Alderson and Ada (Davis)
Alderson, SEE T. M. ALDERSON. Mr. John W. Alderson was educated in the public
schools of Lebanon and was graduated from the Baker-Himel University of
Knoxville, Tenn. He and Miss Rollwage, daughter of Louis and Lizzie (McDaniel)
Rollwage, were married on Oct. 30, 1901, and to this union were born two
children, Louise, now Mrs. James DeRossitt, and John W. Alderson, Jr., now
President of Fussell-Graham-Alderson. The grandfather of Miss Lizzie McDaniel
was John McDaniel, Jr., who came to St. Francis County in 1824 to become a
prosperous farmer when there were not more than twelve families here. Before the
death of Louis Rollwage on Apr. 11, 1905, Rollwage & Alderson Co. and Fussell,
Graham & Co. took the step which gave St. Francis Co. one of the largest
mercantile establishment in Arkansas and certainly one of the most respected. It
was thus that Fussell-Graham-Alderson Co. was formed. It was located in the
Fussell-Graham & Co. building on North Front Street. Rollwage & Alderson Co. had
been located in the building up the street on the corner of Front and Washington
Street, where the Watkins Music Center now stands, (1954). Capt. Fussell was
President, and John W. Alderson was Vice President of the new company. In 1923,
after the death of Capt. Fussell, Mr. Alderson became President. From the time
he arrived here in 1902 until his death on Dec. 10, 1942, Mr. Alderson
demonstrated to the people of his beloved St. Francis Co. that he was a man of
calm wisdom, quick perceptions and of the highest integrity. His word was his
bond, his family the recipient of his love and devotion, the Presbyterian Church
stronger for his wise guidance and his fellow man the more fortunate for his
constructive service and devotion to the public welfare. He had many
accomplishments, and during the flood of 1927, when thousands of refugees
arrived, as Chairman of the St. Francis County Red Cross, devised such an
efficient and accurate method for handling the tremendous job of supplying the
refugees from approximately $500, 000 in American Red Cross funds that former
President Herbert Hoover, then in charge of national relief, came to Forrest
City to see the plan in operation. He was so impressed that he persuaded Mr.
Alderson to accompany him to other flood-stricken areas to establish a similar
program. Mr. Alderson started a peach orchard in 1921, and is now one of the
best in the county. John W. Alderson, was the son of the Hon. T. M. Alderson and
Ada (Davis) Alderson. His father had a distinguished career as judge of the 9th
Judicial District of Virginia. Commonwealth attorney for Wise Co., Va., and U.
S. Attorney of Western District of Virginia, appointed by President William
McKinley.


SOURCE:
HISTORY of ST. FRANCIS COUNTY, ARKANSAS, 1954 - Robert W. Chowning

Copyright, with Permission: Weston McCollum Lewey, Publisher
-Times Herald Publishing-Forrest City, Arkansas