Biography of James Vaulx Fussell, 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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BANK OF EASTERN ARKANSAS ORGANIZED-While Louis and Otto Rollwage were busy
building their mercantile firm to large proportions, another ambitious concern
made its appearance in Forrest City and had also enjoyed a thriving business. It
was called Fussell, Graham & Co. and was started by Capt. James Fussell with W.
S. Graham as a partner, in 1875, on North Front Street in the building now
occupied by Dixie Furniture Co. (1954). Mr. Graham was with the firm until his
death in 1900. Captain Fussell, who was to become President of Fussell-Graham-
Alderson co., President of the Bank of Eastern Arkansas and The Service Company,
and was the son of James Vaulx and Louisa (Alston) Fussell, who were natives of
Davidson Co., Tenn., and Chatham Co., N. C., respectively, and was directly
descended from the Alston and Ramsey families who were prominent in the history
of North Carolina. Capt. Fussell was born at Trenton, Tenn. He moved to Forrest
City in 1875 to straighten out some business for the now extinct Stewart-Gwynne
& Co. and stayed to start his own firm. He was married on Nov. 1, 1880 to Miss
Lucille Gallaway, daughter of Col M. C. Gallaway, statesman and nestor of
Memphis journalism. Captain Fussell was beloved by men of all races and his
Negroe friends proudly stated that he was always fair and a man of his word. He
promoted the timber and agriculture of the area and promoted the adequate levee
protection for the St. Francis Valley. He believed in raising blooded stock
cattle and hogs and encouraged the breeding of the very finest poultry both at
his home and his beautiful Gallaway Farms about three miles southwest of Forrest
City. He was also a proponent of the Chamber of Commerce as well as a strong
advocate for paved streets, improved roads, and better schools. He was one of
the founders of the Bank of Eastern Arkansas, served as its first Vice President
for two years, and in 1889 as President until the time of his death in 1923. He
was a liberal contributor to the building of the Graham Memorial Church, named
for his associate, W. S. Graham, under construction at the time of his death. He
was also President of the Madison Brick & Tile Co., and the Forrest City Ice
Coal Co., and Director of the Forrest City Hotel Co., Widener Gin Co., and
Gwynne-Treadwell Co. of Memphis. Original Board of Directors of National Bank of
Eastern Arkansas. PICTURE-He succeeded Capt. J. W. Wynne as President, and
remained until his death in 1923. Capt. Fussell was indeed a remarkable man of
activity and usefulness. His accomplishments were many and hightly successful.
The scope of his varied activities was so wide and complex that even today, with
our indispensable telephones and automobiles, he is an inspiration to those who
are tempted to neglect their work because they are "too busy. " He was one of
the foremost financiers of his time, and love of the soil, was one of the first
exponents of conserving the soil to retain its fertility. His clear vision and
foresightedness were invaluable in the sound growth of the National Bank of
Eastern of which he served as President for 34 years. It was also through his
keen foresight and acute sense of character evaluation Captain Fussell's that
the Bank attracted a promising young 20 year-old Assistant Bookkeeper from the
esteemed Fussell-Graham-Anderson Co. in 1909. Today that quiet and spectacularly
successful St. Francis Countian has not only built the most outstanding record
in his home town of Forrest City but also is one of the most distinguished
bankers in the entire nation.


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

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