Biography of John T Lanier, 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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John T. Lanier, prominent manufacturer and landowner of Forrest City, has
accomplished much in an eventful life, and now, as President and General Manager
the Forrest City Machine Works, Inc., manufacturers of agricultural implements
on a large scale. Mr. Lanier was born on the Lanier Place north of Forrest City,
on July 21, 1893, son of the late Robert Jefferson and Ora (McKnight) Lanier.
His paternal grandparents were Robert Potter and Margaret Angeline (Bendiman)
Lanier. His maternal grandparents were Dr. John David McKnight, onetime Sheriff
of St. Francis county, and Victoria (Williams) McKnight. A graduate of Forrest
City High School, Mr. Lanier studied at the Univ. of Arkansas from 1917 to may
17, 1917, when during, World War I, he entered the first officer's training camp
at Fort Logan, H. Roots, Little Rock, and after graduation was assigned to the
32nd Division and later to Company K, 163rd Infantry, 39th Division. On Sep. 1,
1918, he landed with the 39th Division in Europe and then was transferred to
Company 1, 357th Infantry, 90th Division. Returning to civilian life, he went to
work with Planters Bank & Trust Co. in Forrest City and farmed until Dec. 31,
1923 when he went to Brinkley to manage the Brinkley Motor Company. In 1936, he
opened the Lanier Auto Supply, and stayed with it till 1944. He returned to
Forrest City, and in 1946, helped organize the Forrest City Machine Works, Inc.
On July 5, 1918, he married Betta Adrion, daughter of Michalie and Mary (Foisy)
Adrion, of Alexandria, La., they have three children, and two grandchildren. Mr.
Lanier is a member of the King-Beazley American Legion Post, Masonic Lodge,
Forrest City Country Club, St. Francis Co. Farm Bureau, Arkansas Agricultural
Council, Church of the Good Shepherd. He also supervises the farming of 1200
acres.


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

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