Biography of John William Faust, White County, Arkansas *********************************************************** Submitted by: Bonnie Palmer Date: Jun 1997 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/white/white.html *********************************************************** From "A Centennial History of Arkansas", edited by Dallas T. Herndon, the Director of the Dept. of Archives & History, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago-Little Rock, 1922. JOHN WILLIAM FAUST, M.D. Throughly trained in the science of medicine and displaying marked capability in the application of his scientific knowledge to the needs of suffering humanity, Dr. John William FAUST has became recognized as one of able physician and surgeons of Searcy and this part of the state. Widely known, his life history is of interest to many of our readers. He was born July 1, 1874, in the home of his parents at the corner of 3rd & Chester streets, Little Rock, and comes of German ancestry. His grandfather was a native of Germany and on crossing the Atlantic with his 2 brothers settled in Almance Co., NC, where he became a farmer & slaveowner, spending his remaining days in that state. His son, John W. FAUST, born in NC, in 1829, was graduated in Amherst Univ. & after coming to Ark. he read law under the direction of General Albert Pike. He entered upon the active practice of the profession in Little Rock several years prior to the Civil War & with the outbreak of hostilities between the north & the south he enlisted in Little Rock, becoming a captain in the Confederate Army, with which he served throughout the period of hostilities. He then resumed the private practice of law in the capital city, becoming a law partner of W. C. RATCLIFF, with whom he was associated at the time of his demise. He was also interested in farming & owned a plantation on the river below Little Rock. He brought the first registered Jersey bull into Ark. & he won many prizes at the fairs on his blooded stock. He was likewise eminent as an horticulturist and was one of the first to engage in fruit growing & the first to produce strawberries in this state. He occupied a position of leadership in horticultural circles & became the first president of the Ark. Horticultural Assc. Another important feature of his business was the breeding of fine hogs & in everything that he attempted he was actuated by a spirit of progress, which made his labors standard in every respect. His was the first marriage celebrated in the Presbyterian church of Little Rock. He wedded Cora BEEBE, who was born in White Co., where the town of Beebe now stands. Her father, Roswell BEEBE, was a native of NY & came to Ark. prior to the admission of the state into the Union. He laid out the city of Little Rock & donated the capital grounds to the state & also made a gift of Mt. Holly Cemetery to the city. At one time he owned most of the property on the river front at Little Rock & his real estate holdings throughout the city were extensive. The town of Beebe was named for him, as he owned a large plantation there at the time the RR was built through. He was a civil engineer by profession & through his professional & business activities he contributed in notable measure to the upbuilding & development of the capital city & to the state. His political endorsement was given to the republican party. He remained a resident of Little Rock until his demise & his passing was a matter of deep & widespread regret, owing to the value of his services & his devotion to the public good. To John W. & Cora (BEEBE) FAUST there were born 7 children, 4 of whom are living: Catherine C., the wife of Ed Insley of Los Angeles, Cal.; Emma B., a teacher in Ark. College at Batesville; John William, of this review; Henry; Roswell B., who was killed in the shipyards at Dayton, Ohio; Fannie Ashley, who became the wife of John MEEHAN at Cotton Plant & died in 1910 at the age of 4 years. Mr. BEEBE was married a 2nd time, his 2nd union being with Eliza A. TUCKER, a daughter of Sterling M. TUCKER, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Little Rock, where he took up his abode in 1833 & became president of the first bank of any consequence in the capital city. Mr. FAUST was a democrat in his political views & fraternally was a Mason, in which he attained the 32nd degree of the Scottish Rite in Albert Pike Consistory. He was also a member of the First Presbyterian church of Little Rock & died in that faith in 1879. John William FAUST, whose name introduces this review, acquired his education in the public schools & in the Ark. College at Batesville, while later he attended the Peabody School of Little Rock & Searcy College for a period of 2 years. He next went to Bingham Military School at Melbane, NC, & afterward matriculated in Davidson College in Mecklenburg Co., NC, where he won his Bachelor of Arts degree. Later he entered the Hospital College at Louisville, KY, and was graduated on the completion of a medical course in 1898. Dr. FAUST located for practice in Searcy in Feb, 1896, and since obtaining his professional degree he has continued in the general practice of medicine & surgery for a quarter of a century. He pursued postgraduate work in the Univ. of Louisville in 1899 & at all times he has availed himself to every opportunity to promote his professional knowledge & thereby advance his efficiency in handling the intricate problems of health disease. He was elected captain of the medical corps on the 1st of Jan., 1918, and acted as inspector of local boards. After receding his commission he inspected local boards throughout the state & thus rendered valuable aid to the country. Dr. FAUST has been married twice. In Sept., 1895, he wedded Norma ROGERS, who died April 1, 1912. They were the parents of 5 children, 4 of whom are still living: Margaret, who died at the age of 3 years; Frances, who was born July 13, 1899, and is traveling in OK; Florence, who was born Sept. 7, 1901, and is attending the Ark. College at Batesville; John E., who was born Jan. 19, 1905, & is also a student in the Ark. College; and Normon, who was born Mar. 28, 1912, and is a student in Batesville. For his second wife Dr. FAUST chose Zora (PATTERSON) RAY, their marriage being celebrated April 20, 1918. Dr. FAUST and his first wife were Presbyterians & later he joined the Baptist church, to which his present wife belongs. He is a member of Searcy Lodge, A. F. & A. M., with which he has been identified since 1895. He is a democrat in politics & keeps well informed on the questions & issues of the day but has no time nor inclination to fill public office, preferring to concentrate his efforts & attention upon his professional duties. He belongs to the White Co., Ark. State & Tri-state Medical Societies & to the American Medical Assc. & he is ever most prompt & conscientious in the performance of all his professional duties.