Biography of William Thomas Hammock, 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. WILLIAM THOMAS HAMMOCK William Thomas HAMMOCK, who has been called to the important position of assistant attorney general of AR & who is also known as one of the prominent Masons of the state, makes his home at Heber Springs, although his official duties require much of his time at the capital. He was born on a farm in Calhoun Co., MS, Dec. 24, 1866, but the greater part of his life has been passed in this state, for his parents removed with their family to Independence Co., AR, in Nov., 1870, settling on a farm there. His father, George W. HAMMOCK, was born in Grenada, MS, Feb. 8, 1846, & was a youth of but 17 years when he entered the Confederate service as a member of a MS regiment in the Civil War. He served from 1863 until the close of the hostilities & was with Forrest's command. On the 25th of Dec., 1865, at Water Valley, MS, Mr. HAMMOCK wedded Mary Jane SIBLEY, who was born at that place in 1850. They resided for 5 years in their native state following their marriage & then came to AR, in Cleburne Co., & has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits there. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party. To him & his wife have been born 6 sons & 6 daughters, of whom 4 daughters 3 sons are living. William T. HAMMOCK, the eldest of the family, was reared in the usual manner of the farm bred lad, who divides his time between the acquirement of an education, the pleasures of the playground the work of the fields. After attending the country schools of Independence Co., AR, he continued his education in Washington Academy of the same county & later was graduated from Quitman College, now Hendrix College, at Conway, Ark., with the class of June, 1887. It was his desire to become a member of the bar & accordingly he took up the study of law, being admitted to practice in 1893, in which year he located at Quitman, where he remained for a time & then removed to Heber Springs, where he now makes his home. Since admitted to the bar he has continuously engaged in the practice of law, covering 28 years & has steadily advanced in his profession until his position is a prominent & enviable one. At different periods he has been called upon for important public service & his record has always been characterize by marked loyalty & fidelity to duty. From 1888 until 1890 he was county superintendent of schools in Cleburne county, Ark., and the cause of public education has ever found him a stalwart champion. He has also been secretary of the school board at Heber Springs, Ark. From 1899 until 1903 he was state senator from the 26th senatorial district & proved a capable working member of the upper house, carefully informing himself concerning all vital questions that came up for settlement. He was county & probate judge of Cleburne Co., Ark, from 1914-1916. In 1918 he was made a delegate to the constitutional convention, where his sound judgement & knowledge of the law combined with marked fidelity to the interests of the commonwealth made him largely an ideal member. In April, 1921, he was appointed assistant attorney general of the state & is now occupying that position. On the 1st of Sept., 1893, in Quitman, Ark., Mr. HAMMOCK was married to Miss Margaret Henrietta JENKINS, who was born on a farm in Faulkner Co., Ark., Jan. 16, 1872, her parents being Samuel Dupree & Mary Elizabeth (BATES) JENKINS, both of whom were natives of Tenn., have now departed this life. On removing from Tenn. to Ark., they settled in Quitman, where they resided for some time, & during ger girlhood days Mrs. HAMMOCK there attended the public schools & continued her education in Quitman College. By marriage she has become the mother of 4 children: Maude, born Sep. 1, 1894; Madge, born Mar. 4, 1899; William Dupree, born July 6, 1911; & Bruce W., born July 27, 1913. During the World War, Mr. HAMMOCK served as chairman of the council of defense in Cleburne Co. & was also chairman of the home service section of the Cleburne co. chapter of the American Red Cross. Aside from his activities as a state official & as a prominent factor in support of the government during the World War, he has manifested keen & helpful interest in community affairs, cooperating in many plans & measures for the general good & for some years he has served as secretary of the school board at Heber Springs. His political endorsement has always been given to the democratic party & he has been a close & thorough student of political problems & conditions. His religious faith is indicated in his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He has been the secretary of the board of stewards & has been untiring in his efforts to advance the work of the church & extend its influence. he is most prominently known in Masonic circles, was worshipful master of Holland Lodge, No. 158, F. & A. M., of Quitman, is a Royal Arch Mason & in having been grand master in 1913- 1914. His labors in behalf of Masonry have been far-reaching & resultant & in fact his efforts count as a potent force in the accomplishment of results in connection with any cause which he espouses or any interest with which he becomes allied.