Biography of R. H. Whitlow, 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. R. H. WHITLOW R. H. WHITLOW, secretary & manager of the Mutual Aid Union, with offices at Rogers, is a self educated man who owes nothing to the adventitious aids that ordinarily push men forward, but has worked his way steadily upward, placing his dependence upon the substantial qualities of industry, perseverance & integrity. He is a native of MS, his birth having occurred in Corinth on the 3rd of June, 1868. His parents were Moses & Lucy (BYRNE) WHITLOW, the former of NC & the latter of MS, in which state their marriage occurred. The father was born in 1836 and in 1850 he made his way up to MS, where he continued to make his home throughout the remainder of his life, conducting mercantile interests. He was also a large slaveholder & a most successful business man up to the period of the Civil War, which ruined him financially. His father was likewise a planter & slaveholder, maintaining his residence in NC. Moses WHITLOW gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and fraternally he was identified with the Masons. He died in 1881, at the age of 45 years, and his wife's demise occurred in 1871. She was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. To their union were born 9 children, of whom 5 are living. R. H. WHITLOW, the 7th in order of birth in the family, has never been accorded educational opportunities, but in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons & through wide reading, study & close observation has become a well informed man. When 12 years of age he was obliged to seek his own livelihood & obtained work as a farm hand, receding a salary of $6 per month. He was next employed in a gin mill & later in a grist mill & when he had reached the age of 20 he became a clerk in a store. In 1905 he came to Ark., first locating at Heber Springs, and in July, 1907, he came with his bride to Rogers, his total cash capital amounting to $62. Here he established the Mutual Aid Union, which has since enjoyed a prosperous existence, & is the oldest man connected with the institution. He was made vice president & general manager of the business but is now serving in the capacity of secretary & manager. This is one of the most substantial organizations of the kind in the state, its splendid development being due to 14 years has put almost 80 million dollars worth of insurance in force for the Mutual Aid Union, which now stands as a monument to his enterprise & business ability. At Heber Springs, AR, in Feb., 1907, Mr. WHITLOW was united in marriage to Miss Eva PEELER, who was born near Hiram, this state, a daughter of Micklin PEELER, a veteran of the Civil War and a large planter in AR, of which he was one of the pioneer settlers. He has departed this life but the mother survives, making her home at Pangburn, AR. In their family were 5 children, of whom 2 are living: Mrs. WHITLOW; and Dr. C. PEELER, a well known physician & druggist from Pangburn. Mr. & Mrs. WHITLOW have become the parents of 2 children: Francis, 12 years of age; and Horace, aged 9. Both are attending school. Mrs. WHITLOW is a Christian Scientist in religious faith & prominent in the work of the church, acting as reader. Mr. WHITLOW gives his political allegiance to the democratic party & fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, of which he is a past exalted ruler, and he is also connected with the Masons. He has fought life's battles unaided & has come off a victor in the strife. His fellow townsmen attest his sterling worth & he has gained a wide circle of friends during the period of his residence in Rogers.