Yell-Logan County ArArchives Biographies.....Priddy, A. B. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/arfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 18, 2009, 11:45 am Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922) A. B. PRIDDY. A. B. Priddy, judge of the district court in the fifth district of Arkansas and an honored resident of Danville, was born in Logan county, this state, December 12, 1874, his parents being Buril and Katherine (Scott) Priddy. The father was a native of Mississippi and in 1858 came to Arkansas, settling in Logan county. He pursued his medical education in Memphis, Tennessee, and devoted his life to the practice of his profession. Following the outbreak of the Civil war he joined the Confederate army, raising a company of which he was commissioned captain and serving throughout the period of hostilities. He was married during the first year of the war to Miss Katherine Scott, who was born in Yell county and is a daughter of Alexander Scott, an Arkansas pioneer, who followed farming and stock raising as his life work and won a very substantial measure of success. Dr. and Mrs. Priddy were consistent members of the Baptist church and he was an exemplary follower of Masonic teachings. In politics a democrat, he represented Logan county for three terms in the state legislature and left the impress of his individuality and ability upon the legislative enactment of that period. He continued to practice medicine for a long period in Logan county, Arkansas, and departed this life December 31, 1901. His widow long survived him, her death occurring in December, 1918. They were the parents of five children: Eudora, the wife of E. D. Bowden, living at Magazine, Arkansas; Florence, the wife of E. T. Powell, a practicing physician of San Antonio, Texas; Edna, who is residing at Magazine, Arkansas; A. B., of this review, and Blanche, the wife of W. W. Westmoreland, a merchant of Conway, Arkansas. A. B. Priddy pursued his education in the State University, in which he took a three years' course, and in the Cumberland Law School at Lebanon, Tennessee, where he was graduated with the class of 1896. Having determined upon the practice of law as a life work, his preparation was thorough, and his ability has brought him prominently to the front. He entered upon his professional duties as a partner of John M. Parker of Dardanelle, and later formed a partnership with John E. Chambers, with whom he practiced until elected to the bench in 1915, entering upon his official duties in January, 1916, as judge of the fifth district. He is now serving for the second term, his reelection indicating most clearly the confidence which the public has in his ability as a fair and impartial interpreter of the law in the court. When he had completed his schooling and entered upon active practice his cash capital consisted of but five dollars. He has been very successful as the years have passed, his ability enabling him to win the patronage of many clients. Today he is the owner of a valuable farm and an attractive residence on the edge of Danville, and he also owns a splendid plantation in Louisiana in connection with a partner. He was at one time president of the Yell County Bank and is still a member of its board of directors. His attention, however, is mainly given to his judicial duties, his district comprising four counties and he has made for himself a most creditable place as one of the capable jurists of the state. His course has ever been in harmony with his record as a man and as a lawyer, being distinguished by marked fidelity to duty and a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution. The scales of justice are evenly balanced in his hands and neither fear nor favoritism can swerve him in his opinions. On the 14th of March, 1900, Judge Priddy was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Ellington, who was born at Magazine, Arkansas, a daughter of M. M. Ellington, a pioneer farmer of Logan county, where he spent most of his life. Judge and Mrs. Priddy have become parents of seven children: Julian B., now a student in the University of Arkansas; Katherine, attending Galloway College at Searcy; Richard, Lorene. Arthur Henderson and Paul, all in school; and Ellen, who is but three years of age. The parents are loyal members and generous supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and the judge is a thirty-second degree Mason. In politics he is a democrat and has served as mayor of Danville, but was never a candidate for office until he was elected judge, save that he served as mayor of the town. He had always preferred to leave office-holding to others, regarding his professional pursuits as in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts. He holds to high ideals in the discharge of his official duties, and never forgets that he holds not only justice but the higher attribnte of mercy in his hands. Additional Comments: Citation: Centennial History of Arkansas Volume II Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1922 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ar/yell/bios/priddy237bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/arfiles/ File size: 5.4 Kb