Yell-Logan County ArArchives Biographies.....Priddy, A. B. 
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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


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