Special offer

Gentry, AR Real Estate News

By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Carrie Shortridge was born in Lafayette, Indiana back in 1849 to Elias and Telitha. During the Civil War the family moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa. At 15 she eloped to marry Jeremiah. The family moved several times settling in San Jose, California around 1872. Her husband left her and their 5 kids around 1876.A mother of 5 and no income she began to study law in the office of a local judge. To support herself she began giving lectures starting in 1887. She wanted to take the bar exam but was prohibited by State law. She filed a bill to change the wording from “white male” to person, that bill passed and in 1878 she passed the bar exam. Are you ready, let’s go. Carrie Shortridge Foltz was the first female clerk for the State Assembly; the first woman appointed to the State Board of Correc...
Comments 18
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Joel Owsley Cheek was born in Burkesville, Kentucky back in 1852.  I have no other information about him, his early childhood, parents and where in Tennessee he was born.  What I can tell you of course is the rest of the story.  When he turned 21 he left Kentucky travelling by raft along the Cumberland River where he would up in Nashville, Tennessee.He found work as grocery distributor.  Around 1886, he gave 20 pounds of his product to a hotel in the area, two days later it was gone.  The hotel tried substituting his product for another one however, the patrons would have none of it, they wanted his product.  When the owner of the hotel made contact with him he quit his job as a grocery distributor and started his own business.That business is still going strong to this day.  While you ...
Comments 13
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Nancy Jean was born in Dayton, Ohio back in 1957 to Frank and Miriam. While in the fourth grade she won a school-wide speech competition. She graduated from Fairmont High School in 1976 and went onto Ohio University. In her sophomore year, she transferred to UCLA. In 1981, she graduated from UCLA with a degree in theater.Her first big break came in 1992, and as they say the rest is history. Before that she had some success with, the Clan of the Cave Bears, Silverado, Sixteen Candles, Back to the Future Part II and the Color Purple to name a few. While you may not know Nancy Jean Cartwright, surely you will recognize what she is famous for. For you see since 1989 she has been the voice of Bart Simpson. Yep, she’s still going strong to this day. Until tomorrow keep a smile on your face an...
Comments 17
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Avril Phaedra Douglas was born in Port Alberni, British Columbia to George and Phyllis. Her mother left when she was 12. Her father moved to Vancouver where she attended the Prince of Wales Secondary School where she became the school’s first female student president graduating in 1964. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of British Columbia with honors in 1969. In 1983, she received a LL.B. from the University of British Columbia where in 1984 she practiced law in Vancouver. What you may not know about Avril Phaedra Douglas “Kim” Campbell is that she was the first, and to date, the only female prime minister of Canada, the first baby boomer to hold that office, and the only prime minister born in British Columbia. She currently serves as the chairper...
Comments 17
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Daniel Freeman was born in Preble County, Ohio back in 1826.  When he was young the family moved several times until they settled in Beatrice, Nebraska Territory.  Graduating from a medical institute (sorry I don’t have the name) he practiced medicine in Ottawa, Illinois.He served in the 17th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.He was married twice, once to Elizabeth in 1861, it is not known if Elizabeth died or they were divorced.  In any respect, he married Agnes in 1865, his proposal to her was sent via the mail.  He worked as a physician, county corner and county sheriff.  The Homestead Act went into effect on January 1st, 1863, after President Abraham Lincoln signed it into law on May or 1862.    When January 1st, 1863 Daniel had the county clerk open the offi...
Comments 12
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Rufus Porter was born in West Boxford, Massachusetts back in 1792 to Tyler and Abigail.  Apparently, he was a brilliant child as he started school at 4.  The family moved to Maine when he was 9.  At 12 he attended Fryeburg Academy for a whole 6 months.In 1815, he married Eunice before moving to New Haven, Connecticut in 1816.  Between 1825-1845 he was a muralist decorating some 160 homes, and inns covering several states. In his spare time, he experimented with a wind-powered gristmill, a washing machine, a corn sheller, a fire alarm, a rope-making machine and a camera. He also invented clocks, railway signals, churns, a distance measuring appliance, a horsepower mechanism, a churn, a life preserve, a cheese press and a revolving rifle.  His revolving rifle was sold to Samuel Colt for 1...
Comments 16
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Hoe-poe-kaw died circa 1832.  Her date of birth is lost to history.  What is known of her is that she married a Frenchman named Sabrevoir de Carrie.  Over time the marriage dissolved, Carrie left for Canada taking their daughter with him.  War broke out between the French and Great Britain in 1754, it was due to her establishing friendly relations her tribe was able to avoid being caught up in the conflict.  It is unclear of when she died, but the last writing of her was in 1832.  Many suspect she reached 100 or better.  In any respect, what you may not know about Hoe-poe-kaw (Glory of the Morning) is that she is the first woman to be written about in the history of Wisconsin and the only known female chief of the Hocak (Winnebago) nation of Native Americans.  So, Sally and David Hanson...
Comments 16
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
It was January 27, 2009 when I made my first blog post.  Reading Mike Cooper's first post today I decided to look mine up.  My how things have changed.  While I've learned a lot about blogs this one was off the cuff post. Hope you enjoy  It all began several years ago when my youngest son wanted something called a computer and wanted to get on something called the internet.  Being the kind of I know everything type of person I am I thought (yea this is just one of those fad things that will pass in a couple of months).  Well goes to show you what I know. Now they have this thing called ActiveRain and Facebook. I've been invited by some people at my office to join and truly been thinking about it.  It wasn't until what I would call my closest friend at the office invited me to join that ...
Comments 11
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Arthur Atwater was born in Burlington, Vermont back in 1873.  In 1881, the family moved to Worchester, Massachusetts.  His father was a doctor and a machinist.  He was educated at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.He excelled in mechanics and drawing but not so much in chemistry, algebra and language.  In 1921 he was already a successful businessman. In 1924 his company invested 2,000,000.00 in a plant at North Philadelphia covering 32 acres.  In 1929, at the peak of the company he founded they employed 12,000 workers.  In his lifetime he was awarded 5 U.S. Patents.  He died in 1949 at the age of 75.What you may not know about Arthur Atwater Kent is that he invented the Unisparker automobile ignition coil in 1921.  It was the industry standard for 50 years.  That same year he produced his...
Comments 21
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Thomas James was born in Syracuse, New York in 1962 to Paul and Thresa.  He attended Bishop Grimes High School in East Syracuse.  According to what I’ve read and my research did not turn up where he went to college however, it was mentioned several times, so the mystery continues.Anyway, on with my post.  After college he went around the country performing as a stand-up comedian.  He met his wife Jill in 1992, they have two children Mack and Nora.  In 2010 and 2014 he won the Annie Award.  If you are lucky to have kids, grandkids or if another family member has them then undoubtedly, you’ve heard him.  He is a man of many talents as Thomas James Kenny is the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants.  As I was writing this all I could think of is that laugh.  What about you?  Until tomorrow pass o...
Comments 16
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Laura Elizabeth was born in Hokitka, New Zealand back in 1880 to David and Jane. She was educated at a Private School in Christchurch and then at Wellington Girls’ College graduating in 1909.In 1910, she left New Zealand for Europe where he applied to join the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service. She served in London and Wiltshire prior to WWI. She was stationed in Rouen, later taking charge of a field ambulance station at Arras. In 1917, she was promoted to the rank of Sister. Inn 1918, she was again promoted to Acting Matron in a general hospital in Genoa, Italy.She continued to serve in various locations working until her retirement in 1937. She died in Sussex in 1969, she was 89.What you may not know about Laura Elizabeth James is that during her service in WWI she rec...
Comments 19
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Erna Schneider was born in Irvington, New Jersey back in 1926. Her father was a dentist and her mother a school teacher. She attended Wellesley College with here major in classical and medieval philosophy.Earning her bachelor’s degree, she continued her education earning her Ph.D. from Yale University in philosophy. She taught philosophy and logic at Swarthmore College from 1951-54. In 1954, she joined Bell Labs as a senior technical associate.As Bell Labs was switching from an electronic to computer-based technology they encountered an issue. That issue was when a call center would be inundated with thousands of calls the system would freeze up.Dr. Erna Schneider Hoover invented a computerized telephone switching method which prevented system overloads by monitoring the call centers to...
Comments 20
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
James Athearn was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts back in 1835 to Samuel and Nancy.  When he was eleven James helped his family recover and reconstruct their family’s business due to a fire.When he was fourteen he set out to California for the gold rush.  Using a raft and hiking he crossed the Panama ending up at Isthmus.  From there he waited for a mail steamer arriving in San Francisco in 1850.Once he arrived in San Francisco instead of heading to the gold fields he stayed, because of the high wages being offered.  While he was there he helped build a spice-and-coffee mill for a man named William H. Bovee.In 1860, he founded the San Francisco coffee firm.  Now you may not know James Athearn but you undoubtedly know James Athearn Folger.  The San Francisco coffee firm he founded was k...
Comments 16
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
J.D. Kavner was born in Los Angeles, California back in 1950 to David and Rose. She attended Beverly Hills High School and then onto San Diego State University majoring in drama.After graduation, she obtained a job as a typist at the UCLA School of the Arts. In 1973, she applied for an acting job and got the role, the series lasted for 4 years. Since then she has been in several films and on television. So now you may be asking yourself who in the world is J.D. Kavner. Well now here is the rest of the story.You may not know Julie Deborah Kavner however, I know most if not all of you have heard her. You may not see her as she is a very private person and rarely is photographed. She is the voice over for Marge, Marge Simpson that is, she is still at it today. Until tomorrow keep those pea...
Comments 14
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born in New York City back in 1774 to Richard and Catherine. Her mother died when she was only three. Her father remarried Charlotte. Charlotte would take Elizabeth with her as she visited the poor distributing food and needed items.The second marriage ended at which time Charlotte rejected Elizabeth and her older sister. When Elizabeth was 19 she married William. During the War of 1812 the family lost all of their possessions, including their home. William was not in the best of health so they moved to Italy. He died there in 1803.Moving back to New York City she started an academy for young ladies. In 1809, she moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland establishing the Saint Joseph’s Academy and Free School.   for the remainder of her life she kept on leading and developi...
Comments 17
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Kilhote was born in Attla County, Mississippi back in 1826. He was a member of the Choctaw Nation. The family moved to McCurtain County, Oklahoma in 1834. He attended mission school at Pine Ridge. He went on to attend Spencer Finishing School and enrolled at Union College in Schenectady, New York.In 1852, he entered Union Theological Seminary in New York City where in 1855 he received a Master of Arts degree the first Native American student from Indian Territory to earn this degree. He had his name changed to Allen Wright where after graduation he was ordained a minister by the Presbyterian Church. He married Harriet in 1857.In 1859, he was elected as treasurer of the Choctaw Nation serving two terms. In 1861, he signed a treaty with the Confederate States of America, joining the Confe...
Comments 13
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Gilbert Blane was born by Kirkoswald in Ayrshire to Gilbert and Agnes back in 1749.  He studied medicine at Edinburgh University and at Glasgow receiving his MD in 1778.  In 1779, he moved to London where he was appointed Physician to the Fleet from 1779-1783.  When the Spanish besieged Gibraltar he was aboard a ship when they caught up to them in the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, sailing to the West Indies.  While he was Physician to the Fleet he did much to improve the health of the sailors by improving their diet and sanitary conditions.  With his leadership, he complied a detailed picture of the high levels of sickness effecting the sailors.  On his return, he became Physician to St Thomas’ Hospital (1783-1795).  He was a founding member of the Fellow of the Royal Society.  With all h...
Comments 10
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Waightstill Avery was born in Groton, Connecticut back in 1741. He could trace his ancestry in the United States back to 1630. He was elected to the colonial assembly in 1772 serving as attorney-general for the Crown.In 1775 and 1776 he was elected to the North Carolina Provincial Congress, helping draft the first North Carolina Constitution. among his other accomplishments he was also the first Attorney General of North Carolina. In his spare time, he served in the state’s militia during the American Revolutionary War.He clamored for the colony’s independence from Great Britain going on to serve in the North Carolina General Assembly and the Senate. Now for the rest of the story. What you may not know about Waightstill is that he was challenged to a duel by Andrew Jackson when Andrew w...
Comments 9
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Grover Cleveland was born in Lafayette, New Jersey back in 1924. As with many of my blogs I do not have any information as to his education, parents his early upbringing. Also like most of my blogs what I do have is the rest of the story so let’s get to it.Grover began his career with the CIA as an interrogation specialists. He went on the becoming chairman of the Research and Instrument Committee of the Academy for Scientific Interrogation. He founded one of the CIA units shortly after WWII and a school which is the longest running school of its kind. He now trains police in the use of what he founded.What he founded and improved upon was the theory of “primary perception”. His specialty is determining when someone is lying. The instrument is used was the polygraph instrument in the 19...
Comments 17
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
William Joseph was born in Buffalo, New York back in 1883 Timothy and Anna who were Irish immigrants. Attending school at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute moving on to Niagara University he considered entering the priesthood.Thankfully for us and our Nation he chose another path. He transferred to Columbia University studying law graduating in 1905. Moving on in 1912 he became leader of a cavalry troop mobilized in 1916 serving along the U.S.-Mexico border against Pancho Villa. Later that same year he was promoted to major taking charge of the troop fighting alongside General John J. Pershing’s army.He served during WWI serving in France he was wounded in the line of duty. After recovering from his wounds, he served as chief of staff of the 165th Regiment. After the war, he returned to...
Comments 14
Explore Gentry, AR
Gentry, AR Real Estate Professionals