Johnson County ArArchives Biographies.....McKennon, Paul 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 17, 2009, 1:10 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

PAUL McKENNON.
    Professional interests find a most substantial representative in Paul
McKennon, attorney at law, whose ability has been demonstrated in the trial of
various important cases before the bar of the district. Clarksville not only
numbers him among her honored citizens at the present time, but also among her
native sons, his birth having occurred December 30, 1873, his parents being B.
P. and Maggie (Harley) McKennon. The father, who was born in Carroll county,
Arkansas, died November 30, 1919. The mother's birth occurred in Holly Springs,
Mississippi, and she was called to her final rest in 1912. They were married in
Clarksville, Arkansas, her parents having settled in Johnson county soon after
the Civil war, removing to this county from Princeton, Dallas county, Arkansas.
The parents of B. P. McKennon came to Johnson county from Carroll county also
soon after the close of hostilities between the north and the south, and B. P.
McKennon was educated in Clark's Academy at Berryville, while his wife pursued
her education in the public schools of the state. He was a traveling salesman in
Arkansas for more than thirty years, but retired from business several years
prior to his death, on account of ill health, dying in a hospital at Shreveport,
Louisiana. He had served in the Civil war, enlisting when but fifteen years of
age with General Stand Waitie's Indian Brigade. He was twice captured, but was
never wounded. His father was Archibald McKennon, a native of Tennessee, who
settled in Carroll county. Arkansas, at a very early period and there practiced
medicine until he removed to Clarksville, where he again followed his profession
for a number of years, or until the time of his death. The family has thus been
represented in this state from a very early day. B. P. McKennon was a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and fraternally was connected with tbe
Masons and the Knights of Honor. He wedded Maggie Harley, a daughter of Basil C.
Harley, a prominent resident of Arkansas, who was born in Smith county,
Virginia, whence he removed to Mississippi and while in that state he filled the
office of lieutenant governor. He became a resident of Dallas county, Arkansas,
long prior to the Civil war and died during the progress of that struggle. He
served in the state senate of Arkansas in 1852 and 1854 and was president of
that body. He was defeated by Augustus H. Garland as candidate for the
Confederate congress. He was one of the promoters of the Iron Mountain Railroad,
known at that time as the Cairo & Fulton Railroad, serving as secretary and
treasurer of the company. He made the preliminary routing of the road and took
an active part in public improvements and in all that pertained to the progress
and welfare of the state. He was an excellent public speaker and was heard on
many questions vital to the commonwealth. It was his daughter Maggie who became
the wife of B. P. McKennon, and to them were horn eleven children, five of whom
are living: R. H., who is engaged in the furniture business in Clarksville;
Paul, of this review; William A., who is a lumber merchant at Shreveport,
Louisiana; Mrs. A. W. Belt, whose husband is a miller at Tahlequah, Oklahoma,
and Basil C, an electrical contractor at Shreveport, Louisiana.

    After acquiring his preliminary education in the public schools of
Clarksville, Paul McKennon continued his studies in Cumberland College and was
graduated with tbe class of 1894. He read law under the direction of his uncle,
Captain A. S. McKennon, and was admitted to the bar in 1898. He then began
practice in Clarksville, where he has since remained and through the intervening
period he has advanced steadily to the front rank of the legal profession, where
he has long occupied an eminent position. He has been connected with much
important litigation tried in the courts of the district, and his ability is
pronounced.

    On the 10th of June, 1910, Mr. McKennon was married to Miss Pearl Blackard,
who was born in Clarksville, Arkansas, a daughter of H. Blackard, who was a
pioneer settler of Clarksville. The father was a contractor and builder and
served throughout the Civil war with the rank of captain. Mr. and Mrs. McKennon
have become parents of three children: Pauline, now in school, and Claude and
Clyde, twins, who are also pursuing their education in Clarksville.

    Fraternally Mr. McKennon is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order
of Elks and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political allegiance is
given to the democratic party and his religious faith is that of the Methodist
Episcopal church, South. He served as county attorney for ten years and is
county chairman of the democratic central committee. On one occasion he was
defeated for the office of district attorney, but while probably not without
that laudable ambition which is so great an incentive to activity and fidelity
in public office, he nevertheless regards the pursuits of private life as in
themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts and he is now devoting his
entire time to his law practice in all the courts. His clientage is large and of
an important character and he is noted for the care and precision with which he
prepares his cases and the strength which he displays in presenting his
arguments. He is most forceful and resourceful in his law practice and has won a
well merited reputation in his chosen profession.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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