Biography of J. S. Stillwell, White County, Arkansas

***********************************************************
Submitted by: Bonnie Palmer <bpalmer@bihs.net>
        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.

J. S. STILLWELL, D. D. S.

Dr. J. S. STILLWELL, who has been actively engaged in the practice of dentistry at Searcy for more
than a third of a century, enjoys an enviable reputation as one of leading representatives of the
profession in central Ark. His birth occurred in Bloomington, McLean Co., IL, on the 4th of April,
1865, his parents being Stephen & Mary (LEWELLEN) STILWELL, the former also a native of McLean Co.,
IL, while he latter was born in VA. The paternal grandfather of Dr. STILLWELL was a successful
agriculturist of Bloomington, IL. A. A. LEWELLEN, the maternal grandfather, was a descendant of
Capt. John SMITH and a native of Virginia, where he became an extensive landowner. At one time he
owned 500 slaves. He held the rank of capt. in the Confederate army during the Civil war, organizing
a company of Virginia troops & remaining at the front throughout the entire period of hostilities
between the north & the south. After the close of the war he removed to IL & located a claim on the
present site of the city of Bloomington, while subsequently he made his way to Champaign co., that
state, where he purchased land & continued to reside until his demise, which occurred when he had
reached the age of 73 years. He wedded a Miss Boyer, a representative of a prominent southern family
who were also large slave owners.

Stephen STILWELL, the father of Dr. STILWELL, obtained his education in the public schools of McLean
co., IL, & became an extensive landowner there. The year 1877 witnessed his removal to Kansas, where
he purchased a large farm & carried on general agricultural pursuits until called to his final rest
in 1887, when 47 years of age. Throughout his entire career he followed farming & stock raising,
specializing in the breeding of blooded live stock. He gave his political allegiance to the
republican party & filled a number of local offices with credit to himself satisfaction to his
constituents. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Christian church, while
fraternally he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His widow is still living
at the age of 81 years & now makes her home in Lawrence, Kansas. They became the parents of 8
children, 6 of whom survive, as follows: W. A., who resides in Paola, Kansas, & is engaged in
farming & in the raising of blooded stock on an extensive scale; J. S., of this review; Charles E.,
a financier & mining man who is now living retired in Durango, Colorado, where at one time he owned
the Stadtler Hotel; George F., who is in the service of the Great Northern RR in Spokane,
Washington; Elizabeth, living in Lawrence, Kansas; and Ada, the wife of Joseph D. ROGERS, who is a
commercial salesman residing in Dallas, Texas.

J. S. STILWELL supplemented his early education, which was acquired in the public schools of
Champaign, IL, by a course of study in the Univ. of IL at Urbana. He then returned to the farm of
his parents in Kansas and, having determined upon the practice of dentistry as a life work, entered
the Kansas City Dental College at Kansas City, from which he was graduated with the degree of D. D.
S. in 1887. His initial experience as a dental practitioner was gained at Olathe, Kansas, whence he
came to Bentonville, Ark., where he remained for 6 months. On the 12th of May, 1887, he removed to
Searcy, where he has continuously occupied the same office during the intervening period of 35 years
& where his pronounced skill has won him an extensive & profitable practice. His high standing in
the profession is indicated in the fact that he has been honored with the presidency of the Ark.
state board of dental examiners & as secretary of the state board of dental examiners. On the
occasions he represented the board in the National Assc. of Dental Examiners. He belongs to both the
Ark. St. Dental Assc. & the National Dental Assc. & has won distinction not only as a practical
examiner but also as a forcible expounder of the theory of his profession. Dr. STILWELL is likewise
a director of the People's Bank of Searcy.

In early manhood Dr. STILWELL was united in marriage to Miss Carrie BOSLEY, a native of Woodruff
Co., Ark. They are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in the work of which
they take an active & helpful part, the doctor having served on its board of stewards for 33 years.
He is a democrat in his political views and has been a member of the city council. Fraternally he is
identified with the Masons, belonging to Searcy Lodge No. 49, A. F. & A. M., of which he is a past
master; and Tillman Chapter No. 19, R. A. M., in which he is a past priest. During the World war he
was a member of the medical advisory board for White & Cleburne counties & has personal letters from
ex-Governor Brough, General Crowder & Lord England, written at that time. His influence has been
felt in the material, political, social & moral development of his community & his position in both
professional & social circles is a most enviable one.