Rep. John Newton Tillman, (D-AR)

From Centennial History of Arkansas:

https://archive.org/stream/centennialhistor00hern#page/500/search/M...

HON. JOHN N. TILLMAN.

Hon. John N. Tillman, lawyer, jurist, educator, platform lecturer, author and now serving for the fourth term as a member of congress from Arkansas, makes his home, when not busy with official duties, in Fayetteville. His entire course has reflected credit and honor upon the state that has honored him. He stands as a splendid representative of the class of substantial builders of a great commonwealth who have served faithfully and long in the enterprising southwest. An eminent American statesman has said: "In all this world the thing supremely worth having is the opportunity, coupled with the capacity, to do well a piece of work the doing of which shall be of vital significance to mankind." This opportunity has come to John N. Tillman and the processes which he has followed are those that win results.

Mr. Tillman was born near Springfield, Missouri, December 13, 1859, and is a representative of one of the old southern families, his grandfather being Samuel Tillman, a native of North Carolina, who removed thence to Tennessee and afterward became a resident of Missouri, where his demise occurred. His son, N. J. Tillman, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Tennessee, and, having arrived at years of maturity, wedded Miss Mary Mullins, who was a native of North Carolina and a daughter of Judge Thomas Mullins, who was also born in North Carolina and became one of the pioneer settlers of Washington County, Arkansas, where he engaged in farming and also filled the office of county judge. Following their marriage, which was celebrated in Tennessee, Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Tillman became residents of Missouri, settling upon a farm near Springfield. Following the war between the states, in which Mr. Tillman served with the Confederate army and in which he was severely wounded, the family came to Arkansas and again the father concentrated his efforts and attention upon agricultural pursuits. He died in 1896, at the age of 63 years, while the death of his wife occurred many years earlier. They were members of the Christian church, and Mr. Tillman gave his political endorsement to the democratic party. Their family numbered five children, of whom two are living,

• John N. and
• Annie, the latter now the widow of F. M. Boyd and a resident of Fayetteville.

John N. Tillman obtained his early education in the public schools and was graduated from the University of Arkansas with the Bachelor of Latin Letters degree as a member of the class of 1880. He worked his way through college, thus displaying the elemental strength of his character — a strength that has been manifest in the accomplishment of his purposes throughout his later life. Ambitious to gain an education, he left no stone unturned toward that end and when he had completed his more specifically literary course he took up the study of law under Judge Pittman and after thorough preliminary reading was admitted to the bar in 1883. He then entered upon the active practice of his profession, and while advancement at the bar is proverbially slow, no dreary novitiate awaited him. He soon demonstrated his ability to cope with intricate and involved problems of the law and he was called to the office of prosecuting attorney of his district, in which position he served for six years. He was later elected to the circuit court bench and made a notable record by the fairness and impartiality of his decisions. His mind is analytical, logical and inductive. With a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the fundamental principles of law, he combines a familiarity with statutory law and a sober, clear judgment which makes him not only a formidable adversary in legal combat, but has given him the distinction, while on the bench, of having few of his decisions revised or reversed. He made a record in breaking up blind tigers while acting as prosecuting attorney and in all of his official positions he has contributed largely toward upholding the legal and moral status of the community. Following his retirement from the bench he was elected president of the University of Arkansas and remained at the head of this institution from 1905 until 1912.

When he retired from the educational field he formed a law partnership with his son, Fred A. Tillman, and thus continued in active practice until elected to congress in 1914. He is now serving for the fourth term in the national legislative halls and is leaving the impress of his individuality and ability upon the laws which govern the country. He gives his entire time to the duties of his office and most thoroughly and earnestly considers the vital questions which come up for settlement. He has ever been a stalwart champion of democratic principles and was a delegate to the national conventions which nominated Grover Cleveland for the second time and which nominated Alton Parker. In congress he is now serving on the judiciary committee and prior to this time he served on the committees on public lands and Indian affairs. He is the author of a bill to establish federal schools for the benefit of the mountain children; to return the cotton tax illegally collected after the war between the states to the Confederate soldiers; also bills in behalf of national prohibition and in aid of the veterans of the World War. He has discussed on the floor of the house all of the leading questions and has been a very active and prominent member of congress. Many of his speeches in congress have been published in leading dailies of the country. Before he was chosen as representative to congress he served as a member of the state senate of Arkansas from 1888 until 1891 .and was the author of the separate coach law of Arkansas. He has lectured quite extensively before Chautauqua assemblages and is the author of a number of short stories which have been published in magazines.

In 1880 Judge Tillman was married to Miss Tempe Walker, a daughter of M. K. Walker, who was a brother of Judge David Walker, one of the supreme court judges of Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Tillman are parents of three children :

• John Walker, who is engaged in the practice of law in Pawhuska, Oklahoma;
• Fred A., who is associated with his elder brother in law practice at Pawhuska; Fred A. Tillman, entered the service after America's advent into the World war, volunteering soon after war was declared. He was trained in France and was in the aeroplane fighting service. He brought down three German planes and the French government conferred upon him the Croix de Guerre and made him a member of the Legion of Honor. The American government also decorated him with the Distinguished Service medal. He is the only son of an American congressman who won three medals for bravery and gallantry in action. His father was in France when he was decorated and it was a proud moment to Judge Tillman. Lieutenant Tillman received his discharge following the close of the war, having participated in all of the campaigns and battles in which the American forces took part. He was twice wounded in action.
• Kathleen, the wife of L. B. Shaver, a relative of General Shaver and a member of a prominent family in Arkansas. They now reside in Denton, Texas, where Mr. Shaver is a civil engineer. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas.

Judge and Mrs. Tillman are consistent members of the Baptist church and he is a faithful follower of Masonic teachings. He belongs to the blue lodge and chapter and has also taken fourteen degrees of the Scottish Rite. He is likewise connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias and has been supreme representative of the Knights of Pythias and past grand chancellor, while in the Odd Fellows lodge he has filled all of the chairs. He has taken active part in shaping the history of commonwealth and country, actuated at all times by high ideals and by marked devotion to duty.

John Newton Tillman, a Representative from Arkansas; born near Springfield, Greene County, Mo., December 13, 1859; attended the common schools; was graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1880; taught school; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1883 and commenced practice in Fayetteville, Washington County, Ark.; clerk of the circuit court of Washington County 1884-1889; served in the State senate 1888-1892; prosecuting attorney of the fourth judicial circuit 1892-1898; judge of the same circuit court 1900-1905; president of the University of Arkansas 1905-1912; elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-fourth and to the six succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1915-March 3, 1929); one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1926 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against George W. English, judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois; did not seek renomination in 1928; died in Fayetteville, Ark., March 9, 1929; interment in Evergreen Cemetery.

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=T000276