From the 1909 Arkansas Office of the Secretary of State Report.
An unusually named Arkansas political figure, Xenophon Overton "X.O." Pindall served terms in both houses of the Arkansas legislature and reached his highest degree of political notoriety in 1907 when he took office as Governor of Arkansas. A native of Missouri, Xenophon Overton Pindall was born on August 21, 1873, in the town Middle Grove, the son of Lebbeus Aaron (1834-1915) and Elnorah Snell Pindall. An oddly named figure in his own right, Lebbeus A. Pindall also attained political prominence, serving two terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives from Desha County. As an adolescent X.O. Pindall attended both the Missouri Military Academy and the Central College of Missouri. In 1896 he earned his law degree from the University of Arkansas and soon after established his practice in his new home state.
In December 1902 Pindall married in Desha County to Mae Quilling, to who he was wed until his death. The couple would remain childless. In the same year as his marriage, Pindall won election to the Arkansas State House of Representatives from Desha County and would win a second term in November 1904. The 1905-07 session saw Pindall named to the following committees: the Judiciary, Levees, the Militia, Rules, and the State Capitol.
In early 1906 Pindall announced his candidacy for state Attorney General but lost out at the polls in that year's Democratic primary. Not one to let a loss get the best of him, he later became a candidate for the Arkansas State Senate in 1906 and was elected, taking his seat in early 1907. Early in his tenure, Pindall introduced legislation that established the McGee school district in Desha County, as well as a bill to organize a drainage district in the Laconia Circle area of Desha County.
Fate intervened in the life of X.O. Pindall in February 1907, when incumbent Governor John Sebastian Little suffered a nervous breakdown one month after being inaugurated. He would resign shortly thereafter and the president of the senate, John Isaac Moore, succeeded to the post of acting Arkansas governor. Moore's time as governor concluded with the end of the legislative session that May, and following Moore's ascension to the governorship, Pindall had been elected as Senate President. By virtue of that office, Pindall became Governor of the state.
From the 1903 Arkansas legislature composite photograph.
Although technically acting governor from 1907-09, Pindall managed to create a lasting piece of legislation during his time in office, that being the creation of the Ozark National Forest. He is also mentioned in the 1995 edition of the Governors of Arkansas: Essays in Political Biography as taking "special pride in the enactment of a pure food and drug law, the imposition of a franchise tax on foreign corporations, and the passage of a measure designed to prevent price discrimination".
Pindall's short tenure in office concluded in 1909 and he soon returned to his previous career as a criminal attorney in Little Rock. He reemerged on the political scene in 1912 when he launched another candidacy for state attorney general, but would lose out in the Democratic primary that March.
Pindall's short tenure in office concluded in 1909 and he soon returned to his previous career as a criminal attorney in Little Rock. He reemerged on the political scene in 1912 when he launched another candidacy for state attorney general, but would lose out in the Democratic primary that March.
The life of this oddly named Arkansas governor came to end in unusual circumstances on January 2, 1935, when Pindall fell from a railroad embankment while taking a walk near the Arkansas River. He subsequently struck his head on a pile of rocks during the course of the fall and then landed in "a steam exhaust pool near a power plant." Pindall was 61 years of age at the time of his death and was interred at the Rose Lawn Memorial Park in Little Rock following his death. His wife Mae survived him by nearly forty years, dying at age 94 in March 1972 in Little Rock. Far from a forgotten figure in Arkansas history, Pindall's brick law office in Arkansas City was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
From the Monroe City Democrat, June 14, 1918.
A Missouri-based attorney, Xenophon Pierce Wilfley served as an interim U.S. Senator from that state in 1918. He was born near Mexico, Missouri on March 18, 1871, the son of James Franklin (1835-1886) and Sarah Rebecca (Pindall) Wilfley (1840-1921). In an intriguing tidbit, Sarah Pindall Wilfley's brother was none other than Lebbeus Aaron Pindall, the father of the previously profiled Xenophon Overton Pindall. This marks the first instance of curiously named cousins being profiled here, and it's fascinating that two "Xenophons" from the same family were elected to political office around the same period! Wilfley would receive his unusual first name in honor of his mother's brother, Xenophon Jacob Pindall (1835-1905), a Confederate lieutenant colonel. Xenophon J. Pindall would attain political prominence of his own in Arkansas, serving as Desha County Judge in the late 1870s and was elected to one term in the state senate in 1876.
Descended from a family with roots in the United States dating back to the mid-17th century, Wilfley's formative years were spent on his family's farm in Audrain County, and at age three was afflicted with rheumatism. This disease was later compounded by "necrosis of the bone", with Wilfley's legs being "seriously affected by his early sicknesses." During his childhood, he was shuffled between various physicians in the hope of curing the disease and would find relief after being taken to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where the therapeutic waters "arrested the dread disease." Following his stay in Hot Springs, young Xenophon "throve immensely" and was able to abandon the crutches he'd previously been forced to use. Wilfley's battle with rheumatism was given an extensive mention in the Monroe City Democrat and the Ripley County Democrat after he'd entered the U.S. Senate.
Xenophon Wilfley's early education was obtained at a school located on his family's farm and also attended a district school. At age sixteen he enrolled at Clarksburg College and at age nineteen began study at the Central College in Fayette, where he excelled at debating. After graduating Wilfley returned to Central College to teach mathematics for a year and also taught at the Sedalia High School. Desiring to pursue a career in law, Wilfley entered the Washington University Law School in St. Louis, where he earned his degree to practice law in 1899. He entered practice in St. Louis that same year and for a time practiced law with his brother Lebbeus Redman Wilfley.
From the Mexico Weekly Ledger, May 2, 1918.
Xenophon Wilfley married in Missouri in October 1908 to Rosamund Guthrie (1885-1980). The couple were wed until Xenophon died in 1931 and had two daughters, Mary Ellen (born ca. 1913) and Rosamund Wilfley Neilson (1920-2006).
A confirmed non-office holder for a good majority of his life, Wilfley entered politics in 1917 when he became the Chairman of the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners, serving one year in that post. The next year Wilfley was appointed by Governor Frederick Gardner to the U.S. Senate, this vacant seat being occasioned by the death of three-term Missouri senator William Joel Stone (1848-1918). Despite having virtually no experience in politics, Wilfley's ascension to the senate was widely lauded in newspapers of the period, with the Mexico Weekly Ledger remarking:
"Mr. Wilfley's appointment is acceptable to the people of the state because he is a clean, able, vigorous young man, unhampered by the friendships and enmities of office holding or the traditions of practical politics...he has won an enviable place at the bar by force of character and a high order of ability. He, therefore, represents not only St. Louis, but Missouri as well."Wilfley took his seat on April 30, 1918, and served until November 5 of that same year. During his brief tenure, Wilfley chaired the Committee on Industrial Expositions and in August 1918 entered the Democratic state primary in a bid to keep his senate year. On August 6th Wilfley was defeated by former Governor Joseph W. Folk, who polled 107,690 votes to Wilfley's 80,009. Folk would go on to lose the general election that November to Republican Selden Pratt Spencer, a former circuit judge.
After leaving the senate, Wilfley returned to his law practice and served as President of the Missouri State Bar Association in 1925. He died in St. Louis on May 4, 1931, at age 59. He was survived by his wife and daughters and was interred at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Bel-Noir, Missouri. In an addendum to this article, Xenophon Wilfley's brother Lebbeus Redman Wilfley (1866-1926) will also be profiled here at a future date, as he served as Attorney General of the Philippines (when it was under U.S. jurisdiction), and as a judge.
From the Burlington Free Press, August 26, 1993.
Long an agricultural leader in Chittenden County, Vermont, Xenophon Cassius Wheeler had political involvement beginning in the 1930s with his election to the Vermont House of Representatives, where he served for one term. Born in Fairfax, Vermont on December 24, 1904, Xenophon Cassius "Xen" Wheeler was the son of William and Fanny Wheeler. His youth was spent on the family's 165-acre farm, and is noted in a 1982 edition of the Rutland Daily Herald as having "hulled milk from Bolton to Richmond."
In the early 1920s, Wheeler left Vermont for a brief residency in Oregon, where he worked in lumber camps and farmed. He returned to Vermont in 1927, and in November 1932 married Irene York (1902-1994). The couple's sixty-one-year marriage produced two daughters, Barbara and Doris. Through the succeeding years, Wheeler built up a reputation as a leading Chittenden County farmer, owning and operating three dairy farms, keeping thousands of laying hens, and also grew potatoes. In addition to his farms, Wheeler established Richmond Farm Supply in Richmond, a store that sold hardware, grains, fertilizer, and John Deer farming products. A seventy-five-year veteran of the Vermont Farm Bureau, Wheeler's long career was highlighted in his 1993 Burlington Free Press obituary, which remarked:
"He was widely respected for his business acumen and much sought after by local dairymen for his advice, counsel, and encouragement."
Active in local politics in the town of Bolton, Wheeler served that town for 21 years as its selectman and was a justice of the peace. In November 1934 he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives and during the 1935-37 session sat as a member of the committee on Claims.
Xenophon and Irene Wheeler, from the Rutland Daily Herald, November 7, 1982.
In the years following his term Wheeler continued to improve his farm and enjoyed his favorite pastimes, hunting and fishing. Later, he took up golf, and in 1984 undertook an extensive project: transforming his 140-acre farm into a golf course. The project, when completed, became home to the 18-hole West Bolton Golf Course. Wheeler further solidified his name in the Bolton community when he established the Wheeler Scholarship Fund, and shortly before his death n 1993 helped complete Wheeler Field in Bolton, which became home to Little League baseball games.
After decades of service to the Chittenden County community, Xenophon C. Wheeler died at his West Bolton home on August 24, 1993, aged 89. He was survived by his wife Irene, who, following here death in 1994 was interred alongside him at the West Bolton Cemetery.
Xenophon J. Pindall, from the 1877 Arkansas state senate composite photo.
Briefly mentioned in the preceding profile, Xenophon Jacob Pindall was the uncle of both Xenophon O. Pindall and Xenophon P. Wilfley, and attained political distinction of his own, serving as a state senator and judge. The son of Evan Shelby and Drusilla (Barker) Pindall, Xenophon J. Pindall was born in Monongalia County, Virginia on August 13, 1835.
Pindall's education was obtained at the Laurel Point School, located on his family's plantation. Prior to his teens he had developed an interest in stock raising and dealing on his family's farm, a pastime that occasionally interfered with his studies. The Pindall family left Virginia for Missouri in 1853 and settled in Monroe County. Here Pindall began reading law in 1855, and in 1858 was admitted to the state bar. He began practice in Monroe County and later moved his firm to the town of Bloomington, where he remained until 1861.
At the outbreak of the Civil War Pindall sided with Confederacy and enlisted in the 2nd Brigade, Missouri State Guard. He would see action under General Sterling Price at the Battle of Oak Hill and was subsequently elected as second lieutenant in Poindexter's Company. Following Price's invasion of Lexington, Kentucky in September 1861 Pindall was made Lieutenant Colonel and was later mustered out in May 1862. He re-enlisted in the Confederate Army shortly thereafter and was made major and quartermaster in the brigade under John Sappington Marmaduke, where he served until the war's conclusion.
Desiring to return to practicing law, Pindall relocated to Desha County, Arkansas in 1866 and, after settling in the town of Napoleon, formed a partnership with his younger brother Lebbeus (1834-1885). Xenophon J. Pindall married in August 1868 to Sinah Anna Mariah Hootsell (1839-1899), to whom he was wed for thirty years. The couple had six children.
In 1872 Pindall was elected as one of Desha County's representatives to the Arkansas state legislature and served in the session of 1873-74. During his term, he chaired the judiciary committee and resigned in July 1874, having been elected as a delegate to the state constitutional convention. 1874 proved to be an important year for Pindall, and in the latter part of that year was elected to the state senate from the 15th senatorial district. He would serve two terms in that body (1875-79), and chaired both the finance and judiciary committees.
Xenophon J. Pindall continued his political rise in October 1878 when he was elected as a judge for Arkansas's 11th judicial circuit. He served a four-year term and by 1884 had removed back to Mexico, Missouri, where in March 1885 served as a delegate to the city democratic convention. For two years he operated a joint law practice with local judge W.H. Kennan, and following the death of his brother Lebbeus returned to Arkansas to tend to his brother's estate. Widowed in 1899, Pindall remained in Dumas, Arkansas until his death on April 13, 1905, at age 69. He was later returned to Missouri for burial at the Elmwood Cemetery in Mexico.
From the History of Hamilton County and Chattanooga, Tennessee, Vol. 1, 1931.
Another recent discovery (as of January 2012) is Xenophon Wheeler, a prominent Tennessee attorney. Wheeler was born in Licking County, Ohio on February 19, 1835, the son of Salmon and Gillian Wheeler. Following study at Oberlin College Wheeler attended Yale University, where he earned his degree in 1860.
After graduating Yale Wheeler studied law in New York City and in October 1861 enlisted in the Union Army in Ohio. He served with distinction with the 67th Reg., Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was seriously wounded at the Battle of Winchester, Virginia in March 1862. After a period of recuperation, he raised a company of men and reenlisted in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry's 129th Regiment, with which he served through the remainder of the war.
Having been admitted to practice law in Ohio during his recuperation from battle, Wheeler married in 1863 to Amanda Elizabeth Knowlton, who predeceased him in 1887. He and his wife relocated to Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1865, and after establishing roots in that city joined the law firm of Stanley and Henderson. Wheeler's name would later be added to the firm's title, and following its dissolve entered into a partnership with attorney W.S. Wilson, which continued into the 1890s.
Xenophon Wheeler entered the political life of his adopted home state in 1878 when he received the Republican nomination for U.S. Representative from Tennessee's 3rd congressional district. He would go down to defeat in the November general election, losing out to two-term Democratic incumbent George Gibbs Dibrell (1822-1888). Despite this loss, Wheeler rebounded politically the next year when he was appointed as United States District Attorney for Tennessee's Eastern District, serving in that capacity until 1883. After leaving office he'd be elected president of the Tennessee State Bar Association in 1884, serving until 1885.
Xenophon Wheeler is noted as having a profound impact on the development of Chattanooga as a municipality. A founding organizer of the Chattanooga State Bank, he became a prime mover behind the creation of the first library in the city and served as its inaugural president. In addition to his civic doings in Chattanooga, Wheeler served a twenty-one-year stint as trustee of the University of Tennessee (1892-1913). Widowed in 1887, he remarried to Elizabeth Whitman Brown in 1890, who survived him upon his death on January 31, 1914.
Next up is Missouri resident Xenophon Ryland, who served as a Democratic Presidential elector and probate judge for that state. Little could be found on Mr. Ryland except the following. He was born in Lexington, Missouri on June 1, 1844, the son of John and Elizabeth (Buford) Ryland. He attended college at the Old Masonic College in Lexington and served with the Union Army during the Civil War.
A prominent Mason in Missouri, Ryland entered the order at an early age and served as Master of the Lafayette Lodge No. 32 in 1869 and 1870. He was accorded numerous honors by the Masonic fraternity during his life, including being named as Most Excellent Grand High Priest in 1873 and later as a Grand High Priest of Missouri. He married in 1866 to Caroline Foster Ford (1841-1900), to whom he was wed for over thirty years. The couple had seven children.
Ryland's political claim to fame rests on his service as a Democratic Presidential Elector for Missouri in 1880. Two years later he was appointed as Probate Judge of Lafayette County and was elected to two further terms on the bench. His later years were spent in church work as a Presbyterian minister, having been ordained by the Southern Presbyterian Church of Missouri in 1892.
Widowed in 1900, Ryland remarried in 1907 to Effie Lee Mason, who survived him upon his death in Higginsville, Missouri on October 26, 1920. He was interred alongside his first wife Caroline at the Machpelah Cemetery in Lexington.
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