The Crawford County, Arkansas GenWeb Project

R. S. Pruett. Among the business men of Morrilton none rank higher in point of energy than building contractor and brick manufacturer R. S. Truett. He is a self-made man in every sense of the word, and his success in his business may be attributed to the thorough knowledge he possesses of it, having served as an apprentice in every department from its lowest grade up, step by step, to a master-workman, and to his present ocoupation of contractor and manufacturer. As the people among whom he now lives may be interested in knowing something about his past, it is proper to state that he was born in Mississippi in 1858; he was the second in a family of seven children born to James and Juda L. (Stephenson) Truett; parents were natives of Mississippi, and father was an extensive contractor and builder at Meridian, that State, and he died when our subject was but twelve years of age; mother still resides in the old home. The educational advantages of Mr. Truett were limited, as he could only attend school up to the time of his father's death, after which he at once entered the employment of Skulley & Higgins as an apprentice as before stated; after serving six years with them he worked in the State of Mississippi till 1881, when he went to Louisiana, when, after a short residence of one year, he came to Arkansas, and settled at Russellville. He worked one year as journeyman, and then began to take contracts, erecting two buildings in Russellville. He then went to Fort Smith for two years, and then to Alma, where he took contracts and erected two buildings. In 1887 he came to Morrilton, where he at once began contracting, and in the same year erected the bank building for Mr. Hanniford. The Methodist Church, a handsome and beautiful edifice, was erected by him in 1888, as have been most of the business blocks erected in the town since In 1889 he erected a beautiful church at Lonoke, [p.119] Arkansas, and he now has some twelve or fifteen contracts on hand. He started the manufacture of brick on his arrival here, and since then has made over 3,000,000 at this place. He also has yards at Atkins and Russellville, in both of which places he has contracts for buildings too. In this place he employs some fifty men, affording more employment than any other single individual; he owns one large brick storehouse and his brickyard in Morrilton. Mr. Truett was married in 1885 to Birdie Caldwell, of Russellville, a daughter of James Caldwell. To this union have been born one child?Robert. Mr. Truett is one of those active and stirring men of which all communities are in need, and of whose success in life their energy is always an assurance.

Misc Info: Western Arkansas Biographies and Historical Memoirs

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Bill and Christine Moore - ARGenWeb Project Crawford County Coordinators
Betsy Mills - ARGenWeb Project State Coordinator
Jeff Kemp - ARGenWeb Project Assistant State Coordinator
Gina Heffernan - ARGenWeb Archives Project Coordinator

Last Updated: January 20, 2009