Scott County Arkansas Biographies

From a special section of the Waldron News newspaper of 23 April 1981, consisting of interviews of Scott County citizens 80 Years of age and over. The interviews were done as part of a celebration of the Bank of Waldron's 80th anniversary.

BRYAN YORK

Bryan York, age 84, was born August 8, 1896, to William Elves and Mettie (Martin) York in Paducah, Kentucky, where his family had a tobacco farm. In 1901 the family moved to Arkansas and bought a farm 8 miles East of Waldron. Bryan was five years old. They later moved to a home Northeast of Waldron. On the farm they raised sweet potatoes, cotton and a few cattle. Bryan had eight brothers and sisters, all of whom are deceased except Isaac York of Arlington, Virginia, Tillman York of Waldron and Cornegie York of Florida. Bryan joined the Navy in October, 1918 - during World War I and served on Active Duty until October 1919, but remained on the Reserve Force until September 1921. He was assigned to the USS Cecelia Transport. He made eight trips across the Atlantic - six trips were to convey the American troops home from France and two were to haul war materials. He ranked as 3-Class Quarter Master. In 1919, Bryan became a school teacher and his first teaching job was at a log school house down below Winfield. He taught for two years at this school, then moved to Center Point School to teach. From there he taught at Harvey, Jenkins, Forester, Dutch Creek and a school in Scranton. While teaching at Dutch Creek, Bryan organized the first basketball team the school had. He said his star players were Billy Morgan and William Ed Slater, both of Waldron, and one of his own sons, James York. In 1927, Bryan married Florence McDaniel, whom he met while teaching at Center Point. They made their home in Waldron, then later moved to Dutch Creek, then to Houston, Arkansas, then to Dyer, Arkansas then back to Abbott, where Mrs. York now resides. Mr. York resides in Pinewood Nursing Home. Mr. and Mrs. York are both retired teachers. Bryan and Florence had six children - Welton York of Pryor, Oklahoma, Billa Darner and Mettie Eloine Gannon both of Des Moine, Iowa, James Elves York of Lufkin, Texas, Samuel Martin York of Abbott, Arkansas and Windell Joe York of Fort Smith.