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.

MARGIE DALTON

Margie Dalton, age 82, was born October 22, 1898, in Norman, Arkansas to James A. & Allie (O'Neal) Jones. Mrs. Dalton was married to the late Pat Dalton. She has lived in Scott County (Waldron) for fifty years. She has three children - J.A. Dalton, Waldron, Bert B. Dalton, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Joann Dozier also of Waldron. Mrs. Dalton was a public school teacher for fifteen years and a Social Worker for thirty years. She relates the following memories: "In 1930, when we moved to Waldron, there were no paved streets, no City Water or Sewer System, no Industry, except Burnett Lumber Company and a few small saw mills, throughout the County, which supplies work for very few people. W.P.A., C.C.C. and other tax supported agencies were necessary to maintain a bare living for many people of Scott County. The county roads in Scott County were not passable at times, many were never worked because the county did not have the money. The reason I know, is because later, I traveled these roads & many times you had to park and walk maybe two to three miles to reach your destination. Now, we have industry that takes care of most of our labor needs. We have paved streets, water & sewer, the county has many paved roads, good county dirt roads, which now afford pleasure and recreation for Scott County residents. Looking back, we can truthfully say, we have come a long way."

From a special edition of the Scott County Advertiser newspaper of 3 April 1991, entitled "A Salute to Scott County Citizens 90 Years and Over." The interviews were done as part of a celebration of the Bank of Waldron's 90th anniversary.

MARGIE DALTON

Margie Dalton was born October 22, 1898 in Norman, Arkansas, the daughter of James A. and Allie (O'Neal) Jones. Her husband was the late Pat Dalton. She has lived in Scott County for 60 years. They had three children, the late Bert B. Dalton, and J.A. Dalton and Joann Dozier both of Waldron. Mrs. Dalton attended school at Mt. Ida, John Brown University, and the University of Arkansas. She was a public school teacher for 15 years and a state social worker for 30 years. When she moved to Waldron in the early 30's, "there were no paved streets, no city water or sewer system, no industry except Burnett Lumber Company and a few small sawmills throughout the county. W.P.A. and C.C.C. and other tax supported agencies were necessary to maintain a meager living for local people, (The WPA built the present courthouse.) Scott County roads were impassable at times, and many were never worked because the county didn't have the money. Sometimes when traveling the roads, you had to park and walk two or three miles to reach your destination. With industry, paved roads, good county dirt roads, parks and lakes, Scott County has come a long way." Mrs. Dalton is a member of the First Baptist Church of Waldron.