W.V. Boatright W. V. Boatright, president of the Industrial Laboratories Company of Fort Smith, was born in Crawford county, Arkansas, in 1877, and is a son of W. N. and Eugenie (Garner) Boatright. The ancestral line can be traced back through several generations to the period of the war for independence. One of the ancestors, William Boatright, of Virginia, served in the Revolutionary war, rendering valiant aid to the colonies in their struggle for liberty. His son, William Boatright, also a native of Virginia, was the father of J. S. Boatright, who removed from Virginia to Missouri, and he in turn was the father of W. N. Boatright, who removed from Missouri to Arkansas. The grandfather also settled in Arkansas, establishing his home in Crawford county, and was one of the early teachers of that part of the state. The Garner family came from Mississippi. Miss Eugenie Garner accompanied her father, Jesse Garner, on his removal from Mississippi to Crawford county, Arkansas. To Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Boatright were born the following named: W. V., Percy, Carl, Thell, Lon, Robert, Mary, the wife of Charles Ayres; Leila, the wife of Edgar Covey; Jessie, the wife of Frank Anderson, and Alice, who is a high school teacher. W. V. Boatright was accorded liberal educational privileges. He attended the University of Arkansas and after completing his education entered upon public office, being elected county clerk of Crawford county. He later turned his attention to the real estate business and at a subsequent period he established the Percy Boatright Furniture Company of Van Buren, of which he is still the principal owner, his brother Percy, however, being active manager of the business. In connection with others, W. V. Boatright purchased the Van Buren Water Company, of which he is the president, and he has also extended his efforts into various fields of activity, becoming vice president of the Citizens Bank and an official .in other business enterprises. He continued an active factor in public affairs of Crawford county and was chosen president of the board of county commissioners. He fostered the extensive road improvement project calling for ninety miles of improvement on roads leading into Van Buren and stood most loyally and unfalteringly for progress and advancement along many lines of great benefit to the public. He organized the Red Cross of Crawford county during the period of the World war and served as state president of the organization. He was likewise instrumental in locating a number of industrial concerns in Van Buren and that city owes much of its development and upbuilding to his efforts. He controls the Industrial Laboratories Company of Fort Smith, of which he is the president, and this has become one of the important business features of the city. He also opened up additions to the city of Van Buren. including Edgewood, Long Bell, Allendale, the Boatright-Ayres subdivision and the Boatright subdivision of forty acres. Mr. Boatright is a man of keen business discernment and notable sagacity and readily recognizes not only the opportunities that lead to the upbuilding of individual fortunes but those which advance the welfare of the community. He has utilized the latter just as readily and effectively as he has the former and there is no man who has contributed in more substantial measure to Van Buren‘s improvement and benefit. Mr. Boatright was united in marriage to Miss Nell Penn and to them have been born two children. Mr. Boatright has membership in the Business Men's Club of Van Buren. His political endorsement has always been given to the democratic party and he served as deputy sheriff under James Pitcock and also as county clerk, being elected on the democratic ticket, but has never been an aspirant for further public favor, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention along other lines. He is a member of the Baptist church and was formerly very active in Sunday school work. He still makes his home in Van Buren, while giving his attention to business interests in Fort Smith. Opportunity has ever been to him a call to action and his position as one of the representative citizens and leading business men of his section of the state stands unchallenged.