My Genealogy Hound

John Wassell (deceased) first came to Little Rock, in 1837. He was born in Kidderminster, England, the center of the great carpet industry, in 1814. At the age of eighteen he left England and came to America, intending to join an uncle in Philadelphia; but upon arriving at that city he could find nothing of his relative, except information that he had gone to Pittsburgh. He then traveled to the latter place, making the entire distance on foot, and journeying over the Allegheny Mountains, but on his arrival learned that his uncle had left for Cincinnati. He made the trip to that city on foot, and there had another disappointment, for his uncle had returned to England. While in Cincinnati he apprenticed himself to a carpenter and learned the trade thoroughly, but his path, while engaged in this work, like most instances, where the apprenticeship is among rough co-workers, was not smoothed with roses. He was earnest and persevering, however, and soon distanced all in his trade. His first venture was in answering an advertisement in the city paper from a man in Grand Gulf, Miss., who wanted some work done. Mr. Wassell corresponded with him, obtained the contract and left for that place with a gang of men, remaining there for one year. He subsequently made a trip in the same manner, by seeing an advertisement for proposals to do the carpenter work in the new State house at Little Rock, Ark. He secured the contract and, coming to that city, did the work. In 1837 he and Miss Margaret Spotts, of Louisville, Ky., were united in marriage; they came to Little Rock at once and went to housekeeping in that part of the State house now the Governor’s office, remaining there until the building was completed. Mr. Wassell has since continued to reside in Little Rock, and during his stay has erected most of the old and substantial buildings of the city. He afterward moved to Lonoke County, where he farmed for seven years, but at the end of that time returned to Little Rock, where he became part owner of a paper called the Old Line Whig, the organ of the Whig party of this State. Sometime later he concluded to go into mercantile life, and opened up a general supply and steamboat store on the levee, continuing in that business for two or three years. During this time he bought considerable land on the Arkansas River, below Lewisburg, and erected a large saw-mill. This business he carried on until the country was captured by the Federals in 1863, when he sold his saw-mill and returned to Little Rock. Mr. Wassell was a party in a case to be tried, and his attorney insisting on a certain line of proof contrary to Mr. Wassell’s judgment, it resulted in the attorney’s withdrawal from the case; and the case being called at this juncture, Mr. Wassell acted as his own attorney, by leave of the court, though he was at that time not a lawyer. Mr. Wassell gained a complete victory, much to the surprise of his former counsel. His ability of a legal kind thus displayed led his friends to urge upon him the practice of law, which after preparation he undertook, about 1870, and enjoyed a large and lucrative practice; his success as a lawyer being, principally, marked by victories gained against the opinions and belief of what other attorneys viewed as the law of cases. He was one of the originators of the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad, the founder of the deaf-mute institute, of which he was its first president; he, with individual means, providing for the education of several deaf mutes. Mr. Wassell was also the first president of the Home Water Company and during the reconstruction period was appointed mayor of the city by President Johnson. Under his administration the city hall was built, the first fire engine bought, the first grading of streets commenced (on West Markham and Center), and Mr. Wassell was one of four registrars appointed to register the voters of Arkansas, and was chairman of the board. He was also the representative of the Dun Mercantile Agency in Little Rock up to the time they established an agency in that city, and was also vice president of the First National Bank for a great many years. He practiced law with great success up to the time of his death, in 1881, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was strictly an independent man, and attributed all of his success to industry and perseverance. Mr. Wassell was one of the founders of the Christ Episcopal Church of this city, and was senior warden of the same from its foundation almost up to the time of his death. He never used tobacco or liquor of any kind. Mr. and Mrs. Wassell were the parents of eight children, of whom four are now living: Rebecca E. (wife of William M. Randolph, a prominent attorney, of Memphis, Tenn.), Albert, Samuel S. and Herbert. The mother is still living and resides in Little Rock, enjoying remarkably good health for one of her age, seventy-four years. She is a native of Delaware. Albert, the eldest son, is a lawyer by profession, but has not yet engaged in active practice. He was married, in 1877, to Miss Leona H. McAlment, of Little Rock, a daughter of Dr. Corrydon McAlment. Four children were born to this union, of whom two are now living: Cory and Ruth. Mr. Wassell is a member of the Christ Episcopal Church, and his wife is a Presbyterian. Samuel S., the second son, is a practicing attorney of this city. He was born in Little Rock, in 1854, and was educated at Cornell University, from which institution he graduated in 1876. He then went to Memphis, Tenn., and read law in the office of Randolph, Hammond & Jordan. In 1877 the junior partner withdrew from the firm and Mr. Wassell took his place, changing the firm name to Randolph, Hammond & Wassell. The yellow fever epidemic of 1878 forced them to leave the city, and Mr. Wassell returned to Little Rock, where he was admitted to practice and has since been engaged. His office is located in the Wassell Block, a building erected by himself and brother Herbert. In April, 1878, he was married to Miss Elizabeth McConaughey, a daughter of J. W. McConaughey. This union gave them three children: Frank J., Samuel Me. and James Bracy. Herbert, the youngest son, is engaged in the real-estate business, and is also manager of his mother’s property and the real estate left by his father. He is yet unmarried, and, like his brothers, is a member of Christ Episcopal Church.