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Submitted: 9/16/11 • Approved: 3/18/22 • Last Updated: 3/21/22 • R588968-G0-S3
1867 - 1953
McNeill, Ark. - E. C. Mendenhall, 85, will be buried in McNeill cemetery beneath the tombstone he carved by hand from marble from the Columbia County courthouse. Mendenhall was found dead yesterday beside his unconscious wife, who has been an invalid for several years. It is believed he died of a heart attack while trying to assist her during the night. She is in a Columbia county hospital. The couple lived alone in a 75-room hotel, partly furnished with hand carved rockers and chairs Mendenhall made to "fill up the empty rooms". He carved tombstones for himself and his his wife in 1944 from stones he saved when the Columbia County courthouse was constructed in 1905. "We came from Mendenhall, England in 1683 - our English name and hometown founded by family in 1200 A. D." These are the words the elderly man carved on his headstone. Relative said his ancestors came to this country in 1683 as followers of William Penn. Active until the time of his death, Mendenhall served as justice of the peace here for more than 50 years, and was mayor of McNeill for two terms. He also is survived by two sons, John of Port Arthur, Tex. and Edgar L. of Pueblo, Colo. (Camden News - February 16, 1953)
Contributed on 9/16/11 by jeanetteponder
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Record #: 588968