FORDYCE — The Dallas County Museum, established in 1997 and located at 211 N. Main, is the repository of several unusual, historic relics. Since inception, the museum has acquired and restored three separate historic structures on Fordyce’s Main Street that range in age from 112 years old to 160.
The three locations house more than 10,000 square feet of displays, not the least of which are a full-body polar bear mount, an allosaurus skull and a larger-than-life bronze bust of native son and legendary football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
One of the museum’s most recent historic acquisitions came from the great-grandson of the man for whom the town is named, Samuel Wesley Fordyce. While visiting the city, Michael Fordyce of Sheridan, Wyo., presented the Dallas County Museum with a special surprise gift for local citizens. His generous contribution to the collection is a personally engraved gold pocket watch presented to Samuel Fordyce in 1890 upon his retirement as President of the St. Louis/Southwestern Cotton Belt Railroad.
The engraving reads: “Presented to Col. S.W. Fordyce by the board of Directors of the St. Louis Southwestern Railroad Co. as a token of their admiration of the sterling business and personal qualities he displayed while President of the company.”
The gold chain attached to and displayed with the timepiece can be seen hanging from the vest pocket of Fordyce in later life portraits.
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The path of prominence for the watch follows the Fordyce family line to arrive in Michael Fordyce’ possession. Samuel Fordyce (1840-1919) and Elizabeth Chadick Fordyce (1843-1935) had five children: Mary Alice (1867-1869), Col. Rison (1869-1839), William Chadick (1871-1966), Jane Dorthey (1874-1939) and James (born 1874; date of death unknown).
The watch was passed down to Samuel’s second son, William, who passed it along to his son, Allen Orrick Fordyce (1905-1987), who then presented it to Michael Gerard Fordyce (born 1954).
His association with the town bearing his name must mention how Fordyce first came to Arkansas from his wife’s hometown of Huntsville, Ala., in April 1873. Samuel Fordyce served as an Ohio Cavalry Captain during the American Civil War where he saw service at Shiloh and Chickamauga, among others. He received multiple broken bones and contracted malaria during his time as a trooper.
Suffering from wartime injuries, his physician suggested he make the arduous journey to partake of the healthful benefits offered in Hot Springs’ curative waters. He became so impressed with Hot Springs that he testified before Congress on multiple occasions, asking them to vote the Valley of Vapors into Federally protected status. As such, he was the prime mover toward it becoming a National Reservation, the precursor to National Park status. Fordyce thereafter became a key player in the development of Hot Springs, opening the first Arlington Resort Hotel and Fordyce Bathhouse.
During that same period, around 1878, J.W. Paramore determined to build a rail line across lower-Arkansas to transport large quantities of Texas peaches as well as open access to the vast forests and cotton fields of Arkansas to worldwide markets via Mississippi River outlets. Paramore knew immediately who he wished to plot the route, choosing Fordyce for his proven practical knowledge as well as practiced railroad experience. At age 38, Fordyce determined to ride over every step of the proposed 419-mile long right-of-way between Tyler, Texas, and New Madrid, Mo. and did so three separate times over the next two years. Acquaintances made along the way came to endear him in the hearts of locals, leading to his recognition by Fordyce’s founding fathers.
William Chadick Fordyce, who was Samuel’s son and Michael’s grandfather, held many prominent positions in Arkansas and elsewhere. He was a known associate of Al Capone during the gangster’s visits to Garland County. The association resulted in a business venture where William’s Hot Springs based trucking company made regular runs to Chicago.
An excerpt from “Genealogy Trails of Madison County, Alabama” reads: “William C. Fordyce, banker; born, Huntsville, Ala., Nov. 28, 1871; son of Samuel W. and Susan Elizabeth (Chadick) Fordyce; removed with parents to Arkansas in youth and later to St. Louis; educated under private tutelage and in Harvard University, graduating with degree of A.B. (Bachelor of Arts), 1895; married, St. Louis, June 16, 1902, Christine Orrick; three children: William C., Allen Orrick and Christine. Has been actively identified with promotion of many interests, including railroads (steam and electric), manufacturing and banking enterprises, gas and water works and other industries; vice president Commonwealth Trust Co. since 1905; president Hot Springs Gas Co., of Hot Springs, Ark.; vice president Scott City & Northern Ry. Co., of Kansas; vice president Hot Springs St. Ry. Co., Hot Springs Water and Electric Co., Planters Hotel Co. of St. Louis, Jefferson Hotel Co. of St. Louis.”
Samuel Fordyce’s great-grandson, Michael Fordyce has been invited and accepted an invitation by the Fordyce on the Cotton Belt Festival Committee to serve as Grand Marshal for the 2025 event Saturday, April 26, at 11 a.m.
Michael Fordyce of Sheridan, Wyo., great-grandson of Samuel Wesley Fordyce, recently donated the town namesake’s watch to the Dallas County Museum in Fordyce. (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)