Benton Co., AR - Biographies - Judge Samuel A. Cordell *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Judge Samuel A. Cordell, county and probate judge of Benton County, [p.821] Ark., is a native of Cedar County, Iowa, born November 3, 1854; son of Jacob A. and Margaretta (Singrey) Cordell. The father was born near Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Penn., December 2, 1817, was of German descent, and a carpenter by trade. He was married in his native State, and here resided until his wife's death in 1849. He then moved to Morrow County, Ohio, where he married Margaretta Singrey in 1854, moved to Cedar County, Iowa, where the subject of this sketch was born. The following year he moved to Noble County, Ind., and in 1860 to Andrew County, Mo., and in 1864 moved to Nodaway County, Mo., where he resided until 1871, when he moved to Benton County, Ark., and in June, 1888, went to Los Angeles, Cal., where he now resides. The mother was born August 12, 1828, in Morrow County, Ohio, and was of Swiss origin. She died September 30, 1882. Their family consisted of six children, four now living. Judge Samuel A. Cordell received his education in the district schools of Benton County, was reared on a farm, and there remained until twenty-three years of age. He then engaged in teaching, and followed the teacher's profession for nine terms, all in Benton County. During his teaching he took up the study of law, his preceptor being Hon. Samuel W. Peel, now a member of Congress from the Fifth Congressional District of Arkansas. October, 1879, Judge Cordell was admitted to the bar, and immediately entered upon his practice at Eureka Springs. At the end of five months he returned to Benton County, and located at Rogers. July 22, 1880, Judge Cordell married Miss Rosa Spencer, who was a native of the State of Ohio. She died January 18, 1882, and November 4, 1883, the Judge married Miss Alice King, nee Sikes, daughter of B. F. Sikes, and a native of Bedford County, Tenn. In 1886 Judge Cordell moved to Bentonville, where he has since resided. In 1886 he was elected county and probate judge of Benton County, and re-elected in 1888. He was city attorney of Eureka a short time, and was also city attorney of Rogers one year. He is a Democrat in politics, casting his first presidential vote for S. J. Tilden, in 1876, and he and Mrs. Cordell are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, he being one of the stewards of the same.