Pulaski-Jefferson County ArArchives Biographies.....McDonnell, William Archie 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 31, 2009, 7:02 pm

Source: Full Citation Below Biography
Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

WILLIAM ARCHIE McDONNELL.
    The history of the bench and bar of Arkansas is one which in the main
reflects credit and high honor upon the annals of the state. The younger
representatives of the legal profession are fully sustaining the reputation of
the lawyers of an earlier period, and holding to high ideals and to the advanced
ethical standards of its calling, William Archie McDonnell has gained a
creditable name and place among the attorneys of Little Rock. The story of his
professional record and of his military experiences is a most interesting one.
He was born in Altheimer, Jefferson county, Arkansas, November 20, 1894, and is
the second in order of birth in a family of four children, whose parents were
James Smith and Susie Belle (Hunter) McDonnell. The father was born in
Huntsville, Madison county, Alabama, in 1858, while the mother's birth occurred
in Star City, Lincoln county, Arkansas, in 1867, their marriage being celebrated
in the latter place in 18S9. The mother was a daughter of Joseph Hunter, who
served as a captain in the Confederate army during the Civil war. James Smith
McDonnell spent his youthful days to the age of nineteen years in his native
city and then removed to Altheimer, Arkansas, where he has long resided,
becoming prominent in its business circles in connection with general
merchandising and as a dealer in cotton. His political endorsement has for many
years been given to the democratic party. The children born to him and his wife
are: Joseph Hunter, William A., Susie Belle and J. S.

    During his youthful days William Archie McDonnell had the opportunity of
pursuing his education in the excellent public schools of Denver, Colorado, and
later of Little Rock, being graduated from the high school of the capital city
in 1912. A review of the broad field of business led him to the determination to
make the practice of law his life work and he began preparation therefor,
becoming a student in Vanderbilt University of Tennessee, in which he won the
LL. B. degree upon graduation with the class of 1917. He made excellent record
in college and received the Founders Medal. He also enjoyed two years' training
in the academic department of the same university, studying the more classical
lines from 1912 until 1914. After his graduation he entered upon active
practice, but after a few months his professional duties were put aside. for he
felt that his loyalty to his country demanded his offer of active service in the
army. It was on the 27th of August, 1917, that he enlisted, serving until May 5.
1919. He became first lieutenant on the 26th of November, 1917, being assigned
to the Eleventh Field Artillery, and afterward was advanced to the rank of
captain on the I6th of July, 1918, in the Sixth Field Artillery Brigade. When he
enrolled he was assigned to the second Officers' Training Camp at Leon Springs,
Texas, where he continued from the 27th of August, 1917, until the 26th of
November, 1917, when he received a commission as first lieutenant of the Field
Artillery and was sent to Douglas, Arizona. There he continued until April,
1918, when he was sent with the Eleventh Field Artillery to Fort Sill, Oklahoma,
where he continued until July 6, 1918. He was afterward with his regiment at
Camp Mills, near New York, and sailed  on the 14th of July, 1918, for France,
disembarking first at Liverpool on the 26th of July and crossing the channel
about the 5th of August, landing at Cherbourg, France. Soon afterward he was
sent to Camp Valdahon, twenty miles from the Swiss border, where he remained
until September 1, 1918. Having received his commission as captain on the 26th
of August of that year, he was transferred on the 1st of September, following,
to the Sixth Field Artillery Brigade and attached to the First Field Artillery
Brigade on the line north of Toul. On the 12th of September, 1918, he
participated in the fight at St. Mihiel, the engagement continuing for about two
weeks, this being one of the hotly contested sectors where the American troops
were stationed. Captain McDonnell was returned to the Sixth Field Artillery
Brigade, then located at Camp Valdahon, and remained with that command until
April 1, 1919, when he was transferred to the Twenty-eighth Division and
returned to the United States, arriving about the 15th of April, 1919, while on
the 4th of May he received an honorable discharge at Camp Dix, New York, and
returned to Arkansas.

    Mr. McDonnell had been admitted to the bar on the 5th of July, 1917. On
resuming the duties of private life he entered upon active practice in Little
Rock and is making steady progress, already having gained a creditable position
as one of the younger members of the bar of this state. He has many friends in
the Masonic lodge, in which he holds membership and is recognized as a worthy
and exemplary follower of the craft. He votes with the democratic party, but has
never sought nor desired office. His religious faith is that of the Methodist
Episcopal church, South, and he is now serving as superintendent of the Junior
department of the Sunday school.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922



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