Pulaski County ArArchives Biographies.....Wassell, Samuel McConaughey 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 June 10, 2009, 4:14 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

SAMUEL McCONAUGHEY WASSELL.

    Samuel McConaughey Wassell, member of the Little Rock bar, was admitted to
practice in this city and has since given his attention to duties connected with
the legal profession save for the period of his service in the World war. Born
in Little Rock, April 28, 1883, he is a son of Samuel Spotts and Bettie
(McConaughey) Wassell, also natives of this state. The father was born in Little
Rock, May 2, 1854, and the mother's birth occurred in Searcy, October 2, 1859.
They were married in the capital city, April 8, 1878, and became parents of four
sons, one of whom died in infancy, while three are yet living: Frank John,
Samuel M. and Herbert Lynn. The last named was a student commander at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology during the World war and was in the army
from May, 1918, until December, 1918, but was not overseas. The father was an
attorney, who was graduated from Cornell University at Ithaca, New York, in
1876, and after preparing for the bar concentrated his attention upon
professional interests until his demise, which occurred in Little Rock on the
24th of December, 1904. His political endorsement was always given to the
democratic party. His widow survives and yet makes her home in the capital city.

    Samuel M. Wassell obtained a public school education and afterward took up
the study of law under private instruction. Following his admission to the bar
on the 4th of October, 1904, he continued to serve as official court reporter of
the first judicial district until November 15, 1905, having been appointed to
the office on the 1st of January, 1904. After retiring from that position he was
appointed assistant attorney general for Arkansas and continued to represent the
state in that connection until February, 1907, at which time he once more became
official court reporter of the first judicial circuit and so acted until
November 1, 1912, when he resumed the private practice of law. He was thus
engaged, enjoying a large clientage, until August, 1917, when he volunteered for
military service, becoming a member of Company I, Twelfth Infantry Regiment,
with which he remained until November 17, 1917, when he was pronounced
physically disqualified. He then went to Houston, Texas, where he was made
assistant land and tax commissioner for the Southern Pacific Railroad, with
headquarters in Houston. Two months later he was requested by J. R. Vinson,
president of the Southern Trust Company and the state manager for the Red Cross,
to return to Little Rock and take charge of the finances of the Red Cross. Mr.
Wassell complied with this request and so served until May, 1918, when he was
appointed United States naturalization attorney with headquarters first in
Little Rock and later in Chicago and Detroit. He continued to act in that
capacity until April 1, 1920, when he again became a resident of Little Rock and
resumed the private practice of law, in which he still continues, his practice
now being extensive and of an important character. He has also acted a number of
times as special judge of the circuit court.

    Mr. Wassell has one daughter, Ruth Helen, born May 28, 1908. His political
endorsement is always given to the principles of the democratic party. He
belongs to Christ Episcopal church and is a Master Mason, these associations
indicating clearly the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his
conduct.


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


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