Judge Woodson Mosley

JUDGE MOSLEY, 78, BELOVED CITIZEN PASSES IN DEATH

Rison Attorney and Former County Clerk and Judge Dies at Home Thursday.

Was ill only Two days - A Native of the County and was admitted to the Bar in 1881; Former Kingsland Mayor, Merchant.

June 5, 1935

Judge Woodson Mosley, a leading attorney of Southeast Arkansas, one of Rison and Cleveland County's most prominent and highley esteemed citizens, died at 12:35 Thursday afternoon at his home here. Judge Mosley, who would have been 79 years of age June 5, suffered a paralytic stroke early the previous day and gradually grew worse, lapsing into unconsciousness several hours before his death.

A native of that part of Bradley county which later became Cleveland, Judge Mosley was for three terms county clerk and two terms county judge. In early life he was engaged in the mercantile business at Kingsland and during his residence there served as mayor.

He was admitted to the bar in 1881 in Little Rock after reading law for many years and attending a law class in the capital city. In 1888 he was first named county clerk, serving one term. After a lapse of two years in 1892, he was again named county clerk and served two terms. At the expiration of hes second term as clerk, he was named county and probate judge and was reelected to a second term in this office. While he was county clerk the county seat was moved from Toledo to Rison.

After leaving the county judge's office he engaged in the practice of law and at his office the day before he was stricken. For many years he has operated an abstract business under the firm name of Mosley Abstract Company, which he established.

Besides his wife, Judge Mosley is survived by three sons, Brawner G. Mosley of Pine Bluff, County Treasurer, Jas. G. Mosley of this city, and Wylie Mosley of Cornerstone; three daughters, Mrs. A.A. Hughes of Pine Bluff, Mrs. Thos. Thornton of Cornerstone, and Miss Esther Mosley of this city; seven grandchildren; three sisters, Misses Ellen and Ophelia Mosley of New Edinburg, and Mrs. Henry Files of Gorman, Texas, and a number of other relatives.

Following funeral services at home at 1:30 Saturday afternoon, interment was made in a cemetery at New Edinburg where his parents, a child and a number of relatives are buried.

The services in the home were brief, including a song by a selected choir, prayer by the Rev. M.E. Scott, pastor of the Methodist church and scripture reading and prayer by the Rev. W.F. Warren, pastor of the Baptist Church. At the grave, a song by the choir and prayer by Rev. Warren comprised the committal services. Active pallbearers were -- J.L. Reid, O.F. Reed, C.L. Garner, Van McKinney, George H. Holmes, H.M. Attwood, Roy Tolson, H.S. Hinson and Maurice McCauley, all of Rison.

Honorary pallbearers were - Dr. A.J. Hamilton, W.A. Fore, J.E. Harrison, John E. Smith, J.L. Sadler, E.L. McLendon, J.M. McMurtrey, Dr. A.B.Robertson, R.E. Quinn, L.C. Ackerman, L.F. Williams, Dave Cash, J.W. Elrod, T.H. Glover, Calvin Walker, M.W. Reed, Guy M. Sadler, F.W. Culpepper, E.R. Maddox, E.M. Hillyard and C.C. Bussey, all of Rison: J.E. McCoy, Rufus Smith and John Rodgers, all of Kingsland; O.W. Boyd and E.T. Attwood of New Edinburg; D.A. Bradham of Warren; Judge H.R. Lucas, R.W. Wilson, A.H. Rowell, Mike Danaher, E.W. Brockman, A.R. Cooper, Dr. B.D. Luck Sr., Davis Quinn, J.C. Renfrow, Pinchback Taylor and Jo Nichols, all of Pine Bluff; Judge Turner Butler and John H. Hollis Of Little Rock.

Judge Mosley was the son of Wiley and Jane Elizabeth (Brawner) Mosley, the second of six children born to his parents. He was early in life taught the arduous duties of the farm and recived his education in the common school, later attending law classes in Little Rock after reading law for a period. His marriage nuptials were celebrated in 1888 when he was united in marriage to Miss Etta Lou Smith, the daughter Wm. M. and Z.J. Smith of Kingsland.

In early manhood Judge Mosley became a member of the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in the Kingsland Lodge. "A man whose integrity and honesty of purpose is unquestioned, " is a statement made of him by a compiler historical sketches of South Arkansas citizens when Judge Mosley was in the clerk's office.

Judge Mosley was regarded as one of the best title attorneys in this section. He was a safe counselor on legal matters and was highly ethical in the practice of his profession.

The long funeral procession in accompaning the remains to the Edinburg cemetery passed directly in front of the old homesite of the deceased where he was born and spent his early life. A great floral offering banked the casket as hundreds called at the family home to extend words of condolensce to the famiy of a citizen in who they had profound respect and admiration.

Judge Mosley was a staunch Democrat, casting his first presidentia ballot for Gen. Hancock, Democrat nominee, in 1880. He had been honored with party appointments. Funeral arrangements were in charge of Rufus T. Buie Mortuary, assisted by Ralph Robinson & Son Mortuary of Pine Bluff.

Out of town relatives and friends here for the funeral Saturday afternoon included Mrs. Kate Orton, Mrs. Jim Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Smith, R.A. Poole, and Mrs. J.H. Poole, Mrs. Harry Atkins, Miss Rosa McNally, Mrs. C.B. Ussery, Mr. and Mrs. Davis Quinn, Mr. and Mrs. Abb Barnett and Family, all of Pine Bluff; Misses Ellen and Ophelia MOsley and Mrs. Henry Mosley, all of New Edinburg; Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Ferguson and daughter and Mrs. Ida May Mosley of Wilson, Mrs. W.H. Townshend, Miss Mary Ellen Townsend and Eugene Townsend of Wabbaseka; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Smith of Hermitage; Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Swanson of Jonesboro; Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Fuller, J.C. Clary, Trever Beard and Judge DuVal Purkins of Warren; Mrs. H. E. Monk, Mrs. W. P. McGeorge and Mrs. Harvey Atkinson of Pine Bluff.