The Daily Press solicited information
from all locally-owned businesses.
Following, in chronological order
are profiles based on their responses.

Trice Brothers Furniture
The undertaking and cabinet making business founded by Henry Samuel Trice in 1885 has evolved and endured for 97 years, making it the oldest continuously operated business in Paragould under single family ownership.
Born Nov. 9, 1853, Trice was reared
on a farm in the Greensboro community
near the Craighead-Greene county line.
He moved his family to Paragould
where he formed a partnership with
James Dickson, his brother-in-law, and
opened an undertaking and cabinet mak-
ing business in the 100 block of West
Emerson Street.
Trice, the first licensed embalmer in
northeast Arkansas, assisted in the
early organization of the Arkansas
Embalmers and Funeral Directors
Association. In addition to his business,
Trice served as county treasurer from
1886-1890.
At the close of his term as treasurer,
he became sole owner of the business.
When growth required larger quarters,
the business was moved to its current
location at 206-208 S. Pruett St.
The undertaking part of the business
was assigned to the second floor and
furniture was located on the first floor.
Two sons, William F. and Joe T.,
joined their father in the business and
later purchased the firm which became
Trice Brothers In. William was the
licensed embalmer and funeral direct-
or and operated the undertaking
business while sharing the duties of
the furniture division with his brother.
Furniture sales increased and more
space was needed for merchandise
display. The second floor undertaking
department was taken over for furniture and the undertaking was moved next door, to a store at 210 S. Pruett St. Funeral homes still had not arrived.
Joe Trice moved to Jonesboro and
established the Trice Brothers store in
1910 which continued for several years
following his death in 1930.
The late Randal Mitchell, a former em- ployee and manager of Trice Brothers Furniture and Undertaking, bought the undertaking part of the business which developed into Mitchell Funeral Home.
William Trice's sons, Harlan and Bill,
grew up in the business and have
continued the operation.

First National Bank
The Bank of Paragould began business on March 7, 1889, on Pruett Street where Arnold's Jewelry is located today. On May 6, 1903, the name was changed to First National Bank of Paragould.
   State Bank was organized July 2, 1901, at the corner of Emerson and Pruett streets, the present location of Recreation on the Corner. The name was changed to National Bank of Commerce on April 27, 1911.
   On June 30, 1967, National Bank of
Commerce and First National Bank merged and changed the name to First National Bank of Commerce. The two banks had combined total resources of $20.7 million. On Feb. 13, 1973, the name was shortened to First National Bank as it is known today.

Security Bank
Security Bank and Trust Co. was incor-
porated July 24, 1906, with a capital stock of $100,000 divided into 1,000 shares of $100 each. A. A. Knox was president in 1914 and records in an
old minutes book show W. O. Poole as
president in 1916.
   A savings department was authorized
in 1916; deposits reached $212,000 and 1,486 loans were made. Dr. R. J. Haley
was elected president in 1920.
   On Nov. 12, 1930, the bank was reor-
ganized as The Security Band and Trust
Co., Paragould. At the end of 1931, as-
sets had climbed to $442,732.
   In 1960, James E. Alexander was chairman and E.R. Browning became president. In 1964, Browning was chairman and W.W. Misenhimer became president. The year 1965 saw the bank's name changed to Security Bank.
   Marlin D. Jackson was elected presi-
dent and chairman on Jan. 13, 1970 and
stayed for 13 years. On April 15, 1983, Jackson was appointed state bank com-missioner by Gov. Bill Clinton. Frank Oldham Jr. was elected chairman and president on April 21.
   The main bank is located at the corner of West Court and North Pruett streets. There are branch banks in Center Hill, the Paragould Plaza Park and Marmaduke.

DeBons and Co.
DeBons and Co., a sheet metal shop, was started in 1907 by J.B. DeBons, father of Eugene and Albert DeBons, the present owners. It was located in a building next to Clyde Mack Co. before moving to the 200 block on North Pruett Street and in 1917 to 107 W. Highland St.
   It remained there until the present build-
ing at 907 N. Third St. was finished in 1962. The DeBons sons acquired owner-ship when their father died in 1949.

Paragould Laundry Dry Cleaners
   Barton and McPherson founded the
Paragould Steam Laundry, located at
207 E. Main St., in 1912.
   Two years later, the laundry was moved to 409 N. Pruett St., its present location, and the name was changed  to Paragould Laundry Dry Cleaners. R. L. Carpenter owned the business from 1914 to 1949.
   J. R. Langley, first employed at the
business in 1918, purchased the business with Harold Scott in 1949. Langley retired in 1955, when Rube Beadles bought the business with Scott. Beadles, who had been with the company since he was 7 years old, retired in 1978.
   Jerry and Cheryl Buck, who have
been with the company for 21 years, are the current owners and operators.
Delivery service has been at the Paragould Laundry Dry Cleaners dating back to horse and wagon in 1912.

M.F. Block Co.
   M.F.Block Co. was established by
Maurice F. Block in July 1914 and for
most of its history used the trade name M.F. Block & Co. Block, whose career spanned more than 50 years, was active in the business until his death in January  1965.
  
 

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