My Genealogy Hound

W. A. Rector, a mulatto, and prominent man of Little Rock, was born in Little Rock, in 1833, the slave of Chester Ashley, being the servant of that family until after the emancipation. Following this, he located in Little Rock, where he was elected city collector, and afterward was elected city marshal, in which capacity he served until the State went back into the hands of the Democrats. He was then elected constable, after having been apppointed to that office to fill an unexpired term, after which he engaged in the wood business in the city. Mr. Rector was married at the age of twenty, to Miss Martha A. Hinston, who was also a slave in the Ashley family. They are the parents of three children: J. E., Annie M. (now widow of W. L. Copland, deceased) and Alice (deceased). J. E. Rector, his son, served as page in the lower house in the State legislature, and afterward attended school. His father wished him to enter the Military Academy, at West Point, and he was appointed as a candidate for entrance to that institution, but failed in the examination. He then returned to Little Rock, and was employed for fourteen years as superintendent of mints. He was elected three successive times as circuit clerk of the county, but, being counted out, he was not allowed to serve, and was a delegate of the State at large, to the Republican convention, in 1888, which nominated Harrison. He is now in the mail service, between Little Rock and Memphis. Mr. Rector's first wife died in 1858. He afterward married Miss Stagwer, by whom he had three children: J. K. (a graduate of Lincoln University, of Pennsylvania, now principal of the high school at Hot Springs, and studying law), Willie L. (deceased) and Charles (also deceased). Mr. Rector is the only survivor of the famous Ashley Band. On a return trip from Memphis, while furnishing the music at a celebration, the boiler of the steamer they were on burst, and four of the brothers were killed, only one of the bodies being recovered. Mr. Rector had a marvelous escape. He enjoys a wide and favorable acquaintance throughout this locality, and has won many friends by his upright, consistent course.