Dr. Charles H. Cargile, who displayed in his life the sterling qualities of his Scotch ancestors, was recognized as one of the leading physicians of Bentonville. where he established his office twenty-eight years ago [as of this 1922 writing], and that his ability developed with the passing years was indicated in the large practice later accorded him. A member of one of the old families of Arkansas, he was born in Butts county, Georgia, April 21, 1853, his parents being Charles and Catherine Gray (Smith) Cargile, natives of Jasper county, Georgia. In 1854 they came to Arkansas where the father followed the occupation of farming, also becoming a large slaveholder. During the Civil War he served as a member of the Home Guard, with which he was identified for a year. He was a member of the Baptist church and a democrat in his political views.

In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Cargile were five children. Charles H.'s paternal grandfather, John Cargile, was born in Georgia and his demise occurred in that state. The maternal grandfather, Wyatt Rosser Smith, was also a native of Georgia and died in Texas in 1866. The Cargile family came originally from Scotland.

In the schools of southern Arkansas Charles H. Cargile acquired his early education, later entering the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1877. Going to Okolona, Arkansas, he there opened an office and continued to follow his profession in that locality until 1893, when he came to Bentonville, where he has since resided, being [at that time] one of the oldest physicians in the county. He never regarded his professional education as completed with the termination of his college course, but remained throughout his life a close and discriminating student of the science of medicine, taking postgraduate courses at New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Rochester, Minnesota and St. Louis, Missouri, and thereby greatly promoting his knowledge and skill. His labors were attended with a gratifying measure of success and his practice has steadily grown in volume and importance as he demonstrated his ability to cope with the intricate problems which continually confront the physician in his efforts to restore health and prolong life.

In March, 1878, Dr. Cargile was married to Miss Fannie Sloan of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, a daughter of Thomas B. Sloan of this state and a member of one of its pioneer families. Her maternal grandfather, Thomas C. Hudson, was also one of the early residents of Arkansas and assisted in locating the county seat of Clark county.  Dr. and Mrs. Cargile became the parents of seven children. 

Mrs. Cargile was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In his political views the Doctor was a democrat. During the World war  he served as a member of the appeal board, filling that position for a year.. He is a member of the American Medical Association, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is also connected with the Southern Medical Society, the Benton County and the Arkansas State Medical Societies and his high professional standing was indicated in the fact that a meeting of the state organization he was elected president. His time and attention are concentrated upon his chosen life work and was recognized as a man of high scientific attainments and lofty ideals, who made valuable contribution to the world's work. 

Mr. Cargile died Feb 13, 1930, and is buried in Okolona, Arkansas, in Clark County. 

​Adapted from Centennial History of Arkansas,  1922