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XENOPHON OVERTON PINDALL was born on August 21, 1873, in Monroe County, Missouri, near Middle Grove. He attended Central College in Missouri and earned a law degree from the University of Arkansas in 1896. Pindall entered politics in 1902 when he was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives, serving until 1906. He was an unsuccessful candidate for attorney general in 1906, but was successful that same year when he ran for the Arkansas Senate. At the close of the legislative session in May 1907, Pindall was chosen president pro tempore. On February 11, 1907, Governor John S. Little resigned from office due to an emotional breakdown. John I. Moore, who was president of the Senate at the time, served as acting governor until May 15, 1907, when Pindall, the newly chosen president of the Senate, became acting governor.  Pindall served in this capacity until his term as president of the Senate expired on January 11, 1909. Pindall's successor was Jesse M. Martin, who served as acting governor for three days. During Pindall's term, the Ozark National Forest was founded, and a pure food and drug law was passed and a measure aimed at preventing price discrimination was enacted. After leaving office, Pindall returned to his law practice, earning a renowned reputation as a criminal lawyer. Xenophon Pindall died on January 2, 1935, and is buried in Arkansas City.

Source:

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 1, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.

Donovan, Timothy P., and Willard B. Gatewood, Jr., The Governors of Arkansas, Essays in Political Biography, Fayetteville; The University of Arkansas Press, 1981

Herndon, Dallas T., Centennial History of Arkansas, Vol. 1, Chicago, Little Rock; The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1922. 3 vols.