The regimental officers and captains are as follows: Colonel, James M. Johnson; lieutenant-colonel, Elhanon J. Searle; majors, Elijah D. Ham, Francis M. Johnson; surgeon, William B. Waterman; assistant surgeons, Thomas B. Drake, Harvey H. Bolinger, Robert B. Campfield; chaplains, Francis Springer, John M. Leard; adjutants, Francis M. Sams, William Patterson; regimental quartermasters, Crittenden C. Wells, Jonathan H. Hewes; Company A, captains, Randall Smith, Daniel E. Sutcliffe; Company B, captains, Elith Haynes, Thomas H. Scott; Company C, captain, James R. Vanderpool; Company D, captains, Ransom R. Rhodes, William H. Newman; Company E, captains, James M. Hutchings, John W. Spralding; Company F, captains, John McCoy, George W. Raymond; Company G, captain, George W. R. Smith; Company H. captain, William C. Parker; Company I, captains, William J. Heffington, John Whiteford, Samuel Bard; Company K, captain, Abial Stevens. Total casualties, 184.
The Second Cavalry and Second Infantry of the Federal Arkansas troops had but few representatives from Washington County. Col. Edward J. Brooks, of Fayetteville, was given authority to organize a Fourth Arkansas Infantry Volunteer troop at Fayetteville, but his recruits were absorbed into other commands or disbanded.
Battery A, First Arkansas Light Artillery Volunteers, known [p.226] as "Stark's Battery," was raised by Denton D. Stark, then adjutant First Arkansas Cavalry. "April 1st the battery was full," so says the adjutant-general's report, "but was not mustered into service until August 31, 1863. Meantime and until the 25th of April, of this year, it was stationed at Fayetteville, Ark., (though officers and men were absent in Missouri procuring horses when the battle of the 18th of April took place), when, by orders from headquarters of the department of the Missouri, Northwestern Arkansas was evacuated. From May 4th to September 21st, 1863, the battery was stationed at Springfield, Mo., receiving, while there, guns and
equipments. In September Lieut. Robert V. Thompson, with one section of the battery, participated in an expedition under the command of Col. M. La Rue Harrison, through Southwestern Missouri and Northwestern Arkansas, in pursuit of Col. Coffee's command, then raiding that section of country, and proceeded thence to Fayetteville, Ark. The remaining two sections of the battery, under the command of Capt. Stark, left Springfield, Mo., September 21, 1863, for Fayetteville, marching first, however, as far north as Greenfield, Mo., under Col. Harrison, who was then in pursuit of Gen. Shelby. Moving thence to Fayetteville, one section of the battery took part, about October 20, in a skirmish with the enemy, under Col. Brooks, at Cross Timbers, Mo. The battery remained at Fayetteville until March 19, 1864, when, by order of Brig.-Gen. Thayer, it marched to Fort Smith. On the 23d of March it joined the expedition to Camden, forming a part of Col. Adams' brigade. It was present in the skirmish at Moscow on or about the 13th of April, with four guns in action, and relieved the Second Indiana Battery, under a severe fire from the enemy's artillery. Leaving Camden with the retreating force under Gen. Steele, April 28, it reached Little Rock May 3, 1864, and moved thence with the frontier division of the Army of Arkansas, to Fort Smith. In October one section of the battery, under Lieut. Mayes, was sent with other troops in pursuit of Col. Gano, who had captured a supply train between Fort Scott and Fort Smith, making a forced march to Cabin Creek, north of Fort Gibson, where they came up with the enemy retreating, but he escaped. The battery occupied Fort No. 2, at Fort Smith, until the 30th [p.227] of August, 1865, when it was mustered out of service. * * * * * [The men] were faithful, brave and efficient, and reflected great credit upon the battery and the State."
The officers were Captains, Denton D. Stark and Henry H. Easter; first lieutenant, Robert Thompson; second lieutenants, Edward D. Brogan, William Mayes; first sergeant, Alex Thompson; quartermaster-sergeant, John B. Malidon.
The battery was largely represented by Washington County men. Their casualties were twenty-five, who were killed and died of disease.
Independent companies were organized in the autumn of 1863, under orders of Maj.-Gen. Schofield, and among those organized in Washington County were Capt. Bracken Lewis' company, Capt. Mackey's company, and a West Fork Township company. The first two companies served in the defense of Fayetteville, November 3, 1864.
The total number of Washington County men in the Federal army, according to an estimate of Col. T. J. Hunt, is between 500 and 800.
Col. W. H. Brooks was probably the most active representative of the Southern cause for Washington County. Among the first organizations was Brooks' battalion of cavalry (State troops), which afterward became E. I. Stirman's battalion, and later on was transferred to the Cismississippi Department, where it was known as the Sharpshooters' battalion. A few of these were Washington County men. Capt. Lafayette Boone's company, which served at Elkhorn, was officered as follows: First lieutenant, L. P. Beavert; second lieutenant, Sam. H. Smithson, and third lieutenant, John O. Parks.
The well-known Thirty-fourth Arkansas Infantry then fell to the command of Col. Brooks, and for an account of its formation a portion of the address of Col. J. R. Pettigrew, delivered at the Grand Reunion of ex-Confederates at Prairie Grove, on August 19, 1886, is here inserted: "Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: Twenty-five years ago this beautiful valley was a military camp; red battle had stamped his foot, and the nation had felt the shock. Peaceful pursuits had been abandoned, and all was busy preparation for the inevitable conflict. In September, [p.228] 1862, at this place, the Thirty-fourth (Brook's) Regiment of Arkansas Infantry was organized; shortly thereafter the regiment went into camp at Mount Comfort, then at Elm Springs, then to Elkhorn, thence to Camp Reagan, then to Spadra, on the Arkansas River, where we received our arms, Enfield rifles; thence we marched to Mazzard Prairie, near Fort Smith, where the regiment became a part of Fagan's Brigade. All the points named were camps of instruction, and the ‘tramp, tramp’ of the soldier was heard on every hand. The hot blood of youth coursed in our veins then, and the ‘pomp and circumstance of glorious war, was hailed with delight. The enemy was approaching; patriotism and desire to defend homes and firesides was at fever heat. The order to march at length came; the Arkansas River was crossed. At Lee's Creek the head of the column was halted, the different commands massed, and the solemn ceremony had of presentation of battle flags to each regiment. No more impressive scene was ever witnessed in all this land than on that calm winter morning, to see thousands of soldiers kneeling with their faces northward, and the solemn invocation commending them and their fortunes to the arbitrament of arms and the God of battles. Thenceforth the red flag of battle waved over each command. The march was resumed, and on the 7th day of December Prairie Grove was reached.
"The stillness of the early morning was broken by the clash of arms. about 200 of the enemy's cavalry were captured near the church. Our infantry coming up, met the prisoners; enthusiasm and eagerness for the fray were aroused to the highest pitch. We moved rapidly to the battle-field, and the long line of infantry and artillery was placed in position, where we awaited the approach and attack of the enemy. About noon the cavalry were withdrawn, pickets driven in, and the enemy charged the whole line of Fagan's Brigade; the battle of Prairie Grove had opened in earnest, and Fagan's Brigade, from that time until shortly before sundown, repelled charge after charge of the enemy under the gallant Herron. About an hour before sunset the enemy withdrew his infantry, and opened a terrific fire upon our lines. The enemy was reinforced by Gen. Blount's command, which at once opened a terrible fire upon our left. [p.229] Gen. Parsons and his invincible Missourians met him with great gallantry and success. The battle of Prairie Grove, while of short duration, will compare, perhaps, with any fought during the war, in fierceness and desperate gallantry. The rattle of musketry often rose above the roar of artillery, and the bright sunlight gleamed from bayonets held by hands as steady as Napoleon's veterans at Austerlitz or Waterloo. Officers and soldiers were alike brave, and there were feats of individual prowess that stamped the actors heroes. Thus it was the logic of fate that Brooks' regiment received its first shock of battle, and baptism of blood, almost on the very spot of its origin. * * * * Many a gallant life went out in that fierce conflict; Capt. William Woosley (or Owsley), Lieuts. Ben Boone and James Pollard, as brave and good men as ever breathed the breath of life; Tell Duke, the gifted and intrepid lieutenant, whose spirit rose from the din of battle, the rattle of musketry, and the roar of artillery to the peaceful bosom of its God; William Gray, color-bearer; John Sharp, Henry Morrison, Cy Graham, Clem Kirksly, James Gray, and others whose names I cannot now recall, went down in the shock of battle to fill heroes' graves, and left names with immortality synonymous. Brooks' regiment can well claim to be the child of Prairie Grove. It had its origin here, and aided in making its fields and groves historic. * * * * Night closed the scene at Prairie Grove with the victorious Confederates occupying the field, and the wearied soldier sought whatever of repose he could get on the perilous edge of battle, which he expected to be resumed on the morrow, dreaming, fitfully, perchance, of home and loved ones whom he expected soon to greet; but late at night the order was silently passed along the lines to prepare to march. The soldiers who expected to follow up the victory were not slow in getting ready; such, however, was not the case; it was a retreat, and Gen. Hindman's army were subjected to the trying ordeal of turning their faces from home and loved ones, and a hard-earned victory. Thus we came to Prairie Grove, and thus we left its fields, made forever historic by the valor and blood of patriots."
The regiment served after this at Helena, and were in the retreat from Little Rock. At the action at Jenkins' Ferry they [p.230] sustained greater losses probably than during all their career; here it was that Capt. Walker was killed and Col. Brooks was wounded.
The most reliable information obtainable gives the following regimental organizations of Col. Brooks' command, with changes, and as complete as possible where companies are from Washington County: Colonel, W. H. Brooks; lieutenant-colonels, T. M. Gunter, J. R. Pettigrew; majors, James Owsley, J. R. Pettigrew, F. R. Earle; adjutants, M. C. Duke, Peter Carnahan; quartermaster, James Trott; commissary sergeant, Capt. Robert Tyus; sergeant-majors, Frank Watson, Henry Keyser; surgeon, Dr. W. B. Welch; assistant surgeon, Dr. J. M. Lacy; hospital steward, G. M. Cox. Company A–Captains, T. M. Gunter, J. W. Walker; acting captain, Lee Taylor; first lieutenant, Pomroy Hart; second lieutenant, J. M. Roark. Company B–Captains, F. R. Earle, James Mitchell, George Gibson; first lieutenants, James Mitchell, Peter Carnahan; second lieutenant, William Buchanan. Company C–Captain, Samuel H. Smithson; first lieutenant, John O. Parks; second lieutenant, Isaac Roark; third lieutenant, James Pollard; orderly sergeant, Robert Anderson. Company D–Captain, William Owsley. Company E–Captain, James E. Wright; second lieutenant, J. M. Pittman. Company F–Captain, C. L. Pickens. Company G–Captain, James Owsley. Company H–Captain, Wallace; first lieutenant, Mayes; second lieutenant, Albert Brodie; third lieutenant, J. L. Duke. Company I–Captain, A. V. Edmondson. Company K–Captains, J. R. Pettigrew, A. Wilson; first lieutenants, M. C. Duke, S. P. Pittman; second lieutenants, B. F. Boone, C. F. Reagan; third lieutenants, A. Wilson, James Beard.
At Camden the following consolidation seems to have been completed in 1863: Companies C, H and A were consolidated into Company A, Company G was merged into Company D and Company I was placed in Company K.
The Sixteenth Arkansas Confederate Infantry was organized under Gen. McCullough's order, at Rogers (then Calahan Springs), about the middle of November, 1861, with the following officers, the list being made most complete when there is Washington County representation:
Colonels, J. F. Hill, W. T. Neal, David Province; lieutenantcolonels, W. T. Neal, B F. Pixley, J. M. Pittman; majors —– Farmer, J. M. Pittman. Company A, captains, L. Swagerty, Jesse Adams. Company B, captains, —– Turner, Jesse Cravens. Company C, captains, John Connelly, J. J. Yearwood. Company D, captains, John Smith, E. G. Mitchell, J. Bailey. Company E, captain, W. S. Poyner. Company F, captains, David Goodnight, —– Stephens. Company G, captain, J. P. Carnahan; first lieutenant, W. E. Pittman; second lieutenants, B. F. Pixley, B. Carnahan; third lieutenants, V. A. Ross, John Eggers. Company H, captains, —– Kelley, J. P. Cloud. Company I, captains, Dan Boone; first lieutenant, John Garrett; second lieutenant, Abe Wilson. Company K, captains, John Lawrence, James Waldon.
The last change of officers occurred at the reorganization at Corinth, Miss., where Col. David Province took charge of the regiment. The general course of the regiment was as follows, after its organization at Calahan's Springs: It first went to Elm Springs, thence to Cross Hollows with Gen. Price, then Elkhorn and Van Buren, thence with Gen. Price to Corinth, Tupelo, Iuka and Corinth again, where it was the only Arkansas regiment in the First Missouri Brigade. Their next move was to Port Gibson, where they were captured. The officers were imprisoned and the privates paroled. The greatest casualties occurring to the Sixteenth Regiment was at Corinth, where seven-twelfths were reported "killed, wounded and missing."
The following State troops were in service at Oak Hill: Col. Gratiot's Third Arkansas Infantry, Col. Walker's Fourth Arkansas Infantry, Col. Dockery's Fifth Arkansas Infantry, Col. Churchill's First Arkansas Cavalry and Col. Carroll's Cavalry.
Their Washington County representation was somewhat as follows:
Colonel, Gratiot, Third Arkansas Infantry; lieutenant-colonel, David Province; Company —–, captain, Bell, and Company —–, captain, Pleasant Buchanan; first lieutenant, J. M. Lacy; colonel, J. D. Walker, Fourth Arkansas Infantry; lieutenantcolonel, T. D. Berry; major, S. W. Peel; Company —–, captain, T. M. Gunter; first lieutenant, Wythe Walker; colonel, —–, Dockery, Fifth Arkansas Infantry; captain, W. T. Neal; colonel, [p.232] T. J. Churchill, First Arkansas Cavalry; colonel, Carroll; Company ––, captain, Jeff Kelly; first lieutenant, Lafayette Boone; second lieutenant, James A. Ferguson; third lieutenant, Samuel H. Smithson.
Col. Walker's regiment was organized about July 8, 1861, at Camp Walker, in Benton County, and was disbanded about the last of August, of the same year, at Walnut Springs. Among the other captains of the regiment were Denny, Fancher, Johnson, Pittman, Sanders, Bunch and Tinnin. An independent company, under Capt. J. F. Rieff, also did excellent service.
The Fifteenth Arkansas Mounted Infantry of the Northwest, so distinguished from another Fifteenth Arkansas Infantry, did service at Wilson's Creek. In it was organized by Capt. James Richards, probably in November, 1861, a company which took the title Company G, and also one under Capt. Pleasant Buchanan, called Company H. Capt. Richard's company was partly of Washington County men, but Company H was entirely from that county. The company was organized at Cane Hill, with First Lieut. Patton Inks and Second Lieut. A. A. Evans. The captain and first lieutenant were captured at Elkhorn, and A. A. Evans became captain. The regiment then started for Pittsburg Landing, but the battle was over. Iuka and Corinth were their next points of action. At the latter place Capt. W. H. Holcomb, of Springdale, became captain of Company G. Companies G and H were next among the forces that moved to Port Gibson, then Jackson, Miss., and Champion Hill. At Black River, on May 17, 1863, Capt. Holcomb was captured and sent to Johnson's Island, Ohio, and after the siege of Vicksburg Companies G and H were returned to Arkansas and consolidated under Capt. A. A. Evans. The organization of Company G was: Captains, James Richards, W. H. Holcomb; first lieutenants, William Cooper, J. H. Williams; second lieutenants, Marion Mosier, Evan Atwood; third lieutenants, James Cooper, White.
In the Seventeenth Arkansas Infantry, under Col. H. M. Rector and Lieut.-Col. Griffith, there was but one company, that of Capt. T. W. Thomason.
The total Confederate representation from Washington County is estimated at about 2,000 men by Col. T. M. Gunter et al.
It is greatly to be regretted that the records of Confederate soldiery in Washington County have all been lost except those uncertain traces left in the treacherous memories of those, now growing old, who passed through the distracting struggles.
In the tombs that dot the cemeteries lying on the hills east and west of Fayetteville are the certain records of the deadliness of the conflict.
The National Military Cemetery, lying about three-quarters of a mile southwest of the court-house, is a natural mound embracing six acres, surrounded by a columned brick wall, and surmounted by a flag-staff, about which in concentric circles lie 1,214 of the victims of Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove and Fayetteville. The place was located by the Government in 1867, and stationed in the brick lodge, with its adjoining stables, is the keeper, who is now in constant charge–Capt. A. Pettit. The grounds originally contained about 1,900 graves, but many have been removed by friends.
FAYETTEVILLE.
The Confederate Military Cemetery lies on the slope of East Heights. It is an octagon, surrounded by a stone wall, with a smaller octagon in the center, intended for a monument, but which now contains the grave of Gen. Slack, who fell at Prairie Grove. The cemetery is divided into eight convergent sections, the four sections of graves alternating with the remaining four, which are devoted to ornamental shrubbery. Here lie about 700 who wore the gray at Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove and Fayetteville, embracing citizens of Texas, Louisiana, Missouri and Arkansas; and it represents a greater mausoleum in the hearts of the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of those men, or such of them as lived in Washington County, for it is the result of the efforts of the Southern Memorial Association, a society of ladies organized in Fayetteville, and other parts of the county, in June, 1872; it was dedicated by them precisely a year later. or some twelve years the president of the society has been an earnest and intelligent Christian lady–Mrs. Lizzie Pollard–to whose efforts the success of the movement is in no small degree due.
The enterprising town of Fayetteville dates its history from the organization of Washington County in 1828. At about that time George McGarroh, the father of James, John and William McGarroh, removed from the neighborhood of Evansville, and located near the spring in what is now known as the Masonic addition to Fayetteville. The next year James Leeper, the father of Mathew W. Leeper, came, and after living for a time in a camp, built a small log house near where the Mountain House now is. Soon after Reuben W. Reynolds and the Sweeneys arrived. One of the Sweeneys built a house, and kept a sort of hotel. In February, 1830, the first store-house was erected. It was built by James Holmsley and two other young men for one John Nye, an Eastern man. They built it of black oak poles, and covered it with boards made from a large oak tree that stood on the branch below the spring west of town. It was without a floor. It stood on the west side of the public square. This building was completed in one day, and the next day the same young men erected a similar structure for two brothers, Seviers, who opened a store near what is known as the Blockmill corner. The Seviers remained but a few months. Nye continued for two or three years.
The above were the first settlers of Fayetteville. The McGarrohs were of the true backwoods type, and not a few of the now well-worn newspaper anecdotes of early Arkansas are said to have originated with them. They were entirely uneducated, not able even to read or write, but John, or Jack, as he was more popularly known, was a man of considerable native ability, and was twice elected to the Legislature. As a member of that body he assumed much dignity, and sedulously sought to conceal his illiteracy. To this end he frequently procured a newspaper, and while sitting in his seat in the House scanned its columns long and earnestly. A member, one day observing that he held his paper upside down, accosted him with: "Uncle Jack, what is the news?" "I see they have had a thundering big storm on the river," replied Jack, "and capsized every durned boat." The [p.235] paper was filled with advertisements of boats, each accompanied by a picture of a boat, from which, in the inverted position of the paper, he drew the inference, they had been capsized.
William McGarroh was for a long time a grocery keeper in Fayetteville. He never kept any books, and although he did a considerable credit business he is said never to have made but one mistake. On one occasion he charged a customer with a cheese, when he had purchased a grindstone. Upon settlement the customer objected to the item. McGarroh turned to the wall back of him, which was covered with marks and signs, and after studying it for a moment, broke out with: "I'll be durned, if I didn't forget to put an eye in that cheese."
In a letter to Mr. J. H. Van Hoose, in 1879, Rev. John Buchanan has the following to say of the early history of Fayetteville: "The town of Fayetteville was located at the county site of Washington County in 1829. The territory now embraced in Benton and Madison Counties then belonged to Washington County. This is the reason why the location was made so far northeast of the center of what is now Washington County. Two of the commissioners who located the county site were former residents of Lincoln County, Tenn., and Fayetteville was the county site of Lincoln County, hence the name Fayetteville was given to the new town.
"So soon as the location was made Capt. Jack McGarroh moved to the place and camped there until a house was built. The first court was held there in August, 1829. Two log houses were erected at the time of the court. One was floored with hewed puncheons; the court was held in it. The other had only a dirt floor, which was used for a hotel. Forks were driven in the ground, poles laid in them, and boards placed upon the poles for a table.
"I do not remember who presided as judge of the court, but think it was Judge Johnson, father of Hon. R. W. Johnson, now of Little Rock. There were two lawyers present, but their names I do not remember.
"McGarroh's table was well supplied with pound cake, beef, venison and turkeys, as wild game of every description was abundant about there at that time.
"The first store-house ever built in Fayetteville was put up for two brothers by the name of Sevier, nephews of the Hon. Ambrose H. Sevier, one of our first lawyers and statesmen. They brought their goods to Cane Hill, and deposited them there with Col. W. B. Woody until their house was built in Fayetteville. In December, 1829, they hired me to haul their goods to Fayetteville. They remained in business there but a short time."
The commissioners of the seat of justice were Lewis Evans, Larkin Newton, Samuel Vaughn and John Woody. They fixed upon the site of Fayetteville, and when the government survey of land was made, it was found to be upon a sixteenth section, the school section. A special act of Congress was therefore passed transferring the school section of Township 16, Range 30 west, to the twentieth section. The patent for the town site was issued February 27, 1835. It granted to the commissioners the south half of the northeast quarter and the north half of the southeast quarter of Section 16, Township 15, Range 30 west.
The survey of the town was made by Charles McClellan, then deputy county surveyor, assisted by John West, John Smallman, James Parr, William McGarroh and A. Mankins as chain carriers.
Sale of Lots.–The lots were sold chiefly at public sale, A. Whinnery being the auctioneer. The following is a statement of the sales up to 1837, the names of the purchasers and the price paid:
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 16
Lot.: 5
Price.: $100.00
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 16
Lot.: 4
Price.: 10.50
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 29
Lot.: 1
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 29
Lot.: 2
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 29
Lot.: 3
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 29
Lot.: 4
Price.: 15.00
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 29
Lot.: 5
Price.: 15.00
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 29
Lot.: 12
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 29
Lot.: 7
Price.: 80.00
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 29
Lot.: 8
Price.: 20.00
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 29
Lot.: 9
Price.: 15.00
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 29
Lot.: 10
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 29
Lot.: 11
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 29
Lot.: 6
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: A. B. Anthony
Block.: 30
Lot.:
ln='4'>30.00
NAMES.: Matthew Leeper
Block.: 16
Lot.: 7
Price.: 82.00
NAMES.: Matthew Leeper
Block.: 15
Lot.: 7
Price.: 40.00
NAMES.: Matthew Leeper
Block.: 15
Lot.: 8
Price.: 60.00
NAMES.: Matthew Leeper
Block.: 15
Lot.: 9
Price.: $70.00
NAMES.: Matthew Leeper
Block.: 15
Lot.: 10
Price.: 76.00
NAMES.: Matthew Leeper
Block.: 15
Lot.: 11
Price.: 50.00
NAMES.: Wm. McK. Ball
Block.: 16
Lot.: 6
Price.: 82.00
NAMES.: Wm. McK. Ball
Block.: 16
Lot.: 3
Price.: 12.00
NAMES.: Wm. McK. Ball
Block.: 4
Lot.:
ln='4'>50.00
NAMES.: John McGarroh
Block.: 16
Lot.: 9
Price.: 65.00
NAMES.: John McGarroh
Block.: 16
Lot.: 12
Price.: 12.00
NAMES.: John McGarroh
Block.: 16
Lot.: 13
Price.: 11.50
NAMES.: John T. Powers
Block.: 17
Lot.: 6
Price.: 65.00
NAMES.: John T. Powers
Block.: 17
Lot.: 12
Price.: 12.00
NAMES.: James P. Humes
Block.: 32
Lot.: 1
Price.: 16.50
NAMES.: James P. Humes
Block.: 32
Lot.: 2
Price.: 17.00
NAMES.: James P. Humes
Block.: 32
Lot.: 3
Price.: 11.00
NAMES.: John West
Block.: 7
Lot.: 1
Price.: 27.00
NAMES.: Alfred Wallace
Block.: 26
Lot.: 4
Price.: 76.00
NAMES.: Alfred Wallace
Block.: 14
Lot.: 8
Price.: 56.00
NAMES.: Alfred Wallace
Block.: 14
Lot.: 1
Price.: 34.00
NAMES.: [p.237] Dillin Irby
Block.: 18
Lot.: 4
Price.: $12.50
NAMES.: Dillin Irby
Block.: 18
Lot.: 2
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: Dillin Irby
Block.: 13
Lot.: 8
Price.: 22.00
NAMES.: Dillin Irby
Block.: 13
Lot.: 9
Price.: 16.50
NAMES.: Martha Tramell
Block.: 24
Lot.: 2
Price.: 15.00
NAMES.: Martha Tramell
Block.: 24
Lot.: 1
Price.: 25.00
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 28
Lot.: 6
Price.: 46.00
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 28
Lot.: 4
Price.: 40.00
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 16
Lot.: 11
Price.: 100.00
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 25
Lot.: 3
Price.: 26.00
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 25
Lot.: 4
Price.: 26.00
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 25
Lot.: 5
Price.: 20.00
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 25
Lot.: 9
Price.: 18.00
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 13
Lot.: 11
Price.: 10.25
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 13
Lot.: 4
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 13
Lot.: 12
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 13
Lot.: 3
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 13
Lot.: 1
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 13
Lot.: 8
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 13
Lot.: 2
Price.: 11.50
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 25
Lot.: 2
Price.: 23.50
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 16
Lot.: 2
Price.: 21.00
NAMES.: David Walker
Block.: 42
Lot.: 5
Price.: 35.00
NAMES.: W. T. Larremore
Block.: 28
Lot.: 10
Price.: 66.00
NAMES.: W. T. Larremore
Block.: 3
Lot.:
ln='4'>50.00
NAMES.: W. T. Larremore
Block.: 7
Lot.: 2
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: John Tuttle
Block.: 25
Lot.: 8
Price.: 25.00
NAMES.: W. F. Denton
Block.: 17
Lot.: 3
Price.: 25.00
NAMES.: B. H. Smithson
Block.: 17
Lot.: 1
Price.: 25.00
NAMES.: B. H. Smithson
Block.: 17
Lot.: 2
Price.: 18.00
NAMES.: B. H. Smithson
Block.: 25
Lot.: 1
Price.: 31.00
NAMES.: B. H. Smithson
Block.: 1
Lot.:
ln='4'>127.00
NAMES.: E. A. Sweeney
Block.: 17
Lot.: 9
Price.: 50.00
NAMES.: E. A. Sweeney
Block.: 18
Lot.: 8
Price.: 20.00
NAMES.: A. Yell
Block.: 41
Lot.:
ln='4'>15.00
NAMES.: A. Yell
Block.: 42
Lot.: 1
Price.: 16.00
NAMES.: L. Brodie
Block.: 17
Lot.: 7
Price.: 55.00
NAMES.: H. M. Hill
Block.: 8
Lot.:
ln='4'>30.00
NAMES.: William Dugan
Block.: 30
Lot.: 1
Price.: 85.00
NAMES.: William Dugan
Block.: 30
Lot.: 3
Price.: 70.00
NAMES.: William Dugan
Block.: 25
Lot.: 11
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: William Dugan
Block.: 25
Lot.: 12
Price.: 21.00
NAMES.: William Dugan
Block.: 25
Lot.: 10
Price.: 16.00
NAMES.: J. M. Sweeney
Block.: 18
Lot.: 7
Price.: 20.00
NAMES.: Oneismus Evans
Block.: 16
Lot.: 15
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: Oneismus Evans
Block.: 16
Lot.: 2
Price.: 50.00
NAMES.: George McGarroh
Block.: 13
Lot.: 15
Price.: 30.00
NAMES.: William Skelton
Block.: 15
Lot.: 4
Price.: 13.00
NAMES.: William Skelton
Block.: 15
Lot.: 3
Price.: 13.00
NAMES.: William Skelton
Block.: 15
Lot.: 2
Price.: 16.00
NAMES.: William McGarroh
Block.: 15
Lot.: 7
Price.: 100.00
NAMES.: A. S. Walker
Block.: 5
Lot.:
ln='4'>50.00
NAMES.: James Byrnsides
Block.: 16
Lot.: 6
Price.: 52.00
NAMES.: James Byrnsides
Block.: 16
Lot.: 7
Price.: 144.00
NAMES.: James Byrnsides
Block.: 16
Lot.: 10
Price.: 25.50
NAMES.: James Byrnsides
Block.: 16
Lot.: 11
Price.: 40.00
NAMES.: James Byrnsides
Block.: 31
Lot.: 7
Price.: 17.00
NAMES.: James Byrnsides
Block.: 31
Lot.: 8
Price.: 23.00
NAMES.: Alfred Dobbs
Block.: 30
Lot.: 5
Price.: 82.00
NAMES.: M. H. W. Mahan
Block.: 26
Lot.: 5
Price.: 60.00
NAMES.: M. H. W. Mahan
Block.: 26
Lot.: 3
Price.: 50.00
NAMES.: M. H. W. Mahan
Block.: 31
Lot.: 2
Price.: $30.00
NAMES.: M. H. W. Mahan
Block.: 31
Lot.: 3
Price.: 20.00
NAMES.: M. H. W. Mahan
Block.: 31
Lot.: 4
Price.: 14.00
NAMES.: L. C. Pleasants
Block.: 28
Lot.: 12
Price.: 67.00
NAMES.: C. M. McClellan
Block.: 30
Lot.: 7
Price.: 125.00
NAMES.: C. M. McClellan
Block.: 30
Lot.: 8
Price.: 10.00
History of Benton County
FAYETTEVILLE.
NAMES.: C. M. McClellan
Block.: 30
Lot.: 9
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: William M. Kincaid
Block.: 30
Lot.: 6
Price.: 114.00
NAMES.: William M. Kincaid
Block.: 25
Lot.: 7
Price.: 32.00
NAMES.: John T. Cox
Block.: 28
Lot.: 11
Price.: 75.00
NAMES.: John T. Cox
Block.: 19
Lot.: 1
Price.: 25.00
NAMES.: B. H. Martin
Block.: 26
Lot.: 12
Price.: 50.00
NAMES.: John B. Webster
Block.: 26
Lot.: 13
Price.: 32.00
NAMES.: John B. Webster
Block.: 31
Lot.: 9
Price.: 31.00
NAMES.: John B. Webster
Block.: 19
Lot.: 2
Price.: 25.00
NAMES.: John B. Webster
Block.: 35
Lot.:
ln='4'>10.00
NAMES.: John B. Webster
Block.: 36
Lot.:
ln='4'>13.00
NAMES.: John B. Webster
Block.: 34
Lot.:
ln='4'>12.50
. NAMES.: M. H. Clark
Block.: 26
Lot.: 15
Price.: 50.00
NAMES.: M. H. Clark
Block.: 17
Lot.: 4
Price.: 28.00
NAMES.: M. H. Clark
Block.: 18
Lot.: 3
Price.: 15.00
NAMES.: M. H. Clark
Block.: 18
Lot.: 1
Price.: 12.50
NAMES.: M. H. Clark
Block.: 22
Lot.:
ln='4'>15.00
NAMES.: M. H. Clark
Block.: 11
Lot.:
ln='4'>21.00
NAMES.: W. D. Hart
Block.: 26
Lot.: 8
Price.: 21.00
NAMES.: W. D. Hart
Block.: 23
Lot.:
ln='4'>20.50
NAMES.: P. V. Rhea
Block.: 17
Lot.: 8
Price.: 41.00
NAMES.: R. W. Reynolds
Block.: 28
Lot.: 9
Price.: 55.00
NAMES.: R. W. Reynolds
Block.: 28
Lot.: 8
Price.: 55.00
NAMES.: R. W. Reynolds
Block.: 28
Lot.: 7
Price.: 101.00
NAMES.: George Freyschleg
Block.: 30
Lot.: 4
Price.: 80.00
NAMES.: George Freyschleg
Block.: 31
Lot.: 1
Price.: 131.00
NAMES.: James Sinclair
Block.: 30
Lot.: 11
Price.: 25.00
NAMES.: James Sinclair
Block.: 30
Lot.: 10
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: James Sinclair
Block.: 30
Lot.: 12
Price.: 18.50
NAMES.: Isaac Murphy
Block.: 12
Lot.: 1
Price.: 11.00
NAMES.: Isaac Murphy
Block.: 12
Lot.: 2
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: Isaac Murphy
Block.: 12
Lot.: 3
Price.: 14.00
NAMES.: Isaac Murphy
Block.: 12
Lot.: 4
Price.: 14.00
NAMES.: L. Evans
Block.: 17
Lot.: 5
Price.: 35.00
NAMES.: L. Evans
Block.: 13
Lot.: 5
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: J. M. Tuttle
Block.: 31
Lot.: 10
Price.: 45.00
NAMES.: Wilson Bros
Block.: 16
Lot.: 3
Price.: 87.87
NAMES.: John S. Blair
Block.: 6
Lot.:
ln='4'>150.00
NAMES.: Matthew Hubbard
Block.: 42
Lot.: 3
Price.: 7.00
NAMES.: Matthew Hubbard
Block.: 42
Lot.: 4
Price.: 17.00
NAMES.: John Lewis
Block.: 28
Lot.: 5
Price.: 60.10
NAMES.: John Lewis
Block.: 28
Lot.: 15
Price.: 16.00
NAMES.: John Lewis
Block.: 16
Lot.: 10
Price.: 100.00
NAMES.: Samuel O. Harris
Block.: 28
Lot.: 17
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: Samuel O. Harris
Block.: 28
Lot.: 16
Price.: 14.00
NAMES.: Samuel O. Harris
Block.: 32
Lot.: 7
Price.: 22.50
NAMES.: Samuel O. Harris
Block.: 14
Lot.: 4
Price.: 20.00
NAMES.: Samuel O. Harris
Block.: 14
Lot.: 5
Price.: 15.00
NAMES.: Samuel O. Harris
Block.: 14
Lot.: 2
Price.: 15.00
NAMES.: Samuel O. Harris
Block.: 14
Lot.: 3
Price.: 15.00
NAMES.: William Meek
Block.: 16
Lot.: 8
Price.: 85.00
NAMES.: W. Marrs
Block.: w½4
Lot.:
ln='4'>12.00
NAMES.: J. M. Hoge
Block.: 13
Lot.: 7
Price.: 15.50
NAMES.: J. M. Hoge
Block.: 13
Lot.: 10
Price.: 12.00
NAMES.: D. R. Mills
Block.: 28
Lot.: 18
Price.: 11.50
NAMES.: [p.238] D. R. Mills
Block.: 28
Lot.: 2
Price.: $15.00
NAMES.: J. H. George
Block.: 28
Lot.: 19
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: Jackson Bigelow
Block.: 26
Lot.: 14
Price.: 39.00
NAMES.: Jackson Bigelow
Block.: 26
Lot.: 1
Price.: 106.00
NAMES.: Solomon Tuttle
Block.: 15
Lot.: 6
Price.: 22.00
NAMES.: Solomon Tuttle
Block.: 15
Lot.: 5
Price.: 20.50
NAMES.: John G. Stout
Block.: 21
Lot.:
ln='4'>15.00
NAMES.: William Wilson
Block.: 26
Lot.: 14
Price.: 26.00
NAMES.: J. & G. Laplin
Block.: 26
Lot.: 9
Price.: 19.00
NAMES.: J. & G. Laplin
Block.: 18
Lot.: 6
Price.: 16.00
NAMES.: James Irvin
Block.: 30
Lot.: 2
Price.: 101.00
NAMES.: James Irvin
Block.: 30
Lot.: 13
Price.: 11.25
NAMES.: James Irvin
Block.: 30
Lot.: 14
Price.: 10.50
NAMES.: James Irvin
Block.: 30
Lot.: 15
Price.: 10.00
NAMES.: N. Coffman
Block.: 28
Lot.: 3
Price.: 22.00
NAMES.: John Ransom
Block.: 28
Lot.: 1
Price.: $11.50
NAMES.: Samuel Alexander
Block.: 37
Lot.:
ln='4'>17.00
NAMES.: Samuel Alexander
Block.: 33
Lot.:
ln='4'>12.00
NAMES.: Samuel Alexander
Block.: 32
Lot.: 6
Price.: 10.50
NAMES.: Samuel L. Marrs
Block.: 32
Lot.: 5
Price.: 10.50
NAMES.: Samuel L. Marrs
Block.: 38
Lot.:
ln='4'>10.00
NAMES.: James Boone
Block.: 31
Lot.: 6
Price.: 10.0
.
NAMES.: James Boone
Block.: 14
Lot.: 7
Price.: 17.00
NAMES.: James Boone
Block.: 14
Lot.: 6
Price.: 11.50
NAMES.: James Boone
Block.: 39
Lot.: 6
Price.: 14.00
NAMES.: James Boone
Block.: 32
Lot.: 4
Price.: 11.00
NAMES.: James Boone
Block.: 9
Lot.: 4
Price.: 20.25
NAMES.: James Boone
Block.: 16
Lot.: 1
Price.: 12.75
NAMES.: James Boone
Block.: e½40
Lot.:
ln='4'>12.00
These sales in the aggregate amounted to 86,339, of which nearly the whole sum was expended in the erection of public buildings.
Early Settlers, etc.–Of above purchasers several were not residents of the town, but all, it is believed, were citizens of Washington County. A. B. Anthony was a merchant, associated in business for several years with L. Brodie. He succeeded in accumulating a large fortune, but subsequently removed to Texas, where he lost it all. Brodie died at his residence near Fayetteville. Mathew Leeper, W. McK. Ball, David Walker and Isaac Murphy were lawyers, and are mentioned elsewhere. W. T. Larremore was a prosperous merchant. He was also a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was in great demand as a campmeeting preacher. He subsequently became a convert to the teachings of Alexander Campbell, and united with the Christian Church. After several years' residence in Fayetteville, during which time he represented the county in the Legislature one term, he removed to Texas, where he died two or three years later.
In this connection mention of Moses Campbell should not be omitted. He was one of the leading merchants of "the thirties," and built what at that time was considered the finest dwelling in this portion of the State. It was the house now occupied by Mr. Prentice. Mr. Campbell remained but a few years, and when he left sold the property to W. S. Oldham.
The Wallace family consisted of William Wallace, the father, [p.239] and four sons: Willis S., Alfred, Leonard and Riley. They came to the county about 1831, and located on a farm some four or five miles east of Fayetteville. Soon after Alfred Wallace opened a general store on the west side of the public square, where for several years he carried on a prosperous business. Willis S. Wallace and one of the other brothers were the proprietors of a grocery.
James Byrnsides kept a hotel in a log building standing on the site of the Star livery stable. He was a man of some influence in the community, and in 1833 was elected a member of the Territorial Assembly. H. W. Mahan was a physician, and was killed by W. T. Blakemore, a son-in-law of Byrnsides.
William Skelton was a farmer and hatter, and lived two or three miles from town. W. D. Hart was a cabinet maker, and P. V. Rhea a blacksmith. John Lewis was also a blacksmith, and kept a hotel on what is known as Stone's Corner. M. H. Clark was a physician, and resided where Z. M. Pettigrew now does. Onesimus Evans was president of the Fayetteville branch of the State Bank. This institution was established in 1837, and did business in the two-story brick building standing about where the Van Winkle Hotel now is. William McK. Ball was the cashier. After an existence of four or five years it suspended, and the officers were charged with having stolen a part of the funds. Upon investigation it was found that the books had been carried away. One of them was subsequently found in White River, another in a stable loft in Fayetteville, and a third in an old stove. All had been badly mutilated, and the exact condition of the bank at the time of its failure was never ascertained. The most of those connected with it removed to Texas.
About 1839 Fayetteville received several citizens. Among them were James Sutton, Dr. T. J. Pollard, Stephen K. Stone, Dr. Charles W. Deane, Dr. Throckmorton, father of ex-Governor Throckmorton, of Texas; Dr. John I. Stirman, James H. Stirman and Alfred Stirman. Of these only two, Dr. T. J. Pollard and Stephen K. Stone, are now living. James Sutton was a Kentuckian, but had resided in Missouri prior to his coming to Fayetteville. He was engaged in merchandising until his death some time in "the fifties." His brother, Seneca Sutton, was also [p.240] a merchant of Fayetteville for a time. Dr. Throckmorton lived in the country near town, and was a partner of Dr. Pollard until he removed to Texas. Dr. Deane came from Tennessee, and for nearly half a century was a leading physician and prominent citizen of Washington County. The Stirmans came from Kentucky. James H. and Alfred Stirman were brothers, and were partners in a general mercantile business. The former was afterward a member of the firm of Stirman & Dickson, and was a member of the constitutional convention of 1861. Dr. John I. Stirman was a brother of James H. Stirman, and from March, 1860, to November, 1862, was Secretary of State. A correspondent of the Van Buren Intelligencer, writing in 1849 from Fayetteville, describes the town as follows:
"The population of this place has not increased since 1844, rather diminished–it has followed the business and taken abode at Van Buren. The retail business here is important, and the merchants engaged in it are ‘coining money’ faster than they could do it in California. Messrs. Stirman and Dickson and James Sutton are indeed doing a fine business; and I must say that dry goods are retailed here as cheap as at Van Buren. This they are enabled to do on account of the small expense of storekeeping, living, etc.
"Fayetteville is the foremost town of Arkansas in the cause of education, and Washington stands second to no county in the State for schools. The Rev. C. Washbourne and Miss Sawyer are sturdy pioneers in the cause, and are entitled to the gratitude of parents and guardians for their perseverance under so many adverse circumstances. It was under Mr. Washbourne's charge of the matter that the Ozark Institute took its rise, under the style of ‘Far West Seminary,’ which, though it was destroyed by fire, phoenix-like rose from its ashes, and is now spreading its wings of literature and science over a pupilage of sixty scholars. This institution is under the control of Mr. Robert W. Mecklin, who is in every way qualified for the charge. His reputation has reached over the whole of Western Arkansas. He is assisted by Messrs. Lockhart and Van Hoose, both gentlemen of high literary acquirements. I learn that Rev. Robert Graham, a gentleman of high literary attainments and fine reputation as a scholar. [p.241] has been engaged, and will, some time next month, commence as assistant to Mr. Mecklin. This school, even in its infancy, far excels any other that I know of in the State. The Ozark Institute is about three miles from Fayetteville, in a beautiful and highly cultivated neighborhood, distinguished for its health.
"Miss James has a fine academy for young ladies, about a mile from the institute. It is a new establishment, but is in a progressive and flourishing condition. Miss J. has the reputation of being a fine teacher, and of an indefatigable spirit. At an early day she will, I doubt not, have a fine academy.
"At this place Miss Sawyer's Female Seminary stands No. 1 in the whole country, and the success of this institution is a gratifying testimonial to laudable perseverance. Miss S. commenced with a small beginning against many odds, which she controlled with an energy that would do honor to any leading spirit. Hers, in deed, is a leading spirit. She first sounded the tocsin of education, and sounded the death-knell of ignorance and vice. By her exertions a degree of intelligence and refinement is spread over this county, unseen and unfelt in other new countries. But I was going to speak of the school. The building is new, copious, convenient and neat, combining all the necessary requirements. About fifty pupils attend, the largest number of whom reside in the neighborhood, yet a considerable number are from abroad, who either board with Miss S. or in the neighborhood among the many clever families that reside here. The school has the benefits of the erudition of a splendid teacher and enlarged scholar in the person of Rev. C. Washbourne.
"Among the many beautiful cottages in sight from this place is the ‘Waxhaus,’ the homestead of the gallant and lamented Yell. Upon a high hill, about a mile off in the northwest, stands the residence of Judge Oldham, by far the most beautiful seat of all around. The judge has moved off to Texas, as I understand, about a week ago. Col. Leeper has built upon a neighboring hill. His fine improvements present a beautiful prospect, and as fine as is the view of this residence from town, yet much more so is the magnificent scenery around from thence. At one glance a beautiful panorama of nature and art is beheld–hill, valley, forest, prairie and stream.
"The ‘yaller’ fever rages here to a considerable extent, and for so healthy a country many will be carried off with it. About 100 will go from this county. They intended to go up the Arkansas and cross the mountains on Col. Fremont's last trace. The only reason I can learn for taking an unexplored route is that they believe Fremont has gone to some rich diggings that are not known to the public, and they wish to share the fruits of his discoveries. Among those going are Judge Murphy, Judge Davis, Dr. Cunningham, Dr. McCulloh and Lewis Evans, of this county, Judge Hoge, J. W. Washbourne and Pierce Miller. of Benton."
The following description of Fayetteville as it was in 1852 is condensed from an interesting sketch written by Hon. J. H. Van Hoose in 1882. Thirty years ago Fayetteville was a pretty little village of about 600 inhabitants, all of whom were industrious and happy. Arkansas College, presided over by Rev. Robert Graham, was fast coming into notice, and a large number of boys and young men, sons of wealthy planters of the South, were sent here each year to be educated. There was also a female seminary, founded by Miss Sawyer, who, with such assistants as those accomplished young ladies, Miss Foster and Miss Daniels and Prof. Zilliner, an accomplished musician, added much to make Fayetteville then famous for its educational facilities. Many beautiful young ladies from Missouri, the Indian country and South Arkansas attended this school. These school girls and the young men of Arkansas College, together with the young men of the town and our own beautiful girls, made Fayetteville society second to none in the State; in fact, from 1851 to 1861 there were very few towns in the South or West the size of ours where there could be found more prosperous business men, more gallant beaux, more charming and beautiful oung ladies, better schools or more intelligent, industrious, happy and contented people than our own loved Fayetteville could produce.
In 1852 we elected a town council, with Col. James P. Neal as chief alderman or mayor, and Jim Ballard as town constable. There were then six dry goods stores in Fayetteville, all doing a profitable business. People from King's River and War Eagle country, from Benton and Crawford Counties and the Indian [p.243] Nation, bought all their goods here. James Sutton sold goods on the corner now occupied by Achard & Co. His store-room and warehouse was 30×150 feet, and he sold immense quantities of goods, and bought everything the farmers brought to him. Stirman & Dickson sold goods in a brick store-house located on the lot now occupied by the drug store of Whitlow & Lake. They, too, did a large business. S. K. Stone was selling goods in a small, one-story brick on the same spot where his splendid fireproof brick now stands. L. B. Cunningham did business in a two-story frame house on the corner where Hansard's gallery is now located. W. L. Wilson was selling goods in a frame house where Mulholland's grocery store is. Baker & Bishop, of Van Buren, had a store here in charge of William A. Watson. Merchants then bought goods only once a year, and it required about eight weeks to make the trip to New York and buy the year's goods.
There was no regular drug store in the town until 1854, when a young doctor named James Stevenson came here from Kentucky, and opened a drug store in a building about where the Democrat office is located.
There were two groceries or saloons in the town then, one kept by Capt. William McGarroh, on the McGarroh corner, and the other by Bill Throckmorton, on the west side of the square.
There were two hotels. One was on the corner where Kell's livery stable is, and was known as the "Byrnside House." The other stood on the south side of the street on a lot now occupied by the lumber yard, near the Methodist Church. This hotel was kept by John Onstott, and a man could get as good a dinner there for ten cents as any hungry man could wish for.
There were three blacksmith shops, run by John Lewis, John Krim and Jim and Dan Stone, and two wagon shops, one run by W. B. Taylor, now of Prairie Grove, and the other by Asmos Outzen. Joseph Dunlap carried on a saddlery shop, and Nathan Wilcox, a shoe shop. There was one cabinet shop, in which William M. Bowers made tables, bedsteads, coffins, etc., and two tailor shops, run by W. G. Bassore and James B. Simpson, respectively.
On July 4, 1860, Fayetteville was first placed in telegraphic communication with the remainder of the world. On that day Stebbins Telegraph Company completed a line from Jefferson City to Fort Smith, via Fayetteville. The first message was sent by Col. J. R. Pettigrew to the mayor of St. Louis, who returned an appropriate answer.
Newspapers.–The first newspaper published in Fayetteville was the Fayetteville Witness, in 1840, by C. F. Town. It was short lived, and there was no further attempt at newspaper publication in Washington County until the year 1852. On the 8th of May, 1852, the first number of the Western Pioneer was issued by William E. Smith, who had previously published the Mountaineer, at Huntsville, Ark. This paper was followed two years later by the Southwest Independent, William Quesenbury, editor and publisher. He was a racy and vigorous writer, an accomplished editor, and something of a humorist and poet. He continued the publication until some time in 1856. The town was then again without a newspaper until 1859. In that year J. R. Pettigrew and E. C. Boudinot established the Arkansian, a six-column folio, the first number of which appeared on March 5, 1859. The following were some of the objects for which the publishers stated the paper was established: "To advocate the principles of the Demcratic party, and to stay the onrushing tide of abolitionism, which threatens to overwhelm the South; to advocate the building of a railroad from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and to secure its location on or near the thirty-fifth parallel, and to promote the cause of education." The paper was conducted with so much ability as to make it one of the most influential papers in the State, outside of Little Rock, and its circulation soon reached two thousand copies eekly. It reputation was supported not only by the well-known ability of its editors, but such writers as Quesenbury and Washbourne were frequent contributors to its columns. It was published until some time in 1861.
In August, 1860, W. W. Moore began the publication of the Fayetteville Democrat, but discontinued it during the war, owing to the destruction of the press and materials by the Confederates when evacuating Fayetteville. Moreover, the publisher joined the army and served until the close of hostilities.
In 1867 one Brown established a radical Republican paper, called the Radical. Soon after R. C. Brown began the publication of a Democratic newspaper, called the Fayetteville Times. The two Browns became involved in a quarrel, and the latter fought and whipped the editor of the Radical. Shortly afterward the name of the Times was changed to the Fayetteville Arkansian, while the Radical was purchased by Bard & Richardson, and became the Mountain Echo. Richardson soon sold to Mr. Lindsay, and in 1870 Daniel Webster became the proprietor of the Echo, but Col. Bard had a claim upon the office and the material. He obtained possession of it, and established the News, which remained under his control until 1874, when it was suspended. Webster obtained new material, and continued the publication of the Mountain Echo until about January 1, 1873.
In 1868 E. B. & W. B. Moore purchased the press and material of the Arkansian, and re-established the Democrat, the first number of which was issued on the 4th of July, 1868. They conducted it until 1884, when it was purchased by S. E. Marrs and J. N. Tillman, the present proprietors. It has since been under the able editorial management of Mr. Marrs.
In the fall of 1879 Revs. Floyd and Shepherd, of the Christian Church, began the publication of a religious weekly, the Fayetteville Witness, which they continued about eighteen months.
On September 2, 1875, the first number of the Arkansas Sentinel appeared. It was established by the Sentinel Publishing Company, with the late Col. J. R. Pettigrew, one of the founders of the old Arkansian, as editor, and it was published under his name until his death. For several years, however, his control of it was only nominal. It is now owned by I. M. Patridge and H. F. Reagan, and is one of the most widely circulated and influential Democratic papers in Northwest Kansas.
Early in 1885 the Fayetteville Republican was established at West Fork. Jacob Yoes furnished the capital, and G. S. White became the editor. In the summer of 1886 it was purchased by W. M. Simpson, who removed the office to Fayetteville. He transferred it to Thomas Wainright, but, at the end of one month, resumed charge of it. In December, 1886, he sold out to Thomas Brooks and Damon Clarke. At that time it was a sixcolumn [p.246] folio, "patent outside," and had a subscription list of about 300. Messrs, Brooks & Clarke made it a seven-column folio, printed it all at home, and within a year had increased the circulation to 1,500 copies weekly. On January 10, 1888, Mr. Clarke purchased the interest of his partner, and has since been the editor and proprietor. The Republican is the organ of the Republican party in the Fourth Congressional District, and wields a decided influence in public affairs. For a short time in 1885 a daily paper, named the Evening Call, was published at Fayetteville, by T. P. Price, with Frank J. Price and Albert H. Price as editors.
A "Greenback" organ, called the Blade, was established in 1880 by John Moore, who, after about two years, sold out to F. M. Wolf, now of Springfield, Missouri. Wolf, changing the name and the politics of the paper, published for about six months the Times, a Republican sheet.
Societies.–The society of a town may in general be gauged by the number and character of its churches and societies. Measured by this standard Fayetteville ranks high, having seven churches and eight lodges, besides several other benevolent and social organizations. Washington Lodge No. 1, A. F. & A. M., as its number indicates, is the oldest Masonic lodge in the State. In 1835 a number of Masons in this part of the State petitioned the Grand Lodge of Tennessee for a lodge at Fayetteville, and on November 5, 1835, a charter, signed by Hugh L. White, Grand Master, was issued to Washington Lodge No. 82. Among the charter members were Onesimus Evans, W. M.; James McKissick, S. W.; Mathew W. Leeper, J. W.; Archibald Yell, Samuel Adams, Abram Whinnery, W. L. Wilson and William McK. Ball.
This charter has a history of its own. In 1862, when the Federal troops took possession of the town, it was thrown with other papers into the street, where it was picked up by a member of an Iowa regiment, a Mason, who sent it to Past Grand Secretary A. O. Sullivan, of Missouri. In 1866 it was sent to W. D. Blocher, and was by him transferred to J. H. Van Hoose, who returned it to the lodge. It is now in the possession of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas.
On November 21, 1838, representatives of four lodges met at Little Rock and organized the Grand Lodge of Arkansas. The delegates from Washington Lodge were Onesimus Evans, Washington L. Wilson, Robert Bedford, A. Whinnery, R. C. S. Brown, Samuel Adams and Williamson S. Oldham. Washington Lodge No. 82 now became Washington Lodge No. 1. About 1840 a two-story frame building was erected for a hall. The lot was donated by Governor Yell, who also gave $100 toward the erection of the building. This hall was remodeled in 1875, and is in a good state of preservation. In the winter of 1862, after most of the members of Washington Lodge had gone South, the Federal troops took possession of the hall, and Col. La Rue Harrison, the Post Commander, was here initiated into the order, as were also a number of other officers and privates. To this circumstance was doubtless due the preservation of the hall, when every other public building was destroyed.
The following is as complete a list of the Past Masters as could be obtained: John B. Costa, 1843; J. H. Stirman, 1848; W. R. Quarles, 1850; W. L. Wilson, 1851; J. M. Tibbetts, 1852; Robert Graham, 1855; W. R. Quarles, 1858; J. B. Simpson, 1859; Robert Graham, 1860; P. P. Van Hoose, 1861-65; J. H. Van Hoose, 1865-68; D. B. Jobe, 1868; J. H. Wilson, 1869; J. D. Henry, 1870-73; J. H. Kelton, 1873; W. O. Lattimore, 1874; P. R. Smith, 1874*; O. C. Gray, 1875; R. Putman, 1876; O. C. Gray, 1877; A. S. Gregg, 1878; J. H. Van Hoose, 1879-81; R. Putman, 1881; J. H. Van Hoose, 1882; J. R. Southworth, 1883; W. B. Welch, 1884; O. C. Gray, 1885-87; D. W. C. Davenport, 1887, and James J. Boss, 1888.
In 1841 the General Grand High Priest of the United States issued a dispensation to the Far West Chapter at Fayetteville, in answer to a petition signed by Joel Haden, Samuel Harris, William Shannon, Onesimus Evans, Thomas J. Pollard, Richard P. Pulliam, Alfred A. Stirman, Thomas Bean and Abraham Whinnery. The following year a charter was granted by the Grand Chapter, which, after the organization of the Grand Chapter of Arkansas in 1852, was replaced by another. The first records of the chapter, which are now in existence, are dated [p.248] April 21, 1854. W. L. Wilson was then High Priest, and J. L. Dickson, Secretary. The members numbered twenty. The High Priests since 1854 have been as follows: J. H. Stirman, 1855; W. R. Quarles, 1856; W. L. Wilson, 1857-60. (From October, 1860, to June, 1865, but one meeting was held.) James H. Van Hoose, 1865; D. B. Jobe, 1866; J. H. Van Hoose, 1867-69; Johnson Reynolds, 1869; J. H. Van Hoose, 1870-73; J. D. Henry, 1873; John Mayes, 1874; J. H. Van Hoose, 1875; O. C. Gray, 1876-79; J. H. Van Hoose, 1879-83; O. C. Gray, 1883; J. S. Hurlburt, 1884; T. J. Pollard, 1885-87; E. B. Wall, 1887; J. H. Van Hoose, 1888.
Baldwin Commandery No. 4, Knights Templar, was established in June, 1871, under a dispensation from W. S. Gardner, Grand Commander of the United States. There were then but two Sir Knights in Fayetteville–W. O. Lattimore and J. H. Van Hoose. The first meeting was held June 20, and several members of —– Commandery were present for several days, who assisted in the organization. The first officers elected and appointed were as follows: W. O. Lattimore, Eminent Commander; J. H. Van Hoose, Generalissimo; Abraham Allen, Captain-General; R. T. Lacey, Prelate; George A. Vaughan, Senior Warden; J. R. Pettigrew, Junior Warden; John Mayes, Treasurer; W. C. Roberts, Secretary; Samuel Bard, Standard Bearer; J. L. Lewis, Sword Bearer; B. F. Little, Warder; Henry Reed, Guard. In eptember of that year J. H. Van Hoose attended the Grand Encampment at Baltimore, and obtained a charter for Baldwin Commandery. The first regular election under the charter took place in January, 1872, when the officers above named were re-elected with the following exceptions: Dr. C. W. Deane was chosen Prelate; J. A. C. Blackburn, Recorder; B. F. Little, Standard Bearer; A. J. Gilbreath, Sword Bearer, and T. M. Gunter, Warder. Since then the Commanders have been elected as follows: George S. Allbright, 1874; O. C. Gray, 1876; J. H. Van Hoose, 1877; J. R. Pettigrew, 1878; George S. Allbright, 1879; D. W. C. Davenport, 1883; J. S. Hurlburt, 1885; J. R. Southworth, 1886.
Fayetteville Lodge No. 10,388, K. of L., dates its organization from June 17, 1887, when it was organized at Byrnes' Hall [p.249] at Fayetteville. The first officers elected were as follows: A. C. Hoag, M. W.; J. Tillman, W. F.; C. H. Putman, W. I.; W. Gakin, Almoner; S. H. Smith, F. S.; H. M. Rieff, Treas.; E. D. Erwin, Statistician; C. T. Carr, R. S.; John French, U. K.; A. Hodges, I. E.; John Zilla, O. E.; H. M. Rieff, Judge; D. Calvin, Judge Advocate. These, with twenty-five others, embrace the charter membership. The lodge is composed of forty-eight Knights at present. Their list of officers for the current year is F. E. Martin, M. W.; W. H. Merion, W. F.; D. Calvin, W. I.; John French, U. K.; E. Nix, Treas.; J. Nix, F. S.; W. French, R. S.; I. M. Baber, V. S.; T. F. King, Statistician; A. Hodges, I. E.; H. Broadie, O. E.; J. C. Van Hoose, Judge, and A. J. Boatright, Judge Advocate.
Fayetteville Lodge No. 28, A. O. U. W., began its existence December 29, 1887, when it was organized by J. C. Byers, D. G. M. W. of the Grand Jurisdiction of Texas. Capt. E. B. Harrison was elected P. M. W., together with the following officers: E. Z. Davies, M. W.; G. E. G. Penn, Foreman; A. C. Hoag, O.; J. R. Southworth, Recorder; T. J. Martin, F.; S. H. Blackmer, Receiver; J. A. Hassel, G.; J. W. Bishop, I. W., and J. B. Nix, O. W. These officers and twenty-two other members embrace the charter membership. The only change in officers is the succession of W. A. Watson as Recorder. The society have thirty-five "United Workmen" on their rolls at present, and the lodge is in good condition. They meet in the Odd Fellows' Hall.
Frontier Lodge No. 1626, K. of H., at Fayetteville, became an independent society May 24, 1879, with twenty-six charter members. The Knights of Honor have a large number of officers, and their first election resulted as follows: J. L. Cravens, P. D.; O. C. Gray, D.; E. D. Harrison, V. D.; E. B. Moore, Asst. D.; J. J. Vaulx, Chaplain; D. W. C. Davenport, Reporter; C. J. Sumstag, F. R.; J. L. Duke, Guide; H. S. Gray, Guardian; Albert Byrnes, Sentinel; Dr. C. S. Gray, Med. Examiner; J. S. O'Brian, Treas.; W. F. Stirman, L. D. Jernigan and O. C. Gray, Trustees. Since their organization the Dictators of the order have been as follows: O. C. Gray, E. B. Harrison, E. D. Moore, H. S. Gray, C. M. Greene, Albert Byrnes, D. W. C. Davenport, Cuth P. Conrad, J. L. Cravens, C. S. Gray, Walter Cook, J. L. [p.250] Cravens, J. N. Thurmond, the present occupant of that chair. Their present officers are S. H. West, V. D.; Oscar Richter, Asst. Dictator; C. M. Greene, Reporter; W. C. Cardwell, F. R.; W. R. McIlroy, Treas.; J. J. Vaulx, Chaplain; W. W. Harrison, Guide; S. H. Blackmer, Guardian; J. L. Knesal, Sentinel; A. S. Gregg, Med. Ex.; E. D. Harrison, W. E. Nix and O. C. Gray, Trustees. The society meets in the I. O. O. F. Hall, and have rented from that order since the organization of the K. of H. Lodge.
Mountain Lodge No. 15, I. O. O. F., Fayetteville, Ark., was organized August 12, 1856, by Past Grand England and A. Clark, who installed the members. This veteran lodge elected the following officers: J. F. Rieff, N. G.; H. Marshall, V. G.; C. S. Hauptman, Sec., and A. Outzen, Treas. A. Clark was the only other charter member. During the war the general disruption affected the lodge, and the charter was lost; but on November 14, 1866, the lodge was granted a duplicate of the original charter, and on May 1, 1869, they reorganized permanently on a dispensation from G. M. Peter Brugman. Their lodge, on the memorable Sunday night of April 18, 1880, was destroyed by a cyclone, and after a few years of meeting in various places, they leased their present lodge for a term of five years, December, 1885. Among their present members the following are Past Grands: C. S. Hauptman, E. B. Moore, E. B. Wall, D. W. C. Davenport, J. F. Johnson, J. F. Simonds, J. J. Vaulx, H. F. Reagan, J. N. Tillman, B. H. Stone and C. B. Paddock, and their present officers are C. S. Hauptman, N. G.; W. L. Stukey, V. G.; J. F. Simonds, Sec., and J. N. Tillman, Treas. The lodge has $2,000 in the stock of the Building Loan Association of Fayetteville, and at the expiration of their lease propose to erect a commodious hall. At present they rent their rooms to three other local orders.
Travis Post No. 19, G. A. R., Fayetteville, Ark., was organized August 23, 1884, and the members were mustered in by C. M. Barnes, Adjutant General of the Department of Arkansas. The first officers chosen were the following: E. B. Harrison, P. C.; T. J. Hunt, Sr. V. C.; J. B. Coffey, Jr. V. C.; J. B. Cox, Adj.; J. V. Quick, Surgeon; L. D. Middleton, Chaplain; Lafayette [p.251] Gregg, Quartermaster; C. M. Greene, Officer of the Day; William Mayes, Officer of the Guard; C. F. Lang, S. M.; P. M. Stephens, Q. M. S., and J. H. Harmon, Guard. These, with the following, constitute the charter membership: G. W. M. Reed, T. J. Taylor, W. O'Brian, J. H. Flood, W. Mayes, J. Clancy, Phillip McGuire, B. F. Rice, I. W. Daniel, J. F. Wilson, W. F. Jones, J. Armstrong, H. K. Stephens, Joseph Duncan, T. Brooks, J. K. Pool, S. S. Mayes, George Carney, D. Devilbiss, W. C. Roberts, J. M. Brinson, S. Cox, W. J. York. T. J. Hunt, H. Harmon, J. Harmon, J. H. Johnson, R. H. Clayton, Elias Andrew and C. W. Wright. The lodge lapsed after a few meetings, and was reorganized April 4, 1887. Their hall is on the second floor of the Byrnes & Blackmer Planing-mill Block, where, among the post relics, is a flag-staff, captured from Gen. Caball by the men under Lieut. Brooks. The present officers are Thomas Brooks, P. C.; W. O'Brian, Sr. V. C.; J. W. Quick, Jr. V. C.; W. J. York, Surgeon; Elias Armstrong, haplain; R. S. Curry, Officer of the Day; J. R. Lee, Officer of the Guard; J. C. McClellan, Adj.; S. H. Blackmer, Q. M. S., and W. A Todd, S. M. They have thirty-nine members.
Criterion Lodge No. 36, Knights of Pythias, of Fayetteville, was organized June 16, 1887, at the I. O. O. F. Lodge hall. The order began with the following charter members: J. C. Purdy, E. B. Harrison, Chas. M. Greene, R. C. Choate, C. A. Mulholland, John P. Wood, W. C. Cardwell, John A. Reed, J. S. McDanield, H. F. McDanield, Thomas Shores, Thomas W. White, Joseph T. Morris, H. D. Perky, J. L. Bozarth, John T. Jarrell, E. B. Wall, C. Dale, George Reed, Jr., Lafayette Reed, Damon Clarke, Frank Van Horn, J. B. Shannon, John N. Tillman, W. R. McIlroy and J. H. Williams. Of these, Mr. Harrison, P. C.; Mr. Greene, C. C.; Mr. Reed, V. C.; Mr. Clarke, P.; Mr. McIlroy, M. of E.; Mr. Dale, M. of F.; Mr. Tillman, K. of R., and Mr. Reed, Jr. M. at A., constituted the first list of officers. From the organization until the present the Chancellors Commanding have been as follows: E. B. Harrison, C. M. Greene, John A. Reed and John N. Tillman. The lodge now has a membership of fifty-seven, over whom are the following officers: J. N. Tillman, C. C.; W. C. Cardwell, V. C.; T. A. Hancock, [p.252] M. at A.; W. R. McIlroy, M. of Ex.; W. L. Benbrook, M. of F., and J. J. Vaulx, the Prelate. The society use the I. O. O. F. Hall.
Municipal.–At the January term of the county court, in 1841, a petition signed by more than two-thirds of the taxable inhabitants praying for the incorporation of Section 16, Township 16 north, Range 30 west, was presented and granted. P. V. Rhea was appointed the first alderman, and John W. Johnson, John B. Costa, Richard P. Pulliam, Hosea G. Cardwell and M. W. Thornby, the first councilmen. This organization was maintained until 1859, when a city charter was obtained from the Legislature. The first election under the new charter was held in April of that year, when the following officers were chosen: J. W. Walker, mayor; J. W. Washbourne, C. E. Butterfield, P. P. Van Hoose, J. B. Simpson, A. Crouch, J. H. Stirman and E. C. Boudinot, councilmen. The next year the officers elected were Stephen Bedford, mayor; L. B. Cunningham, J. R. Pettigrew, J. Holcomb, C. E. Butterfield, J. T. Sutton, J. H. Van Hoose and W. T. Pollard, councilmen, and M. D. Frazer, marshal.
During the war the municipal government was suspended, and was not reinstated until 1867 or 1868, when M. LaRue Harrison was elected mayor. Some of the acts of the new municipal government were distasteful to the citizens of the town, and in 1869 an application was made to the Legislature to revoke the charter, which was done. An organization was then effected under a general statute, and E. I. Stirman was elected mayor. The order of incorporation was made by the county court, August 24, 1870, and he was elected in November upon a Democratic ticket. In November, 1871, T. Murray Campbell, a Republican, was elected mayor, A. J. Norris, recorder, and G. W. M. Reed, Alonzo Flanders, G. W. Taylor, Charles Smith and A. J. Blackwell, councilmen. One of the first acts of the new council was to adopt the following ordinance:
"Be it ordained, that all ordinances and parts of ordinances passed by the former council, except those in relation to the agricultural college, be and hereby are repealed up to date of November 7, 1871."
REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The municipal government was maintained under this organization until 1885, when Fayetteville became a city of the second class.
The following is a list of the mayors elected since the retirement of T. Murray Campbell: J. R. Pettigrew, 1872-73; George A. Grace, 1873-74; Robert J. Wilson, 1874-76; A. M. Wilson, 1876-77; A. S. Vandeventer, 1877-80; J. H. Van Hoose, 1880-81; W. C. Jackson, 1881-83; C. W. Walker, 1883-84; Samuel E. Marrs, 1884-85; W. C. Jackson, April to December, 1885; R. J. Wilson, January to April, 1886; O. C. Gray, April, 1886, to October, 1887; E. B. Wall, October, 1887, to April, 1888; J. H. Van Hoose, elected for a term of two years, beginning April, 1888.
Business Development.–The Civil War dealt harshly with Fayetteville. Her churches and institutions of learning, all of her public buildings, and many others, were destroyed, while her people were scattered all over the South, financially broken and morally disheartened. But an intelligent and enterprising community, possessing the natural advantages that belong to Fayetteville, cannot be permanently "downed." No sooner had hostilities ceased than the work of restoration began, and the city of to-day is a lasting monument to its extraordinary recuperative powers. The location of the State University here in 1871 marks a long step forward, but the completion of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad added an element of still greater importance to the growth of the city. The population is now not far from 4,000, and in 1887 the estimated total business transactions amounted to more than a million and a half dollars. The following is a running account of its business:
McIlroy's bank (private) was opened in 1872 under the name Denton D. Stark & Co., with William McIlroy as a large owner in it. Mr. Stark had the management of the business until 1878, when Mr. McIlroy assumed complete control. On July 1, 1886, the present firm name was adopted, the capital being owned by the McIlroy estate. W. R. McIlroy is cashier, and is assisted by C. M. Greene. Their resources are as follows: Loans and discounts, $88,978.60; overdrafts, $1,538.73; building, furniture, etc., $4,500; due from banks (good on draft), $50,487.71; cash, [p.254] exchange and other items, $26,343.80; total, $171,878.84. Liabilities: Capital, $25,000; surplus and profits, $9,231.67; due depositors, $137,614.42; due banks, $32.75; total, $171,878.84. Loans made during 1887, $50,923.35; correspondents, Chemical National Bank, New York; Continental Bank, St. Louis, and the First National Bank, Little Rock.
The Washington County Bank was chartered November 6, 1884, under the State banking laws, by W. B. Welch, president; J. A. Ferguson, vice-president; B. R. Davidson, T. F. Jones, directors, and S. P. Pittman and A. L. Williams. The first four directors and two officers mentioned, with Mr. MacDevin as cashier, constituted the first organization. These men represent an estimated worth of $320,000. The officers remain unchanged, excepting S. P. Pittman, as vice-president and director, vice J. A Ferguson. The resources of the bank are as follows: Discounts and loans, $55,943.25; bonds and stocks, $25,000; county warrants, cash value, $2,300; real estate, furniture and fixtures, $5,700; due from banks, $21,148.32; cash on hand, $20,267.54; total, $130,359.11. Liabilities, capital stock, $12,000; surplus, $6,400; undivided profits, $4,056.42; due other banks, $641.20; due depositors, $107,261.49; total, $130,359.11. Loans made in 1887, $290,000; exchange in 1887, $480,000; average daily clearance, $20,000; correspondents, National Park Bank, New York; Bank of Commerce, St. Louis; First National Bank, Fort Smith; German National Bank, Little Rock, and Merchants' Loan and Trust, Chicago.
Fayetteville Building and Loan Association, No. 1, permanent, was incorporated and began business March 11, 1886. E. B. Harrison was chosen president; J. W. Stirman, secretary; D. W. C. Davenport, treasurer; B. R. Davidson, attorney; E. B. Harrison, J. C. Williams, Albert Byrnes, G. T. Lake, J. L. Duke, H. K. Wade and C. W. Trott, directors. Their stock is divided into two series of $100,000 each, and each series is divided into 4,000 shares, valued at $25 each. Monthly dues are 12½ cents per share, and premiums are from 15 to 30 per cent. The present officers are President, E. B. Harrison; secretary, C. M. Greene; treasurer, W. R. McIlroy; attorney, E. D. Wall; directors, E. B. Harrison, G. T. Lake, A. Byrnes, J. L. Cravens, J. L. [p.255] Duke, C. Dale and J. L. Bozarth. The association has been a powerful agent in the development of Fayetteville.
The Fayetteville Electric Light and Power Company was organized as a stock company in January, 1888, with the following officers: President, E. B. Harrison; directors, A. Byrnes, J. S. McDanield, Lee Baum, J. L. Cravens, G. T. Lake and J. L. Duke. Their chartered stock was $36,000. Their plant, valued at $8,000, has a capacity of 460 Heisler incandescent lamps of 20-candle power each; however, they have now but about 250 lamps, distributed on streets, in churches, hotels, etc. The H. F. McDanield Railway Supply Company is one of the largest in the State. The Fayetteville Street Railway Company's president is I. J. Ronan, and W. L. Killebrew is secretary and superintendent.
In general merchandise are Baum & Bro., Reed & Ferguson, Campbell & White, C. C. Conner & Co., Wood & Co., B. H. Stone & Co., R. S. Curry, Boles & Co. and "The Famous" of Jesse Ellis. The grocers and general stores are represented by Mulholland & Lake, Gilbreath & Taylor, Wilson & Dickson, W. W. Harrison, C. M. Bigelow, Blakeley Bros., Lantrip & Miller, Moore & Gallaher, A. B. Lewis, Randall & Oliver and D. A. Coker. In the line of bakery, restaurant, confectionery, etc., are August A. G. Hach, Hodge & Riggs, Ira Turner, C. M. Bigelow, U. G. Pearce, N. L. Dickson & Co., T. Satterfield & Co. and J. F. Johnson. Hardware is headed by E. B. Harrison, E. Z. Davies, W. N. Crenshaw and R. R. Smith. W. F. Russell and John Cox are barbers. Jesse Ellis deals in, and John Feathers manufactures, boots and shoes. J. L. Duke and J. Wadkins have jewelry and time-piece establishments. Z. Thomas is a cigar maker. Mrs. S. J. Young and J. W. Hansard are photographers. Books and stationery are handled by J. D. Van Winkle and W. C. Cardwell. Gregg & Smith, Benbrook & Co., W. H. Whitlow, J. H. Williams & Co. and W. W. Dickey are in the drug and pharmacy trades. John F. Buie, undertaker. Saddlery and harness are in the hands of George Sutton and S. J. Jones. Implements of various kinds are sold by S. L. Kyle, John M. Howe and Cato Bros. Mrs. M. M. Allbright & Co. deal in musical instruments. D. M. Harbison and Carter & Taylor have meat markets. The Van Winkle House, by R. S. Miller, Mountain House, by Thomas Jennings, [p.256] Tremont House, by H. L. Glass, and Quarles House, by E. Quarles represent the hotels. The Sweitzer Wagon Co., president, E. B. Harrison, and Ellis Duncan, secretary and superintendent. The Fayetteville Evaporator Company, by Campbell & White. The Bed Spring Manufacturing Co., proprietor, Thomas Jennings. The tailors are Baum Bros. and McFadden. W. L. Call, R. T. Smith and J. W. Quick are blacksmiths. H. F. Buie has a billiard hall. The legal fraternity are L. Gregg, B. R. Davidson, A. M. Wilson, J. V. Walker, J. D. Walker, C. W. Walker, J. W. Walker, T. M. Gunter, W. L. Gregg, R. J. Wilson, J. W. Stuckey, E. B. Wall, S. H. West, G. W. M. Reed, Jr., R. W. Carter, W. J. Patton and C. R. Buckner. Real estate is handled by Davidson & Jones and Dickson & Pettigrew (also abstractors of title), Reed & Carter and E. B. Wall. Mr. Keenan buys wheat. Drs. W. B. Welch, H. D. Wood, T. J. Pollard, Wade Pollard, C. S. Gray, A. S. Gregg, J. B. Massie and O. L. Wilson represent the medical fraternity, while the dental profession has Drs. J. R. Southworth, S. D. Luther and R. B. Horton for their representatives. The newspapers are elsewhere mentioned. Livery, Simmon & Ferguson, J. E. Vaughan and Thomas Jennings. The Fisher Transfer Company. Furniture, J. L. Bozarth, The Fayetteville Manufacturing Company, and McClelland. Produce shippers, Campbell & White, McNabb & Rogers and Oscar Richter. The Waters-Pierce Oil Company, J. P. Marbut, manager. Brick and stone masons, Willard Algine & Company and S. H. Blackmer (brick yards also), Charles Dodt and R. M. Jestice. Fayetteville Bottling Works. City Laundry, A. A. Hollister, proprietor. City Bath Rooms, J. T. Watson. The Fayetteville Steam Dye Works. Millinery, Baum & Bros., B. H. Stone & Co. and Mrs. Abbott. Mills, Byrnes & Blackmer and J. S. McClelland (planing), and the Fayetteville Flouring Mills, J. F. Cravens, lessee. The Fayetteville Foundry and Machine Shops, manager, A. Volner. Lumber trade, C. Dale and Cazort Bros. Contractors and builders, Mix & Co., I. N. Baker, F. P. Milburn and O. H. Marion. Architect and superintendent, C. M. Prentice. Insurance, J. H. Van Hoose and E. B. Wall. Sewing machines, L. Matney.
This is now a horticultural and commercial place, although its founding was due to religious purposes. As in many other cases the immediate cause of the settlement was the noble spring near a tree across the road west of Haxton & Co.'s woolen mills, but which, during the war, broke out at a period about 400 feet distant from its first opening, and south of the mills. The following entries of land in this part of the county will show what material there was for a settlement: Township 18 north, Range 30 west, Section 36–John Holcomb, September 1, 1845; S. P. Fine, February 29, 1840; W. G. Quinton, March 16, 1840; John Holcomb, September 18, 1856; Joseph Holcomb, December 29. 1852; James Fitzgerald, March 7, 1840; Isaac S. Fitzgerald, December 29, 1849, April 2, 1853, December 26, 1849, and April 9, 1855; W. H. Holcomb, January 11, 1853; Section 35–Freeborn Graham, February 28, 1840; Section 30–John Ingram, April 24, 1840; Thomas M. McLain, January 2, 1831; Section 31–William Barrington, September 5, 1849; Jacob Pearson, November 29, 1851; Section 32–John Ingram, November 22, 1848; John Hamilton, November 7, 1840. Township 17 north, Range 30 west, Section 1–James Brandon, Octo-29, 1838; W. D. Quinton, September 19, 1839; Section 2–John Fitzgerald, February 9, 1839; Isaac S. Fitzgerald, October 25, 1838. Township 18 north, Range 29 west, Section 30–John Fitzgerald, June 6, 1840; Joshua Fitzgerald, June 6, 1840; Section 29–S. White, September 12, 1840; W. Graham, June 12, 1840, and J. S. Graham, August 2, 1848. These are some of the earlier entries of the region of Springdale and Elm Springs, covering the plats of both places. The earliest settlers, then, about Springdale's site were the Fitzgeralds, James Brandon, W. D. Quinton, the Grahams, S. P. Fine, the Holcombs and S. White, together with some others at various dates, as Elijah Lee, William Easley and James Mayfield.
Many of these were adherents of the Primitive Baptist faith, and soon after their arrival held meetings at various places, and among the first visiting preachers were Rev. James Mayfield and Rev. John Holcombe (he retained the final e). Mr. Joseph Holcomb thinks the first members were Elijah Lee, William [p.258] Graham, William Easley, Freeborn Graham and wife, Ira Graham and wife. The church was organized in 1840, and given the biblical name Shiloh, and on Christmas day, 1841, William D. Quinton deeded a plat at the spring, six rods by twenty rods, to the trustees of the church, William Easley, Elijah Lee and Freeborn Graham, for the site of a church. They soon erected a log church, and in 1843 found their first regular pastor in the person of Rev. John Holcombe, who bought of W. D. Quinton, and entered all the present plat of Springdale, and more, to the amount of 600 acres. From this time on to the present the place attracted attention through the well-known and largely attended "May Meetings" of this sect, in which the ceremony of "feet-washing" is performed. They have been held regularly, with three exceptions during the war. Rev. Holcombe built him a home, and also established a wagon-shop in which he employed four or five men, but aside from these and his wife and several children, and Shelby Fitzgerald, there were no residents on the site of Springdale for over twenty years. With dangers of the opening war arising, Rev. Holcom be and the most of his family sought refuge in Texas, and during the first year all their buildings were burned by men claiming to be Federal soldiers.
Following the close of hostilities he and the family returned, at once rebuilt the church, and built his home on the elevation just east of the woolen mills. This was in 1866. In July, 1868, he laid out the original town of Shiloh, on the west side of Spring Creek, about the old church plat. The first store was opened by R. S. Coon, whose stock was purchased the following year by Holcomb & Putman. In 1870 Joseph Holcomb returned from his travels succeeding his war service, and bought the old homestead, excluding the town plat. The Missionary Baptist College was about the next addition to the town of Shiloh, although it was short lived. It was organized in 1872. (Its growth will be treated of in the chapter on schools.) Then Mr. Jack Steele opened a general store. In 1875 the post-office was established, and the name changed to Springdale. The postmaster appointed was B. E. Putman, and the successors to that position have been W. H. Lovelady, C. C. Phillips, B. W. Gregg, J. B. Gill and W. Y. Winton, the present incumbent.
Its Growth.–The growth of the village was so marked that incorporation began to be agitated, and the most active in this, as in other enterprises for the good of the place, was Joseph Holcomb, "the father of the town," as he is familiarly styled. By an order of the county court on April 1, 1878, "the town of Springdale" was incorporated. June 14, 1879, the following officers were elected, and on July 4 sworn in: Joseph Holcomb, mayor; W. R. Ritter, C. Petross, A. J. Hale, J. B. Baggett and R. M. Huffmaster, aldermen, and S. S. Purcell, recorder. The successors of Mr. Holcomb to the mayoralty have been: R. M. Huffmaster, O. C. Ludwig, Mr. Holcomb a second time, W. G. Prunner, S. L. Staples, for two terms, and Millard Berry, who is now serving his second term. The present aldermen are Joseph Holcomb, J. F. Barr, N. S. Haxton, E. A. Linebarger and Wilson M. Davis; treasurer, C. Petross, and recorder, E. H. Bryant.
During about a decade, in the earlier half of which was the date of incorporation, some of the following firms opened their respective places: W. H. Lovelady, the successor of Holcomb & Putnam; Slaughter & Seacy, A. M. Phillips and Joseph Holcomb with general stores; in the hardware line, J. A. Coffelt, Gill & Harris (afterward Deaver & Harris, and Deaver & Co.); wagon-shop, Drum & Phillips; flouring-mill, Petross & Son; evaporator, D. Wing & Bro.; nursery, J. B. Gill; Springdale Canning Co., president, J. R. Harris; lumber yard, A. J. Armstrong, and a newspaper, mentioned elsewhere.
The construction of the "Frisco Railway" during 1881 gave an impetus to the growth of Springdale, greater, probably, than any other place in the county, and it has been so marked as to be denominated a "boom." Putman's Addition to the town was laid out on the west, and afterward Joseph Holcomb laid out Railroad Addition on the south and east. Business spread itself along the street leading to the depot. The railway outlet for produce and fruit made those two industries the most prominent, and gave Springdale a leadership in the general fruit-growing interests of this part of the State, equal to any.
The general merchandise trade is represented by B. F. Deaver & Co., Dodson & Co., Lane, Linebarger & Co., Searcy & Sons, D. A. White and Martin & Livingston, while the grocers [p.260] are G. M. Gabbert, C. W. Wright and Theo. Parker. W. T. Farrar and J. R. Harris & Bro. deal in hardware, and the drug trade is handled by H. A. Daily, W. Y. Winton and A. Starkweather. The Springdale Canning Co., a stock company, has a large factory. The Springdale Nurseries, owned by Gill & Vincenheller, another owned by A. M. Kennan & Son, and Zimmerman & Bryan represent the fruit interests. The W. B. Haxton & Co. Woolen Mills and the Springdale Milling Co. (roller mill) represent the mills. Phillips & Phillips and J. R. Harris & Bro. have lumber yards. Real estate is handled by Berry & Harris, while Millard Berry and A. J. Hale are lawyers.
The Springdale House, Thomas Gladden, proprietor, is the only hotel, while the bakeries, restaurants, confectioneries, etc., are represented by R. E. Renner, J. W. Kensil, Mr. Yocum and Mr. Davis. Drs. John Young, D. Christian, J. M. Kennedy and W. J. Wilkerson are the medical representatives, while Dr. J. B. Dare cares for the dental needs of the community. A. M. Kennan and Roach & Vinson are shoemakers; Charles A. Minney, barber; Sevier & Lewis, J. B. Baggett and G. W. Bowman care for wagon and blacksmith interests; Bobert Orr and W. H. Russell have tin shops; Stokes & Bro. are liverymen; W. T. Farrar, harness-maker; E. T. Caudle and J. W. Carter have brick yards; a dairy is owned by W. Hewitt; milliners, Miss Mary Hodges and Miss Fannie Kensil; furniture is handled by B. H. Welch and B. F. Pollock; meat market, J. B. Henson; jeweler and photographer, George F. Kennan; plasterers, Van Dyke & Bartholomew; and among the sixteen or seventeen contractors and builders are C. W. Phillips, Stork & Gaut, D. M. Linebarger and C. A. Jones.
The Springdale News is the only newspaper. Its existence began in 1882 under the title of the Springdale Enterprise, O. C. Ludwig, editor, and a year or so later H. C. Warner purchased it and gave it the name Springdale Yellow Jacket. Price & Bro. then ran it for a brief interval under the cognomen Springdale Journal. Damon Clarke gave it its present title when he assumed control in 1886, but he sold out to H. M. & J. Van Butler, whose editorial charge, under the appellation The Arkansaw Locomotive, with which they headed the paper, [p.261] closed May 1, 1887. The present editor, John P. Stafford, has since had charge of it, and has resumed the title News. Its political policy is Democratic.
The schools and churches of Springdale appear in the chapter on those subjects. Three societies, a farmers' club, the Masonic and G. A. R., are in a prosperous condition; two, the I. O. O. F. order and the W. C. T. U., once organized, are abandoned.
The Springdale Farmers' Club was organized in January, 1886, with W. M. Davis, president, and John B. Gill as secretary. The club has been one of the powerful instruments in the development of Springdale. They have introduced fine stock, particularly a Holstein bull and Berkshire hogs, the latter being the property of the organization. New varieties of fruit have been introduced and experimented with, amongst which is the noted early red peach, "The Gov. Garland," named and discovered by J. B. Gill. The shipping interests have been worked up by them. A successful live-stock show was held at Springdale in the fall of 1887 by the society, and they now have the finest collection of grains and grasses in the State for exhibition in the fall of 1888. The society has fifteen wide-awake members. I. D. Rader and John B. Gill have filled the office of president since the first incumbent. J. D. Beck is secretary.
Societies.–Springdale Lodge No. 316, F. & A. M., was chartered in 1873, and organized by James D. Henry, D. D. G. M. The first officers chosen were J. B. Steele, W. M.; W. H. Lovelady, S. W.; D. C. Smithson, J. W.; A. G. Smith, Treas.; J. R. Harris, Secy.; C. Petross, S. D.; Peter Graham, J. D.; and W. B. Smith, Tyler. They began with seventeen members, and have increased to fifty, with lodge property valued at $500. The present officers are D. Christian, W. M.; B. S. Williams, S. W.; W. N. Pierce, J. W.; C. Petross, Treas.; Evans Atwood, Secy.; L. D. Petross, S. D.; W. F. Daily, J. D., and E. Adams, Tyler. A list of Masters is as follows: B. Putman, N. D.; J. B. Steele (chartered), H. G. Hartley, W. H. Lovelady, W. M. Harris, J. A. Armstrong, B. F. Deaver, J. S. Patterson and the present incumbent. Messrs. Putman, Hartley, Harris, Lovelady and Deaver have served more than one term.
U. S. Grant Post No. 34, G. A. R., at Springdale, was chartered October 30, 1886, and the members were mustered in by S. P. Gilbreath, of West Fork. They had nineteen members, and elected the following officers: B. R. Butcher, C.; J. Smith, Sr. V. C.; C. W. Wright, Jr. V. C.; B. C. Cox, Adj.; A. W. Baker, Q.; R. E. Renner, Chaplain; J. T. Sullivan, Surgeon; John Vernon, O. of D.; J. W. Langford, O. of G.; S. Mayes, Q. S. They have a hall in the Searcy Block, and number sixty-five members. Present officers: J. Smith, C.; W. Mayes, Sr. V. C.; A. W. Baker, Jr. V. C.; C. W. Wright, Q.; R. E. Renner, Chaplain; E. P. Hall, Adj.; J. Vernon, O. of D.; E. A. Ellis, O. of G.; J. Pollett, S. M.; J. Conger,
Q. S.; J. T. Sullivan, Surgeon.
Elm Springs.–This name is derived from probably the largest of Washington County springs, and is a settlement six miles west of Springdale, located among great springs of such power that, not far from their openings, John Ingram, in 1844, found them strong enough to run a water-mill. This was the earliest mill in this part of the county, and was the nucleus of the village.
From the entries given in connection with the Springdale land entries, it is seen that Mr. Ingram made the first entry on the site of Elm Springs, in 1840, and that in that region Thomas M. McLain entered land as early as January 2, 1831. William Barrington, Jacob Pearson and John P. Hamilton made entries in 1849, 1851 and 1840, respectively. A Mr. Rose was a very early settler there, but no record of his having entered land exists. After the location of the mill Mr. Ingram was joined by William Barrington, who also opened a store, and gave the name Elm Springs to the new settlement. His miller was W. F. Deaver. Mr. Barrington bought out Mr. Ingram, and some time afterward sold a half interest in the mill to B. J. Deaver–the firm then bearing the name Deaver & Barrington. After 1852 a blacksmith shop was added, and soon the schools under Rev. and Mrs. Jesse McAllister were opened. At this period the population of the place had probably reached its highest. A few years later an epidemic broke up the school. One of the first [p.263] stores opened was owned by Barrington, Shelton & McAllister, and a pioneer named "Hosey" Moses had a small establishment. Early church buildings will be mentioned in the pages devoted to those subjects. Among the business men since the war have been Dr. Christian, F. F. Webster, James Pollock, Trotter & Wasson, B. J. Davis, Farrar & Reed. Elm Springs post-office was established in 1848, W. Barrington, postmaster. In 1852 W. S. Deaver was postmaster, and was followed by John Reavis, who held the office until the discontinuance of mails, in 1861. The postmasters since 1865 have been Miss M. W. Pearson (now Mrs. Wasson), J. R. Pollock, James Grimsly, James Trotter, T. F. Webster, R. L. Ritter, W. T. Farrar, R. L. Ritter, B. J. Beaver and W. V. Steele, the present incumbent.
The war almost depopulated Elm Springs, and its business has not since risen above its present condition. The mills, which once made the place a center of trade, have long since disappeared, and what remains is general business, represented by the following firms: In general merchandise–M. D. Steele, R. L. Ritter, G. A. Wilkerson and W. V. Steele deal in drugs, notions, etc.; Garrison & Pearson manage the marble trade; Smith & Robinson are blacksmiths; E. M. Hilsabeck holds the shoe trade; Drs. T. G. Welch, D. C. Summers and G. A. Wilkerson are the physicians; J. M. Robinson, J. P., and B. J. Deaver, N. P., are the sources of legal light. One lodge is also in operation, the F. & A. M.
West Fork.–This place and its vicinity had settlers who entered land as early as April 25, 1836. The following entries were made in that region: William Bloyd, October 24, 1840; James Wynn, July 16, 1840; Eli Bloyd, August 19, 1840; Peter Bloyd, November 10, 1840; John Graham, May 7, 1836; George Putmer, April 10, 1837; Robert McPhail, April 25, 1836; Moses Graham, July 9, 1838; Evan Harrer, July 10, 1838; J. F. Tamison, December 12, 1838, and Benjamin Hardin, April 25, 1836. The general settlement went under the name of West Fork, but its village life did not begin until about 1875 or 1876, when the old water-mill plant at the head of the creek was moved there, and the steam mills built. This was carried out by H. H. Davis, D. Robinson and W. H. Brock. Following this was a carding-machine, introduced [p.264] by M. M. Morrow, and John Hughes became the first merchant. A spoke-factory was established by J. M. Langston, soon followed by a Mr. Bentley. H. H. Davis and J. M. Langston soon became proprietors of the mill, and added a blacksmith shop; and a Mr. Bell soon added another place where the anvil's ring could be heard. Hughes, the merchant, soon disposed of his stock to Jacob Yoes and a Mr. Simco, but on the completion of the "Frisco" railway he reopened another establishment.
The construction of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway was as great a boon to West Fork as to other places along the line. An outlet for its fruits, produce and timber led to rapid development in the village, until its business is now represented by the following establishments: Jacob Yoes and Gilbreath & Langston lead in merchandise; F. J. Males has a fine drug store; J. P. Cox deals in groceries; hardware and implements are handled by Jacob Yoes; a meat market is owned by Thomas Everett; C. Stapleton deals in furniture; J. W. Bell, and D. H. and D. K. Barron are blacksmiths. The West Fork Hotel is owned and managed by Dr. A. S. Fleming. The proprietors of the West Fork Flouring Mills are Yoes & Crider. The West Fork Canning and Evaporating Company is a local stock company, with a capital of $25,000, and $8,500 already invested in equipment. The president is S. P. Sample; secretary, G. S. White, and superintendent, C. K. Winslow. Mr. Sample, H. H. York, G. A. Yoes, J. W. Robertson, Thomas Walker, J. F. Collyer and J. C. Oldham are directors. The company also own a can factory. Lozier's Nursery is owned by Fred. Lozier. J. M. Phillips is a contractor and builder. Drs. J. S. Cannon, S. P. Sample and A. S. Fleming represent the medical fraternity. Thomas McKnight, J. P., J. C. Oldham, N. P., and G. S. White, N. P., attend to legal business.
The post-office was moved from the present site of Pitkin, which then bore the name West Fork. The first incumbent of that office was H. H. Davis; he was followed by J. W. Hughes, W. Simco, himself and J. P. Cox, who is now in charge. A well-known deputy postmaster was J. M. Langston.
Four fraternities are represented, the G. A. R., F. & A. M., I. O. O. F. and Knights of the Horse.
West Fork was incorporated in May, 1885, and the following officers chosen: Mayor, J. M. Phillips; recorder, J. A. Smith; marshal, Joshua Carmen; aldermen, H. H. Davis, H. H. York, S. P. Sample, W. E. Shanks and N. Northern. Messrs. Simpson and Emerson have served as mayors, also. The officers for 1888 are as follows: Mayor, J. M. Phillips; recorder, J. B. Lansdell; treasurer, S. P. Sample; marshal, N. Northern; aldermen, J. C. Carmen, J. F. Collyer, J. D. Sample, Thomas McKnight and James Emerson.
Prairie Grove.–This is the third town in Washington County in population and importance. It is situated in the midst of one of the most beautiful valleys in Northwestern Arkansas, and within a short distance of the geographical center of the county. Its site was first settled by Rev. Andrew Buchanan in 1829, and by his influence a school and a church were established soon after. He died in 1857, leaving his real estate by will to his widow during her life-time. At her death, with the exception of eighty acres, it was to go to Cane Hill College, and in event of the failure of that institution it was to become the property of the Cumberland Presbyterian Book Concern, at Nashville, Tenn. The eighty acres were to go to two servants. This bequest naturally produced serious complications in the title. In 1871 Col. James P. Neal, a step-son of Mr. Buchanan, obtained deeds from the various parties interested in the property, and took up his residence on the old homestead. He then conceived the idea of founding a town, and soon after secured the establishment of a post-office, of which he was made postmaster. In 1872 a blacksmith and wagon-shop was opened by Rogers & Baggett, and in 1875 a store-house was erected, and a stock of goods put into it. The following year McPhetridge, Baggett & Rogers erected a large steam flouring-mill, and in 1877 the town was regularly laid out. The first sale of lots took place on March 24 of that year. Since that time the town has steadily improved, and now has a population of about 500.
In 1885 a weekly newspaper called the Prairie Grove News was established by Joseph Garrison, and published for about one year. In April, 1887, H. Milton Butler began the publication of the Prairie Grove Banner, which he has since continued. The [p.266] Rising Sun was published for a short time in 1887, but was soon bought out by the Banner.
The two most important manufacturing enterprises of the town are the Prairie Grove Mills, now owned and operated by H. C. & G. W. Crowell, and the Prairie Grove Canning and Evaporating Factory, operated by a joint-stock company. The latter enterprise was recently established. The officers of the company are E. G. McCormick, president; D. F. McMillan, vice-president; W. I. Cook, secretary; W. T. McCormick, treasurer; D. K. Hulbert, superintendent. The directors are E. G. McCormick, C. G. Marrs, J. O. Parks, W. P. Dyer, D. F. McMillan, S. B. Hardy and J. H. Flood. The authorized capital stock is $25,000, of which $8,000 has been paid in. The factory is supplied with all the latest improved machinery for canning and evaporating fruit. It has a capacity of 10,000 cans per day by the canning process, and 250 bushels per day when evaporating fruit or vegetables.
The mercantile interests of Prairie Grove are represented by the following individuals and firms: General stores, H. C. & G. W. Crowell, B. A. Carl, W. N. Butler & Co., Hardy & Marrs, W. P. Dyer and D. F. McMillan; furniture, H. H. Collier; harness and saddlery, A. Dixon & Co.; druggists, McCormick & Co. and H. C. Crowell; jewelry, musical instruments, etc., Simmons & Henderson; marble works, Leach & Dorman; hardware, Baggett & Sanders; lumber, J. V. Rich.
Occidental Lodge No. 436, A. F. & A. M., of Prairie Grove, was organized March 20, 1886, with the following officers: J. E. Mock, W. M.; E. G. McCormick, S. W.; J. J. Baggett, J. W.; G. E. James, S. D.; J. O. Parks, J. D.; W. R. Wallace, Treas.; R. S. Staples, Sec., and W. D. Rogers, Tyler. The membership at present numbers twenty-eight. The meetings are held in the institute building. E. G. McCormick is now W. M.; W. W. Mahan, S. W.; A. Sanders, J. W.; W. N. Butler, Sec., and J. J. Baggett, Treas.
Boonsboro.–Eight miles southwest of Prairie Grove is this flourishing community of two or three hundred souls. It is in one of the oldest settled sections of the county, and dates its existence as a village from the "thirties." The first store was opened by Morris Wright in 1834 or 1835, in a little log cabin, [p.267] just north of the present village. In 1840 he removed a little further south, and continued in business until the war. At about the same time Levi Richards and White McClellan opened a second store, and John F. Truesdale erected a steam mill just below the town, where some ten years before a small water mill had been built by Thomas Garvin.
The establishment of Cane Hill College in 1852 somewhat increased the importance of the village, but in 1860 it could boast of only two stores. These were kept by McClure & McClellan and Wright & Lewis. At the close of the war E. W. McClellan & Son, Lewis & Ayres and Warren Stewart were among the first merchants to resume business.
The great distance of the town from the railroad has somewhat obstructed its growth, yet it has made steady improvement. The following is a directory of its present business interests: Edmiston & Co., J. Edmiston, S. T. Cole, McBride & Haygood and Cowley & Welch, general stores; J. W. Cope, druggist; Ross & Blackburn and Mrs. M. L. Mann, millinery; W. F. Easterley, wagon-maker; Russell & Wood and A. E. Andrews, blacksmiths; Moore & Pyeott, roller flouring-mill; J. M. Russell & Co. and R. H. Bean, grist-mills; canning factory, operated by a stock company. The canning factory is similar to the one at Prairie Grove, and was recently put into operation. The president of the company is J. S. Edmiston, and he secretary, H. W. Moore. The raising of nursery stock is an extensive business in the vicinity of the town. The leading nurseries are owned by J. B. Russell & Co., Haygood & Co. and D. M. Moore & Son.
When Cane Hill Lodge No. 57, A. F. & A. M., was organized is not now known, as the charter and records were destroyed during the war. The first meeting of which any record could be found was held on August 3, 1865, when J. A. L. McCulloch was W. M.; George W. Scott, S. W.; L. W. Yates, J. W.; F. R. Earle, S. D.; R. H. Bean, J. D.; E. W. McClellan, Secretary; A. Mitchell, Treasurer, and W. B. Brodie, Tyler. The next year a building committee, composed of J. W. Staggs, J. A. L. McCulloch and L. W. Yates, was appointed, and a second story was built over E. W. McClellan's store for a lodge room. It was occupied until December, 1886, when the building was destroyed by fire. [p.268] Meetings have since been held over the Methodist Church. The following is a list of the Worshipful Masters since 1865: W. B. Welch, 1866; J. M. Lacy, 1867; F. R. Earle, 1868; R. D. Hays, 1869; James Mitchell, 1870; J. P. Carnahan, 1871; H. M. Welch, 1872; C. McCulloch, 1873; H. M. Welch, 1874-76; J. A. L. McCulloch, 1876; J. A. Buchanan and J. P. Carnahan, 1877-79; T. S. Tennant, 1879; J. P. Carnahan, 1880; W. B. Welch, 1881; R. H. Bean, 1882; H. L. Routh, 1883-85; T. W. Blackburn, 1885-87; J. P. Carnahan, 1887. The members of the lodge now number about thirty.
Evansville.–This village was named in honor of Capt. Lewis Evans, who opened a store there about 1830. He was succeeded by Charles McClellan, and about 1838 a flood of merchants came in, bringing large stocks of goods to sell to the immigrant Cherokees, to whom large sums of money were due from the Government. As payment was delayed for fifteen years, many of these merchants failed, and the business interests of the town were seriously impaired. Soon after the town was laid off Leonard Schuler established a tan-yard, the most extensive ever in the county. A horse-mill was built by Evans soon after he opened his store, and for a short time it supplied nearly the whole county with meal. There are now in the town two steam saw and grist mills, with cotton gins attached. The first was erected by C. E. Rose, in 1870, and the other by Littlejohn & McCormick, about five years ago.
The first schools in Evansville were taught by Allen M. Scott, who was succeeded by Mrs. Dr. Bartlett. For four years, from about 1874 to 1878, a graded school was maintained, but it has since been abandoned.
The business interests of the town are now represented by the following firms: J. A. Bacon, Basham & Goodrich, J. M. Chandler, J. R. Flinn, F. N. & N. B. Littlejohn and G. W. McClure, general stores; L. W. Rosser, cabinet maker; W. L. Childress, cabinet and wagon maker, and J. C. Ferguson, wagon maker. About one mile north of Evansville is a little village known as Greersburg, containing a store, a blacksmith shop, carpenter shop, a Masonic lodge and a school-house.
Cincinnati.–This is one of the best inland towns in the [p.269] county. It is situated in Section 29, Township 16 north, Range 33 west, and is the center of a rich grain and live stock region. It is within one and a half miles of "the Nation," and has a good trade from that country. The amount of business transacted in 1887 is estimated as follows: Aggregate, $224,935; merchandise, wagons and agricultural implements, $82,865; grain and grain products, $43,500; cattle, hogs, sheep and mules, $91,750; miscellaneous, $5,000. There are in the town five general merchants, two milliners, one druggist, one wagon factory, one agricultural implement factory, two blacksmiths, two tanneries, two harness shops, one undertaker, two shoe-shops, one merchant and custom mill, two physicians, one dentist, one hotel, one livery stable, an academy and two churches. One of the most important enterprises is the wagon factory of James Oates, who located in Cincinnati in 1868. His sales in 1887 amounted to $15,000. The oldest mercantile establishment is that of R. J. Rhea, who in 1884 succeeded W. H. Rhea, who began business in 1849. Among the others are Rhea & Watts, Spivey & Marquess Bros., Moore Bros., H. Shields and C. M. Cox. Moore Bros. are also proprietors of the Eureka Mills.
HAMLETS.
Farmington.–A little village six miles west of Fayetteville is called Farmington. It was laid out about 1870, by W. H. Ingles, and for a number of years grew quite rapidly, but of late it has somewhat deteriorated. The principal business is carried on by C. C. Conner & Co., who have a general store, and also operate a flouring-mill. Reed & Son and Rieff & Macy are the other merchants. A wagon-shop is conducted by J. H. Cato.
EDUCATION.
Dutch Mills, on Section 28, Township 14, Range 33; Greensburg, on Section 16, Township 13, Range 33; Viney Grove, on Section 1, Township 15, Range 32; Sulphur City, on Section 15, Township 15, Range 29; Brentwood, on Section 29, Township 14, Range 30; McGuire's Store, on Section 25, Township 16, Range 29; Winslow, on Section 13, Township 13, Range 30, and Salem Springs, on Section 8, Township 14, Range 33, are smaller places, some of which promise growth.
Lands and Funds.–Washington County, if she could have controlled Arkansas, would, no doubt, have dotted the State with schools and colleges; as it was she was among the first counties to encourage the proper use of the great United States land grants for public institutions of learning. It was not because there were not large grants made to the commonwealth that the public-school movement languished until 1868, for with the "16th section" grant, "the 72 sections seminary land grant," the 640,000 acres, and "the swamp lands grant" of September 28, 1850, there were from nine to eleven millions of acres of school lands at the disposal of the commonwealth for the education of its children; and some of this, too, as early as "the forties."
Every State has its periods of fraudulent administration, but in no part of the history of Arkansas has fraud and plunder been more rife than in the early administration of the most precious of its funds and resources, the school funds and lands. The lands were sacrificed at 50 and 75 cents an acre, and even then the funds were misappropriated and misloaned, until the statutes teemed with acts to suppress the evil. The office of county school commissioners was established in the hope that evils of caring for the fund might be lessened, and so the situation continued until 1868.
Earliest Schools.–Washington County suffered with the rest of the State, as far as the fund was concerned, but her settlers and pioneers, like their forefathers from the "old world," brought their schools and churches along with them, and welcomed others, who were pioneer planters of such institutions. Many parents taught their own children, and then sent them to other States. Some lady or gentleman would take a few boys and girls of the neighborhood to his or her own home and hold a "subscription school." But the poorer people and the colored race had not even these advantages. There is no certain information as to the first teacher in the county. A Mrs. Hoge held one of the earliest private schools, in her home near Evergreen Cemetery, at Fayetteville. (Governor) Isaac Murphy was also a teacher at the county seat in the latter part of "the thirties." [p.271] His was a mixed school. A Dr. Sanders was one of the earliest pedagogues there also. Mr. and Mrs. Dickson were among the number about the year 1840. In the region of Springdale probably "Uncle Joe" Holcomb taught the first schools, as early as 1844; he was followed in 1845 by "Tom" Cannon; Harvey Adams covered the time to 1850, when Miss Jennie Mills took up the birch for the two years following; D. A. White in 1853, George Hancock in 1854, and Charles Wildes covered the most of the period before the war. "Abe" Whaley and a Mr. Allbright were among those after the war.
The Far West Seminary.–This institution was intended to be the first college in Arkansas, and some place its earliest beginnings, before 1835, in a brick church at Mount Comfort. In 1843 its board of visitors included Rev. C. Washbourne, G. W. Paschal, A. W. Arrington, Robert W. Mecklin and Isaac Strain, who published in the Arkansas Intelligencer a three-column article on the purposes of the institution. Rev. Washbourne was sent east to solicit aid for it, and great exertions were made to get it firmly on foot. It was incorporated in 1844—then the only college in Arkansas, and Ozark Institute was to become a preparatory school. Good buildings were started, but on February 27, 1845, the still unfinished structures were burned, causing a loss of from $12,000 to $13,000. This seemed to be the death-blow to the enterprise. Rev. Robert W. Mecklin was among its principals, and Col. J. P. Neal, of Prairie Grove, was one of the many young men who attended it. It was suspected of being a political move, for some reason, and that, no doubt, had much to do with the lack of encouragement extended to it.
Footnote
History of Cumberland Presbyterlanism.
Cane Hill Schools.–Cane Hill was settled in the main by educated Christian people, and it early became distinguished for its churches and schools. Both were established as soon as the first settlers had located their land, and secured shelter for themselves and families. At first one school supplied the youth for several miles around with instruction, but as the settlements became more numerous better educational facilities were demanded. On October 28, 1834, a meeting of the Cumberland Presbyterians, of Washington County, was held in the Cane Hill meetinghouse for the purpose of taking the necessary steps to establish a [p.272] school. Rev. Samuel King was called to the chair, and presided over the eliberations. A board of trust was chosen, and the Rev. B. H. Pierson, D. D., was elected president and Ezra Wilson clerk. This school was opened in April, 1835, and was probably kept up in some form until the founding of Cane Hill College.*
Cane Hill College.–This latter institution was chartered in 1852, and went into operation in a brick building erected for the purpose at Boonsboro'. Rev. Robert M. King, of Missouri, was president, and Prof. S. Doak Lowry, assistant. After laboring for about six years Mr. King resigned, and his place was filled by the promotion of Prof. Lowry. James H. Crawford and P. W. Buchanan were at the same time made assistants. An effort was made to raise an endowment by scholarships, and Rev. W. G. L. Quaite was appointed endowing agent. He received in donations and scholarships about $1,000, but owing to the loss occasioned by the war very little was realized from this effort.
In March, 1859, Rev. F. R. Earle, of Greenville, Ky., accepted the presidency, and was formally inaugurated the following June. At the close of the collegiate year, in June, 1859, two young men, S. H. Buchanan and J. T. Buchanan, were regularly graduated, receiving the first diplomas given by the institution. At that time, also, the first catalogue was issued. S. H. Buchanan was employed as tutor for the next session, and at the close of the school year, in 1860, Prof. Lowry resigned. In 1861 work was necessarily suspended, and in November, 1864, the college building with all its contents was destroyed by fire. A building previously used as a boarding-house escaped the flames, and after the close of hostilities the president began preaching and teaching there. In 1868 a new frame building, valued at $5,000, was completed, and in September the president, assisted by Prof. James Mitchell, opened the college. The next year J. P. Carnahan was added to the teaching force. In 1874 Prof. Mitchell resigned, and his place was filled by Prof. Harold Bourland. In 1875 the trustees resolved to admit pupils of both sexes, and Rev. H. M. Welch was placed in charge of the young ladies' department. He retired in 1879. In the four years following Mrs. Earle, Miss Welch, Miss Moore and Mrs. Whittenburg were employed as teachers whenever the patronage demanded it. In 1883 Prof. Carnahan retired, after eighteen years' service. The president then had entire charge of the work until 1885, when he too resigned, and Rev. J. P. Russell was placed in charge. Mr. Russell taught for two and one-half sessions. In the second session of his administration the college building was burned. In this emergency the Methodists offered their house, and this, with a small dwelling, furnished accommodations for the school. Upon the resignation of Mr. Russell, Dr. Earle again undertook the management of the institution, and in 1886 there was completed a new brick building, better than either of the former ones, at a cost of about $8,000. In 1887 the president, assisted by two good teachers, began work in the new building, and a fairly successful year ensued. Dr. Earle is an able educator and a faithful worker, and Cane Hill College is doing much for the cause it represents, but it is now under the shadow of the State University, and is so far removed from railroad communication that it can scarcely hope to regain its old-time prosperity.
At about the time Cane Hill College was established Esquire James B. Russell, who had previously done much for the promotion of education in the community, erected a large frame building about one mile south of Boonsboro, furnished it with a library and apparatus, and installed Thomas G. McCulloch as teacher. McCulloch, who was an excellent instructor, although a somewhat severe disciplinarian, remained in charge of the school for four or five years, and under his administration the attendance became so great that an addition to the building was made. After Prof. McCulloch's retirement the school was successively under the direction of Miss Coleman and Miss Lloyd.
Upon the establishment of Cane Hill College Mr. Russell proposed to donate the property to the church, provided $500 was raised for the college in his name. This was done, and Cane Hill Seminary became as famous an institution for the education of young ladies as Cane Hill College was for the education of young men. During the three or four years before the war this institution was under the care of Prof. Newton Gibens and three assistants.
Prairie Grove Institute is the name of a high-school conducted under the auspices of Fayetteville District Methodist Episcopal Church, South. It was opened in 1883, under the care of N. J. Foster, in a two-story brick building, erected for the purpose in a beautiful grove near the town of Prairie Grove.
The Fayetteville Female Seminary.–In 1839 this institution was founded by Miss Sophia Sawyer. This lady had left her New England home to become a missionary to the Cherokee Indians in Tennessee, and on their removal to the Indian Territory she followed them, in company with the Ridge family. Indian troubles led to her locating at Fayetteville, whither she brought fourteen young Cherokee girls, daughters of prominent Cherokee families. Among these maidens were four who bore the names Susan Drew, Amanda Drew, Maggie Harper and Julia Rogers. She opened her school near the present residence of Stephen K. Stone, and in time had an assistant, a Miss James (afterward Mrs. Marshall), and later on Miss Lucretia Foster and Miss Mary T. Daniels. Rev. C. Washbourne at one time was instructor in literature. Two Misses Freyschlag also assisted at one time. In about 1854 Miss Lucretia Foster became principal, and in 1859 the institution was incorporated. A neat catalogue, issued for 1859-60, gives the following faculty: Mrs. Lucretia Foster Smith, principal; Miss Mary T. Daniels, associate; Miss Annis C. Feemster, teacher in primary department; Madame Marie Janssen, teacher in French and embroidery; Mr. F. F. Zellner, professor of music. The whole number in all departments was 103; number in music, twenty-four; number in embroidery, thirty. The students were largely from Fayetteville, but some were from such distant points as Salem, Tenn. The first year of the war, however, closed this institution, but not before the first class received its diplomas. Elizabeth F. Massie, of Fayetteville, and Cener Boone, of Bedford County, Tenn., constituted the class.
Ozark Institute.–On May 19, 1845, Rev. Robert W. Mecklin, having withdrawn from The Far West Seminary, opened a well-attended male seminary about three miles northwest of Fayetteville, and gave it the title "Ozark Institute." Its reputation spread throughout the region, and its attendance often numbered over a hundred students. To it were attracted as teachers such brainy young men as Rev. Robert Graham, who became the partner of Rev. Mecklin. Under them were assistants A. S. Lockert and Z. Van Hoose. The institution continued until February 17, 1857, and remained inoperative until after the war, when for a time it was revived by Prof. C. H. Leverett.
Rev. Robert Graham was a Christian gentleman of remarkable abilities, and of excellent scholarship; he was a man who left his impress upon any society in which he moved, and with these abilities was coupled the earnestness and zeal of a convert of Alexander Campbell. He was not only a pastor, but an educator, and not only formed but was able to execute plans for the higher education of the youth of Washington County and the Southwest. He had made a strong impression on the students of Ozark Institute, and on his withdrawal from that school in 1850, to found a college in Fayetteville, he was followed by about twenty pupils. In October of that year he founded Arkansas College, and began the school on the lot now occupied by the residence of Mr. Prentiss. The enterprise was a private one, entirely under Mr. raham's control, and in 1851 his situation was such that he felt warranted in building a new structure in McGarroh's grove, on the site of the present Fayetteville Christian Church. Mr. Graham's first assistant was Prof. John M. Pettigrew, afterward a senator. Among his students were the following well-known names, some of them of national reputation: James R. Pettigrew, afterward editor of the Sentinel, and one of the Utah Commission, Robert Rutherford (now Judge), Granville Wilcox, a distinguished lawyer, and editor of the Van Buren Argus. Arkansas and John Wilson, T. W. and W. T. Pollard, J. T. Sutton, Maj. Johnson and Mark L. Evans, who became useful men, were also among the number. The school had attained a first-class reputation under the influence of Robert Graham, and its attendance was probably never below 100 pupils after the new building was occupied. In 1859, another Christian minister, Rev. William Baxter, assumed control on the withdrawal of Mr. Graham, and was its president until, like all the other institutions of peace, it gave way to the march of war in 1861. There are conflicting rumors in regard to the destruction of the building; [p.276] it is said to have been destroyed by the order of McCulloch, in event of the defeat of his army at Pea Ridge, and according to others it was burned by Federal soldiers as a war signal to Springfield officers toward the North. Certain it is, however, it was reduced to ashes.
The loss of Miss Sawyer's school to Washington County's facilities for female education might have been replaced by the Fayetteville Female Institute, organized in 1858, if the war had allowed it to continue; but it had the misfortune to be used by Gen. McCulloch as an arsenal, and, after fatal Pea Ridge, the bombs and powder it contained were made to do self-destruction to the building and its magazine. Rev. T. B. Van Horn, of Ohio, the founder, in looking about for a site, chose the northwest corner of Dixon and College Avenues, the site of the parsonage of Rev. Dr. Maynard at present; here he built a three-story frame edifice, surmounted by a spire.
As Rev. Van Horn was a strong Unionist, he left Arkansas in 1861, and his institution was converted into a Confederate arsenal, meeting with the fate above mentioned. The attendance had averaged probably fifty pupils.
In 1849 Rev. Jesse and Mrs. S. A. E. McAllister organized two large academies at Elm Springs, Rev. McAllister teaching the male school, and the female school being in charge of his wife. The attendance reached sixty or more in the male school, and probably forty in the girls' school, many attendants of the latter coming from the Indian Nation. The school was under Methodist Episcopal influences, if not entirely controlled by that body. It was not destined to an unbroken existence, for an epidemic a few years after its organization resulted in its abandonment; not, however, before a Mr. Lockhart had served as Rev. McAllister's successor, and a Mrs. E. Saunders, who had been professor of music, had taken the place of Mrs. McAllister at the head of the female school. The deed for the lot for the building site was given May 8, 1852, by W. Barrington, to the trustees of Elm Springs Male and Female Academy, Thomas Stanford, Russell M. Morgan, Thomas McClain, W. N. Carlile, L. H. Plake and Lee C. Blakemore.
A Baptist College.–In 1872 there was organized at Springdale [p.277] a Missionary Baptist College by the Rev. Barnes, and in the following year it was incorporated. It was under the control of three teachers, and held in a fine two-story brick edifice that rivals the public school building of the town. For some reason the school did not prosper, and in April, 1885, it was bought by the Lutheran Church, and converted into a parochial high-school for a colony of that faith in and to the west of Springdale, and now goes under the name "Lutheran College." Two instructors, Rev. A. S. Bartholomew and Rev. I. E. Rader, have been in charge ever since the new organization, and their enrollment often reaches eighty in number.
Elm Springs Academy.–In January, 1887, Rev. W. W. Lundy, a graduate of Hiwassee College, East Tennessee, leased the school property at Elm Springs, and established "Elm Springs Academy for Males and Females." The first year sixty-five students were enrolled, and in 1888 the enrollment reached 103 pupils. The school offers scientific, commercial, normal and classical instruction, under the able direction of Rev. Lundy and his assistant, Miss Jessie Gotcher.
The period from 1861 to 1867 may be considered practically a blank in the educational history of Washington County. During active hostilities the preservation of life was about all that the harassed mothers, left to care for their families as best they might, could do; and when reconstruction began, the broken up families, who looked round on devastated fields, burned homes, villages and towns, the ruins of everything that had been the fruits of years of labor and care, with scarcely anything to turn to except their orchards and the bare fields, found their situation almost as though they had come as penniless pioneers to a new country, and it needed some time for them to recuperate their exhausted energies and finances. Then, too, the situation had changed; the slaves were free; they were to be a part of the population; free schools were being agitated; the finances of the people and the State were in a lamentable condition; and for many reasons the free school idea did not become suddenly popular; there was still the tendency to cling to the private schools; the school funds from the public lands, so far as sold, were all gone; the State began taking means to secure what could be [p.278] recovered; and soon a plan of free common schools was presented to the Legislature.
Common Schools.–On July 23, 1868, was approved an act of the State Legislature, entitled "An Act to establish and maintain a system of Free Common Schools for the State of Arkansas." The act begins:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas:
SECTION 1. That the proceeds of all lands that have been or hereafter may be granted by the United States to this State, and not otherwise appropriated by the United States or this State; also all (moneys) stocks. bonds, lands, and other property, now belonging to any fund for purposes of education; also the net proceeds of all sales of lands and other property and effects that may accrue to this State by escheat, or from sale of estrays, or from unclaimed dividends or distributive shares of the estates of deceased persons, or from fines, penalties, or forfeitures; also any sales of the public lands which may have been or may be hereafter paid over to the State (Congress consenting); also all the grants, gifts, or devises that have been or may be hereafter made to this State, and not otherwise appropriated by the tenure of the grant, gift, or devise, shall be securely invested and sacredly preserved as a public-school fund, that shall be designated as the "Common-School Fund" of the State, and which shall be the common property of the State.
SECTION 2. That the annual income from the said fund, together with one dollar per capita, to be annually assessed on every male inhabitant over the age of twenty-one (21) years, and so much of the ordinary annual revenues of the State as may hereafter be set apart by law for such purposes, shall be faithfully appropriated for maintaining a system of "Free Common Schools" for this State, and shall be applied to no other purposes whatsoever, than to the payment of teachers' wages and the salaries of the circuit superintendents of public instruction.
The act provided that the governor, secretary of State and its created head, the superintendent of public instruction, should be the commissioners of the fund; that every county should be divided into school districts, with a trustee as the district officer; that each judicial district should constitute a school circuit, over which a "Circuit Superintendent of Public Instruction" should have supervision, these officers being appointed by the governor; and that among other duties these superintendents should license teachers, hold county teachers' institutes, visit schools, arrange district apportionment of funds, etc. The salary of these officers was to be $3,000 and office expenses; thus is seen the importance attached to the office. As an interesting feature of reconstruction days, the act provides for the following "Teacher's Oath:" "I do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will honestly and faithfully support the Constitution and laws of the United States, and the Constitution and laws of the State of Arkansas, and that I will encourage all other persons so to do. That I will never countenance or aid in the secession of this State from the United States; that I will endeavor to inculcate in the minds of youth sentiments of patriotism and loyalty, and will fully, faithfully and impartially perform the duties of the office of teacher according to the best of my ability; so help me God."
This act was amended April 12, 1869, to provide for certain district contingencies, and the sale and transfer of lands. On February 4 of the same year it was also amended to adapt the system to the peculiar needs of cities and towns, making them a special school district.
Dr. Thomas Smith was the first State superintendent of public instruction, and under him was W. B. Henderson, the circuit superintendent of public instruction over the districts of which Washington County is a part. Under Supt. Smith about 2,500 schools were organized throughout the State, and Washington County had her share.
Industrial University.–The next most important event in the educational history of Washington County, and of the State also, was an act of the Legislature, approved March 27, 1871, entitled "An Act for the Location, Organization and Maintenance of the Arkansas Industrial University, with a Normal Department therein." It begins thus:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas:
SECTION 1. That the treasurer of said State be a financial agent and trustee of said State, immediately after the passage of this act, to apply for and receive of the United States Government all the land scrip to which this State may be entitled by reason of her acceptance of the provisions of the act of Congress entitled "An act donating public lands to the several States and Territories which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts," approved July 2, 1862, and acts amendatory thereof.
The act further provides for converting this scrip into funds; for a trustee from each judicial district, who, together with the State superintendent of public instruction, were to constitute the board of trustees; for receiving bids from counties, cities and incorporated towns for the location of the institution; for [p.280] proceedings for its erection; for the organization and maintenance of it; for the appropriation of $50,000 for these purposes, the 150,000 acres of land scrip being only for endowment; to provide also for the purchase of from 160 to 640 acres of land for the university and its farm, etc.
In 1872 the board, consisting of Hon. Thomas Smith, and Trustees Bennett, Cohn, Prather, Boteführ. Bishop. Searle, Young, Clayton, Sarber and Millen, sent a committee to visit the universities of Illinois and Michigan. Among the bids received by them was one from Hon. Liberty Bartlett, of Pulaski County, offering ninety-two acres; one from Batesville, subscribing $50,000; one from Washington County, voting $100,000, with the city of Fayetteville voting $30,000 in addition, and one from A. P. Robinson, of Conway, offering a quarter section of land. Washington County was chosen, and the homestead of Mr. William McIlroy, embracing 160 acres, was bought by the committee on buildings and grounds, A. S. Prather, J. E. Bennett and M. A. Cohn, who paid the sum of $12,000, $1,000 of which was at once raised by citizens of Fayetteville. Large donations of land were offered by Hons. Lafayette Gregg and David Walker. Mr. Van Odell, of Chicago, was the architect chosen, and the contract let to Meyers & Oliver for $130,000. Work began September, 1873, and the following is a description of the results as completed August 10, 1875, and as reported by the oard of visitors for 1875 to the governor:
We spent half a day in examining the new building, and were impressed with its grandeur. Its foundation is deep, broad, durable and abundantly able to support the heavy and well proportioned superstructure erected thereon. It is replete with beauty, solid in its construction, and well adapted to the purposes and objects for which it was built.
It is 214 feet long by 122 feet wide, covering an area of 26,108 square feet. It is five stories high, with French or Mansard roof, covered with slate and tin. The height of the building is 134 feet.
The basement story is built of stone; the foundation is bedded on solid rock. The three next stories are built of brick, and the attic of wood. The basement story is in height thirteen feet in the clear, first and second stories sixteen feet each, third and fourth fifteen feet, the clock and bell tower extending two stories above the attic.
There was used in the construction of [the] building 2,600,000 brick, 2,300 perch of rock, 719,805 feet of lumber, 260,000 pounds of iron, 250 kegs of nails, 85 doors, 282 windows, and 12,008 square yards of plastering in first and second [p.281] stories. The building is to be heated with hot air furnaces and lighted with gas.
There are ten rooms 77×61 feet, ten rooms 22×29 feet, ten rooms 22×28 feet, ten rooms 22×25 feet, ten rooms 22×22 feet, ten rooms 22×19 feet, five rooms 15×28 feet, four rooms 22×20 feet, and one room 77×50 feet, making a total of seventy rooms. In addition there are four corridors 15×28 feet, and four corridors 14×206 feet.
There are four entrances to the building, and three flights of stairs from first to third floor, the principal stairway leading from the main entrance to the attic story. The principal entrance to the first floor is on the east, by circular steps surmounted by a beautiful portico of stone.
The fact that the stone, lumber and brick used in this building were obtained in Arkansas, and that the workmen who wrought so faithfully in "cutting, hewing and carving" are chiefly residents of this State, is, or ought to be, a source of congratulation to the entire commonwealth.
Says Prof. F. L. Harvey: "The brick for that beautiful structure, the Arkansas Industrial University, was made from clay found inside the campus, while the brown sandstone for the basement was quarried a few hundred yards away, and the ornamental grey limestone, used in the facade, procured in Washington and Madison Counties."
The entire value of the university property, as given in its first catalogue (1873-74), was $355,000; and the main building was to be finished by September, 1875.
In a memorial of the board to the United States Senate, praying for aid, they say: "* * in the month of January, 1872, (it) was opened for the reception of pupils;" and that 200 students had become connected therewith. The first faculty was Gen. Albert W. Bishop, A. M., president and professor of mental and moral philosophy; C. H. Leverett, A. M., professor of ancient languages and literature; T. L. Thompson, B. S., professor of theoretical and applied chemistry; Gen. N. B. Pearce, professor of mathematics and engineering; Lieut. E. S. Curtis, Second Artillery, United States Army, professor of military science and tactics; Richard Thruston, M. D., professor of practical and theoretical agriculture and horticulture; N. P. Gates, principal of normal department; Mary R. Gorton, preceptress in normal department; Lu J. Stanard, instructress of training school, and W. D. C. Boteführ, professor of music. The freshman class opened with 16, the normal class with 13, and the preparatory department with 201.
It proposes as its object in the first catalogue:
First. To impart a knowledge of science and its application to the arts of life.
Second. To afford to students, such as may desire it, the benefits of daily manual labor. This labor is to some degree remunerative. But its remunerative character is not so much intended to lessen the expenses of students as for educational uses, as it is planned and varied for the illustration of the principles of science. The preservation of health, and of a taste for the pursuits of agriculture and mechanic arts, are two other important objects.
Third. To prosecute experiments for the promotion of agriculture and horticulture.
Fourth. To provide the means of instruction in military science; and to this end skilled instructors and suitable military implements will be secured and obtained as soon as practicable.
Fifth. To afford the means of a general and thorough education, not inferior to those afforded to all classes in the best colleges.
The experimental farming was to be done entirely by the pupils, under the faculty direction; the number of beneficiaries for Washington County, who were to receive four years' tuition free, was eight; the uniform prescribed for the male students was the West Point cadet suit; the courses arranged were the classical, agricultural, engineering, normal, and preparatory and musical courses; the discipline was to be self-government; one literary society, the "Claiosophic," was established; a mineral and geological cabinet and library was established; likewise a horticultural collection; a four-acre orchard; and the year closed commencement exercises during the first three days of July, 1873.
At the first commencement held June 27, 1872, President Gen. A. W. Bishop delivered an excellent address on the educational history of the county and of the A. I. University movement in particular.
The report of 1874 shows an aggregate attendance of 321, and a commercial course added. A military band of fourteen pieces was added also, and the cadets placed under military government; a professorship of history and English literature was established. The report of 1875, with the announcement, shows N. P. Gates as acting president, and Mrs. V. L. Gray as teacher of painting and drawing; a total attendance of 344; the "Mathetian," a literary, and two musical societies, the Euterpean and Philharmonic, were organized; $500 received from the Peabody fund; a branch normal college, for colored students, was opened at Pine Bluff, September, 1875. The report for 1876, [p.283] and announcement for the following year, shows the attendance 270; the first graduates, six in number. The report for 1877, and announcement for 1877-78, shows Gen. D. H. Hill, president; total attendance, 287; four prizes are offered. For 1878 the report and announcement show an attendance of 256; morning and evening religious exercises in the chapel; two more prizes added. For 1879, with announcement for 1879-80, the report shows the faculty increased to sixteen; a medical department at Little Rock with a faculty of ixteen; aggregate enrollment, 420 (exclusive of medical department); one prize added; two more literary societies, Philomathean and Phamakopton; general increase in collection and library. The report for 1880, and catalogue of 1880-81, show the attendance 450; cadet battalion of three companies; uniform for ladies; large contributions to collections, library and reading room; number Washington County scholarships increased to twenty-one. For June, 1881, faculty numbers seventeen; attendance (exclusive of medical department and branch normal), 441; Y. M. C. A. organized; seven degrees obtainable; an oratorical contest established; fourth annual meeting of Alumni Association reported; seven literary societies reported; large contributions to cabinets, library, etc.; twenty-two scholarships for Washington County. For June, 1882, attendance 363. In 1888 a new three-story brick dormitory was opened; it contains forty rooms, and is lighted by electric light. The officers (at Fayetteville) are as follows: E. H. Murfee, A. M., LL. D., acting president, professor of mathematics, logic and astronomy; J. M. Whitham, A. M. (late assistant engineer United States Navy), superintendent of mechanic arts, and professor of engineering; H. Edwards, A.M., professor of history, English, French and German; F. W. Simonds, M. S., Ph. D., professor of biology and geology; E. L. Fletcher (first lieutenant Thirteenth Infantry, United States Army), professor of military science and tactics; A. E. Menke, F. C. S., superintendent of agriculture, and professor of chemistry and mineralogy; J. F. Howell, A. M., instructor in pedagogics and senior assistant; W. E. Anderson (graduate Miller Manual Labor School), assistant professor of mechanic arts, and instructor in mechanical drawing; S. S. Twombley, B. S., assistant professor of chemistry [p.284] and agriculture; C. H. Leverett, A. M., assistant professor of ancient languages; G. W. Drake, A. M., assistant in preparatory department; A. M. Waggoner, assistant in preparatory department; J.C. Massie, Jr., A. B., assistant in preparatory department; N. J. Williams, assistant in preparatory department; K. V. King, instructor in music; C. B. Lyon, B. P., instructor in free-hand drawing and industrial art; J. W. Mayes (graduate Miller Manual Labor School, Va.), instructor in iron work; L. C. Gardner (graduate Chicago Manual Training School), instructor in foundry and forging; W. F. Bates, foreman of the farm; L. Treadwell, instructor in field engineering; P. H. Babb, instructor in wood work; W. N. Crozier, instructor in English; I. Pace, English instructor; M. Danaher, instructor in Greek; G. A. Warren, English instructor; A. Polson, English instructor; J. H. Hobbs, English instructor; Prof. Edwards, librarian; Prof. Howell, secretary of faculty; Miss Taff, assistant librarian; Prof. Drake, superintendent of dormitory; Mrs. F. W. Washington, matron; W. French, engineer, and W. W. McCant, janitor. The State Agricultural Experiment Station, located here, have a board of control, station council, and eleven station officers.
The students are as follows: In the agricultural course, 48; mechanical engineering, 26; civil engineering, 68; scientific, 46; classical, 55; normal, 54; irregular, 6; literary, 2; in lowest preparatory, 112; total matriculates at Fayetteville, 417; music, 27; medical department at Little Rock, 67; branch normal at Pine Bluff, 181; total, 665. Eight courses are offered, and among the degrees gained at Fayetteville are B. S. A., B. M. L., B. C. E., B. S., B. A. and L. I. Three post-graduate degrees are conferred. M. A., M. S. and Ph. D. Nineteen agricultural journals are taken for that department. Six shop-rooms accommodate fifty pupils at one time. Thirty-three engineering journals and about sixty volumes of proceedings of various societies in Europe and America are used in that department. Over 160 machines or models are in the museum of
that department. The Gordon Engineers' Club, organized in 1887, have had six prominent lecturers during the year. A battalion of three companies is thus officered: E. L. Fletcher, first lieutenant Thirteenth United States Infantry, colonel; G. C. Shoff, first lieutenant and adjutant; W. N. [p.285] Crosier, first lieutenant and quartermaster; W. E. Dickson, first lieutenant and ordnance officer; G. A. Humphreys, sergeantmajor; Company A, Capt. G. A. Warren; Company B, Capt. J. H. Hobbs; Company C, Capt. Press Boles. The property is valued at $300,000. There are three literary societies. Library, apparatus, museums, cabinets, etc., are good. The long vacation is now had in winter. The classes have been as follows: 1875 numbered 8; 1876 numbered 9; 1877, same; 1878, 5; 1879, 8; 1880, 10; 1881, 6; 1882, 15; 1883, 7; 1884, 10; 1885, 6, and 1886, 5.
Other Educational Matters.–From time to time the public school laws have been changed and amended, but the greatest change was made about 1875, after the change of administration in State affairs. An effort was made to abolish the supervision system, including the offices of State and circuit superintendents, and replacing the latter by throwing their duties on the county judge and county examiners, and substituting a district board of three directors for the trustee. J. L. Denton, then State superintendent, and ex-officio receiver of the George Peabody fund, on the prospect of the success of the anti-supervision element, telegraphed the manager, J. P. Curry, who at once went to Little Rock, and urged upon the Legislature the retention at least of the office of State superintendent. The great indebtedness of the State made this seem necessary, but it was a vital blow against the public-school system. Whatever the cause, however, the retrenching process cut out all supervision except the office of State superintendent. Aside from the poll-tax and other funds, a State tax of 2 mills is a source of revenue, and an optional district tax of 5 mills for districts who will vote it.
To trace out the statistical growth of the common-school system in Washington County is impossible, on account of the lack of records, and the absence of reports where records have been kept. The State superintendent's reports to the governor, excellent as they otherwise are, are thus rendered practically worthless as far as this feature is concerned. Both the State superintendent and county examiner lament the fact, and point to that as an argument for supervision of county work.
The report of June 30, 1881, shows the enrollment in Washington [p.286] County to be: White, 8,292; colored, 342; increase, 216. Those pursuing studies to be: Reading, 1,222; orthography, 1,706; penmanship, 309; mental arithmetic, 410; written arithmetic, 610; English grammar, 337; geography, 259; history, 100; higher branches, 37; whole number taught, 2,354; whole number last year, 3,396.
The report of 1882, when there were 121 districts, but thirty-five districts reported, showing the number enrolled to be: White, 2,330 (the enumeration being 9,158); colored, 84 (the enumeration being 325 and the increase 849). Those pursuing studies to be: Reading, 1,274; orthography, 1,444; mental arithmetic, 356; written arithmetic, 549; English grammar, 156; geography, 152; history, 141; higher branches, 35.
For June 30, 1881, the number of teachers are given as: Male, 39; female, 7; with first grade certificate, 32; with second grade certificate, 13; with third grade certificate, 1. The average wages of first grade males, $33.66; first grade females, $48.33; second grade males, $20.71; total paid out, $7,781.39.
For June 30, 1882, the number of teachers given are: White males, 33; colored males, 2; white females, 7; average monthly salaries for males of first grade, $33.11; first grade females, $23.24; second grade males, $25.09; third grade males, $20.62.
June 30, 1881, number of buildings erected during the year, two of wood, costing $611.30; number erected previously, eighty of wood, costing $20,650; total valuation, $21,261.30; number of districts reporting, two.
June 30, 1882, eleven districts only reported.
The receipts and expenditures of the public-school fund in Washington County, as given June 30, 1881, is as follows: Received from all sources, $17,171.34; expended for all purposes, $7,781.39; amount unexpended, $9,389.95. As given June 30, 1882: Received from all sources, $14,615.55; expended for all purposes, $10,990.81; amount unexpended, $3,624.74.
In 1883 the enumeration was: White, 9,732; colored, 382; increase, 631; number of districts, 130; number reporting, 53; enrollment, white, 3,328; colored, 104; total, 3,432; pursuing, orthography, 2,254; reading, 2,050; mental arithmetic, 607; written arithmetic, 980; English grammar, 373; geography, 510; history, 163; higher branches, 15; penmanship, 926.
In 1884 the county examiner reports: Enumeration, 10,785; enrollment, 2,926; number of districts, 135; number of districts reporting enrollment, 53; number of teachers employed, 56; the county treasurer reports amount on hand July 1, 1883, $5,424.26; from common-school fund, $6,097.57; district tax, $1,702.17; poll tax, $3,954.24; other sources, $652.05; total, $17,830.29; amount expended, $12,254.72; balance on hand June 30, 1884, $5,775.57.
(In 1884) number of districts, 135; number reporting, 43; enrollment, white, 2,957; colored, 5; total, 2,962; pursuing orthography, 2,266; reading, 1,870; mental arithmetic, 835; written arithmetic, 901; English grammar, 436; geography, 408; penmanship, 548; history, 219; higher arithmetic, 11.
In 1883 the number of teachers reported are: Male, 47; female, 9; total, 56; average monthly salaries of first grade males, $32.55; first grade females, $26.66; second grade males, $28.75; third grade females, $20.00.
In 1884 the number of teachers reported are: Males, 35; females, 21; total, 56; average monthly salary first grade males, $33.00; females, $27.20; second grade males, $29.41; females, $22.50; third grade males, $22.50.
In 1883 Washington County reports twelve wooden school-houses, erected at a cost of $22.58; whole number, 123, valued at $24,600; and in 1884 reports three wooden buildings, constructed at a cost of $379; and the whole number reported are but eleven buildings, valued at $1,297.
In 1883 the school fund received was: Amount on hand June 30, 1882, $3,642.61; from common-school fund, $4,757.33; from district tax, $3,162.11; from poll tax, $3,583.79; from other sources, $101; total, $15,246.75; and in 1884, amount on hand June 30, 1883, $5,424.26; common-school fund, $6,097.57; district fund, $1,702.17; poll tax, $3,954.24; from sixteenth section sales or leases, $328.20; other sources, $323.85; total, $17,830.29.
Expenditures for 1883, teachers' salaries, $9,390.42; treasurer's commissions, $232.07; total, $9,822.49; amount unexpended, common-school fund, $4,214.46; district fund, $1,209.80; total, $5,424.26; and for 1884, teachers' salaries, $11,834.10; building repairing, $216.64; treasurer's commissions, $203.98; total, $12,254.72; [p.288] amount unexpended, common school fund, $828.14; district fund, $3,125.03; funds from all other sources, $1,622.40; total, $5,575.57.
Of the $2,800 received by the State from the Peabody Educational Fund in 1883, all but $150 was expended, and the only direct aid received by Washington County was her share of $1,300 applied to the district normal institutes, one of which, in 1884, was held within her borders, at Springdale. In the latter year, of $2,000 received, all but $667.10 was expended for these institutes, as directed by the general agent of the fund. In addition to the above Washington County students have the privilege of competing for the eight Peabody scholarships in the State Normal College at Nashville, Tenn., each scholarship allowing $200 per annum for the expenses of its holder in the above college.
In his report for 1883 and 1884 the State superintendent showed the great need for revision of the school law in almost every department, but especially in regard to county supervision and school districting, and to provide free text books. He also states the condition of the permanent school fund, whose interest only is used as follows: Loughborough bonds, 6 per cent., $170,000; auditor's certificates of 1883, $270.91; reclamation certificates, $76.00; total, $170,346.91.
The fact is also mentioned of the loss of funds by fire in 1874 and 1879 to aggregate (with interest) over $300,000, and the replacement of this is urged.
In the report for 1885 and 1886 the State superintendent, Hon. W. E. Thompson, again urges county supervision in a masterly manner, and no doubt the public sentiment will soon demand it as the greatest need of her public-school system. His report shows a general advance in the schools of the State, and in public sentiment in regard thereto, which has no doubt been largely fostered by the district normal institutes, which are supported by the Peabody Fund. This fund is reported as follows: To balance on hand November 1, 1884, $667.10; to normal institutes in 1885, $1,500; total amount for 1885, $2,167.10; by amount expended for institutes in 1885, $1,087.90; to balance on hand January, 1886, $1,079.20; to amount received for public schools in 1886, $1,800; to amount for institutes in 1886, $1,500; [p.289] total amount, $4,370.20; by amount expended for institute work, $1,678.75; balance on hand December, 1886, $2,700.45.
Two more scholarships in the Nashville State Normal College were given to the State.
September 30, 1886, the permanent school fund was as follows: Currency, $174,554.33; State scrip, $652.02; reclamation certificates, $76; refunding certificates, $100; total, $175,382.35.
The report for Washington County June 30, 1885, is: Amount received from common-school fund, State, $14,690.05; district tax, $11,262.12; poll tax, $4,307; other sources, $361; total, $30,620.17. Amount expended for teachers' salaries, $7,670.32; building and repairs, $1,493.32; treasurer's commissions, $222.79; total, 9,386.43. Balance unexpended of common-school fund, $7,640.73; district fund, $10,641.12; other sources, $2,951.89; total, $21,233.74. Enumeration, white, 9,947; colored, 227; total, 10,913; enrollment, white, 3,016; number of districts, 134; number reporting enrollment, 40; number districts voting tax, 4; number teachers employed, 50; number school-houses, 11; value of school-houses, $3,305; number of institutes held, 3.
The county's report for June 30, 1886, is as follows: Balance on hand June 30, 1885, $21,233.74; common-school fund, State, $8,056.40; district tax, $7,483.10; poll tax, $4,685.60; other sources, $500; total, $41,958.84. Amount expended for teachers' salaries, $15,301.57; building and repairs, $10,157.94; treasurer's commission, $414.48; other purposes, $279.76; total, $26,153.75. Balance unexpended common-school fund, $4,143.04; balance unexpended district fund, $6,580.16; balance of fund from other sources, $5,081.89; total, $15,805.09. The enumeration, white, 11,286; colored, 438; total, 11,724; enrollment, white, 2,946; number of districts, 150; number reporting enrollment, 104; number voting tax, 38; number of teachers employed, 114; number of school-houses, 80; value of school-houses, $26,177.29; number of institutes held, 4.
The county examiner's report for 1888 gives total white enumeration, 12,800; total colored, 430; grand total, 13,230; total white enrollment, 6,965; colored, 201; grand total, 7,166; average male daily attendance, 1,871; female, 2,443; total, 4,314; whole number of teachers, 124; amount paid teachers, $16,043.42; [p.290] number of schools taught, 116; number of days schools were taught, 8,474; visits of directors, 345; amount of taxes levied for schools, $12,514.04; number of school-houses erected during the year, 10; cost of same, $2,200; whole number of school-houses in county, 84; total value of same, $35,782; value of all other property belonging to districts, $2,213; receipts for the year, $23,742.95; expenditures for the year, $18,516.60; balance, $5,237.57; number of districts voting tax, 75; total number of districts in county, 164; number of institutes held during year, 2; teachers attending same, 60; number of children deaf, blind, insane, etc., 7.
The public-school system has kept pace with the rapid growth of the county since the advent of the "Frisco Railway," and has made greater progress in the last semi-decade than in any twenty years previously. The growth in the attendance of three institutes held in the county since 1886, is significant; the first, at West Fork, had only seventeen in attendance, the second numbered eighty, and the last, at Fayetteville, had an attendance of 125. In September, 1887, a Directors' Annual Meeting was organized, which is expected to be an influential agent in the improvement of district management.
Among a large number who might be mentioned as active in the promotion of public-school interests in various parts of the county are Prof. E. H. Howell, Judge L. Gregg and Col. Thomas Hunt, of Fayetteville; William Mitchell, of Prairie Grove; County Examiner C. H. Inman, of Springdale; H. P. Sloan, of Pitkin; William Mayes, of Johnson; Dr. B. F. Williams, of McGuire's Station, et al.
It is but natural that Fayetteville, which had long had such excellent private seminaries and colleges, should be loth to exchange them for the undeveloped public schools, which, for some time, were considered not unlike schools for paupers. It was organized under Circuit Supt. E. E. Henderson as District No. 1, with J. Q. Benbrook as trustee, and schools with not to exceed three teachers, including those for colored schools. Among the various buildings rented from year to year were the Masonic Hall, the old Female Seminary, the Methodist, Baptist and Christian Churches. Under the corporation school law [p.291] Fayetteville was made a special district, and March 20, 1871, the following school board met: J. C. Massie, J. Q. Benbrook, H. C. C. Botefuhr, Thomas D. Boles, D. D. Stark and Charles L. McClung. Mrs. Smith then had charge of the white schools, and Miss Dora Ford and a Miss Mannels taught the colored students, under the care of the American Missionary Society.
No school building was erected by the city until their present edifice was built, in 1885, under the direction of the following board: L. Gregg, president; B. H. Stone, O. C. Gray, E. B. Harrison, J. T. Reynolds and another. The board made the following report September 1, 1885:
"We report that for the last school year the district voted a five-mill tax for building purposes, and for this year a five-mill tax for all teaching purposes."
The directors drew from the county treasury for building purposes during the year $2,468.63 from the State; from the common-school fund, $1,120; the amount received from other sources was an accumulation from previous years in the treasury.
We report one school-house built during the year. Its foundation is stone; its walls, brick; its roof, iron; contains two large halls and six good class rooms; materials and finish, good; location, on an eminence in a seven-acre lot; cost of building and grounds about $9,131.55, and the grounds unenclosed; amount in the treasury, in State scrip, $557.03.
One school building was erected for colored children in the city several years ago, of stone foundation, brick walls, and wooden roof, by the American Missionary Association and by individual contribution; it will accommodate about eighty or 100 pupils; the grounds (donated) and the house are worth about $2,500 to $3,000. The school board paid $150 to a colored teacher for the colored schools this year.
The following enumeration was reported: White, 602; colored, 139; total, 741.
The school building was rented to private teachers on its completion, on account of lack of funds; but the following year the public schools opened in full force, and have made rapid advancement.
In 1886-87 the first public school was held in the new building, [p.292] under the following corps of teachers: Superintendent, Col. O. C. Gray; assistants, Miss Ella Carnall, Mrs. F. L. Sutton, Miss Anna Putman, Miss Jessie Cravens, Mrs. Alice Adams and Mrs. M. W. Alex.
The school graduated its first class of three pupils in 1888, and starts out for the coming year with the following corps of teachers: Superintendent, A. S. Stultz, a graduate of the Cook County Normal School, under the famous educator, Col. Parker; assistants, Miss Anna Putman, Miss Jessie Cravens, Mrs. Annie Stapp, Miss Mollie Dickson, Miss Mattie Ralston, Miss Mary Leverett and Miss Lena Rhodes, most of whom are graduates of the Arkansas Industrial University. Their curriculum is of a high-school grade, enabling its graduates to enter the A. I. U. The principal of the colored school is A. L. Richardson, and his assistant is W. J. Kidd.
The financial report of the school board for June 1, 1888, is: Total receipts, $6,394.41; total expenditures, $4,206.11; amount on hand, $2,188.20.
Among the earliest teachers at West Fork were Prof. Thomason and H. Lafferson. A log building was long used as an ordinary district school. In 1886 the growth of the town led to the erection of a special building of two stories. It is a neat frame, 36×40 feet, situated in the west part of town. G. S. White and the present incumbent have been the teachers in the new building.
In 1885 the Springdale district erected a fine two-story brick edifice, containing four rooms. Before this date, and even until 1888, private schools seemed to have a strong hold on the people. The first private school was in the old Baptist Church, a three-months' school "after corn was laid by," in which "Readin', Ritin', Rithmetic and Spellin'" were conned over. The date of the first is uncertain, but the old church answered this pedagogic purpose until the "fall of Sumter." The first public-school building was a frame, built about 1868-69. That built in 1885 is 40×70 feet, and is an ornament to the town. Three teachers, Principal J. W. Coltrane, assisted by M. W. Davis and H. M. Grenade, have charge of about 150 pupils. Principal Coltrane has been in charge since the erection of the [p.293] building, which, like the house at West Fork, is a special district building. Other places in the county are ordinary members of the public-school system.
Cumberland Presbyterians.–One of the first religious organizations to enter Washington County was the Cumberland Presbyterian. The first Cumberland Presbyterians to locate in Arkansas were the Pyeatts and Carnahans, who, in 1812, emigrated from Northern Alabama, and located at Crystal Hill, fifteen miles above Little Rock. The party consisted of James and Jacob Pyeatt and James and Samuel Carnahan. The next year the father of the Carnahans, Rev. John Carnahan, removed to Arkansas, and, in the house of Jacob Pyeatt, preached the first sermon delivered in what is now Arkansas by a Cumberland Presbyterian. He formed a circuit, and was placed on the roll of Elk Presbytery. In 1814 he was licensed, and in October, 1816, was ordained.
RELIGION.
The intermediate meeting for the organization of the Presbytery of Arkansas was held at the house of John Craig, on White River, in 1823. R. D. King, Reuben Burrow, John Carnahan and W. C. Long were present, and James H. Black and J. M. Blair were received as candidates. The presbytery was constituted at the same place in May, 1824, by Revs. John Carnahan, W. C. Long and William Henry. At the next meeting, in the fall of the same year, a quorum was not present, but Rev. Andrew Buchanan presented himself as a candidate, and in the spring of 1826, with three others, was licensed. Soon after the Carnahans, Blairs, Buchanans, Pyeatts and Crawfords removed to Cane Hill, in Washington County, and there, on August 30, 1828, Revs. William T. Larremore and J. M. Blair organized Cane Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church, with James Billingsley, James Buchanan, William Reed and Robert Buchanan as elders. Meetings were held for four or five years in a log school-house, standing where the grave-yard near Boonsboro now is. One session of the presbytery was also held there. About 1832 or 1833 a large log house, 35×50 feet, was erected, and was occupied until 1858, when the building [p.294] known as the White Church was completed. It is a frame structure, 40×50 feet, and cost about $1,500. Among the pastors who have served this congregation are John Carnahan, J. M. Blair, Samuel Harris, George Morrow, B. H. Pierson, John Buchanan, J. T. Buchanan, F. R. Earle, R. F. Adair and J. T. Molloy. Soon after the organization of the church a Sabbathschool was established, and, with the exception of a short time during the war, it has since been maintained.
During the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Harris the congregation was divided, and Salem Church organized. A portion of the members became dissatisfied with Mr. Harris, and elected another pastor. His adherents then organized a new congregation, with James B. Russell, James Haygood and Lewis Haygood as elders. This occurred in 1844. The successors of Mr. Harris have been Rev. Mr. Braly, B. H. Pierson and Dr. F. R. Earle. A school building located near Boonsboro was used as a place of worship until the erection of Cane Hill College. The congregation now numbers about 110 members. The officers are as follows: W. C. Braly, G. M. Haygood, J. R. Pyeatt, H. C. Pyeatt, A. E. Andrews and Z. B. Edmiston, elders, and W. F. Moore and J. S. Edmiston, deacons. Recently about eighteen members have withdrawn, and organized a new congregation about one and one-half miles south of Boonsboro.
Billingsley congregation of Cumberland Presbyterians was organized some time about 1850, and for many years was known as Mount Zion Church. Among the first members were G. B. Nolen and wife, Merritt Baker and wife, Nancy Stevenson, John Billingsley and Miriam Dodson. The elders were John Billingsley, G. B. Nolen and Merritt Baker. Until the Civil War the congregation was under the care of Rev. Ambrose Williams, and since that time it has been chiefly supplied by B. F. Totten, J. T. Molloy and F. R. Earle.
Previous to May, 1888, services were held in school-houses, but at that date a neat frame building was completed, at a cost of $540. In 1887 seventeen members of this congregation withdrew and organized Pleasant Grove congregation, with L. Tankersly, S. Dell and L. C. Blakemore.
The Fayetteville Cumberland Presbyterian Church is a part [p.295] of the Arkansas Presbytery. Its early records were destroyed during the war, so that reliable information of the pre-war period is very meager. A Rev. Feemster is given as one of its earliest preachers. On June 3, 1867, the following members reorganized themselves into a church: Samuel H. Buchanan, E. H. Buck, M. G. Bonham, L. F. Graham, J. D. Henry, Dr. James Stephenson, Sarah Sellars, M. S. Bonham, Esther Crockett, L. M. and A. E. Routh, Adeline Graham, M. J. Reif, Margaret Calfee, Sarah Hodges, Martha Stephenson and L. A. Henry. Since 1867 the pastors have been as follows: Revs. Samuel H. Buchanan (now Dr.), John Buchanan, F. R. Earle (now D. D. and president of Cane Hill College), S. S. Patterson, J. L. Dickens, Rev. E. E. Morris, G. A. Henderson and J. T. Molloy, the present pastor. Dr. Earle was recalled three different times after his first pastorate. The largest accessions to the church have been made under Rev. A. M. Buchanan, R. G. Pearson, an evangelist, and Rev. Molloy, the total membership now being 114. Their first building was of brick, erected at a cost of $2,500. Their present church edifice is a frame structure, built during the centennial year. Two ladies' societies, the Aid and Foreign Missionary, are in a flourishing condition.
West Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in the summer of 1853, in a school-house one mile and a half from the town of West Fork. Two years later a log building was erected. The original members numbered about twentyfive, of whom four are now living. They are J. C. Stockburger and wife Martha A., Maria Brown and William Hutcheson. The first elders were J. C. Stockburger and E. Baker. There is now a membership of over fifty, and in 1881 a new frame church house was completed.
Barker Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in 1881 by Rev. Samuel Cox, with the following officers and members: N. Rose, E. P. Haynes, S. A. Cox, elders; J. L. Barker, deacon; M. Hodges, treasurer; Margaret Cox, L. Landon, E.Haynes, A. D. Haynes, Tennie Haynes, Clara Cox, Jessie Loften, Margaret Loften, Mrs. Rose Huston Landon. During the same year a house of worship was erected. It was a frame building, and stands on the "old Barker farm." The pastors have been Rev. Samuel Cox, J. H. Pigman and S. L. Robinson.
Middle Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in August, 1887, with L. J. A. Prather as pastor. G. W. Van Hoose and Pleasant King, elders; George King, deacon, and G. W. Van Hoose, clerk. The congregation was composed of members from White River congregation at Maguire's Store. The petitioners were, besides the above officers, John C. and M. L. Moore, F. L. Davidson, J. Maguire, Matilda Maguire, members. E. A. Hammontree was chosen clerk, and John Wells ordained deacon. The pastors have been M. Smith, Mathias Spires, M. D. Cox and J. C. Peters. The congregation, now numbering thirty-two members; worship in a school-house.
Little Elm Baptist Church was organized by Elder T. H. Day, with the following members: M. W. Marrs, deacon; D. K. Clevenger, C. T. Clayton, James Jackson, Annie Day, Mary J. Clayton, Sallie Beaver, Lucy Slaughter, Belle Gibson and Mary Shelly. The church was organized in a school-house, but in 1883 a union meeting-house was erected. It is situated nine miles west of Fayetteville. T. H. Day served the congregation as pastor for six years, and was then succeeded by H. B. Borders, the present pastor.
Spring Valley is the name of a flourishing church at Spring Valley, organized by Elders A. J. Vaughn and C. S. Fritts. It now belongs to Spring Valley Association, which was organized in October, 1877.
Beersheba Cumberland Presbyterian Church is situated on the Middle Fork of White River. It is a member of Arkansas Presbytery, and was organized about 1878 by the Rev. Samuel Black. Among its original members and officers were Elders A. Hight, W. C. Douglass, J. S. Guinn and George W. Arnett, and Deacon Nathan Reed. The first building, erected in 1878, was built at a cost of about $200. The pastors have been Revs. Prather, Black, Goin and Pigman, under whose charge the membership has reached to the number of about twenty persons.
The Barker Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a member of Arkansas Presbytery, was organized in 1881, by Rev. Samuel Cox. Elders N. Rose, E. P. Haynes, S. A. Cox, Deacon I. L. Barker, Margaret Cox, E. Haynes, A. D. Haynes, Tennie Haynes, M. Hodges, Clara Cox, Jessie Loften, Margaret Loften, Mrs. [p.297] Rose, Huston Landon, L. Landon and W. Cornstep were the original members. Rev. Samuel Cox was followed in the pastorate by Rev. Benj. Pigman and Rev. Benj. L. Robinson. The society has twenty-three members, and a house of worship valued at $1,051. It is a frame structure, located on the old "Barker farm," and erected in 1881.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, located five miles east of Prairie Grove, was organized in 1887, by Rev. T. Molloy, of Fayetteville. Their membership has increased from twentyfour, the original number, to thirty-four, the present membership. They occupy a union church with the Church of Christ at that point.
History of Benton County
RELIGION.
Methodist Episcopal Church, South.–The Fayetteville Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was organized about 1834 or 1835 at the home of Lodowick Brodie. Among its first members were Mr. Brodie and wife, Martin Frazier, Dr. Adam Clark and wife, David Reise and wife, a Mr. Avard and wife, a Mrs. Anthony, Mr. and Mrs. John Skelton, and a Mr. Cardwell and wife. They held services in Mr. Brodie's house, and after the completion of the first court-house used that as a place of worship. Their first church, which was afterward burned during the early years of the war, was built in the spring of 1840, and it was about 1868 that their present brick structure was erected. David Reise was the first class-leader, and among their earliest ministers and circuit riders were Rev. John Havel, Rev. Bump, Rev. Avery, Dr. Adam Clark, Rev. Custer, Dr. John Hunter, Dr. Sanders, Rev. William Cobb, Richard Cardwell and Rev. Carlyle. After 1840, among those who preached here were Revs. Young, Ewing, Lively, Thomas Stanford, Benona Harris, and Rev. Danley.
The Elm Springs Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is a very old society, organized probably in the earliest thirties, by Rev. H. G. Joplin, its pastor. The earliest members received into the church, of which information could be obtained, was Margaret S. Webster in 1834, John B. Webster in 1839, Kilby Saunders in 1851, Sarah E. Deavers the same year, Rev. Jacob Pearson the same year, M W. Wasson in 1852, Zachariah Ennis the same year, Marion D. Steele in 1857, Mary E. Steele in 1854, Catherine M. [p.298] Glover in 1855, Sultana D. Pearson in 1858, Thomas F. Webster in the same year, and Elizabeth A. Webster in 1860. The society erected a neat frame structure in 1850, and on their reorganization in 1866 their present building was put up. It is a frame, valued at $400. Rev. Joplin's successors are W. A. Cobb, G. Boyd, J. Banks, T. Stanford, M. D. Steele, H. M. Granack, E. J. Downe, S. D. Gaines, D. Sturdy, W. H. Corley, T. J. Smith, J. F. Hall, James A. Walden, C. R. Taylor, P. B. Summers, B. Williams, B. C. Matthews and J. M. Clayton. The church was reorganized in 1866, by Rev. M. D. Steele, and the officers were J. P. Simpson, W. S. Deavers and J. P. Birch. The present membership numbers fifty-four persons.
Sulphur Springs Methodist Episcopal Church, South, belongs to the Prairie Grove Circuit, and was organized about 1850. Larkin Tanksley, class-leader; Green Harrison, steward; Mrs. Tanksley, Mrs. Green, R. J. West and wife, John Mock and wife, Robert Houck and wife, Mr. Larabee and wife and a few others were the original members. They erected their first church soon after organization, about five miles south of Prairie Grove. It is of hewn logs, and cost probably $300. It still serves as their house of worship. The pastors of the society have been Revs. David Carethers, L. P. Linely, Thomas Stanford, John Mathis, W. W. Mathis, Dr. Andrew Hunter, J. W. Shook, —– Woods, T. J. Smith and all others who preached at Prairie Grove. Their membership is fifty-one.
The Illinois Chapel Class of the Prairie Grove Circuit was probably organized as early as 1842, and among its first members are Mr. Ross and wife and James Young and wife. Rev. Young Ewing traveled the circuit in 1852. The church is three miles east of Prairie Grove.
The Stonewall Class of the Prairie Grove Circuit was organized by Rev. P. B. Hopkins, August 6, 1887. For its first members and officers there were J. N. Wheeler, steward; H. Davenport, class-leader; Jesse Wheeler, J. P. Bennett, Sarah Bennett, S. E. Davenport, J. H. Davenport, A. Allen, Ada Bennett, M. J. Sanders, F. E. Mahery, J. Mahery, Mittie Parker, S. J. Bates, Mary Wheeler, M. A. Taylor, Tenna Bates, Virgin Mahery, F. A. Taylor and M. E. Allen. The society hold services in a school-house three miles west of Prairie Grove.
Viney Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, South, another member of the Prairie Grove Circuit, began its existence in 1853, under the guidance of Rev. David Carethers. P. B. and Lucinda H. Tucker, James Branenburg and Thomas West (two officers of the church), Adeline Howel, Armind West, James West and Jetta West constituted the first membership. The first church, a log house situated on the prairie west of the present Viney Grove, was built in 1854, but suffered destruction during the late war. The next church, erected in 1869 at Viney Grove, was built at a cost of $1,200. It was dedicated by Bishop G. F. Pearce in 1869, but was burned in October, 1844. The present house, a good frame structure, was built in 1885, at a cost of $1,500, and has not yet been dedicated. The society numbers seventy-six persons. The pastors, beginning with Rev. David Carethers, have been Revs. Young Ewing, Jordan Banks, Walter Thornburg, J. W. Shook, W. W. Mathis, —– Gering, Thomas Stanford, L. P. Linely, G. A. Danly and others mentioned among the Prairie Grove pastors.
Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is a member of the Elm Springs Circuit, and was organized in 1857 by Rev. John S. McCarven, with the following members: Richard W. Cardwell, class leader; Mary L. Cardwell, William H. Cardwell, D. Cardwell, Jane C. Ford, Amilla Ford, W. H. Eidson, Susan Eidson, Wilson Cage, Mary B. Cage, David Willeford, Martha Willeford and Mary J. Ruth. The first building was erected in 1857; it is a frame house, valued at $500, and is located six miles northeast of Fayetteville. Their pastors since Rev. McCarven have been Revs. Josiah A. Williams (P. C.), Thomas Stanford (P. E.), J. Banks (P. C.), J. W. Shook (P. E.), M. Granade (P. C.), William Mathis (P. E.), E. J. Dawn (P. C.), J. M. Clayton (P. E.), T. Wainwright (P. C.), James A. Walden (P. E.), T. J. Smith (P. C.), J. J. Roberts (P. E.), J. F. Hall (P. E.), David Sturdy (P. C.), James A. Anderson (P. E.) and William Mathews (P. C.). They have fifty members.
The Prairie Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is the center of a considerable circuit bearing its name. The society was organized in 1869 by Rev. David Sturdy, with the following as a partial list of members: W. D. Rogers, steward; L. T. Sanders, [p.300] class leader; John Mock, S. E. Rogers, Martha Rogers, Julie Rogers, Margaret Mock, M. J. Sanders, Martha J. Mock and Mary A. Mock. They erected a good frame church in 1880, at a cost of $1,500, and dedicated it the following year, Rev. R. S. Hunter officiating. The pastors of the society have been Revs. David Sturdy, J. Atchley, Jerome Haralson, W. H. Carley, R. M. Tydings, S. J. Stone, J. F. Hall, P. B. Summers, C. R. Taylor, J. P. Calloway, S. N. Burns, B. H. Greathouse, T. J. Reynolds, Young Ewing, J. A. Walden and P. B. Hopkins, the present incumbent of the pastoral office. The congregation numbers 107 members. It was for several years an appointment on the Cane Hill Circuit before its organization, and services were held in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Mount Carmel Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is on the Cincinnati Circuit, and was made a separate society in 1877 by Rev. T. F. Bremer. Samuel Gilbreath, Luretta Gilbreath, J. J. Clayton, Lewis Collins, Sallie Collins, N. J. Christian, Elizabeth A. Christian, E. M. Tullis, Mary Holt, H. Fosselman, E. Fosselman, Carol Moore, Isabell Washington and about ten others constituted the original membership. They have a small pine church building, valued at about $175, located about three miles east of Cincinnati. It was built in 1866. Revs. T. F. Bremer, Robert Johnson, J. W. Stone, —– Dikes, P. B. Hopkins, W. M. Baldwin and J. H. Meyers, the present incumbent, have filled the pastoral office. The membership is now twenty-four persons.
The following list of appointments for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in Washington County was obtainable:
1874–J. A. Walden, P. E.; J. J. Roberts, Fayetteville Station; W. H. Corley, Fayetteville Circuit; J. Harolson, Boonsboro Circuit; R. M. Tidings, Viney Grove Circuit; J. E. Martin, White River Circuit.
1875–J. A. Walden, P. E.; S. A. Mason, Fayetteville Station; D. J. Smith, Fayetteville Circuit; R. M. Tidings, Boonsboro Circuit; W. H. Carley, Viney Grove Circuit.
1876–J. A. Walden, P. E.; R. S. Hunter, Fayetteville Station; J. A. Hall, Fayetteville Circuit; T. F. Brewer, Boonsboro Circuit; A. Summers, Viney Grove Circuit; J. Shook, White River Circuit.
1877–J. A. Walden, P. E.; R. S. Hunter, Fayetteville Station; J. F. Hall, Fayetteville Circuit; W. J. Stone, Viney Grove Circuit; T. F. Brewer, Boonsboro Circuit; J. N. Pace, White River Circuit; D. C. Ross, Illinois Circuit.
1879–J. F. Hall, P. E.; F. A. Jeffett, Fayetteville Station; J. A. Walden, Fayetteville Circuit; W. J. Stone, Boonsboro Circuit; C. R. Taylor, Viney Grove Circuit; D. C. Ross, Illinois Circuit.
1880–J. F. Hall, P. E.; George W. Hall, Fayetteville Station; P. B. Summers, Fayetteville Circuit; J. W. Shook, Illinois Circuit; J. P. Calloway, Viney Grove Circuit; W. J. Stone, Boonsboro Circuit; J. H. Bradford, White River Circuit.
1882–S. H. Babcock, P. E.; T. J. Reynolds, Fayetteville Station; W. H. Corley, Springdale Circuit; D. C. Ross, Weddington Circuit; Frank Naylor, Goshen Circuit; W. A. Derrick, White River Circuit; S. F. Dykes, Boonsboro Circuit; S. N. Burns, Viney Grove Circuit
1883–S. H. Babcock, P. E.; W. Penn, Fayetteville Station; W. H. Corley, Springdale Circuit; T. J. Reynolds, Viney Grove Circuit; S. S. Key, Boonsboro Circuit; L. W. Harrison, White River Circuit; A. M. Elam, Brentwood Circuit; R. R. Moore, Goshen Circuit; W. A. Derrick, Weddington Circuit.
1884–J. A. Anderson, P. E.; M. E. Butt, Fayetteville Station; B. C. Mathews, Springdale Circuit; W. T. Keith, Cincinnati Circuit; L. W. Harrison, Illinois Circuit; J. A. Walden, Prairie Grove Circuit; P. B. Hopkins, Boonsboro Circuit; J. R. Maxwell, White River Circuit; D. C. Ross, Goshen Circuit.
1885–J. A. Anderson, P. E.; M. E. Butt, Fayetteville Station; B. C. Mathews, Springdale Circuit; L. W. Harrison, Illinois Circuit; J. A. Walden, Prairie Grove Circuit; P. B. Hopkins, Boonsboro Circuit; W. T. Keith, Cincinnati Circuit; J. R. Maxwell, White River Mission; D. C. Ross, Goshen Circuit.
1886–J. A. Peebles, P. E.; G. W. Evans, Fayetteville Circuit; B. C. Mathews, Springdale Circuit; H. A. Armstrong, Illinois Circuit; P. B. Hopkins, Prairie Grove Circuit, J. A. Walden, Boonsboro Circuit; J. H. Meyers, Cincinnati Circuit; D. C. Ross, Goshen Circuit.
1887–J. A. Peebles, P. E.; B. H. Greathouse, Fayetteville Station; J. M. Clayton, Elm Springs Circuit; H. A. Armstrong, Illinois Circuit; P. B. Hopkins, Prairie Grove Circuit; J. A. Walden, Boonsboro Circuit; J. H. Meyers, Cincinnati Circuit; J. R. Maxwell, White River Mission; J. H. Sturdy, Goshen Circuit.
Christian Church.–The West Fork Christian Church is probably the oldest organization of the followers of the teachings of Alexander Campbell in Washington County. It was organized in 1837, with the following officers and members: Elders, William Robinson, Stephen Strickland and Alfred Arrington; deacons, Levi Combs and Shelby Conner, and members, Mrs. S. Strickland, Mrs. A. Arrington, Mrs. Shelby Conner, Thomas Wilson and wife, Mrs. W. Robinson, Benjamin Miller and wife, Samuel Alexandel and wife, Daniel Conner, Eli Bloyd and wife, John Wilson, Joseph Lewis, Betsy Conner, Christopher Harness and wife, Joseph Miller, Sr., and wife. They were first organized under an elm tree, and held services there until soon after the ruling elders built a church of hewed logs. Elder Stephen Strickland seems to have been the first pastor, and among others who held services there afterward were Rev. John Robinson, the well-known Rev. Robert Graham, Rev. Elijah Northam and Rev. Eli Baker. The present membership numbers about thirty persons.
The Fayetteville Christian Church is not only one of the oldest and largest churches in Washington County, but is probably the largest Christian Church in Arkansas. This is largely due to the character of its founder, Rev. John T. Johnson, its pioneer educator, Robert Graham, and its present pastor, Rev. N. M. Ragland. Rev. Johnson, a brother of Vice-President Richard M. Johnson, became a convert to the teachings of Alexander Campbell, and giving up his seat in Congress, took the water route to Little Rock, Van Buren and other points in the Southwest, to spread the new teachings, whose followers here became known in popular terms as "The Campbellites," "Stoneites" and "New Lights," as well as "Christians" and "Disciples." The following extract from a letter explains itself:
VAN BUREN, March 7, 1848. ttt
Tuesday morning.
Beloved Brother Campbell: I am here, in good health, about 1,500 miles from home, laboring in the cause of the reformation, for which you have sacrificed so much, and nobly struggled for a quarter of a century. The success has been far beyond the expectation of the most sanguine. Thank the Lord that your writings ever fell in my way! I shall ever feel the debt of gratitude that you taught me how to read the bible–the book of the Lord. It imparts to me a happiness that no language can tell. [Here he speaks of visiting Little Rock and Van Buren.]
I visited Fayetteville, fifty-two miles north, and labored twelve days with great success. We had about thirty-five additions, and organized a church fifty strong, with elders and deacons. We have four able lawyers, an able physician, and a distinguished preacher of the Cumberland Presbyterians in the congregation. I left rejoicing! [He then speaks of other matters, and closes with the following]:
This is a great country. The success of this precious cause is the only motive that could induce me to make such immense sacrifices of domestic happiness.
(Signed),
J. T. JOHNSON.
From the date of the above letter we see that the church was organized about February, 1848, and we also see that there was a settlement of probably fifteen adherents of this faith already there, among whom were Dr. and Mrs. Pollard, and a Mrs. Onstott, probably the first three members of the congregation. Among the ministers who preached before Johnson's organization was a Rev. Stirman. After the organization Rev. Robert Graham, a man of great natural and scholarly ability, was their next pastor, and he it was who founded Arkansas College, which, although a private school, was a powerful agent in the growth and character of the church. He was both president of the college and pastor of the church during a considerable period, until he was succeeded, in both positions, by another able and scholarly man, Rev. William Baxter, whose period of service covered the remaining time before the war. With three so able men as these in succession, the rapid growth of the new church is not surprising.
Among those that followed Rev. Baxter were Revs. A. B. Murphy during the war, Kirk Baxter, S. K. Hallam, a Mr. Rice, J. M. Shepherd and a Mr. Floyd, who were editors of The Faithful Witness, a religious journal, Gay Waters, James Elliot and the present pastor, Rev. N. M. Ragland. The increase in membership and the extension of church work has been [p.304] greater under Rev. Ragland, probably, than under the guidance of any of his predecessors. The membership is about 300. A mission at armington, a frame building costing about $1,500, was dedicated May 27, 1888, and now has a flourishing Sunday-school. A mission chapel in the southeastern part of Fayetteville has lately been built, and is used for Sabbath-school purposes, chiefly. It is a frame structure, valued at $1,000. Another flourishing mission is held in a school-house about two miles north of Fayetteville. The following annual financial report for the year ending November 15, 1887, will illustrate the extent of their work:
To amount paid out by church for incidental expenses and improvements, $353.63; to amount paid out for various missions. $130.11; to amount paid by C. P. S. Club, $73.95; to amount paid by Dorcas Society, $97.35; to amount paid by Sunday-school, $84.09; to amount paid by mission school, $12.60; to amount paid on minister's salary, $900; total, $1,651.73. By regular and special collection, $417.64; by collection on subscription, $900; by collection from Dorcas Society, $138; by collection from C. P. S. Club, $73.94; by collection from C. W. B. M., $27.75; by collection from Young People's Mission, $12.45; by collection from Sunday-school, $173.56; by collection from mission school, $12.62; total, $1,755.97. To amount on hand. $104.24. T. J. Conner, church treasurer.
They have also a Ladies' Missionary Society, which meets once a month.
The first church building of the denomination was built on the site of the Tremont House, but that was, with many other buildings, burned during the war. The old Masonic Hall was their next church house, until the present brick structure on College Avenue was completed, about 1871.
On to History of Benton co. part 2a