Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.], Part 59

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago. (1886-1891. Goodspeed publishing Company)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, St. Louis [etc.] The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 826

USA > Arkansas > Faulkner County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 59
USA > Arkansas > Garland County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 59
USA > Arkansas > Grant County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 59
USA > Arkansas > Hot Spring County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 59
USA > Arkansas > Jefferson County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 59
USA > Arkansas > Lonoke County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 59
USA > Arkansas > Perry County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 59
USA > Arkansas > Pulaski County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 59
USA > Arkansas > Saline County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 59

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The following is a copy of the commission issued to one of the first judges of Pulaski County :

FREDERICK BATES, SECRETARY OF THE TERRITORY OF

MISSOURI AND EXERCISING THE GOVERNMENT THERE- OF.

To all who shall see these Presents-Greeting:

Know Ye: That reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, abilities and diligence of Samuel McHenry, I do appoint him a judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Pulaski, from and after the fourth day of March next, and empower him to discharge the duties of said offiee according to law, to have and to hold said office, with all the powers, privileges and emoluments to the

same of right appertaining, for the term of four years, unless sooner removed in the manner prescribed by law.

In testimony whereof, I have hereuuto affixed the seal of the Territory, given under my hand at St. Louis, the twenty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and eighteen, and of the in- dependence of the United States, the forty-third.

FREDERICK BATES.

Personally appeared before me, anthorized to admin- ister oaths of office, the within mentioned Samuel Mc- Henry, and took the oath prescribed by law.

Given under my hand this 21st day of April, 1819. EDMUND HOGAN.

The above commission with the oath of office annexed, was received and recorded on April 24, 1819, by Henry Sanford, the first recorder of Pulaski County, and was the first instrument entered of record in the county. The commissions, as required by law, to be issued to the other two judges, do not appear of record, and as the early county records have not been preserved, positive statements from the record pertaining to the first session of the court can not be made; but it is reason- able to conclude that the other two judges were prop- erly commissioned, and that the first term of the first court ever held in Pulaski County was convened as required by the act creating the county on the fourth Monday of May, 1819, at the house of Judge Samuel McHenry. The location of this house, according to the best evidence now obtain- able, was in Section IS, Township 2 north, Range 12 west, it being on the north side of the Arkan- sas River near the mouth of White Oak Creek, or in that vicinity, and about four or five miles above Little Rock. The record of land entries shows that on October 29, 1822, Samuel McHenry entered lands in the section above mentioned, in all proba- bility the place where he lived, and where the first court was held. In further evidence of the loca- tion of Judge MeHenry's residence mention may be made of the fact that he was authorized, by an . act of the legislature of Arkansas Territory, ap- proved October 28, 1823, to erect a toll-bridge across White Oak Bayou (or creek), and to have the income arising from its use by the public for a term of ten years. *

*The writer is informed, however, that this proposed bridge was never constructed by Judge McHenry.

374

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

In 1820 the seat of justice for the county was established at Cadron, a point on the north side of Arkansas River, near the mouth of Cadron Creek, and thirty-eight miles above Little Rock. The location was on a bluff about a mile from the river, the space intervening being bottom land. This place, however, did not suit the people in general, and an effort was almost immediately made to have the county seat removed to some other point. Gov. James Miller, the first Governor of Arkansas Ter- ritory, who had previously settled on the north side of Arkansas River, about twelve miles above Little Rock, opened up a plantation and erected thereon a large hewed-log house, made an effort to have the county seat located at his place, and named Pyeattstown in honor of Maj. James Pyeatt and his brother Jacob, who were the pioneer set- tlers of that vicinity.

By an act of the legislature of the Territory, approved October 21, 1821 (by Robert Crittenden, secretary of the Territory and acting Governor thereof), James Billingsley, of Crawford County, Samuel C. Roane, of Clark County, and Robert Bean, of Independence County, were appointed commissioners " to fix upon the proper place for the seat of justice of Pulaski County." Accord- ingly, these gentlemen met and selected Little Rock as the proper place for the county seat, and made their report, as required by the act, to the common pleas court. The report being approved, Little Rock became the permanent seat of justice for the county, and as such it has ever since re- mained. The records were removed to and the county offices opened in Little Rock early in March, or prior thereto, in 1822.

Immediately after the county was organized, the court subdivided it into municipal townships, but, on account of the loss of the early records, it is impossible to give the particulars of this subdi- vision. It is certain, however, that the two most thickly settled, and most important of the original municipal townships were Cadron and Big Rock; the former embracing the territory where Cadron, the original county seat was located, and the latter embracing the territory where Little Rock is lo- cated. These townships were evidently very large,

as large as an average sized county at the present. Afterward, from time to time, as the county was reduced in size, changes were made in the size and boundaries of the municipal townships, and new ones were formed. The county is now subdivided into eight municipal townships, one-half of which lie on each side of the Arkansas River. Those lying north and east of the river are Bayou Meto, Gray, Mineral, Pyeatt, Eastman, Young, Ashley and Eagle. Bayou Meto lies in the extreme north- east part of the county, and Eagle in the extreme southeast part. Commencing above and going down the river in order named, Pyeatt, Eastman, Ashley and Eagle townships are bounded on one side by the river. The townships lying south and west of the river are Maumelle, Roland, Owen, Ellis, Fourche, Big Rock, Union and Campbell. Those bounded on one side by the river are Ro- land, Owen, Big Rock and Campbell. Maumelle occupies the extreme northwest part of the county, and Big Rock includes the city of Little Rock.

The county of Pulaski never owned a court house until the present one was built. Soon after the county seat was located at Little Rock, the Federal Government donated 1,000 acres of land, lying immediately east of the Quawpaw Indian line and adjoining the river, for the purpose of building a "court house and jail," and a large amount of land was also donated for the purpose of building a State house. The donation for the building of the court house, comprisng the eastern part of Little Rock, was laid out into blocks, lots, streets and alleys, and the revenue arising from the sale of the lots, excepting enough to build a jail, was merged with the State house fund, and it was agreed and understood that when the State house was completed, the county of Pulaski should have perpetual occupancy of the east wing thereof as a court house. Accordingly, upon the comple- tion of the State house, the county of Pulaski took possession of and for many years occupied the east wing thereof as a court house and county offices. Subsequently, as time passed away, and the State became crowded for want of room in the capitol building, a suit was brought, and the county was ejected therefrom. This occurred several years

375

PULASKI COUNTY.

ago. The county then made preparations for the erection of the present court house, which stands on the southeast quarter of block 101, and on the corner of Spring and Second Streets, according to the original plat of the city, and though occupied for some months, it is scarcely yet completed.

It is built of granite from the quarries adjoin- ing the city, and is one of the handsomest and most substantially built court houses in the United States. It consists of three stories including the basement, the lower two of which contain ample halls and office rooms for the various county offices and a county court room, and the upper story con- tains the circuit court room, the chancery court room, the office of the chancery clerk, jury rooms, and prosecuting attorney's office. A handsome and lofty tower occupies the southeast corner of the building, and in the top thereof is a large town clock with four dials, the hands of which constantly point to the time of day. Also in the tower is a large room or observatory, from which splendid views of Little Rock, the State Institu- tions, Arkansas River, Argenta beyond, the prom- ontory of Big Rock, and the surrounding country are obtained. All the walls of this court house and of the tower stand upon their own foundations, hence its strength. It is built according to the most improved plans of modern architecture, and one of the most important features connected with it is the fact that it has been constructed and fur- nished for the moderate sum of $100.000. This is due to the economy of the officers having it in charge, and to the further fact that nearly all the material was close at hand. J. M. Brown, of Little Rock, was the contractor for its erection. Prior to the building of the State house, and from the time the county was ejected therefrom until the new court house was ready for occupancy, the county offices and courts occupied temporary or rented buildings.

The first jail for Pulaski County was a log building, which stood on the east side of Broad- way, between Third and Fourth Streets. It was consumed by fire about the year 1838, after which time a two-story brick jail was erected on the same spot of ground. Subsequently this building was

sold. The present jail and jailor's residence com- bined, which stands on the bank of the river im- mediately west of the State-house square. was erected in 1886, at a cost of about $40,000. It is a substantial brick building, with steel prison cells, and contains two stories above the basement.

There is a county hospital, a frame building, in the western part of the city. where paupers, on becoming ill, are nursed and cared for at the expense of the county. There is no "poor farm" or asylum in Pulaski County, but appropriations are sometimes made from the county treasury for the maintenance of the dependent poor.

The county has leased a farm near the city, on which her criminals who fail to pay their fines in cash are compelled to pay them in labor, at a stip- ulated allowance per day. This farm is managed by an agent of the county, and the system is found to work well, as the proceeds of the farm recom- pense the county in a measure for the expense of her criminals. It is certainly preferable to the old plan of allowing the criminals so much per day for lying in jail until their fines were paid.

The following is a list of the names of the county officers of Pulaski County, delegates there- from in constitutional conventions, and senators and representatives in the Territorial and State legislatures, together with the dates of their terms of service, from the organization of the county to the present writing:

Judges: S. S. Hall, 1829-30; P. T. Crutch- field, from September, 1830; David Rorer. 1830- 32; J. H. Cocke, 1832-33; R. Graves, 1835-36; David Fulton, 1836-38; J. C. Anthony, 1840-42; L. B. Lincoln, 1842-44; A. Smith, 1844-50; B. F. Owens; 1850-52; W. G. Campbell, 1852-60; M. H. Eastman, 1860-62; D. R. Lamb, 1865-66; M. H. Eastman, 1866-68: David Reeve, 1868-72; W. F. Blackwood, 1874-76; M. H. Eastman. 1876-78; R. C. Wall, 1878-80; James Coates, 1880-82; W. J. Patton, 1882-84; W. F. Hill, present incumbent, first elected in 1884.

Clerks: R. C. Oden, 1819-21: A. H. Renik, 1821-23; Samuel Anderson, 1823-25; T. W. New- ton. 1825-27; D. E. Mckinney, the latter part of the term; T. W. Newton, 1827-29; J. Henderson,

376

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

1829-32; W. Badgett, 1832-35; J. P. Fields, 1835-36; John Fields, 1836-37; L. R. Lincoln, 1837-42; H. Horralson, 1842-44; G. N. Peay, 1844-56: W. B. Easley. 1856-62; T. H. Walker, 1862-64; J. W. Jay, from April, 1864-66; T. H. Walker, 1866-68; G. W. McDairmid, 1868-72; J. R. Rowland, 1872-74; R. W. Worthen, 1874- 80; W. N. Parrish, 1880-82; R. W. Worthen, 1882-84; George W. Clark, 1884-86; H. O. Will- iams, present incumbent, first elected in 1886.

Sheriffs: L. R. Curran, 1819-21; G. Great- house, 1821-23; H. Armstrong, 1823-25; S. M. Rutherford, 1825-30; J. K. Taylor, 1830-36; A. Martin, 1836-38; James Lawson, Jr., 1838-44; W. B. Burden, 1844-46; A. J. Hutt, 1846-48; B. F. Danley, 1848-52; J. C. Peay, 1852-56; B. F. Danley, 1856-58; Thomas Fletcher, 1858-62; J. M. Giles, 1862-64: Thomas Fletcher, 1866-68; W. S. Oliver, 1868-74; H. H Rottaken, 1874-78; M. D. McCabe, 1878-80; W. S. Oliver, 1880-82; J. G. Fletcher, 1882-84; R. W. Worthen, 1884- 88; Anderson Mills, present incumbent, elected in 1888.

Treasurers: I. N. Doyle, 1836-38; James Lawson, Sr., 1838-40; J. C. Martin, 1840-42; Charles Lewis. 1842-52; S. T. Hudson, 1852-53: W. B. Easley, 1853-56; J. H. Newburn. 1856-58; J. B. Moore, 1858-60; W. N. Parish, 1860-62; Thomas Parsel, 1862-64; Thomas Parsel, 1866- 68; John Reigler. 1868-74; J. A. Henry, 1874- 76; M. D. McCabe, 1876-78; J. Griffith, 1878-88; H. E. Glidewell, present incumbent, elected in 1888.

Coroners: Jacob Peyatte, 1819-21; M. Cun- ningham, 1821-25; A. McHenry. 1825-27; J. H. Caldwell, 1827-29; William Atchinson, 1829-32; R. H. Calloway, 1832-33; F. A. McWilliams, 1833-35; W. C. Howell, 1835-36; D. Royster, Clerks Pulaski chancery court: A. J. Smith, Gorden N. Peay. W. H. Bevens, William Hunter, E. C. Bronough, D. P. Upham, A. R. Witt, No- vember 2, 1874, to 1876; J. W. Calloway, October 31, 1876, to October, 1886; S. R. Brown, present incumbent, term from October, 1886, to 1890. 1836-38; L. H. Elder, 1838-40: Hugh Brogan, 1842-46; D. L. Lewis, 1846 48; C. Stone, 1848- 52; S. C. W. Lewis, 1852-56: J. D. Butler, 1856- 58; N. Ring, 1858-60; H. C. Brookin, 1860-62; John Woolford, 1862-64; S. H. Webb, 1866-68; Henry Jacobi, 1868-72; J. Kirby, 1872-74; S. H. i Delegates in constitutional conventions: From January 4 to January 13, 1836, Pulaski, White Webb, 1874-76; W. Woolford, 1876-82; Isaac Gilliam, 1882-84; J. B. Bond, present incumbent, , and Saline Counties, W. Cummins, A. Fowler and

first elected in 1884, and served continuously since.

Surveyors: Allen Martin, 1825-30; R. N Rowland, 1830-32; A. L. Langham, 1832-33; J. Gould, 1833-36; R. N. Rowland, 1836-38; G. Douglas, 1838-40; C. E. Moore, 1840-42; S. H. Webb, 1842-46: William McIntosh, 1846-52; S. H. Webb, 1852-56; J. F. Ward, 1856-57; G. W. Hardy. 1857-58; S. H. Webb, 1858-60; J. Jones, Jr., 1860-62; K. H. Williford. 1866-68; L. S. Dunscomb, 1868-72; S. McCormick, 1872-74; T. H. Conway, 1874-78; S. C. Martin, 1878-80; L. S. Dunscomb, 1880-84; K. H. Williford, 1884- 86; F. H. Conway, present incumbent. first elected in 1886.

Assessors: J. S. Wolf, 1868-74; L. E. Baker, from May, 1874; F. A. Sarasin, 1874-76; B. Bourland, 1876-78; J. Butler, 1878-80; B. Bald- win, 1880-81: J. W. Bay, 1881-82; H. H. Rot- taken, 1882-84; C. Pemberton, present incum- bent, first elected in 1884, and served continuously since.

Circuit court clerks: Prior to 1871 there was but one clerk for both the county and circuit courts, and he by virtue of his office was also the county recorder. Since that time there has been a separate clerk for the circuit court as follows: J. V. Fitch, 1871-72; W. F. Blackwood, 1872-74; Thomas H. Walker, 1874 --; Thomas W. New- ton. 1876-82; J. L. Bay, 1882-86; W. W. Field, present incumbent, first elected in 1886.

Chancellors Pulaski chancery court: H. F. Fairchild, July 30, 1855; U. M. Rose, July 2, 1860: L. Gregg, November 25, 1865; W. I. War- rick. April 28, 1873; T. D. W. Yonley, February 12, 1877; J. R. Eakin, November 6, 1874-78; D. W. Carroll, November, 1878-86; D. W. Car- roll, appointed 1886, for four years.

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PULASKI COUNTY.

J. McLean; from March 4 to 21, and May 6 to June 3, 1861, A. H. Garland, J. Stillwell ;* from January 4 to January 23, 1864, T. D. W. Yonley, E. Maynard, E. D. Ayers, F. A. Sarasin; from January 7 to February 18, 1868, James L. Hodges, James Hinds, Henry Rector, Thomas P. Johnson; from July 14 to October 31, 1874, J. F. Fagan, t G. N. Perkins, Jesse Butler, S. M. Barnes, Dan O'Sullivan (the latter chosen at special election to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of James F. Fagan).

Members of council and house of representa- tives in Territorial legislatures: John McElmurry, council, Radford Ellis and T. H. Tyndall, house, in legislature held at the Post of Arkansas from February 7 to 24, 1820; Benjamin Murphy, coun- cil, in legislature held at Little Rock from Octo- ber 1 to 24, 1821 ;- Mathers, council, A. H. Sevier, honse, from October 6 to 31, 1823; A. S. Walker, council, A. H. Sevier, house, from October 3 to November 3, 1825; Edward Hogan, council, A. H. Sevier, house, from October 1 to 31, 1827, and in special session from October 6 to 28, 1828; Charles Caldwell, council, A. S. Walker and W. Rector, house, from October 5 to November 21, 1829; Charles Caldwell. council, S. M. Rutherford and P. T. Crutchfield, house, from October 3 to November 7, 1831; Allen Martin, council, S. M. Rutherford and R. C. Byrd, house, from October 7 to November 16, 1833. The dates given show at what times the legislature was in session.

Senators in State legislature: Pulaski, White and Saline Counties, R. C. Byrd. 1836-40; Pu- laski County only, R. C. Byrd. 1840-44; T. W. Newton, 1844-46; Pulaski and Perry Counties, T. W. Newton, 1846-48; Pulaski only, C. W. Wil- son, 1848-50; Pulaski and Prairie Counties. Richard Fletcher, 1850-52; Pulaski. Prairie and Perry, Richard Fletcher, 1852-54; same counties, B. C. Totten. 1854-56; Pulaski and Prairie Coun- ties, B. C. Totten, 1856-58; same counties, Fran- cis A. Terry. 1858-62; same counties, Joseph Stillwell, 1862-64; same counties. Truman Warner,

1864-66; same counties, R. S. Gantt, 1866-68; Pulaski and White Counties, O. A. Hadley, 1868- 70; same counties, O. A. Hadley and W. Riley. 1870-72: same counties, John Goad and R. B. White, 1872-74; Pulaski and Perry, J. M. Lough- borough and W. H. Blackwell, 1874-76; same counties, Samuel W. Williams, vice J. M. Lough- borough, deceased, and W. H. Blackwell, 1876-78; same counties, W. L. Terry and E. D. Boyd, 1878-82; same counties, L. L. Thompson and G. T. Holmes, 1882-86; Tenth senatorial district, * J. T. Jones and J. E. Williams, 1886-88, and holding over.

Representatives: J. H. Cocke and R. C. Byrd, 1836-38; A. W. Fowler and L. Gibson, 1838-40; William Cummins, L. Gibson and C. P. Bartrand. 1840-42; John W. Cocke, P. T. Crutchfield and Jared C. Martin, 1842-44; C. P. Bertrand, A. Fowler and Frederick W. Trapnall, 1844-46; C. P. Bertrand, Richard Fletcher and Peter T. Crutchfield, 1846-48; C. P. Bertrand and F. W. Trapnall. 1848-50; D. W. Carroll and F. W. Trapnall. 1850-52: W. E. Ashley and B. F. Dan- ley, 1852-54; H. M. Rector and Joseph Stillwell, 1854-56: L. Gibson and S. W. Williams, 1856- 58: J. B. Johnson and William Q. Pennington. 1858-60; John T. Trigg and W. Q. Pennington, 1860-62: W. Q. Pennington and Thomas Fletcher, 1862-64; O P. Snyder and S. L. Holman, 1864- 66; R. C. Newton and C. F. Farrelly. 1866-68: Pulaski and White Counties, M. W. Benjamin. t J. G. Price, A. L. Bush, Sol. Miller. F. M. Chris- man and John Goad, 1868-70; same counties, C. A. Whittemore, R. A. Howard, J. W. Pilkington and John Goad, 1870-72; same counties, L. B. Mitchell, J. M. Gist, W. I. Warrick, N. Brown, J. B. Clopton and John N. Murphy, 1872-74; same counties, W. B. Carter, L. L. Thompson and J. M. Gist, 1874-76; Pulaski only, R. A. Little, C. S. Collins, R. C. Wall and H. Wildberger, 1876- 77: W. C. Ratcliff, M. J. McHenry, Z. P. H. Farr and E. L. Maynard. 1877-78; W. J. Murphy. E. L. Maynard. Isaac Gillam and Martin Sinnott,

*Returned elected, but declared not elected by resolu- tion of the convention.

+Resigned before taking his seat.

*Composed of Pulaski and Perry Counties.

+M. W. Benjamin appointed solicitor general, sue- I ceeded by C. C. Ferrally.

378

HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

1878-80; W. E. Gray, B. D. Williams. W. War- rick and Casper Allenberg, 1880-82; J. T. Jones, Charles Choniski. Granville Ryles and F. W. White, 1882-84; Dan O'Connor. J. T. Jones, J. W. Vaughn and T. E. Gibson, 1884-86; L. C. Balch, G. W. Granberry, W. A. Compton and P. Conrad, 1886-88; C. T. Coffman, William Nickell, J. R. Walters and G. W. Granberry, present members.

The act.creating Pulaski County provided that the Governor should appoint three judges to com- pose the common pleas court for the county, and of this mention has already been made in connec- tion with the organization of the county. This was a court created by the laws of Missouri Terri- tory, and it had jurisdiction over all county and pro- bate business, as well as over a good deal of busi- ness which now belongs exclusively to the circuit court. The legislature of Arkansas Territory, by an act approved October 24, 1821, provided that the Territory should be divided into two judicial districts, and that a judge should be appointed in each one, to preside over the circuit court there- of as established by the same act. The Second district was made to contain the counties of Craw- ford, Pulaski, Clark, Hempstead and Miller. The terms of the court were to commence in Pulaski on the first Mondays of March, July and November of each year. The act provided that this court should have jurisdiction of "all civil cases of $100 and upwards, and in all criminal cases, excepting the punishment of which was capital, and in all other cases then exercised by the common pleas court, and concurrent jurisdiction in chancery cases, and appellate jurisdiction from decisions of the justices of the peace." And by further provision of the act the court of common pleas was abolished.

This left the county with only one court which was to exercise jurisdiction over all business in general, with only the exception above mentioned, until the county court was established by an act of the Territorial legislature, approved November 13, 1829, by Gov. John Pope. This act established a county court in every county in the Territory, and gave it jurisdiction over all county and probate business in general. The court was composed of

one judge only, and it was provided that the first judge should be elected by the electors of the county on the first Monday of January, 1830, to hold his office for a term of two years .* It was also provided that on business relating to roads and revenues. one justice of the peace from each civil township in the county should be entitled to sit on the bench with the judge, but on no other business. It was further provided that the clerk of the circuit court should also be clerk of the county court, and that the terms of the court should commence on the first Mondays of January, April, July and October of each year. A subsequent act of the legislature, approved November 7, 1831, provided for the establishment of county courts, to be com- posed by the justices of the peace of the county, and for the repeal of the act of 1829. Following this, another act of the legislature, approved No- vember 16. 1833, repealed the act approved Novem- ber 7, 1831, and restored the act of 1829, by which the county court was first established with one judge only.

After the State of Arkansas was admitted into the Union, the legislature thereof, by an act ap- proved November 7, 1836, provided that the county court should be composed of the several justices of the peace of the county, who should elect one of their number as presiding judge thereof, to hold his office for two years, and to be judge also of the probate court. The act also provided that the judge and two justices of the peace, or of three of the latter in the absence of the judge, should con- stitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and that the terms should be held on the first Mondays of January, April, July and October of each year. Some subsequent changes have been made in the formation of the county court. It is now, and for many years has been composed of a single judge elected by the people.

The proceedings pertaining to probate business since the State was admitted into the Union, have been kept on separate records from the county business proper, and the probate court is separate from the county court, but it is presided over by the same judge. The regular sessions of the

* For the first one elected see "county officers."

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PULASKI COUNTY.

county court begin on the first Mondays of Jan- mary, April, July and October of each year, and of the probate court on the second Mondays of the same months.

The first act of the legislature of the State of Arkansas pertaining to circuit courts was approved November 7, 1836. It provided for the division of the State into judicial circuits, the appointment and election of judges, defined their duties, the jurisdiction of the court, etc. The law pertaining to this court has frequently been changed, and the State has frequently been redistricted into judicial circuits. Pulaski County now belongs to the Sixth

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.], Part 59

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago. (1886-1891. Goodspeed publishing Company) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, St. Louis [etc.] The Goodspeed publishing co. Number of Pages: 826

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago. (1886-1891. Goodspeed publishing Company)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, St. Louis [etc.] The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 826