USA > Arkansas > Biographical and historical memoirs of western Arkansas : comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 32
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
grow to perfection. The chief industries of the people are corn, wheat and fruit culture and stock- raising. The soil is retentive of moisture, and the drouth seldom affects the mountain district. The mountains are also noted for honey. The Big Piney is one of the most beautiful streams of water in the State. Rising far back in the mountains, in the lime formations, its waters are peculiarly
clear and crystal-like, and is an excellent stream for fish. It is fordable on horse except in times of high water, but footmen can pass over it dry- shod only in the dry seasons. The valleys are wide and productive and some of the best farms in the county are situated on this stream. It is claimed that the land here is stronger for the sup- posed reason that it contains more lime than the soil in other portions of the county. While the Illinois Bayou is not as long as the Piney, it is about the same breadth; its valleys are wider, more extensive and continuous. The valleys of the Piney are more like a basin from the fact that every few miles the hills close in on both sides of the stream. On the contrary, Illinois Bayou is not closed in by the hills shutting out the valleys ex- cept in one place, and for but a short distance, and forms one continuous valley of rich and fertile lands, extending the full length of the county north and south, splitting the center to the base of the mountains, thence extending a little west of the center to the Arkansas River. Its valleys produce from three-fourths to a bale of cotton per acre, and from forty to seventy bushels of corn per acre, and grow oats, rye and all kinds of grasses well. They are of about the same productive capacity as the valley of Piney, and this is the most cheerful and delightful farming country in the county. The valleys of Indian Creek are rich and fertile but narrow, except at its mouth where the mountains draw back, forming a basin called Leonard's Val- ley, which is rich and productive. The most at- tractive of these creeks is the North Fork. Its valleys are wider than the others, and the creek is not so shifting. Its farms are larger, and its farmers are a well-to-do class of people, and have good society, church and school facilities. It will thus be seen that the county's principal crops are
197
POPE COUNTY.
cotton and corn. Cotton produces well; on hill lands 700, on bottoms, 1,400 pounds of seed cot- ton to the acre; the average yield of corn is from 20 to 50 bushels, of wheat from 8 to 16, of oats from 18 to 30, of rye from 25 to 30 bushels, pota- toes, both Irish and sweet, from 200 to 300, tur- nips 300, and field peas 40 bushels per acre; to- bacco produces about 200 pounds; timothy, 2,000 pounds; redtop, 2,000 pounds; millet and Hun- garian grasses, 3,000 pounds to the acre, and sor- ghum yields about 100 gallons of syrup on average land. All varieties of fruit are successfully culti- vated. Peaches are a sure crop; apples do well, and grapes will produce anywhere in the county.
In the matter of health, Pope County compares favorably with other sections. The lands, as a rule, are high uplands, with no swamps or stagnant pools, and are easily drained. All who have any practical regard for the laws of health, in their modes of liv- ing, are rarely sick. The diseases of the country, as a rule, are easily controlled. Following is the testi- mony of one of Russellville's leading physicians: "I have lived a resident of this county since 1854, and have been a practicing physician for thirty- four years past of that time, having had a large and varied experience. The diseases met with here are mostly of malarial origin, prevailing more dur- ing the summer and fall months than at any other time. Those who live in the bottoms along the water-courses suffer the most, while the residents of the uplands are comparatively exempt. Epi- demics are almost unknown, as a rule, and, when they do prevail, are generally mild and easily man- aged. Whooping-cough and measles, with a case of mumps now and then, constitute the entire cata- logue of epidemic diseases in this country. Among the inflammations, pneumonia is the most prevalent during the winter and early spring months, but it does not prevail to a great extent, and taken in time, is easily managed. Not one physician in ten will average, one year with another, more than six or eight cases in any one season, at least that has been my experience." There are, in different lo- calities in the county, fine chalybeate springs, val- uable for the health-producing qualities of their waters, which have been found especially effective
in various chronic diseases. With additional rail- way facilities, these springs will, some of them, in time, doubtless be developed into popular resorts.
Following are the names of the several political townships into which the county is divided. The figures in connection with the name of each town- ship represent the area of that township in square miles: Allen, 50; Bayliss, 17; Clark, 28; Con- venience, 20; Dover, 50; Freeman, 51; Galla Creek, 18; Galla Rock, 21; Griffin, 32; Gum Log, 14; Holly Bend, 17; Independence, 96; Illinois, 40; Lee, 18; Liberty, 120; Martin, 59; Moreland, 20; North Fork, 62; Sand Springs, 11; Valley, 29; Wilson, 32.
At the close of the year 1825, the then Territory of Arkansas consisted of the counties of Arkansas, Conway, Chicot, Crawford, Crittenden, Hemp- stead, Independence, Izard, Lawrence, Miller, Pulaski and Phillips. Conway had been erected as recently as October 25 of that year. Lovely County was erected October 13, 1827, and was abolished October 17, 1828. Five days later part of the Indian purchase was added to Conway County. More than a year after the wiping out of Lovely County, Pope County was formed princi- pally from Conway. An old record book of deeds containing the evidence of real estate transactions in Lovely County, in 1828, is among the curiosities of the Pope County clerk's office. Pope County was erected November 2, 1829. In 1840, Yell County was formed out of Pope, by making the Arkansas River the line from the mouth of Petit Jean up to the crossing of the Miltary road at the Dardanelle Rock; thence to the point of Magazine Mountain; thence with said mountain westward; and not until 1853 did Pope County relinquish to Yell all her lands south of the River. This con- cession was made under an act of Legislature passed January 5, 1853. Part of Conway County was attached to Pope January 6, 1853. The line between Pope and Newton Counties was defined January 10, 1853. Part of Van Buren County was attached to Pope January 12, 1853. The line between Pope and Van Buren Counties was de- fined February 17, 1859; the line between Pope and Johnson Counties, October 19, 1859, and
198
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
March 27, 1871. The line between Pope and Con- way Counties was defined May 28, 1874. The line between Pope and Johnson Counties was re-estab- lished March 6, 1875, and changed March 9, 1877.
The temporary county seat of Pope County was established at John Bolinger's, on the Arkan- sas River, near Hon. John R. Homer Scott's "Scotia " farm, and the courts were held there in 1829-30. One early court was held at the old Dwight Mission, on Illinois Bayou. Some time in 1830 the county seat was established at old Nor- ristown and remained there about ten years. No county buildings were ever erected at Norristown. The courts were held in a small frame building leased for the purpose, and prisoners were con- fined in the jail of neighboring counties. The first court-house at Dover was a log structure. It was're- paired and improved from time to time and served the county until some time during the war, when it was burned. Courts were for a time held in churches, until the erection of the brick court- house, which stands there still, now in use as a school-house, it having been sold by the county to Dover for the nominal price of $100. There is also at Dover a now useless log jail. The con- struction of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Rail- road built up Russellville and Atkins and drew away from Dover the local commerce that had made it the business center of the county. The removal of the seat of justice to some point on the railroad followed as a most natural consequence. July ;21, 1886, upon the petitions of C. S. Bell and 1,500 others and L. D. Ford and 2,100 others, legal voters of Pope County, it was ordered by the county court that an election be held September 6, 1886, at which the following questions should be submitted to the people: First, shall the county seat be removed or changed? Second, shall the county seat be removed from Dover to Russellville ? Third, shall the county seat be removed from Dover to Atkins? Each of these petitions con- tained a proposition to build a court-house at the town mentioned therein in case the county seat should be removed thereto, and the people of Russellville and Atkins proposed for their re- spective towns to execute a good and sufficient
bond for the use of Pope County, payable to such commissioners as might be by the courts appointed to erect without cost to the county a comfortable and convenient building suitable and sufficient for all county purposes and donate the same to the county. The court appointed R. O. Morton, W. M. Bell and Joseph Howard, commissioners, to whom said bonds should be made payable for the use of Pope County, and ordered that said bonds should be filed with the clerk of the court. This election did not result in a choice of a new location for the county seat, though there was a majority for re- moval from Dover. At the October term of the county court, 1886, T. M. Neal and others, after due notice, filed their petition contesting said election, and the court, upon hearing, sustained the contest and set aside the election, and J. L. Shinn and others, as contestees, appealed to the Pope Circuit Court. The time for holding the Pope Circuit Court, as fixed by law, was the first Monday (the first day) of November, 1886; but the court was not opened until the third day (Wednesday), when the circuit judge appeared and proceeded to open and hold the court. On the fifth day of said month M. L. Davis was elected special judge, and on the twelfth he pro- ceeded to try the contest upon the amended peti- tion of the contestants and demurrer of the con- testees thereto, and sustained the demurrer and so rendered judgment; and thereupon ordered an election to be held March 19, 1887. Such an election was then held, and a majority of the voters of the county voted to locate the county seat at Russellville, the ballot standing 1,399 for Russellville as against 1,271 for Atkins. In July, 1886, J. L. Shinn presented to the county court a deed conveying to Pope County " all that portion of Lot 13 beginning on Oak Street on the east and running back west to a point parallel with a line running through the center of Lot 18; also the east half of said Lot 18; also Lots 19, 20 and 21, all of said lots being in Block 'K ' in J. M. Shinn's Addition to the town of Russellville." At the same time Mr. Shinn offered another site, but the one above described was chosen and accepted by the county court, April 1, 1887. It was ordered
199
POPE COUNTY.
that the county court-house and jail should be built on this site, and J. M. Haney, M. H. Johnson and L. D. Ford were appointed commis- sioners to inspect said structures and receive them in behalf of the county when they should be fin- ished. July 5, 1887, J. L. Shinn, R. J. Wilson, W. G. White and others represented to the court that they were preparing to erect the jail and court-house in compliance with the obligation of their bond, filed with the county clerk August 17, 1886, and that they had procured and then ten- dered to the court for the temporary use of the county, while the buildings should be in course of erection, free of cost or rent to the county, suita- ble apartments for the holding of the courts and the safe keeping of the records of the county, lo- cated on the second floor of R. J. Wilson's brick building at the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets in Russellville. This proposition was re- ferred by the court to the commissioners above mentioned, who were instructed to meet at Rus- sellville July 9, 1887, and inspect the apartments so tendered and report to the court, July 12, whether they were suitable and safe for the tem- porary use of the county .. The report of the com- missioners being favorable, on July 25, 1887, it was ordered that "the clerk of the circuit court and ex-officio clerk of the county and probate courts and recorder of Pope County remove his office and the records, papers and seals therein contained from Dover to said apartments so ten- dered; " and it was further ordered that thereafter the county court and all other courts of record of Pope County be held "at said temporary court- house" until the completion of the permanent court-house.
May 16, 1888, the commissioners reported to the county court the completion and acceptance of the new court-house and jail, as follows: "The undersigned commissioners, heretofore by this court appointed to examine and receive the new court- house and jail, proposed to be erected for the use of the county at Russellville, in said county, by the citizens of said town, the erection of which was secured by the bonds of J. L. Shinn and others, respectfully report that, pursuant to the order
of this court heretofore made, they have examined and received said court-house and jail erected for Pope County pursuant to said bond, and find that said court-house and jail are well and substantially built in compliance with the terms of said bond, and we for said county accept the said court-house and jail as being in full compliance with the re- quirements of said bond and recommend that the obligors on said bond be discharged from lia- bility thereupon." The court accepted and acted upon the recommendation of this report and or- dered that the county offices and the various courts should be removed to the new court-house, and that the next, and all other terms of the coun- ty court, and of all other courts of record of the county be there held. The county buildings are among the finest in the State, and reflect great credit upon the many enterprising citizens who contributed toward their erection.
Pope County civil list is as follows: 1829-30- Andrew Scott, judge; Twitty Place, clerk; H. Stennett, sheriff; W. Garrott, coroner; W. Mitchel, surveyor. 1830-32-S. K. Blythe, judge; E. A. Pace, clerk; J. J. Morse, sheriff; F. Heron, sur- veyor. 1832-33-Thomas Murray, Jr., judge; E. A. Pace, clerk; J. J. Morse, sheriff; S. M. Hayes, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor. 1833-35- Isaac Brown, judge; R. T. Williamson, clerk; W. W. Rankins, sheriff; S. S. Hayes, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor. 1835-36-J. J. Morse, judge; J. B. Logan, clerk; S. M. Hayes, sheriff; W. C. Webb, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor. 1836-38- Benjamin Langford, judge; J. B. Logan, clerk; S. M. Hayes, sheriff; J. R. H. Scott, treasurer; J. Baker, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor. 1838-40- B. Johnson, judge; J. Ferguson, clerk; S. M. Hayes, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; E. Baker, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor. 1840-42- W. Bryan, judge; J. Ferguson, clerk; S. M. Hayes, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; E. Ba- ker, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor. 1842-44- Isaac Brown, judge; J. R. H. Scott, clerk; S. M. Hayes, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; R. R. Fleming, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor. 1844-46- Jesse Mallory, judge; J. R. H. Scott, clerk; J. W. Jones, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer;
200
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
M. Tackett, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor. 1846- 48-David West, judge; J. R. H. Scott, clerk; J. W. Jones, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; J. S. Banker, coroner; J. H. Brearley, surveyor. 1848-50 -- A. J. Bayliss, judge; William Stout, clerk; J. Hickey, sheriff; J. H. Patterson, treas- urer; J. S. Banker, coroner; J. H. Brearley, sur- veyor. 1850-52-A.[J. Bayliss, judge; William Stout, clerk; J. Hickey, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; J. Bradley, coroner; J. A. Brearley sur- veyor. 1852-54-A. J. Bayliss, judge; William Stout, clerk; R. H. Howell, sheriff; G. R. Davis, treasurer; J. S. Banker, coroner; J. Ferguson, surveyor. 1854-56-Cabel Davis, judge; R. H. Howell, clerk: J. L. Linton, sheriff; W. S. John- son, treasurer; J. S. Banker, coroner; J. W. Mil- ler, surveyor. 1856-58-N. D. Shinn, judge; R. H. Howell, clerk; J. L. Linton, sheriff; W. S. Johnson, treasurer; J. A. Bradley, coroner; J. W. Miller, surveyor. 1858-60-N. D. Shinn, judge; R. H. Howell, clerk; J. L. Linton, sheriff; D. M. Hornbeak, treasurer; J. A. Bradley, coro- ner; J. W. Miller, surveyor. 1860-62-N. D. Shinn, judge; R. H. Howell, clerk; D. C. Brown, sheriff; W. S. Johnson, treasurer; W. A. Walker, coroner; J. W. Chambers, surveyor. 1862-64- J. B. Brooks, judge; A. J. Bayliss; clerk; J. B. Erwin, sheriff; W. S. Johnson, treasurer; L. Ma- comb, coroner; J. W. Miller, surveyor. 1864-66 -J. B. Brooks, judge; A. J. Bayliss, clerk; G. B. Fondren, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; L. Macomb, coroner; J. Brearley, surveyor. (During this term W. A. Strickland was judge; W. H. Williams was sheriff, James Bradley was coroner, and J. W. Stout was surveyor, from July, 1865.) 1866-68-Cabel Davis, judge; A. J. Bayliss, clerk; J. Petty, sheriff; S. R. Parker, treasurer; L. Ma- comb, coroner; J. W. Miller, surveyor; 1868-72 -- W. T. Brown, judge; W. H. Hickox, clerk; J. W. Stout, sheriff (J. F. Clear from March, 1870); John Hughes, treasurer; J. A. Bradley, coroner; L. M. Hale, surveyor; J. F. Clear, assessor (J. H. Martin from July, 1870). 1872-74-E. H. Poe, clerk; J. B. Erwin, sheriff; W. L. D. Ewing, treasurer; William White, coroner; James Potts, surveyor; C. E. Toby, assessor. 1874-76-Frank
Thach, judge; H. A. Bayliss, clerk; Joe Petty, sheriff; S. R. Parker, treasurer; J. P. Langford, coroner; James Potts, surveyor; G. W. O. Davis, assessor. 1876-78-Frank Thach, judge; A. J. Bayliss, clerk; R. B. Hogins, sheriff; S. R. Park- er, treasurer; C. N. Benefield, coroner; James Potts, surveyor; W. M. Peeler, assessor. (Judge Thach died and R. B. Wilson was elected in March, 1878. Treasurer Parker died and F. C. Falls was elected in September, 1877.) 1878-80-R. B. Wilson, judge; A. J. Bayliss, clerk; R. B. Hogins, sheriff; F. C. Falls, treasurer; J. W. Jones, coro- ner; James Potts, surveyor; W. M. Peeler, assessor. 1880-82-E. C. Bradley, judge; W. J. Reynolds, clerk; R. B. Hogins, sheriff; F. C. Falls, treas- urer; D. R. Grant, coroner; James Potts, survey- or; A. R. Robinson, assessor. 1882-84-E. C. Bradley, judge; James Potts, clerk; J. W. Quinn, sheriff; Joe Petty, treasurer; D. R. Grant, coro- ner; W. R. Hale, surveyor; A. R. Robinson, as- sessor. (P. J. Rollow from March 13, 1884.) 1884-86-J. S. Linzy, judge; James Potts, clerk; J. W. Quinn, sheriff; George Baird, treasurer; G. A. Jamison, coroner; W. R. Hale, surveyor; P. M. Austin, assessor. 1886-88-J. T. Bullock, judge; James Potts, clerk; John R. Young, sheriff; Joseph Petty, treasurer; James H. Shinn, coroner; W. R. Hale, surveyor; J. A. Hickman, assessor. 1888-90-J. T. Bullock, judge; R. B. Hogins, clerk; John R. Young, sheriff; W. N. Peeler, treasurer; D. R. Grant, coroner; A. Q. Davis, surveyor; J. A. Hickman, assessor. 1890-92-G. W. Berryman, judge; G. E. Howard, clerk; J. T. Bullock, circuit clerk; W. J. Johnson, sheriff; D. R. Grant, coroner; J. I. Simpson, assessor; W. M. Peeler, treasurer.
Pope County is in the Fifth Judicial District, composed of the counties of Pope, Yell, Johnson and Conway. The judge is Hon. J. E. Cravens, of Johnson County; the prosecuting attorney is H. S. Carter, of Dardanelle. Hon. J. G. Wallace, of Russellville, was elected judge, and Jeff Davis, of Russellville, prosecuting attorney, September 1, 1890, to succeed the officials above mentioned. The court opens on the first Mondays of April and November. It is in the Second Congressional Dis-
201
POPE COUNTY.
trict, composed of the counties of Pope, Cleveland, Lincoln, Grant, Jefferson, Arkansas, Monroe, Prai- rie, Lonoke, Woodruff, White, Faulkner, Conway, Van Buren, Stone and Cleburne, represented by Hon. C. R. Breckinridge. Pope County was repre- sented in the Constitutional Convention of 1836 by Thomas Murray, Jr .; in the Constitutional Con- vention of 1861 by William Stout; in the Constitu- tional Convention of 1864 by William Stout; in the Constitutional Convention of 1868 by Walter W. Brashear; and in the Constitutional Convention of 1874 by John R. Homer Scott.
In the Territorial and State Legislatures this county has been represented thus: Upper House (Territorial), session of 1831, by Isaac Hughes; 1833, by John Williamson; 1835 (journals of this session missing); 1836-38 (State) with Johnson, by J. Williamson; 1840, with Conway, by J. Will- iamson; 1842-43, with Conway, by J. Williamson; 1844-45, with Yell, by J. Williamson; 1846, with Yell, by J. Williamson; 1848-49, with Yell, by J. Williamson; 1850-51, with Yell, by J. Williamson; 1852-53, with Yell, by G. W. Lemoyne; 1854-55, with Yell, by G. W. Lemoyne; 1856-57, with Johnson, by W. W. Floyd; 1858-59, with John- son, by W. W. Floyd; 1860-61, special; 1861-62, with Johnson, by A. M. Ward; 1862, with John- son, by Ben T. Embry; 1864-65, with Johnson, by William Stout; Confederate Legislature, 1864, with Johnson, by Ben T. Embry; Sixteenth Legis- lature, 1866-67, with Johnson, by J. E. Cravens; 1868-69, with Searcy and Conway, by Z. Keeton; 1871, with Searcy and Conway, by A. D. Thomas; 1873, with Searcy and Conway, by A. D. Thomas; 1874, with Searcy and Conway, by J. R. H. Scott; 1874-75, with Johnson, by C. E. Toby; 1877, with Johnson, by C. E. Toby; 1879, with John- son, by John F. Hill; 1881, with Johnson, by John F. Hill; 1883, with Johnson, by B. T. Embry; 1885, with Johnson, by B. T. Embry; 1887, with Johnson, by G. T. Cazort; last session, with John- son, by G. T. Cazort; J. M. Harkey is Senator elect. Lower House (Territorial)-session of 1831, by Andrew Scott; 1833, by W. Garrett; 1835 (journals of this session missing); 1836-38 (State) by M. G. H. Teevault and J. J. Moose; 1838, by
B. H. Martin and A. C. Sadler; 1840, by John Bruton and C. G. Sadler; 1842-43, by M. T. Logan and P. Tackett; 1844-45, by James B. Logan: 1846, by J. B. Annis and James Bruton; 1848-49, by J. M. Shinn and J. J. Stirman; 1850-51, by J. G. Bruton and C. E. Toby; 1852-53, by J. S. Bow- den and James Bruton; 1854-55, by James Brunot and William D. Poe; 1856-57, by W. A. Barker and J. S. Bowden; 1860-61, special; 1861-62, by J. S. Bowden; 1862, by John McFadden; 1864-65, by Robert White; Confederate Legislature, 1864, by John McFadden; Sixteenth Legislature, 1866- 67, C. E. Toby; 1868-69, with Searcy and Conway, by W. W. Brashear, J. R. Hall and H. W. Hodges; 1871, with Searcy and Conway, by A. D. Thomas; 1873, with Searcy and Conway, by Benton Turner, Y. B. Sheppard and J. F. Stephenson; 1874, with Searcy and Conway, by L. W. Davis and J. S. Venable; 1874-75, by N. D. Shinn; 1877, by L. W. Davis; 1879, by E. L. McCracken; 1881, by H. C. Howell; 1883, by N. W. Kuhn; 1885, by C. E. Toby; 1887, by W. L. Sibley; last session, by W. L. Sibley. Lawrence Russell was elected Sep- tember 1, 1890.
The following hold, or have until recently held, commissions as notaries public in Pope County : E. C. Bradley, J. S. Bailey, H. L. Rayburn, John W. White, J. T. Bullock, John A. Erwin, H. M. Carden, H. Cohen, G. W. Berryman, Thomas J. Russell, A. M. Gibson, Robert Chastine, J. D. Cleveland, J. E. Joyner, Eugene Moore, James H. Shinn, John Boanes, J. J. Lester.
There are more than 3,600 voters in this county ; about one-third are Republicans. The Democratic ticket has not been defeated in this county since reconstruction, except in 1884, it was partially de- feated by a combination of the Labor and Repub- lican parties.
When the old Dwight mission station was es- tablished on Illinois Bayou, north of the river, in Pope County, the Rev. Cephas Washburn, a Pres- byterian minister, took charge of it. The Cherokee settlement, under their chief, Black Hawk, then extended for five miles down the river, and at some distance from it. The settlement was like a town, of five miles in length. Each Indian family had
202
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
its wigwam and patch of land, containing from one to five acres attached. All these patches adjoined each other, so that it was one continued field, com- posed of patches of a few acres, in the midst of which was a wigwam or cabin, in which the fam- ilies resided. This accounts for the young growth of timber which has been cleared within the mem- ory of some of the present inhabitants.
The first explorers and temporary occupants of what is now Pope County were hunters and trap- pers. They conveyed information of its many beauties and advantages to the posts and older set- tlements. Most of the earliest settlement was along the Arkansas River and in some of the in- terior valleys. The pioneers were, in the main, men of worth and determination. Their work was in a wilderness, where they were often compelled to combat savage beasts, and sometimes fiercer men. Perhaps some made but a brief tarry, and then pushed on into a newer field, leaving no de- scendants here. The majority, however, have left a record in the county's history, and the names of many are in the lists of county officials to be found elsewhere in these pages. Many reared large families, whose descendants may look backward now and think with pride of the skill and endur- ance displayed by their ancestors in laying the foundations upon which modern Pope County stands. Never were there more honest or more hospitable people than these pioneers who broke the forest and began to open the way before ad- vancing civilization. While such a life as theirs might not satisfy the present generation, they seem to have been suited to it. Were some of the re- fined and cultured people of to-day suddenly taken back to the log cabin of their forefathers, what a contrast would be presented to them between the old order of things and the new. Open-hearted, generous hospitality, instead of formality and sus- picious welcome then prevailed; personal incon- venience was not then thought of; a desire to assist others rather than himself characterized the average early settler, and to a thoughtfu mind it is indeed a serious question, whether or not, with all boasted advancement and progress, people of to-day are superior to their ancestors in those
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.