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 73
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
estate, $273,088, personal property, $452,195, mak- ing a total of $725,283. To approximate the real value of the taxable wealth of the county, this amount should be trebled, as the property was assessed at only about one-third of its true value. The total amount of taxes charged in the county in 1889, as shown by the tax books, was $27,308. - 80. The number of acres taxed was 98,653, and the number of polls 1,797.
Before the settlement of the county began "the Indian hunter pursued the panting deer and the wild fox dug his hole unscared." Here then the wild beasts of the forest roamed over the mountains and valleys undisturbed by white men. When the first pioneers came, about 1830, the buf- faloes which had previously been so numerous, seemed to scent the approach of civilization, and took their final leave, and fled to the westward. The bears, also numerous, stood their grounds as best they could, and although many have fallen before the hunter's rifle, and have been used to partially supply the larders of the early settlers and later citizens, a few still remain in their mountain fastnesses, and bear steak is yet occasionally served on the tables. Wolves were once very numerous and very pestiferous to the settlers, being de- structive of pigs and sheep, but they are now scarce. The panthers also are nearly all gone. The deer and wild turkeys formerly very numerous and so useful for food for the pioneers, still remain in quantities sufficient to amuse and repay the hunter. Ducks, quails and other wild fowl still abound. Many of the smaller animals also abound and fine fish are found in the beautiful mountain streams. These remarks concerning wild ani- mals and wild fowls apply also to the counties of Scott and Montgomery.
The settlement of the territory now composing Polk County began about the year 1830, or perhaps a little earlier. Thomas Griffith, from Illinois, settled near the present village of Dallas, and about the same time Jacob Miller settled two miles east of Dallas, where Ben Thompson now resides, and George Wiles settled in the same neighbor- hood. In December, 1833, James Pirtle from Tennessee settled on the farm where his son, B.
439
POLK COUNTY.
F. Pirtle, now resides one half mile north of Dal- las. The same year Isaac Pirtle and Ben Pirtle also from Tennessee, made their settlements -- the former one mile north of Dallas, and the latter on Mountain Fork, near the camp-meeting ground. Also in the same year Walter Scott and Allen Trousdale, from Tennessee, settled on Board Camp Creek, east of Dallas. The same year Isaac Jones settled the site of Dallas, and a year or two later he sold his improvement to John B. Stewart, who settled thereon.
About the year 1835 Mr. Cantrell settled in the Miller neighborhood, east of Dallas. Kennison Sulth, from Missouri, located on Six Mile Creek, near the present town of Cove, and Joseph Sulth settled on Mountain Fork, about twelve miles west of Dallas. About the same time William Cox, from Missouri, settled on the Ouachita, six miles northeast of Dallas, Thomas Edom settled four miles west of Dallas, and William Josling, from Missouri, settled two and one-half miles north of Dallas. Jacob Ritchie was a very early settler on the Ouachita, twelve miles east of Dallas. George M. Winter, from Missouri, settled seven miles west of Dallas in about 1833. Other pioneers of the thirties were Richard Powell, who came from Tennessee, and settled near the camp ground, in the western part of the county; Fred Lunsford, who settled a few miles east of Dallas, and Elisha Baker, who settled near Baker's Springs in the southern part of the county. In 1840 Isaac A. Morris came from New England and settled at Dallas, and near the same time Joshua Cox settled three miles southeast of Dallas.
In the fall of 1854 Rev. H. C. Ridling came from Mississippi and settled on the Ouachita near where he now resides, about twelve miles east of Dallas. He informs the writer that at that time there was only one cotton-gin in the county, and that one was located three miles northeast of Dal- las, and was owned by one Kuykendall. This gin had no press, as the cotton was not then baled, and none was then raised except for home use. There was not a steam-mill in the county until about the year 1867, when the Ashford steam saw and grist mill was put up on Dry Creek. There
were then only three water-power mills in the county, two of them being on Big Fork and one on Two Mile Creek. The first mill erected in the county was one on Two Mile Creek, which had gone down prior to 1854. Before any of these mills were erected the pioneers ground their grain on steel hand mills which they brought with them. In those early days the settlers depended largely upon hunting for a living. Little Rock and Camden were the only trading points where store goods and groceries could be obtained. Peltry, venison, bear meat and the like were hauled to these points and exchanged for the "necessaries of life," whisky being then considered one of the latter.
The habitations of the pioneers were always made by logs, sometimes hewn on two sides and sometimes not hewn at all. When hewn, the logs were put up with the flat surfaces on the inside and outside of the building. The cracks were filled with chinking, and this was daubed over with mud. The form of the cabin was always an ob- long square, with a huge fire-place in one end. The fire-place was set back in a crib composed of logs with the face even with the inner wall. This crib heavily lined with stone and mortar, stood upon a hearth made of flat stones. On top of the stone and mortar lining was made a stick-and-mud chim- ney, the latter always being entirely on the outside of the building, and extending a little above the comb of the roof. The cabin was only one story in height, and was covered with clapboards rest- ing on poles running the long way of the building. and weighted down with other poles. One or two small openings were cut out for windows, in which greased paper, when it could be had, was often substituted for glass. The floor was made of puncheons, prepared wholly with an ax, and laid down on " sleepers." The door was made of light puncheons, or heavy clapboards, fastened together with pins and hung on wooden hinges. This is a fair description of the completed "pioneer's cabin." All the tools required in building it were the axe, broadax, frow and auger. Many such a cabin was built without the use of a nail.
Cabins with later improvements are still in use in the county, and some of the best habitations
-
1
440
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
now consist of double cabins with a wide hall or entry between them and other extensions. Good frame houses are also in use, but the writer in his travels did not see any brick dwelling houses in the county, though there may be a few.
Polk County was organized in accordance with the provisions of an act of the General Assembly, approved December 30,1844. The temporary seat of justice was established at the house of James Pirtle, where there was a post office called Panther. This place was one-half mile north of the site afterward chosen for the county seat, which was named Dal- las in honor of Vice-President Dallas, the county having been named in honor of President James K. Polk. The permanent county seat has always been at Dallas. The court-house and records were burned during the Civil War. Another court- house was erected in 1869, and two or three years later it was also consumed by fire, together with the public records. The loss of the early records precludes the possibility of giving particulars con- cerning the organization of the county, the choos- ing of the permanent seat of justice, and other important historical facts. The present court-house was built in 1884 by Hudgins Brothers at a cost of $4,500. It is a neat and substantial two-story brick building, 40x40 feet in size, with a hall, stairway and offices on the first floor, and the court-room on the second. The county jail was constructed in 1888, under the supervision of Com- missioner J. G. Bell. It is a very strong brick house containing two iron cells, from which "jail birds" can not escape. It cost about $3,000. It stands away from the public square, southwest of the court-house and about 100 yards distant there- from. The county has no "poor farm " or asylum for the poor, and but little, if any, provision is made for paupers, they being almost "an un- known quantity."
The following list contains the names of the county and other officers in succession, with date of terms of service annexed to each from the organization of the county to the year 1890:
Judges-J. T. Hayden, 1844-46; *
* Samuel Nichols, 1848-52; Samuel Wilkins, 1852- 54; John Bolin, 1854-56; William Nichols, 1856-
58; D. Foran, 1858-60; D. B. Harrison, 1860-62; J. B. Barker, 1862-64; D. H. Howell, 1864-66; G. V. Bates, 1866-68; M. Morris, 1868-72; * * Thomas Mills, 1874-78; T. J. Robinson, 1878-80; Thad. M. Carder, 1880-84; G. B. Bates, 1884-86; J. D. Garland, 1886-88; T. R. Rowe, 1888-90.
Clerks-J. Scott, 1844-46; J. M. Scott, 1846- 48; I. A. Morris, 1848-50; E. E. Story, 1850-52; J. Brumley, 1852-34; D. B. Harrison, 1854-56; G. S. Turrentine, 1856-58; D. B. Harrison, 1858- 60; S. M. White, 1860-62; J. W. Miller, 1862-64; A. P. Alexander, 1864-72; W. J. Davis, 1872-76; H. G. Rind, 1874-79; J. M. Hilton, 1879-80; W. J. Davis, 1880-90.
Sheriffs-B. Pope, 1844-46; B. F. Pope, 1846-48; J. Pollock, 1848-50; J. S. Winton, 1850-52; John Lewis, 1852-54; J. S. Winton, 1854-56; A. D. Flinn, 1856-60; J. W. Earp, 1860-64; D. M. Baird, 1864-68; A. D. Flinn, 1868-72; G. R. Miller, 1872-74; J. R. Lane, 1874-80; J. L. Pipkins, 1880-84; J. M. Hopkins, 1884-90.
Treasurer-J. Pirtle, 1844-48; E. Bull, 1848- 50; H. W. Jones, 1850-56; J. Cagle, 1856-66; S. White, 1866-68; J. M. Morris, 1868-72; A. W. Cole, 1872-74; J. M. Hilton, 1874-76; S. B. White, 1876-80; L. Joplin, 1880-84; Minor Pip- kins, 1884-86; R. J. Robbins, 1886-88; Minor Pipkins, 1888-90.
Coroners-H. Dixon, 1844-46; B. M. Cravens, 1848-50; J. C. Thompson, 1850-52; J. R. Richards, 1852-54; L. Borton, 1854-56; J. McDonald, 1856-60; B. L. Tanner, 1860-62; J. Thompson, 1862-64; E. Young, 1864-66; J. J. Joslin, 1866-68; * B. C. Pylam, 1872- 74; H. H. Hoover, 1874-76; S. Crawford, 1876- 78; * * * J. W. Bates, 1880-84; F. M. Beavers, 1884-88; T. M. Edwards, 1888-90.
Surveyors-D. Hamilton, 1844-46; H. Overby, 1846-48; W. G. McCanish, 1848-50; J. A. Mor- ris, 1850-54 * * J. W. Eads, 1856-60; J. A. Morris, 1860-62; J. W. Eads, 1862-68; J. A. Morris, 1868-72; S. Posey, 1872-78; W. J. Bar- ton, 1878-84; J. W. Eads, 1884-86; S. M. Imoe, 1886-90.
Assessors-A. P. Alexander, 1862-64; M. C.
5
441
POLK COUNTY.
Duggan, 1864-66; G. H. Warren, 1866-68; J. F. Lane, 1868-71; R. C. Embry, 1871-72; D. T. Lawrence, 1872-78; M. Williams, 1878-80; W. M. Williams, 1880-90.
Delegates in State Conventions-Archibald Ray in convention held March 4 to 21, and May 6 to June 3, 1861; James Huey and Thomas Young in constitutional convention held January 4 to January 23, 1864; Stephen C. Bates in constitu- tional convention held July 14, to October 31, 1874.
State Senators-A. J. Armstrong, for Sevier, Polk and La Fayette Counties, 1848-50; S. Mc- Neely, same counties, 1850-52; B. F. Hawkins, same counties, 1852-56; * *
* A. A. Penning- ton, Clark, Polk and Pike Counties, 1858-62; I. W. Smith, same counties, 1862-64; L. D. Cantrell, same counties, 1864-66; A. A. Pennington, same counties, 1866-68; D. P. Beldin, Scott, Polk, Montgomery and Hot Springs Counties, 1868-76; M. J. Mulkey, Little River, Sevier, Howard and Polk Counties, 1876-80; Pole McPhetrige, same counties, 1880-84; J. H. Williams, 1884-88.
Representatives in Legislature-Edward L. Pryor, 1846-48; Edward H. Featherstone, 1848- 50; A. G. Atkins, 1850-52; J. T. Hayden, 1852-54; William Jernigin, 1854-56; Samuel Gray, 1856- 60; Peter B. Allen, 1860-62; J. B. Williamson, 1862-64; *
* J. D. Baker, 1866-68; J. V. Harrison and J. H. Demby for Scott, Polk, Montgom- ery and Hot Springs Counties, 1868-70; J. F. Lane, J. J. Sumpter and James M. Bethel, same coun- ties and Grant, 1870-72; L. D. Gilbraith, J. J. Sumpter and George G. Latta, same counties, 1872-74; H. H. Barton and J. J. Sumpter, same counties except Grant, 1874. Polk County only hereafter: Calvin Cochran, 1874-76; Joseph G. Mc- Leod, 1876-78; E. H. Jordan, 1878-80; A. P. Alexander, 1880-82: J. E. Johnson, 1882-84; J. G. Hudgins, 1884-86; B. F. Thompson, 1888-90.
The following election returns will show the political aspect of the county, and the successors elect of the present officers.
At the September election in 1888, James P. Eagle, Democratic candidate for governor, re- ceived in Polk County 803 votes, and his oppo- nent, C. M. Norwood, 486 votes. At the presi-
dential election in the same year the candidates for the presidency received votes as follows: Cleve- land (Dem.) 785, Harrison (Rep.) 126, Streeter (U. L.) 73, Fisk (Pro.) 3.
Below is the vote by townships for the county. candidates at the September election in 1890:
Center-For representative, J. A. Norris 66, T. M. Carder 124; judge, T. R. Rowe 115, J. D. Garland 75; clerk, W. J. Davis 165, W. L. Wil- son 27; sheriff, J. M. Hopkins 103, Frank Pear- son 86; treasurer, B. F. Pirtle 175, .W. F. Ridling 10; assessor, J. W. Cunningham 134, J. R. McMa- hen 60; surveyor, S. M. Imoe 192; coroner, J. R. Buchanan 185.
Potter-Norris 39, Carder 62; Rowe 42, Gar- land 55; Davis 38, Wilson 39; Hopkins 39, Pear- son 65; Pirtle 90, Ridling 3; Cunningham 52. McMahen 49; Imoe 96; Buchanan 93.
Eagle-Norris 25, Carder 17; Rowe 26, Garland 17; Davis 25, Wilson 17; Hopkins 25, Pearson 17: Pirtle 29, Ridling 11; Cunningham 24, McMahen 17; Imoe 42; Buchanan 43.
Rich Mountain-Norris 5, Carder 10; Rowe 4, Hughes 11; Davis 5, Wilson 9; Hopkins 4, Pear- son 11; Pirtle 7, Ridling 6; Cunningham 6, Mc- Mahen 9; Imoe 14; Buchanan 5.
Freedom-Norris 31, Carder 63; Rowe 25. Garland 67; Davis 44, Wilson 51; Hopkins 42, Pearson 57; Pirtle 87, Ridling 1; Cunningham 65. McMahen 24; Imoe 91; Buchanan 75.
Cove-Norris 75, Carder 67; Rowe 84, Garland 56; Davis 89, Wilson 52; Hopkins 62, Pearson 82; Pirtle 127, Ridling 8; Cunningham 87, McMahen 56; Imoe 127; Buchanan 123.
White-Norris 49, Carder 119; Rowe 9, Gar- land 66; Hopkins 4, Pearson 126; Davis S3, Wil- son 78; Pirtle 105, Ridling 43; Cunningham 96, McMahen 59; Imoe 112; Buchanan 118.
Ozark-Norris 23, Carder 100; Rowe 52, Gar- land 65; Davis 31, Wilson 93; Hopkins 12. Pear- son 119; Pirtle 67, Ridling 43; Cunningham 55, McMahen 60; Imoe 102: Buchanan 109.
Faulkner-Norris 24, Carder 7; Rowe 17, Gar- land 15; Davis 21, Wilson S; Hopkins 18, Pear- son 12; Pirtle 20, Ridling 6; Cunningham 8. Me- Mahen 14; Imoe 31; Buchanan 20.
442
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
Gap Springs-Norris 17, Carder 13; Rowe 19, Garland 11; Davis 31, Wilson -; Hopkins 17, Pearson 11; Pirtle 23, Ridling 0; Cunningham 14, McMahen 15; Imoe 30; Buchanan 27.
Cedar-Norris 21, Carder 41; Rowe 26, Gar- land 35; Davis 29, Wilson 31; Hopkins 21, Pear- son 40; Pirtle 23, Ridling 30; Cunningham 25, McMahen 32; Imoe 31; Buchanan 29.
Fulton- Norris 46, Carder 24; Rowe 44, Gar- land 32; Davis 62, Wilson 15; Hopkins 52, Pear- son 23;, Pirtle 69, Ridling 4; Cunningham 41, McMahen 30; Imoe 72; Buchanan 68.
Big Fork-Norris 44, Carder 54; Rowe 43, Garland 49; Davis 51, Wilson 46; Hopkins 41, Pearson 56; Pirtle 98, Ridling 0; Cunningham 47, McMahen 48; Imoe 83; Buchanan 67.
Mountain-Norris 85, Carder 75; Rowe 80, Garland 75; Davis 81, Wilson 70; Hopkins 82, Pearson 76; Pirtle 98, Ridling 27; Cunningham 85, McMahen 74; Imoe 92, Buchanan 109.
Ouachita-Norris 43, Carder 43; Rowe 44, Gar- land 40; Davis 57, Wilson 14; Hopkins 43, Pear- son 42; Pirtle 39, Ridling 27; Cunningham 36, McMahen 49; Imoe 84; Buchanan 80.
Gourd Neck-Norris 30, Carder 8; Rowe 33, Garland 6; Davis 37, Wilson 2; Hopkins 35, Pearson 4; Pirtle 36, Ridling 0; Cunningham 32, McMahen 7; Imoe 37; Buchanan 32.
A recapitulation of the foregoing shows the following officers elected by majorities ranging from 81 for judge to 874 for treasurer: Thad. M. Carder, representative; T. R. Rowe, judge; W. J. Davis, clerk; Frank Pearson, sheriff; B. F. Pirtle, treasurer; and J. W. Cunningham, assessor. S. M. Imoe for surveyor, and J. R. Buchanan for coroner, having no opposition, received 1,236 and 1,183 votes, respectively. The Democratic State ticket, with Gov. Eagle at its head, received a majority of about 300 votes in the county.
The aggregate population of Polk County at the close of each census decade since its organ- ization, has been as follows: 1850, 1,263; 1860, 4,262; 1870, 3,376; 1880, 5,857. The colored population of the county in 1860 was 172; in 1870 it was 45, and in 1880 it was 61. The population of the county as ascertained by the census enu-
merators of 1890, just taken, has not been pub- lished at this writing, and consequently can not be given here. When published, the figures will be interesting to compare with the foregoing.
Of the circuit court in the early days, Judge Carder speaks as follows: "The semi-annual cir- cuit court was looked upon as the Greeks did the Olympic games, a pleasure to meet together and hear a few yarns from the bar, pass around the big brown jug, and return home." There was not much litigation, and as no man was sent to the penitentiary until 1879, it is to be inferred that criminals did not always receive justice. Only one legal execution of a criminal has taken place in the county, and that was the hanging of Moffett, in 1885, for the murder of a man in the western part of the county. Polk County belongs to the Eighth Judicial District, consisting of the counties of . Montgomery, Polk, Howard, Sevier, Little River, Pike and Clark. The resident attorneys constituting the legal bar of the county are Pole, McPhetrige, W. M. Matheny, F. M. Reeves, Col. Rice, and an attorney residing at Cove.
When the Civil War of 1861-65 broke out many of the people of Polk County were found to be in favor of establishing and maintaining the "Southern Confederacy," and contributed liberally of her cit- izens to assist in composing the Southern Army. During that memorable struggle the county was, fortunately, outside of the field of war, and conse- quently it escaped the ravages that so many other counties were compelled to suffer and endure. Be- ing of primitive habits, used to economy, and ac- customed to the manufacture of their own clothing, the citizens were better enabled to endure the pri- vations occasioned by the war, than were those of the older sections, nearer to and within the fields of war. The county was partially overrun by scouting parties and guerrilla bands, and some depredations were committed, otherwise she es- caped comparatively well.
Dallas, the county seat, is beautifully located near the center of the county, and is eighty miles west, by wagon road, from Hot Springs, and ninety miles south, bearing a little east, from Fort Smith. The town was laid out soon after its site was se-
443
POLK COUNTY.
lected, for the seat of justice, but owing to its be- ing so far interior, so far from lines of transporta- tion, its dimensions have never grown to exceed that of a small village with a population not ex- ceeding 400. Close on the south lies the Silver Mountain range, the conical peaks of which fur- nish delightful scenery from the village. North- ward lies the fertile valley of the Ouachita, several miles in width, with its snug little farms, the happy homes of intelligent and quiet denisons. Beyond this valley lies the Fourche la Fave Mount- ain range and Rich Mountain, plainly visible, add- ing much to the surrounding scenery. Dallas con- tains the county buildings elsewhere described, a weekly newspaper, one dry-goods, one general and two drug stores, two grocery stores, two boot and shoe shops, three blacksmith shops, one furniture or cabinet shop, one hotel, several private boarding houses, a grist and saw-mill and cotton-gin and planing-mill combined, two church edifices-Meth- odist and Union, one school-house, a barber shop, a bed-spring shop, etc. ; also two physicians and a distributing post-office.
The town has a tri-weekly mail from Hot Springs, a semi-weekly mail from Cherry Hill and Nashville (the latter being in Howard County), and a daily mail from Cove and Waldron (the latter being in Scott County). The mail is distributed at the Dallas post-office to twenty-two other offices in the county, to one office in the western part of Montgomery County, and one in the Indian Terri- tory.
The Dallas Courier, a seven-column folio news- paper, is published every Thursday at Dallas by its proprietors, W. Minor Pipkin and J. L. A. Grizzard. The rate of subscription is $1 per year. The paper is neatly printed and well edited, and it advocates Democratic principles. It is the only newspaper published in the county. At this writ- ing, September, 1890, it is in its seventh volume.
:
The Dallas High School is situated at Bethesda Springs, one mile west of Dallas. It is a Method- ist district school in the Little Rock conference, and under the supervision of that body. The build- ing in which it is taught was erected in 1883, for i a hotel, but in 1889 it was turned into a school
building for the Dallas High School. It is a very large frame structure, containing thirty-five rooms, and is well adapted for a boarding school. It stands on an eminence inclining southward, and mineral springs of several kinds are close to its doors. The first year of this school began Sep- tember 12, 1889, and lasted ten months. It opened with twenty-one pupils, but before the year closed the number had increased to 117. The second and present school year opened on Monday, September 8, 1890, with forty-one pupils in attendance on the first day. The house has a capacity for 400 pupils, and it is hoped that a large and prosperous school will be built up. The faculty at present consists of Richard Baugh, A. M., L. L. B., principal; B. M. Burrow, primary department, and Miss Sue A. Mills, teacher of music. The school is surrounded by moral and hospitable people, health-giving water and picturesque scenery.
Bethesda Springs, a village one mile west of Dallas, might be considered a continuation of the latter. The town was commenced in 1881 on a tributary of the Ouachita where there are forty or more springs of the best mineral water of several kinds, which for their health-giving qualities, the high altitude and beautiful surrounding scenery, might make the place one of the most famous watering places and health resorts in the country if there were only an easy way of transportation to it. When commenced the town had a prospect of a railroad, and at once it "boomed." Several business houses were opened, all of which, on ac- count of the disappointment in not getting the railroad, have since been closed. A few dwelling- houses and families still remain. It is a beautiful place so far as nature has done her part.
Cove is an enterprising and good business vil- lage sixteen miles southwest of Dallas. It con- tains five general stores, one drug store, a saw and grist-mill and cotton-gin, three blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, post office, school-house, a union : church-house where the Methodists, Baptists and Cumberland Presbyterians worship.
Cherry Hill is a post-office in the eastern part of the county.
Eagle Hill is a post-office six miles west of Dallas.
444
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.
Hatton is a post village twenty-five miles south- west of Dallas and fifty miles northwest of Nash- ville, the nearest railroad station and banking point. It was settled in 1883.
Potter, five miles west of Dallas, contains two stores, a saw and grist-mill and cotton-gin, a Meth- odist Church, school-house and blacksmith shop.
Ransom, four miles northeast of Dallas, con- tains a post-office, a saw and grist-mill and cotton- gin.
Away up in the Fourche la Fave Mountains on the Tanner Hill trail is Quito, the mail town for the citizens near the gap or entrance to the county from the north. Baker, Egger, Big Bend, Big Fork, Rhodes and Mountain Fork are other post hamlets in the county.
Prior to the inauguration of the free-school system, which took place at the close of the recon- struction period, but little interest was taken in educational matters, and in truth not much interest in this most important matter has been taken until within the last two years. Away back in the " fif- ties" a few subscription schools were taught in the most thickly settled portions of the county for three months in the year. They were poorly at- tended and at best were very inferior. Some sta- tistics taken from the last official report of the State superintendent of public instruction, it be- ing for the year ending June 30, 1888, will serve to show how the school system is being supported or was supported at that time. Scholastic popula- tion, white males 1,822, females 1,718; total, 3,540; colored males 8, females 7, total 15; num- ber of pupils taught in the public schools, white males 946, females 808, total 1,754; colored, none. If these figures are to be taken as showing facts they prove that less than one-half of the white and none of the colored scholastic population were taught in the public schools. But as only a few directors reported statistics fully, the official re- port does not contain all the facts, and probably a greater proportion of the scholastic population at- tended the public schools. The letter of the county examiner accompanying the foregoing statistics contains further statistics, and such good sugges- tions that it is deemed well to here insert it in full:
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.