Issue 1 - Library
Transcription
Issue 1 - Library
SOCIETY fflC IJ0URNAL VOLUME VI, NUMBER 1 GENERAL JOHN THAYER APRIL 1982 GENERAL JAMES BLUNT GENERAL CYRUS BUSSEY GENERAL JOHN McNEIL GENERAL JOHN EDWARDS J0URNAL EDITORS: Amelia Martin Carolyn Pollan CONTENTS INQUIRIES EDITOR: Leonna Belle Cotner ORAL HISTORY EDITOR: Missy Cole Carroll GUEST WRITERS: Rev. Tom Newton PROOF READERS: Mary Nell Euper Rosalie Platt Donald Peer Carolyn Peer PHOTOGRAPHIC STAFF Gerald Shepard David King Bradley Martin OFFICE MANAGER and INDEXING: Phil Miller MAILING: Thelma Black Velma Barber Frank Jedlicka BOARD AND OFFICERS: Amelia Martin, Pres. Thelma Wray, V.P. Sue McCain, Sec. & Treas. Leonna Belle Cotner, Cor. Sec. Carolyn Pollan Nick Kelly Arlie Metheny Jimmie Delle Caldwell Robert Johnson Richard Sugg Mary Nell Euper Rosalie Platt Membership in the Fort Smith Historical Society includes subscription to The Journal of the Fort Smith Historical Society, which is published semi-annually. Year begins Jan. 1 and ends Dec. 31. For membership, send dues with your name and mailing address to: The Fort Smith Historical Society, Inc. 61 South 8th Street Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901 Types of memberships: Annual $ 10.00 Annual Contributing 20.00 Annual Sustaining 50.00 Life (Individual) 100.00 Journal Back Issues . . . . Ea. c opy 5.00 We welcome the loan of Fort Smith historical material and will return promptly. VOL. VI, NO. 1 APRIL, 1982 Fort Smith Under Union Military Rule, September 1, 1863 - Fall, 1865 First Baptist Church 2 34 Confederate Veterans Buried by Fentress Mortuary 1909 - 1934 41 News and Opportunities April - August, 1982 44 Book Notes and Aldridge Family 48 Contents, Past Issues of The Journal 49 1882 News 50 Index 62 COVER: The five Union Generals, who had the responsibility for the Fort Smith Post from September 1, 1863 to September 21,1865. Top right, (clockwise) is General James Blunt (Picture courtesy Arkansas Historical Association); General John Edwards (Picture courtesy Arkansas History Commission); General John McNeil (Picture courtesy Arkansas History Commission); General John Thayer (Picture courtesy Arkansas Historical Association). Center picture is General Cyrus Bussey (Picture courtesy Arkansas History Commission). ©Copyright 1982 By the Fort Smith Historical Society, Inc. 61 South 8th Street Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901 CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Change of Address Cards are free at your post office. If you move, please fill one out and send it to: Fort Smith Historical Society, 61 South 8th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901. The Fort Smith Historical Society, Inc. is a non-profit organization under Sec. 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. Gifts and legacies are deductible. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form, except for brief excerpts for review purposes, without the consent of the Editors of THE JOURNAL. 1 FORT SMITH UNDER UNION MILITARY RULE SEPTEMBER 1,1863 • FALL, 1865 by Representative Carolyn Pollan Prologue from writer: This has been a very painful story for me to write. War fought on the grounds one walks on everyday for reasons that the Great Rebellion was fought, seems to not only have been useless but so very ridiculous. I have always, because I was born and raised in the South, seen myself as a Confederate heroine (probably with the help of Gone with the Wind). After doing the research for this period of history in Fort Smith, Arkansas, I no longer feel the same about the 'Southern Cause'. Because I have felt remnants of Civil War bitterness in certain parts of our society in Arkansas, thisstory piecing together what we might have felt had we lived in Fort Smith during Union Military occupation, has long fascinated me. However one looks at the history of the Civil War, one has to come back to the fact that it began under President Buchanan on December 27, 1860, in South Carolina and it took many treasonous acts including the seizure of the Little Rock Arsenal by Arkansas State troops, February 2, 1861, to the bombardment and seizure of Fort Sumter on April 14, for President Lincoln to issue the first call to put down the rebellion in the United States. And so, a nation was plunged into a dark, cruel war by those, as General Sherman said "who dared and badgered us to battle, insulted our flag, seized our arsenals and forts, . turned loose their privateers to plunder unarmed ships, expelled Union families by the thousands, burned their houses. . ." God help any of us, that our history would ever again record bearing arms against our America because of blindness to another human's rights! This story is bringing out an unheralded fact of history: that Fort Smith had the honor of being the first city to host a meeting of patriots who wanted to bring their state back into the United States during the Civil War. I want to give special thanks to many who helped in piecing this story together. First and long departed, Valentine Dell, the Editor of the Union paper, The New Era, who with the eyes of an historian knew we would be interested in what happened in Fort Smith during the Civil War and wrote for this paper accordingly. Then to Edwin C. Bearss, now the National Historian of the National Park Service. His series of articles in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly about Fort Smith and the Indian Territory during the Civil War are treasures for researchers. To my secretary, Wilma Jameson, who patiently went through five drafts of this story with me and my indecipherable handwriting. To the librarians at the Fort Smith Library, Arkansas Historical Society and A r k a n s a s History Commission, my thanks for help when I needed it. Carolyn Pollan BLUNT REGROUPS TO CARRY THE WAR TO CHOCTAW NATION xJULY 22, - A U G U S T SCALE RIVERS *=&=^ TOWNS STREAMS — E^&ft&EMENTS PRINCIPAL ROADS - - ^ - - - HEAD9UARTtRS T R O O P MOVEMENTS CONFEDERATE Map Courtesy Edwin C. Bearss and the Arkansas Historical Association. 3 FORT SMITH: CRADLE OF THE FIRST SOUTHERN FREE STATE Fort Smith was a beacon of light for the freedom of all men during the dark Civil War years. The city deserves a place of honor that has heretofore not been bestowed on it in the history of the United States of America. It was in Fort Smith, October 30,1863, that the first meeting was held in any seceded Confederate state to attempt to bring that revolting state back to the union.1 This mass meeting of Union Sympathizers from twenty Arkansas counties took place after Fort Smith was recaptured2 by Union troops, September 1, 1863.3 The story of the capture of Fort Smith started several weeks earlier in August, 1863. For the Union side with four thousand troops, Major General James G. Blunt and his Army of the Frontier had been at Fort Gibson since early June. In late August, dashing Colonel William Cloud left Fayetteville with fifteen hundred light artillery troops and met with Blunt.4 On the Confederate side, General William L. Cabell had been directed by his superior General William Steele on August 19th to move Cabell's 8The Fort Smith New Era, February 27, 1864. 'ibid, November 10,1863. Much of the recorded Information we have on this period in Fort Smith is from the New Era. When Fort Smith fell back to the United States, one of the first things that took place was an attempt to print a newspaper to give the United States point of view. For two years, the only newspapers allowed to be printed and circulated in the Fort Smith area, were those with a Confederate viewpoint. Valentine Dell, a loyal Union man who had continued to live in Fort Smith under Rebel rule, felt It was his duty to see that the Union's viewpoint was printed - never mind there was no newsprint available to do so. Mr. Dell obtained from a 'patriotic friend' copies of Washington's Farewell Address which had been printed and circulated at the beginning of the war as a last ditch effort to turn Fort Smith Rebel sympathizers to the Federal viewpoint. The backs of these circulars were used to get out the first Issue of The New Era, Octobers, 1863, so called for "a new era Is Indeed dawning upon the people." Mr. Dell was a school master not an editor. He used the printing press that had been used for insurrectury news by Wheeler's paper, Fort Smith Times and Herald and it was moved to Mulberry Street (North B) and Washington Street (North 2nd). 2 Scrogg, Jack B., Arkansas in the Secession Crisis The Arkansas Historical Quarterly Vo. XII, No. 3 Autumn 1953. Woosten, Ralph, Arkansas Secession Convenf/on.The Arkansas Historical Quarterly Vol. XIII, No. 2, Summer 1954. Events In Arkansas leading up to the capture of Fort Smith Include: a statewide vote February 18,1861, to decide whether to have a convention to discuss secession. Delegates classified as Unionists received 23,626 votes and secessionist candidates received 17,927 votes. The majority of the Unionists candidates were from the more populous counties in the Northwest and the majority of the secessionist candidates from the Southern cotton producing counties. Debate began March 4,1861, In Little Rock. Unionist Judge David Walhan from Washington County was elected President of the convention. On the second day of the convention a resolution was Introduced to bring about "an troops from the San Bois in Indian Territory to guard Fort Smith from attack by the Federals. All total there were approximately nine thousand Confederate troops in the Indian Territory and Fort Smith, led by Generals Steele, Cabell, Douglas, Cooper and Stand Watie. 5 As ordered, Cabell moved his troops to the Poteau nine miles southwest of Fort Smith and began blocking the roads to the fort. Ordinance stores of all kinds, along with quartermaster and commissary supplies were loaded in ox-drawn wagons ready to be moved from the fort. On the 31st of August, information led Cabell to abandon the fort. The retreating supplies were sent down the south road across the Devil's Backbone towards Waldron. At 9 P.M., the same day the retreat was given by Cabell and the remaining troops deserted Fort Smith. Upon fording the Poteau River, early in the morning of September 1st, General Blunt discovered a great deal of troop movement by the tracks which were left by the retreating army. The 2nd Kansas, the 5th Missouri State Militia Cavalry, and Colonel Cloud's 2nd Kansas "flying column" were sent to try to catch up with Cabell's troops.6 ordinance of secession of the State of Arkansas from the Federal Union." Strong opposition prevailed. But after ten days of friction there was a compromise with a decision to have a statewide vote In August on secession. The convention adjourned March 21. On April 12, Confederate forces under General P.G.T. Beauregard successfully attacked.Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina and Lincoln called for 780 Union volunteers from Arkansas. Governor Henry Rector refused Lincoln's request and began negotiating with Confederate officers without reconvening the state convention. Governor Rector allowed the Confederacy to post troops near Helena, Arkansas to hinder Union movement on the Mississippi. Governor Rector further committed treason against the United States by sending three hundred militia troops from Little Rock and one company from Van Buren to capture the Federal Post of Fort Smith. The small group of Union Cavalry troops at Fort Smith departed and left the fort In charge of Major Richard Gatlln shortly before the state militia arrived. On May 6, 1861, the state convention returned to Little Rock. The convention acting in a self-ordained executive and legislative capacity bypassed the vote of the people and passed an ordinance to "declare and ordain the Union now existing between the State of Arkansas and other states under the name of the United States of America forever dissolved." The Ordinance of Secession further declared that the state resume all the power which had hitherto been delegated to the central government, and that Arkansas was in full possession and exercise of all the rights and sovereignty which apply to a free and Independent state. A final vote of 69-1 left Isaac Murphy of Madison County alone in his stand against "the untold events that would assuredly follow In the train of secession." 3 The Fort Smith New Era, November 10, 1863. 4 Bearss, Edwin C., The Federals Capture Fort Smith, 1863 The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. XXVIII, No. 2, Summer, 1969, 156-157. s lbld, 171-174 •Ibid, 175-186 BLUNT CAPTURES FORT SMITH RIVERS *=*=*-* POPULATED TUKKS ™ STREAMS —-— f*6A«MENrS P«HKH»AL ROADS TROOP —MOUNTAINS MOVEMENTS Map Courtesy Edwin C. Bearss and the Arkansas Historical Association. 5 General Blunt came into Fort Smith and with the 1st Arkansas Union Infantry took the city without a shot. The stars and stripes were raised in the Garrison for the first time since April 23, 1861.7 Colonel Cloud's troops raced on toward Waldron and clashed with General Cabell's troops. There was a running battle at the foot of the Devil's Backbone in south Sebastian County. That same day, Cabell was finally able to get his troops and supplies across the Devil's Backbone and on to Waldron. Colonel Cloud came back into FortSmith, September 2nd, with thirty prisoners. 8 Colonel Cloud was put in charge of the fort as soon as he returned from the foray as General Blunt was too ill to command due to a reoccuring fever. 9 Lieutenant Colonel E. J. Searle was name Provost Marshal.10 There was a great deal of emotion as Fort Smith Union citizens welcome the soldiers and the return of "the glorious emblem of Freedom, Humanity and Confederate General William L. Cabell Courtesy Arkansas History Commission 7 lbld, 186 •Ibid, 187-189 •Ibid, 189 "The Fort Smith New Era, November 14, 1863. Family History: Elhanan J. Searle Is the great-great-uncle of George A. Pollan, the author's husband. Lt. Col. Searle was In the law offices of Abraham Lincoln while studying for his law degree. He entered the Union Army as a private In Company H, 10th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry and rose to rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He took part In the battle of Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, Fayettevllle, Perryvllle, Indian Territory, Camden and Jenkins Ferry. Colonel Johnson asked Searle to help him recruit the first Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry and he also assisted In recruiting the Arkansas second and fourth Volunteer Cavalry regiments. Upon discharge August Confederate General William Steele Courtesy Arkansas Historical Association Lt. Col. E. J. Searles Courtesy Illinois Historical Association 10, 1865, he decided to stay In Fort Smith and entered law practice. He was commissioned Prosecuting Attorney for the ninth Judicial Court of Arkansas and United States Commissioner for the Western District of Arkansas. He was appointed as Circuit Judge of the ninth Judicial District and In 1868 was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas. Searle served on the State Board of Education and was a trustee of the University of Arkansas from Its beginning In 18711875 and was Instrumental In putting together the plan of organization and Instruction for the University. He moved back to Illinois In 1875 and practiced law and died August 18, 1906, In Rock Island, Illinois: Mary N. Speakman, Certified Genealogist, Arlington, Texas; The University of Arkansas Special Collections: Reynolds, John Hugh and Thomas, David Yancery, History of the University of Arkansas, 1910, 414-416. Justice proudly floating from the flagstaff, where but yesterday was disgraced by the display of the ensign of foul treason." 11 It was evident the Confederate flag was despised by the Union population that had remained in Fort Smith under occupation. two years, thousands of Union families of the border slave states had been driven from their homes. Friends were murdered and thousands more were dragged from their homes and were compelled to fight for a cause they did not agree with. 17 Union troops were put in encampments in and around the city of Fort Smith. No officer or soldier was allowed to be in the town without a written pass.12 The general populace of Fort Smith was in shambles. Everyone had dug deep to come up with supplies that were needed by the Confederate Army during the proceeding years. Commerce had essentially stopped and those who were left on the homeplace and in the stores, were holding things together by shreds. 13 "Mountain Feds", who were Federal Arkansans who had fled to the mountains rather than serve in the Rebel army, came pouring into Fort Smith. Union men had been forcibly conscripted into the Confederate Army, deserted that army and came to the fort. 14 Other events in Arkansas were considerably improving for the Union cause. Helena, on the Mississippi river, had fallen into Federal hands earlier. Union forces led by Major General Frederick Steele marched into Little Rock September 10,1863. This left the Confederates with authority only in effect in an area south of the Arkansas river and west of the Saline river. 15 As skirmishes were taking place in the captured areas, a recuperated General James Blunt, began supporting Northwest Arkansas Union sentiment for immediate reconstruction of government. In a speech he promised the protection by Federal troops to citizens who stopped fighting the United States and began working for a civil government reorganization loyal to the Union. The words of General Blunt gave added steam to the strong Northwest Arkansas movement of reunion. 16 Following this, the historic "Cradle of the First Southern Free State" meeting held in Fort Smith October 30, 1863, was emotionally a very stirring time for the Unionists from twenty counties. For Resolutions adopted at the Fort Smith meeting were: (1) to prosecute any rebels still in arms against the United States; (2) support the Administration in all of its past and present efforts to suppress the existing rebellion; (3) a state convention should be held in Little Rock to reorganize state government; (4) all laws establishing or perpetuating the institution of slavery should be abolished; (5) none but "Unconditional Union" men be allowed to vote at any election; (6) cooperation with all "Unconditional Union" men in establishing law and order to the State of Arkansas; (7) and that other counties be invited to cooperate in adopting similar resolutions. Those present at the meeting unanimously nominated Colonel James M. Johnson of Madison County, Commander of the 1st Arkansas Infantry, as a candidate to represent Western Arkansas in the United States Congress. 18 "The Fort Smith New Era, September 2, 1865 op. cit.,Bearss, Edwin C., The Federals Capture Fort Smith, 1863, 189 "The Fort Smith New Era, December 12, 1863. 14 Bearss, Edwin C., The Confederate Attempt to Regain Fort Smith, 1863, The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. XXVIII, No. 4, Winter 12 1969, 345. 15 Cowen, Ruth Caroline, Reorganization of Federal Arkansas, The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. XVIII, No. 2, Summer 1959, 33-35. Other meetings in several counties followed the precedent setting meeting in Fort Smith. Union representatives for five to ten counties would gather in one county for a mass meeting and pass resolutions showing their intent to be reunited with the United States. 19 Some areas were not as successful as Fort Smith had been in it's "Cradle of the First Southern Free State" meeting. Scheming p o l i t i c i a n s and Confederate sympathizers frequently harassed the Unionists at the meetings, especially at placesclose to Arkansas counties still in Confederate hands. 20 In mid-September, General Blunt turned over command of the Fort Smith post to Colonel James M. Johnson of the 1st Arkansas Union Infantry. General Blunt then went to Fort Scott, Kansas for supplies. 21 While Blunt was away from his command in Kansas, he had his command taken from him. For some time, Blunt's superior, General Schofield, Commander of the Department of Missouri, had 16 lbid, 38-39 The Fort Smith New Era. November 10, 1863. '"Ibid, November 10, 1863 19 lbid, December-January 1863-1864 20 op. cit. 39 21 op. cit., Bearss, Edwin C., The Confederate Attempt to Regain Fort Smith. 1863. 365 17 been alleging that Blunt's staff was guilty of gross frauds and c o r r u p t i o n along with troop demoralization. General Schofield finally asked President Lincoln to relieve Blunt of his duties. 22 The President studied the allegations for several weeks. General Schofield had no solid proof of wrong doing and it took considerable prodding from him before the President relieved General Blunt of his District of the Frontier command at Fort Smith. 23 On October 24, Brigadier General John McNeil was named as Blunt's replacement and he arrived in GRAND BALL! G-EjST'S BLUNT & McNEIL. L; NOV. MONDAY KV Lieut. Col. BAsSETT, Major SULLIVAX, WOODWORTH, SCIIROELIXG, WARD, SMITH. AXDKRSOX, CALKIXS, Lieut. TAPPAX. AI:ij. Gen. BLUXT. Brig. Gen. McXEIL. Col. CLOUD, ol. BOWEX. .1. EDWARDS, .1. WILLIAMS, apt. WAI. THOLEX, dipt. H. G. LORIXG, C:ipt. UASKELL, ?Ji&n-j>5r£2 o? Dr. BOMFORD, Col. GRIFFITH, loth, iso;i. J. S. BOSTICK, G. J. LEWIS. ?LOOfl C;i[,t. KIXTER, Capt. XE W.MAX, Lieut. TATUM, Lieut. WHICHER. Slipper will be prepared by Dickersou of the Cosmopolitan. Courtesy Arkansas History Commission 22 op. cit., Bearss, Edwin C., The Confederate Attempt to Regain Fort Smith, 1863, 366-368 "Ibid, 368 24 lbid, 369 "Ibid 26 27 28 The Fort Smith New Era, November 14, 1863 lbid, January 16, 1864 As an army runs on it's stomach, so did the army's transportation. Where modern armies need supplies of gasoline Fort Smith October 30th. He formally assumed command of the post on November 2nd after he took a good look around the post and listened to reports of the enemy's activities. 24 Naturally, Blunt was upset by all of this and more than a little angry. He may or may not have deliberately misconstrued his orders on what to do next, for it was intended that he go to Fort Leavenworth. 25 What he did, instead, was to accompany an immense supply train into Fort Smith November 13. The train had government supplies, paymaster trains, Indian and sutler goods. He and General McNeil were cordial, at least on the surface. It was reported that his stay would be brief, 26 but it lingered into January. 27 General Orders #2 from the post came on November 7th. General McNeil was incensed about 'irregularities' concerning horses. The orders mandated a permit was needed to buy and sell horses and there was a strong statement of intent to treat anyone as a bushwacker who stole forage. 28 General Orders #3, also November 7th, directed officers to report the exact supply and caliber of ammunition they had on hand. It appeared that records were very sketchy and headquarters did not have a complete roster. Commanding officers were ordered to have regular Sunday morning inspections of ammunition and then to have target practice and record the three best shots in the company. In addition, they were told to quit shooting just to be shooting. It was scandalous to the Commander that ammunition was being wasted! 29 There had been FortSmith citizenstaken prisoner as the rebels fled from Fort Smith in late August. In early November they began making their way back to town, much to the relief of their families. The prisoners had been taken to Boggy Depot, one hundred fifty miles to the Southwest in Indian Territory. This was on the road to Texas and was a favorite Rebel gathering place.30 Daily, refugees arrived in Fort Smith from the surrounding areas were fleeing from bushwackers who were burning out and robbing Union sympathizers. Refugees coming into the fort had the army stationed in Fort Smith during the Civil War had to have adequate food for it's horses, mules and oxen. With so many troops near the city, forage units had to be dispatched long distances. This took a lot of manpower away from soldiering. The problem that the Union Army encountered from September, 1863, to the end of the war in bringing in supplies, hinged in a large measure on how much forage was available between Fort Smith and Fort Scott at any one given time. 29 30 The Fort Smith New Era, November 10, 1863 lbid their care taken over by the government. 31 General Orders #4, issued November 14th, began to give instructions for everyday life between Union forces and the general populace. Churches, schools, academies, and colleges were not to be used for hospitals or other military purposes unless there was an emergency. All such buildings occupied as barracks, hospitals, or storerooms had to request a permit. The owners had to pledgefuture loyalty to the United States and declare that open or covert treason would not be taught behind its walls. At the same time, Genera! Orders #5 gave orders for soldiers not to occupy houses if camp equipment was available. 32 Soldiers were told they had no right to question the loyalty of any citizen. Post command orders #4 came down particularly hard on officers who let their men straggle away from a detail which allowed the straggler to do some pillaging on his own. Officers were told to have rations when they left the post. 33 These orders were very important for the Union side to help tear down the stereotyped conception of the Union Army which had been cultivated by the Confederates. The Confederates were telling the populace that the Federals would destroy their homes and were nothing morethan jayhawkers who did not regard the rights of citizens and property. Furthermore, the Union side was faced with the Confederate side carrying out a better propaganda campaign declaring that reconstruction meant subjugation for the South. Subjugation was said to consist of slavery for all white, inter-marriage between whites and blacks, and the conscription of all Southern males into an army for the purpose of invading Latin America. 34 Lieutenant Colonel Searle left his post as Provost Marshal to organize the 3rd Arkansas Cavalry at Dardanelle and Major E. A. Calkins of the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry Volunteers, who had been with General Blunt throughout his campaigns, took Colonel Searle's place in mid-November. Major Calkins wasted no time in issuing orders from the Headquarters of the District of the Frontier, a new designation for Fort Smith. His orders concerning trade and property, stated: sale of firearms and ammunition, except to army officerswas prohibited; no known Rebel could sell cotton, cattle, horses or breadstuffs; no payment of gold or silver was allowed inasectionthatwasstill under insurrection; 31 lbid "Ibid, November 10, 1863 "Ibid, December 19, 1863 ^Smith, Robert F. The Confederate Attempt to Counteract Reunion Propaganda in Arkansas: 1863-1865, The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. XVI, No. 1, Spring 1957, 54-62 35 The Fort Smith New Era. November 21, 1863 only loyal and good faith citizens could trade and sales had to be reasonable prices with lawful currency. Any property previously confiscated had to be reported. 35 Hotel accomodations were not to be found in the town of Fort Smith and space was desperately needed for officers and others connected with the army. Marriages, as might be expected, rapidly took place between soldiers and town girls. 36 HARD FEELINGS IN FORT SMITH Hard feelings over past happenings in Fort Smith during Rebel occupation were evident. The population continued to talk about two United States Officers, Captain M. Hart and Lieutenant Hays. The two Texas Union officers were going back to Texas for recruits, when they were caught and hung and buried under the gnarled old oak at the garrison in January, 1863. The complaint was that they were treated like felons instead of like the soldiers they were. 37 Stage lines were running twice a day between Fort Smith and Van Buren. They left the Fort Smith Post Office at 9 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. and Bostick Hotel in Van Buren at 10:30 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.38 A booming cannon awoke everyone December 7th, 1863, for a celebration. The celebration commemorated the Battle of PrairieGrovefoughton December 7, 1862. The Battle of Gettysburg was also commemorated. As part of the celebration of the Battle of Prairie Grove, The New Era printed in full, Lincoln's Address, given at the Battle of Gettysburg commemoration, which began "Four score and seven years ago, our fathers established upon this continent a government subscribed in liberty and dedicated to the fundamental principles that all men are created equal by a good God." The paper labeled the speech a terse and characteristic one by Lincoln. 39 After seeing nothing but greycoats in parade for several years, many a tear was shed in watching the ceremony of blue coats. 40 The Battle of Prairie Grove was still a vivid memory for those living in Fort Smith. Rebel General Thomas Hindman ran South to Van Buren from the Prairie Grove battlefield in the dead of night. He accomplished this by wrapping blankets from his soldiers around the wheels of the wagons 36 lbid, November 28, 1863 lbid, December 5, 1863; Sawyer, William E. The Martin Hart Conspiracy. The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. XXIII, Summer 1964, 154-165 38 The Fort Smith New Era. December 5, 1863 39 lbid, December 12, 1863 40 lbid 37 to muffle the sound. The blankets were destroyed and carpets were taken from Fort Smith and Van Buren homes to replace those blankets. 41 Ten thousand troops around Fort Smith posed no little problem in furnishing supplies. One thousand cords of wood and fifty thousand bushels of corn were among items needed to supply the army in one order. 43 Staff personal changed fairly often, as different troops came and went during the Union occupation of the fort. General Orders #14 said that commanding officers of brigades could not make personal escorts out of companies of squadrons and the term "body guard" could not be used within the Frontier District because it was "vulgar, snobbish and unbecoming asoldier." 44 Fort Smith, with it's First Mass Meeting 45 of Western Arkansas, had led the way in getting Arkansas back into the Union. In the first part of December, 1863, an Unconditional Union Mass Meeting was held at Dardanelle with citizens from Yell, Pope, Johnson, Scott, Perry and Conway counties endorsing and adopting the platform and resolutions of the Fort Smith meeting. Additionally they asked for a return of state law and order. To accomplish that, they asked for an appointment of a Provisional Governor. 46 Another Mass Meeting was held about the same time at Benton, Saline County, with representatives from Clark, Sevier, Pike, Garland, and Montgomery counties present. 47 At a Mass Meeting held in Fort Smith December 17th, the need for the appointment of Judge Isaac Murphy was unanimously echoed. 48 In mid-December, Colonel J. M. Johnson, candidate for United States Congress in the Western District, was finally declared winner by receiving at least 1/1 Oth of the eligible votes that had been cast in the 1860 Presidential election. This was the number that President Lincoln had settled on as sufficient to declare a Congressional member of an insurgent state back into Congressional graces. Colonel Johnson obtained a leave of absence from the 1st Arkansas Infantry, which he had formed, and traveled to Washington to claim his seat in Congress. 49 Unfortunately, Congressdidn'tfeelthat Arkansas was "redeemed" and would not seat Arkansas' Congressional delegation as President Lincoln had recommended.50 Post Commander Orders #4 came down hard on those officers who were allowing soldiers to pillage and plunder. They were also told they had no Confederate General Thomas Hindman Because of bad weather, part of the Prairie Grove Battle celebration waited to take place'on December 9th. It turned out to be a May-like day. Fort Smith and Van Buren troops, about ten thousand in all, were reviewed. Citizen's from near and far were present for the occasion. The troops were in encampments all around Fort Smith stretching to Van Buren. The ceremony took place on the race track about noon and the troops started their position just below the Elias Rector mansion. The review began with the Infantry of the 18th Iowa, 1st Kansas and 2nd Kansas Colored and 6th Kansas; Artillery was represented by the 2nd Kansas and 3rd Kansas Batteries; Cavalry had the 3rd Wisconsin and 14th Kansas. There was athirteen gun salute for Major General James Blunt and Brigadier General John McNeil and their staffs. 4 2 41 lbid union. By 1864 there were probably a million members all over the United States who were fierce supporters of the Union of States. The Fort Smith Council was Arkansas Council #1. 46 lbid, January 4, 1864 47 lbid, January 4, 1864 48 lbid, December 19, 1863 49 op. cit., Cowan, Ruth Caroline, Reorganization of Federal Arkansas. 51 50 The Fort Smith New Era, December 19, 1863 42 lbid, December 12, 1863 , The location was near Grand Ave. and North O and N. 41st St. 43 lbid, December 19, 1863 44 lbid, December 12, 1863 45 These Mass Meetings were held under the auspices of the Union League of America. The League was first started by Union patriots who gathered in caves of the Tennessee mountains around their countries flag and plotted to regain their state for the 10 authority to question the loyalty of citizens. Orders said to make sure men had rations when they left camp so that there would be no excuse to take food from citizens. 51 Those citizens in the population who had friends or loved ones in the Confederate Army were able to get their mail under the Flag of Truce. The mail was picked up at the Provost Marshal's Office. 52 There were many people still in Fort Smith from the outlaying areas by the end of 1863, because of the fears of bushwackers. General Orders finally went out on December 21, for those who were in Fort Smith who had homes within the boundariesof the command, to return to their farms and workshops. The Army pointed out that ocupation by the large Federal force meant a ready market for farm produce and other items. The Army had a large number of animals which it put on the auction block to be bid on by civilians to help them get started living normally again. While the intent of this order was good, many people who followed the order, at some point in time within the next six months, were burned and plundered by bushwacking Rebels and forced to come back to the protection of the fort.53 Christmas Day dawned with fighting close by, this time at Waldron. Rebel Major Gibson, leading a scouting party of guerrillas, was surprised by Captain Mentzer of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry, but no deaths were reported. On the 29th, Major Gibson was killed three miles from Waldron by the 2nd Kansas Infantry, nine Rebels were wounded and six Federals wounded.54 New Year's eve heralded the beginning of snow that was to stay on the ground for three weeks.55 It was 12° below zero and scarcely got above zero for days on end. The damage to fruit trees was extensive. The Arkansas river was frozen over and heavily loaded wagons crossed over on the ice from Fort Smith to Van Buren. Because snow was so seldom seen in Fort Smith, sleds and sleighs of all sizes and shapes made their appearance for fun and work in the snow. 56 JANUARY, 1864 Merchants were beginning to move into Fort Smith by January, 1864. Ernich and Lender opened a dry goods store that featured dry goods, grocery, hardware, saddlery and dealt in gold, silver, demand notes, government vouchers and checks. They also bought cotton, hides, beeswax and tallow. 57 Dr. L. T. Watson, who had served as a surgeon in the 14th Missouri Cavalry, opened a drug store on Garrison. And for special occasions, Lane's String Band was available for engagements. Mr. I. B. Dickerson, proprietor of the Cosmopolitan Saloon, acted as manager for M. Lane, of the 18th Iowa Infantry.58 A Union Mass Meeting to gain support for the Stars and Stripes was held January 5th at Waldron and there were representatives from Scott, Hemp, stead, Pike, Polk, Sevier, and Montgomery counties.59 Frozen Arkansas River Courtesy Arkansas History Commission "Ibid, January 16, 1864 56 lbid, January 9, 1864 "Ibid, January 2, 1864 58 lbid 59 lbid, January 9, 1864 "Ibid "Ibid, December 26, 1863 "Ibid "Ibid, Janaury 2, 1864 11 CONFUSION IN THE GENERAL'S RANK . . . Fort Smith, 1864 Just as Fort Smith citizens and the Army of the Frontier was settling into a routine of sorts, news from Washington upset everyone concerned. On New Year's Day the War Department assigned Major General Samuel R. Curtis the command af the Department of Kansas which included the State of Kansas, the Territory of Nebraska and Colorado, the Indian Territory, and the military post of Fort Smith. Headquarters were to be at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.60 On January 6, the War Department announced that Major General Frederick Steele would command the newly constituted Department of Arkansas. This Department included all of Arkansas except the post at Fort Smith.61 This decision which was made in Washington was obviously made without knowlege of the area geography and left everyone in command up in the air on who had control over what. The big question from both Generals: was the military reservation on which the garrison was erected, along with Belle Point and the town of Fort Smith, attached to Curtis' department or only the garrison itself. The problem was, troops were camped all around the city with no soldiers being within the garrison itself for lack of space. It appeared to all exceptthose in Washington who had made the decision, that General Curtis' command of the post of Fort Smith was of no value to him and greatly hindered command operations out of Fort Smith to Waldron, Van Buren, Clarksville, and Dardanelle by it not being under the Arkansas Command.62 General McNeil was relieved of his duties as Commander of the Army of the Frontier January 4, because of the change in department commands.63 been attempting to get him a hearing with President Lincoln. The request was finally heeded and General Blunt left January 15 for Washington. The New Era reported that a Captain Loring remained in charge of the Recruiting Commission for the 11th U. S. Colored Troops during the Generals absence.66 General Steele in Little Rock finally decided to send Brigadier General John M. Thayer to Fort Smith. He arrived on January 31st and he immediately began trying to determine whether or not the town of Fort Smith was in the Department of Arkansas or Kansas.67 General Curtis arrived in Fort Smith February 10th and began looking around at what he had inherited from the Department of Missouri. He began drawing up plans to improve fortifications of the area and was partial to the area around Van Buren for his headquarters and for the improvements rather than Fort Smith.68 McNeil left January 7th for St. Louis putting Colonel William R. Judson of the 6th Kansas Cavalry in charge of the District of the Frontier and Colonel John Edwards 18th Iowa Infantry 64 in charge of the post of Fort Smith.65 General Blunt, meanwhile, was still staying in Fort Smith since his November arrival with no specific further orders. The two Senators from Kansas had 60 Bearss, Edwin C., Federal Generals Squabble Over Fort Smith, 1863-1864, Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. XXIX, Summer 1970, 119 61 62 lbid lbid, 120-151 "Ibid, 121 Union General Samuel R. Curtis "In November, 1864, Edwards was promoted to Brigadier General United States Volunteers. The Fort Smith New Era, November 12, 1864 ' I b i d . January 9, 1864 "'Ibid, January 16, 1864 67 op. cit. Bearss, Edwin C., Federal Generals Squabble over Fcrt Smith, 1863, 1864, 127 68 lbid, 129-130 On February 22, General Steele, saying he had been assured by the War Department that the town of Fort Smith was included in his department, directed General Thayer to designate his command the District of the Frontier. Thayer was told he had his choice of Fort Smith or Van Buren as the command post. He chose Fort Smith. This was a poker player's bluff on Steele's part and eventually the bluff paid off. 69 Without knowing of the decision by General Steele, General Curtis ordered General Blunt "to resume command of as much of the District of the Frontier as is included within the boundaries of the Department of Kansas" and by March 9 Blunt was back in Fort Smith from Washington. 70 What insued was a tug-of-war between two generals, with Fort Smith being the tug. Finally in April, headquarters in Washington could no longer ignore the problem. In a general order from the President August 17, Fort Smith and the Indian T e r r i t o r y was f o r m a l l y t r a n s f e r r e d to the Department of Arkansas under the direction of General Steele and General Thayer. 71 MANY ANSWER CALL TO UNION SERVICE Heroes come at all ages in war, and one who gained attention at sixty-one years of age was David P. Rupe of Sebastian County. He was a member of Company E, 1st Arkansas Infantry and he had had many close escapes under Rebel rule. He came into Fort Smith early in 1862, took a Rebel wagon, loaded it with sixty-eight guns, a keg of powder and some lead and got away with it to a band of Union men in the mountains who were carrying on guerilla warfare. He then joined Federal lines. But in early January, 1864, he really had given his all to the United States he loved. . . His eleventh son, age fifteen, joined the Federal troops with his ten other brothers! 72 General Orders from the District of the Frontier, early in January, 1864, emphatically declared that every able-bodied man either had to enter the service or be gainfully employed. The area was rapidly becoming a den of iniquity with many idle people waiting around to be fed and no one was wanting to go back to the farms to begin work for spring planting. In addition to the people from surrounding counties who were coming into the fort, refugees from Texas with Union sentiment were arriving daily. 73 At one point, the General Orders were taken too seriously by soldiers. One old, staunch Union man was hauled from his walk on Garrison Avenue and told he had to join the service. As he was protesting, he was sworn in at the recruiting office before the proceedings could be stopped. Some recruiters were accused of enlisting men who were already in regiments to make their records look good.74 RECONSTRUCTION STATE CONVENTION JANUARY, 1864 Word finally reached Fort Smith about the Union Reconstruction State Convention which had convened in Little Rock January 4, 1864 as a result of the mass meetings which began in Fort Smith in October. Because of heavy snow, which didn't begin melting until the 16th of January, Northwest Arkansas delegates were not there at the beginning of the convention. Delegates attending had many complaints about 'Copperheads.' 75 'Copperheads' were former rebels who traveled in Union circles, playing both sides of the fence to benefit themselves financially or otherwise. Twenty-two of the fiftyseven counties of Arkansas were ultimately represented at the convention with forty-nine delegates attending. Union General Frederick Steele Courtesy Arkansas Historical Association 69 "Ibid 74 lbid, January 16, 1864 "Ibid, February 13 lbid, 132 °lbid, 132 "Ibid, 132-151 "The Fort Smith New Era, January 9, 1864 7 13 had been presented to Congress Decembers, 1863, as a model for their own election. According to the Lincoln plan, full pardon, with special exceptions, would be granted to all persons voluntarily taking the oath. 78 The oath said: "I do solemnly swear or affirm in the presence of Almighty God that I will hereafter forthrightly defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of States thereunder, and I will in like manner abide by and support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the existing rebellion with reference to the emancipation of slaves, so help me God." 79 One-tenth of the number of citizens in any state who cast votes in the 1860 presidential election would be permitted to reorganize their state government and once again receive the benefits promised by the United States Constitution. Lincoln had said in his proclamation that members of Congress who would be elected by a reconstructed state, could only be admitted to Congress by a decision of the two houses of Congress, and this statement was to become important to Arkansas. 80 A large number of loyal Union farmers and tradesmen of Fort Smith area had been preparing to travel north because of what they believed to be no security and little encouragement from union authorities to persevere. General Thayers' arrival on the scene encouraged them to stay. The New Era touted that a better day was dawning for FortSmith, The Cradle of the First Southern Free State, and that all would be fully provided for. 81 The lack of farmers actually attend ing farms in the District of the Frontier was becoming a major concern. The food for Fort Smith was dependent on a good water level on the Arkansas to bring in supplies by boat, or a wagon trains' ability to find forage for mules or oxen coming four hundred miles distance from Kansas. It was important that some food be grown locally. Many of the larger plantation owners were Rebels who had left the area. One problem the Union forces had was of their own making. Many rail fences of both Union and Rebel farms had been torn down during the extreme cold of January. The fences were brought to town and used as firewood before orders to stop the practice could be put into effect. But the main reason the farmland was going untended was the dread of bushwackers and the bands of lawless thieves infesting the countryside. There was scarcely a farm that had not been victimized. 82 Shouts of welcome greeted The Leon as it steamed into the wharf of Fort Smith on February The convention drafted a new constitution to be presented to the voters for ratification on March 14, 1864. It was the old constitution of 1836 with some minor changes. The preamble declared the act of secession of 1861 was null and void and there was an article prohibiting slavery. All action taken by the secession convention or Confederate state government, including debts occurred that were incompatible with Federal laws, were declared invalid. 76 One of the last acts of the convention was to establish a provisional government to be in effect until the voters chose permanent successors. The convention unanimously elected Isaac Murphy provisional governor. 77 The convention had used President Lincoln's Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction that Governor Isaac Murphy Courtesy Arkansas History Commission 76 79 The Fort Smith New Era. June 3, 1865 op. cit. Cowen, Ruth Caroline, Reorganization of Federal Arkansas. 1862-1865. 40 81 The Fort Smith New Era. February 27, 1864 82 lbid, February 20, 1864 op. cit., Cowen, Ruth Caroline, Reorganization of 80 Federal Arkansas. 1862-1865. 44 "Ibid, 45 78 lbid, 41 14 14, 1864. The Leon was the first boat to arrive in three years carrying the stars and stripes. It carried seventy tons of commissary supplies that were sorely needed by the garrison. 83 A story of a band of Rebels in the area was relayed by thirteen refugees from Texas, when they finally arrived in Fort Smith February 16. The refugees had been traveling about twenty miles south of Sugarloaf Mountain, scattered four hundred yards apart, when they were attacked by a Rebel force of Choctaws. The wounded were cruelly butchered and eight were taken prisoner. Other refugees had recently reported atrocities by Quantrill's 84 men, who pulled off an old man's toe nails with bullet moulds and then blew his head off when he wouldn't tell where the money was. On February 21st, General Thayer brought the detached forcethat had been at Waldron, closerinto the post at Jenny Lind. Lieutenant Colonel Searle of the 1st Arkansas Infantry reported back to the garrison that they were at Jenny Lind, but had been caught in a hailstorm without tents. He then pulled all of the nine-hundred strong troops, including Kansas Cavalry, back to Greenwood to stay in vacant houses. Searle reported the troops suffering through sleet and snow with only knapsacks on their backs. 85 Because of the distances many had to travel, the polls were open for three days. The final vote count forthe state was 12,177castfortheConstitution and 12,430 votes for Governor Murphy. This was almost double the amount of votes required by President Lincoln's Amnesty plan presented before Congress. 88 In Fort Smith concern rose among local Radical Unionists when a young upstart, Lieutenant Perkins, 13th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry, who was serving as Provost Marshal of Van Buren decided to run against the popular Colonel James M. Johnson for Congress. Lieutenant Perkins had lived in the state for six months but had married an Arkansas girl. 89 Johnson defeated Perkins soundly but the value of the seat won was very much up in the air. Congress would not legally seat the voterelected Arkansas Representatives and Senators. 90 Local candidates on the county ticket had been nominated to run at mass meetings but many others had decided to run for office who had not been nominated by predominately Union people. No matter how active a secessionist a man had been, if he took the oath to uphold the United States Constitution, he was allowed to vote. 91 As the votes came in and were counted, first in the precincts, the wards and then the counties, there was much jubilation among the radical Union men.92 The mass meeting that had been held in Fort Smith October 30, 1863, had been responsible for starting the drive to reorganize state government and made Fort Smith truly The Cradle of the First Southern Free State.92 The local election returns were as follows: Charles Milor, State Senate; Sisson and Smott, State Representatives; Howard, County Judge; Lewis,, County Clerk; John Wear, Sheriff; Watts, Coroner; Murphy, Assessor. In the state, Isaac Murphy was elected Governor; Calvin Bliss, Lieutenant Governor; Robert J. T. White, Secretary of State; James R. Berry, Auditor; E. D. Ayers, Treasurer and Charles T. Jordan, Attorney General. Colonel Johnson won his seat for Congress. 94 The Union people of Fort Smith felt that poor, despised "Rackensack" 95 would henceforth have the honor of being the first of the seceded states to take her place in the Union of States. 96 The New Era STATE ELECTION FOR THE UNION Feverish preparations were taking place for the state election March 14. The poll books for Fort Smith were late in arriving and The New Era fumed that if they did not hurry with the poll books, the state would lose a lot of good solid Union votes. 86 The preparations for the election went in this order: Citizens in a county who had taken the amnesty oath, appointed a county commissioner of election. The commissioner was authorized to appoint the necessary election judges. He served as the enrollment officer for the county or company if it was a military establishment and he prepared the enrolling poll book. The poll books were to contain information for each voter such as acceptance of the amnesty oath, ratification or rejection of the constitution and the vote cast for different elective officers. 87 87 cp. cit. Cowen, Ruth Caroline, Reorganization of Federal Arkansas. 1862-1865. 49 lbid, 49-50 89 The Fort Smith New Era. March 12, 1864 90 op. cit. Cowen, Ruth Caroline, Reorganization of Federal Arkansas 1862-1865. 52-56 91 The Fort Smith New Era. March 19, 1864 92 lbid 93 lbid, March 12, 1864 94 lbid, March 26, 1864 95 An early name for Arkansas, not complimentary 96 The Fort Smith New Era. February 27, 1864 "Ibid, February 13, 1864 88 84 William Clark Quantrill, World Book Encyclopedia. 1977. Vol. 16, 4, William Clarke Quantrill was a leader of a Confederate guerrilla band. He was mustered into Confederate service but operated independently. On August 21, 1863 he and his men burned most of the town of Lawrence, Kansas, killing 150 people. Frank James, brother of Jesse James rode with him that day. Quantrill was killed in Kentucky in 1865. 85 The Fort Smith New Era. February 27, 1864 lbid,.March 12, 1864 86 15 boasted "The hydra-headed monster, treason and rebellion that have preyed upon our vitals with human slavery have been defeated and the banner of Freedom, Justice and Truth are borne aloft. A breach has been made in the ranks of rebels and a flood of loyalty rushing through gaps will soon overwhelm the last of the Southern Confederacy." 97 The New Era started early getting support for a free school system in Arkansas. They argued that if the state had a free school system the poor man's child would be on the same level with the rich man's. This would enable the poor child to press for a shiney mark of distinction in the battle of life. Further The New Era said thesluggish machinery of a slave government would soon be replaced by one of activity, energy and justice for all.98 The spirit of the community was high around the fort for a few days. An order from the Provost Marshal stated no intoxicating liquors were to be sold outside the limits bounded on the north by Water Street, east by Mulberry Street, south by Van Buren Street and west by Garrison.99 There had obviously been trouble in the River City with excessive drinking. THE FRONTIER TROOPS CALLED TO FIGHT Quite suddenly, though not unexpectedly, the Frontier troops were ordered southward in what was hoped would be the last campaign fought in Arkansas during the hated Civil War.100 The troops were in fine fighting shape for there had been four months of steady drill and discipline in camp in Fort Smith. It was noted by many that the units of black soldiers and most particularly the 22nd Kansas Colored "could execute with precision every movement required of an infantry regiment." The march southward was part of the Federal generals vast campaign that was planned to drive up the Red River, capture Shreveport and carry the war into east Texas. The plan was for General Frederick Steele to march from Little Rock and rendezvous with General Thayerat Arkadelphia whenthetroops advanced southward. 101 General Thayer, who had been successful at Fort Donelson, Belmont, Shiloh, Post of Arkansas, Vicksburg and Jackson was in command of the Division moving from Fort Smith. The 18th Iowa left "Ibid, March 12, 1864 "Ibid, March 19, 1864, Water Street - unknown but probably by the River; Mulberry Street - North B. Street; Van Buren, Street North 17th Street "Ibid 100 lbid, March 26, 1864 101 op. cit., Bearss, Edwin C., Federals General Squabble Over Fort Smith. 140 Fort Smith March 22nd, the 12th Kansas, March 23rd, the 1st Arkansas Infantry, March 24th along with the 2nd Kansas Colored. 102 Other regiments of the Frontier District moved in behind them as they traveled southeastward by way of Booneville, Mt. Ida, and Caddo Gap because supplies were very short and cover was available on this route.103 Colonel W. R. Judson of the 6th Kansas Cavalry was left in command of the District and Lieutenant Colonel Bishop, 1st Arkansas Cavalry was left with part of a regiment and became Post Commander. 104 BUSHWACKING STEPPED UP As expected, bushwacking activities stepped up with the troops gone from the fort. Small Rebel bands were all over the countryside. Citizens join ing these groups were said to be "going to the brush." Union people who had gone back to their homes in the outlying districts in early 1864, began leaving their land for the safety of the fort. Twenty teams of horses and mules, cattle, sheep and scores of women and children of Union men came in from Waldron. 105 With small forces guarding them, the Union posts at Roseville and Clarksville were under imminent danger of falling to Confederate forces three times their size. In one battle that took place at Roseville, Rebels left six dead and twenty wounded. The Federals had two dead and eight wounded. There was no doctor to take care of any of the wounded. Union Cavalry volunteers dashed to Fort Smith overnight, and left the next morning with an assistant surgeon and a twenty-five man escort. Eleven miles from Roseville the volunteers and surgeon met up with fourhundred Rebels. Sincethe Rebels were dressed in blue, the leader of the Federals thought he might be attacking his own people. He shouted for the Blue Clads to identify themselves and the Confederate leader shouted back "Stand there a moment and we will show you who we are." Guns started blazing and about half of the Union boys made it safely in a dash through the Rebels lines. The next day, the Roseville Union troops searched for and found their missing comrades, including the assistant surgeon. They were all dead, horribly mutilated with knives and stripped. 106 102 The Fort Smith New Era. March 26, 1864 103 op. cit., Bearss, Edwin C., Federal Generals Squabble Over Fort Smith. 143 104 The Fort Smith New Era. March 26, 1864 105 lbid, March 26, 1864; April 9, 1864 106 Bearss, Edwin C., Confederate Action Against Fort Smith Post. Early 1864. The Arkansas Historical Quarterly Vol. X X I X , No. 3, Autumn 1970. Map Courtesy Edwin C. Bearss and the Arkansas Historical Association. perimeter were not begun until mid-May. 107 A commissary train of seventy-five wagons was able to come from Little Rock and Dardanelle to Fort Smith on April 21st.Thetrain had been harrassed by five hundred to six hundred bushwackers but had not been attacked. Arkansas River was booming so that boats were also able to get up river with supplies the 1st week of May and the soldiers were put on full rations. The citizens of Fort Smith went on full rations also because The Carrie Jacobs brought a load of supplies for town merchants. 108 There was an election May 2 in Fort Smith and F. Work was progressing on fortifying the land approaches to Fort Smith. By April 9th, Fort No. 2 on the Texas Road was almost completed with two twelve-pounder brass guns in place. A drawbridge was being worked on for access to the area. Fort No. 3 was coming along near the Catholic Convent. The rifle pits at that place would be finished within ten days. Fort No. 4 on the Van Buren Road, the largest of the fortifications was progressing rapidly but because it was to be large enough to hold five hundred men it would be another month before completion. Supporting batteries inside the 107 "The Fort Smith New Era, May 7, 1864 lbid, 234 17 General Banks in Louisiana and sweep on to the Gulf of Mexico. It was made a total loss by Confederate Generals Shelby, Maxey, Fagan, Dockery, Marmaduke and Cooper and their ten thousand men who were mostly mounted infantry. There was an immense amount of physical suffering. Wagons, clothing, and most weapons were lost.115 While the losses were heavy for all, they were the heaviest for the Negro Union troops. As feared, the enemy showed no mercy tothe Negro wounded and their white officers. The Negro troops, however, proved themselves excellent fighters in extreme circumstances with considerable esprit de corps. 116 From thirty miles out of Pine Bluff, thetroopstook four days and nights to arrive back into Little Rock. Everything they had was carried on their backs. Only one wagon was allowed for each brigade and that was for returning papers and records. Fatigue and hunger plagued the troops. On May 13th, the troops met up with Union boats Ad Mine, Carrie Jacobs, Des Moines City and Chippeway at Dardanelle. The boats were loaded with Quartermaster and ordinance stores on the way to Fort Smith. As the boats moved slowly along the river, they protected the troops and arrived with the soldiers in Fort Smith. 117 The defeated troops, mortified and indigent, were welcomed by townspeople who were more than glad to see the return of General Thayer and his Army of the Frontier rather than the Rebel troops not too far away threatening in Indian Territory. 118 Taking advantage of the disastrous retreat, the Rebel's pushed forward to the Arkansas River to take all the small stations along the stream. There was a battle at Dardanelle after the Army of the Frontier had marched through. This established a blockade of sorts to hamper movement of supplies. Clarksville was vacated on May 20th by Union troops. The Rebels wanted to interrupt navigation and cut off supplies being shipped to Fort Smith from Little Rock. 119 Hospital wards were filled with wounded. The general hospital was in six locations across town and consisted of the St. Charles Hotel, Sutton Mansion, 120 Rector Mansion, 121 the prison, the smallpox ward, and the colored ward. The Belle Grove Seminary also was used at one time as a hospital. The hospitals were clean but not many iron H. Wolfe was elected Mayor; J. A. Davis, Constable; and City Commissioners elected were C. G. Foster, A. J. Singleton, John Emrich, J. Hammersly and Peter Nolan.109 That same eventful day the 9th Kansas Cavalry with one thousand men and a large train of government and sutler wagons came into Fort Smith from Kansas. They had been on the road for twenty-two days. Part of the supplies were for the commissary and ordinance and part were goods for businessmen. Two days later the cavalry troops left for Little Rock to lend help to the Union troops fighting south of Little Rock. 110 A Mass Union Meeting was held in Little Rock May 6th to elect delegates to the National Union Convention in Baltimore June 7 to nominate a Republican Presidential candidate. Local delegates elected to the convention were Valentine Dell, Sebastian County and L. C. White of Crawford County. 111 The air was electric with excitement the week of May 14th, 1864. Word was received from Union spies that with the defeat of Union troops in south Arkansas the Rebels had been given new life. It was reported that 8,000 troops were on their way to capture Fort Smith. 112 Military authorities closed Fort Smith businesses and citizens were ordered to work on a system of trenchs 113 to encircle the garrison and city of Fort Smith for the inner fortifications. The trench digging was a novelty that was soon to wear thin as blisters popped up on hands and stores had to re-open to sell buckskin gloves. The trench system was finished in a week. 114 The Confederate threat failed to materialize before the Union troops came back to the fort. UNION TROOPS RETREAT FROM ARKANSAS CAMPAIGN SOUTH The Army of the Frontier, which marched out of Fort Smith so confidently March 22, arrived back in retreat, May 16. They were pushed by their officers to return to Fort Smith as quickly as possible because of the danger of the Rebels capturing the city. The soldiers were stripped of everything but their honor. The object of the expedition, which linked up Union General Steele and Brigadiers Thayer, Saloman, Carr and Rice to form the 7th Army Corp. of fourteen thousand men, was to take South Arkansas, then join up with Union '09ibid 116 lbid lbid 118 lbid 119 op. cit., Bearss, Edwin C., Confederate Action Against Fort Smith. Early 1864. 239-240 120 514 North 6th Street, now known as the Clayton House. Part m 110 lbid '"Ibid, May 21, 1864 "'op. cit. Bearss, Edwin C., Confederate Action Against Fort Smith. Early 1864, 237 l13 Johnson, Robert E., Fort Smith and the Civil War. The Journal, Vol IV, No. 1, April 1980, 9 Map. 1l4 The Fort Smith New Era. May 14, 1864 115 lbid, May 21, 1864 of the Sutton House was incorporated in the Clayton House. '-Rector Family Diary. The Journal, Vol. 1, No. 2, December 1977, 58-66; The Journal, Vol. 2, No. 1, April, 1978. 18 beds were available. Many patients slept outsidethe buildings on tent floors. 122 attacked about seventy miles above Fort Smith and eventually set on fire. The Union soldiers made it back to Fort Smith unharmed in what must have been record overland time. 127 Thayer then sent an excursion by the 2nd Kansas Colored Regiment and 11th U. S. Colored Infantry and an artillery unit into Indian Territory. They were successful in fighting the Indians who had burned the little steam boat. Thayer than determined that it was unsafe to ship supplies to Fort Gibson and within a brief time, General Maxey's Indian Territory Confederates reoccupied the country west of the Poteau and south of the Arkansas rivers. 128 Early in June, 1864, Major Reed of the Home Guards took about twenty-five of his troops and part of the 9th Kansas Cavalry and searched lower Sebastian County and Franklin County for bushwackers. Near a Mr. Pearl's house at Potato Hill, there was a fight with twenty-five bushwackers and the popular Chaplain William Wilson of the 6th Kansas Cavalry, was wounded and his arm was amputated below the elbow. He died of the wounds in late summer. 129 REFUGEES FLEE During the week of May 23, 1864, about one hundred refugee wagons crossed the river on their way to Kansas. After Union troops took back control of the Arkansas, the steamers were finally able to leave for their return to Little Rock with one hundred twenty white refugees and three hundred Negroes.123 The flight was on. Twelve hundred refugees crossed the river at Fort Smith on their way to Fort Scott in early June. Most were wives and children of Union Arkansas 1st Infantry soldiers, and they were in a very destitute condition. 124 May 31, General Thayer sent out a special letter to the people in the area. The letter said that it had come to Thayer's attention that anonymous letters had been sent to some people living in Fort Smith warning them to leave and threatening them with assasination if they did not. Thayer said he considered this kind of warfare thesameasguerrilla and bushwacking. He also stated that he was warring against organized troops according to recognized principles of civilized warfare and all other modes of warfare he detested. He reserved the right, as Military Commander of the District, to tell anyone to leave. General Thayer made it plain that he had no use at all for the Rebel cause and that he would not permit such conduct as the threatening letters in his District.125 General Thayer also snapped out General Orders #31 in an effort to settle the troops into camp life. He ordered all officers to stay in their respective camps at night and cut down on trips to town in the daytime. The order stated the grog shop was no place an officer and the closing line .warned "these orders had better not fall as dead letters!" 126 General Thayer was very concerned about there being sufficient supplies stockpiled in Fort Smith during good boating water on the Arkansas and sufficient early summer forage on the way to Fort Scott. Several boats were able to bring supplies by the second week of June. One boat, the J. R. Williams, was captured by Confederate Colonel Stand Watie's Creeks and Seminoles on its way from Fort Smith to Fort Gibson. The boat was loaded with commissary stores of mostly flour and bacon along with some Indian trade goods. The boat was 122 WOMEN VOLUNTEER Notation was made in the New Era that all overthe United States, women were volunteering for the Army and taking the places of clerksat$13a month, a soldiers pay. They also printed a piece of genuine Arkansas Poetry from a girl to her lover in the Confederate Army: It's hard for you'uns to live in camp It's hard for you'uns to fight the yanks It's hard for you'uns and we'uns to part, For you'uns all know you have got we'uns heart. 130 NATIONAL UNION CONVENTION The National Union Convention (Republican) met in Baltimore June 7th, 1864, at high noon. At the Convention, Abraham Lincoln was once again nominated for President of the United States. Valentine Dell of Fort Smith wasabletocast hisvote for Father Abraham, 131 as he was popularly called, through a hard fought credentials fight lead by Senator James S. Lane 132 of Kansas. This was accomplished in spite of Arkansas' House and Senate members not being seated in Congress and 128 The Fort Smith New Era. June 4, 1864 Ibid 130 lbid 13l lbid, June 11, 1864 132 lbid, July 30, 1864 The Fort Smith New Era, January 30, 1864 129 123 Ibid, May 28, 1864 lbid 125 lbid, June 4, 1864 126 lbid, May 28, 1864 127 op. cit., Bearss, Edwin C., Confederate Action Against Fort Smith, Early 1864, 245-250 124 19 Arkansas, knew that nothing was further from the truth. Dyed-in-the wool Union people of Arkansas pushed for the Convention of January, 1864, and asked President Lincoln for guidelines in seeking re-admittance to the Union. The Convention in January, 1864, at Little Rock, and the removing of slavery from the State Constitution by sworn vote in March came about through the work of Unconditional Union Arkansas people who believed secession was treason. 134 June 29, 1864, President Lincoln sent General Steele in Little Rock a telegram stating that Congress had passed a bill to guarantee certain states which had seceded from the Union by usurption, as Arkansas had without a statewide vote, a method of coming back into the Union. The bill had been presented to Lincoln an hour before Adjournment Sine Die of Congress. Lincoln vetoed it because he thought the Congress was unfair to Arkansas and Louisiana (Louisiana having made the same preparations to come into the Union as Arkansas). Lincoln said the way he presented the readmittance of seceded states back to the Union in his Proclamation of 1863 wasn't the only way to accomplish coming back into the Union but the bill passed by Congress was unfair to the two states who had in good faith complied with the Proclamation. Lincoln believed the two states were not being allowed to join the Union because Congress felt it would hamper the chances of the passage of the abolishment of slavery amendment to the Constitution of the United States. 135 In another telegram to General Steele on the same day, President Lincoln stated: "I understand that Congress declined to admit to seats the persons sent as Senators and Representatives from Arkansas. These persons apprehend that in consequence, you may not militarily support the new state government there as you otherwise would. My wish isthatyou give that government and the people there, the same support and protection that you would if the member had been admitted because in no event, nor in any view of the case, can this do any harm, while it will be the best you can do towards suppressing the Rebellion." 136 The citizens of Fort Smith met in front of headquarters early in July and presented Captain C. O. Judson, District Provost Marshal, who had been Commander of the District while General Thayer was on campaign in south Arkansas, a carved revolver and belt, in their appreciation of him as a man and officer. Captain Judson played a large part in the running of the District of the Frontier in various capacities during the Civil War. 137 the State unrecognized by that body as not having statehood. It had been a long, arduous route to Baltimore for Valentine Dell, and Mr. Hicken and Dr. Bailey who accompanied him. They traveled down the Arkansas to the White river, where they saw gunboats patroling, to the Mississippi and the Ohio and then overland to Baltimore. 133 Gun Boats on White River Courtesy Arkansas History Commission One of the things Dell learned on this trip to Baltimore and then on to Washington where he interviewed President Lincoln, was that many of the people in the north thought the re-admittance of Arkansas into the Union, which had started with the mass meeting of twenty counties in Fort Smith, had all been choreographed by President Lincoln and the military. Valentine Dell, having been in the big middle of the mass meetings, and having chronicled the other mass meetings of Union People that had taken place over a good part of the state of 136 133 lbid, August 13, 1864 '"Ibid, July 9, 1864 lbid, June 18, 1864 lbid, July 23, 1864 135 lbid, July 30, 1864 134 20 FORT SMITH CELEBRATES FOURTH OF JULY, 1864 Fort Smith'scelebration of the 88th birthday of the United States was the first birthday of America that had been celebrated for two years in Fort Smith. From early morning to evening, the sound of bugle, fife, and drum kept the airvibrating. The celebration started at 9:00 A.M. at the southeast of Valentine Dell's school house. 138 Reverend Francis Springer, Post Chaplain, implored the blessings of the Almightly, and this was followed by the National Anthem. Mayor F. H. Wolfe read the Declaration of Independence and commented it had never been put intoeffect until Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves. Other speakers for the occasion were Reverend M. A. East, Father Douglas, Judge Milor, Doctor Swindell, Brigadier General Thayer, Lieutenant Colonel Searle of the 1st Army Infantry, Lieutenant Hover of the 12th Kansas Volunteer Infantry, and Captain Duff of the 6th Kansas. The brass band of the 13th Kansas Volunteer Infantry furnished the music. Resolutions were passed commenting on the painful observation that the present policy of incorporating the Rebels into the Union Army and restoring their rights had caused a lot of problems. Many who had been thought to have been rehabilitated from their previous thinking of secession from the United States were plotting treasonous acts even though they had taken the oath.' 39 Pay for the troops was notoriously slow in coming to the garrison at Fort Smith and it was sorely needed by soldiers and merchants alike. The last week of July, the paymasters finally arrived on one of the four steamers coming from Little Rock, and they brought six months pay for the troops. The town's economy was stimulated for a brief time. 140 By this time in the war, the Sugar Loaf Valley area south of Fort Smith was devastated. Indians and bushwackers were driving off stock, destroying property, forcing Union families to leave. Several older men and young boys were carried off with the Rebels. Many refugees were still departing from the area and the State and the Federal government was sending them by public conveyance at government expense because of their improverishment. 141 MASSARD PRAIRIE BATTLE As the sun came up on Massard Prairie, seven miles south of Fort Smith, July 27th, 1864, there ' 38 There were no public schools in Arkansas. Dell's school was Fort Smith Male and Female Seminary. The Goodspeed Biographical & Historical Memoirs of Northwestern Arkansas. 1889, Chicago, The Goodspeed Publishing Company, 756 139 The Fort Smith New Era. July 9, 1864 '40lbid, July 23, 1864 141 lbid, July 2, 1864 Map courtesy of Edwin C. Bearss and The Arkansas Historical Association 21 were signs of a bloody struggle. About two thousand Confederate troops led by General Gano attacked a battalion of the 6th Kansas Cavalry commanded by Major Mefford. The Union forces finally retreated toward town, with a number taken prisoner, including two Fort Smith citizens. Ten Union men were killed and fifteen wounded. The s had twelve killed and twenty wounded. Colonel Judson at the garrison headed a mounted force out as soon as he heard, but the Rebels had departed from the area an hour and a half before. The Rebels were pursued for five miles, then the Union side halted and sent out their scouts. The Union scouts came upon the enemies' rear at 3 P.M. as they were crossing the Poteau River about ten miles away. Colonel Judson then returned to the Massard Prairie encampments where he found it about three-quarters burned, but a large quanity of Quartermaster stores and transportation were unharmed. It was painfully noted that most of the Union men killed were also shot in the head. 142 At noon on the 29th of July, four bushwackers, whose average age was nineteen, were executed by Union troops. In the spring of 1863, these bushwackers, dressed as Federal soldiers, shot eight Federal soldiers and one citizen in cold blood. For the execution, the four young men were loaded into wagons, each sitting on his own coffin. Chaplains Springer, McAfee and Wilson accompanied them as they were taken out of town outside of the rifle entrenchments. As the Judge Advocate read charges, the prisoners knelt with the Chaplains, eyes were bandaged and hands tied and f o r t y - e i g h t muskets ended the four's bushwacking. 143 The next day, Sunday, July 30, 1864, Rebel forces once again approached Fort Smith. They appeared about four miles from town in considerable numbers and using howitzers they drove in the Union pickets. Part of the Second Kansas Battery and 1st Kansas Colored took their position about a mile in advance of Fort #2 on Texas Road. The Rebels finally retreated with three wagonloads of dead and wounded. Skirmishes continued in the Poteau River bottoms. The Union side had one picket killed, one wounded and one taken prisoner. 144 July 31, Colonel Judson was wounded in the leg by shell fire. Many of the attacking Confederates were former Fort Smith, people. Union houses outside of the picket lines were plundered and then 142 burned down. The Rebels then fell back about twenty miles to Rock Creek. There were estimated to be eight thousand rebels at this time although several Union prisoners who later escaped said it was more like ten thousand. 145 UNION CIVILIANS FLEE FORT SMITH The exodus of Union citizens from Fort Smith to other parts of the Union that had begun in early summer was stepped up. Every steam boat or wagon train that left was full of refugees. Marcus Boyd who ran the ferry worked day and night to help teams cross the crowded levees.146 On August 8, 1864, a refugee wagon train of fifteen hundred began their exodus from Fort Smith, leaving the mountains and valleys of Arkansas they grew up and toiled in. In the words of The Fort Smith New Era, the exodus was "The results of a war forced upon the nation by a slave aristocracy." 147 With Fort Smith almost empty of citizenry and filled with soldiers, routine assignments became very monotonous. General Orders were posted that said no liquor, wholesale or retail was to be sold. There was also a reminder that officers would camp with their companies. 148 On September 1, 1864, as the pickets were posted to Texas Road, about three hundred Indians attacked the pickets and killed one Union man. The other pickets were driven into Fort Smith and within one mile of the town, an old man making molasses was killed. At least three Fort Smith boys were seen among the guerillas and when the pickets' body was recovered, it had been stripped and a finger that had sported a gold ring has been cut off. 149 Orphaned children, products of all wars, were beginning to be numerous in Fort Smith. Reverend Springer, Post Chaplain, U. S. A., began pleading for all citizens of the state to help give funds to set up a children's orphanage. 150 ARMY CHURCH ESTABLISHED As more stress was manifested around the fort, an Army church was instituted September 21. The regular meeting of the church was held at the Methodist Episcopal Church, later changed to the Episcopal Church, Tuesday and Friday evenings at 6:30 P.M. and Sundays at 10:30 A.M. Reverend J. H. Leard, Chaplain of the 1st Arkansas Infantry led the services. Those attending services were told "volunteers in noble service of our country are here presented with an invitation to volunteer under the captaincy of the Prince of Peace."151 147 lbid, July 30, 1864, Cox, Steve, The Action on Massard lbid lbid, 149 lbid, 150 lbid, I51 lbid, 148 Prairie. The Journal Vol. IV, No. 1, April 1980, 11-13 143 The Fort Smith New Era. August 6, 1864 '"Ibid 145 146 lbid lbid, August 13, 1864 22 August 20, 1864 September 3, 1864 September 17, 1864 November 5, 1864 On the Confederate side, there were some ministers, particularly of the Methodist Episcopal Church who had been playing major secessionist roles. Russel Reneau of Grand Prairie, Franklin County, Minister of Methodist Episcopal Church •South had been instrumental in leading efforts to leave the Union. He advocated a war of extermination and played a double role after the Federal Army came back into Fort Smith. Rev. G. C. McWilliams of Ozark Methodist Episcopal finally "took to the brush" along with Reverend Reneau in June of 1864.152 SECOND MILITIA ENROLLMENT On September 24, 1864, General Orders were issued concerning the enrolled militia. First Class Militia consisted of those aged 18-45 who were listed as active, while 2nd class had ages 45-60 and they were put in the reserves. It was decided that if an emergency came up, there would be a signal of six taps given in couplets on the Methodist Church bell, and then everyone would report to the garrison immediately. 153 Four days later, a detail of the 14th Kansas Cavalry was with a forage train gathering corn, fourteen miles out of Fort Smith on the Little Rock Road when they were attacked by four or five times their number. They were overpowered afterfighting seven hours. When the dead were retrieved, they were found to have been shot, stabbed and stripped. Even a crazy old man living near the corn field was shot and his pantaloons were stolen. 154 In mid-October, 1864, wagon trains of refugees from Texas arrived in Fort Smith and then departed hurriedly for Kansas. 155 Most Fort Smith farmers and mechanical people were gone by this time and the Fort Smith New Era wondered in print how long it could continue after it's first anniversary of October 8, 1863, with most of it's subscribers gone. 156 The New Era was being printed by a newspaperman turned soldier, Mr. Bigelow of the 12th Kansas Volunteer Infantry doing double duty. 157 NEGROES IN THE ARMED SERVICES The Negro troops stationed in Fort Smith 158 were really something new in army life. The New Era reported there had not been a single incident of ill feeling or violence among the troops. 159 Early on in '"Ibid, June 11, 1864 '"Ibid, September 24, 1864 '"Ibid, October 1, 1864 '"Ibid, October 8, 1864 '"Ibid, October 22, 1864 157 lbld, In late summer, Valentine Dell had taken his family away from the danger of Fort Smith to St. Louis and then for a long stay In Leavenworth and Fort Scott. They couldn't stand being away from Fort Smith, and tried to return. Dell enrolled In the Kansas Militia while at Fort Scott. New Era. November 12, 1864. They finally came back to Fort Smith, January 6th after five months from home. New Era January 21, 1865. the history of the nation, Blacks served in th^ armed forces, first in the Patriot armies of 1776 fiqhtino in the same ranks as the whites, in the War or 18 i New York raised two regiments of Negroes H had been but a short two years since Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation that Negroes were fighting for the United States A r m y and then months after that before they were fully organized troops under white officers. Since the war began by the firing by the Rebels on the Star of the West and Fort Sumpter, no event had been more damaging to the Rebels than the proclamation of freedom to the slaves. That proclamation of freedom had with it the necessary requirements of arming the Negroes in the cause of tne nation and the liberation of their own bondage. 160 The Union Army had had problem? in recruiting white officers to command the Nepro troops. Assassination of the white officers by Rebels was certain if they were captured. The Rebels said the Negro soldier was a coward, wouldn't fight and that one white man with a whip inhishand could run through a dozen blacks armed with a mime Observers of the regiments of Negro troops in Fort Smith felt differently and reported that the Negro troops were as well drilled as any white troops Negro soldiers in Fort Smith were observed in the camps with spelling, reading and arithmetic book? stuck inside their belts. As soon as they were relieved from duty, they pulled the books ou started studying. 161 Cowardice had not beerreported even though the black troops had been attacked by three times their number. If wounded or captured, the Negro troops and their officers in the south Arkansas campaign in the spring were treated horribly by the Confederate troops and south Arkansas partisans. 162 The history of slavery in Arkansas was rooted in Arkansas beginnings. The Constitution adopted in 1836 legalized slavery. By 1850, Arkansas had closed its mind in respect to any inherent evil in slavery and that year the legislature made it an offense for anyone to say or write that slavery was not right. The punishment for the offense was confinement in the penitentiary. The legislature passed another law in 1859 that provided that no free Negro would be permitted to reside in Arkansas after January 1, I860.163 '"Parts of colored Regiments or entire Regiments at Fort Smith from 1863 to return to statehood were: 54th Regiment Infantry, 11th Regiment Infantry organized in Fort Smith, December 19 1863, 79th Regiment Infantry, 83rd Regiment Infantry. '"The Fort Smith New Era, July 8, 1865 ""Ibid, July 2, 1864 '"Ibid, July 23, 1864 '"Ibid, November 5, 1864 '"Beatty-Brown, Florence R., Legal Status of Arkansas Negros Before Emancipation: Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. XXVI!!, No. 1, Spring 1969, 6-13 23 The Confederates intense hatred of fighting against Negroes as soldier to soldier probably contributed to the Union defeat in south Arkansas by helping whip the Rebel troops in a frenzy of effort to defeat those who treated Negroes as equals. The/Vew Era observed that the prejudice against the employment of Negroes as soldiers was either founded on or was associated with that species of narrow selfishness which sees no value in the colored man, except as a slave, convertible into cash at the pleasure of the owner. 164 It wasn't the South alone however, that cherished their prejudices of the Negro soldiers, for many professing Union people echoed the same statements. Many Southern symphathizers who had taken the Union oath, thought it all well and good to put the Negro troops in ditchs with spades in their hands, but to arm them and drill them and thus make them equal to the white soldier was an outrage. 165 The radical Unionist of the Fort Smith area felt strongly that since the Negro was a man and deserved to be free, he was under as much obligation as other men to perform the duties and encounter the hazards of the soldier in defense of his liberation and rights of mankind. 166 It wasn't until late in the Civil War that the Confederate side realized that they had made a grave error in not utilizing Negroes as soldiers. The South had been caught in a quandry for they knew that they who fight for freedom deserve to be free men and that their women and children then have to be free also. If soldiers, the Negroes would have wanted to enjoy all the civil and political rights enjoyed by their former masters on the grounds they have suffered equally all the dangers and responsibilties of struggle. President Jefferson Davis of the Confederacy finally understood in November of 1864, what it had cost the South in not elevating the Negro to the dignity of a soldier. 167 had been nominated by the Democrat Convention August 29, 1864, in Chicago, received 32 votes. 169 Arkansas citizens were not allowed to vote as Congress still had not recognized Arkansas as part of the union.170 There was an election in Fort Smith on November 19th for State Senator from this area. Senator Charles Milor had resigned and F. H. Wolfeand H. L. Holleman were candidates. 171 H. L. Holleman won. 172 BLUNT RETURNS TO FORT SMITH General Blunt came into Fort Smith Novembers, 1864, in his usual whirlwind way. He was accompanied by Major General Herron, Colonel Sackett, Colonel Burris, Colonel Moonlight and Colonel Williams. 173 The men had been fighting for twenty-three days, marching five hundred miles, day and night in rain and snow in an effort to keep Confederate General Sterling Price out of Kansas. Five battles had been fought. By the time the outnumbered Union troops had pushed the Confederates across the Arkansas River at Webbers Falls, half of that Rebel Army was unarmed, and out of the fifteen pieces of cannon taken to Kansas, only two were left. 174 There was a celebration on the evening of November 10th. The different Kansas Regiments and the few Fort Smith citizens left in town, stopped by the houses the visiting officers were staying in, called them out along with General's Thayer and Edwards and had a round of speeches and cheers.175 In late November, three Union soldiers who had escaped from the Confederate prison in Tyler, Texas, came walking into Fort Smith. Robert Henderson, M. F. Parker, and J. J. Jones had previously been stationed in Fort Smith. They escaped October 27th and were on the road for twenty-six days. Rebels recaptured them near Waldron and robbed them of their clothes. As the Rebels were taking them back to Tyler, they escaped again and lived on acorns and corn until arriving in Fort Smith. The sick but happy soldiers reported that the Tyler prison, Camp Ford had 2,600 prisoners on six acres of campground. 176 With winter setting in, it was observed that the troops at Fort Smith were well fixed for the weather to come. Their cabins were as good as, if not better than, two-thirds of the houses in Western Arkansas outside of the towns. 177 For the few of Fort Smith civilian's population left, though, food costs were exorbitant. A sack of flour 1864 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION When national election day dawned at the fort, soldiers who were of legal age and were in camp, cast their votes in polls at their various regiments. Judges and clerks of the polls were elected by qualified voters when the polls opened. The members of the out-of-state regiments voted for their own state, county, and township officers. 168 The final vote count in the total encampment for President was 1502 votes for Abraham Lincoln, Republican, and General George McClellan, who 16 I71 165 )72 "The Fort Smith New Era. November 5, 1864 lbid, July 2, 1864 166 lbid 167 lbid, December 3. 1864 168 lbid. November 5, 1864 169 lbid, November 12. 1864 170 lbid, November 19. 1864 lbid lbid, lbid, 174 lbid 175 lbid ' 76 lbid, 177 lbid, 173 24 March 11, 1865 November 12, 1864 November 26, 1864 November 19, 1864 that had come in from Fort Leavenworth, cost $40. S 28 was for freight, $10 for flour and $2 for insurance. 178 sent a communication to Little Rock asking for boats to come immediately and carry off public property. More importantly, he wanted help in removing more than one thousand people who would otherwise be left stranded and destitute. Because these were families of soldiers of the 1st and 2nd Arkansas Infantry Regiments it was felt they would face reprisals at the hands of the Confederates if they were left in the area to fend for themselves. 183 Five steamers did come from Little Rock and carried off almost five hundred refugees including many orphans who eventually made their arduous way down to Little Rock, to Memphis and Cairo, the Mississippi and finally the rail road to Decatur. There were thirteen deaths of this group due to exposure, due in no small measure to neglect on the part of some of the railroad people in Illinois. 184 A large part of General Thayer's troops continued to remain in Fort Smith, as protection for a wagon train that was due to arrive around New Year's day from Fort Scott. Some of thetroops werefinally sent on to Clarksville as the machinery was set in motion to evaculate. 185 The outcry against Canby's military decision was finally acted upon by President Lincoln. In a communication from General Ulyssus S. Grant to General Reynolds who had replaced General Steele in Little Rock December 12th, Grant stated that "if Fort Smith and its dependencies can be supplied by the Arkansas River, they will continue to be held by your troops so as to give protection to the people north of the Arkansas River." 186 Grant didn't wait for a reply however, before he sent another message January 3rd, which reached Reynolds on the 10th. It was worded in a positive manner and in a decidedly stronger way and read, "should Fort Smith and parts in the vicinity have been abandoned before receiving this order, they will be reoccupied as early as the garrison can be supplied." Reynolds acknowledged that the order would be carried out at the earliest moment practicable. 187 In Washington, the Chief of Staff could not figure out why he had not heard from Little Rock and Fort Smith by January 10th on what was happening in Arkansas. He finally wired Colonel Harrison at Fayetteville to. tell General Thayer that General Grant wanted the Federals to hang on to Fort Smith. General Thayer, upon receiving the message wired General Reynolds at Little Rock for boats to come up river immediately with commissaries, forage, FORT SMITH ORDERED ABANDONED With no previous warning, Fort Smith was ordered abandoned on December 5th by Major General Edward Canby, Commander of the Military Division of the West Mississippi which involved Arkansas and the Gulf. This word fell like a thunderbolt. The order followed in the wake of the news that Major General Frederick Steele, Commander of the Department of Arkansas was to be relieved by Major General Joseph Reynolds. 179 Words condemning this decision erupted like geysers over the Union controlled part of the state. All-out efforts to stop this military decision were sent to anyone in Washington who had influence, by anyone it was felt could influence Washington. The ex-mayor of Fort Smith C. P. Bertrand, wrote President Lincoln on December 12 and said he wanted answers to three loaded questions which were: Does Canby mean to abandon the state? If so, would the President allow this? Did the President know that this meant the abandonment of one entire Congressional District and almost another and that two-thirds of the members and perhaps threefourths of the Legislature, now in session in Little Rock, came from the district of the country to be abandoned? He further said that such policies came from replacing officers like General Steele who knew how to defend the country with men who were ignorant of the area like Canby!180. Colonel M. LaRue Harrison who was in charge of Fayetteville wrote another letter, HI confidence, to a General who he felt would help'. He stated "In the name and for the sake of the thousands of families who will be left to the mercies of assassins and robbers, in the name of the beautiful country which will be left a desert, in the name of humanity please try to do something about General Canby's directive."181 The next month and a half proved to be like an unorganized fire drill in the saga of the Civil War at the post in Fort Smith. Before General Steele knew of the decision to abandon, he sent six steamboats to Fort Smith, loaded with much needed supplies. One steamer was wrecked and another one grounded. 182 After General Thayer had received word of the post's abandonment, the river began to rise and he 178 182 lbid, December 17, 1864 lbid, lbid, ' 84 lbid. 185 lbid, 186 lbid, 1B7 lbid, 183 179 Bearss, Edwin C.. The Federals Struggle to Hold on to Fort Smith. AR Historical Quarterly, Vol. XXIV. No. 2, Summer 1965, 149 180 lbid, 150 25 151 153 154-157 151-153 162 163 medical stores, and clothing. General Reynolds sent steamers on their way shortly thereafter. 188 The Rebels in the meantime had been moving considerable troops around in the affected area. On January 14th, just after the steamboats from Little Rock passed Dardanelle, a force of Confederates, one thousand strong attacked the undermanned Dardanelle garrison and there ensued four hours of battle. The Confederates withdrew at dark. 189 News of the attack sent the command in Little Rock scurrying around to send troops up river by steamer to hold the post at Dardanelle. It was known that to let it fall would make it impossible to supply the Fort Smith garrison. 190 It was a happy evening of January 15th, when four steamers, the Ad Mine, Chippewa, Lotus and Annie Jacobs brought their five-hundred tons of commissionary stores into Fort Smith. The troops could eat a decent meal again. 191 All of the wagon trains had come from Fort Scott by January 10th. The order to continue to occupy Fort Smith came just in the nick of time to keep tons of public property from being destroyed asthearmy moved out, as well as all the other problems it would have caused for the citizenry. 192 The steamboats pulled out on their way back to Little Rock on the morning of January 17,1865, and Chippewa led the way, followed by Annie Jacobs loaded with five hundred people, then Lotus and Ad Mine. All boats had refugees and officers going home on furlough. The vessels made it as far as Roseville, which was eighteen miles above Clarksville, before the Chippewa was fired on by Colonel Brooks' Rebel troops who were well hidden on the south riverbank with their big gun under brush. The steamer pulled into the south bank and was captured by the Rebels. The Annie Jacobs came into view shortly afterwards and was struck by fifteen shots but made it to the north bank. Lotus then came around the bend and was hit but made it to the north bank. Some of the passengers of Annie Jacobs were killed and a large number wounded. 193 In all of the confusion, Colonel Thomas M. Bowen, of the 13th Kansas Infantry who was the ranking officer in the convoy, though he was on furlough, took charge and sent messengers to Clarksville to contact Colonel Judson's troops, and a messenger by the river bank to try to stop Ad Mine and report the attack to General Thayer. 194 The Confederate cannon had abruptly stopped firing. It was not known by the Union troops and refugees, but this was because an axle had snapped on the Rebel cannon leaving it inoperative. At dark, the Confederates paroled those who had been in the Chippewa and took off south of the Arkansas River into the hills when they heard Union forage wagons rumbling on the north side of the river. The Rebels mistook them for an artillery unit. 195 Troops were dispatched from both Fort Smith and Clarksville to help those stranded. The boats, except Chippewa which had burned, moved slowly down stream to Dardanelle on January 22nd. The Negro troops of the 1st and 2nd Kansas and the 5th U. S. Colored came from Fort Smith and marched parallel to the river, and the boats steamed slowly down the river. On the 25th the boats anchored in Little Rock with no further trouble. 196 The trek down river had been interesting however. Most of the refugees, who were white, showed considerable prejudice and hatred towards the Negroes who were guarding them from Roseville to Little Rock. On the trip, all concerned suffered from exposure to wet and cold, and lack of sufficient food, clothing and shelter. Both troopsand refugees were without blankets, many were barefoot and some almost naked. The hatred changed to respect for the Negroes, "as soldiers who knew and performed their duty well" upon the refugees arrival in Little Rock. 197 The Rebel's attacks around the Arkansas River during December 1864, and January 1865, proved to be the last major raid undertaken in the section of the state held by the Federal Army. 198 The town of Fort Smith in late January, 1865, was pitiful to see. Fences, fruit trees, and shrubbery had been destroyed or torn down. Much of the damage was done by families coming in from thecountry for protection at the garrison and staying in houses vacated by owners. 199 Telegraph lines were restored to service in early February to Fayetteville, Springfield, St. Louis and the rest of the world capitols. The New Era said, "Now, Mr. Bushwacker, if you'll only let the lines stay up till we can have news of the fall of Charleston, we don't care if they are down again till about the time Grant, Sherman and Sheridan are knocking from underthe last peg of the Rebellion . . . Richmond and Lee's Army inside it!"200 The Arkansas River was rising at the end of January and steamers Alamo, Ad Mine and Lotus came in with needed supplies and rations. 201 I98 lbid, 165 lbid, 168-169 lq °lbid, 169-170 ""The Fort Smith New Era. January 21, 1865 I92 op. cit., Bearss, Edwin C., The Federals Struggle to Hold On to Fort Smith. 165 '"Ibid, 173-175 w lbid, 176 195 lbid, 174-176 lbid, 177-178 197 lbid 198 lbid, 179 199 The Fort Smith New Era. January 28, 1865 200 lbid, February 11, 1865 201 lbid I89 196 26 G E N E R A L BUSSEY REPLACES G E N E R A L THAYER On February 6, General Reynolds replaced General Thayer with General Bussey. General Thayer had been Commander of the District of the Frontier headquarted at Fort Smith for over a year. For quite a while there had been rumblings from many who complained of serious mistakes in General Thayer's administration and perhaps worse problems. 202 The New Era reported that General Thayer's heart was right but he surrounded himself with men who had caused problems in General McNeil's administration in late 1863 and 1864. He was regarded as a victim ratherthan a leader. Bussey, on the other hand was a man of unblemished reputation and sterling integrity. 203 Brigadier General Thayer and his staff left for FORT S M I T H AS A UYIOtf T3EPOT FEBRUARY-APRIL 1865 as TOWWS SCAUE UNHW HELD) C CONFEDERATE HEO>) Maps Courtesy Edwin C. Bearss and the Arkansas Historical Association 202 203 Bearss, Edwin C., General Bussy Takes Over At Fort Smith, AR Historical Quarterly, Vol. XXIV, No. 3, Autumn 1965, 220-240 27 The Fort Smith New Era, February 18, 1865 Fort Smith in December and January under the evacuation orders. The muddy, bad state of the roads caused the delay in the return of the wagons and supplies. 212 Under General Orders #2 of 1865, a sales tax of one cent wasordered on all goods and brews to help pay the cost of the Provost Marshal's office and the policing of the city such as the dead animals from the streets. Cows, horses, dogs, hogs, etc. were laying on streets and in alleyways and werecausing a health problem. 213 On March 4th a mass meeting was held on the parade ground of the garrison in honor of Abe Lincoln's inauguration and the recent magnificent victories of the National Arms over the enemies of the country. It was a clear, cloudless day asthe40th Iowa Infantry, led by Colonel Garrett, marched into the garrison with flying colors and martial music. Other regiments and crowds of people from the city and beyond kept pouring in until thousands were gathered on the parade ground. It was a day with big hours of speeches. Brigadier General Cyrus Bussey, Commander 3rd Division, 7th Army Corps, led off the speech making by dwelling on the Union Army's recent victories and how everyone was trying to end it all and go home to parents, wife, brother or sister. Brigadier General John Edwards, Commanding, 1st Brigade, 3rd Division of the 7th Army Corp, decanted eloquently upon the suicidal folly of the secession movement. Lieutenant Colonel E. J. Searle, Commander, 1st. Arkansas Infantry was called upon to speak last and discussed briefly exploits of Sherman, Sheridan, Grant, and other leaders and then of the proposals of peace and the brighter future in store for Arkansas. The New Era stated that although Searle was from Illinois, he would no doubt, settle in Arkansas when this cruel war is over. 214 The Sir Wm. Wallace, a large stern wheeler, came up river March 9th with two hundred seventy tonsof government freight. The Sir Wm. Wallace was considered a marvel as it drew only 5y2 feet of water. 215 FARMERS PLANT WHILE MILITARY GUARDS The plan to establish agricultural communities began to take hold in most parts of Northwest Arkansas. Citizens and soldiers alike were repairing fences and preparing to cultivate the land. The DuVall Plantation was to be used as gardens by the soldiers and General Bussey ordered all kinds of seeds from St. Louis to be used in the planting. 216 Little Rock on February 15, on Virginia Barton. The same day Brigadier General Cyrus Bussey arrived on Carrie Jacobs from Little Rock with his family and staff. 204 President Lincoln was sent a petition from Fort Smith citizens February 9th. The citizens were very upset by the governments' seeming inability to send enough supplies into Fort Smith for the civilians to purchase in order to eat and be clothed. There were two thousand destitute people in and around the fort, 205 along with "five thousand or more loyal refugee Indians at Fort Gibson who were on the verge of starvation." 206 The request was responded to in several ways. General Reynolds in Little Rock authorized General Bussey in Fort Smith, to raise a company of men who were farmers. These men would guard the farmers against guerrillas while farmers were raising crops. The military authorities were authorized to sell supplies from military stores to the people who were farming. 207 Best of all, the river water was still high and during the week of February 19th, steamers Rose Hambleton, Greene Darbin, Annie Jacobs, Lotus, and Virginia Barton showed up208 from Little Rock with supplies. Many boats docked at the wharfs of Fort Smith during the years of 1863-1865. The following isa list of the boats known to have come into Fort Smith during the Union occupation: The Leon, Chippeway, Alamo, Ad Mine, Carrie Jacobs, Des Moines City, The Sunny South, Ben Coursens, The elegant light draught Rodolph, Mattie Cabler, Kate Bruner, Convey #2, Argos, Ida King, E. O. Standard which at 700 tons made it to Fort Smith from St. Louis in six days and twelve hours in August, 1865, The Gem, The Iron City, American, Rose Hambleton, Greene Darbin, Lotus, Virginia Barton, Annie Jacobs, Sir Wm. Wallace, Ingomar, Silver Wave, Enterprise, Linnie Drown, Glide #3, D. C. Morton and Arizonia.209 Twenty-six families pooled their money and sent $ 5,000 to a commissionary house at Little Rock for the supplies to be shipped up river to Fort Smith under guard by the military. 210 Many women and children had no way to pay for supplies however, for it had been months since the husbands and fathers in the troops had been paid. 211 On February 25th, a train of nearly two hundred wagons arrived from Lewisburg on the Arkansas River. The wagons brought back the Quartermaster's stores that had been shipped from 204 21 lbid lbid, February 11, 1865 206 op. cit. Bearss, Edwin C., General Bussey Takes Over Fort Smith. 227 207 lbid, 229, 230 208 The Fort Smith New Era, February 25, 1865 209 lbid,, October 8, 1863, November 11, 1865 °lbid, March 11, 1865 "op. cit., Bearss, General Bussey Takes Over At Fort Smith. 231 212 The Fort Smith New Era. February 25, 1865 213 lbid 214 lbid, March 4, 1865 215 lbid, March 11, 1865 216 lbid, March 4, 1865 205 2 28 General Orders were given at the post for all men between the ages of 18-45 to report for an enrolled militia to guard farmers. By April 15, there were two hundred eighty-one enrolled and farm colonies were set up under the direct supervision of the militia. 217 Colonel Harrison, at Fayetteville, was ahead of these plans, and had already established colonies at Fayetteville, Cane Hill, Huntsville and Bentonville. Two hundred families wanted to colonize near Van Buren. 218 Confederate General Burrows, who had taken the garrison at Fort Smith from the United States in 1861 for the Rebels, arrived on a steam boat in mid-March. He was pale and thin, not the same man who had taken down the Stars and Stripes of America to replace it with a flag that waved for slavery. 219 Signs of re-awakening of Fort Smith were being seen *in the spring of 1865, particularly with the change in military administration. People were farming, confident of protection. It was noticed that citizens were holding up their heads, or at least those citizens who were still left. There was probably not one-fourth of the original citizens of Arkansas left who were in the state in the 1860 census. But in March of 1865 it was as if the citizens were saying "I feel as though I had some chance again to live and call my life my own." Bushwackers were still in the outlying country, still killing, but there was not much left to plunder. 220 It wasn't long before General Bussey was feeling weary about his troop situation and the number of refugees around the fort. He only had onethousand eight hundred men fit for duty, while the summer before there had been six thousand troops. The fortifications had been built for the six thousand troops. There were several thousand destitute people colonizing near the posts in Bussey's command. His great worry was that the Rebel troops under Confederate General Maxey, Cooper, and Gano were probably meeting at Doaksville and Boggy Depot in Indian Territory to attack Fort Smith because.it was so vulnerable. He decided to reduce the size of the Fort Smith perimeter if worse came to worse. 221 The tax assessor began the week of March 26th to take assessment of property for those who had some property to assess. The New Era warned there were not many who could afford to pay anything as the people were destitute. 222 A cash flow of money in a town is important and it 217 helped the merchants in Fort Smith considerably when the paymaster brought military pay in early April amounting to close to one million dollars for the troops of the District of the Frontier. 223 A number of Fort Smith citizens hearing there was protection, began coming back into town and many arrived in April aboard the elegant steamer Rodolph, as it made its way into the wharf from Little Rock. 224 THE BEGINNING OF THE REBEL'S END The troops at the Fort Smith garrison were electrified by a telegram that arrived April 4, 1865. The telegram told of the fall of Richmond, Virginia the day before from Rebel hands. Troops and citizens alike marched gaily into thegarrison yard to stand around the speaker's stand in the center of the parade ground. Reverend Springer, Post Chaplain, read portions of dispatches on the capture of Richmond. Several others spoke, and General Bussey ended with three cheers for Grant and three cheers for Sherman. 225 Shortly before nightfall April 10, a telegram was received in Fort Smith telling of the surrender of General Robert E. Lee and his whole Army. The National Salute was fired and there were shouts of rejoicing. At 2:00 p.M. April 11th, crowds gathered at the garrison to hear a grand salute of two hundred guns. General Edwards and Bussey then spoke. Reverend Garrison, Chaplain of the 40th Iowa praised God "from whom all blessings flow." 226 DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN Gladness turned to extreme sadness as word of the death of the beloved President, Abraham Lincoln, on April 15th, 1865, reached Fort Smith by telegraph. At 11:30 A.M. the next morning, troops and town citizens once again gathered, this time on Garrison Avenue, to begin asolemn march. It began at 12 Noon and the sounds of muffled drums and the playing of the funeral march proceeded the marchers to the garrison parade ground, then to the speaker's platform. Expressions of sorrow were given by many speakersforthe late Chief Magistrate who had led the nation in such troubled times. Many prayers were offered up.227 The local members of the Arkansas General Assembly returned the week of April 24th from meeting in aspecial session at Little Rock beginning April 3rd. Their principal business was the ratification of the Constitutional Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibiting slavery in lbid, April 1, 1865 218 222 The Fort Smith New Era. March 25, 1865 223 lbid, April 1, 1865 op. cii., Bearss, Edwin C., General Bussey Takes Over Fort Smith. 238-239 224 219 The Fort Smith New Era. March 18, 1865 225 lbid 220 lbid, March 11, 1865 and April 1, 1865 226 lbid, April 15, 1865 227 lbid, April 22, 1865 221 op. cit., Bearss, Edwin C., General Bussey Takes Over Fort Smith. 232-233 29 lbid, April 8, 1865 America. There was also bills to give the Negro race the right to testify in court and legalize their marriage contracts. For some reason, which totally mystified Sebastian County residents who thought they knew him, H. L. Holleman, Senator of Sebastian and Scott County strenously opposed the passage of the Constitutional Amendment and only voted for it when he was outnumbered. The Union people in Fort Smith were outraged that he would appear to be against slavery when elected and vote another way when he was in the Legislature. The other bills on court testimony and marriage contracts did not pass the legislatureandthisaction was undoubtedly instrumental in keeping Arkansas out of the Union still longer. It was important that Negroes be able to testify against their masters, who in some cases were cruel to them and would make no attempt to free them. 228 Valentine Dell of the New Era recorded that the people of Arkansas had been cruelly wronged by the 'Copperheads' in the Legislature who showed their true selves. 229 The United States Congress was still refusing to seat the Arkansas Congressional delegation. Congress believed that President Lincoln's amnesty oath was too lenient and allowed former "rebels" such as Senator Fishback to be in a high position in Arkansas. Congress did accept Arkansas' vote on the Thirteenth Amendment because votes by rebel states were essential for the three-fourths vote necessary for adoption of the amendments. 230 Major General Reynolds and his staff arrived at the end of April on Annie Jacobs. As the Chief Commander of the Department of Arkansas, he held an inspection of the troops, hospital and post. He was joined by General Bussey and his family in atrip upriver to Fort Gibson. They seemed to enjoy their three day trip with it's beautiful scenery on the Arkansas and Grand River and commented upon the Indian warriors, squaws and papooses. 231 On May 11, 1865, the United States for the third year offered amnesty and pardon once again for certain persons who had directly or by implication engaged in the Rebel cause. The first time amnesty was offered was December 8, 1863, and again on March 28, 1864.232 Much indiscriminate murdering was still going on in the FortSmith area making thecitizens miserable. Two bushwackers shot a man at Rogers Cemetery for no reason. The bushwackers were part of a group who had committed outrages against Union families during Rebel occupation and had stayed in Fort Smith and en listed in the 2nd Kansas Cavalry as "'Ibid, April 29, 1865 "•Ibid, May 6th, 1965 "°op. clt., Cowan, Ruth Caroline, Reorganization of Federal Arkansas, 1862-65 "The Fort Smith New Era, April 29, 1865 "'Ibid, June 3, 1865 scouts and used these positions to rob and plunder. In the summer of 1864, the bushwackers left Fort Smith, moving outside the fortifications with all their belongings of plunder, taking horses and wagons and continuing to terrify the citizens. 233 CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT JEFF DAVIS CAPTURED Early Sunday morning, May 16, 1865, a telegram arrived in Fort Smith that brought news that the Confederate President Jeff Davis had been caught. The news was kept at the garrison for a short time. Then a rumor got out that something important was about to happen and the troops were ordered to get in readiness. The troops believed it was for a fight. The morning church services in Fort Smith were ready to begin. When the parishioners heard the military music and saw the regiments marching, they left the churchs and followed the troops to the parade ground speaker's stand. Reverend Springer gave a fervant outpouring of thanksgiving for God's great mercy toward the nation in rescuing her from the ungodly and prayed for the misguided ones in the war. General Bussey began to read from dispatches about the capture of Jeff Davis, but when he was only partly through, happiness couldn't be contained and there arose three cheers times three. Then the rest of the dispatches were read and another nine cheers erupted. Colonel Harrison collected $ 677.70 for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. Other speakers closed the glad-news time. A special edition of The New Era was published for the occasion. 234 The feelings in Fort Smith of gladness for the victories of the United States were not shared by all of the state. The ruling class in south Arkansas was extremely bitter against Union men and the National government, and all manner of treasonous propaganda about the Union was spread by people who had been in authority. The emancipation of the slaves was a bitter pill to swallow and in many instances treatment was very cruel if there were not Federal troops there to defend them and judge between white and blacks. Generally, citizens in the southern part of Arkansas did not know the real state of affairs in the nation as news was almost nonexistant by telegraph or newspaper. 235 SOLDIERS RETURNING HOME Union prisoners of war were making their way into the fort in May, 1865, from the Tyler, Texas Confederate camp. Many were of the 2nd and 6th "3lbld, May 13, 1865 "'Ibid, May 16, 1865 Extra and May 20, 1865 235 Smlth, Robert F., The Confederate Attempt to Counteract Reunion Propaganda in Arkansas: 1863-1865, Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. XVI No. 1, Spring 1957, 54-62 30 cannons, parades and speechs, all of which began at 8;30 A.M., after the firing of the guns of the 18th Iowa Infantry. The main oration was given by General Cyrus Bussey. The celebration lasted all day, and many took part in the activities. 242 Mail service continued to be very poor in the Fort Smith area. The letters that did arrive were many times worse for the wear, having been wet, crushed, crumpled, twisted, and torn. The 1st Arkansas Cavalry had been carrying the mail but thesetroops were being mustered out and it was not known who would continue the service.243 In mid-July, an important case was before the Circuit Court of Sebastian County. In 1862, a lady in town sold property and received Confederate money. By July of 1865, this Confederate money was worthless. She wanted the sale of her property sold three years previously, voided. The New Era stated that not one single Union person had sold their property for Rebel money to their knowledge. The case was finally settled as General Bussey had originally ruled. The Court said a sale was a sale. 244 A group of merchants met at Mr. Hayman's Store on the 14th of July to discuss legality of the state's levying a 1% per centum tax on all goods brought from other states. The final decision was to pay the tax and pass it on to the consumer. 245 Troops that had called Fort Smith home f o r a t i m e were mustering out early in August. Many soldiers from different states under the command of the Army of the Frontier went back home, turned around and came back to Fort Smith to settle down and become good citizens of the community. Troops mustering out were 18th Iowa, 2nd Kansas Battery, 40th Iowa and 22nd Ohio Veteran Infantry which was made up of men from lowaand Missouri. The troops of the 1st Arkansas Cavalry had to wait around for several weeks for their paymaster to come up from Little Rock. Soldiers taking the departing troops' places were: 57th U. S. Colored Infantry, 9th Iowa Cavalry with Brevet Brigadier General Trunbell making Fort Smith his headquarters, 54th Illinois Infantry, Brigade of 15th Army Corps and 3rd Iowa Battery. 246 Judge Caldwell of the United States District Court arrived in Fort smith August 24. There were drumbeats among the citizenry to have a United States District Court established in Fort Smith. 247 Fort Washita which was located one hundred sixty miles west of Fort Smith, and had for morethan thirty years been an important military post among Kansas Cavalry. They had been at that camp since the disastrous south Arkansas battle a year before, under very trying circumstances. The returning prisoners reported that Confederate guards were allowing prisoners to escape, squads at a time, believing that if there were no more prisoners they could also go home. There were almost two thousand prisoners still at the prison camp. As several of these Union prisoners were making their way to Fort Smith, they were stopped south of the county by a partisan band who declared they were going to shoot them. A Crawford County man among the Rebels, William Graham, said he wouldn't let this happen and escorted the Union soldiers to within twenty miles of Fort Smith. Graham then gave the Union soldiers his horse and told them to see that his wife in Van Buren got it. After resting in Fort Smith, the Union soldiers took the horse to Graham's wife and she immediately got back on the horse, rodeto her husband, and brought him to Fort Smith. General Bussey allowed the Graham's to come through the picket lines and said he hoped more maids and matrons went after their men so that families might be together again. 236 In the later part of May, mustering out of soldiers of the Arkansas Regiments began. Soldiers of the 1st Arkansas Infantry were in high glee because they were told they could keep their arms. A short while later this was recinded, but in mid-July orders came from General Butler, that Home Colonies or Militia organized by the Governor of Arkansas could keep their arms. 237 Chaplain Francis Springer was working diligently to put together money for the war orphans of Arkansas. In May he had forty-one orphans in a home at the corner of Mulberry and Lafayette 238 Streets and there were many more orphans in private homes. 239 Money came in from the various regiments for the orphans when soldiers heard of the great need. The Chaplain made trips to Chicago trying to obtain money from different northern organizations for the orphans. Many of the children were eventually sent to Illinois to orphan's homes and private homes. 240 The one-cent sales tax that was being collected for the Provost Marshal's Office, proved to be a good investment. Streets were repaired, sewers built, and sanitary conditions in general improved and S 1,700.00 remained on hand for other projects. 241 THE NATION'S BIRTHDAY - JULY 4, 1865 July 4, 1865, was celebrated with booming 236 242 237 243 The Fort Smith New Era. May 20, 1865 lbid ""Mulberry . . North B Street; Lafayette . . North 7th St 239 lbid, June 10, 1865 240 lbid, June 24. 1865 241 lbid, May 20, 1865 lbid, lbid 244 lbid, 245 lbid 246 lbid, 247 lbid, 31 July 8, 1865 July 15, 1865 August 12, 1865 August 26, 1865 the Indians was burned in mid-August by Rebel Indians. A week later Fort Arbuckle, two hundred miles west was burned by Rebel Indians also. The Indians were trying to make sure no Negro regiments were stationed in Indian Territory. The Indians had been told the United States was going to use their lands to colonize Negroes. Many of the Indians were wealthy slave owners and as President Lincoln's Emanicapation Proclamation was not thought to cover the Indian Territory there was some real conflict with the Indians obeying the Constitution of the United States. 248 Business was picking up around town. The Union boys had been paid. They were leaving for their homes but they were buying presents before they left. The Provost Marshal's office had a force of laborers out repairing streets and the steamboat landing. 249 Many former Fort Smithians who had chosen to join their futures with the Confederacy had been returning since June. The New Era editor reported he did not feel vindictive, but he said that those returning should have cheerful, not sullen, obedience to the laws and measures of the government. 250 In the latter part of September, tempers still flared over injustices, real or perceived, during the Union occupation of Fort Smith. Valentine Dell, TheA/ew Era's editor, appears to have been a person who was willing to call a spade a spade and hang the consequences. On April 1,1865, in The New Era Dell printed "The nameof Blunt, like Hindman 251 is to the people of Northwest Arkansas, all that is bad and despicable in human nature."252 May 6, 1865, found General Blunt in Fort Smith and he left the next day for his new command at Fort Gibson. 253 Late September, 1865, Blunt was visiting in Fort Smith from Fort Gibson and met Dell on the street and accused him of slandering him in print in the April 1, 1865, issue of the paper. Dell reported that Blunt then attempted to have one of the disgraceful, rowdy scenes he was famous for, but he, Dell, would have none of it and walked away. 254 On the next night, Blunt gathered a group around him, evidently where many could hear, and denounced Dell in "language that got the disgust and indignation of every man there present." 255 Of course, the incident was reported back to Dell with the jibbing that 'Dell wouldn't dare publish any expose of General Blunt.' "Friends have warned me of assassination," Dell said, "but if I fall by the hand of the mid-night assassin, be he grey or blue or street ruffian, I die in the line of duty and defense of truth!" and he proceeded to print the expose. 256 Dell printed a story of how Blunt's Kansas troops had been allowed to strip the country of clothing, stock, and valuables of every kind, even pictures. Immense stores of corn, wheat, and fodder were recklessly wasted and destroyed and houses burned as the Rebel guerrilla troops were doing. Some storekeepers with questionable practices had been allowed to come into the town under Blunt's administration and Dell said "volumes could be said about them" 257 Through the previous years time, Dell had made several unfavorable references to people within Blunt's command such as Major E. A. Calkins, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry who Blunt entrusted to important positions in the running of the Fort Smith post. Calkins had been carried over into General Thayer's Administration and Dell and others had warned Thayer that Calkins would be a problem for him. In fact, it was such a problem, that Dell had been prevailed upon by the town's citizens the year before to go back to Washington, after histriptothe National Union Convention, and see President Lincoln about the questionable things going on in Fort Smith under Thayer's rule. Dell said "President Lincoln said, 'Yes, your friend Blunt, too,has been swindling the government as much as the present command at Fort Smith ( Thayer)." Dell said he told the President that "Blunt is no friends of ours" and that President Lincoln told Secretary Stanton to inspect affairs in Arkansas. The result was a new commander (Bussey) who was not slow in reforming the crying abuses existing all over the state. 258 Dell's parting shot in the September 30, 1865, article was that it was good to have a commander (like Bussey) who cared for something else besides cock fighting, fast horses, and fast women (like Blunt)! 259 THE GRAND INDIAN COUNCIL CALLED IN FORT SMITH The Grand Indian Council was called in Fort Smith on September 1, for all of the Tribes in the West and Southwest, from Fort Smith to New Mexico. The meeting followed Indian meetings which had been held in May and June in Indian Territory with the object of maintaining that area as 248 254 249 255 lbid, September 30, 1865 lbid 256 lbid 257 lbid 258 lbid 259 lbid lbid lbid, September 2, 1865 250 lbid, July 8, 1865 "'Confederate General Thomas C. Hindman 252 The Fort Smith New Era, April 1, 1865 253 lbid, May 13, 1865 32 1*. MM* WERK, osua TMOHKWIW, *JUUJMAS, rsx st*e* wwsws «w as**i ataus Indian Council meets in Fort Smith - September, 1865 From Leslie's Weekly, October 7, 1865 Courtesy Arkansas History Commission the present and future home of the Indian race.260 Smith in record numbers. Many adjustments had to be made by those who were coming back to the city and those who had stayed.263 The fierce patriotic German school teacher, Valentine Dell, who became the editor of the New Era, had to give back the printing press he had been using to print the"Unconditional Union" news since Octobers, 1863. The editor of the Times and Herald, J. F. Wheeler, returned from Dixieand reclaimed his property. Dell obtained a new smaller printing press and moved to a frame building on Ozark street across from the St. Charles Hotel.264 Fort Smith was full of strangers from east and west as Council meetings were held on twelve separate days, ending with a September 21, adjournment sine die. With the exception of the Choctaws and Chickasaws who had to take the treaty back to their council for approval, a satisfactory treaty was entered into by all concerned. An Indian war dance by the Osage was held in the garrison on September 18th and was well attended by many Fort Smithians. There were one hundred forty-nine Indian delegates and the United States was represented by Judge D. N. Cooley, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Honorable Elizah Sellers, Superintendent of South West Agency, Colonel Parker of the six nations, Colonel Dubois, U. S. A. and Misters Mix, Madgowan, Cook, and Irvin, clerks of the Indian Bureau.261 Major General H. J. Hunt relieved General Bussey of his command on September 21. Fort Smith citizens were sad to see General Bussey go back home to Iowa. He was very instrumental in getting the town back to a semblance of normalcy. General Hunt had been in Fort Smith in 1853 with the regular Army and then for a number of years, he was at Fort Washita with the 2nd U. S. Artillery. 262 The civilian population was returning to Fort 260 RECONSTRUCTION Reconstruction was beginning. Although the movement to rejoin the Union began in Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1863, it was not until May 13, 1868, that the first attempt to bring a seceded state back to the embraces of the United States was successful. 265 With the taking of this step, the reign of the military ceased, and America was once again a nation under one banner, but still of two hearts. Perhaps the most important result of the war in Fort Smith and the nation was the heritage of hate that it left on both sides. Southerners were the only Americans to be defeated in War and to undergo military occupation. Some Southerners grew bitter in defeat, and some Northerners revengeful. 266 26 lbid, August 19, 1865, September 2, 16, and 23, 1865 <lbid op. cit., Cowen, Ruth Caroline, Reorganization of Federal Arkansas, Page 57 266 The World Book Encyclopedia, Civil War, Vol. 4, 1971, 493 265 261 lbid 262 lbid, September 23, 1865 3 lbid, October 14, 1865 33 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH By Rev.I Tom Newton, Associate Pastor FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1982, 1400 North E. Street includes most recent addition. Photo by Bradley Martin The first sermon preached by a Baptist minister in Fort Smith was preached by a Rev. Wallace in the year of 1847. His text was Proverbs, Chapter 12. He was the first missionary to the Cherokee Nation. Only eight persons heard this sermon; among them was Siley M. Ellis, the first deacon of the church. A tattered, handwritten deed, listed in Book P, page 439, at the Sebastian County Courthouse, records the beginning of a separate house of worship for the Baptists in this area. It was built on the original plat of the town made by John Rogers, and the deed describes the lot as "number ten, in block thirteen, measuring fifty feet front on Green Street by one hundred forty feet to the alley." (This is now Fourth and "D" Streets.) It was sold on January 14, 1848, to the Baptist Church for the sum of fifty dollars. Joseph Smedley, William A. Jackson, and Dr. J. H. T. Main were trustees. John and Mary Rogers signed the deed which was witnessed by John Stryker and Sam Edmondson. Along with the Union Church for the Protestants and Saint Patrick's Church for the Catholics, it became Fort Smith's third church building. The church was built by Peter Harrison and William Wiley, both slaves. (Harrison was owned by Captain DuVal and Wiley's owner is unknown.) They built the church from hewn logs. The white congregation assigned days for the building to be used by their slaves and a few free Negroes who worshipped with them. Circuit riding preachers filled the pulpit. On the many Sundays when a preacher was unavailable, the people came together for Bible reading, prayer and praise, and this lasted for several years. For reasons now unknown, the log church was closed. But this was not the end of the Baptist Church in Fort Smith, for Elder D. Buckley was to come to town soon. At the age of fifteen, Buckley had accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and had been baptized by Joshua Lester of the Smith Fork Baptist Church in Tennessee. Immediately, he began leading other young people to Christ, and at sixteen, his church had licensed him to preach. After graduation from the University of Murfreesboro he advanced to the presidency of C a s t i l l i a n College and was instrumental in the establishment of Bethel College in Kentucky. The events of his life brought him, at age 37, to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Buckley was an educated and cultured man who had devoted his life 34 to spreading the gospel of Jesus. When he came to Fort Smith and found no organization of the denomination which was so dear to him, he expressed his chagrin to some citizens who felt the same as he. So, on Tuesday, December 1,1857, what we know as First Baptist Church came into being. The minutes of that meeting read: "The following brothers and sisters namely: Wm. H. Byers, Mrs. C. A. Byers, Mrs. M. A. Singleton, Siley M. Ellis, Mrs. M. H. Wheeler, and Mrs. M. E. McKinney, met at the residence of Wm. H. Byers in Fort Smith, Arkansas, (North 2nd & "B" Streets), and after reading a portion of the scriptures, singing, and prayer by Elder D. Buckley, proceeded to organize themselves into a Baptist Church. D. Buckley presiding as Moderator. Wm. H. Byers, Clerk" There are no recorded minutes of the church again until March 25, 1860, but it is known that Elder Buckley (the grandfather of Dr. Perry Webb) was elected pastor, agreeing to preach monthly, and that he held that position for at least two years. On March 25, 1860, Bro. E. L. Compere became pastor and a movement was begun for building a house of worship. Their first drive for funds produced $240.00. A lot was bought on North 4th and B Streets, and a house erected. In the spring of 1861, Brother E. L. Compere baptized twenty-four Negro slaves in the Arkansas River near where the "Free Bridge" was to stand. This was the first large baptismal service most of the town had ever seen. During the Civil War, Compere's sympathies forced him to move to Texas and the work of the church practically ceased. The Presbyterian minister left also. 1 In 1863, after Compere had gone to Texas, the Union Army stored hay in the church, which they had taken over for war purposes When it was being torn down,an appeal was madetoBrigadier General C. Bussey, the Federal General, to spare it for the sake of religion. Lumber was hauled back by Negro troops and the building repaired. It was probably through the interest of Jerry Harlin (Holland)... that the church building was preserved. He was mustered into the U. S. Army at Fayetteville in 1864 and served as a cook, coming to Fort Smith before the war was over. He stayed here and made his home next door to the church on Fourth Street. 1 2 3 In 1866, Elder Compere took up the work again. For awhile the colored and white people owned the house jointly and worshipped in the same building. The white members of the church worshipped at 11:00 a.m.; the black members at 3:00 p.m. In 1866 another movement was started for a new house of worship, and on April 4, 1868, it was decided to organize a Sunday School. This gave impetus for the movement to relocate the church. The Building Committee, composed of M. S. Buckley, J. J. Frost, W. N. Ayers, A. W. Mathes and John W. Cunningham, was appointed to secure funds for the purchase of a church building. Finally, in 1869, two lots were purchased for $250.00 at the corner of Thirteenth Street and Grand Avenue (present location of the old sanctuary). Dr. James Madison Barry 2 donated the funds for this purchase.3 The building built in 1869 was replaced in 1884, then again after being destroyed by the tornado in 1898. In February, 1870, Rev. Compere tendered his resignation which was not accepted, but Elder E. Bowman and Elder J. D. Chambers were elected to assist the pastor. By the end of 1870 there were 55 members on the revised roll of church members. On September 20, 1871, Bro. F. L. Kregel was ordained to the ministry and extended a call to the pastorate, which he accepted. He served as pastor until the end of May, 1873. Apparently the church was without a pastor from this time until the coming of G. W. Reeves in September, 1878. He served seven months, until April, 1879. From that time, until June, 1883, the church was without a pastor much of the time, but the church progressed under the leadership of its lay leaders. Pastors serving a few months each during this time were E. L. Compere (a former pastor), and Dr. A. S. Worrell, who was serving as pastor of the Second Baptist Church in St. Louis, Missouri, when he was extended the call to come to Fort Smith. His salary in Fort Smith was $60.00 per month. In February, 1882, services were held at Boone's School House, with a business meeting following for the purpose of calling Dr. Worrell to the pastorate. Upon Dr. Worrell's arrival, the church rented a hall over the Wirsing Building on Garrison Avenue, which was used for services until the new building was completed in 1885. In February, 1883, the church issued a unanimous call to W. E. Paxton, D. D., of Warren, Arkansas. At the close of services on Sunday, May 20, 1883, History of the First Presbyterian Church, 1846 - 1960 by S. Y. Warner and V. L. Foster, pages 47-48. Martin, Amelia Whitaker Physicians and Medicine, Biography of Dr. Barry, pages 232-233. Church Records 35 business. Bro. Stalcup then presented the report of the pulpit committee as follows: "We, your committee on pulpit supply, wish now to submit for your consideration, and action, the name of Rev. W. P. Throgmorton 4 , of Louisiana, Missouri, as being a minister who, in our opinion is peculiarly adapted to the wants of the field here. We find him to be about 40 years old, well educated, of splendid pulpit power, deep spiritual piety, a staunch Baptist and in short, a successful pastor." Bro. Throgmorton resigned in October, 1895, and was replaced by Bro. O. L. Hailey, of Memphis, Tennessee. Bro. N. R. Pittman of Clinton, Missouri, assumed the pastorate in the spring of 1900. It is interesting to note the ways the ladies raised money for their local expenses and for missions and benevolences. The ladies brought their sewing and needle work and stayed busy all during their programs and business meetings. The bazaars seemed to be the best way of raising money. On March 18, 1897, they had an avoirdupois social and charged an admittance fee of twenty cents per hundred-weight. Since ladies were not so careful with their waistlines as they are now, it seemed that they were sure to bring in several dollars. In January of 1897, "the monthly report of the Treasurer shows one dollar paid out for fascinator materials and they were sold for $2.50, thereby making a good profit. On October 31, 1895, Mrs. Hightower and Mrs. Merriman were asked to purchase the following material to be worked up into articles to be sold at the bazaar: 30 yards of gingham, $1.85; 5 yards of lawn, 35 cts.; 1 remnant bundle, 40 cts.; 2^ yards of dress goods, 50 cts.; 10 yards sateen, $1.00; 2 laundry bags, 2 stocking bags and 2 shoe bags, $3.38." A committee report on May 20, 1896, mentions that twelve hitching posts had been set about the premises as instructed, at a cost of $3.15. The story of the destruction of the church by the tornado on January 11,1898, is best told by quoting a report made by R. A. Clarkson, Superintendent of Sunday School, at a church business meeting. "At 11:15 p.m. in the dead of night, a cyclone crossed our city, from west to east, laying in ruins one hundred homes and four churches, among them our own. Of our membership and congregation Jimmie Smith and John Adams were killed, and the injured of our congregation were very few and their injuries slight. . . .The home of the church and of the Sunday School has been swept "the church congregation repaired to the water at Garrison Avenue where Bro. Paxton duly administered the sacred ordinance of baptism to Sisters Mary Maledon, Annid Hunton, Mamie Hunton, and Laura Mathes." Dr. Paxton died on Saturday, June 9, that year, during a revival. He was beloved and mourned by the whole church. The revival closed the next day, and on June 11, two persons, P. A. Ball and Master Jack Henderson, were baptized in the river at the foot of Garrison by Rev. A. F. Randall. G. W. Reeves, a former pastor, who had moved to Hope, Arkansas, was recalled as pastor. During his pastorate, the new church was built. It was completed and occupied in October or November, 1884. Members of the building committee were W. N. Ayers, J. C. Stalcup, and J. S. Meek. Following the resignation of Bro. Reeves, the Rev. J. B. Wise of Bastrop, Louisiana, came as pastor. Money for his salary was raised by subscription. Church officers for the year 1886 were: Deacons: J. C. Stalcup, John B. Hunton Supt. Sunday School: J. C. Stalcup Asst. Supt. S. S.: J. B. McDonough Secretary: John Ayers Treasurer: John L. Henderson Chorister: P. A. Ball Finance Committee: R. Myrick, G. W. Moss, and R. D. Seals. Bro. A. J. Kincaid of Searcy, Arkansas, was called to pastor the church in September, 1886. Minutes of December 1, 1886, reflect that "the young ladies of the church had undertaken to furnish the church with new and more comfortable sittings," and a choice was made between pews and chairs. A report was also made that the Ladies Aid Society was working to furnish a new organ for the church. As the church continued to grow, names of new members were recorded in church minutes. Not all minutes are available for 1889 - 1893, but in those available, we find the names of Bro. Jessie Grace, who was received into the fellowship of the church on profession; Miss Ida Cox by letter from Trinidad, Colorado; W. T. Soard and his wife, Irene R. Soard by letters from Moody, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. George T. Williams by letter from the First Baptist Church at Hiawatha, Kansas; Emma Soard by letter from Ozark, Arkansas; and (Dr.) Minnie J. Sanders 4 by letter from the Second Church at St. Louis, Missouri. Wednesday, June 1, 1892, at the close of the usual hour of prayer, the church was called to order for Dr. Minnie Sanders, the first female physician in Sebastian County, came to Fort Smith on the invitation of her cousin, Mrs. W. P. Throgmorton. While here, she married Henry Clay Armstrong, and spent the rest of her life in Fort Smith. For biography of br! Armstrong, see pages 219-21 of Physicians and Medicine by Amelia Whitaker Martin, pub. 1978. 36 away and all our pleasant things laid waste. We meet here today as sojourners. This place must serve us temporarily, but our watchword must be, 'Forward' . . . Before the storm we talked about bursting the walls out in order to make room for ever increasing numbers. Our God has done this for us. We have now lots of 'room'. Let us cover it with a tabernacle which will not only be a monument of the disaster but an offering to our God." An Interesting item not included in the minutes of the church: T. C. Price remembered that he, as a little boy, attended a business meeting of the church the night before the tornado destroyed the building. They were discussing the need for improvements of the church, estimated to cost $700.00. Many of the members insisted that they were not able to spend such a large sum. One member, whose name was "Long"stood up in the meeting and said that, having decided they could not make these improvements when he believed they could, and should, he believed God would destroy the church. The next night the tornado destroyed the church and the salvage was sold for $75.00. A Bible, the only item saved from this building, came to be known as "The Cyclone Bible." Church records tell that at an enlargement program on March 9, 1919, pledges in the sum of $25,000.00 were received, and Dr. Ferguson preached from "The Cyclone Bible." Until plans for a regular meeting place could be made, the church and congregation metforworship on Sunday, January 16, 1898, in the old "Academy of Music." The next Sunday they met at the First Presbyterian Church. Then the church contracted the Turner Hall for $2.50 per Sunday night. The fee included the use of the hall, lights, fuel and janitor's services. Bro. Hailey called attention to the fact that the old baptistry was available for baptisms by the addition of a few repairs, and on motion of Bro. Ball the committee on the house was instructed to have it put in shape for use. On October 22, 1899, the first services were held in the new house of worship. Church minutes mention that at the close of the evening service on Sunday, December 16,1900, Misses Florence Green (Mrs. Florenz Godt) and Florence Price, made professions of Faith in Jesus, and were accepted for baptism, and that on December 21, 1902, the pastor baptized Miss Bertha Gray (Mrs. Cleveland Holland), and Rose Wilburn. April 27, 1902, Bro. Pittman tendered his resignation, for the second time, and urged its acceptance because he had become the sole owner of The Baptist Advance, and the interests of the First Baptist Church 1957 North Thirteenth and D Streets Built 1899 of White Limestone Auditorium Completed 1903 paper would require all of his time and energies. The resignation was accepted and F. F. Gibson of Malvern, Arkansas, succeeded Bro. Pittman. During Dr. Gibson' ministry, the communicant membership rose to 655 members. Sunday, October 18, 1903, marked the completion and occupation of the new auditorium. This was almost the fourth anniversary of the first occupation of the building, Sunday, October 22, 1899. Even while rebuilding their own church building following the tornado, the First Baptist Church began plans for expansion of its work through the organization of mission churches. In February, 1903, for $150.00 the church bought lot 7, block 70, Fitzgerald Addition, located near the Catholic Cemetery, for the purpose of establishing a mission which later became the Lexington Avenue Baptist Church. Church minutes dated February 7, 1906, granted letters of dismission to the following people for the purpose of entering into the organization of the Lexington Avenue Baptist Church: Bro. C. C. Chambers, Bro. W. A. Bryan and wife, T. C. Gee, Mr. H. G. Morrison and wife, Mrs. Lula M. Peek, and Mrs. Nora Ulman. At the close of the morning service on Sunday, February 10, 1906, business meeting, chaired by Dr. Wm. R. Brooksher, Sr., was calledforthepurposeof approving purchase of Lot 3, block 13, of Fitzgerald's addition. This property, which adjoined the church on the north, cost $1,750.00 and was acquired for the proposed purpose of building a parsonage. With the surrender of Edith Ayers on January 26, 1908, to the call for foreign mission service, the interest of the church in foreign missions was increased. An $805.70 offering was given that 37 morning by the congregation for foreign missions. Miss Ayers, who later married W. E. Allen, served many years as a missionary in Brazil. First Baptist's Fort Smith mission program was expanded again in 1909, with the organization of Calvary Baptist Church in the Fishback Addition. Members granted letters of dismission from First Baptist to organize this church were: Elder V. C. Neal, Mrs. Effie Neal, A. C. Neal, Philip A. and Josephine Ball, Sarah Barnes, Pauline Garlick, Mrs. A. R. Hershy, Mrs. Mattie A. Hudson, Mrs. L. O. Ingram, Edith Johnson, Mrs. Nellie and Autry Lane, Ethel Judd, Georgia Kregel, Pink Patterson, Bessie Smith, Mrs. Bessie Whittington, Mrs. C. L.Wilson, J. G. and Mable Wofford, Bessie Younger, Mrs. Dora Newlon, Misses Ada, Jessie, Lena and Juanita Newlon, Anice McAteer, and James and Nora B. Vinton. For comfort of worshippers, in 1913, a number of improvements were made on the church auditorium. A new Kimball pipe organ was installed and used the first time in public worship on Sunday, July 27, 1913. Contract price installed was $3,500. Also a system of indirect lighting and artificial ventilation were added. Total cost of improvements cost more than $5,000.00. Result of the new lighting system was that "the church was brilliantly lighted, yet there was not a light in sight." The artificial ventilation was created by two large motors forcing a current of cold air into the building all the time, while the numerous ventilators in the ceiling were carrying off the foul air, and a number of ceiling fans were keeping the cool currents in circulation. We quote from church minutes: "One of the results of this system is that the church is at all times kept cool and invigorating without the opening of the windows to let in the noise of the street, the dust and flys, bugs and other insects. Keeping the windows closed prevents the worshippers from being disturbed by the two lines of streetcars that pass the doors of the church." In January 1916, after 13^ years as pastor, Bro. Gibson offered his resignation. Reluctantly the resignation was accepted and the search for a new pastor began. From twenty-six candidates considered for the pastorate, a young minister from Durham, North Carolina, B. V. Ferguson, was chosen, and he began his duties in Fort smith the first Sunday in June, 1916. On that day the Sunday School attendance broke all previous records, and there were 456 present in the church service. Dr. Ferguson pastored this church longer than any other pastor — thirty four years. During this time, at his request, he was granted a leave of absence to serve as Chaplain in the armed forces during World War I. He was a great believer in sharing with the masses the good news of Christ's substitutionary death. Dr. Mordecai F. Ham was brought here for two revival meetings which revolutionzed Fort Smith. His first meeting was in a warehouse on South Ninth Street where almost 3,500 persons made spiritual decisions. During Dr. Ferguson's pastorate, the main auditorium was enlarged to seat 1200 people; a two story annex was built on the east side of the church; a three story Bible study building was erected immediately north of the church, and anotherthree story educational building was built east of the church. In addition to this, three new missions were established, Riverside, Third Street, and McNeil. McNeil mission was named for Deacon John McNeil. EIL MfSSIW-. OF THE FIRST McNeil Baptist Mission On May 3, 1916, soon after Dr. Ferguson had assumed the pastorate, the clerk of the church reported the recent organization of the Bethlehem Baptist Church at 601 North Third Street, Fort Smith. A prayer meeting conducted during the noon hour, beginning in January in a potato cellar, had resulted in the organization of the church with nine members, and that its membership had grown to 72 with Pastor Carrol in charge. First Baptist Church, Fort Smith, like the rest of the United States, felt the effects of the influenza epidemic in 1918. Church minutes tell that a revival service by Dr. J. H. Dew, which began on Sunday, October 6, 1918, "came to a close on Tuesday, Octobers, due to quarantine on account of Spanish influenza." In 1950, Rev. J. Harold Smith assumed the pastorate of First Baptist Church. His nine year ministry is noteworthy for several accomplishments. Under his direction, the church began its radio and television ministry, which continues and today reaches between twelve to fifteen thousand homes in Northwest Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma. 38 Elder D. Buckley 1857 - 1858 Elder F. L. Compere 1860 - 1881 (Served three times in this span) F. L. Kregel 1871 - 1873 William E. Paxton D. D. 1883 A. J. Kincaid 1886 - 1892 W. P. Throgmorton, D. D. 1892 - 1895 N. R. Pittman 1900 - 1902 Newman McLarry 1959 - 1962 Findley F. Gibson Sept. 1902 - Feb. 1916 B. V. Ferguson June, 1916 - 1950 Dan Cameron 1963- 1967 39 A. S. Worrell 1882 O. L. Hailey 1895 - 1899 J. Harold Smith Dec. 1950 - 1959 Dr. Wm. L. Bennett 1967 - Present Through the men's Brotherhood, rural evangelism work was begun. The Brotherhood also did personal witnessing; helped with local missions; and assisted in special services for soldiers, both special Saturday night services conducted by associate pastor, Rev. Robert Ezell, and at the Reception center at Fort Chaffee. Through J. Harold Smith's commitment to extension growth, Spradling Avenue Baptist Church was established in December, 1951, and Riverside, Third Street and McNeil Missions were strengthened. Third Street snd Riverside Missions were provided with new facilities. Each of these three missions were pastored by a young energetic pastor, Paul Cooke. The communicant membership reached 2,580 members by 1959. In 1959, Newman McLarry came to the pastorate, to be followed by Dan Cameron in 1963. During this time, a new sanctuary seating 1,450 people was erected, along with an office suite. In 1967 the church called Dr. William L. Bennett as pastor. During his ministry, furtherconstruction has provided a Fellowship Hall which will seat 600 in dining capacity, and additional education space, debt-free. The building committee for the latest addition was led by Tom Gray. Under the direction of Dr. Bennett's strong leadership, the First Baptist Church has had a keen sense of direction and its work for God continues to grow. Since 1979, the Bible teaching ministry (Sunday School) has averaged just under 2,000 on a weekly basis. During the 124 years since its founding in 1857, First Baptist Church of Fort Smith, Arkansas, has grown from a membership of seven to a communicant membership of approximately 4000. A ministerial staff of nine, a number larger than the total church membership in 1857, ministers to the 1981 membership. The total salaried church staff includes ninety people. Through this 125 years of growth, the work and prayers of thousands of dedicated Christian men and women working together for God have contributed to the tremendous spiritual outreach of this church. Today, the names of most have been forgotten, but results of their faithful prayer and work live on. PASTORS AND DATES OF SERVICE ARE D.Buckley ... December 1857 - December 1858 E. L. Compere 5 March 1860-April 1863, June 1866- 1871 F. L. Kregel September 1871 - May 1873 G. W. Reeves September 1878 - April 1879 E. L. Compere May 1880 - December 1881 Dr. A. S. Worrell 6 . . . April 1882 - September 1882 Dr. W. E. Paxton March 1883 - June 1883 G. W. Reeves September 1883 - May 1885 J. B. Wise September 1885 - April 1886 A. J. Kincaid September 1886 - May 1892 Dr. W. P. Throgmorton June 1892 - November 1895 O. L. Hailey . . . November 1895 - November 1899 N. R. Pittman March 1900 - July 1902 Dr. Finley F. Gibson . September 1902 - February 1916 Dr. B. V. Ferguson J. Harold Smith Newman McLarry Dan Cameron Dr. Wm. L. Bennett June 1916 - June 1950 December 1950 - 1959 1959 - 1962 1963 - 1967 1967 - present s Goodspeed History N. W. Ark. page 785 - E. L. Compere, a missionary Baptist preacher, founded Buckner College at Salem (Witcherville), Arkansas in 1875. 6 Ibid; 1883, new three story building completed at Buckner College. First school in new building opened in 1883 by Dr. A. S. Worrell, who taught four sessions. HISTORIC PRESERVATION ALLIANCE OF ARKANSAS, INC. The Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas has been formed and the first annual meeting was held in Hot Springs, November 13-14, 1981. This statewide organization is dedicated to helping local communities save their architectural heritage. If you are interested in being a member of this group, contact the local board member, Carolyn Pollan or mail your membership check as follows: HISTORIC PRESERVATION ALLIANCE OF ARKANSAS, INC. P. O. Box 162 Washington, Arkansas 71862 (Please check one): Contributor 100.00 Student or Senior Citizen $ 7.50 Affiliate Organization 100.00 Individual 15.00 Business 150.00 Double 25.00 Benefactor 500.00 plus Sustaining 50.00 (All contributions are tax deductible) 40 CONFEDERATE VETERANS BURIED BY FENTRESS MORTUARY 1909 - 2934 Turner, Robert N. Mar. 13, 1914 60 Forest Park Funkhouser, A.M. Apr. 28, 1914 64 Oak Cem. Church, F. O. May 27, 1914 69 National Cem. Lucey, J.M. June 20, 1914 71 Catholic Cem. McDonald, A. L. July 15, 1914 81 Poteau, OK Scoggins, John July 30, 1914 67 Maple, OK Cummings, John July 31, 1914 88 Forest Park Michael, A. Aug. 13, 1914 60 Elmwood Cem. Intres, John R. Aug. 24, 1914 64 Catholic Cem. Weaver, J.S. Sept. 9, 1914 61 White Cem. Euper, Anton Sept. 14, 1914 78 Forest Park Workinger, William Sept. 29, 1914 62 Oak Cem. Owens, W. B. Oct. 17, 1914 70 Elmwood Cem. Earley, W.W. Feb. 2, 1915 69 Oak Cem. Hampton, William Feb. 7, 1915 69 Dora, AR Wheeler, W.W. Feb. 16, 1915 67 Oak Cem. Page, John Mar. 23, 1915 73 Elmwood Cem. Roberts, J. S. Mar. 24, 1915 76 Oak Cem. Gardner, Thaddeus Apr. 19, 1915 79 National Cem. Cook, W.F. May 8, 1915 70 Elmwood Cem. Meaden, Fritz May 21, 1915 72 Oak Cem. Modlin, Thomas M. June 17, 1915 69 Stigler, OK Havard, S. A. June 18, 1915 65 National Cem. Whedon, Milo July 5, 1915 66 Elgin, IL Hopkins, Agrippa July 7, 1915 86 Oak Cem. Braun, William July 22, 1915 85 Oak Cem. Hamilton, M. J. July 25, 1915 75 Oak Cem. Ayres, C. C. Aug. 2, 1915 66 Oak Cem. Glaze, Henry Sept. 27, 1915 65 White Cem. Vandagriff, C. W. Oct. 4, 1915 65 Taft, AR Miller, E. B. Nov. 6, 1915 68 McAlester, OK Riggs, Wm. S. Dec. 10, 1915 86 Springfield, MO Simms, David A. Dec. 20, 1915 65 Forest Park Cook, Charles Dec. 31, 1915 65 Oak Cem. Dean, Richard Jan. 17, 1916 83 Leard Cem. Busby, William L. Jan. 28, 1916 72 Oak Cem. Finn, M. H. Jan. 29, 1916 66 Alix, AR Callahan, Jan. 30, 1916 65 Huntington, AR Adams, Joseph Feb. 14, 1916 85 Williams, OK Grable, W. A. Feb. 28, 1916 73 Leard Cem. Kelley, J. G. Apr. 23, 1916 80 Oak Cem. Weaber, Jesse Apr. 26, 1916 69 Lavaca, AR Smith, C. W. May 20, 1916 65 Oak Cem. Cox, G. W. July 23, 1916 74 Oak Cem. Cyachert, Joseph July 25, 1916 74 St. Joseph, MO Day, J. A. July 27, 1916 76 Eureka Springs, AR Lyons, A. Aug. 1, 1916 70 Oak Cem. Odum, Jeff Aug. 20, 1916 73 Steep Hill Bowman, J. H. Oct. 19, 1916 83 National Cem. Borrough, John Nov. 27, 1916 68 Forest Park Miller, John R. Sr. Nov. 28, 1916 80 Forest Park Gardner, W. H. Dec. 9, 1916 74 Carnell Cem. Shepherd, William Jan. 22, 1917 70 Mulberry, AR Leach, Ivan Feb. 4, 1917 86 Elmwood Cem. Wright, J. C. Feb. 6, 1917 84 Oak Cem. Nules, Sam Feb. 8, 1917 85 Elmwood Cem. Strong, C. H. Feb. 11, 1917 68 Oak Cem. Kraner, F. A. Feb. 11, 1917 63 Forest Park Schreckengaunt, W. H. Feb. 20, 1917 76 National Cem. Gibson, Gustave Feb. 28, 1917 74 Frederick, OK Powell, J. N. Mar. 3, 1917 67 Oak Cem. McGurk, Frank Mar. 6, 1917 62 Wilburton, OK Rowell, R. H. Apr. 12, 1917 90 Batesville, AR Gross, Stephen Apr. 14, 1917 64 Forest Park Oliver, W. F. May 18, 1917 70 Huntington, AR Brawner, W. T. June 8, 1917 83 Oak Cem. Ritchie, H. C. June 30, 1917 74 National Cem. The following list of Confederate Veterans buried by the Fentress Mortuary of Fort Smith was compiled by Mrs. Oscar Fentress. It was presented by her to the Jefferson Davis Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy on January 15, 1935 and is printed here by permission of this chapter. DEATH DATE NAME Dec. 8, 1909 Underbill, Jake Dec. 25, 1909 Hart, Alex Jan. 7, 1910 Bolton, Charles Feb. 2, 1910 Harner, Amos F. Feb. 17, 1910 Priest, William A. Feb. 22, 1910 Turley, J. G. Mar. 8, 1910 Hammer, Peter Apr. 20, 1910 Williams, Ebenezer E. Mar. 26, 1910 Shannon, James G. May 24, 1910 Spradling, Geo. N. Aug. 9, 1910 Shaw, Knowles Aug. 25, 1910 Brogan, Edward C. Oct. 11, 1910 James, F. L. Nov. 3, 1910 Epple, Christian Tallman, Henry L. Dec. 3, 1910 Dec. 24, 1910 McBride, C. E. Feb. 27, 1911 Wilcox, William G. Apr. 9, 1911 Dailey, Daniel F. Apr. 17, 1911 Van Sickle, Charles Apr. 23, 1911 Leonard, Dennis July 11, 1911 Fumet, Peter Akin, Andrew Jackson Aug. 27, 1911 Sept. 9, 1911 Brown, B. S. Sept. 18, 1911 McKnight, James Dec. 18, 1911 Michael, Davis Dec. 27, 1911 Cope, T. S. July 24, 1912 Hawkins, John W. July 24, 1912 Marsh, Edwin Oct. 3, 1912 Carter, Thomas H. Oct. 3, 1912 Jolly, J. H. Oct. 25, 1912 Wilcox, George Nov. 16, 1912 Dorente, J.N.E. Feb. 5, 1913 Wagner, John W. Mar. 3, 1913 Fewell, J.B. Mar. 15, 1913 Griffith, E. Mar. 29, 1913 McHaney, John C. May 26, 1913 Martin, Joseph June 16, 1913 Foster, Isaac June 22, 1913 Cromwell, Samuel July 1, 1913 Koegel, Frederick July 22, 1913 Riley, William J. Morgan, Vincent (negro) Aug. 7, 1913 July 31, 1913 Elliot, William Thompson, Charles A. Sept. 11, 1913 Oct. 19, 1913 Fink, Henry Nov. 2, 1913 Henderson, James C. Nov. 2, 1913 Hope Huey E. Nov. 4, 1913 Pantet, Jacques Nov. 19, 1913 Hogan, Orlanda Nov. 28, 1913 Meyers, John Dec. 10, 1913 Sawyer, William Jan. 14, 1914 Babcock, Frank Feb. 4, 1914 Morrow, Joseph Feb. 7, 1914 Clark, S. C. Feb. 12, 1914 Moore, V. N. Feb. 27, 1914 Clifton, M. W. Mar. 12, 1914 McGowan, James AGE BURIAL 60 Texarkana, AR 65 Elmwood Cem. 65 Elmwood Cem. 68 Tabor, IA 63 Oak Cemetery 68 Elmwood Cem. 73 Catholic Cem. 79 Excelsior, AR 62 Catholic Cem. 69 National Cem. 78 Paola, KS 77 Catholic Cem. 65 Forest Park 72 Catholic Cem. 61 Van Buren, AR 63 Forest Park Cem. 73 Long Island, NY 65 Catholic Cem. 63 Forest Park Cem. 72 Catholic Cem. 81 Oak Cemetery 75 Hackett, AR 60 Catholic Cem. 77 Catholic Cem. 65 Catholic Cem. 67 Oak Cem. 63 Ozark, AR 63 Oak Cem. 86 Beverly 72 Elmwood Cem. 65 Elmwood Cem. 63 Forest Park 71 Catholic Cem. 65 Elmwood Cem. 65 Forest Park 63 Forest Park 63 Catholic Cem. 66 Oak Cem. 76 Oak Cem. 69 Oak Cem. 69 Shiloh Cem. 65 Oak Cem. 65 Elmwood Cem. 60 Forest Park 98 Forest Park 76 Mulberry, AR 63 Camp Creek 90 Gill Cem. 72 National Cem. 62 Forest Park 68 Oak Cem. 73 Forest Park 66 Oak Cem. 77 Bonanza, AR 69 Oak Cem. 61 Forest Park 63 Clear Lake, IA 41 Bird, Isaac Clay, James H. Harrison, Robert H. Long, Levi Brown, John R. Markley, George Cooper, T. H. Gunter, J. C. Williams, James T. Thedford, John T. Dyer, William Small, E. D. Harmon, H. L. Poulian, Francis Coffey, S. E. Robinson, J. P. Shackleford, Rev. Bugg, T. W. Young, John S. Braden, W. F. Wood, James E. Wallace, John W. Nutler, John A. Strayhorn, John Liede, Michael Nelson, Jake Haines, W. H. Collins, J. Hines, James W. McMurtrey, W. H. Mabry, H. P. Martin, Paddy Sage, William Gilley, Tine Putman, T. A. Curtis, W. H. Horton, J. G. Wills, B. L. Hurley, Dan Buckner, Harrison Snider, Harvey Bromley, James H. Phillips, Benjamin Snider, Fred Milter, John F. Towery, Henry M. Brown, W. W. Lehman, Henry Cockrum, J. L. Reynolds, P. Smith, W. W. Shaw, Thomas Edmunds, J. Marie, Josiah Jenkins, William W. Quante, Frank Simpson, William Miller, W. W. Blakely, Capt. B. C. Kibler, John Ferrari, Joseph M. Packard, R. C. Waerter, Charles Rahn, John Leffler, William White, W. H. Hartley, Lewis Daly, Patrick Sill, Phillip Fisher, Alfred Basham, Jap Price, George Owens, W. J. Van Brocklin, J. Winchester, T. P. Harlan, F. S. Marks, Jeptha A. July 10, 1917 July 29, 1917 Aug. 20, 1917 Aug. 29, 1917 Sept. 3, 1917 Sept. 18, 1917 Sept. 23, 1917 Oct. 22, 1917 Oct. 28, 1917 Jan. 31, 1918 Feb. 9, 1918 Mar. 4, 1918 Mar. 4, 1918 Mar. 19, 1918 Mar. 10, 1918 Mar. 12, 1918 Mar. 15, 1918 Apr. 14, 1918 Apr. 19, 1918 Apr. 23, 1918 June 15, 1918 May 30, 1918 June 18, 1918 June 18, 1918 June 18, 1918 July 20, 1918 July 25, 1918 July 29, 1918 Aug. 11, 1918 Sept. 5, 1918 Sept. 7, 1918 Sept. 17, 1918 Oct. 27, 1918 Nov. 16, 1918 Nov. 21, 1918 Dec. 11, 1918 Jan. 1, 1919 Jan. 7, 1919 Jan. 14, 1919 Jan. 30, 1919 Feb. 19, 1919 Feb. 22, 1919 Feb. 24, 1919 mar. 21, 1919 Apr. 11, 1919 Apr. 26, 1919 May 30, 1919 July 10, 1919 July 15, 1919 Aug. 29, 1919 Aug. 30, 1919 Sept. 17, 1919 Sept. 18, 1919 Oct. 4, 1919 Oct. 12, 1919 Oct. 18, 1919 Oct. 19, 1919 Oct. 24, 1919 Nov. 16, 1919 Nov. 21, 1919 Nov. 30, 1919 Dec. 4, 1919 Dec. 4, 1919 Dec. 8, 1919 Dec. 9, 1919 Jan. 13, 1920 Jan. 30, 1920 Feb. 27. 1920 Mar. 29, 1920 Apr. 21, 1920 Sept. 21, 1920 Oct. 4, 1920 Nov. 7, 1920 Nov. 18, 1920 Nov. 20, 1920 Nov. 25, 1920 Dec. 5, 1920 69 70 63 68 64 83 68 73 73 66 75 77 69 64 69 82 75 73 73 75 72 77 73 83 80 84 85 81 83 66 86 86 70 70 73 79 87 80 85 74 70 79 75 73 75 81 74 72 77 93 75 72 71 78 81 85 70 86 76 73 70 88 61 87 88 81 77 89 77 79 78 74 67 68 70 84 77 Liberty, KS Oak Cem. Sallisaw, OK Milton, OK Fairview Cem. Oak Cem. Oak Cem. Oak Cem. Cleveland Newlon Springs Forest Park Topeka, KS Oak Cem. Catholic Cem. Forest Park Forest Park Paw Paw, OK Barling Forest Park Oak Cem. Mena, AR Oak Cem. Oak Cem. Graphic Forest Park Oak Cem. Bentonville, AR New Hope Cem. Forest Park White Bluff Cem. Forest Park Newlon Springs Elmwood Cem. Central, AR Lavaca, AR Wister, OK Williams, OK Huntington, AR Catholic Cem. Forest Park Paw Paw, OK Oak Cem. Wanette, OK National Cem. Mountain View, AR Scranton, AR Oak Cem. Great Lake, CO National Cem. Fort Coffey National Cem. Spiro, OK Forest Park National Cem. Braymer, MO Catholic Cem. Elmwood Cem. Gushing, OK Forest Park National Cem. Catholic Cem. Cameron, MO Forest Park Catholic Cem. National Cem. Oak Cem. National Cem. Catholic Cem. Mountainburg, AR Forest Park Mountainburg, AR Butler, MO Oak Cem. Oak Cem. Forest Park Iowa Huntington, AR Thomas, Jim Williams, B. J. Loomis, Floyd Brodie, D. W. Wilkerson, A. J. Lake, Capt. L. B. Render, John B. Hallum, J. C. Martindale, T. M. Laverne, J. L. Mitchell, Zachariah Bonner, Calvin J. Mankin, Thomas F. Harry, Cicero F. Cherry, Albert G. Smith, Joseph Y. Davis, Daniel F. Franklin, Joe S. Vann, Reuben Strassburg, Abraham Coble, F. A. J. Birnie, W. S. Story, John Dottery, James Jarnigan, George W. Green, A. E. Owens, Charles Davis, W. H. Davis, C. L. Kirk, Henry H. Beardsley, B. Bradshaw, John S. Sutherland, Thomas S. Johnston, Lafayette Self, William E. Bartlett, Jesse H Mitchell, Millard Hamilton, Zacarria Purdom, Alexander Douglass, Eliza Reed, Robert Stokes, Lemuel Mitchell, Eli E. Stephenson, Thomas R. Davidson, F. E. Martin, Erwin Reynolds, Thommas H. Peck, Benjamin A. Cainan, George W. Stearl, Joseph Moses, Robert T. Grain, William B. Woods, Nathan R. Furrow, James A. Ray, Lawson Birnie, Henry C. Walker, J. M. Schleiff, Frederick Honea James W. Ozment, Eli Patrick, John W. Huber, Fred W. Mason, George W. Callan, Daniel Weese, Moses W. Stewart, J. C. Adams, Zachariah T. Padgett, Harvey Hutchinson, Richard Buckley, Hezekiah Sherman, Madison Pannell, Sam Raub, Wm. N. Doerr, James Stephens, Robert W. Wardell, Elias T. Strain, Hester C. 42 Dec. 6, 1920 75 Oak Cem. Dec. 18, 1920 85 Oak Cem. Feb. 28, 1921 73 Dyer, AR Jan. 27, 1921 78 Van Buren, AR 78 Mountainburg, AR Feb. 5, 1921 Mar. 16, 1921 78 Forest Park Mar. 20, 1921 90 Catholic Cem. Mar. 22, 1921 71 Oak Cem. May 8, 1921 76 White Bluff May 9, 1921 74 Forest Park May 16, 1921 83 Bentonville, AR May 21, 1921 76 Oak Cem. May 30, 1921 73 Forest Park June 16, 1921 71 Newlon Springs June 17, 1921 83 Hayes Chapel July 27, 1921 100 Parkersburg, WV Aug. 6, 1921 73 Kentucky Aug. 18, 1921 76 Douglass Cem. Aug. 19, 1921 87 Cedars Aug. 30, 1921 73 Jewish Cem. Sept. 1, 1921 79 Oak Cem. Sept. 3, 1921 84 Oak Cem. Sept. 9, 1921 79 Oak Cem. Sept. 10, 1921 72 Monticello, AR Sept. 14, 1921 72 Clarksville, AR Oct. 11, 1921 74 OK. Nov. 9, 1921 72 Bunch, AR Nov. 20, 1921 76 National Cem. Dec. 4, 1921 75 Oak Cem. Dec. 8, 1921 76 Oak Cem. Jan. 23, 1922 75 Macedonia Cem. Feb. 6, 1922 78 Leard Feb. 14, 1922 86 Oak Cem. Mar. 13, 1922 70 Fairview Cem. Mar. 13, 1922 70 Forest Park Mar. 22, 1922 85 Gutherie, OK Apr. 13, 1922 71 Oak Cem. May 10, 1922 75 Oak Cem. June 23, 1922 70 Forest Park July 1, 1922 70 Douglass Cem. July 10, 1922 83 Gutherie, OK July 11, 1922 70 Forest Park Aug. 15, 1922 72 Oak Cem. Sept. 24, 1922 71 Altus, AR Nov. 5, 1922 82 National Cem. Dec. 17, 1922 87 National Cem. Dec. 28, 1922 75 Clarksville, AR Jan. 5, 1923 90 Forest Park Jan.11,1923 80 Mena, AR Jan. 26, 1823 76 Barling, AR Mar. 2, 1923 75 National Cem. Mar. 17, 1923 72 Newlon Springs Mar. 19, 1923 89 Leard Cem. May 1, 1923 71 Gill Cem. May 6, 1923 73 Oak Cem. May 11, 1923 79 Oak Cem. May 30, 1923 70 Jenny Lind, AR July 9, 1923 84 Forest Park Aug. 3, 1923 77 Hansen, OK Aug. 3, 1923 74 Oak Cem. Aug. 4, 1923 79 Forest Park Aug. 6, 1923 75 Forest Park Aug. 27, 1923 76 Russellville, AR Sept. 4, 1923 97 Catholic Cem. Sept. 11, 1923 72 Franklin Co. AR Oct. 11, 1923 72 Oak Cem. Oct. 19, 1923 70 Forest Park Nov. 9, 1923 75 Abbott Cem. Nov. 15, 1923 70 Steep Hill Nov. 19, 1923 90 Chicago, IL Nov. 21, 1923 83 National Cem. Nov. 23, 1923 74 Paw Paw, OK Nov. 27, 1923 75 Oak Cem. Dec. 27, 1923 73 Van Buren, AR Jan. 12, 1924 75 White Bluff Cem. Jan. 13, 1924 78 Chester, AR Jan. 14, 1924 82 Oak Cem. 88 White Bluff Cem. Feb. 1, 1924 Dukes, Reuben A. 83 Oak Cem. Feb. 6, 1924 Hughes, Elijah Feb. 18, 1924 72 Oak Cem. Russell, Jacob D. Mar. 5, 1924 73 Oak Cem. Dunn, William N. Mar. 15, 1924 88 Rudy, AR Bryan, Willis O. Apr. 28, 1924 80 Hackett, AR Stafford, Isaac June 3, 1924 79 Wichita, KS Stough, John June 6, 1924 75 Mulberry, AR Wade, John W. June 23, 1924 79 National Cem. Ammon, Jacob June 24, 1924 76 lola, KS Reed, Wesley June 25, 1924 86 Forest Park Kennedy, Milton F. July 12, 1924 81 Meg, AR Burcham, Abijah Herriman, M. C. July 18, 1924 79 Paw Paw, OK Aug. 2, 1924 73 Dawson Cem. Crowe, William Aug. 17, 1924 84 White Bluff Barnes, George W. Sept. 25, 1924 74 Fairview Rutz, Jacob Oct. 17, 1924 84 National Cem. Dyer, William M. Nov. 1, 1924 75 Alma, AR Cole, William A. Nov. 5, 1924 75 Forest Park Kellogg, Orman Nov. 21, 1924 80 Cleveland, AR Timmins, Andrew Dec. 31, 1924 72 Elmwood Scott, C. M. Nov. 29, 1924 73 Forest Park Kendall, William H. Jan. 7, 1925 72 Gans, OK Childers, C. C. 73 Roland, OK Jan. 7, 1925 Smith, Lafayette Jan. 21, 1925 74 Forest Park Watts, Charles J. Jan. 28, 1925 80 Forest Park Turner, T. 74 Forest Park Feb. 3, 1925 Barnes, Moses A. 80 National Cem. Feb. 5, 1925 Fisher, John H. Feb. 22, 1925 79 Dora, OK Wilson, Sam Mar. 11, 1925 80 Huntington, AR Bach, Samuel 79 Bassham May 3, 1925 Cook, Arzetia June 2, 1925 72 Catholic Cem. Hoffman, John June 14, 1925 72 Mansfield, AR Howell, Samuel G. Luckenbaugh, James W. June 17, 1925 79 Hickory Ridge, AR June 20, 1925 73 Mulberry, AR Heard, Allen C. June 25, 1925 72 Oak Cem. Sengle, George 87 Wisconsin July 8, 1925 Jones, David 73 Sallisaw, OK McDonald, James A. July 9, 1925 Oct. 10, 1925 79 Forest Park Johnston, Moses C. Oct. 25, 1925 90 Oak Cem. Foster, John Nov. 2, 1925 88 Catholic Cem. O'Connell, Michael Nov. 8, 1925 77 Girard, KS McGiffin, James G. Nov. 23, 1925 79 National Cem. Perse, George R. 83 Arbaree, AR Dec. 2, 1925 East, Eliza H. Dec. 28, 1925 78 National Cem Hope, William P. 88 Oak Cem Feb. 5, 1926 Cottrell, William Feb. 6, 1926 77 Cavanaugh Beaty, William Feb. 14, 1926 73 Forest Park Furr, Paul Feb. 15, 1926 72 Oak Cem. Powell, Judge R. T. Feb. 20, 1926 80 National Cem. Whitson, Calvin Feb. 22, 1926 75 Gould OK Pittman, J. H. Feb. 28, 1926 72 Leard Cem. Parker, Eugene Mar. 13, 1926 78 Oak Cem. Hobbs, William H. Mar. 16, 1926 76 Oak Cem. Norrid, John H. Mar. 18, 1926 74 Oak Cem' Wright, Elijah. E. Apr. 18, 1926 78 White Bluff McMurtrey, Peter T. May 11, 1926 71 Oak Cem. Ong, Harry June 20, 1926 88 Forest Park Robinson, Eliza J. 82 National Cem July 7, 1926 Johnston, George W. July 17, 1926 79 Forest Park Cover, Noah Aug. 13, 1926 79 Chester AR Smith, Zephra Sept. 7, 1926 74 Jacksonport, AR Grant, Andrew J. Sept. 17, 1926 81 National Cem. Pipkin, Edward Sept. 20, 1926 74 Liberty Cem. Been William J Oct. 15, 1926 83 Forest Park Smith, Edward T. 77 Mansfield, AR Jan. 7, 1927 Smith, Thomas L. Jan. 8, 1927 72 Forest Park Edwards, David R. Jan. 15, 1927 84 Steep Hill Williams, James D. Jan. 19, 1927 73 Huntington, AR Ellinor, John E. Jan. 23, 1927 89 Searcy, AR Noble, Owen P. Jan. 29, 1927 80 Plainfield, MO Kinnan, Thomas B. 79 Troy, MO Feb. 5, 1927 Wheeler, Benjamin Feb. 20, 1927 88 Leard Cem. Decker, Oliver Apr. 13, 1927 91 Oak Cem. Harper, Jesse C. Apr. 27, 1927 90 National Cem. McCallum, Hays May 20, 1927 85 Paw Paw, OK DeGroat, Fred June 6, 1927 86 Mt. View, MO Mahan, Andrew Bittle, George Pepper, Timothy Johnson, Geo. G. Hoge, Samuel B. Clayland, James L. Taylor, Alfred Hamilton, Benjamin Howell, David C. Harrison, John G. Elwood, William L. Southard, William F. Brooks, John C. Marsh, W. Edward Warren, Henry Moore, John C. Hackler, Rev. John S. Sutton, Wm. M. McCann, James Carrey, C. M. Mortensen, Hans Armstrong, Andrew J. Nichols, Jake Young, Allen Landers, Abner Petty, Enoch B. Evans, A. C. Ming, Wm. J. Tash, Jack Cottrell, James Hall, Green H. Burnett, John J. Bowling, Frank P. Holly, James W. Cohn, M. S. Franklin, S. B. Fort, A. O. Linton, Ben F. Brown, James D. Jacobs, Marion J. Owensby, Marion F. McGee, W. J. Weaver, John F. Keck - Solomon Carrico, Leander Godt ' August Barton, C. S S c o t t Perr ' VA Garrett, Alexander A. Mather, Ace McMmn, Burrel J. Dunklin, Herbert C. Lovell, John D. Phillips, Tom A. Dawson, Montery M. Garrett, Anderson Futral, M. E. Franklin, Neil S. Jacobs, Joseph H. Kirkman, Alfred Randolph. Robert H. Reed ' James A. Tucker, William E. Overstreet. Thomas G i June 22, 1927 87 White Cem. July 18, 1927 82 Leard Cem. July 26, 1927 79 Forest Park Aug. 10, 1927 74 Forest Park Nov. 5, 1927 78 Oak Cem. Nov. 14, 1927 90 Oak Cem. Dec. 2, 1927 82 Oak Cem. Dec. 22, 1927 79 Forest Park Jan. 14, 1928 82 National Cem. Jan. 21, 1928 83 National Cem. Mar. 28, 1928 80 Oak Cem. Apr. 6, 1928 83 Dardanelle, AR Apr. 12, 1928 78 Gilliam Apr. 26, 1928 77 White Bluff July 16, 1928 93 Key Port, IL July 16, 1928 76 Forest Park July 26, 1928 86 Floyd Cem. Aug. 17, 1928 115 National Cem. Dec. 29, 1928 77 Elmwood July 17, 1929 83 Forest Park Jan. 12, 1929 78 Forest Park Jan. 17, 1929 83 Forest Park Jan. 19, 1929 87 Hayes Chapel Jan. 27, 1929 79 Leard Cem. Feb. 13, 1929 82 Steep Hill Mar. 28, 1929 78 Elmwood Apr. 4, 1929 86 Oak Cem. Apr. 21, 1929 76 Oak Cem. May 1, 1929 77 Dyer, AR June 13, 1929 86 Barnes Cem. June 18, 1929 81 Forest Park Sept. 5, 1929 82 Oak Cem. Sept. 10, 1929 83 Arkoal Mar. 30, 1930 81 Jewish Cem. May 6, 1930 89 National Cem. June 3, 1930 79 Oak Cem. Dec. 10, 1930 89 Gracelawn Mar. 7, 1931 80 Barling, AR Jan. 1, 1931 80 Okmulgee, OK June 12, 1931 83 Forest Park June 23, 1931 86 Barling, AR Aug. 1, 1931 81 Oak Cem. Aug. 17, 1931 84 Lincoln, AR Sept. 18, 1931 85 National Cem. Nov. 5, 1931 81 Oak Cem. Jan. 17, 1932 80 Oak Cem. Feb 24 1 . $32 84 Denver, IL Feb. 29, 1932 82 Clarksville, AR Mar. 13, 1932 80 Roselawn Cem. Mar. 15, 1932 83 Oak Cem. May 12, 1932 82 Spiro, OK Nov. 6, 1932 81 Stillwater. OK Dec. 14, 1932 80 White Feb. 18, 1933 87 Forest Park Mar. 4, 1933 82 Shady Grove Oct. 14, 1933 82 Oak Cem. Jan. 6, 1934 80 Branch, AR Mar. 4, 1934 105 Jewish Cem. Mar. 19, 1934 83 Forest Park May 23, 1934 96 Hight Cem. July 20. 1934 87 Oak Cem. July 21, 1934 81 Mt. Olive Nov. 20, 1934 85 Short Mountain Day by day, the past slips away into oblivion and you and 1 are responsible for preserving a part of it for tomorrow. 43 NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES April - August, 1982 ANNUAL MEETING FORT SMITH HISTORICAL SOCIETY Thursday, April 29, 7:00 p.m. Community Room, Fort Smith Public Library 61 South 8th Street LIBRARY — Regularly scheduled/activities: Every Wednesday, 12:15-1:00 p.m., Free movie — everyone brings sack lunch, cokes and coffee are available 2nd Wednesday each month: Book Review 10:30 a.m. Every Thursday morning : Children's Story Hour, 9:30 a.m. All members and guests welcome and urged to attend. For your convenience, ballot for election of new board members is on loose sheet in front of this issue of The Journal. Club meetings in Community Room: 1st Monday, 7:30 p.m. Fort Smith Computer Club 2nd & 4th Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Fort Smith Embroidery Guild 2nd Monday, 6:30 p.m Professional Photographers 4th Monday, 7:00 p.m. Camera Club 1st Tuesday, 7:00 p.m Old Fort Gun Club 4th Tuesday, 7:00 p.m Frontier Genealogy Society 1st Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ... National Organization for Women 2nd Thursday, 7:30 League of Women Voters 3rd Friday, 1:30 p.m Poets Roundtable of Fort Smith 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. in Conference room on first floor . Fort Smith Chess Club May 1-9, 1982, Arkansas will be celebrating the first of what is hoped to become an annual celebration of ARKANSAS HERITAGE WEEK. Purpose of the week is to promote a recognition of Arkansas' heritage through various local and statewide events. For more information concerning state-wide celebration, contact Tom W. Dillard, Director of Department of Arkansas Natural and Cultural Heritage, Telephone 501-371-2761. Fort Smith's celebration of A R K A N S A S HERITAGE WEEK will begin with the: FORT SMITH ART CENTER EXHIBITS 423 North 6th Street: April 4-25 Main Gallery: Ninth through Twelfth-Grade Competition (Arts & Crafts) Bay Window Gallery: Gerald Keith Smith (Wood Carving) Gallery One: Sarah McMichaels (Pottery and Batik) May 2-23 Main Gallery: To Be Anounced Bay Window Gallery: Tim Andrews (Oil and Watercolors) Gallery One: Buck Cheavens (Bronzes) June 6-27 Main Gallery: Robin Garrett (Various Painting Media) Bay Window Gallery: To Be Announced Gallery One: Sandy Jones (Oils) July 11-25 Main Gallery: Ed Wong-Ligda (Oils) Bay Window Gallery: Steve Hathcock (Photographs) Belle Fort Smith Tour May 1-2, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Watch your newspaper for more details of this and other ARKANSAS HERITAGE WEEK activities 1982 OLD FORT RIVER FESTIVAL May 14-15-16 Fort Smith City Park Three days full of fun and food for everyone Sponsored by the Fort Smith Junior League ACTIVITIES AT FORT SMITH PUBLIC LIBRARY April 17 Friends of the Library Book Sale, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 18-24 National Library Week Wed., April 21 Open House at Library 3:00-4:30 p.m. May 1-9 Arkansas Heritage Week exhibits, displays, and film strip presentation of Arkansas History. 44 Gallery One: F. Wendel Norton (Oils) August 1-22 Main Gallery: Drew Kilgore (Photographs) Bay Window Gallery: Vircy Williams (Oils and Drawings) Gallery One: Donna Jones (Oils) PIONEER-FAMILY ACHIEVEMENT South Sebastian County, Awards Ceremony Greenwood United Methodist Church Sunday, April 18, 1982, 2:00 p.m. Recipients: Mr. and Mrs. Edwin P. Hicks Mr. and Mrs. Vernon McGee Mr. and Mrs. John Couch Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Elmore Mrs. John Lassen WESTARK COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Grand at Waldron: April 13 & 14 "Tin Types," national touring musical production. April 16 "Miss Westark Pageant" featuring Miss America, Miss Arkansas, and Miss Oklahoma April 20 Westark Community College Band Concert April 25 . . . Outdoor Pops Concert, an afternoon performance by the Fort Smith Symphony. Sponsored by Westark Community College. July 16 & 17 "Oliver," a theatrical production by the Westark Community College drama department. FORT SMITH CITY DIRECTORIES The Fort Smith City Library is attempting to compile a complete collection of Fort Smith City Directories. Can you help? If you have directories for the following years that you will share, please contact the library at 61 South 8th Street, Telephone 783-0229: 1882 thru 1889 1891 thru 1893 1896 1899 1901 1905 1906 1908 1909 1915 1930 1937 1939 1941 1942 1946 1947 1949 1950 1952 1954 1958 1966 FORT SMITH LITTLE THEATER, 3800 North "O" Street: Season Tickets: Matinee - $10.00 (2:30 p.m., Sunday) Regular - $12.50 (8;15 p.m.) Champagne - $25.00 (7:30 p.m. Thursday) 5 shows are included on the season ticket. ROMANTIC COMEDY was shown in February. Rest of schedule for 1982 productions follows: MORNINGS AT SEVEN Champagne opening June 17 Matinee June 20 Other performances June 18,19,23,24,25,26 ANNIE GET YOUR GUN Champagne opening July 29 Matinee August 1 Other performances July 30 & Aug. 4,5,6,7 SAME TIME NEXT YEAR Champagne opening September 16 Matinee September 19 Other performances September 17,18,22,23,24,25 BEDROOM FARCE Champagne opening November 4 Matinee November 7 Other performances November 5,6,10,11,12,13 FSLT also plans an adult drama for each season which runs for two weeks that is not included in season ticket. The 1982 adult drama production is: WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWA Y? April 8,9,10 and 15,16,17 thru 1903 thru 1917 thru 1935 thru 1944 ARKANSAS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION Annual Meeting April 15, 16, 17, 1982 Majestic Hotel - Hot Springs, Arkansas For further information, see Spring issue of The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, or write to Walter L. Brown, Dept. of History, Room 12, O z a r k Hall, U n i v e r s i t y o f A r k a n s a s , Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701. 45 SIGHTSEEING AROUND FORT SMITH Fort Smith Points of Interest 1. MISS LAURA'S HOUSE: Located at 123 Front Street, this elegant Victorian Baroque style "Social Club" is the lone survivor of six that stood on "The Row." This relic of a once thriving specialized business district has been restored to its original colors of forest green with cream trim. 2. KNOBLE BREWERY: This historic brewery at North 3rd and E Street possesses a stone-arched underground beer cellar. Built in the late 1840's, it was restored by the Carl Wortz family. It is now open by appointment only. The brewery houses beermaking artifacts and other historical collections. 3. JAMES SPARKS HOUSE (ca. 1887): Built by the son of a pioneer family, locally prominent in medical and financial circles, this Victorian Queen Anne style residence has an unusual circular front window and iron flower box. Restored in 1970, theSparks House is now Taliano's Italian Restaurant. Located at 201 North 14th Street, Taliano's is open Monday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m. til 10:30 p.m. 4. FORT SMITH ART CENTER (1879): Located at 423 North 6th Street. The saving of this beautiful old home was the first such effort in what was to become the Belle Grove Historic District. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. til 4:30 p.m., Sunday from 2 til 4 p.m. 5. ROGERS-TILLES HOUSE: Believed to have been built by the John Rogers family and purchased by the Louis Tilles family in 1867. Its architecture and solid brick construction is a smaller scale replica of the barracks building of the second fort. Located at 400 North 8th Street, it is now the Patent Model Museum. It opens from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. LUCAS NANCE HOUSE (ca. 1889 - ) : Located at 601 North 6th, this authentic restoration of the Lucas Nance residence by C. M. Koenig was built by a Fort Smith Cotton King. CHARLES SMART HOUSE, North 8th and D Streets. BELLE GROVE SCHOOL: This imposing structure was Fort Smith's first public school. Namesake for the Historic District, the school began in temporary quarters in 1865. In 1866, the main part of this present school was built. It is located at North 6th and F Streets. Plans are being considered to use it as a City Hall to house all of Fort Smith city offices. 9. OLD TOWN COURTYARD, Garrison & North 5th. 10. NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, U. S. NATIONAL CEMETERY; Located at South 6th and Garland Streets. Judge Isaac C. Parker, the "Hanging" Judge, was buried here on November 17, 1896. Hours are 8 a.m. til 5 p.m. 11 NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, Rogers Avenue and South 3rd. BELLE POINT: Thefirst Fort Smith stood atthisspot, 46 12. 13. 14. 15. built in 1817, overlooking the Arkansas and Poteau Rivers. B A R R A C K S , COURTHOUSE AND JAIL: The barracks of the second fort was rebuilt in 1851. It became the Courthouse for Judge Isaac C. Parker in 1875, and in 1877 the jail was added. Movie, talks and guided tours provided by Park staff. Also modest library and research center. Open 9:00 a.m. til 5 p.m. daily except Christmas Day. No admission charge. OLD FORT MUSEUM, 320 Rogers Avenue, adjacent to the Fort Smith National Historic Site, contains exhibits from all periods of Fort Smith history. Hours are 10 a.m. til 5 p.m., September through May, and 9 a.m. til 5 p.m., June, July and August. Open daily. Admission: Ages 12 and above, $1.00; ages 5-11, 25<P; below age 5, school groups and members, free. Special rates for groups of over 10 persons with advance arrangement. The Museum also welcomes groups wishing to hold meetings there. During nonopen hours, a fee of $10.00 is charged for use of the building. STATE OFFICE BUILDING, 616 Garrison. FORT SMITH PUBLIC LIBRARY, 61 South 8th. WILLIAM H. CLAYTON HOUSE: A visit to the restored home of William Henry Harrison Clayton is like taking a step back in time. It is located at 514 North 6th Street and can be toured daily from 10a.m. til 5 p.m. and from 1 p.m. til 4 p.m. on Sundays. Admission charge is $1.00 for adults and 50C for children. 16. MINCER-KAUFFMAN HOUSE (TOMFOOLERY): This turn-of-the-century Neo-classical design house was restored by Steve and Arlene Wilson and Larry and Margaret Carter and is now Tomfoolery restaurant. Its pastel colors and simple lines echo the classic Greek and Italian architecture of its time. 17. MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, 55 South 7th Street. 18. S E B A S T I A N COUNTY COURTHOUSE: This massive structure at Rogers Avenue between 5th and 6th streets is an impressive sight. It houses many county offices and is always a hub of activity. 19. WILLIAM O. DARBY RANGER MUSEUM AND LIBRARY: Located at North 8th and C Streets in the Belle Grove Historic District. Dedicated to all Rangers from Colonial times to contemporary Airborne - Rangers of the 75th Infantry. General Darby's grave is in the U. S. National Cemetery, Fort Smith. 20. BONNEVILLE HOUSE (ca. 1871): This elegant Victorian Renaissance style residence was restored by Mrs. Ralph Speer, Jr. in 1962. The house is now operated and maintained by the Bonneville House Association. It is open to tour groups of ten or more by appointment only. Located at 318 North 7th Street. For information call 782-7854. 21. CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: Located on Thirteenth Street at the end of Garrison Avenue, this church which was built in 1898, is oneof the first things seen by persons entering Fort Smith across the Arkansas River bridge which links Fort Smith and Oklahoma. 4. A clean-up Campus Award is given each month to the elementary school with the cleanest, most well-kept campus. This project is sponsored by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, whose employees judge the campuses, under the direction of Fort Smith Pride. 5. Twenty-five billboards areappearing aroundtown with the wording, "Fort Smith Is Pretty Neat." This was a joint effort of Bedell, Inc., Donrey Outdoor advertising, and Pepsi Cola Bottling Company. 6. Southside High School Commercial Art classes painted a city sanitation truck with their own design (a hand pointing to the opening on the truck with the words, "Put Trash Where It Belongs.") Westark Community College students plan to paint another truck in late spring, using their own design also. 7. City litter and clean upordinances are being reviewed and upgraded where necessary. A brochure containing these ordinances will be published and distributed to Fort Smith residents with the mailing of water bills. 8. Pride also joins forces with other organizations: ie, Arthritis Foundation's Clean-A-Thon, with the duel purpose of raising funds for the foundation and making Fort Smith a cleaner community. Pride is currently working with the Community Rescue Mission to create jobs for the unemployed by using donated funds to pay for clean-up in the downtown area. FORT SMITH'S PRIDE IS SHOWING Fort Smith Pride was organized about two years ago by a group of citizens interested in keeping Fort Smith clean and beautiful. With Carolyn McGowan serving as coordinator, Pride is attempting to change attitudes with a positive approach, to generate pride in our community, and thus make it a cleaner, safer, healthier place in which to live and work. Mrs. McGowan'soffice is at the Chamber of Commerce office. Through the efforts of this organization: 1. Fort Smith is certified in the Clean Community System and is working toward the goal of "Keep America Beautiful." 2. 500 Bradford Pear trees have been sold and planted. This project will be repeated this fall. 3. Orchid awards are given each month in each of four catagories (residential, commercial, industrial and other, to those who demonstrate pride in our c o m m u n i t y by the way they m a i n t a i n their surroundings.) The recipients are chosen from nominations from the residents of Fort Smith. 47 BOOK NOTES AND AlDRUffiB FAMILY By Amelia Martin predates Stigler and had a school and church there in 1892, along with the milling works. Mrs. Nathaniel Madison Aldridge had come with her sons and families, they had cattle and horses that at times were allowed to the free range Choctaws allowed. Then from time to time whites had to remove stock from Choctaw range. On one of these "round-ups", Grandma Aldridge suffered a heart attack as she was on her horse helping with the San Bouy River Bottom herds. Hers was the first burial in Antioch cemetery. Names of families into which the Aldridge boys took wife include Cheeves, three sons married sisters, James, Reuben and Jefferson Aldridge married Lila, Jenny and Annie Cheeves. James and Jeff remained in the Kinta, Oklahoma area where their descendants are today. Benny, Rueben and Frank moved on to establish Ada, Oklahoma, 1902, then into Seminole County. The milling operations were a part of their lives, along with farming and a deep enjoyment of everyday living. They all trained hunting dogs, bragged about whose was best, kept lineage records on them, calling them by name to each other as though family was involved There are fourteen letters addressed to the Sebastian County Aldridges, however they reveal more about Rienzi, Miss. BIG WAH OF SEMINOLE COUNTY 38 pages, Illustrated, soft bound. Price $3.60. Available from the author, Maggie Aldridge Smith, Box411, Siloam Springs, AR 72761. This book, full of photographs and family letter's, is the story of William Isaac Aldridge, affectionately known as "Big Wah," and the Aldridge families who came from Rienzi (Alcorn County) Mississippi to Sebastian County, Arkansas, in 1880 and settled in the Bloomer area. They came to relatives who were already in Sebastian county. Land records in the Greenwood courthouse show 1874 and 1878 dates for Alfred Aldridge, 1885 for Rueben, and 1886 for James Madison and Martin Aldridge. These were sons of Nathaniel Madison Aldridge who had come by way of Mobile, Alabama into Mississippi, and on October 5, 1881, he wrote to them from Rienzi, Mississippi, saying: "Boys, / want you all to engage me 150 bushels of corn and rent me about 40 acres of good land if you can and let me know when you need the money to pay for it and I will send it. I am on a 'stand' to know whether to send my wagon through by land or not. Rite and let me know what you all think about it. I cannot get off before the first of Dec. I am a going to ship my gin when I come. N. M. ALDRIDGE" Nathaniel Madison Aldridge madethetrip up river with his gin. By wagon came the mill for grinding grain and operations for lumber milling. He had six sons and three daughters that lived into adulthood. Nathaniel died in 1882 and is buried somewhere in what is now Fort Chaffee area, though a check of the cemetery listings do not reveal a stone. The same is true for the five children of the oldest son of Nathaniel, Benjamin Azariah Aldridge and his wife, Margaret Jane Mcllwane. By the time "Maggie" Jane had birthed ten children, five of them had died and her father, Dr. David Mcllwane of Humboldt, Tenn. comforted her by writing, "HALF OF YOUR BABES ARE GONE, TRUE! BUT WHAT A POWER OF ATTRACTION IN HEAVEN FOR YOU!" Five children were also born in Sebastian County before the Aldridge boys were invited to move their mill and gin operations into Choctaw Indian Nation, which they did and set up on a stream south east of Stigler. Known as the Antioch community this A GIFT FROM ALICE by Alice Mikel Duffield. Paperback, 24 pages. Illustrated by Caroline Weaver. Available from St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, P. O. Box 356, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Price - contribution to the church (any amount). Alice Mikel Duffield, age 85, is sharing verses written throughout her unusual lifetime. They are full of the simple things of a bygone day and should be treasured by all who recall those days and want to hear more about them. Mrs. Duffield, a nurse in World War I, is also completing a book comparing nursing then and now. She and her husband Hobart live with their daughter Audrey and son-in-law John (Jim) Henry at 639 Pennsylvania Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830. She also has a son Mike, who lives in Arkansas, and other relatives in the Fort Smith area, including her brother, William Mikel, who funded printing A Gift From Alice as a very special gift to a very special person, his sister Alice. 48 JOURNAL CONTENTS OP PAST ISSUES Limited quantities of past issues of The Journal are available at S5:" per copy at the Fort Smith Public Library. Copies may be ordered by mail from: The Fort Smith Historical Society 61 South 8th Street • Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901 For mail orders. Order by Volume and Issue Number, include your complete mailing address and S5° plus75C mailing charges per copy. VOLUME 1, NUMBER 1 — SEPTEMBER, 1977 Letter from President Map of Arkansas Fort Smith Incorporation Papers Fort Smith City Streets Fort Smith Early Settlement Fort Smith Fire Departments Diary of Corrine Sherlock Southard Miss Agnes Oglesby Oral History Fort Smith Architecture Fort Smith Presbyterian Church Poetry and Poets Eloise Barksdale and Virginia Foster Fort Smith 1877 Fort Smith United Daughters of the Confederacy Book Talk Inquiries Fort Smith Historical Society Organization Fort Smith Historical Society Membership VOLUME 1, NUMBER 2 — DECEMBER, 1977 Telephone Company in Fort Smith Oral History. Capt. Roy G. Wood Poetry and Poets, New Year's Calling In 1883 Diary, Kate Rector Brunoldi and Guler Old Time Broom Making The Joys of Genealogy Fort Smith Architecture First United Methodist Church Fort Smith 1877 Book Notes and Books for Research Inquiries and Bloopers Correspondence from Readers Fort Smith Historical Society Charter Membership Index VOLUME II, NUMBER 1 - APRIL 1978 Oral History, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Lorenz Belle Fort Smith Inc. Gift Texas Road Leard Cemetery Bloopers Bottles, Windows to the Past St. John's Episcopal Church Poets and Poetry, Lord Gaines Goolsby Ancestor Chart, Blakemore Family Conclusion of Rector Family Diary Old Folk and Facts Texas Corner Summer Afternoon Fort Smith 1878 Book Talk Correspondence from Readers Inquiries VOLUME 11, NUMBER 2 — SEPTEMBER, 1978 Presidents Letter Migration - Ireland, Ft. Smith and Points West Tobias Kelly Poets and Poetry Shrine of St. Anne's, May Gray Church of the Immaculate Conception & Catholic Cemetery Rubbings Fort Smith, Hub from which the Western Gold Seekers Went Into The Wilderness Diary - Wagon Train Journal Sparks Family Fort Smith Wagon Company Fort Smith Architecture H. C. Hoffman's Saddlery Shop Oral History. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Godt New Theater Fort Smith 1878 Book Talk Inquiries Correspondence Journal Award from Arkansas History Association 1978 Membership Index VOLUME III, NUMBER 1 — APRIL, 1979 Message from Your Editor Law Enforcement for Fort Smith 1851-1896 Fort Smith National Historic Site Quotations, Judge Isaac C. Parker Judge Isaac Charles Parker Poets and Poetry, Emily Montague Rollwage In Search of Acburacy George Maledon, One Amongst Many Origin of Name "Marshal" and Creation of Federal Court System Marshals for Federal Court with Jurisdiction Over the Fort Smith Area Unsung Heroes Deputy Marshals of the Federal Court f o r t h e W. D. of AR, 1875-1896 A Lawyer's Appraisal of the Parker Court Furnishing New Federal Jail Birnie Brothers Funeral Home and Putman Funeral Home Judge John Henry Rogers Oral History, Eleanor Boone Rogers Fort Smith 1879 Fort Smith Land Records Book Notes Inquiries Index VOLUME III, NUMBER 2 - SEPTEMBER, 1979 1979 Membership Streetcars of Fort Smith and Fort Smith Light and Traction Company VOLUME IV, NUMBER 1 — APRIL, 1980 Fort Smith and the Civil War The Action on Massard Prairie SAHARA Cousin to the South Civil War Battle Site Markers Confederate General Orders Fort Smith as a Focal Point for Advancing the Military Frontier 1850-1851 William F. Rowe Oral History, Edna F. Tustison Real Daughters of the Confederacy The Confederate Women Fort Smith Women During War Between the States Poets and Poetry, Margaret Montague 1879 - 1880 Newspapers Inquiries Letters from Readers Book Notes Editor Receives AASLH Award 1860 Census Index 49 VOLUME IV, NUMBER 2 - SEPTEMBER, 1980 The War and Fort Smith Militia in 1861 Diary of John Lucey Paul Krone, A Belle Point Guard Attention Readers Early History of Varina Jefferson Davis Chapter. Daughters of the Confederacy Flags of the Civil War 1861 - 1865 Oral History, Brigadier General William B. Cantwell Edwin P. Hicks A Civil War Indian Memory Major General James G. Blunt Journal Award of Distinction Inquiries Book Notes 1880 Newspapers Arkansas Territorial Restoration Project 1860 Census - Continued Membership Index VOLUME V, NUMBER 1 - APRIL, 1981 Letter from Editor History of Lutheranism (Missouri Synod) Seb. Co. German Letter Casper Reutzel Belle Fort Smith Tour S. A. Williams Fort Smith Architecture Fort Smith Public Library, Pictorial History Project Industry - Dyke Brothers Lumber Company Dyke Family Miller Family Parke Family Poets & Poetry Confederate Flags. Melcenia. Cato Northern Troops In Fort Smith 1863 Civil War Soldiers Buried In Fort Smith National Cemetery Inquiries Contents Past Issues ofTTie Journal 1881 Newspapers Index VOLUME V, NO. 2 - SEPTEMBER, 1981 United Confederate Veterans Col. Benjamin T. DuVal Poets and Poetry, Prof. D. S. Patrick Jesse Casey Harper, Confederate Soldier News and Opportunities Architecture, P. R. Davis Home Microfilm Collection, Fort Smith Public Library Civil War Soldiers Buried in Fort Smith National Cemetery (L-Z) Book Notes, Inquiries and Bloopers Contents, Past Issues of The Journal 1881 Newspapers - New Era Membership Roster Index 1082 NEWS Articles Taken From The FORT SMITH WEEKLY NEW ERA Eloise Barksdale Wilma Jameson In the months January through June, 1882, the editor of the NEW ERA, Valentine Dell, was serving as United States Marshal of the Western District having been appointed June 15, 1880. The usual term of appointment was four years but Dell was replaced February 20,1882, by Thomas Boles. Dell's article on March 23,1882, reflects his frustration and anger with the present political situation and bitter memories from the Civil War Era. It appears that f o l l o w i n g President James A. G a r f i e l d ' s assassination and Chester A. Arthur becoming President there was quite a lot of political turmoil. Dell blames Guiteau Republicans for the situation. Charles Guiteau was the name of the man who assassinated President Garfield. During these spring months in 1882, the railroad bridge between Van Buren and Fort Smith was being discussed, there was a measles epidemic in the Indian Territory, the news came of the death of Jesse James, they were still having a problem with hogs running loose in the city and there were reports of smallpox all around the Fort Smith area. Although vaccine was available, smallpox was still a feared and dreaded disease as is evident in the articles. However, only one death was reported in Fort Smith as a result of the disease. Also during this period, several prominent citizens died and the fact that they were close personal friends of the editor is reflected in the articles reporting their deaths. For the genealogy researcher, we are including all the weddings and obituaries that were reported during this time. In addition to the Forf Smith Weekly New Era, another Fort Smith Newspaper called Wheelers Independent is available for this time period on microfilm at the Fort Smith Public Library. A Baptist Sunday School was organized on Sunday last in Boone's school house on Adams 1 Street with the following officers: J. C. Stalcup, Superintendent; W. C. Davis, Assistant; Miss Belle Evans, Secretary; John Ayers, Treasurer; Dr. R. D. Seals, Choirister. Thirty-one attendants were enrolled the first day. MARRIED WIMBERLY-BONNER - On Wednesday, Dec. 28, 1881, at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. E. B. Bonner, near this city, by Rev. F. A. Jeffett, Mr. George W. Wimberly to Miss Alice Bonner, all of this city. January 12, 1882 On the evening of the 10th Mr. Ed. Hunt gave a party to quite a number of his friends in honor of his 49th birthday. A merry company assembled and enjoyed themselves to the fullest extent. We wish Mr. Hunt many happy returns of the day. The Fort Smith Mathesian Society have again opened their weekly meetings in Boone's school house, and on last Friday evening at their regular meeting the following officers were elected for the ensuing term: Mr. W. M. Ray, President, Chas King, Vice-President; Miss Laura Mathes, Secretary; and S. A. Ford Treasurer. There was an interesting meeting of the Presbyterian Sunday School teachers, at the residence of Mr. John Smith P. last Thursday evening. An election of the officers for the Sunday School for the ensuing year was held, which resulted as follows: Superintendent, Rev. W. A. Sample; Assistant Superintendent, Mr. R. G. Bulgin, Secretary, Mr. J. Smith P.; Treasurer, Mr. Geo. T. Sparks. January 5, 1882 Dwelling houses are in demand here. We see parties looking for them every day. As this is the week of prayer, which is universally observed over all the Christian world; meetings are held every morning at 11 O'clock in the Presbyterian Church. ************ There is to be a grand festival and concert tonight in the building formerly occupied by Block & Company, given by the colored Belle Point Brass Band and those who want to have a good time should be on hand. Admission 25 cents. United States Marshal V. Dell left on the 6th for Detroit with a large number of prisoners and accompanied by four guards. SOMETHING NEW The ladies of the Episcopal Church have a novelty in preparation for our citizenstomorrow night. They will serve a good substantial tea from 5 until 10 No. 11th Street 50 o'clock p.m., to all who wish to come. Separate tables will be furnished for families, if desired. Fourteen young ladies dressed in costume will preside over all. Admission 25 cents, children 10 cents, and no extra charge for tea. Oysters will be served extra in every style. This arrangement will obviate the necessity of cooking supper at home, for those wishing to attend. There will be good music and the hall in Dr. Main's new building, in which the entertainment is to be given, will be brillantly lighted. died several weeks since of the same fever which has proved fatal to his brother. We extend our sincere sympathy to the bereaved family. January 19, 1882 The idea of a case of smallpox in Fort smith is ridiculous, nevertheless it is on all sides of us and there should be no delay about vaccination. It is a safeguard and should be attended to at once by everyone. Mrs. R. F. Dickens suffered the loss of her son, Willie, last Sunday at 5 a.m. Willie was in his fourteenth year and was a great comfort to his widowed mother. His was a gentle, unobtrusive nature, docile and confiding. Mr. John Buscamp is erecting a residence on Hancock Street. A new livery and feed stable has been opened up on Ozark 2 Street, near the depot, by Messrs Haynes & Long. A WARNING WHICH SHOULD BE HEEDED Our city had a narrow escape from a destructive fire last Tuesday evening. The house occupied by Mrs. Finnigan, corner of Hancock 3 and Mulberry 4 Streets, took fire about 6 o'clock p.m. Tuesday, but fortunately the flames were extinguished before they gained too much headway. It is criminal negligence on the part of our citizens that we do not have an organized fire company, and good engines in good working order. Sengel Bros, have decided not to keep their Barber Shop open on Sunday hereafter. The new brick residence of Dr. E. R. DuVal near the Lutheran Church is about completed. Superintendent Hartman, of the L. R. & F. S. Ry., has engaged Dr. E. Cross to vaccinate all the employees of the company, and the doctor will start over the line on Monday. DIED BAIRD - In this city, on the 14th inst. Miss Effie Baird, daughter of J. Baird, of this city, after a lingering illness, in her 20th year. HARPER - Rev. Blaney Harper5, S.E.M.E. Church, of Pneumonia, January 7th, 1882, at Chocoville, Sebastian County, Ark. Bro. H. was born in North Carolina, May 10th, 1815, married in Tennessee, in 1832, wasatthattime an exhorter in our church, and was preaching ere he was twenty years of age. He returned to this county in March 1851, and settled near the place of his decease, where he reared a large and respectable family. About the time he came to this State he suffered the loss of his sight to such an extent as to forbid his reading, therefore he read his text and hymns from memory. He was a fair preacher, and an excellent revivalist, and was the pioneer of our church in this section after the war. A meeting he held some twelve years since is known as the "great revival." During his last illness his submission and trust were more than ordinary. He was only waiting; nothing moved him, death had no terrors and the grave no loneliness for him; he was going to Heaven. New bedding is being furnished in each cell of the U. S. Jail. The jail is being renovated and made comfortable and neat throughout. The opera chairs to be used in the Presbyterian Church, in place of pews, have arrived and will be put in the church this week. They are models of ease and convenience and will be quite an improvement on the benches. Mr. O. D. Weldon has purchased the interest of Mr. Cad Allard in the ELEVATOR, and that paper will now be edited by Carnall & Weldon. Mr. W. is a thorough printer, and has lived here from his school days up, hence is a well known though not old citizen. Success to the new firm is our sincere wish. DIED BARNES - On Sunday night at 12 o'clock, George Barnes, aged 19 years of typhoid-malarial fever. George was a brother of the late Joe Barnes, who No. No. No. See 1st Street 9th Street B Street pages 8-10, Vol V, No. 2, Journal of Fort Smith Historical Society for Story of Harper Family 51 The City Council has drafted a memorial to congress, praying for an increase of mail service between here and Little Rock to a double daily mail, and requesting that the time at present occupied for the transmission of the mails between these two places be shortened as much as practicable. MARRIED BROGAN-DONAHUE - On Wednesday the 11th inst. at the Catholic Church, Rev. Father Smythe officiating, Mr. Ed. Brogan to Miss Maggie Donahue. We extend our congratulations and wish them a long an happy life. Dr. Thomas Quarrells, of Fayetteville, was in city this week. The doctor took the contract of vaccinating the families of the employees of the 'Frisco Road between Plymouth and Van Buren and accomplished the work in ten days, walking on foot all the way and vaccinating near 5000 persons. January 26, 1882 One hundred and three deeds were recorded by Clerk Stalcup during the past quarter. The handsome new saloon just fitted up by Mr. Frank Freer is now doing a land office business. The c e l e b r a t i o n of the Emancipation Proclamation by the colored citizens of this city at Ryle's Chapel, last Saturday evening, was well attended and proved quite interesting to all. Judge W. H. H. Clayton, Mayor Brizzolara and others addressed the meeting. When our colored citizens go into anything of this nature they never fail to make it a success. Mr. Lawrence Lamb, one of the founders of the DAILY HERALD, now of Memphis, is in the city visiting friends. A Baptist protracted meeting is being conducted in the city by Rev. M. D. Early. A number of new converts. Mr. Geo. W. Truschel and Miss Nannie Geren are booked in the county clerk's office as having applied for a permit to go into partnership on the life plan. Rev. Mr. Birnie of St. Paul, Minn., has been tendered the rectorship of St. John's Episcopal Church, in this place, and is expected here in a short time. The large and magnificent new business house just erected by Mr. J. K. Barnes is drawing near to completion. The two mammoth plateglass windows put in last Saturday measure 7x12feet. The building is arranged with gas fixtures throughout. The old motto, "No excellence without labor," has been rubbed off the blackboard of the Fort Smith schools and "No education without vaccination" substituted. Mr. J. H. Livingston, of Greenville, III, has bought out the saddle and harness establishment of Mr. S. M. Hamilton. He will make a success of the wholesale and retail saddle and harness business if there is a man in the west, who got his start by pulling wax ends, who can. He intends putting up a two story brick business house at an early date - one that will be a credit to our city. February 2, 1882 The Fort Smith Street Railway Company has contracted with the St. Louis Iron and Bolt Company for material for laying two miles of track, with necessary switches and turn-tables. The latest new wrinkle, in the way of the proper thing to do, is to get up a "pound-party," to which all comers are expected to bring sixteen ounces, avoirdupos, of something. Our public school building needs to be enlarged. Catholic Grove is being handsomely dotted with new residences. All places of business, news and bookstores, bakeries, candy and cigar stands, and in fact every branch of business except restaurants and drug stores, were closed Sunday last by order of Mayor Brizzolara. Mr. A. Silberburg, of the Boston Store, left the fore part of the week for the East, where he goes to lay in a stock of spring goods. Mr. T. H. Mali burton takes the place of T. H. Payne, deceased, as agent at this place of the L. R. & F. S. Railroad. Glad to know that friend H. is held in such high esteem by the management of the road, for we know the appointment will please the citizens of Fort Smith. Mr. Frank Smith, who died last week and was buried by the A.O.U.W., held a $2,000 policy on his life, which goes to those he leaves behind most dear. This order has done much, since it's organization, to alleviate the wants of many who but for it would have been left almost, if not quite penniless. 52 Mr. Charles Hoffman, who has been in this country but three months and in Fort Smith two weeks, made us a pleasant call Tuesday. He has learned the English language in three months so that he is able to converse fluently in that tongue. He is now officing at the Capital Hotel, and proposes engaging in the sewing machine business. Repairing sewing machines is his specialty. Deputy Marshal Marks came in Monday from the Osage country with two prisoners. Mr. M. is one of the most daring and fearless men on the force, and it gives us pleasure to be able to state that he has almost entirely recovered from the painful wounds received sometime since, whilst in pursuit of a criminal, by the falling of his horse down a steep embankment, the particulars of which appeared in these columns at the time. The festival and ball at the residence of Mr. W. B. Sutton on Friday night, by the ladies of the Jolly Club, for the benefit of the poor, proved a very enjoyable affair, even though the night was made disagreeable by mud, slush and rain. It was a profitable night for the liverymen as well as the poor and needy. The supper tables were covered with all that the most dainty epicurian could wish for, and the only pity is that there were not more present to enjoy the feast. There was an ample quantity to feed five hundred persons, and had the night and following day been favorable the good ladies who worked so diligently and long would have had the pleasure of turning over to Uncle Jerry Kannady, the pauper commissioner, over $100, instead of $61.50, the amount cleared. Mrs. Judge Rutherford, Mrs. Dr. Dunlap and Mrs. Nathan deserves and has not only the heartfelt thanks of the poor in our midst, but every citizen who is able to appreciate the kindly spirit with which those ladies labored so diligently. Work is being crowded ahead upon the Frisco Tunnel at Boston Mountain, and it is now stated that it will be finished by the first of April. The road this side of the mountain has been graded to within a few miles of Van Buren and the work is being pushed ahead with much rapidity. This rather puts a dam per upon the report that the road would not be finished because of a large amount of its stock having been bought up by the great Railroad King. Gould knows the worth of a through line from St. Louis to this point and there is no danger of his giving us the go The reception tendered the Frontier Guards by Chief Deputy U. S. Marshal Huffington, on Thursday evening last, was a grand affair. The guards rigged out in their gay uniform, with the most charming lot of young ladies present that ever graced any like occasion, made the interior of the elegant new residence look much like the grand receptions had in days gone by, when Fort Smith was an important military post and old General Zackariar Taylor. Jeff Davis, Gen. Bonneville, Gen. Gatlin and others were in their prime. The hostess, in her pleasant, winning way made all to feel perfectly at ease. Dancing, music and social chats were the order of the evening; one room having been set apart for "tripping the light fantastic" and other for music and social conversation. It was indeed a "glorious, grand party." The confirmation of Boles as Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas is yet very uncertain. February 9, 1882 A new and inexperienced bell ringer at the Methodist Church, Sunday morning, caused a grand rush for that vicinty by ringing the Sabbath School bell so fast as that those who heard it thought it a fire alarm. INDIAN ITEMS There are 74 missionaries and 174 church buildings in the five civilized nations. Anybody can purchase the walnut and other timber now being sold by the sheriffs of the different districts and can ship it out after they have purchased it, or do whatever else they can see fit to do with it. The timber is being sold for the benefit of the Cherokee Nation, having been unlawfully cut from the public domain of said nation, and which is considered by the law to be the common property of the people, and can in no manner, except as provided by law, become individual property, especially for speculative purposes. There are about fifteen thousand logs, aggregating over a million feet of walnut timber, advertised to be sold, one lot on the 20th and one on the 22nd of February. The firm of Bell & Jackson had a little unpleasantness between themselves, last Saturday night, which resulted in the former receiving a pretty severe pummelling. Thecourts will adjustthe matter as soon as Mr. B. is able to be out. There are several hundred persons in the city attending U. S. Court. A party of surveyors on the 'Frisco' Line are camping within the walls of the Garrison. Judge I. C. Parker has purchased lots on Knox Street and will soon commence the erection of afine residence. 53 who was killed some time ago in discharge of his duty. Since writing the above, we regret to learn, that the wound is so serious, as to necessiate amputation in all probability. February 16, 1882 On account of the terrible condition of the roads there is very little if any cotton coming in. Uncle Jerry Kannady celebrated his birthday last Saturday, and was presented with a silver headed cane by his friend, Mr. Bleeker Luce. Mr. and Mrs. E. Czarnikow celebrated their silver wedding last Friday evening by entertaining their numerous friends at their residence. An elegant repast was served, being prepared by Messrs Correll & Co., and reflected great credit on them as confectioners. Mr. Czarnikow and wife were the recipients of many handsome presents from their friends. We wish them a pleasant journey in the golden anniversary of their wedding. Knox6 and Walnut7 Streets are in a fearful condition, driving being almost impossible on account of the depth of the mud. THE U. S. MARSHALSHIP Little Rock, Ark. February 2, ... A number of leading Republicans have been in consultation here today organizing a vigorous opposition to the confirmation of Boles as Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas. They say that the nomination was urged upon the President by Senator Clayton in opposition to the known wishes of the Republicans of the state, who contend that Dell, the present incumbent, should be allowed to hold over until the meeting of the State Convention in June, where the choice of the party for the position can be easily and truthfully determined. It is reported that a telegram has been sent by the Secretary of the Republican State Central Committee to the Democratic Senator from this State, and to leading Republican Senators, requiring them to oppose the confirmation of Boles and to allow the Marshalship to stand in status quo until the meeting of the Republican State Convention. The Secretary states that the party recommended by Senator Clayton is distasteful to the masses of the people; that his appointees Cooper as Revenue Collector, and Edgarton as Postmaster - are business partners; and the matter of Federal patronage in his hands looks too much like a family arrangement. MARRIED KUPER-THEURER-At the Catholic Church in this city, on Tuesday February 14th, 1882, by Rev. L. Smythe, Mr. Henry Kuper, Jr. to Miss Elizabeth M. Theurer, all of this city. The wedding took place at nine o'clock Tuesday morning, and long before that hour the church was filled with the numerous friends and acquaintances of the contracting parties. The bridegroom is a member of the Frontier Guards, and they were out in force to attend the wedding. The interesting and lengthy ceremony was performed by Father Smythe, and a high mass was sung by thechoir.The attendants were Miss Katie Emrich and Mr. F. Voelter, Miss Kuper and Mr. M. J. Theurer. After the ceremony the bridal party repaired to the residence of the bride's mother, where an elegant wedding breakfast awaited them. Mr. and Mrs. Kuper received a number of beautiful and valuable wedding presents from friends and relatives. We offer our congratulations and wish them a long and happy life. The Woman's Christian Temperance Association, is a permanent organization in this city. Meetings are held the first Tuesday in every month. The next meeting is in the Presbyterian Church, at 3:30 p.m. on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 7th. The W.C.T.U. will be addressed by Rev. Dr. Winfield at the M. E. Church South, in this city on Thursday evening the 2nd of March, 1882. This lecture will be for the benefit of the Union, and there will be fine music, by a selected choir. Further particulars will be given next week. We were visited Tuesday by our genial friend Col. E. C. Boudinot, who is here attending court. It is a pleasure to meet and talk with Col. Boudinot, and his many friends here are always glad to have him visit them. SERIOUS ACCIDENT Deputy U. S. Marshal J. T. Ayers was injured last Monday by the accidental discharge of his revolver, while examining it. His wound is quite painful though not serious, and we hope soon to be able to chronicle his entire recovery. Mr. Ayers, who is one of the best Deputies on the Marshal's force, was just ready to start out on another trip through the Indian Territory, and had already sent his posse, wagon, etc. ahead, when the accident occurred. He is a brother of Willard Ayers, 6 February 23, 1882 Messrs. Wm. Cook and J. D. Martin passed a creditable examination, and were admitted to the Bar last Friday. No. A Street No. 6th Street 54 by the ladies of the Presbyterian Church will take place in that building. The fine little steamer FORT SMITH left last Friday for Fort Gibson, loaded down with passengers and freight for that place. We learn that B. F. Ayers, late U. S. Deputy Marshal at this place, has been appointed to the place as guard in the U.S. Treasury held by his father, Willard Ayers, for many years, the latter having been promoted to a Lieutenancy on the Treasury Guard. The Baptists in the city have determined to build a church, and have raised about $2,000 for that purpose. This is a wise proceeding, as the members of that denomination in this city are numerous enough to make a church necessary. Yesterday was Washington's birthday. On Tuesday the 21st, the pupils at Belle Grove School celebrated it with appropriate exercises in the presence of quite a number of friends and acquaintances. The following was the programme for the occasion: General exercises, all the pupils; declamation, Touby Siberberg; Biographical Sketch of Washington, Gussie Bulgin; Phillips on Washington, A. Kennedy; Character of Washington, Miss Bettie Reed; Jefferson on Washington, Max Meyer; Washington in Retirement, Miss Carrie Ayers; Mount Vernon, Harry Clendening; Death of Washington, Mamie Hamilton; Grave of Washington, Miss Adelia Dickens; True Nobility, William Sample. An organization called the Fort Smith Bar Association was perfected in this city last Thursday night, with the following officers for the next term: Judge R. B. Rutherford, President; Col. G. A. Grace, Vice-President; James Brizzolara, Secretary; T. P. Winchester, Treasurer. Board of Finance: M. H. Sandels, E. F. Tiler and James F. Read. The meetings of the association will be held on the first Wednesday of each month. Mr. Cad Allard left MondayforHotSprings, which place he intends to make his future home. Mr. F. W. Boas lost a horse last week by the carelessness of the driver of his delivery wagon, in driving too far out into the river, causing the wagon to sink. The driver swam out and the wagon was recovered next day. DEATH OF MR. J. T. AYERS It is our painful duty to notice the death of Mr. J. T. Ayers, an attache of the U.S. Marshal's office, yesterday at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Ayers was preparing to start out on an extended trip in the Indian Territory in the discharge of his duty, but was so unfortunate as to be wounded by the accidental discharge of his pistol which necessitated the amputation of his left leg, above the knee. His prospects for ultimate recovery were flattering, until Tuesday evening, when achangefor the worse set in which has resulted in his death. Mr. Ayers was the youngest of the Ayers' boys, and commissioned as United States Deputy Marshal August 2nd, 1881, and was known as one of the bravest of the force. His last arrests were in the Kiowa Country where he arrested three parties charged with murder. His coolness and courage in making these arrests was complimented by the U. S. Officers at Fort Sill, Indian Territory. He was a gentleman and died a brave man, hoping for a happier life in the world to come, and mourned by a large circle of friends who tender the most heart felt sympathy to the family of Mr. C. C. Ayers, at whose residence he died. THE 'FRISCO ROAD' Our people are very much interested just at present in the St. Louis and San Francisco railroad. It is to cross the Arkansas River at Van Buren and from this place go straight to Paris, Texas. The bill granting the right of way, through the Indian Territory, now before Congress, will pass, we hope, and also the one for the privilege of building a bridge across the Arkansas River at Van Buren. Steps should be taken by our people to back up our representatives in Congress with the expressed will of the people and the necessities of the case. March 2nd, 1882 March 9, 1882 The large two story brick being erected by Mr. J. K. Barnes, will be completed next week, and on Friday night, March 10th, the entertainment given United States Deputy Marshal T. E. Lacey came m Tuesday with five prisoners from the Creek Nation. The Defiance Hook and Ladder Company, of Little Rock, had a grand re-union last week, an account of which was in the Gazette. The Fort Smith Hook and Ladder Company is an organization which we may hope to have in our city . . . ten years hence. V. Dell is still holding the fort, but is ready to turn it over to the next in command, whenever he arrives. 55 A party of young folks made a very pleasant trip up the Arkansas, on the steamer "Jennie May" last Friday night; and the music, both vocal and instrumental, made the evening pass very pleasantly. Twenty years ago we had a very bad smallpox epidemic in town, so bad, that the schools were closed for a time. We went with the present President of the Board of Health to a house nearthe city jail, where there were eight persons of various ages lying with smallpox in all the various stages of disease. There were no houses burned then. In fact this is rather heroic treatment of the disease, as taxpayers may think. But if necessary, so mote it be. Mayor's Office, Fort Smith, Arkansas March 12, 1882 Dr. E. R. DuVal, President Board of Health. Dear Sir - The Board of Health, at its meeting last night, ordered me to cause all clothing and bedding to be burnt in the house infected with smallpox. I am unable to get any one to handle and throw out these things so as to be able to burn them and fumigate the house, owing to its filthy condition. Under these circumstances, what course does the Board of Health desire me to pursue? I am satisfied that something should be done and at once. Very respectfully, James Brizzolara Mayor March 16, 1882 The editor of the NEW ERA is still United States Marshal of the Western District of Arkansas and will be till his successor is qualified and until he can turn the office over to him. This much is certain. But he is anxious to be relieved and hopes his successor will make his appearance soon. The condition of some of our principal streets are simply horrible. It is high time to abandon the practice of filling up with stickey clay and making impassable quagmires of our main through-fares. DASTARDLY INCENDIARISM Last Wednesday night some scoundrel attempted to burn Ault's mill, some three miles south of here. Combustibles had been placed againstthedoorand ignited. A faithful watchdog gave the alarm and his barking aroused the family living about 150 yards distant. With a can of water left for the dog in the mill, Mr. Ault put out the fire in the door, and smothered the fire on the floor inside with meal. The wretched authors of this outrage may not be as safe as they think themselves to be from detection and deserved punishment. Fort Smith, Ark. March 12, 1882 Hon. James Brizzolara, Mayor City Fort Smith. Dear Sir - In reply to your communication of this date the Board of Health directs me to say that as its recommendation of last night cannot for obvious reasons be carried out, that the house recently occupied by the smallpox patient, together with all the contents thereof be burned. This plan is regarded as preeminently necessary, both as a matter of sanitation, as well as to satisfy the public mind that all the steps necessary to stay the progress of the contagion are being rightly and rigidly directed. Very respectfully, E. R. DuVal President Board of Health THE SMALLPOX SCARE "The smallpox is in town," "the smallpox is in town," was the cry at every corner of the streets last Saturday and people would look scared or pretended to be. To hundreds of exclamations of the kind we would say, "Well, what of it? If you are vaccinated you're safe by the simple operation of vaccination." Two things have always struck us as singular, viz: How easily a panic can be created and the thoughtlessness of the people to avoid the cause of a panic. In well regulated communities smallpox epidemics are unknown, because the authorities very properly made vaccination compulsory. This should be done here. A colored man was reported to have the smallpox in the house of Mrs. Tilghman Knox, a washer woman living in the northern part of the town. What action our authorities took will be seen by the official communications given below. The house, said to have been a comfortable cottage well furnished, was burned about noon on Sunday, with all its contents, including chickens, ducks, dogs and the washing of several families. The city will have to foot the bill, of course. March 23, 1882 Whatever the readers of the NEW ERA, in common with the people generally of this state, may think of our removal from the Marshalship of the Western District of Arkansas, one thing is certain, they will find the NEW ERA up to its old standard again, now that we can devote our whole time and energy to it. And to tell the truth, although the Marshal's office is one of good emolument, so 56 needful to one who has been fighting Republican battles in Arkansas for almost twenty years past, if we had to choose, we would rather be an editor and owner of a newspaper as we are, than anything else. were on hand, and when that was not the case, as happened often, the Marshal provided the money on his own credit rather than let witnesses and others wait here till their expenses ate up their fees. We have striven hard to give satisfaction and while we could not please every one, we feel confident that we have the endorsement of the people. An office like the Marshal's office of the Western District of Arkansas has always been the object of strong competition. We expected to serve out our four years, but the Guiteaus of Arkansas were too strong for us hence we have to retire, but will be heard from again. The decision of the Supreme Court of this State, giving Mr. B. F. Hershey one sixths of the lots once owned by Capt. Rogers, the original owner of Fort Smith, has created no little stir in this city. Most of these are very valuable now. OUT Last Saturday the editor of this paper turned over his office of Marshal of the Western District of Arkansas to his successor Thomas Boles, of Dardanelle. To say that we did it gladly and joyfully would be saying what is not true. But it is true, that we relinquished it without a single pang, for so intense, bitter and malicious has been the opposition of the Guiteau Republicans of Arkansas who seem to be in favor with the present Administration, that it is rather a relief than other wise to be done with them all. We obtained the office upon the expiration of the term of D. P. Upham without saying one word in detraction of any opponent, but were endorsed by every honest Republican of the state, an endorsement to which we were entitled by our unremitting labors in behalf of Republican principles and the Republican Party for twenty years past, when it was as much as a man's life was worth to be a Republican or Union man, and when most of the Guiteau Republicans who oppose us now were either unknown or in the ranks of the enemy In former days, the very name of a U.S. Deputy Marshal was a byeword of reproach in the Indian Territory. Now it is respected and the people feel that they are safe from abuse and arbitrary arrest. We found the jail a horrible place, the wretched inmates resting on filthy rags spread on a damp rock floor. We turned it over to our successor with nice, clean, new bedsteads, bedding, conveniences of ablution, etc. etc., so that ladies and gentlemen could visit the jail, as was done, without being shocked at the filthiness of the place. Soon after taking charge the amount of feeding prisoners was reduced from 40 to 25 cents a day through the instigation of parties here. The prisoners have been fed on that allowance, better than before, though the reduction was nearly forty per cent. If feeding was worth 40 cents a day in 1880 it should be worth now 75 cents. No prisoners were robbed, none chained by the neck and inhumanly treated, no severe punishment of any kind ever resorted to and none escaped. Payments were made promptly, whenever funds 8 DEATH OF JESSE JAMES, THE BANDIT ST. JOSEPH, MO. April 3 -— A great sensation was created in this city this morning by the announcement that Jesse James, the notorious bandit and train robber, had been killed here in St. Joseph The body of Jesse James was conveyed to an undertaker's where it was prepared for burial, and where a photograph was taken. James' wife has telegraphed to his mother the news of his death. A number of men have identified the body, and there is no question of it being Jesse James. Fort Smith has three passably good Democratic newspapers, but if you want a thorough, reliable, independent, let-in-the-light paper, with all the news from abroad as well as at home, you must make an effort to get the NEW ERA, an out and out Republican paper and one that always endeavors to mete out justice to all. Mr. Abel Warren died at his residence in Military Grove, last Monday afternoon and was buried Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock in the city cemetery. Mr. Warren was an old and highly respected citizen of this place, and left a wife and three children, to whom friends here and elsewhere extend heartfelt sympathy in their sorrow. April 13, 1882 The weather is delightful. Organ grinders are a nuisance. Five of our citizens left on Monday for a bear hunt in the Nation. Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m. M. B. Schramm, of Waldron, was married to Miss Hopp, at the residence of H. Wolf. The old frame houses on Knox 8 St., are being torn down, preparatory to building an elegant brick building on the lots, which belong to Miss Julia Halliwell, of Philadelphia. No. 6th Street 57 THE APPOINTMENTS Of the New U. S. Marshal - Republicans and Union Soldiers Must Go Charles Burns, Upham's old jailor, took C. C. Ayers' place. Those who have any knowledge of the filthy condition of the jail and the nasty grub dispensed there, when V. Dell took charge, and appointed Mr. Ayers jailor, can appreciate the difference. The first removal was that of George Maledon, guard. Mr. M. is a staunch Republican, served all through the war for the Union, and is unable to work at his trade, that of a carpenter, being cripled in one shoulder, but makes a fine guard. Some stranger was put in his place. George Heckler, Volaire Merchant, turnkeys, were next discharged. Heckler served in the 1st Ark. Battery (Union) and made an excellent officer, so did Merchant, an intelligent colored man. Both are Republicans. The next victim was Mr. Wiley Bailey a steady and reliable man. Cassius M. Barnes is chief clerk. He held the same place under Upham. He first came here under Andy Johnson's administration, as chief clerk of Revenue Assessor, and was then a rank Democrat to the extent of turning a Republican paper, the STANDARD, temporarily in his charge, into a Democratic sheet. We regret to announce the severe illness of Mr. J. R. Kannady, better known as "Uncle Jerry." He is confined with an attack of typho-malarial fever, which we trust will be of short duration. WEDDING BELLS Last night the Episcopal Church in this city was the scene of a brilliant wedding. Miss Nellie C. Hamilton was married to Mr. J. Frank Tibbetts, of Oak Lodge, C. M., Rev. J. L. Birnie officiating. The attendants were Miss Josie Hamilton and Mr. Joe Baker; Miss Lillie Birnie and Mr. H. P. Mayers. Asthe wedding party entered the church, the Fort Smith Musical Society, of which the bride was a member; accompanied by a full orchestra, sang a beautiful chorus, "Come Deck With Flowers;" after which the beautiful and impressive marriage ceremony of the Episcopal Church was preformed by the Rev. Mr. Birnie. The church was handsomely decorated with flowers and evergreens, bytheyoung ladyfriendsof the bride, for the occasion. As the bridal cortege left the church a second beautiful chorus, "Hail to the Happy Bridal Morn" was sung by the society. APRIL 20, 1882 U. S. COURT IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY Last Friday the senate committee on territories discussed the bill to establish a court in the Indian Territory and finally recommitted it to a subcommittee to be amended so as to provide that the Indians may serve on a jury when an Indian is on trial. The committee also agreed to report Senator Butler's bill to create a territorial government in Alaska, the governor, judge and other officers, to constitute a legislative council. The skating rink is well patronized by our young folks, and some of them are getting to be proficient in the art of ... falling down. The following U. S. Deputy Marshals were sworn in: Bass Reeves, J. C. Wilkerson, Addison Beck, John Williams, J. W. Searle, C. T. Heffington, G. W. Pounds. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE At Greenwood Incendiarism On Wednesday morning about 2 o'clock, Greenwood was visited by a fire which destroyed property to the amount of $15,000. The fire originated in a building occupied as temporary court house, where the circuit court records were filed, and they were completely destroyed. The fire was the work of incendiarism, and the citizens are using every effort to find the perpetrator of the dastardly deed. APRIL 6, 1882 Rev. J. L. Birnie, the new Episcopal minister, arrived Friday evening last. Rev. A. S. Worrel, pastor of the First Baptist Church, will hold services every Sabbath in Wirsing Hall. *********** John Knox, oldest son of Kate Knox died last Tuesday at the smallpox camp. It has been ascertained that this dreaded disease first originated from the wearing by Cravens of some clothes bought from Fayetteville by Knox. MARRIED TRIESCH - SCHULTE - At the Lutheran church in this city, on Wednesday evening, April 19th, by Rev. P. F. German, Mr. Conrad Triesch to Miss Alvena Schulte, of this city. After the ceremony the bridal party preceeded to Barnes' Hall, where a reception was held, which was attended by the numerous friends of the happy The members of the Methodist Sabbath school, together with friends of other denominations, joined in an excursion up the river on the steamer "Jennie May." The day was pleasantly spent by all, the weather being beautiful, and no accident happening to mar the full enjoyment of the occasion. 58 couple. We wish them a happy journey through life and that while traveling down the stream of time they may safely weather all the squalls, and should they ever meet any obstructions we trust they they may be little ones. earthly of Jeremiah R. Kannady - Uncle Jerry known by this endearing name all over the state . . . . In every community one sees men that stand out prominently, not because of official position or political influence, but from their private character. Such a man was Uncle Jerry. Though often in official position as Chief Magistrate of thistown and many other stations of trust conferred by the people, no one thought more of him for that-he was still Uncle Jerry, kind, genial and affable to everybody. He was no straightlaced, stiff and sanctimonious confessor, but if Christ was walking upon the earth to-day he would often have been found in his company . . . But Uncle Jerry's life story could not be told without mentioning his life partner - Aunt Sophy. Never married couple presented a lovliersight. They were one indeed, in soul and purpose . . . Col. J. R. Kannady was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, in 1817. His family soon afterwards moved to Ohio and from thence he came to Fort Smith in 1836, when this country was little more than a wilderness. Uncle once told us of his trip down the Ohio and Mississippi and up the Arkansas rivers. It was romantic enough and took several months, and some day we may give a description of it and his struggles. In 1847 he was married to Miss Sophia Barling, a member of a prominent family of this county living about eight miles from town. Their union was not blessed by any children of their own, but the blessing of hundreds of little ones nevertheless will follow their name. The remains of Col. Kannady are to be interred this morning at 10 o'clock, Rev. W. A. Sample, of the Presbyterian Church, officiating. HINCH - BOHEN - Wednesday at 6 a.m., at the Catholic church in this city, by Rev. L. Smythe, Mr. Henry Hinch to Miss M. F. Bohen, all of this city. We offer our congratulations to the young couple, and wish them a long and happy life. APRIL 27, 1882 THAT RIGHT OF WAY The U. S. Senate has passed the bill granting the right of way to the St. Louis and San Francisco road through the Indian Territory. This result is a very decisive one, upsetting, as it does, the claim of the Indians to have a voice in the matter. The Choctaw council last fall, did pass a bill to grant this right of way, but other parties claimed that the bill was fraudulent and worked upon Congress to defeat the consent of the latter. In this the opponents of the bill were unsuccessful, and the United States claim exclusive jurisdiction, consent or no consent. The chief credit of the result, so important to Western Arkansas must be given to Senators Garland and Vest. Strawberries are 35 cents a quart. Mr. J. P. Leake will not attempt to resume the publication of his paper, the WORLD, at Greenwood, as his office was destroyed by the recent fire. THE FORT SMITH OIL WORKS AND COMPRESS Election of Officers - A Merry Party of Visitors Last Thursday a special train brought to the Frontier City the following gentlemen: Messrs Zeb Ward, E. Urquhart, J. A. Miller, and J. W. Cochrane, leading stockholders in the Oil Mills and Compresses at Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Arkansas City, Camden and Fort Smith. These gentlemen were accompanied, upon special invitation, by the following prominent individuals: N. M. Jones, of Brown, Jones & Co., Memphis, Tenn. the leading coal men of the Union, also one of the most prominent bankers of Memphis; S. J. Camp, of the Memphis Oil Company, a partner in the firm of Bryant & Camp, exclusive furniture men of Memphis, and from Little Rock, Mayor Fred Kramer and Alderman Phil Pfeifer, Nick Kuprerls, Charles F. Kidder, Robert McKay, F. M. Chrisman and Chas. F. Penzel Esq., the leading merchant of this state; also A. W. Poole, Esq. of Ozark, the proprietor of Poole At the skating rink last Saturday night, Mr. H. P. Mayers received the prize for being the best skater, while DuVal Porter was awarded the silver cup for being the most inexperienced. Major Jere Hackett, of Marion Township, was in town Tuesday and called upon us. A resident of this county since 1835, Major Hackett is a finespecimen of the old "Arkansas gentleman, close to the Choctaw line." A Major in the Union army during the late unpleasantness, as behooved the scion of a revolutionary stock, he preserves all his youthful vim and vigor to this day. He was shocked to learn of the death of his old time friend, Colonel Kannady, who stood up with him as his best man, more than forty years ago, at his wedding with Miss McMurry. Long may he live. DEAD To-day is a sad day in the history of our city. Today will be consigned to mother earth all that is 59 Euper. The bride was attired in an exquisite costume of white alpaca and satin, with the veil and orange blossoms. The bridegroom looked radiant in the regulation suit of black. The decorations were simply beautiful. The wedding bell was about two feet high made of cedar and white flowers, with an immense magnolia bud for a clapper, and was made by Mrs. Sophia Kannady. The monograms, horsehoes, wreaths and bouquets made by admiring friends of the beautiful bride, were all in perfect taste. After the ceremony the guests proceeded to the dining room to partake of an elegant repast . . . Springs which are bound to bring great profit to himself as well as the surrounding country if properly improved. In connection with the above we would say, that among the gentlemen named are men of large means and public spirit. This growing town needs such men to set on foot enterprises of public necessity, such as gas works, waterworks, a system of sewerage, cotton factories, etc. etc. Lets keep our eyes upon those men. We will want them before long. Remember their names. Changed Hands The HERALD, of this city, has again changed hands, Mr. J. D. Martin retiring. The new partner of Mr. Saunders is Col. D. M. Wisdom, of Jackson, Tennessee, who with his family arrived here last week and contemplates making Fort Smith his future home. Col. Wisdom is a newspaper man of some experience and will doubtless make his mark. EXCURSION TO WILSON'S ROCK The excursion last Monday to Wilson's Rock, Indian Territory, was a very successful affair. The steamer left this place at 10 a.m. and reached its destination about 3:30 p.m. Orations were delivered on the picnic ground by Messrs Brutton and Wilson of the Territory; Prof. Turnham, of Salem, this county and Mr. B. H. Tabor, of Fort Smith. Miss Daugherty was crowned as "Queen of the May," after which ceremony she addressed hersubjects in a neat speech. Dancing was kept up during the day. MARRIED POWERS - CAIN - On Monday afternoon, April 24th, at 5 p.m. by Rev. W. A. Sample, Mr. T. L. Powers of Little Rock, to Miss Ann L. Cain, daughter of Mr. John Cain, of this city. The ceremony was performed at the residence of the bride's parents, with but few intimate friends present. Miss Josie Hamilton and Mr. P. Hur being the attendants. No invitations were issued, but the friends and acquaintances of the young couple called during the evening and several hours were spent in dancing and social converse. We wish them much happiness through life. MAY 11, 1882 Last Saturday twenty-one years ago, Arkansas passed the ordinance of Secession. Most peoplefelt like their death warrant had been signed on that day. Fort Smith was illuminated - feebly it is true and the event created no enthusiasm, but very much the contrary, which feeling was entirely correct, as the result showed. RETURNED Dr. J. Gilbert Eberle has returned to Fort Smith, and resumed the practice of medicine. Office, on Knox Street, near Griffin's store. MAY 4, 1882 Hon. John Rogers, late judge of the 12th Judicial Circuit, has resigned his position and has become a candidate for Congress from this district. Judge Rogers will be a formidable opponent and we should not be surprised if he were successful. A baseball club has been organized by a number of our young men, and after a few days practice will go to Van Buren to play a match game. Fort Smith needs stockyards. Who will take the matter in hand? MARRIED We regret to learn of the death of Mr. Theo Griffith, who died yesterday at his residence on Mazzard prairie. Mr. Griffith was a well known resident of the town and county for nearly thirty years and a brother of Col. S. L. Griffith, of Little Rock. THEURER-JOHNSTON - On Tuesday evening, May 2nd, at the residence of Mr. C. F. Bocquin, Mr. Martin J. Theurerto Miss Alta Johnston, Judge R. B. Rutherford performing the ceremony. The attendants were Miss Annie DuVal and Mr. Ed Botefuhr, and Miss Kate Emrich and Mr. Henry The U. S. snagboat WICHITA, Capt. Joe Evins commanding, came down from Gibson yesterday and will return probably today and resume work as soon as the river subsides somewhat. Capt. Evins thinks that the Arkansas River between this place Dr. E. R. DuVal has been appointed Health Commissioner for the State, by the Governor. 60 shocked this community, for he was seen all day at his drugstore in excellent health and spirits, till half past nine o'clock at night, when he went home. Dr. Nathan was an Englishman by birth and came here some sixteen years ago. He married soon afterwards Mrs. Emma Ray, of this city, nee Miller, a sister of Louis, Joseph and Henry Miller, Mrs. Fishback and Mrs. Hightower and leaves a disconsolate widow and two children. Dr. Nathan was a good citizen, quiet, jovial and of liberal views. His sudden demise has enlisted warm sympathy for his family. and Arkansas City, can eventually be made navigable. Capt. Evins possesses more experience in the work entrusted to him, than any other men we know of. THE HOG QUESTION This town needs a hog law. Hogs have become so numerous and are such a nuisance, that something must be done to abate it. They attack everything eatable about stores, lie in piles upon sidewalks, root up fences, make nasty wallows all over town and are a positive danger to little children. We believe there is an ordinance regulating this evil. If not, there oughttobeand itshould be enforced, too. We know of a merchant who was so annoyed by a pig last week, that he had to kill it and paid the owner for it rather than stand the nuisance any longer. NEW STEAM FERRY There is a fine new steam ferry now plying between the northern and southern shore of the Arkansas River at this place, all within thestate. The boat leaves the wharf at this city and lands just below the state line on the other side. This does away with the unwieldy old flats and settles all wranglings about the ferry privilege. Baird brothers are the owners. OSAGES DYING RAPIDLY Maj. L. J. Miles, Indian Agent for the Osages, writes to Capt. L. W. Marks, U. S. Deputy Marshal, that the measles are very fatal among the tribe. At the agency there are forty down with it, threeorfour dying daily. Instead of letting the disease take its usual course the "Medicine men" of the tribe resort to heroic treatment to combat the disease. The patient, when the fever comes on, is either steamed on hot stones in an almost airtight tepee or taken to a creek and soused in cold water. Eithertreatment is successful - sending the patient to the happy hunting grounds. MAY 25, 1882 The town of Rogers in Benton County celebrated its first birthday a few days ago. One year ago the site of the town was in the woods. Today it contains 1226 inhabitants. A SAD AND FATAL ACCIDENT Last Thursday afternoon about four o'clock, Monroe Cushman, employed in McLoud and Johnston's livery stable met with an accident that speedily terminated his earthly career. He was hitching up a team for Dr. Leo Bennett and Will Mellette, a young lawyer, who were about to take a trip into the Indian Territory, when the latter's large revolver went off as he was getting into a chair in front of the office on the sidewalk, the hammer coming in contact of the chair. The bullet struck the stone pavement and, glancing upward, struck the unfortunate man near the knee, shattering the latter and cutting the artery. The poor man was carried into the office where Drs. DuVal, Johnson and Bennett at once attended him. Amputation was at once determined upon as the only means of saving the man's life; but the shock to his system and the great loss of blood made the operation impracticable at the time. He was then taken to Mrs. High's boarding house across the street, where he lingered till three o'clock next morning when hedied. He wasquiet, sober and industrious man and leaves a wife and babe near Caddo, I. T. Mr. Mellette, the innocent cause of the sad affair, was overwhelmed with sorrow and none regretted it more keenly. MAY 18, 1882 The Fort Smith Cotton Press is running and doing business at the rate of 40 bales an hour. There are only about 2,000 bales on hand, however. So the work will have to stop again soon. But the capacity of the press has been fully tested, and it will have ample opportunity next Fall to do full work. ANOTHER LANDMARK GONE Death doth rapidly gather in his sheaves. Within a very few weeks a number of our oldest citizens have been laid to rest. It pains us to chronicle the decease of another. Last night at eleven o'clock the soul of F. X. Coinson took its departure for the shore beyond, after an illness of only five days. Mr. Coinson reached the ripe age of nearly 78 years, but, owing to a fine constitution and a most temperate life, he hardly ever knew what sickness was up to the day of his death almost. IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH Dr. Henry Nathan died suddenly of apoplexy at his residence in this city at eleven o'clock p.m. last Thursday night. The intelligence of the sad fact 61 JUNE 8, 1882 The "Chinese question" has invaded this remote locality, a descendant of the Flowery Kingdom having opened a laundry on the Avenue. RIVER NEWS The late high water has subsided and the bars once more come up out of the water. The little steamer RED BLUFF, Capt. Conrad in command, came up from Little Rock on Thursday night last with a good load and returned again next morning. JUNE 15, 1882 Quite a crowd was drawn to the Reservation on Saturday afternoon to witness the baseball match between the young colored gents of this city and Van Buren, in which the latter came off the victors. Will Hayman of Van Buren is engineer of the "Oasis" steam ferry here. The U. S. Signal station has been discontinued at Fort Gibson, IT. and established in this city. JUNE 22, 1882 Deputy Marshall Bass Reeves came in on Monday from the Indian Territory, with eight prisoners charged with various crimes. GRIER-MILEY - On Tuesday, May 23rd, 1882, at seven o'clock a.m. at the Catholic church in this city, Mr. Stephen Grier to Miss Jennie Miley; Rev. M. Smythe officiating. We wish "Steve" ari'd his bride a long and happy life. On Tuesday night at the residence of Mr. Hightower, Mr. Paul, of Mexico, Mo. was married to Miss Hereford, of this place. INDEX il - some sort of graphic is used, other than a portrait, por - a portrait of the person(s) named is on page indicated. (---) - for such as spouse, title, marital status, degree, etc. "—" - nickname. Banks, -—Gen., 18 Baptist Church The Baptist Advance, a periodical, 37 Baptists raise money to build church, 55 First Church, 34 First sermon preached, 34 A preacher at age 16, 34 Slaves build first church, 34 see also First Baptist Church Barksdale, Eloise, 50 Barnes, Cassius M., 58 Barnes, George, 51 Barnes, George W., 43 Barnes, J. K. builds commercial facility, 52, 55 Barnes, Joe, 51 Barnes, Moses A., 43 Barnes, Sarah, 38 Barry, James M. Dr., 35 Bartlett, Jesse H., 42 Barton, C. S., 43 Baseball, 60, 62 Basham, Jap, 42 Bassett, — LCol., 8 Beardsley, B., 42 Bearss, Edwin C., 2-33 Beaty, William, 43 Beatty-Brown, Florence R., 23 Beauregard, P.G.T., Gen., 4 Beck, Addison, 58 Bedell, Inc., 47 Been, William J.. 43 Bell & Jackson, business partners have a "falling out," 53 Belle Fort Smith Tour, 44 Belle Grove School, 46. 55 Belle Point Brass Band, 50 Bennett, Leo, Dr., 61 Bennett, Wm. L. (DD), 39 por, 40 Berry, James R., 15 Bertrand. C. P., 25 Bethlehem Baptist Church, 38 Big Wah of Semmole County. Smith, Maggie Aldridge, 48 Bigelow, —, 23 Bird, Isaac, 42 Birnie, ---, Rev., assumes rectorship of St. John's Episcopal Church, 52 Birnie, Henry C., 42 Birnie, J. L., 58 Birnie, Lillie, 58 Birnie, W. S., 42 Bishop, — LCol.. 16 Bittle, George, 43 Adams, John, 36 Adams, Joseph, 41 Adams, Zachariah T, 42 Akin, Andrew Jackson, 41 Aldridge, Benjamin A. (Margaret J), 48 Aldridge, Benny, 48 Aldridge, Frank, 48 Aldridge, James (Lila), 48 Aldridge, Jefferson (Annie), 48 Aldridge, Nathaniel Madison, 48 Aldridge, Reuben (Jenny), 48 Allard, Cad, 51, 55 Allen, W. E. (Edith), 38 Ammon, Jacob, 43 Ancient Order of United Workmen (AOUW), is praised, 52 Anderson, —- Maj., 8 Andrews, Tim, 44 The Antioch Community, now Stigler, OK., 48 Architectural heritage preservation of, 40 Arkansas Heritage Week, 44 Arkansas Historical Association, Annual Meeting, (1982) information, 45 Arkansas Natural and Cultural Heritage, Dept. of, 44 Arkansas River, 60-2 Armstrong, Andrew J., 43 Armstrong, Dr., 36 Armstrong, Henry Clay, 36 Arson, 56-8 Arthritis Foundation, Clean-A-Thon, 47 Arthur, Chester A. Pres. of the U. S., 50 Ayers, B. F., 55 Ayers, C. C., 41, 55 Ayers, Carrie, 55 Ayers, E. D., 15 Ayers, Edith, 37-8 Ayers, J. T., 54-5 Ayers, John, 36, 50 Ayers, W. N., 35-6 Ayers, Williard, 54-5 Babcock, Frank, 41 Bach, Samuel, 43 Bailey, -— Dr., 20 Bailey, Wiley, 58 Baird, Effie, 51 Baird, J., 51 Baker, Joe, 58 Ball, Philip A. (Josephine), 36, 38 62 Black, Thelma, 1 Blakely, B. C. Cpt., 42 Bliss, Calvin, 15 Block, & Co., 50 Blue Laws, 52 Blunt, James G. Gen., Cover, por; 3-8, 10, 13, 24, 32 Boas, F. W., 55 Bocquin, C. F., 60 Bohen, M. F. (Miss), 59 Boles, Thomas, 50 Bolton, Charles, 41 Bomford, —- Dr., 8 Bonner, Alice, 50 Bonner, Calvin J., 42 Bonner, E. B., 50 Bonneville House, 47 Book Reviews, 48 Borrough, John, 41 Bostick, J. S., 8 Botefur, Ed., 60 Boudinot, E. C. Col., 54 Bowen, Thomas M., Col., 8, 26 Bowling, Frank P., 43 Bowman, E., 35 Bowman, J. H., 41 Boyd, Marcus, 22 Braden, W. F., 42 Bradshaw, John S., 42 Braun, William, 41 Brawner, W. T., 41 Brizzolara, James (Mayor), 52, 55-6 Brodie, D. W., 42 Brogan, Ed (Maggie), 52 Brogan, Edward C., 41 Bromley, James H., 42 Brooks, ---, Col., 26 Brooks, John C., 43 Brooksher, Wm. R. Dr., 37 Brown, B. S., 41 Brown, James D., 43 Brown, John R., 42 Brown, W. W., 42 Brown, Walter L., 45 Bryan, W. A., 37 Bryan, Willis O., 43 Buckley, D. 34-5, 39 por, 40 Buckley, Hezekiah, 42 Buckley, M. S., 35 Buckner College, 40 Buckner, Harrison, 42 Bugg, T. W., 42 Bulgin, Gussie, 55 Bulgin, R. S., 50 Burcham, Abijah, 43 Burnett, John J., 43 Burns, Charles, 58 Burrows, --- Gen., 29 Busby, William L., 41 Buscamp, John, 51 Bussey, Cyrus, Gen., Cover, por; 27-33, 35 Butler, — Gen., 31 Butler, — (Senator), 58 Byers, C. A., (Mrs.), 35 Byers, Wm. H., 35 Cabell, William L. Gen., 4, 6 por Cain, Ann L., 60 Cain, John, 60 Cainan, George W., 42 Caldwell, --- (Judge), 31 Caldwell. Jimmie Delle, 1 Calkins, E. A., Maj., 8-9, 32 Callahan. ---, 41 Callan, Daniel, 42 Calvary Baptist Church, 38 Cameron, Dan, Rev., 39 por, 40 Camp, S. J., 59 Canby, Edward, Gen., 25 Carnall & Weldon, editors, 51 Carr, ---. Gen., 18 Carrey. C. M., 43 Carrico, Leander, 43 Carroll. Missy Cole, 1 Carter. Larry (Margaret), 47 Carter, Thomas H., 41 Celebrations, 52 Cemeteries, 41-3 Chambers, C. C., 37 Chambers, J. D., 35 Charles Smart House, 46 Cheavens, Buck, 44 Cheeves, Annie, 48 Cheeves, Jenny, 48 Cheeves. Lila, 48 Cherokee Nation, 53 Cherry, Alberg G., 42 Childers, C. C., 43 Chinese laundry opens in Fort Smith, 62 Choctaw Nation, 48 Chrisman, F. M., 59 Church, F. O., 41 Churches, missions for the Indians, 53 City Directories, Fort Smith, list of needed by Fort Smith Public Library, 45 Civil War, 35 Amnesty, 14, 30 Area Indians call council in Fort Smith, 1SEP1865, 32 Arkansas General Assembly ratifies constitutional amendment prohibiting slavery, 29-30 Arkansas readmitted to the Union, 33 Arkansas River iced over, 11 il Arkansas sends representative to claim seat in Congress, DEC1863,10 Assassination of white officers who commanded Negro troops, 23 Atrocities, 15-6 Battle of Gettsburg, 9 Battle of Massard Prairie, 21-2 Battle of Prairie Grove, 9 Bushwackers, 8, 11, 14, 16-7, 19, 22, 26, 29-30 Camp life, 19, 22 Celebrations, 9-10, 21, 24, 28-9, 31 Chaplaincy, 19, 22, 31 Chickasaw Indians, 33 Choctaw Indians, 33 Churches and clergy, 9, 22, 23, 30 Civilian population returns to Fort Smith in record numbers, 33 Civilians taken prisoner, 8 Command, change of, 8, 12-3, 27, 30, 32-3 Congress of the U. S., 20 Refuses to seat the Arkansas congressional delegation, 10, 30 Conventions, 4, 13-4, 18-9, 32 "Copperheads," 13, 30 Cosmopolitan Saloon, 11 County officials elected, 15 "Cradle of the First Southern Free State," a term applied to Fort Smith as a meeting held to prepare for the end of Arkansas's secession,7,15 Crime and criminals, 8, 30, 32 Davis, Jefferson, Pres. CSA, captured, 23 Demobilization, 30 Devil's Backbone, action at, 4, 6 Dual Plantation, 28-9 Elections, 10, 14-5, 18, 24 Eleventh U. S. Colored Troops, 12, 19 Ernich & Lender, merchants, 11 Espionage, 18 Family life, 31 Farming, 13-4, 28-9 First Arkansas Union Infantry captures Fort Smith, 6 Food supply, 8, 10-1, 13-4, 24-6, 28 Fort Smith, Attached by State militia - ordered by Governor Rector, 4 Citizens, hope that Arkansas may be the first seceded state to return to the Union, 15 Petition Pres. Lincoln for adequate supplies for themselves and for the loyal refugee Indians at Fort Gibson, 28 Re-awaken in Spring of 1865, 29 City of, elections, 18 Defenses build up, 17 In shambles as result of decision to abandon the City in winter of 1864/5, 26 Meets to consider return to the Union, 4 Fort Washita and Fort Arbuckle burned by rebel Indians, 31-2 General Blunt and newspaper publisher "have words," 32 General Lee surrenders, celebrations follow, 29 Grand Indian Council, 1-21SEP1865, 32-3M Guerilla warfare, 15, 22 Gun boats, 20M Horses, 8 Indian Territory action, 4, 19 Indian troop activity, 15, 19 Indians, Convene to insure that their lands remain for their sole use, 33 Worry over threat of Negro influx to the Indian Territory, 32 Justice and law, 23 Lane's String Band, 11 Legislation passed to allow re-entry to Union for states who seceded without statewide vote, 20 Legislative activity. Federal and State, 10, 20, 29-30 Little Rock falls to Union forces, SEP1863, 7 Local men travel to Wash., DC, to discuss re-entry to the Union, 20 Local troops called to fight south of Fort Smith, 16 Louisiana seeks re-entry to Union, 20 Lynching, 9 Many destitute in area, Spring of 1865, 29 Maps. Battle of Massard Prairie, 21 Blunt captures Fort Smith, 5 Choctaw Nation activity, 3 Fort Smith as a Union depot, 27 Military operations. Spring, 1864, 17 63 Medical care, shortage of, 16 Meetings, town and county, 2, 4, 7, 10-1, 13 Methodist Episcopal Church, 22-3 Military, Activity in Texas and Louisiana, 16 Guards farmers and supply trains, 28-9 Jurisdiction in state of confusion, 12-3 Pay, 21, 28 Units, Arkansas, 6, 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22 Units, out of state, by state, Illinois, 6 Iowa, 11, 16 Kansas, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18-9, 21-3 Missouri, 4 Wisconsin, 9-10 Money, 9, 29, 31 Morale, 8 "Mountain Feds," 7 National Union Convention (Republican), 18-9 Negro troops, 18, 23-4, 26, 32 New Arkansas Constitution is drafted, 14 Newspapers, 2-33 Northwest Arkansas moves toward "reunion," 7 Orders to abandon Fort Smith, 1DEC1864, rescinded by Gen. Grant, 12DEC1864 and again, 3JAN1865, 25 Orphan population increases, 31 Orphanage, funds requested for, 22 Osage Indians, 33 Plunder, booty, etc., 11, 30 Poetry, 19 Postal service, 11, 30 President Lincoln, Acts on premature abandonment of Fort Smith, 25 Assassinated, 29 Promises Arkansas military support, 20 Proclamation of Amesty and Reconstruction, 14 Propaganda, 9, 19, 30 Provisional Governor (Arkansas) elected, 14 Public health and sanitation, 28 Quartering of troops, 9, 11, 24 "Rackensack," 15 Real estate transactions confused by use of Confederate money, 31 Reconstruction, 13-4, 33-4 Recruiting, 6, 13, 23, 29 Referendum as regards secession, 4 Refugees, 8, 13, 15, 19, 21-3, 25 Released prisoners of war harassed on return home, 31 Richmond falls, end of war in sight, 29 River steamers supporting Fort Smith, listed, 28 River traffic, 15, 17-20, 25-8 Schools not to be used for hospitals or other military uses, 9 Schools, public, 16 Secession, 4 Slavery-Race, 9, 20, 23, 29-30 Stageline activity, 9 Supply and logistics, 4, 7-8, 10, 17-8, 25-6 Surrender, 29 Surrounding counties meet to discuss reunion, 11 Swindling by military is charged, 32 Taxation, 28-9, 31 Temperance, 16 Trade, 8, 11, 24-5, 32 Treason is charged, 7 Troop count for Fort Smith area, Aug. 1863, 4 Troops from out of state settle in Fort Smith, 31 Troops welcomed, feted, etc., 6, 8il, 20 Union League of America, 10 Union sympathizers meet, 4 Adopt resolutions in support of return to the Union, 7 Union troops retreat, 18-9 Union victory joy not shared by all Arkansans, 30 Union viewpoint described in local newspaper, 4 Wagons cross frozen Arkansas River, 11 il Wagontrains, 28 Weather, 11 Women volunteer for non-combat duties, 19 Clarks, S. C., 41 Clarkson, R. A., 36 Clay, James H., 42 Clayland, James L., 43 Clayton, -— (Senator), 54 Clayton, William H. H. (Judge), 52 Clendening, Harry, 55 Clifton, M. W., 41 Cloud, William, Col., 4, 6, 8 Clubs - Societies, 41, 44, 50, 52-3 Coble, F. A. J., 42 Cochrane, J. W., 59 Cockrum, J. L., 42 Coffey, S. E., 42 ^ Cohn, M. S., 43 Coinson, F. X., 61 Cole, William A., 43 Collins, J., 42 Community pride, 47 54 Compere, E. L. Rev., 35, 39 por, 40 Confederate veterans buried locally, 41-3 Cook, —, 33 Cook, Arzetia, 43 Cook, Charles, 41 Cook, W. F., 41 Cook, William passes bar examination, 54 Cooke, Paul, Rev. 40 Cooley, D. N. (Judge), 33 Cooper, —, 54 Cooper, — Gen., 18, 29 Cooper, T. H., 42 Cope, T. S., 41 Correll & Co., confectioners, 54 Cosmopolitan Saloon, 8, 11 Cotner, Leonna Belle, 1 Cottage, with pets, plus domestic animals burned since property was suspect in the Smallpox scare, 56 Cotton, 54, 61 Cottrell, James, 43 Cottrell, William, 43 Cover, Noah, 43 Cowen, Ruth Caroline, 7, 30 Cox, G. W., 41 Cox, Ida, 36 Cox, Steve, 22 Crain, William B., 42 Crime and criminals, 50, 55, 57 Cromwell, Samuel, 41 Cross, E., Dr., 51 Crowe, William, 43 Cummings, John, 41 Cunningham, John W., 35 Curtis, Samuel R. Gen., 12 por Curtis, W. H., 42 Cushman, Monroe, 61 Cyachert, Joseph, 41 Czarnikow, E., 54 Dailey, Daniel F., 41 Daly, Patrick, 42 Dancing, 53 Darby, William O. Gen., 47 Dawson, Montery M., 43 Davidson, F. E., 42 Davis, C. L., 42 Davis, Daniel F., 42 Davis, J. A., 18 Davis, Jefferson, Pres. of the CSA, 24, 30 Davis, W. C., 50 Davis, W. H., 42 Day, J. A., 41 Dean, Richard, 41 Decker, Oliver, 43 Dell, Valentine, 2, 4, 18-20, 30, 32-3, 50, 54-6, 58 Dew, J. H. (DD), 38 Dickens, Adelia, 55 Dickens, R. F., 51 Dickens, Willie, 51 Dickerson, I. B., 11 Dillard, Tom W., 44 Diseases, 38, 50, 56, 61 Dockery, —, Gen., 18 Doerr, James, 42 Donahue, Maggie, 52 Don rey Advertising Co., 47 Dorente, J. N. E., 41 Dottery, James, 42 Douglas, —, Rev., 21 Douglass, Eliza, 42 Dubois, —, Col., 33 Duff, —, Cpt., 21 Dukes, Reuben A., 43 Dunklin, Herbert C., 43 Dunlap, —, Dr. (Mrs.), 53 Dunn, Wiliam N., 43 DuVal, —, Cpt., 34 DuVal, Annie, 60 DuVal, E. R. Dr., 51, 56, 60 Dyer, William, 42 Dyer, William M., 43 Early churches, 34 Early, M. D. Rev., 52 Early, W. W., 41 East, Eliza H., 43 East, M. A. Rev., 21 Eberle, J. Gilbert, Dr., 60 Edgarton, —, 54 Edmondson, Sam., 34 Edmunds, J., 42 Edwards, —, Col., 8 , Edwards, David R., 43 Edwards, John, Gen., cover, por; 12, 24, 28 Elliott, William, 41 Ellis, Siley M., 34-5 Elinor, John E., 43 Elwood, William L, 43 Emancipation Proclamation anniversary celebration, held by colored citizens, 52 Emrich, Katie, 54, 60 Emrich, John, 18 Epidemics, 61 Episcopal Church ladies serve a "good substantial tea," 50 Epple, Christian, 41 Euper, Anton, 41 Euper, Henry, 60 Euper, Mary Nell, 1 Evans, A. C., 43 Evans, Belle, 50 Evins, Joe, Cpt., 60 Ezell, Robert, Rev., 40 Pagan, —, Gen., 18 Fentress, Oscar (Mrs.), 41 Ferguson, B. W. Rev., 38-9 por, 40 Ferrari, Joseph M., 42 Festivals, 50, 53 Fewell, J. B., 41 Fink, Henry, 41 Finn, M. H., 41 Fire protection, lack of, is protested, 51 Fires, 55, 58 First Baptist Church 34il, 35-40 Academy of Music used as a meeting place, 37 Air cooling and indirect lighting, ca 1913, 38 An "Avoirdupois Social," 36 Barry, James M. Dr., donates funds for purchase of land, 35 Bazaar held in 1895, 36 Boone's School House used as a church, 1882, 35 The Brotherhood, 40 Church officers, 1886, 36 Comes into being, 1DEC1857, 35 Construction activity prior to 1900, 35-6 Construction under Dr. Ferguson's pastorate, 38 "The Cyclone Bible," 37 Early revival held, 36 Fellowship Hall is added, 40 First meeting of record, 35 First Presbyterian Church used as a meeting place, 37 First Sunday School, 35 Foreign mission activity, 37-8 Furnishings provided by 'the young ladies," 36 Growth cited, 36 Illustrations, 34, 37 Joint worship, white and negro, 35 Land purchase for parsonage, 37-8 Membership totals, 35, 37, 40 Ministerial and salaried staff, 1981, 40 Mission Church activity, 37-8, 40 New Construction, 1899, the Church standing at North 13th and D Sts., 37 il New organ installed, 38 Pastors, in portrait, 39 Pastors, roster of, 40 Pastor's salary, 1883, 35 Purchases land, 35 Radio and television ministry, 38-40 Razing of first church building is stopped, 35 Revival held in warehouse, 38 Riverside Mission, 40 Sanctuary seating increases, 40 Slaves baptized, 35 Sunday School activity, 38, 40, 50 Third Street Mission, 40 Tornado destroys church, 35-7 Tornado, 1898, is foretold, 37 Turner Hall used as a meeting place, 37 Union Army stores hay in church bldg., 35 Wirsing Bldg. used as a church, 1882-1885 (est), 35 Fishback, —, (Mrs.), 61 Fisher, Alfred, 42 Fisher, John H., 43 Ford, S. A., 50 Fort, A. O., 43 Fort Smith Art Center, 44-6 Fort Smith Bar Association perfects organization and elects its first slate of officers, 55 Fort Smith Chess Club, 44 Fort Smith, City of, Council asks for increase in mail service between Little Rock and Fort Smith, 52 Fort Smith computer Club, 44 Fort Smith Cotton Press, 61 Fort Smith Embroidery Guild, 44 Fort Smith Junior League, 44 Fort Smith Little Theatre, 1982 season and ticket information, 45 Fort Smith, making it a cleaner, safer, healthier place to live, 47 Fort Smith Mathesian Society, 50 Fort Smith Musical Society, 58 Fort Smith points of interest, described, 46 "Fort Smith Pride," a civic group, 47 65 Fort Smith Public Library activities, 44, 47 "Fort Smith," river steamer, 55 Fort Smith Street Railway Co., contracts for two miles of track, 52 Fort Smith Weekly New Era, newspaper, 2-33, 50-62 Foster, C. G., 18 Foster, Isaac, 41 Foster, John, 43 Foster, V. L., 35 Franklin, Joe S., 42 Franklin, Neil S., 43 Franklin, S. B., 43 Freer, Frank, opens a new saloon, 52 Frontier Genealogy Society, 44 Frontier Guards feted by Chief Deputy U. S. Mashal Huffington, 53 Frost, J. J., 35 Fumet, Peter, 41 Funkhouser, A. M., 41 Furr, Paul, 43 Furrow, James A., 42 Futral, M. E., 43 Gano, —, Gen., 22, 29 Gardner, Thaddeus, 41 Gardner, W. H., 41 Garfield, James A., Pres. of the U. S., 50 Garlick, Pauline, 38 Garrett, Alexander A., 43 Garrett, Anderson, 43 Garrett, Robin, 44 Garrison, —, Rev., 29 Gatlin, Richard, Maj., 4 Gee, T. S., 37 German, P. F. Rev., 58 Gibson, —, Maj., 11 Gibson, Findley F., Rev., 37, 39 por, 40 Gibson, Gustave, 41 A Gift from Alice. Duffield, Alice Mikel, 48 Gilley, Tine, 42 Glaze, Henry, 41 Godt, August, 43 Godt, Florenz, 37 Gould, Jay, 53 Grable, W. A., 41 Grace, G. A. Col., 55 Grace, Jessie, 36 Graham, William, 31 Grant, Andrew J., 43 Grant, Ulysses S., Gen., 25 Gray, Bertha, 37 Gray, Tom, 40 Green, A. E., 42 Green, Florence, 37 Green, Nannie, 52 Greenwood United Methodist Church, 45 Grier, Stephen (Jennie), 62 Griffith, —, Col., 8 Griffith, E., 41 Griffith, S. L. Col., 60 Griffith, Theo., 60 Gross, Stephen, 41 Guiteau Republicans, 50, 57 Gunter, J. C., 42 Hackett, Jere, Maj., 59 Hackler, John S. Rev., 43 Hailey, O. L., Rev., 36-7, 39 por, 40 Haines, W. H., 42 Haliburton, T. H., replaces T. H. Payne as agent for the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railway, 52 Hall, Green H., 43 Halliwell, Julia, 57 Hallum, J. C., 42 Ham, Mordecai F., (DD), 38 Hamilton, Benjamin, 43 Hamilton, Josie, 58, 60 Hamilton, M. J., 41 Hamilton, Mamie, 55 Hamilton, Nellie C., 58 Hamilton, S. M. Sells saddle and harness business to J. H. Livingston, 52 Hamilton, Zacarna, 42 Hammer, Peter, 41 Hammersly, J., 18 Hampton, William, 41 Harlan, F. S., 42 Harlin (Holland), Jerry, 35 Harmon, H. L., 42 Harner, Amos F., 41 Harper, Blaney, Rev., 51 Harper, Jesse C., 43 Harrison, John G., 43 Harrison, M. LaRue, Col., 25, 29-30 Harrison, Peter, 34 Harrison, Robert H., 42 Harry, Cicero F., 42 Hart, Alex. 41 Hart, M. Cpt., 9 Hartley, Lewis, 42 Haskell, —, Cpt., 8 Hathcock, Steve, 44 Havard, S. A., 41 Hawkins, John W., 41 Hayman, Will, 62 Haynes & Long, livery and feed stable, 51 Hays, —, Lt., 9 Heard, Allen C., 43 Heckler, George, 58 Heffington, C. T., 58 Henderson, Jack, 36 Henderson, James C., 41 Henderson, John L., 36 Henderson, Robert, 24 Herald, newspaper changes hands, 60 Hereford, ---, (Miss), 62 Herriman, M. C., 43 Herron, -—, Gen., 24 Hershey, B. F. Receives one sixth of the lots once owned by Capt. Rogers, original owner of Fort Smith, 57 Hershy. A. R. (Mrs.), 38 Hicken. —. 20 Hightower, —, 36, 61-2 Hinch, Henry, (M.F.), 59 Hindman, Thomas, Gen., 9-10 por, 32 Hines, James W., 42 Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas, Inc., 40 Hobbs, William H., 43 Hoffman, Charles, 53 Hoffman, John, 43 Hog laws needed, 61 Hogan, Orlanda, 41 Hoge, Samuel B., 43 Holland. Cleveland (Mrs.), 37 Holleman, H. L., 24, 30 Holly, James W., 43 Honea, James W., 42 Hope, Huey E.. 41 Hope, William P., 43 Hopkins, Agrippa, 41 Horton, J. G., 42 Housing shortages, 50 Hover, —, Lt., 21 Howard, —, 15 Howell, David C., 43 Howell, Samuel G., 43 Huber, Fred W., 42 Hudson, Mattie A., 38 Huffington, ---, 53 Hughes, Elijah, 43 Hunt. Ed., 50 Hunt, H. J. Gen., 33 Hunton, Annid. 36 Hunton. John B., 36 Hunton, Mamie, 36 Hur, P.. 60 Hurley, Dan. 42 Hutchinson. Richard, 42 Immaculate Conception Church, 47 Indians, 53. 61 Influenza, 38 Ingram, L. O. (Mrs.), 38 Intres, John R., 41 Irvin, —. 33 Jackson. William A., 34 Jacobs. Joseph H., 43 Jacobs, Marion J., 43 James, F. L., 41 James. Frank. 15 James. Jesse, 15. 50 Dies at St. Joseph. MO., 57 James Sparks House, 46 Jameson, Wilma. 2, 50 Jarnigan, George W., 42 Jedlicka. Frank, 1 Jefferson Davis Chapter. UDC, 41 Jeffett, F. A., Rev., 50 Jenkins. William W., 42 "Jennie May," river steamer, 56 Johnson, George G.. 43 Johnson, James M. Col., 6-7, 10, 15 Johnson, Robert, 1 Johnson, Robert E., 18 Johnston, Alta, 60 Johnston, George W., 43 Johnston, Lafayette, 42 Johnston. Moses C., 43 Jolly Club holds benefit festival and ball for aid to the poor, 53 Jolly, J. H., 41 Jones, David, 43 Jones, J. J., 24 Jones, N. M.. 59 66 Jones, Sandy, 44 THE JOURNAL, contents of past issues listed, 49 Judd, Ethel, 38 Judson, C. O. Cpt., 20 Judson, William R. Col., 12, 16, 22, 26 Kannady, Jeremiah R. Col., "Uncle Jerry," (Sophia), 53-4, 58-60 Keck, Solomon, 43 Kelley, J. G., 41 Kellogg, Orman, 43 Kelly, Nick, 1 Kendall, William H., 43 Kennedy, A., 55 Kennedy, Milton F., 43 Kibler, John, 42 Kidder, Charles F., 59 Kilgore, Drew, 45 Kincaid, A. J. Rev., 36, 39 por, 40 King. Chas., 50 King, David, 1 Kinnan, Thomas B., 43 Kinter, —, Cpt., 8 Kirk, Henry H., 42 Kirkman, Alfred, 43 Knoble Brewery, 46 Knox, John, 58 Knox, Kate, 58 Knox, Tilghman, (Mrs.), 56 Koegel. Frederick, 41 Koenig, C. M., 46 Kramer, Fred, 59 Kraner, F. A., 41 Kregel, F. L., Rev., 35, 39 por, 40 Kregel, Georgia, 38 Kuper, Henry. (Elizabeth M), 54 Kuperis, Nick. 59 Lacey, T. E., 55 * Lake, L. B. Cpt., 42 Lamb, Lawrence, 52 Landers, Abner, 43 Lane, Autry, 38 Lane, James S. (Senator), 19 Lane, M.. 11 Lane. Nellie, 38 Laverne, J. L., 42 Lawson, Ray.. 42 Lawyers, 54 Leach, Ivan, 41 League of Women Voters, 44 Leake, J. P.. 59 Leard, J. H. Rev.. 22 Lee. Robert E. Gen., 29 Leffler. William, 42 Lehman. Henry, 42 Leonard, Dennis, 41 Lester, Joshua, 34 Lewis. G. J., 8 Lexington Ave. Baptist Church, 37 Liede. Michael, 42 Lincoln. Abraham. Pres. of U. S.. 8-9. 14. 19. 25. 29 Linton. Ben F.. 43 Little Rock and Fort Smith Railway, 51 Livingston. J. H., 52 Loomis. Floyd, 42 Long. Levi. 42 Loring. H. G. Cpt.. 8. 12 Lovell. John D.. 43 Lucas Nance House. 46 Luce. Sleeker. 54 Lucey. J. M.. 41 Luckenbaugh. James W.. 43 Lumber and lumbering. 53 Lyons. A.. 41 McAfee. --- Rev.. 22 McAteer. Anice. 38 McBride. C. E.. 41 McCain. Sue. 1 McCallum. Hayes. 43 McCann. James. 43 McDonald. A. L.. 41 McDonald. James A.. 43 McDonough. J. B.. 36 McGee. W. J. 43 McGiffin. James G.. 43 McGowan. James. 41 McGurk. Frank. 41 McHaney. John C.. 41 Mcllwane. David. Dr.. 48 Mcllwane. Margaret Jane. 48 McKay. Robert. 59 McKinney. M. E.. 35 McKnight. James. 41 McLarry. Newman. Rev.. 39 por. 40 McLoud & Johnston's Livery Stable. 61 McMichaels. Sarah. 44 McMinn, Burrell J., 43 McMurtrey, Peter T., 43 McMurtrey, W. H., 42 McNeil Baptist Mission, 38 il McNeil. John, 38 McNeil. John, Gen., cover, por; 8, 10, 27 McWilliams, G. C. Rev., 23 Mabry, H. P.. 42 Madgowen. ---. 33 Mahan. Andrew, 43 Main, J. H. T. (MD), 34 Maledon. George, 58 Malodon, Mary, 36 Mankin, Thomas F., 42 Marie, Josiah, 42 Markley, George, 42 Marks. ---, 3 Marks, Jeptha A.. 42 Marmaduke, ---, Gen., 18 Marriages, 51-2 Marsh, Edwin, 41 Marsh, W. Edward, 43 Marshals - U. S., 50, 53-6, 58, 62 Marshalship of the Western District turned over to Thomas Boles of Dardanelle, 57 Martin, Amelia Whitaker, 1, 35, 48 Martin, Bradley, 1- 34 Martin, Erwin, 42 Martin, J. D., 54, 60 Martin, Joseph, 41 Martin, Paddy, 42 Martindale, T. M., 42 Mason, George W., 42 Mather, Ace, 43 Mathes, A. W., 35 Mathes, Laura, 50 Maxey, —, Gen., 18-9, 29 Mayers, H. P., 58-9 Mayor Brizzolara closes on Sundays, all businesses except restaurants & drug stores,52 Meaden, Fritz, 41 Meek, J. S., 36 Mefford, —, Maj., 22 Mellett, Will, 61 Mentzer, ---, Cpt., 11 Merchant, Volaire, 58 Merriman, --- (Mrs.), 36 Metheny, Arlie, 1 Methodist Sabbath School, 58 Meyer, Max, 55 Meyers, John, 41 Michael, A., 41 Michael, David, 41 Miles, L. J., Maj., 61 Miley, Jennie, 62 Miller, E. B., 41 Miller, Henry, 61 Miller, J. A., 59 Miller, Joseph, 61 Miller, John R. Sr., 41 Miller, Louis, 61 Miller, Phil, 1 Miller, W. W., 42 Milling operations, 48 Milor, —. (Judge), 21 Milor, Charles, 15, 24 Milter. John F., 42 Mincer-Kauffman House, 46 Ming. Wm. J., 43 Miss Laura's House, 46 Mitchell. Eli E.. 42 Mitchell. Millard. 42 Mitchell. Zachariah. 42 Mix. ---. 33 Modlin, Thomas M.. 41 Moonlight. --- Col., 24 Moore. John C.. 43 Moore. V. N.. 41 Morgan. Vincent. 41 Morrison. H. G.. 37 Morrow. Joseph. 41 Mortensen. Hans., 43 Moses. Robert R.. 42 Moss. G. W.. 36 Mrs. High's Boarding House, 61 Municipal Auditorium. 47 Murphy. ---. 15 Murphy. Isaac. (Judge) (Governor). 15 por. 15 Music. 50. 58 Myrick. R.. 36 Nathan. ---. (Mrs.). 54 Nathan. Henry. Dr.. (Emma), 61 National Historic Site, including: Barracks, courthouse and jail; Belle Point, Judge Parker's Court, and U. S. National Cemetery, 46-7 National Organization for Women (NOW), 44 Neal, A. C., 38 Neal, V. C., 38 Nelson, Jake, 42 New Era see Fort Smith Weekly New Era Newlon, Ada, 38 Newlon, Dora, 38 Newlon, Juanita, 38 Newlon, Lena, 38 Newman, —-, Cpt., 8 Newspapers, 50-62 Newton, Tom, Rev., 1 Nichols, Jake, 43 Noble, Owen P., 43 Nolan, Peter, 18 Norrid, John H., 43 Norton, F. Wendel, 45 Nules, Sam.. 41 Nutler, John A., 42 "Oasis," steam ferry, 62 O Connell, Michael, 43 Odum, Jeff, 41 Old Fort Gun Club, 44 Old Fort Museum, 47 Old Fort River Festival, 44 Old Town Courtyard, 46 Oliver, W. F., 41 Ong, Harry, 43 Osage Indians, 61 Overstreet, Thomas G., 43 Owens, Charles, 42 Owens, W. B., 41 Owens, W. J., 42 Owensby, Marion F., 43 Ozment, Eli, 42 Packard, R. C., 42 Padgett, Harvey, 42 Page, John, 41 Pannell, Sam., 42 Pantet, Jacques, 41 Parker, ---, Col., 33 Parker, Eugene, 43 Parker, Isaac C. (Judge), 46-7, 53 Parker, M. F., 24 Patent Model Museum, 46 Patrick, John W., 42 Patterson, Pink, 38 Paul, —, 62 Paxton, William E. (DD), 35-6, 39 por, 40 Payne, T. H., 52 Peck, Benjamin A., 42 Peek, Lula M., 37 Peer, Carolyn, 1 Peer, Donald, 1 Pender, John B., 42 Penzel. Chas. F., 59 Pepper, Timothy, 43 Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., 47 Perkins, —, Lt., 15 Perse, George R.. 43 Petty. Enoch B., 43 Pfeifer, Phil. 59 Phillips. Benjamin, 42 Phillips. Tom A., 43 Pipkin. Edward, 43 Pittman. J. H.. 43 Pittman. N. R.. Rev.. 36, 39 por. 40 Platt. Rosalie. 1 Poets Roundtable of Fort Smith, 44 Points of interest, Fort Smith, listed, 46 Political Parties. 50. 54. 57 Pollan. Carolyn, 1-2 Poole. A. W.. 59 Poor road conditions slowing down cotton trade. 54 Porter. DuVal. 59 Postal service. 52 Poulian. Francis, 42 Pounds. G. W., 58 Powell. J. N., 41 Powell, R. T. (Judge), 43 Powers. T. L. (Ann L.). 60 Presbyterian Church installs opera chairs, in place of pews, 51 Presbyterian Sunday School teachers meet. 50 Price. Florence. 37 Price. George. 42 67 Price, Sterling, Gen., 24 Priest, William S., 41 Prisons, reform of, 51 Public Health, 51-2, 56, 61 Purdom, Alexander, 42 Putman, T. A., 42 Quante, Frank, 42 Quantrill, William Clark, 15 Quarrells, Thomas, Dr., 52 "Rackensack," 15 Rahn, John, 42 Railroads, 51-3, 55, 59 Randall, A. F. Rev., 36 Randolph, Robert H., 43 Raub, Wm. N., 42 Ray, Emma, 61 Ray, W. M., 50 Read, James F., 55 Recreation, 59-60 Rector, Elias, 10 Rector, Henry (Governor), 4 "Red Bluff," river steamer, 62 Reed, —, Maj., 19 Reed, Bettie, 55 Reed, James A., 43 Reed, Robert, 42 Reed, Wesley, 43 Reeves, Bass, 58, 62 Reeves, G. W. Rev., 35-6, 40 Reneau, Russell Rev., 23 Republican Party. 54, 57 Republicans oppose appointment of Boles as U. S. Marshal for the Western District, 54 Retail and wholesale trade, 52-4 Reynolds, John Hugh, 6 Reynolds, Joseph, Gen., 25-6, 28, 30 Reynolds, P., 42 Reynolds, Thomas H., 42 Rice, ---, Gen., 18 Riggs, William S., 41 Riley, William J., 41 Ritchie, H. C., 41 River traffic, 55-6, 60-2 Roberts, J. S., 41 Robinson, Eliza J., 43 Robinson, J. P., 42 Rogers, John, 34, 46, 60 Rogers, Mary, 34 Rogers-Titles House. 46 Rowell. R. H., 41 Rupe, David P., 13 Russell, Jacob D., 43 Rutherford, ---, (Mrs.), 53 Rutherford, R. B. (Judge), 55 Rutz, Jacob, 43 Sackett, —, Col., 24 Sage, William, 42 St. John's Episcopal Church, 52 St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad, Builds tunnel into Boston Mountains, 53 Is granted right-of-way through Indian Territory. 59 Surveyors are in town, 53 Will cross the Arkansas River and go to Paris. TX. 55 St. Patrick s Church, 34 Salem. AR sc.'e Witcherville, AR Saloman. ---. Gen.. 18 Sample. W. A. Rev., 50, 59-60 Sample, William, 55 Sandels. M. H.. 55 Sanders, Minnie J., Dr., 36 Sawyer. William, 41 Sawyer. William E., 9 Schleiff, Frederick, 42 Schofield. ---, Gen., 7-8 Schools, public. 46 Schramm. M B.. marries Miss Hopp. 57 Schreckengaunt, W. H.. 41 Schroeling. ---, Maj., 8 Schulte. Alvena, 58 Scoggins. John. 41 Scott, C. M.. 43 Scott. Perry A., 43 Scrogg, Jack B., 4 Seals. R. D.. 36. 50 Searle. Elhanan J. LCol. 6 por. 9, 15, 21, 28 Searle. J. W.. 58 Sebastian County Courthouse. 47 Self. William E.. 42 Sellers. Elizah. 33 Sengel Bros., barbers, 51 Sengle, George, 43 Shackleford, ---, Rev., 42 Shannon, James G.. 41 Shaw. Knowles, 41 Shaw, Thomas, 42 Shelby, ---, Gen., 18 Shepard, Gerald, 1 Shepherd, William, 41 Sherman, Madison, 42 Siberberg, Touby, 55 Sightseeing, Fort Smith, map, 46 Silberburg, A., goes on buying trip for the Boston Store, 52 Sill, Phillip, 42 Simms, David A., 41 Simpson, William, 42 Singleton, A. J., 18 Singleton. M. A., 35 Sisson, ---, 15 Small, Ed., 42 Smallpox, 50, 56 Vaccinations urged, 51 Smedley. Joseph, 34 Smith, ---, Maj., 8 Smith, Bessie, 38 Smith, C. W., 41 Smith, Edward T., 43 Smith Fork Baptist Church of Tenn., 34 Smith. Frank, 52 Smith, Gerald Keith, 44 Smith, J. Harold, Rev., 38-9 por, 40 Smith, Jimmie, 36 Smith, John P., 50 Smith, Joseph Y., 42 Smith, Lafayette, 43 Smith, Maggie Aldridge, 48 Smith, Robert F., 9, 30 Smith, Thomas L., 43 Smith, W. W., 42 Smith, Zephra, 43 Smott, —, 15 Smythe, L. Rev., 52, 54, 59 Snider, Fred, 42 Snyder, Harvey, 42 Soard, Emma, 36 Soard, W. T. (Irene R.), 36 South Sebastian County Awards Ceremony, pioneer family achievement, 45 Southard, William F., 43 Southside High School Commercial Art Classes paint a city sanitation truck, 47 Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., 47 Sparks, Geo T., 50 Speakman, Mary N., 6 Speer, Ralph Jr. (Mrs.), 47 Spradling Avenue Baptist Church, 40 Spradling, Geo N., 41 Springer, Frances, Rev., 21-2, 29-31 Stafford, Isaac, 43 Stalcup, J. C., 36, 50 The Standard, newspaper, 58 State Office Building, 47 Steam ferry begins service across the Arkansas River, 61 Stearl, Joseph, 42 Steele, Frederick, Gen., 7, 12-3 por, 16, 18, 20, 25 Steele, William, Gen., 4, 6 por, 13, 20 Stephens, Robert W., 42 Stephenson, Thomas R., 42 Stewart, J. C., 42 Stockyards needed in Fort Smith, 60 Stokes, Lemuel, 42 Story, John, 42 Stough, John, 43 Strain, Hester C., 42 Strassburg, Abraham, 42 Strayhorn, John, 42 Street Railroads, 52 Streets, 51, 54, 56 Strong, C. H., 41 Stryker, John, 34 Sugg, Rihard, 1 Sullivan, —, Maj., 8 Sutherland, Thomas S., 42 Sutton, W. B., 52 Sutton, William M., 43 Swindell, —, Dr., 21 Tabor, B. H., 60 Taliano s Italian Restaurant, 46 Tallman, Henry L., 41 Tapan. ---. Lt.. 8 Tash, Jack. 43 Tatum, ---. Lt.. 8 Taylor, Alfred, 43 Thayer, John, Gen., cover, por: 12-6. 18-9, 21, 24-7, 32 Thedford, John T., 42 Theurer. Elizabeth M., 54 Theurer. Martin J. (Alta). 54, 60 Tholen, Wm.. Cpt., 8 Thomas. David Yancey, 6 Thomas, Jim, 42 Thompson, Charles A., 41 Throgmorton. W. P. (DD), 36, 39 por, 40 Tibbetts, J. Frank (Nellie C.), 58 Tiler, E. F., 55 Tilles, Louis, 46 Timber, unlawful cut in Cherokee Nation, being sold for Indian benefit, 53 Timmins, Andrew, 43 Tomfoolery, restaurant, 47 Towery, Henry M., 42 Transportation, 51-3, 55, 59-61 Transportation, see a/so railroads, river traffic, steam ferries Triesch, Conrad, (Alvena), 58 Trunbell, ---, Gen., 31 Truschel. Geo. W., 52 Tucker, William E.. 43 Turner, Robert N., 41 Turner, T., 43 Typhoid-malarial fever takes lives, 51 Ulman. Nora, 7 Underbill, Jake, 41 Union Church, 34 United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), 41 U. S. Court, to be established in the Indian Territory, is discussed in the U. S. Senate, 58 U. S. Signal Station is established in Fort Smith, 62 Upham, D. P., 57 Urquhart, E., 59 Van Brocklin, J., 42 Van Sickle, Charles, 41 Vandagriff, C. W., 41 Vann, Reuben, 42 Veterans, 41-3 Vinton, James (Nora B.), 38 Voelter, F., 54 Wade, John W., 43 Waerter, Charles, 42 Wagner, John W., 41 Walhan, David (Judge), 4 Walker, J. M., 42 Wallace, ---, Rev., 34 Wallace, John W., 42 Ward, —, Maj., 8 Ward, Zeb., 59 Wardell, Elias T., 42 Warner, S. Y., 35 Warren, Abel, 57 Warren, Henry, 43 Watie, Stand, Gen., 4, 19 Watts, —, 15 Watts, Charles J., 43 Watson, L. T. Dr., 11 Weaber, Jesse, 41 Wear, John, 15 Weaver, J. S , 41 Weaver, John F., 43 Webb, Perry, Dr., 35 Weese, Moses W., 42 Weldon, O. D., purchases the interest of Cad Allard in the Elevator. 51 Westark Community College, special events, 45 Whedon, Milo, 41 Wheeler, Benjamin, 43 Wheeler, J. F., 33 Wheeler, M. H., (Mrs.), 35 Wheeler, W. W., 41 Wheelers Independent, newspaper, 50 Whicker, —, Lt., 8 68 White. J. T.. 15 White. L. C.. 18 White. W. H.. 42 Whitson. Calvin. 43 Whittington. Bessie, 38 Wilcox, George, 41 Wilcox. William G.. 41 Wiley. William. 34 Wilkerson. A. J.. 42 Wilkerson. J. C., 58 William H. H. Clayton House. 47 William O. Darby Ranger Museum and Library, 47 Williams. ---. Col.. 8, 24 Williams. B. J.. 42 Williams. Ebenezer. E., 41 Williams, George T., 36 Williams, James D.. 43 Williams, James T., 42 Williams, John. 58 Williams. Vircy, 45 Wills. B. L., 42 Wilson. ---, Rev.. 22 Wilson. C. L. (Mrs.). 38 Wilson, Sam, 43 Wilson. Steve (Arlene). 47 Wilson. William. Rev., 19 Wimberly. George W. (Alice), 50 Winchester. T. P.. 42, 55 Winfield. --- (DD), 54 Wisdom, D. M. Col.. 60 Wise. J. B. Rev., 36 Witcherville, AR.. 40 Wofford, J. G.. (Mable), 38 Wolf, H.. 57 Wolfe, F. H.. 18. 21, 24 Womens Christian Temperance Association active in Fort Smith, 54 Wong-Ligda, Ed., 44 Wood, James E., 42 Woods, Nathan R., 42 Woodworth, ---. Maj., 8 Woosten, Ralph, 4 Workinger, William, 41 Wo/Id, newspaper, 59 Worrell, A. S. (DD), 35, 39 por, 40, 58 Wortz, Carl, 46 Wray, Thelma, 1 Wright, Elijah E., 43 Wright, J. C., 41 Young, Allen, 43 Young, John S., 42 Younger, Bessie, 38