1
12
107
-
http://fglarchive.williamsbu.edu/files/original/c6b0e308c97e178588565806f7f3ced8.pdf
4d5494ab5bbaa70e5e87d2320ecdc9c1
PDF Text
Text
'J':/�; J
Lawrence County
Historical Journal
Sears House l ocated on Lawrence
County Road 409 near Wal nut Ridge
Airport.
For Reference
Do Not Take From the Library
2016 Number 4
��THE lAWRENCE COUNTY
HIS'fORICAI.. JOURNAL
www.lchsar.org
2016
Number 4
�Lawrence County Historical Society
THE LAWRENCE COIJN'fY
DIS'fORICAL ,JOURNAL
WWW LC H SAil ORG
.
2016
.
Number 4
Published by the Lawrence County Historical Society
Editor- Ethel Tompkins
Membership in the Lawrence
County Historical Society
is
$20.00 per year and entitles members to the Journal. Individual
copies sell for $5.00 each.
Neither the editor nor the Lawrence
County Historical Society
assumes any responsibility for statements made by the
contributors. If you have questions or comments concerning an
article contact the editor by email turbo611 se@suddenlink.net,
phone 870-886-3269 and I will send them to the contributor.
The editor invites readers to submit articles, pictures and
information for publication.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN LAWRENCE
COUNTY IDSTORICAL SOCIETY
NA�
-------
ADDRESS
ENUUL
CITY
____
__
______
______
_____________
__
_
__ __ ____________________________
____
____
__
__ __
________
______
__
__
__
__
Send to Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92, Powhatan, AR 72458
�Lawrence County
Historical Journal
I
2016
I
Number 4
Contents
Note from Editor. ................................... 06
American Dream Home . .
. .
Talley Homes
. . . . . . . . . . . .
.
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hand-Made Mattresses
. . .
.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. ..
. .
.
. .
07
12
14
�2016 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
Note from the editor
Greetings
Once again we owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Anna Lue
Cook for providing the articles in this issue.
If anyone has additional infonnation on any of the
articles that you want to share with Mrs. Cook please
send them to me and I will pass it alone to her.
**********************************************
I would also like to give Mrs. Frances Green my heart
felt thanks for volunteering to proof the journal.
6
�2016 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
THE AMERICAN DREAM HOME ORDERED
FROM SEARS
By
Anna Lue Cook
From 1908 to 1940, people were ordering their
dream homes from Sears, Roebuck and Co. The pre
cut, ready to assembly houses were ordered by mail
and shipped by train. There were from 10,000 to
3 0,000 pieces in each home package depending on
the size of the house you ordered. It took two
boxcars to haul the mail-order house. It is estimated
that 100,000 Sears kit homes were sold in the 48
states from 1908 to 1940.
Company founder of the Sears, Roebuck and
Company was Richard W. Sears who was a
marketing genius. By making home ownership so
easy, he opened a huge market for furniture and
appliances for those houses which could be ordered
from the Sears, Roebuck catalog. On the floor plans
for some houses, are dotted lines to suggest
placement for davenports, rockers, beds and dressers.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. was founded in 1886 and
began its general mail-order business that same year.
It issued it's first catalog in 1888. The 80 page
catalog was devoted exclusively to watches and
jewelry. Sears issued the first catalog devoted
exclusively to mail-order homes in 1908.
Sears, Roebuck and Company aspired at one time
or another to be the provider of virtually every
consumer product to American people. That almost
7
�2016 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
came true after World War I when Sears was
considered "The World's Greatest Store". From 1908
to 1912, Sears manufactured its own line of
automobiles. For some 15 years, it sold groceries in
it's stores. Most ambitious of all, it offered
completely prefabricated houses to customers
throughout the country; an offering that led quickly
to the underwriting of mortgage loans.
You could buy from Sears, Roebuck and Co. an
"Honor Built" Modem Home, consisting of lumber,
lath, millwork, sash weights, hardware, nails, paint,
building paper, eaves trough, down spout and roofing
material, plumbing goods, heating plant and lighting
fixtures in one package or kit.
If you owned a good, well located building lot
free and clear from debt, you could buy your Sears
house on easy payment terms. You would make a
small payment of one percent (1%) or more,
including interest each month. Payments were from
$15.00 to $75.00 depending on the size of your
house.
From 1908 until 1940, Sears offered more than 370
designs of their kit houses,but there were sixty best
selling models. About 90% of all Sears kit houses
, were in the sixty best selling designs The prices of
the 3 70 designs offered by Sears ranged from the
$629.00 Selby design, to the $4,909.00 Glen Falls
design depending on how much you wanted to pay
for your house. The Selby offered a living-dining
room, kitchen, two bedrooms and bath. The Glen
Falls, a Dutch Colonia style, offered a sun porch,
8
�2016 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
den, kitchen, living room, dining room, four
bedrooms and two baths.
Sears promised these houses could be built in
ninety days. There was a leather-bound, seventy-five
page instruction book on how to put it all together
included with each Sears kit house.
I know of one Sears, Roebuck and Company house
located in our area. Thank you Rhonda Turbyville for
telling me about this house. The house is located on
Lawrence County Road 409 near the Walnut Ridge
Airport in Lawrence County. The Sears house was
built by the Snow Family in the early 1900s. The
house was shipped by train to Walnut Ridge and then
built on the Snow property. This Sears house was
"The W hitehall" design that sold for $ 1,863.00. The
two-story W hitehall house plans included a living
room, kitchen, dinning room, three bedrooms, bath
room, and porch. The Terry Henry family own the
Sears house today.
Dan and Susan Watson owned and lived in this
house for sixteen years. They purchased the house
from the Snow estate. The original Sears house has
been modified over the years. The Watson's were
told that there was a community know as Snowville
located in this area. There was a store located here
and there is the Snow cemetery located not far from
the Sears house.
Although most of the Sears homes were sold to
individuals, Sears also sold houses to companies for
their company towns near their factories. In the 19 19
catalog, Sears illustrated the 192 houses purchased
9
�2016 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
by the Standard Oil Co. and was erected for
workers in Carlinville, Illinois, in 1918 at a
reported cost of$ 1 million. Another corporate
customer was Bethlehem Steel which erected
Sears Houses in Hellertown, PA.
Each piece of material was marked with
numbers or letters. Those numbers and letters all
fit together to make your modem home. You could
do the building of you own house or hire a local
carpenter to do the building for you. One way to
tell if your house might be a Sears home, is to
'look for those numbers and letters on the building
materials in your house.
Other companies than Sears offered mail-order
houses. Some of those companies were; Pacific
Homes, Gordon, Van Tine, Lewis Homes, Sterling
Homes, and Aladdin Company of Bay City,
Michigan. The Aladdin Company offered mail
order houses, summer cottages, and garages. In
1927, Aladdin offered a five room, mail-order
house for$498.00.
Sears, Roebuck Company not only offered your
dream home by mail-order, it offered garages,
barns, summer cottages and even sold a mail
order simpler portable outhouse for$41.00
Most Sears houses were built in the Mid-West
and North-East, but Sears houses were sold in all
48 states. There are still Sears mail-order houses
that line our town and suburban streets today.
These houses are of historical value. If you live in
10
�2016 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
a Sears mail-order house or know of one in our
area, please let me know at 807-609-1211.
Sears House located on Lawrence County Road
409 near Walnut Ridge Airport. The Terry
Henry family owns the house today.
Photo provided by Anna Lou Cook
11
�2016 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
TALLEY HOMES STILLREMAIN IN HOXIE
By
Lola King
Reprint of an article from The Times Dispatch of
October 17, 1979
In 1906-07 a contractor built a, dozen houses on
Broad Street and Maple Street in Hoxie. His name was
Talley, so the homes became known as Talley houses.
L. R. Warner, retired druggist, says about six of them
are still in use. Most of the others were destroyed by
fire. Mr. Warner says when the Missouri-Pacific yards
left Hoxie in 1927 and when the depression hit in 1929
many homes in Walnut Ridge and Hoxie were burned
so the owners could collect insurance.
One of the homes was occupied by the well-known
Tom Blackwell family. Ralph Lehman, a druggist and
Ford dealer, gave away a T-Model Ford as a business
promotion. Mrs. Blackwell won the car, and just after
receiving it, the family was photographed in the T
Model in front of their home. Tom Blackwell is riding
in the front seat and his wife is in the back seat with
their children. This photo was made about 19 17-19 19.
Mr. Warner recalled that cars were so small then that
they were shipped by rail, in crates. He remembers that
Mr. Le.illnan displayed this car in his drug store.
Uncle Tom Blackwell died about 1943 at his home in
Hoxie at the age of 8 1. He worked for the Missouri
Pacific Railroad for 47 years and was an engineer for
40 years. The family moved to Hoxie in 1905. In 1922,
Uncle Tom bid in a prize job on a Missouri-Pacific
from Poplar Bluff to Charleston, MO. He had the
12
run
�2016 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
seniority and kept the job for 10 years. But he retained
the house in Hoxie and in 1932 the family returned.
He and Mrs. Blackwell had 10 children, five of whom
died young. Remaining members of the family are
Mrs. Alice Diggs and Raymond Blackwell of Hoxie
and Joe Blackwell of St. Louis. Raymond Blackwell
has retired after a career on boats in the Great Lakes.
The Tom Blackwell family is shown
in a new car they won. Their home is
in the background. It was one of a
dozen " Talley" homes in Hoxie. The
Blackwell home still stands on Broad
Street in Hoxie. It has been
remodeled twice and is not
recognizable as being the same house
as shown above.
13
�2016 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
HAND-MADE MATTRESSES
By
Anna Lue Cook
Most of us have heard the expression, "If you make
your bed then you have to lay in it". That is just what
people did in the 1940s. They made their own cotton
mattress and then slept on it.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture had a surplus of
cotton. Many Americans were sleeping on hay or com
hus� mattresses. W hy not start a mattress making
program so the American people could use that surplus
cotton to make a better mattress and get a good night's
sleep.
Under the administration of President Franklin D.
Roosevelt, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the
Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation, the
Agriculture Adjustment Administration, and the
Extension Service started a mattress making program in
1 940.
The mattress making program was first started in
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma,
South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. The program
was extended to other states later.
The Fetleral Surplus Commodities Service (FSCC)
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made
surplus cotton and mattress material (ticking) available
upon request from counties. 50 pounds of cotton and 10
yards of mattress material (ticking) were needed to
make a full-size double mattress. The minimum a
county could order, at the beginning of the program,
14
�2016 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
was 12 bales of cotton and 1 bale (approximately 1,200
yards) of ticking: larger orders would be in multiples of
these amounts. A bale of lint cotton weighs about 5 00
pounds. A bale of cotton would make 10 mattresses. A
bale of ticking (approximately 1,200 yards) would
make 120 mattresses.
The Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA)
determined which families were eligible to make the
mattresses. A farm family would need to have an
income of$400.00 or less for the year 1939. In 1939,
the depression was still being felt. An annual income of
$400.00 made many families eligible to make a
mattress or mattresses.
The Extension Service was responsible for the
educational work, the organization, and the supervision
of the Cotton Mattress Program to be conducted in the
States growing cotton with rural families. Later the
mattress program was expanded to almost all states.
The cotton and ticking for making the mattresses were
shipped to each county. The County Home
Demonstration Council would designate a home
demonstration club woman as chairman of the cotton
mattress committee of the Home Demonstration Club in
each community wishing to make mattresses. The
Home Demonstration Clubs would choose a central
place at which the mattresses would be made. The
mattresses were made in schools, churches, homes,
Home Demonstration Club buildings, on plantations, in
barns, and out under shade trees at private homes.
Most of the materials (cotton and ticking) for making
the mattresses were shipped by rail to each county. The
materials were picked up by the designated trucker for
each community club and taken to the central site
15
�2016 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
where the mattresses were being made.
The Chairman of each community club would
furnish materials to each family to make the mattress
or mattresses that they were qualified to make. Each
family was instructed on how to make a mattress by
the community club or by other families who had
completed making their own mattress.
Grover B. Hill, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture at
the time of the mattress making program, made the
following statement: "We are endeavoring under the
present mattress program to take advantage of the
opportunity presented by our cotton surplus to
stimulate interest in increasing the number of better
beds. In a land of abundance, we should avail
ourselves of the opportunity to provide the things we
need.
Through this program, we are increasing the health,
comfort, and happiness of our people, and, at the same
time, are helping the cotton farmer to get a more
equitable price for his cotton, which, in tum, is a
benefit to all others."
By July 27, 1940, a total of 258,458 mattresses had
been made and 50,498 of those mattresses were made
by families in Arkansas. Some of these 70 year old
mattresses are still in existence today. Some are kept
as family heirlooms and others are still being used.
My research of the mattress making program began in
Randolph County Arkansas and ended at the U.S.
Department of Agriculture Library at Washington,
D.C. I have documented 22 communities in Randolph
County Arkansas where the mattresses were made in
the 1940s. I have documented five communities in
Lawrence County Arkansas where the mattresses were
16
�2016 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
made. There were mattresses made in almost all our
counties in Arkansas. I have not documented other
counties at this time.
Materials for mattress making were cotton, the
material (ticking), thread and heavy cord, tufts, and
needles. The USDA furnished the cotton and ticking
free to each family wanting to make a mattress. The
needles, thread, heavy cord, and tufts (the mattress
buttons) were furnished by the community club or the
individual family purchased these materials for about
25 cents per mattress. Each family had a total of 25
cents in each mattress and the time it took to make the
mattress. The total expense for each mattress for the
government was about 88 cents per mattress.
At this same time, families could make a comforter
(quilt) to complete their new bed. The USDA furnished
the cotton and material for the quilt making. The quilts
were tied and tacked so all the family had to provide
was the thread and needle to do this and the work to
make the quilt. It cost the government about 33 cents
for the material to make each quilt.
One man told me the first night he slept on the cotton
mattress was the best nights sleep he has ever had. He
had been sleeping on a com husk mattress. One lady
told me she made a mattress for she and her future
husband. The first night after their wedding was spent
on that hand-made cotton mattress.
Many Arkansas families did lay in the beds that they
made in the 1940s. Mattress making is a big part of
Arkansas heritage. The hand-made, cotton mattress that
I own holds much of that heritage. Much of the cotton
for these mattresses was grown here in our state.
Arkansans not only got a better night's sleep, they got
17
�2016 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
paid more for the cotton they raised because of the
mattress making program.
A handmade mattress.
Photo provided by Anna Lue Cook
18
��Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92
Powhatan, AR 72458
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lawrence County Historical Society Journals
Description
An account of the resource
The society prints the Lawrence County Historical Journal, an excellent collection of historical articles about the county, under the guidance of Ethel Tompkins, editor.
The publication was known as the Lawrence County Historical Quarterly from 1978 through 1992, then was changed to the Lawrence County Historical Journal from 1996 until present.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
2016 No. 4
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016
Description
An account of the resource
1) American Dream Home
2) Talley Homes
3) Hand-Made Mattresses
-
http://fglarchive.williamsbu.edu/files/original/dc4e66125f76f25fee697901f3b967b7.pdf
30552508f5575cb5c47b227dffde504b
PDF Text
Text
J,.o£(,:
Lawrence County
Historical Journal
Cl) �
(.).0
C::l
Cl)�
...
-
(1) E
.... e
CI)U.
a:�
�
._ _
0�
U.. o
c
Slave dug well located in the Clear
Springs Community.
Photo courtesy of Anna Lue Cook
2016 Number 3
)
��THE lAWRENCE COUN TY
HISTORICAL JOURN AL
www.lchsar.org
2016
Number3
�Lawrence County Historical Society
TDEIAWRENCE COUN'IY
HISTORICAL JOURN AL
1f1f1f.LCHSAR.ORG
2016
Number 3
Published by the Lawrence County Historical Society
Editor- Ethel Tompkins
Membership in the
Lawrence County Historical Society is
$20.00 per year and entitles members to the Journal. Individual
copies sell for $5.00 each.
Neither the editor nor the Lawrence County Historical Society
assumes any responsibility for statements made by the
contributors. If you have questions or comments concerning an
article contact the editor by email turbo611se@suddenlink.net,
phone 870-886-3269 and I will send them to the contributor.
The editor invites readers to submit articles, pictures and
information for publication.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN LAWRENCE
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NAME
________________________________
__
ADDRESS
EM AIL
CITY
_
______________________________
_
________________________________
__________________________________
__
Send to Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92, Powhatan, AR 72458
�Lawrence County
Historical Journal
I
2016
I
Number3
Contents
Note from editor . . . . . . . . . . ................... 06
Slave dug well..
...................................
Old slave quarry
.
. 10
...........
The smeltering rock
07
....... . ............
. .
......
.
.
....... . . . . . .......
16
�2016 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Note from the editor
Greetings
Once again we owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Anna Lue
Cook for providing the three articles in this issue.
If anyone has additional information on any of the
articles that you want to share with Mrs. Cook please
send them to me and I will pass it alone to her.
**�*******************************************
I would also like to give Mrs. Frances Green my heart
felt thanks for volunteering to proof the journal.
6
�2016 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
SLAVE DUG WELL
By
Anna Lue Cook
The forty- five foot deep hand dug well, old cedar
trees, and yellow jonquils are the only reminder that
this place was once a home-site in the Clear Springs
Community between Imboden and Black Rock. The
first home was built here in the first half of the
1800s. The house was a two story, brick plantation
home built by slave labor. Much of the land
surrounding this property was a plantation and slave
labor was used during the time of slavery. There
have been two other houses built here. The brick
house burned and another two story frame house was
built. That home burned and a smaller frame house
was constructed. The small house is gone today and
no structures remain on the property. The property is
owned by Larry Sexton today. Larry provided the
information about the slave dug well. The property
has been known as the Neeley property. Years ago it
was known as the Underwood or Pickett property.
The well on this property was dug by the hands of
slaves. The well has rocks around the outside above
ground, but the well below ground level has been
dug through solid limestone. As I looked into the
well, I wondered how the slaves went about digging
this well through the solid rock layers during the
1800s. The well still holds water today. It has been a
serviceable well for some 1 70 years.
7
�2016
Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Coletta (Pickett) Cox, now deceased, was reared
in the two story, frame house on this property in the
1920s and 1930s. Her parents were Ben and Myrtle
Pickett.
Her grandparents were the Underwoods. One of
her children was born in that house while she and her
husband were staying there with her parents ...
Coletta wrote to me in 1999 and gave me the
following information. The information is a direct
quote from her letter. "At the time I was growing up,
the farm was called the "Underwood" place. My
mother's father was an Underwood and had owned
the place for many years. The house was surrounded
by a rare type of cedar tree, which were brought in
from the Carolinas and put out during the slavery
era. There was a large metal ring embedded in each
tree where slaves could be chained and whipped. At
that time, when I was growing up, the trees were old
and the rings were about 12 feet above ground level,
tho plainly visible. My parents, Ben and Myrtle
Pickett bought the farm after my grandfather's death
and lived there until 1941."
Coletta (Pickett) Cox lived in Texas and she and I
corresponded for some time. She gave me a lot of
history about the Clear Springs Community and my
famil!Y which lived on the adjoining farm.
8
�2016
Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Slave dug well located in the Clear
Springs Community.
Photo courtesy of Anna Lue Cook
View looking down inside the well
Photo courtesy of Anna Lue Cook
9
�2016 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
OLD SLAVE QUARRY
By
Anna Lue Cook
Ever since I began to do research for my book on
"The Point", I began to hea r about the old slave
mine located off Muddy Lane and Treatenburg Road
in Randolph County. Most of the history I have on the
old quarry is community history passed down in
families who lived or has lived in "The Point".
The history I was told - told of a quarry where
limestone was mined by slaves. The property where
the mine is located was once part of a large plantation
that owned slaves. Could this have been Colonel John
Miller who owned the property where the slave mine
was located. The Miller Ford located on Spring River
was only a short distance away. We know Colonel
John Miller was the father of the well-known Major
John Little who has been documented to have lived on
Spring River near Imboden around 1800.
We know the Millers owned slaves because, the
late Dalton Henderson, a renowned historian of
Imboden, recorded a story in the summer 198 1 issue
of the Lawrence County Historical Quarlerly. The
story documented his great-grandfather, Samuel
Henderson, making a trip to the Miller plantation at
one time. According to the story which was told to
Dalton Henderson by his great-uncle, Dr. A.G.
Henderson, the great-grandfather and his son, Dr.
Henderson, made the trip in a surrey from the
Henderson farm to the Miller plantation and during
10
�2016 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
the visit, a slave girl was purchased from Colonel Miller
for the sum of $500. It is stated that the distance between
the two farms was about four miles. This would have
taken place before the civil war, approximately 1859 or
earlier. The Henderson farm was located some distance
north of Highway 62 just after coming across the Spring
River Bridge, Henderson Road, today. The Miller
plantation was located down what we know as Muddy
Lane.
I have been to the quarry two times. The mine
entrance had collapsed and only a small opening was
visible at the time I visited the site. Alvin Blake owned
the property at the time I visited. He knew about the
mine and showed us it's location. He told us that it had
been an old quarry many years ago, probably in the
1800s.
He also told us that there were sink holes beyond
the entrance of the mine. He believed these were where
the mine had collapsed. Gevan Murphy owns the
property today. He knows that an old mine is on the
property but has no other information.
I have talked to the late Max Semans about the
slave mine when I was doing research for the point
book. Mr. Semans had lived in "The Point" for many
years. At that time, he stated, "He had stood in the
entrance of the quarry before it collapsed and that the
entrance was about the size of his pick-up truck. He had
no idea how far back the quarry went".
When I was researching the book about the point,
most people I talked with thought the stones mined from
the quarry were probably used in our old cemeteries and
for foundation rocks for houses.
The old Campbell cemetery, located about two
11
�2016 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
miles below the mine, has markers that completely
cover the grave and stand up about two to three feet off
the ground. The large stone that covers the top of the
rock structure is cut and curved on the top. It measures
about six feet long and three feet wide. Could the stones
for these graves have come from the slave quarry?
Historical places like the old quarry fascinate me
and I want to find all the information I can on places
like this. I would like to talk to someone who has been
in the mine.
The old bank building at 210 Main Street in
Imboden is an example of the limestone rock mined
from a local quarry. Mrs. Otho Crouch (Pauline
Kirkpatrick) of Pocahontas wrote an article in the
winter 1984 issue of the Lawrence County Historical
Quarterly. Her father-in-law, King David Crouch of
Imboden, was a brick maker and mason. She wrote the
following in that article:
"The old People's Bank building, which is still
standing and now a part of the Matthews Store, was
built by Mr. King David Crouch. Across the front and
down one side he used large blocks of stone cut from a
quarry in Randolph County near Old Jackson. When the
rock was first taken from the quarry, it was soft and
could be shaped anyway the mason desired. After it was
expm;ed to the air, it hardened and it became a very
durable building block. These cut stones were called by
the natives "cotton rocks" because of their softness."
I believe the quarry in Randolph County would be
the old slave quarry I wrote about earlier. That quarry is
located about 3 miles south of Old Jackson. I am told
the stones needed to be kept wet while carving. This
12
�2016 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
was accomplished by keeping the stones in water or
keeping the stones covered with wet burlap sacks. I am
told the carving was done with wooden wedges and
chisels.
In The Story of Imboden by Reta Covey in 1975,
she states in 1903 a brick building was built for bank
occupancy. When it burned in 1906, the stone front
building, known as the old bank building was
constructed.
The old bank building was owned by the Matthews
family for many years. They later gave the building to
the V. F. W. organization, who owns the building today.
There is a building located at 12842 Highway 115
in Maynard that is constructed of this hand-hewn
limestone. I have a picture of that building under
construction in 1906. The picture shows a wagon and
team of mules hauling the stone. That building is still
standing today and church services are held there. Where
did that stone come from?
St. Paul's Catholic Church at Pocahontas was
constructed with the hand-hewn limestone rocks that
were brought from a near-by quarry by horse and wagon
according to the book, The Making Of Catholic Hill, by
Susan Moore Thielemier. The construction of the church
was started in 1898.
I have found three cemeteries in Randolph County
that have the built-up, limestone, rock graves. These
cairns are referred to as being constructed of local
limestone and hand-hewn native limestone by Margaret
A. Barnhart in her book, Cemeteries And Burial Sites of
Randolph County Arkansas 1988. The three cemeteries
are: Black Cemetery (John H. Imboden is buried here);
13
�2016 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Campbell Cemetery and Dalton Cemetery. I am sure
there are other cemeteries in our area with these cairns.
I believe these stones came from the quarry located
down Muddy Lane.
The Randolph County Abstract Co., Inc. of
Pocahontas did a title search on the property where the
old slave mine is located. In 1884, Patrick Bonner
owned the property. He sold the property to the
Hatcher family. According to the search, the Hatcher
family would have owned the property in 1906 when
the mining for the Imboden People's bank building
would have happened. Slave labor would have ended
in the early 1860s. After that time, labor for working
the mine would have come from another source.
Perhaps the farm workers on the plantation.
Phipps, Beasley, Wright and Lester Hatcher,
Aycock Poniac, Inc., Max Seamans, and Edward
Teddar have been owners of the mine property over the
years.
This limestone quarry on Muddy Lane and
Treatenburg Road is important to our local history and
the buildings and graves that were constructed of this
stone are of historical value.
14
�2016 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Old Bank Building on Main Street in
Imboden. The stones for this building
came from the Old Slave Mine.
Photo courtesy of Anna Lue Cook
Slave mine off Treatenburg Road (in 2006)
Photo courtesy of Anna Lue Cook
15
�2016 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
THE SMELTING ROCK
By
Anna Lue Cook
The smelting rock was used for melting lead and
making bullets for guns. The smelting rock has been part
of the Clear Springs history for over 150 years. The
smelting rock still remains in its original resting place.
People of the past knew where to go and melt lead into
bullets. The lead mines were located across from the
smelting rock. Lead was dug out of the lead mines and
melted on the smelting rock.
Lead and other minerals were mined in the Clear
Springs area and surrounding counties for several years.
The lead and other ores were shipped by steam boats on
the Black River at Powhatan and Black Rock. The lead
mines located in the Clear Springs Community would
have been a large undertaking and one that may have
made money for it's owners for a while. The lead mines
would have operated in the 1800s I think.
The smelting rock is located near Lawrence County
Road 221 and near Stinnetts creek.
Local oral history tells of Confederate and Union
soldiers both using the smelting rock to make bullets.
Uriah Smith lived in the house on the comer of Clear
Springs Road and Lawrence County Road 221. Uriah
Smith lived here in 1859 and had a gunsmith shop there.
This was the only gunsmith in Lawrence County at this
time. He chose his location well. What would people
traveling to the smelting rock have? (Their gun.) That
gun would probable need repair from time to time. Uriah
Smith's gunsmith shop was located about one half mile
north of the smelting rock.
16
�2016 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Today, a large tree root has grown across the
smelting rock. This large root probably helped keep the
rock in place and protected it.
The road, Lawrence County Road 221, was once the
road leading into Powhatan. This road now dead ends
at the Keith Aaron farm. Once this road was traveled
by early settlers, community residents, and soldiers. It
was a well traveled road and everyone knew where the
smelting rock was.
Just imagine how many men have sat around this
rock and melted lead for their bullets. If only the rock
could tells us about it's many visitors.
I would like to express my appreciation to Ronald
Conley for helping to locate the smelting rock.
The pictuxes following are of the smelting rock
today.
17
�2016 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Top view of The Smeltering Rock
Photo courtesy of Anna Lue Cook
Side view of The Smeltering Rock
Photo courtesy of Anna Lue Cook
18
��Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92
Powhatan, AR 72458
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lawrence County Historical Society Journals
Description
An account of the resource
The society prints the Lawrence County Historical Journal, an excellent collection of historical articles about the county, under the guidance of Ethel Tompkins, editor.
The publication was known as the Lawrence County Historical Quarterly from 1978 through 1992, then was changed to the Lawrence County Historical Journal from 1996 until present.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
2016 No. 3
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016
Description
An account of the resource
1) Slave dug well
2) Old slave quarry
3) The smeltering rock
-
http://fglarchive.williamsbu.edu/files/original/08ca8ba43530093b14034a4b5ce3187b.pdf
d95e458860fd8a774e45c75f29f5e42a
PDF Text
Text
�-::,;� :]
Lawrence County
o<
.
I
Historical Journal
CD�
(.),ti
C::J
CD�
-
a..
(1) E
.... e
CI)LL.
a:�
{!
�,.,_
0�
LL. o
c
Irene Wilson Daniels
(1939)
2016 Number 2
��TBEIAWBENCECOUNTY
B ISTOB ICilt JOURNAL
www.lchsar.org
2016
Number2
�Lawrence County Historical Society
'fBE lA WBENCECOUN'fY
HISTORICAL JOURNAL
WWW .LCBSAB.OBG
2016
Number 2
Published by the Lawrence County Historical Society
Editor- Ethel Tompkins
Membership in the Lawrence County Historical Society is
$20.00 per year and entitles members to the Journal. Individual
'
copies sell for $5.00 each.
Neither the editor nor the Lawrence County Historical Society
assumes any responsibility for statements made by the
contributors. If you have questions or comments conceming an
article contact the editor by email turbo611se@suddenlink.net,
phone 870-886-3269 and I will send them to the contributor.
The editor invites readers to submit articles, pictures and
information for publication.
APPLICATION FOR .MEMBERSHIP IN LAWRENCE
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NA�E
________________________________
___
ADDRESS
EMAIL
CITY
_______________________________
-------
________________________________
___
Send to Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92, Powhatan, AR 72458
�Lawrence County
Historical Journal
I
2016
I
Number2
Contents
Note from Editor
. . . . . .
.
. .
...
. .
.. . . . .
.
. .
Tribute To A Lady Of The Ozark .
.
..
...
. .... . . .
Lawrence County's Foremost Woman
..
6
. 7
12
Proprietress of the Rhea Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . 14
�2016 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
Note from the Editor
Hello fellow society members. In honor of
Womens History month (celebrated during the
month of March) and Mothers day (celebrated in the
month ofMay) this issue contains article about
strong independent women.
The first article "A Tribute To A Lady Of The
Ozarks" by Anna Lue Cook is a tribute to her
mother Irene (Wilson) Daniels.
The next two articles are reprints from Tidbits of
1 Number 1 2013 and
describe Lawrence County's Foremost woman
Elizabeth Cooper Rhea Burel.
Lawrence County History \bl.
Enjoy
Ethel
6
�2016 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
A TRIBUTE TO A LADY
OF THE OZARKS
Irene (Wilson) Daniels walked into a ninety degree
courtroom for the first time in her life in Lawrence
County, Arkansas on May 10, 1942 a married woman and
came out a divorced lady. She sat in the front row of seats
and listened to the reading of her divorce decree from
George Daniels. Her dress was soaked with sweat by the
time she heard the judge grant the divorce. As she looked
around, she became aware of several of her neighbors
sitting in the courtroom. If they came in support or
curiosity will never be known, but now they knew why
Irene had filed for divorce. She was not going to be abused
or let her children suffer any abuse. She wondered if her
friends and neighbors would support her and her two small
children in the decision she had made.
This was a time when divorce was whispered about
not filed for. Irene was one of the first ladies in Lawrence
County to seek a divorce. She was the daughter of a
Baptist minister and had lived here all her live. She was
married at thirty-two and divorced at thirty-four. She
thought she knew the man she married well, but after their
first child was born, she decided she had not known
George at all. Many blue marks and an almost miscatTiage
later with her second child, she filed for divorce.
She walked from the courtroom with her head held
high holding the decree in her trembling hands. The
divorce papers seemed to weigh two hundred pounds
instead of mere ounces. She walked down the steep steps
of the courthouse and toward the grey, 1936 Ford coupe
that she drove. Yes, she was one of the first ladies in
Lawrence County to learn to drive an automobile. Only
7
�2016 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
men operated the complicated automobile, at this time.
Her father had taught her to drive the 1936 car before his
death four years ago. She got her first Arkansas drivers
license in 1937. She knew how to buy tires for the car,
how to change a flat, and how to check her oil and
change it if it needed to be changed.
Irene drove home to an eighty acre farm in the
foothills of the Ozarks where her mother lived. She and
her two children had moved back home with her mother
after she left George. She would spend the next several
y�ars here making a living off the land as two generations
of her family had done before. The bond with the land
would help her through many hard years.
Sometimes the eighty acres would not produce
enough money for the family of four. Irene again did
something that no single lady would try. As the children
got older, she loaded them into the 1936 Ford car and
followed the fruit harvest from Arkansas to Michigan
during the summer months. Her mother stayed home to
keep the farm operating. Irene and her children would
stay in small houses, barns, and even in garages of
farmers who needed their fruit harvested. In the early
195 0s, this was a safe thing to do because so many other
families from the South were doing the same thing. The
family of three did the fruit harvest for three years in the
same little Ford, picking strawberries, blueberries, apples,
pears, tomatoes or anything a farmer needed picked.
During the fall, Irene took her two children and
picked cotton to make extra money. That cotton picking
money was used for school clothes and to help get the
family through the winter.
Irene Daniels was an independent woman for the time
8
�2016 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
she lived in. Her decision to divorce George was a hard
one, but one that was finally accepted by family,
community and church. This support got her through the
years of raising two children by herself. When her ex
husband drove away from the courthouse in 1942, he
never saw Irene or his children again. He gave no support
to his children as they grew up.
This independent Lady of the Ozarks was my mother.
She sat a wonderful example for her community, family
and children. I saw both my mother and grandmother
living on a farm and operating it by themselves. They
tilled the soil in the 1940s with horses and horse drawn
equipment. They cut hay and put it in the barn by pitch
fork. They cut wood for both the wood heating stove and
the wood cooking stove. My mother and grandmother
were church going ladies who had deep roots in the small
country church they attended.
Irene made many decisions in her life that stood for
dignity. I still have an old box that holds some of those
decisions. Inside the box lays a yellowed divorce decree
granted in 1942 to my mother and father, three folded
Arkansas drivers license issued to Irene Wilson for 1937,
1938, and 1939, one letter written to my mother by my
dad after the divorce, and an old deed to the eighty acre
farm that she loved so much. One of the biggest decisions
that my mother made in her life was to become a divorced
woman. That decision provided her children a loving
home to grow up in. Her two children graduated from
high school and went to college. One became a farmer
with a love for the land and one became a school teacher
and writer. My mother never remarried. She spent all her
time and effort in providing for her two children.
9
�2016 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
Irene (Wilson) Daniels died of cancer in 1965.
She ended life as she lived it, with dignity and
courage. She died in the bed she was born in. On
March 30, 1965 she was buried in a small cemetery
near her beloved eighty acre farm.
Divorce is common place to us today, but when
my mother filed for divorce it was almost unheard of.
She blazed the trail for other independent women
who sought dignity. Her courage still guides me
today.
10
�2016 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
Irene and her beloved 1936 Ford
coupe
Irene's 1937 drivers license
(one of the first license issued to
a woman in Lawrence County)
11
�2016 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
THE BLADE
J. C. Riley, Editor
Walnut Ridge, Ark.
Friday, March 22, 1912
MRS. ELIZABETH BUREL
LAWRENCE COUNTY'S FOREMOST WOMAN
Mrs. Elizabeth Buel is unquestionably the foremost
woman in Lawrence County. Foresightedness and
business sagacity has made her the richest woman in
North Arkansas.
A few years ago Mrs. Burel had a hard struggle to
keep the wolf from the door, but never ceasing energy was
rewarded, and step by step she has risen from proprietor
of a boarding house to master of countless acres of the
richest lands in North Arkansas. Her dwellings furnish
homes for enough people to make a good sized town. The
largest and most up-to-date hotel between Little Rock and
St. Louis is her property, while a score of business houses
in Walnut Ridge are operated in her buildings.
It is not in wealth alone that lies her greatness, for she
is a big-hearted, charitable woman with the sweet
disposition and pardonable pride of a true southern
woman. Her early hardships give her a true knowledge of
what charity really meant, and any person who is willing
to help themselves is never dismissed without substantial
assistance.
One of her favorite ways to assist poor renters is to
give them a start of livestock, for a small share of their
increase. This gives them a chance to help themselves, and
milk, butter, eggs and home meat is to be found daily on
12
�2016 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
the tables of people to whom such things were once
but a dream.
No worthy proposition to better the community is
allowed to pass without her assistance. Greed has had
no place in building up the magnificent fortune, but on
the other hand liberal contributions to worthy causes
has advanced the growth of her hard earned savings,
and out of a mere pittance has grown a fortune and
brought joy to the hearts of many.
The splendid Hotel Rhea is a example of the never
ceasing energy of Mr. and Mrs. Burel. The Rhea,
formerly managed by Mr. Wm. C. Burel, ranks
amongst Arkansas' foremost hotel, and for more than
six years Mr. Burel worked with the one object in view
- to make the Rhea famous for its service and
hospitality. His purpose was so well accomplished
that today the Rhea stands in a class by itself.
Growing acreage and increasing responsibilities
demanded her personal attention, and about eight
months ago the hotel was leased to Messrs.
Lennington & powers, of St. Louis. The present
managers of the Rhea are masters of the hotel
business, and the sixty-four sumptuously furnished
rooms are hardly adequate to supply the demand.
Transcribed By Ethel Tompkins from
THE BLADE
J. C. Riley, Editor
Walnut Ridge, Ark.
Friday, March 22,1912
13
�Lawrence County Historical Society
2016 Number 2
THE BLADE
Riley, Editor
J. C.
Walnut Ridge, Ark.
MRS. ELIZABEm BUREL
Proprietress of the Rhea Hotel
Thrift, hard work, perseverance of endeavor, keen
business perception are but synonymous terms to the
name Mrs. Elizabeth Burel. Fourteen years ago this
lady was compelled to be satisfied with a calico dress,
1nany times putting her children to bed in order to
wash the only suit of clothes they had. Today she is
one of the richest women in Lawrence county and
counts her acres by the hundred and her houses, both
private and business, by the dozen, to say nothing of
the valuable stocks and bonds owned by her. In
almost every public business enterprise of importance
in the city Mrs. Burel is considered; not only because
of her liberal and public spirit and financial ability to
assist but because her keen business judgment has
become to be recognized as among the best.
About fourteen years ago Mrs. Burel took charge
of the Star Hotel and soon after became the manager
of the railway eating house, which she continued to
conduct until she opened her present splendid hotel,
whtch she has named The Rhea. The Rhea, under the
skillful management of Mrs. Burel's husband. Mr.
Wm. C. Burel, has already taken its place in the front
ranks of the best hotels in the State. This hotel is new
throughout, having been opened the first day of
January, 1905. It has sixty-four rooms and will
.
.
14
�2016 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
accommodate one hundred guests. The dining room,
large, airy and light, will seat one hundred comfortably.
It is lighted with electricity and heated by steam. It has
ten bathrooms and two water closets and each floor and
private water system. It is handsomely furnished
throughout and is provided with excellent cooks.
Efficient dining room service and excellent help in
every department of the hotel. Mrs. Burel is now
preparing to put in private laundry and electric lights
on the first floor of the hotel block.
In addition to the hotel Mrs. Buel owns the Bloom
block, the Pitzen block and the Opera House block.
The lower floor of the opera house block is occupied
by the Collier Drug Company, grocery store and a
physician's office. The Bloom block, consisting of
three large store rooms, is occupied by a large
department store; The Pitzell block having two large
store rooms is also occupied by a department store.
Mrs. Buel owns eight large and splendidly improved
farms, all located in Lawrence county, and comprising
a total acreage of 1, 100 acres some of the finest land in
the State. Every acre of this fine line is under
cultivation, producing everything that can be grown in
this climate. The principle crop, however, is cotton, of
which these farms produce from one-half to one and
one-half bales per acre. As with all of the balance of
her property, Mrs. Burel keeps a careful oversight of
her farms.
In addition to her fine farms and Walnut Ridge
property Mrs. Burel owns some choice business and
resident prope11y in Hoxie, which brings her a
handsome revenue monthly.
15
�2016 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
Mrs. Burel was born and raised within three miles
of Walnut Ridge and is proud of her nativity. When
asked if Lawrence County had always been her home
she said "Yes, and I am proud of it. You tell any one that
this is one of the best places on earth, especially for a
poor person to get a start. The opportunity is here and
all it requires is a little determination to do something."
AndMrs. Burel might have added to do it with a
cheerful spirit. One ofMrs. Burel's favorite mottoes is
to never look upon any other than the bright side of
every question. Her sunny temperament and kindly
disposition have had much to do with her marvelous
success in the business world. When asked if any of her
land was for sale she said "Not a foot of it. My farms
are some of the best paying property I have and I would
rather add to than take from the acreage." This but goes
to show not only her faith in her native soil but what
splendid progress in business in Arkansas can be made
when the right sort of pluck and business judgment are
used.
Transcribed By Ethel Tompkins from
THE BLADE
J. C. Riley, Editor
Walnu� Ridge, Ark.
16
�2016 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
Elizabeth Cooper Rhea
Burel
1861 -1925
Photo Provided by Mrs.
Lesa Walter
17
�2016 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
Elizabeth Burel was born Mary Elizabeth Cooper in
1861 to Thomas and Mahala Cooper. She married
John Rhea 1876 and had two children: Harry and
Annie Lindsey. John Rhea died in 1898 leaving her
the Hotel Rhea. She later married James H. Turner
and W. C. Burel. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Burel died in
1925 and is buried in Lawrence Memorial Park,
Walnut Ridge.
Photo Provided by Mrs. Lesa
Walter
18
��·Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92
Powhatan, AR 72458
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lawrence County Historical Society Journals
Description
An account of the resource
The society prints the Lawrence County Historical Journal, an excellent collection of historical articles about the county, under the guidance of Ethel Tompkins, editor.
The publication was known as the Lawrence County Historical Quarterly from 1978 through 1992, then was changed to the Lawrence County Historical Journal from 1996 until present.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
2016 No. 2
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016
Description
An account of the resource
1) Tribute To A Lady Of The Ozark
2) Lawrence County's Foremost Woman
3) Proprietress of the Rhea Hotel
-
http://fglarchive.williamsbu.edu/files/original/6312d6e73624988cf7a36d1ac176f3fa.pdf
4acbdac1054df51886c42952ac5099b0
PDF Text
Text
;J.CJ/C :/
Lawrence County
Historical Journal
Dr. James Edwin Dunn
2016 Number 1
For Reference
Do Not Take From the Library
��THE lAWRENCE COUNTY
HISTORICAL ,JOIJRNAL
www.lchsar.org
2016
Number 1
�Lawrence County Historical Society
'I'BE lAWRENCE COIJN'I'Y
BIS'I'OBICAL ,JOIJBNAL
WWW .J CHSA.R.ORG
..
2016
Number 1
Published by the Lawrence County Historical Society
Editor- Ethel Tompkins
Membership in the Lawrence County Historical Society is
$20.00 per year and entitles members to the Journal. Individual
copies sell for $5.00 each.
Neither the editor nor the Lawrence County Historical Society
assumes any responsibility for statements made by the
contributors. If you have questions or comments concerning an
article contact the editor by email turbo611se@suddenlink.net,
phone 870-886-3269 and I will send them to the contributor.
The editor invites readers to submit articles, pictures and
information for publication.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN LAWRENCE
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NAME
___
________________________________
ADDRESS
____________________________
__
EMAIL ------CITY
________________
_
Send to Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92, Powhatan, AR 72458
�Lawrence County
Historical Journal
I
2016
I
Number 1
Contents
Note from Editor
.
.
.
.
.
.
Dr. James Edwin Dunn
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 6
.
.
.
7
�Lawrence County Historical Society
2016 Number 1
Note from the Editor
Happy New Year, fellow society members.
We begin the new year with an article written by
Anna Lue Cook.
Mrs. Cook is an amazing person, having written
several historical pieces for local newspapers. In
addition she has written several books, including A
History of the Point, Randolph County, Arkansas,
also The History of the Clear Springs Community in
Lawrence County, Arkansas, and Life of the
Southern Family, co-written with her husband Ralph
Cook.
Anna Lue is also known for her love and
knowledge of feed bags. Anna has written books
about these bags: The Feed and Flour Sacks That
Fed and Clothed America, and Fertile Bags, The
Feeding and Clothing ofAmerica.
A few years ago, the American Doll Company
was looking to make their "Hobo Kit Doll" and
planned on the doll carrying a feed sack purse. Not
knowing much about feed bags, the company went
to tl}e Smithsonian Institute and asked about feed
bags. The Smithsonian referred them to none other
than Anna Lue Cook in little old Imboden.
Thank you, Anna Lue.
Ethel
6
�2016 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
DOCTOR EDWIN DUNN AREA DENTIST OF
THE PAST
Doctor James Edwin Dunn served the
community of Imboden and the surrounding area
as their resident dentist from 1920 until the early
1970s (over 50 years). His office was located at
202 West Third Street for most of those years.
Doctor Edwin Dunn or Dr. Dunn, as he was
known in the community, was born August 5 ,
1894, in Randolph County in the Birdell
Community on Fairview Road at the Dunn family
farm. He attended Sloan-Hendrix Academy and
after graduation, he attended Tulane University
School of Dentistry at New Orleans, Louisiana. He
graduated from Tulane in 1919 and returned to
Imboden and opened his first dentist office over
the Parlor Drug Store.
Doctor Dunn and Olive Goss were married in
1920 at the Imboden Baptist Church. Olive was a
native of Imboden, having grown up in the large
house setting to the left after crossing the Spring
River going into Randolph County. Dr. Edwin and
Olive Dunn lived at 901 West Third Street in
Imboden.
The Dunn's had one daughter, Olivia (Dunn)
Beckman. Olivia followed in her father's
footsteps and got her college degree in dentistry.
Olivia is still living. The Beckmans had two
daughters.
I am told Doctor Dunn charged $1 to pull a
7
�2016 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
tooth in the early years. In the 1950s, according to his
record books, he was charging $3 to pull a tooth. In the
later years, it cost $7 to have a tooth pulled, and he
pulled many teeth in his years of practice.
Doctor Dunn did all types of dental work, from
pulling a tooth to filling a tooth to making dentures. He
made the dentures himself in his lab. His office was
well equipped with dental machines. He had a dental
chair, an x-ray machine, and a gas mask with tanks,
drill, and a white milk glass cuspidor. Most people who
remember going to Dr. Dunn, remember the cuspidor.
He had no running water, but the cuspidor had a tank
and motor and would circulate the water for rinsing.
His office, where he worked, was the waiting room
also, with chairs sitting around the wall. As one waited,
there was no doubt about what would happen when
one's turn came to sit in the dental chair. Many times
the chairs were all full with waiting patients and the
overflow went out to the front porch and sidewalk. Cars
parked along Highway 63. Doctor Aaron Murphy, the
dentist that serves Imboden and the surrounding area
today, has one of the chairs that was in Doctor Dunn's
waiting room. Dr. Murphy followed Dr. Dunn, but there
were several years in between that Imboden did not
have a dentist. Imboden is fortunate to have an
excellent dentist to serve our area today.
It is said, Dr. Dunn never turned anyone away,
whether he had money or not. Many times, during the
depression years ( 1930s) when people didn't have any
money, Doctor Dum1 would barter for his services. His
granddaughter, Clair Beckman, told me as a child when
they came to visit her grandfather, "They loved to look
8
�2016 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
in the office building. There would be arrow heads,
Indian head pennies, potatoes, syrup and anything
people brought to barter with."
Dr. Dunn owned farm land near Imboden and
Powhatan. Some years he would raise cotton. Dale and
Betty Carol Henderson still have some of his farm
record books. They show his records of growing cotton
and the names of people who picked cotton for him. I
wonder if any of this cotton picking was barter.
According to Clair Beckman, Dr. Dunn and Dr.
Hatcher began working together at 202 West Third
Street in the 1920s. Dr. Dunn's office was to the left and
one you entered by the front door on the left. Dr.
Hatcher's office was to the right and one entered his
office by the front door on the right. People were served
well by these two doctors during the early part of the
1900s.
Dale and Betty Carol Henderson purchased the Dr.
Dunn and Dr. Hatcher office building on March 25,
1975, and still own it today. The office building has
been renovated on the outside and renovation work has
started on the inside. They live in the beautiful two
story home next door. They were gracious enough to let
us take a look into the past with a visit to Dr. Dunn's and
Dr. Hatcher's office building a few days ago.
Many pieces of equipment still remain in the
building. The famous dental chair is gone, but the white
milk glass cuspidor remains. The Ritter's Model B X
Ray machine remains. The gas mask and the tanks
remain as well as the dental light, cabinets, drill and
tools.
9
�2016 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
Dr. W.W. Hatcher's medical bag and the forceps he
used remain in the building. The Hendersons have
kept the manuals that go with the xray machine and
the gas mask and tanks. They have his dental record
books as well as his farm record books. They have
preserved this part of our history well. Much of the
lab where he prepared and made dentures remains
almost undisturbed.
Mr. and Mrs. Henderson relate the following
story: "Mr. Henderson was at the Dr. Dunn office not
long after he purchased the building, doing some
cleaning. A lady stopped and came in and asked where
Dr. Dunn was. He told her Dr. Dunn was deceased
and he owned the property now. She explained that
she had left her dentures there for repair and was to
pick them up later and never did. Mr. Henderson
told her there was a box of teeth still in the office and
she could try the teeth to see if any fit her. She took
the box of teeth and her bottle of antiseptic spray to
the front porch and sat down and proceeded to try
each set. She left with one set that was "pretty good".
A young couple met, fell in love and got married
after meeting at Doctor Dunn's office. Linda Perrin
relates the following story: "Linda and Bill Perrin met
on the side walk outside of Dr. Dunn's office. Linda
had tome with her friend to get her tooth pulled.
Linda decided she would sit outside on the sidewalk
while her friend's tooth was extracted. Bill Perrin,
whose family lived next door to Dr. Dunn's office,
came up and introduced himself. A romance
blossomed and marriage followed."
10
�2016 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
When Linda and Bill Perrin wanted to build a
new home on Fourth Street, Dr. Dunn traded his back
lot for their front lot so they would have a place on
Fomih Street to build that house. Linda Perrin said,
"Dr. Dunn was always doing good things for people
and helping in the community."
Dr. Dunn loved a good joke and the following
was related to me: "Dr. Dunn and his hunting buddies
were camping at his hunting cabin. When night came,
everyone who had false teeth took them out and put
them in a cup of water before going to bed. Dr. Dunn
got up early the next morning and switched every
one's teeth to a different cup. They had a hard time
getting the right teeth back to the right person. Dr.
Dunn was laughing all the while.
Dr. Dunn was a member of the Arkansas Dental
Association, and many thought he made the best
dentures in the county. He passed away July 5, 1977,
and he and Olive are both buried in Hope Cemetery at
Imboden. Doctor Dunn was a unique person and
memories of him live on.
11
�2016 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
Obituary and Photographs
(all photos provided by Anna
Lue Cook)
12
�2016 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
This obituary was written by Mr. A.M.R. Branson, a
minister in the area at the time of Doctor Hatcher's
death, and first appeared in the Lawrence County
Historical Quarterly Vol. 1 No. 3 Summer 1978.
HATCHER-Dr. W. J. Hatcher died at his home in
Imboden, Ark., June 10, 1904, after an illness of only a
few days. He was born in Williamson County, Tenn.,
February 14, 1851, and came to Arkansas some twenty
five years ago, beginning the practice of medicine when
a young man. His natural gifts, and skill, soon gave him
rank among the best physicians of Lawrence and
Randolph Counties. He was often called to the
treatment of the most difficult and complicated cases,
and in many instances he managed said cases well,
restoring health to his patients, and adding to his useful
life a growing list of friends. He was loved and
respected by the citizens of Imboden, as was evidenced
by their confidence in him as a man, as a physician, as
a neighbor, and as a leader among the public interests.
This love was also shown by the continuity of their
service and kindness during his late illness; by the
solemn hush which was widely felt when his death was
announced, and by the vast crowd of sorrowing ones at
his funeral and burial, generous genial cheerful, at
home, in the social circle, and in the business world.
Joining the Methodist church in 1898 under the
pastorate of Rev. W. M. Wilson, he lived a consistent
member until he passed to his reward. His neighbors
13
�2016 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
testify to the genuine change in life when he joined
our church. He leaves his wife and several interesting
children whose tears and grief stress the pathos of
their love and the depth of their sorrow. One son is a
physician, who had already become compatible to his
father in the practice of their chosen profession, and
upon whom, no doubt, the mantle of his father has
fallen. The Odd Fellows took part in the burial
services of this good friend and citizen. Peace to his
ashes and blessings of God upon his loving ones.
14
�2016 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
Dr. Dunn and Dr. Hatcher's office
building at 202 West Third St.,
Imboden, AR
15
�2016 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
Door on left goes into Dr. Dunn's office
Door on right goes into Dr. Hatcher's
office
(see page 15 for view of office building)
16
�2016 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
•
-------·-- ..
Cuspidor in Dr. Dunn's office
17
�2016 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
Dr. W.W. Hatcher's medical bag
18
��Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92
Powhatan, AR 72458
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lawrence County Historical Society Journals
Description
An account of the resource
The society prints the Lawrence County Historical Journal, an excellent collection of historical articles about the county, under the guidance of Ethel Tompkins, editor.
The publication was known as the Lawrence County Historical Quarterly from 1978 through 1992, then was changed to the Lawrence County Historical Journal from 1996 until present.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
2016 No. 1
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016
Description
An account of the resource
1) Dr. James Edwin Dunn
-
http://fglarchive.williamsbu.edu/files/original/d771ee41a5a20c84a83844fc9a475eb1.pdf
e7e683090066e3c09118e35d76262c97
PDF Text
Text
��f)��
Lawrence County
Historical Journal
v;
.
'"-',::;;"""''..._..
The Portiq Lumber Compqny in Portiq
(lqwrence County); 1894. Courtesy of
the Butler Center for Arkansqs Studies,
Centrql Arkansqs Librqty System
2015 Number 4
For Reference
Do Not Take From the Library
��'I,DE IAWRI�NCE COIJN'fY
DIS'J,f)RICAL ,Jf)IJilNAL
www.lchsar.org
2015
Number4
�Lawrence County Historical Society
'I'DI� lAWlli�NCI� C()IJN'I'Y
BIS'I'f)lliCA.L ,Jf)IJilNAL
WWW .J CDSAil.OllG
..
2015
Number 4
Published by the Lawrence County Historical Society
Editor- Ethel Tompkins
Membership in the Lawrence County Historical Society is
$20.00 per year and entitles members to the Journal. Individual
copies sell for $5.00 each.
Neither the editor nor the Lawrence County Historical Society
assumes any responsibility for statements made by the
contributors. If you have questions or comments concerning an
article contact the editor by email turbo611se@suddenlink.net,
phone 870-886-3269 and I will send them to the contributor.
The editor invites readers to submit articles, pictures and
information for publication.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN LAWRENCE
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
N�E
________________________________
_
ADDRESS
EMAIL
CITY
______________________________
------
________________
__
Send to Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92, Powhatan, AR 72458
�Lawrence County
Historical Journal
I
2015
I
Number 4
Contents
Note from Editor
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Life and Biography of J. W. Martin
Photo gallery
.
.
.
.
.
.
Newspaper Article
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . .
. . .
. . .
.
.
.
.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . .
6
7
20
25
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
Note from the Ed itor
Well gang 2015 is coming to an end and I hope that
everyone had a great year.
The article in this issue is a reprint of an article from
our Quarterly of 1990 (Volume 13 Number 3). I
chose to reprint this article because I think it shows
early entrepreneurship.
I hope that you enjoy reading about the Martin
Brothers.
Life always offers you a second chance. It's
called tomorrow.
See you in2016
Ethel
6
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
Life and Biography of J. W. Martin
The writer of this sketch was born in Louisiana,
MO, June 16th, 1860. With his father, and an older
brother and sister he came to Powhatan, Arkansas, in
the year 1868. His father with an older brother Josiah,
engaged in the manufacture of wagons soon after
coming to Powhatan.
The writer seems to have come into the world under
some disadvantages, the first of which was the absence
of a mother's love and care, for the writer never knew
anything about the kindly minis traditions of a mother,
or the tender interest and solicitude which in so many
instances have been a potent factor in the life of so
many successful men. The writer has always considered
this loss as almost a tragedy in his life. The second
handicap was that of his stature of barely five feet 4
inches. He has always regarded this as a very distinct
disadvantage, realizing that the man with a better stature
and finer physique can better compete in the world of
business, and in the professional and political life.
My educational advantages were limited to the
subscription schools at Powhatan until I had attained the
age of Seventeen years when I started to grade school at
Smithville, Arkansas, I had only attended this school for
a very short time until my father notified me that he
needed my services in his wagon shop where he was
building farm wagons. Answering this call immediately
and without any hesitancy I decided to benefit from this
change by profiting as far as possible by the experience
7
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
I would get from it, and in 1881, when my father
decided to move to Bowling Green, MO, his old home.
I had saved $7.00 with which my brother, J.A. Martin,
entered the wagon making business, with a legacy of a
few hundred dollars due my father for materials left in
the shop. The wagons made by my brother and I
appeared to have all of the good qualities of my fathers
and soon reached the same popularity among our
customers and the public.
Ambitious to improve on the methods used by
father, when after 10 hours of arduous and hard labor
he could only produce 25 to 30 pieces or shapes, such
as tongue hawns, or felloes, by the addition of a small
boiler and engine, with the help of a band was, we were
soon producing around 3000 pieces per day. The writer
had never assumed a pessimistic attitude towards a
business success, for he had incorporated into his
program the motto or slogan, "that any young man who
was honest and industrious need not face failure." After
my brother and I had been in the wagon business for
only a short time we decided to put in machinery for
making the finished wagon spokes. With a full
complement of spoke machinery we soon found that we
had invested quite a considerable amount of money, and
were forced to abandon the wagon making business.
This bonus of making spokes was something new for
there were only a few factories of this kind in the
country. We also soon learned that without a list of such
materials as log wagon and standard felloes, plow
8
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
beams, bolsters, tongues and reaches to supplement
the spokes we could not meet the requirements of the
hardware dealers. For years we had to buy this
supplemental supplies, and we had to erect great
sheds at Black Rock, Arkansas, where this stock
could be used along with the spokes to accommodate
and meet the requirements of the trade and our
customers.
In the year 1894 my brother and I decided to build
a saw mill where we could manufacture the materials
which we had formerly bought, and its success
depended only upon the question of our making the
materials in a merchantable manner, which we did
with remarkable success, for in the years 1898 and 99,
our trade had reached a volume of 45 cars per month.
These mills were located about 20 miles below Black
Rock, where the business was continued until the year
1890 when we sold them. With a very intimate
knowledge of the wagon repair business and knowing
that all standard farm wagons were using a tread or
tire 1 & 1/ 2 inches in width, and due to the fact that
all felloes were made from material 2 inches thick and
thicker, it occurred to the writer that by dressing the
felloes to a thickness of 1 & 11/16 inches, there would
be a saving of much labor to the repair man in
chopping off this surplus amounting to an average of
more than an 1/2 inch. With this suggestion to my
brother two years before we sold our mills, this plan
was adopted when we installed a double surfacing
planner capable of dressing 400 sets of felloes per
9
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
day, equivalent to a car load, for which we received a
profit of 8 cents per set for dressing and saving of
around 20 percent in freight.
When the writer and his brother were in the wagon
making business they bought much of their materials
from W.C. Bruce & Company, Memphis, Tenn. After
embarking into the spoke making business they sold a
full car load of spokes to this firm. At this time the
older members of the firm were no more active in the
business and a son, by the name of Clifford Bruce, had
been advanced to the position of buyer for the firm, a
very important place in the business of any large
concern, such as the W.C. Bruce & Company.
Naturally this young man felt his importance and
when the car load of spokes had been delivered to
them, Mr. Clifford Bruce notified our firm by letter
that for some reason the goods were not satisfactory,
and without making any specific charge, and in just
such a tone that the writer believed that the question
could not be settled amicably without making a trip to
Memphis to investigate the matter, so he decided to go
to Memphis to make an investigation.
Arriving in Memphis he told Mr. Clifford Bruce
the object of his visit and immediately Mr. Bruce
suggested that we go to the warehouse and examine
the spokes which we did. We had sold him two grades
of spokes the better grade, our second growth, which
we ordered to brand as Bruce's :XXXX, the lower
grade as A extra select, our own brand, which we did.
It was a fact that at the time this order for this better
10
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
grade, in order to complete the order many of the
second growth were put into a lower grade
denominated as A extra select.
The writer saw Mr. Bruce go through the spokes,
grading very carefully a bundle of A extra select,
which he inadvertently supposed to be a bundle of
XXXX or second growth, and after he had graded this
bundle to his entire satisfaction he told the writer that
this bundle did not contain more than 50 percent
growth, while we were selling it to them as lower
grade and for less money, he told the writer that he
was capable of grading the spokes and knew his
business, after which the writer tells him that under
these conditions he is admitting to the writer that he
has by his own act and admissions telling me that our
firm has sent him a grade of spokes 50 percent better
than he had ordered and was paying for. With this
investigation Bruce was so confounded that he
suggested that we go back to the store where he paid
the writer for the full car of spokes, and without
discounting the bill 2 percent to which he was
entitled.
Another episode in the life of our milling business
was a matter of contracts with St. Louis & San
Fransisco R.R. with offices in Kansas City, MO A Mr.
H.P. Jacques was the purchasing agent for the
company. They bought all kinds of hardwood lumber
for car building, for bridges etc. Their specifications
were always placed on November 1, with the distinct
understanding that all orders must be completed by
April 1st following. It was a fact that we had for three
11
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
years filled their orders complete by the time specified
in the contract. Under this contract we had to pay the
freight to Black Rock, which cost us $2.20 per
thousand feet. After three years of faithful service in
which we had completed their orders on time, and
when at the same time many mills with greater
capacity than ours, had reported to Mr. Jacques that
owing to adverse conditions, high water and other
conditions had operated against their completing his
order, his orders were returned to him with very great
inconvenience and at a time when he could hardly
hope to get his requirements from any source. Under
these conditions the writer suggested to Mr. Jacques
that with the knowledge of our promptness and the
faithfulness in which we had executed his orders that
he might consider a proposition to pay us the same
prices F.O.B. our mill on Black River, a thing which he
did thereby adding practically $2.20 to the price he had
formerly paid us, breaking a long established precedent
in our favor and according to our suggestion.
J.W. Martin, with his brother J.A. Martin, were
among the pioneers in the hardwood lumber business.
Beginning in 1881, I was associated with my
brother J.A. Martin, under the firm name of J.A.
Martin & Bro. We began building and repairing
wagons. Two years later, we began manufacturing farm
wagon finished spokes, and at this time we installed a
band saw, for cutting all kinds of shapes, such as
hawns and felloes. This was probably among the first
12
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
machine of the kind in the state. We were compelled to
associate such materials as felloes, plow beams,
tongues, bolsters, reaches, truck and log wagon felloes
with the spokes in order to facilitate our business and to
meet the demands of our trade.
In 1904 mills were built on Black River, where all
of the above named material was made, and in a few
years our business had attained a volume of forty-five
cars per month. This associated us with some of the
largest manufacturers and shippers, which gave us a
rating with the St. L.S.F. Ry over whose lines most of
our products were passing. This gave us some prestige
with the company, and Mr. H.P. Jacques, the purchasing
agent, soon granted us concession in rates that the
smaller manufacturer and shipper did not have. This
was a wonderful help and gave us a decided advantage,
enabling us to buy the material on our contracts and
make a small profit. During these busy days, we always
had a comfortable balance and could accommodate the
businessman in the neighboring towns with occasional
loans, and the loans were made on lands around
Lauratown which resulted later in the purchase of four
farms centering in the Lauratown area and aggregating
a section of fine farming lands. Martin is largely
interested in farm lands today, having farms at Portia,
Lauratown, and a small farm near Batesville. He has
always enjoyed farming and has always shown a
friendly attitude towards his tenants as exemplified by a
Portia tenant who has been on the place 28 years, and
the child born on the place is now a father, and with his
13
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
wife and child living on the place during the farming
season.
In conducting our business, J.W. Martin assumed
the responsibility of finding a market for our material
and inspecting everything that left our mills. J.A.
Martin assumed the responsibility of knowing and
being familiar with our timber lines and corners, a very
important item, considering the vast acres necessary to
supply our plant. He also kept all of our machinery in
good working form, another important part of the
responsibilities of operating any plant successfully.
During the years that we were in the saw mill
business, from time to time we made loans of farm
lands around Lauratown, AR, and eventually we had to
buy these lands, which included the Dr. Wells farm, the
Mason farm, the Jackson farm, and the Bud Lady farm,
in the aggregate, a section or more of farm lands. Later
my brother sold his lands to John K. Gibson, but the
writer still holds the Bud Lady farm of 158 acres, with
his Portia farm containing 280 acres. In the fall of
1904, the writer was appointed Election Commissioner
for Lawrence County, where clean politics had no place
in the program of some of its leaders. The fall election
brought more or less discord and trouble when the
writer, with his brother, decided to move to Batesville
where they have made their home until this time.
Directly after moving to Batesville, some of my friends
proposed that I permit my name to be placed on the
ballot as School Director. I was elected and held the
14
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
became a vacancy in the office of the secretary of
Mines and Agriculture. A man by the name of Philips
had been elected but had died and this vacancy was
filled by the governor by the appointment of Clay Sloan
of Black Rock, Arkansas, who at the time was serving
on the State Board of Charities. Upon the appointment
of Sloan to succeed Philips, the governor suggested to
Sloan that he name his own successor and with this
suggestion Sloan named me as his successor and
brought my commission to me enroute to his home in
Black Rock. The writer served on this board for 18
months making monthly visits to the Capitol where all
business connected with the Blind School, the school
for the deaf mutes, the old soldiers home and the Insane
Asylum were transacted. For the past several years the
writer has devoted much attention to gardening and by
his methods tomatoes have been produced and put on
the market as early as June 1Oth, with roasting ears as
early as June 20th. He not only finds great interest in
the work but he finds remuneration at times in amounts
above $50 per season, after supplying the family needs
from the garden. The writer has for many years felt a
desire to cultivate a literary bent and at this time he has
a number of original essays and manuscripts which he
hopes later to compile and publish in pamphlet form.
The writer is due some little credit in the working
out of a successful plan for building the new Methodist
church in Batesville. In the year 1912 the writer with an
old friend, F. C. Stuart had established a partnership
15
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
place for nine years when I refused to permit further
service upon the persistent efforts of some of my
friends. Other members were prevailed upon to
remain on the board and were practically all defeated.
Directly after coming to Batesville, the writer, with
his brother J.A. Martin and W.D. Massey of Black
Rock, bought out the Livingston Lumber business,
which business continued for 14 months. Early in this
business, my good friend Mr. James P. Coffin came to
me with a proposition to take stock in the First
National Bank which was being organized at that
time, and he was one of its directors. I took stock in
the institution, was elected a director, and held the
position until 1911 when my physician ordered me to
go to Arizona for my health, which I did after
resigning my place as director of that bank. Since that
time the writer has persistently refused all offers or
propositions to connect himself as director with any
bank in the city.
In the year 1912 our church, the First M.E.
Church South, decided to build a new church. A
finance committee was appointed composed of the
late Theodore Maxfield, Nels Barnett and myself.
Thi� committee soon had subscriptions amounting to
around $30,000 and the writer succeeded in taking
around $24,000 in notes representing these
subscriptions. The church was built in 1913, but it
was about 10 years later before it was fully paid out.
In the year 1912 when Donaghey was governor, there
16
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
with an old insurance company, the Padgett & Glenn
Ins. Co. writing fire and accident insurance.
At this time the old church located on First &
Church Streets was in many respects inadequate to
accommodate its members, which at that time probably
numbered 350. There had been efforts at times to start
a campaign with subscriptions for a new church
building, but had always resulted in a failure due to the
very small amount subscribed, compared to the very
large sum necessary to build a church which would
adequately house the congregation. While associated
with the Insurance company named above the writer
called Mr. Nels Barnett to his office to discuss this
matter with him and told him that before it was
possible to build a church it would be necessary that all
members give to the limit, and that his firm, composed
at that time of the three Barnett Bros, and Mr. Wash
Ball, start the subscription with as much as three to five
thousand dollars. The writer had already discussed the
matter with his friend Stuart, and he and I agreed
between us that under right conditions we would each
subscribe $1500 each.
This discussion with Mr. Barnett led to a plan by
which the Barnett Brothers started the subscription
with a sum equal to $4000 to $5000 and with added
subscription of $3000 subscribed Mr. Stuart and
myself, was augmented to the sum of $17,000 when the
first meeting was called at the old church to start a
campaign for the church building. Mr. Stuart was
named as on the building committee, the writer was
17
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
named as one of the finance committee, the other
members being Mr. Nels Barnett, and the late Theodore
Maxfield. The finance committee had soon increased
the subscription list to $30,000 and the writer soon
converted $24,000 of these subscriptions into notes and
the work of building the new church started and was
completed in 1913 during the pastorate of the Rev. T.Y.
Ramsey. Thru the Carnegie foundation, sums were
received that made it possible to install a pipe organ,
and after about ten years the entire debt of the church
was liquidated. The building of the church could not
have been made possible at the time without the very
generous help of the late V.Y. Cook, who not only
donated the grounds for the church, but donated a lot for
the church parsonage. It is a fact that our people first
adopted a plan to find a building site opposite the
Episcopal Church on Second Street, but for various
reasons such a proposition was not tenable and had to
be abandoned. Then it was that our good friend Col.
Cook came to help of the church by proposing a gift for
building both the church and the parsonage. The writer
has been active in church work for the past twenty- five
years. When the Rev. R.C. Morehead was pastor of the
church, he served as Chairman of the Board of
Stewards, later he served as treasurer of the church, and
at this time is a member of the Board of Trustees. The
writer has always been in sympathy with the Methodist
Preacher, especially the one who is serving a
18
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
congregation that cannot pay a living wage to the
preacher and his family.
Editor's Note: We do not know when this article was
written, nor do we know the date of Mr. Martin's
death.
19
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
Photo gallery of J. W. Martin and
Family
20
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
J. W. MARTIN
21
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
CLARA ISABELLA NORMENT
MARTIN
(MRS. J. W. MARTIN)
22
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
HELEN MARTIN
(Daughter of J. W. and BelleMartin)
23
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
Martin LumberMill, Black Rock, AR
Jim (third from right) and Johnny
Martin (fourth from right)
24
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
Newspaper Article
25
�2015 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
��Capaeliy.:
ge
A
.lll'OU I'ACTO.II T
. I
··11 aow lo oJ)4ttaUon ·1aere; tumt� out·
fi80 to 1800 spoke• pet day. Tlie f&o.
lol7. Ja-ow:oecl aiMI o�l'ated b y the Xal'-.
�· ua. &-.,.l two paUeme-. wllo �4
Ia bUaituiM a &w 1� ap without a dol·
-- � JAr; •4--ltn ..,., a aapti.U �k or�.
TJa� liwlUt'MtuM Wlie01ll ·and bugaiet,
tad 4_o eyeryt.htag la wood and b-on work.
41J'M}' uve aleo • painting eatabUa�eot.
, ,. . Ja ·eo.aaeettou witb tliel1' r.c�ry. fhey
. .... out ... •average or l'm wagon• pel'
·: .· ,.... ••d set .,.� foot 0, U.tJ· IIlater1al
� Wled In ttitm wltllfn two ml1e1 of town.
- 1D the bt.ekamith aqop ther have macbin·
err tor beudlag ttfe&, for punching and
:___a1l�._ •n4 tq r�t a deal ot Ute work it
done by machlnerv. -They liava ror·•ala ·a
7'.
•
__
_
__
·
Bookwalt.r up�L&.tl.xand oae-balfbone
_p�wer.��!'��·J.or...·�· on_.�vor,
_
.�
Daily Arkansas Gazette 3 Oct 1883 Wed
Page2
26
��Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92
Powhatan, AR 72458
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lawrence County Historical Society Journals
Description
An account of the resource
The society prints the Lawrence County Historical Journal, an excellent collection of historical articles about the county, under the guidance of Ethel Tompkins, editor.
The publication was known as the Lawrence County Historical Quarterly from 1978 through 1992, then was changed to the Lawrence County Historical Journal from 1996 until present.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
2015 No. 4
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015
Description
An account of the resource
1) Life and Biography of J. W. Martin
2) Photo gallery
3) Newspaper Article
-
http://fglarchive.williamsbu.edu/files/original/306132111e2c573882d1559f43d9de34.pdf
17d05a678ac149f89952eec2bacb28c2
PDF Text
Text
�f)}b :3
Lawrence County
Historical Journal
BLACK ROCK'S FIRST
GIRLS' BASKETBALL TEAM
LEFT TO RIGHT
Ethel Penny Coffman
Lela Sharp Stark
. Mildred Warren Guthrie
Josie Denny Hudson
Irene Waldron Huffman
Bessie Williams Wayland
E thel Jones Keeling
2015 Number 3
For Reference
Do Not Take From the Library
1
��'1'81� lAWRENCE COIJN'I'Y
DIS'fORICAL ,JOIJRNAL
www.lchsar.org
2015
Number3
�Lawrence County Historical Society
'1,01� IAWili�NCE COIJN'IT
DIS'I,f)JliCAL ,JOIJilNAL
WWW .J..(�DSAil.OilG
2015
Number 3
Published by the Lawrence County Historical Society
Editor- Ethel Tompkins
Membership in the Lawrence County Historical Society is
per year and entitles members to the Journal. Individual
copies sell for $5.00 each.
Neither the editor nor the Lawrence County Historical Society
assumes any responsibility for statements made by the
contributors. If you have questions or comments concerning an
article contact the editor by email turbo611 se@ suddenlink.net,
phone 870-886-3269 and I will send them to the contributor.
The editor invites readers to submit articles, pictures and
information for publication.
$20.00
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN LAWRENCE
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NAME
________________________ __ __ _____
ADDRESS
EMAIL
CITY
____ ______ __ __ __ __________
____
-------
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _____________
Send to Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92, Powhatan, AR 72458
�Lawrence County
Historical Journal
I
2015
I
Number 3
Contents
Note from Editor
. . . . . . . . .. . . . .
. . . . . .. . . .. . . . .
Old Newspapers Tells of River Town
.. . . .
6
7
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Note from the Editor
Hello Group
In the past few months I have been reading some
of the past issues of the journals and have read some
interesting articles. The article that I have chosen to
reprint is from The Winter 1980 (vol. 3 #1) issue.
I hope you enjoy this issue and don't forget that
if you have something that you would like to share
with others please let me know. Also it would just
be nice to hear your comments (good or bad) so that
I know that I am publishing articles of interest. My
contact information is listed below:
Phone: 870-886-3269 (home) 870-809-0604 (cell)
turbo611se@suddenlink.net (email) 611 SE Cotter,
Hoxie, AR 72433 (mail).
Thanks and happy reading.
He who does not remember the past is
condemned to forget where he parked his car.
Ethel
6
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Old Newspapers Tells of River Town
The fine collection of old newspapers owned
by Mr. Charles Penny of Black Rock affords a
good idea of life in this river town and the
Lawrence County area in the early 1900's.Three
papers were published at Black Rock ....the
Blade, the Democrat, and the Telephone.One of
the earliest papers in his collection is a 1902 copy
of the Telephone.It was in an issue of the
Telephone, dated March 3 , 1906, published by C.
A. Bledsoe with S. Garfinkel, Prop., that The
Beehive Dry Goods Store announced in a large
front page advertisement many items of interest to
Black Rock residents.
Here one could buy two spools of thread for
five cents. Thimbles could be bought two for one
cent, and needles went for two cents a packet.
Ladies could decorate their garments with pearl
buttons costing four cents a dozen that usually cost
seven cents.Handkerchiefs sold two for a nickel,
and three cakes of fine toilet soap cost only 10
cents.
For their homes Black Rock housewives could
buy a cake of wax to keep their irons running
smoothly for three cents and oil cloth for their
kitchen for 18 cents.A fine assortment of small
rugs was offered for 23 cents each, and heavy
brass curtain rods sold for nine cents each.
The gentlemen were not overlooked as they
could buy heavy jumpers for 25 cents, heavy
7
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
overalls (that usually sold for $1.00) for 89 cents. A
special bargain was $1.00 union overalls that were on
sale for 48 cents. For dress up occasions, silk ties that
were worth 15 cents were selling for five cents.
This issue also carried news that Mr. Roy Verkler
sends this paper to his mother, Mrs. Ella Verkler, in
Washington.
An editorial observation: Whatever may be the
condition of the railroads, the farmers in this part of the
country were never in better condition. They are
profiting from the many good lessons learned.
The Frisco Railroad proposed to advertise land near
the place free. Landowners were advised, "If you have
any to sell, hand the description of it to Dr. J. W.
Coffman and he will see that it is properly listed. (Dr.
Coffman donated the land for the cemetery.)
The Black Rock Democrat, March 26, 1908,
George Anderson, publisher, carried the news that
ladies could buy their spring bonnets from Essie
Waldron's Milinery Shop and their groceries from W.
H. Waldron's Store.
W. Angle was operating a second hand store, and
Angle and Son had an Undertaking Establishment.
Martin Qujinn was the blacksmith and Luther
Clark's father owned a machine shop.
Country lard in buckets was selling for 121 2 cents
a pound .
Vernon Myers, who built the old drug store was
killed in a train wreck. He was the son of Dr. Myers.
Electric street lights had been suspended over the
streets.
J. B. Judkins, Alvin Irby and L. B. Poindexter were
8
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
attorneys operating in the area.
Firewood such as mother loved to use- cut right,
and split right. Use telephone to Colonel Surridge's
residence. E. L. P ickney will deliver.
(Research shows that there have been many
newspapers in Lawrence County since the first one
was published about 1857. Most of them lasted only a
few years. According to W. E. McLeod in Centennial
History of Lawrence County, the first paper of which
we have any account was published by Dr. Z. P.
Alexander. The Quarterly plans to print more about
the histories of these papers in later issues. Ed.)
From the newspaper the Blade, dated 1906, some
of the social life of Black Rock can be learned. The
editor, J. C. Riley, was described by one who
remembers him, as a great kind-hearted, smiling
editor.According to W. E. McLeod in his Centennial
History of Lawrence County, Mr. Riley came from
Kansas to Black Rock in 1890 and bought the Blade
from S. J. Howe and published it there until 1902
when he moved it to Walnut Ridge. It was from this
early newspaper that Mr. Hassell Judkins took facts a
few years ago and wrote in his column about a club
meeting. The Altrurian Club had been federated the
previous year- 1905, with the General Federation of
Women's Clubs. The Booklovers Club no longer
exists, but the Altrurian Club is still very active. Ed.)
On this afternoon of May, 1906 , the Black Rock
Booklovers Club was hostess to the Altrurian Club of
Imboden in Mrs. Clay Sloan's beautiful home at Black
Rock. Carriages were waiting at the depot to take the
ladies coming from Imboden to the beautiful Sloan
9
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
home. The transportation was mostly by railroad in
those days as there were no state roads.
Mrs. E. T. lrdy, the president of the Booklovers
Club, made a nice address of welcome followed by
Mrs. M. H. Long of Imboden in a very entertaining
talk on American Federation of Women's Clubs. Vocal
and instrumental music was rendered by Mrs. Long,
Mrs. J. H. Townsend, and Misses Gant and Gibson.
Miss Sue Henry presided very charmingly at the
punch bowl.
T he intellectual entertainment was a literary
romance in rhyme. Mesdames Homer Sloan and C. C.
Bacon won.
Mrs. Sloan had a delightful surprise for the guests
in the original and artistic place cards at luncheon.
T he following were present: Mesdames M. H.
Long, A. G. Henderson, John McKamey, C. C.
Bacon, G.' R. Kirkpatrick, H. F. Sloan, M. F. Sloan,
W. H. Vaughn, Van Brocklin, W. A. Cunningham and
isses Gant, James, and Griffith of Imboden; Mrs.
Eugene Howe of St. Louis; Mrs. L. B. Poindexter of
Powhatan, Misses Lilly and Mary Steadman of
Smithville; Mrs. E. J. Mason of Portia; Miss Moore
of Little Rock; Mesdames E. T. Irby, J. H. Townsend,
C. T. Burns, C. H. Stout, W. J. Smith, Clay Sloan, J. F.
Ripley, G. A. Warren, E. Cypert, and Misses Lucy and
Sue Henry, Maude Galbraith, Stella House and
Margaret Gibson of Black Rock.
(At a later date when the Black Rock Club again
entertained the Imboden ladies, the Imboden group
walked along the railroad track the several miles
10
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
between the two towns to the meeting. Their
husbands later drove down in buggies and brought the
ladies back to Imboden. Ed.)
11
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Pictorial view of Black Rock
12
�_e.
�
....
(;J
Q
00
-
�
(;J
Q
·;:::
"'
....
=
_e.
=
=
Q
u
�
(;J
=
�
�
;..
�
...:l
;..
M
a
�
,.Q
=
trl
z
Q
N
.....
.
�
-�
--
-
Inside view of one of the three newspaper offices in Black
Rock at the tum of the century.
M
.....
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
0
=
�
0
�
-·
tl.l
14
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
The Krone home was one of the finest in Black Rock.
It was originally the home of Dr. and Mrs. J. H. Myers.
After the death of Dr. Myers, Mrs. Myers married J. E.
Krone. When fire destroyed the house in 1976, it was
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Callahan.
15
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical-society
16
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
This swinging bridge over Black River at Powhatan
was built in the mid 1920's. On opening day the
builder, Harry Beauvais of Stuttgart, flew his
airplane under the bridge.
17
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County HistoricaiSociety
18
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
19
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical'Society
20
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
21
�2015 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
22
��Lawrence Count y Hist orical Societ y
P.O. Box 92
Powhat an, AR 72458
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lawrence County Historical Society Journals
Description
An account of the resource
The society prints the Lawrence County Historical Journal, an excellent collection of historical articles about the county, under the guidance of Ethel Tompkins, editor.
The publication was known as the Lawrence County Historical Quarterly from 1978 through 1992, then was changed to the Lawrence County Historical Journal from 1996 until present.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
2015 No. 3
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015
Description
An account of the resource
1) Old Newspapers Tells of River Town
-
http://fglarchive.williamsbu.edu/files/original/b3953b3812ee751214f9d2e5cd29c8d2.pdf
46b7bd24df806678d0caa21e3f723e8e
PDF Text
Text
d._o;s-: :2
Lawrence County
Historical Journal
.
Marjon
�ALICIA
--- --.J.J_--
Mother of Counties
2015 Number 2
For Reference
Do Not Take From the Library
•
l
i
��'I,BI� IA.lflli�NCI� (�OIJN'IY
BIS'I,OiliCA.I. ,JOIJRNAI.
www.lchsar.org
2015
Number2
�Lawrence County Historical Society
'fHE IAWilENCE COIJN'I'Y
HIS'I'ORICAL ,JOURNAL
WWW .I CHSA.Il.OilG
..
2015
Number 2
Published by the Lawrence County Historical Society
Editor- Ethel Tompkins
Membership in the Lawrence County Historical Society is
$20.00 per year and entitles members to the Journal. Individual
copies sell for $5.00 each.
Neither the editor nor the Lawrence County Historical Society
assumes any responsibility for statements made by the
contributors. If you have questions or comments concerning an
article contact the editor by email turbo611se@suddenlink.net,
phone 870-886-3269 and I will send them to the contributor.
The editor invites readers to submit articles, pictures and
information for publication.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN LAWRENCE
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NAME
________________
ADDRESS
EMAIL
CITY
________________
------
____
___
_
--------------
Send to Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92, Powhatan, AR 72458
�Lawrence County
Historical Journal
I
2015
I
Number2
Contents
Note from E ditor
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . ..
6
Lawrence County, Mother of Counties , has
colorful past
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
News of bygone days
. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .
7
14
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
Note from the Editor
Hello fellow society members. This issue
contains an article written by the late William Roy
Mullen. The article was first published in March/
April 1970 edition of The Arkansas Lawyer and
later reprinted September 19, 1984 in The Times
Dispatch.
Also in this issue are various newspaper articles
that may be of interest. Some of you may even
recognize some of the people and/or events.
I am asking each of you to help make the 2016
journals award winners. If you have an event and or
pictures that you would like to see featured in future
journals please let me know. Call me at 870-886 3269, text me 870-809-0604 email
turbo6 11se@suddenlink.net. If you have some notes
or memories written you can send them to 6 11 SE
Cotter, Hoxie, AR 72433.
Thank you.
He who thinks the past cannot be changed has
not yet written his memoirs.
Ethel
6
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
Lawrence County, Mother of Counties, has
col orful past
(Editor's note:With a revival of interest in
local history, we thought our readers would enjoy
this article by the lateWilliam Roy Mullen, a
former municipal judge ofWa 1nut Ridge. It was
first printed in the March/April 1970 edition of
The Arkansas Lawyer. He started this article with
a humorous sketch about himself.)
"About the Author"
By TheAuthor
William Roy Mullen is a former teacher in the
old-time, one room, shot-gun school house, dust
monkey, off bearer, sawmill and cotton gin
fireman, mule team and wagon peddler, logger,
land and sea-going blacksmith, and a graduate of
the College of Rough Roads, and the University of
Hard Knocks, and now taking a post graduate
course. Admitted to Arkansas Bar in 1922. He is
Municipal Judge of the City ofWalnut Ridge.
Lawrence County, on a cold day, January 15,
18 15, was formed by the Territory of Missouri,
from a part of New Madrid County. So it is older
as a county than the Territory or State of Arkansas.
Arkansas Territory was formed in 18 19 and the
state in 1836. Before this, the county was
occupied, it is believed, by the ancient Mound
Builders and the Indians, the last of which was the
Osage Tribe, and had been under the rule of the
Spanish and French empires. It was the second
county formed in Arkansas, Arkansas is the older
7
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
county. When formed, Lawrence County embraced
about two-thirds of the state, north of the Arkansas
River. Called the " Mother of Counties," 31counties
have been made from its original limits. It was named
Lawrence County, in honor of Captain Lawrence,
commander of the Chesapeake, whose last words were
" Don't give up the ship."
The first town in Lawrence County was
Davidsonville, known first as Lawrence, and built on
the site of a former Indian village, and located west of
Black River in what is now Randolph County. It was
the first post office west of the Mississippi River, and
also was the first county seat of Lawrence County. The
plat of Davidsonville, which is of record, shows it to be
laid off in nine blocks, with three each way, with six
lots each. In the center block was the courthouse.
According to tradition, this structure was about 30 by
35 feet in size, and was a two-story structure. The town
was named after John Davidson, who was said to have
been a member of the legislature of the Territory of
Missouri.
The county seat was established there about 1816.
The first term of court in the county was conducted at
the pioneer log house of Solomon Hewett, located on
the bank of Spring River, during the early part of the
year qf 1815. The second term of court was held at
what was then the newly-built residence of Richard
Murphy, located about two miles north of the present
town of Imboden. Davidsonville was abandoned by its
inhabitants, it is believed, because of an epidemic of
illness. There is also a theory that because the town was
hemmed on three sides by rivers, for which reason it
8
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
was inaccessible especially during flood stage, and
also because there were no bridges or ferries across
the rivers.Whatever the cause, this frontier town
became a ghost town, and suffered the same fate as
Arkansas Post. The site is now a park, and is visited
frequently by people from a wide area.
With the vanishing of Old Davidsonville, the
county seat in 1829 was moved to Jackson, on what
was then known as the Military Road. In 1837 the
seat of government was moved to Smithville. In 1868,
Sharp County was cut off from Lawrence County and
the courthouse moved to Clover Bend on Black River,
supposed to be the center of the county.
A democratic victory in the elections of 1869
resulted in the removal of the county seat to
Powhatan, also on Black River, and named in honor
of the Indian chief, Powhatan, of Captain John Smith
legendary fame. There the courthouse was built on a
high hill overlooking Black River, in 1873. This house
of wood construction burned in1885. The present
courthouse was built in 1888. And there, on the same
red clay, limestone hill, it still stands today. It is
locked, the tall heavy doors barred, the halls and
offices silent, the entire site deserted, a lonely sentinel
guarding the glories of its past, and stirring fond
memories in the hearts of the old-timers.
Through the doors of the old courthouse, the early
settlers, many of whom had hewn from the
wilderness, their homes and fanns, passed proudly to
record their patents and deeds to their homes, and pay
their taxes. Circuit Court was conducted twice yearly
in January and August, and lasted for two to four
9
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
weeks. Grand juries subpoenaed many witnesses and
thoroughly investigated crimes and several
indictments were returned at the close of each session.
To the little town came the judge, attorneys, jurors
and litigants and witnesses, as well as onlookers. The
few rooming houses were overtaxed. General stores
served meals consisting of canned goods, such as
sardines, salmon, beans, cheese and crackers and
canned oysters. The few eating houses, usually
rooming houses also, set a table loaded with home
cooking, and were always crowded during the court
terms. Those with money to spend for better
accommodations rode, drove, or walked about two
miles up Black River to Black Rock, where there were
restaurants and hotels. Black Rock was a thriving
sawmill river town.
Powhatan, whose origin is shrouded in the mists
of uncertain tradition, is believed to have had its
origin, with the establishment of a ferry across Black
River, by James Ficklin, and was then known as
Ficklin1s Ferry. Ficklin built a fine house, for that day,
on a hill overlooking the present site of the town. This
house burned during the CivilWar, and is generally
regarded as the first house in Powhatan. Colonel John
A. Lindsey, a nephew of Ficklin, is credited by some
with .the establishment of Powhatan. However, one of
the streets in Powhatan is named Ficklin Street and he
served as county judge from 1840 to 1844. Tradition
leans to the theory that he was the first settler there.
Powhatan is located in the foothills overlooking the
valley of Black River, and on the west side of the
river, the hills often came to within a few yards of the
10
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
river. On such a hill the courthouse was built.
As can be best determined the first steamboat
came to Powhatan in 1829. It was a thriving town
during the days of river transportation, and the county
seat added to its activity and importance. Before the
coming of the railroads, it was an important shipping
center, as riverboats brought merchandise there, and it
was hauled by wagon to other settlements.With the
vanishing from the waterways of the steamboats, and
the increase in rail transportation, Powhatan began to
fade ... a steady" irreversible fading that in 1963
resulted the establishment of the courthouse at
Walnut Ridge, and moving all the records and offices
toWalnut Ridge.
Of great interest are the old records at Powhatan,
dating from 18 15. There are three vaults of these
records. The earliest of these records are Book " A"
and " B," both bound in one volume. The first entry
was made on the 29th day of May, 18 15. Several of
the instruments recorded in Book "A" are
appointments of Justices of the Peace. These officials
appeared to have been the almost whole of local
governments. The county was not then divided into
townships and the justices were appointed for "the
settlement of Strawberry and Spring River," etc. The
first instrument recorded in Book " A" was a bill of
sale for a sawmill and some hogs.
Of interest in Book "A" are two retractions,
referred to in those days as " lie bills," the purpose of
those documents was to admit in writing that a person
had lied about some facts or some person. There
appears records of the sale of slaves, which are in
good form, and properly acknowledged. Also
11
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
appearing is the record of a man selling himself into
15 years of servitude. The purpose of this, as given us
by tradition, is that he was a free mulatto, and did so to
purchase the freedom of his wife, who was a slave, in
order that they both might be free.
When you open one of these old records, your
attention is at once attracted by the neatness and the
beauty of the writing, done before the days of steel
pens and manufactured ink. It is believed to have been
done with quill pens and homemade ink. The
perfection with which the writing is done, is an
absolute work of true art.
The county is solidly supporting a movement led
by Mrs. J.H. Myers, wife of the mayor of Black Rock,
to establish in the old courthouse at Powhatan, a
county museum. Practically very organization,
including clubs and civic organizations, are taking
active steps in raising funds for the restoration of the
old building.Mrs. Myers predicts that the goal will be
surpassed, with continuing efforts to that end, and the
museum will become a reality in 1970.
Through the tall and heavy doors of the old
Powhatan Courthouse have stepped eagerly the happy,
to get their marriage license. Through these doors have
trod the hopeful, eager to record the patent to their
home or their deed to newly acquired property. The
great value the pioneers placed upon their homestead
is evident by the few mortgages made by them, during
their early days. They would rather live hard and work
hard, than to take a chance of losing their homes under
foreclosure. Also through those doors have entered the
worried and troubled, some accused of crime, and
12
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
some engaged in litigation. Out of these doors have
passed those acquitted by juries, on footsteps light and
fleet. Also, out through these doors have slowly and
sadly stepped the condemned ... those found guilty.
Several legal executions have taken place in
Lawrence County. One of interest was the hanging of
Bill Jones, condemned for murder, some half a century
or more ago. J.E. McCall of Portia was sheriff and J.
F. Israel was his deputy. Early the morning of the
execution they went to the jail to take Jones to the
gallows, and the sheriff asked him if he had any last
request. He replied that he would like for the officer to
write his sweetheart in Mississippi a letter. Procuring
paper and pencil, and after getting her name and
address, McCall said " What do you want to tell her,
Bill?" " Just tell her, Sheriff, that we will have to put
off our wedding and they are going to hang me this
morning."
13
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
News from bygone
days
14
�Wl5 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
Daily Arl<ansas Gazette (Little Rock. Arl<ansas}
·
Mon. Mar 9, 1885
·
Page 8
Printed on Nov 12. 2015
INFORMATION reached bere ye�terday t tell
Ing or the burning ot the court-house at
l,o whatan Lawrence couuty, Sunday tnorn�
tng. The bouse. which was valued at •:t�,ooo,
watt tot&llty de�troyt. d, tbough the r.eeorde, of
lnesthnablo value, were SC'Veu. 'rbe court·
bouse was built in 187t, and 11 one of t.hf\
tluest ln the state. 'rbc 11re ·was the work or
lncendiarles ano a elvae in\Tostia-atJon �1-rter
tbe guilty party Is belng made. the dettruc
tlon or the coun-houee i.e a grtHt.t lo!t to the
county and ia greatly deplored, ,
..
Daily Arkansas Gazette 9 Mar 1885
Page 8
15
·
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
An effart Ill belog m..Ue
to tuove
tt:.e
Lawrence ronaty oonrt bonse fJ'O'Jn
Powhatan to Imbotlen�
Powbatao la
IIOIDedhdaace trona thP rallroa I, audit
II oaly a watter of time uotll the conrt
bOD88 will be IDOYed.
Jonesboro Daily Times-Enterprise Tuesday,
May 29, 1906 Page 2
Saloons Licensed.
Walnut Ridgot Ark., Jan,. 4.-·
I
·�e-sterday Judge Poinde-xter grant·
ed saloc:c-· licenses for Walnut
1
Ridge and Hoxi� after
a.
stubborn
tight by tlltr prohibitionists. \Val
nut Ridge is to ha\� four saloons
and one wholesal� liquor hot�
Hoxie \Vill have t\VO saloons a.nd
one \Wholesale hquor bouse.
The
saloons have been running today
for the first time in four years.
•
Jonesboro Evening Sun Thursday,
January 5, 1905 Page 1
16
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
BfG FIRE AT.
BLACK HOCK
HOTEL .Alf1) BLA.OK
ROOK MAOBINE SHPP BOlUl
-�- HATU&DA� NIGllT..:....wo:&K
.
OF AN INOENDIA.BY.-
COTTAGE
.
News was r__eceivecl in tbe City 7�
terday. monaing. announciUS" the burn
in;; of the Blaek Ror.k machl.no _shop
with all the contents and before the
names could be ebeek� the Cottage
hotel� loeated �r tho shops wu in
flames, and 'this bQUdillg with n08rly
aU tlte fumishiilgs wu eoPSumed by
the ravages o{ the flameS.
I
: It i� qnt definitelr lcDP.wQ, bu� thoee
briuging the iDtonnalion to this city,
'·st�te tT•at'"�i-�)Ji�bt 'u.-a·:· nrii--: J&.c�-·
th._. 'C'urk ot an ineondiary, u &a.· un·.
known; party. wu �on to: ba.-e 'nil
trout the �aaehiDo .boP, ·,jul. alter tb.
tiru was diaeOve&W.
•.
·
.
Tbe amount of i�u·ra.-·eirrieci ·oil
eaets "plaee wu not Ieamea: bat it i8 ··
t,hoUght that both bad 50me'Uiiliraiiee.
·
I
.
.
.
.
·_
·
·
·
·
·
·.
. ·
, ·
·
·.
-
.
.
·
.
Jonesboro Daily Tribune Monday, July
3, 1911 Page 1
17
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
!liOLD FIND REPIITED
NEAR QLAtK Rot;K
Bla<.'k Rork. Oc:t. J!j.-PtJt Adams.
miner who, l'ith :�;ix men, hn�
bt•e-:t a.�'l)"t.'tl and· it is 1\atd to yield
al1out four weeb. Npoo:;ts the di$
l.'oi.·J'rJ J.r, gn.ld · fourt mils WP!:t of
Blt1c:k Rork... Tht' ore was found In
the loa� :01 Stinnette Crec:!'k on. the
hmd of Fred Ad.arr.s. The ore 'bns
hecn as....ayed And i tia said to yield
St.OOO J){.'r ton. llr. Adams is an
expcrhmcecl ntiner and opened \tp
the m!ne� :tt Sulphur R�ek. Ark.
Ut> .states that be bas found lead
in gn•at quantities in the \'idnily of
tht> gold here but \\"ill not work it.
Preparation$ arc bcin' made to inw
Ji:.l:�.U machint'ry to nmo\"e the gold
ore in Jatge qua�tities.
�t
Monday, October 16, 1922, Jonesboro
Daily Tribune Page: 2
18
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
Turu�;
1'
Cbi�f
-a�:. Policoman Jim
Youn�Jt returned
fro1u llo:r:itt-,
'�ht're the)· Wt'ht to taatif)• in rrgard to 1
t.be ca1•ture of thtt uegroe9 wbo
&.be palaee jeweler]' a�re at &bat pJace 1.
Cbriatmas wMJk. They report a warm 1
Limtt at Hoxitt, wbens 'be marshal of
llo.:de arreated the marshal of Walnut
Ridg" for d .. unkenne:.s, and put him tn
jail 1 twas r"ported tbat.l. t.he Walnut'
Ridgo marshal bad shot some boll'-3 in 1
..\ b jones a"!oon a� Walnut Ridge. At :
tbe traio the Walnut. Ridge ntarshnl �
••cussed out'' a .hlnettboto knight of &.bo;
�erron <:Jutb �s h6 was gutting on lho:
train.
yeete;aay
robbe-d�
•
J
J
t
T
------
Jonesboro Evening Sun Friday, February 17, 1905
Page 4
19
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
IIIODEN NOW PUNS
PIJBUC 110 sc•L
Imboden, Sept. S.-The Board
oi Directors o1 the public school
of thi'i city tave just closed a deal
in which '-hey lease the Sloon-Hen·
drix 8�edemy bnildiny for lbe pur. pQ!I!� of having the pnblic bigh
i :Jehool department taught there.
This wilt place Imbodtn far ln ad.
vance of any other like town in tbe
I state in the wav of public school
I ad t"a.ntages
the academy
building and the
nE:w public
s=bool
building combined
pupils can be comfortably accommodated.
Mth
5001
Jonesboro Evening Sun, Saturday,
September 10, 1910 Page 1
20
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
IINTIJRN REPORTED. �l
TO 11VE lAD llfi· t
FilE WEDNESDA yl
A reportreachedllere W�
to the deot tbat
lliDt.urD,
a
amaU
town about ten miles frcm Wabm&
Ridp ou the ll'oD Moualai:D Ballroad, was mostly 4� bJ Ore
I
sometime cturma Jaet rdShf..
I·
·
The report stated thal &he botel
1nd Jeveral balfnell houaee, a1eo a.
number of dwellinp were "YicUmsl
or UJ.e names. One rumor was that.
. 100 buildinls were bum� bu\ W8
: is not ,-erifted.
I llrs. A. B. Cost. who J'esidet oa
·1 South ltain Street In thil cur, re
ceived a lone die&ance meaaare UU.
: lnorning teUina her t.bat. eevenl
ltollks at -Minturn own� by her
husband, A. B. Cost, who is iD busl1 ness at Trumannt were burned. She
i J�ft. at. DOOD over tbe Frieoo to N1
c•�rtain tb4t loss.
JonesboroWeekly Sun,
Wednesday, June 2, 1915 Page 3
21
�2015 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical Society
iMIN11JHN MAN
. ·111IES Kilt Wft
----------�-
.;
·=·
·
·
·.
·
.·
Walnut Rid�, Ark•• Feb. 1!�
. �mmand at MiDl\lnJ ·�me k'
the home of llr.. J_ A. Qreen, � .
""hom lla.nlmond'• wife
llas . been
ata)-inrr wi� their. ·nparation eomo
'W'Oeb . ago. Btld,. brandisbil\. R gun,.
attempted to shoot lifT �aterday.
Mn GYeen �tabW. the PD and
wre&tled :wi� liim qntil neighbon, at
traded by lser eriea for help, �tame
and to9k th• IUD from him.
:Officers �re bnm"edjatelr ·noti:
fid and 6heriff ·Caldwell ud n�·
put, Hall went t.o llntarn, but were
uni.ble to find fian�molid. l{ammoud �
js ·a roung ftJniler lhinr !lear llln·1
til!B•
·
•
.
·
.
. .
·,
·
-���-·-
_." ·-
�
..
_
.
.
Jonesboro Daily Tribune, Monday,
February 13, 1922 Page 2
22
j
��Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92
Powhatan, AR 72458
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lawrence County Historical Society Journals
Description
An account of the resource
The society prints the Lawrence County Historical Journal, an excellent collection of historical articles about the county, under the guidance of Ethel Tompkins, editor.
The publication was known as the Lawrence County Historical Quarterly from 1978 through 1992, then was changed to the Lawrence County Historical Journal from 1996 until present.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
2015 No. 2
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015
Description
An account of the resource
1) Lawrence County, Mother of Counties, has colorful past
2) News of bygone days
-
http://fglarchive.williamsbu.edu/files/original/b1042daf1db79d352e7249868ff43720.pdf
8f0d0a2a5a7b2506873d904bf2a71727
PDF Text
Text
Jo/5': I
kwrence County
Historical Journal
1815 - 2015
"---wrence
co1111d
2015 Number 1
For Reference
Do Not Take From the Library
��'l,DI~ U1fRENf~E COIJN1'Y
BIS'l'OlllCAL ,JOIJllNAt
www.lchsar.org
2015
Numberl
�Lawrence County Historical Society
'l'HI~ LA.Wlll~NCI~ (~()IJN'fY
BIS'fOlll(~AL ,JOIJBNAL
WWW .I. (~HSAll.OIU,
2015 Number 1
Published by the Lawrence County Historical Society
Editor - Ethel Tompkins
Membership in the Lawrence County Historical Society is
$20.00 per year and entitles members to the Journal. Individual
copies sell for $5.00 each.
Neither the editor nor the Lawrence County Historical Society
assumes any responsibility for statements made by the
contributors. If you have questions or comments concerning an
article contact the editor by email turbo611 se@suddenlink.net,
phone 870-886-3269 and I will send them to the contributor.
The editor invites readers to submit articles, pictures and
information for publication.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN LAWRENCE
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NAME
------------------
ADDRESS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
EMAIL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
CITY
-----------------Send to Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92, Powhatan, AR 72458
�Lawrence County
Historical Journal
I
2015
Number 1
Contents
Note from Vice President ................... 6
As I Remember Lauratown ................ 8
Mama Ca1Tied The Mail .................. 25
·I
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
Note from the Vice President
Dear Members of Lawrence County Historical
Society,
What an honor to be asked to write to you!
This issue of the journal features guest writers. Our
guest writers are the foundation of our journal. Let
me encourage you to become one of those guest
writers and share your own stories. When you do, I
strongly encourage you to list the resources you use.
Have you ever been reading an article and wondered
"Where did they get that photo? or Where did they
get that information?" It may be a story that a family
member told you or perhaps you have been
researching your family history and found a story in
an old copy of a newspaper. So whether it is a
personal interview with "GrandJ ack" or a written
source, be sure and share that resource information.
Prove your scholarship by documenting your
sources.
We continue to celebrate the 200th anniversary of
the establishment of Lawrence County. However,
we have had somewhat of a setback in producing the
"Mother of Counties." We encourage all those
hosting special events or those who are members of
other community organizations to incorporate into
6
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
their events the celebration of this anniversary,just
as the Lawrence County Extension Homemakers
did this May at their Spring Council Meeting.
Join us at the next meeting which is the first
Monday of each month. Keep up-to-date by
visiting our website or Facebook page. Contact ,
any of our officers ifwe can help you. These are
Lloyd Clark, President; Catherine Richey,
Secretary; Craig Powell, Treasurer, and Ethel
Tompkins, Editor; or myself.
Sincerely yours,
Lesia Sloan-Phillips
Vice President
7
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
ASIREMEMBERLAURATOWN
By
Maxine Neece Bracy
Lauratown was a port of call for the steamboats
that came up the Black River on the way north to
Powhatan and Black Rock. Black Rock was a thriving
town while Lauratown was still a small settlement.
The limited information lets us think that the
settlement of Lauratown was about the year 1860. The
location was on the Black River bank about a mile west
of the later settled community where the store, cotton
gin, post office and such were built. The "legend" about
the name of Lauratown was that someone abandoned a
baby girl near the river bank with a piece of paper that
only read, "her name is Laura". At some point in time
after John K. Gibson established the farming plantation
that the area was tagged "Johntown", though this was
just loosely named.
The first post office was in a small building
situated near the river and just east of the present home
of the Tinsley's. It is thought that the original cabinet
was in this building and was later moved near the
center of the settlement where the community store was
located. The remains of a rock store building built in
1931 is the spot where the original store once stood.
The original post office cabinet is housed in the
museum at Clover Bend, along with the list of all the
8
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
post masters which included my father who once
served this office.
The old store building, as I remember, was at
first two separate buildings, one used for groceries
and the other as a storage building. The two were later
joined to make room for dry goods and shoes. One
part of the warehouse was constructed with screen
wire to protect the contents from mice and other
rodents. Bags of flour, sugar, beans, seeds and such
were in this space. The remainder of this building was
for supplies such as farmers needed for making crops.
A room in the back of this area served as a sleeping
room for my dad J. G. (Jewel Gordon) Neece who
was employed by John K. Gibson who was the owner
of the store and plantation. I'm sure this must have
been a rather small room for its occupant. I remember
two items that came from his sleeping quarter's - an
iron bed and a feather bed that were later used by my
parents. He ate his meals with a Mrs. Brimhall who
lived across the road.
The south most part of the building where the
groceries were kept also housed the post office just to
the left of the entrance. The first postmaster I
remember was a Mr. W. W. Cochran. I remember as a
child the big potbellied wood burning store that was
in the middle of the floor and was surrounded by a
sawdust filled frame to accommodate the tobacco
9
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
chewing men who sat around that store and told "tall"
tales by the hour. In the very back part of this room
was a raised platform complete with desk and files for
record keeping for the merchandising and operations
for the plantation which was several thousand acres.
My dad had attended the high school academy
at Ravenden Springs and was licensed to teach school.
He was hired to teach in a school near Eaton (the
community where he was born). It was at this point
that he was offered a job of bookkeeping for Mr.
Gibson. Groceries were bought in large quantities and
most came in wooden barrels. I remember how good
and fresh crackers tasted from a newly opened barrel.
White beans, sugar and flour all came and were
measured and sold by the pound. Chewing tobacco
came in a long block and was cut with a hand cutter
into pieces for sale. Two favorite brands were Red
Star and Days Work. Pork side meat came in large
slabs and sold by the pound. No refrigeration was
required because of the heavy salt preparation.
The farming operations furnished a living for
several families. I can recall some 30 to 40 houses
scattered over the plantation and clustered around the
store, post office and cotton gin. Farmers, rented or
share-cropped plots of 40 or so acres. Cotton and com
were the two main crops, all planted and cultivated
using mules or horses for pulling equipment. A large
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
number of the work animals were kept in the barn
behind our house. Likewise, and nearby was a large
shed for wagons. Mr. Gibson financed the farmers
and they were paid in a substitute form of currency
(could be spent only at the community store) that was
called "John Dough". Some of the pieces are now
owned by members of our family. The keeping of
records of all these families, their farming records,
their purchases, etc. was a full time job. A farm
"boss", Mr. Clay Halstead, made his rounds on
horseback to all the farms keeping track on the crops,
animals, and the fanners themselves and their
families. Mr. Gibson also owned some acres around
Shirey Bay, south of Lauratown in the Black River
bottoms. It was known that someone operated a "still"
and a few times it was thought that Mr. Halstead had
done a little too much "sampling" while making his
rounds.
In September 1912, when my mother Sarah
Elizabeth Brady (Bessie) and my dad were married,
Mr. Gibson built a four room frame house for them.
Two of the rooms, with IO feet high ceilings, were
bigger than the other two. There was a porch all
across the front of the house. In later years it was
screened and made a good place to sit in summer and
on very hot nights a good place to sleep. A good
pastime, too, was seeing all the "goings on" in the
little community ofLauratown.
11
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
All of the new furniture in our house was
bought from a wholesale furniture company and was
made of oak. The bow-front china cabinet and a
"stand" table are pieces still in use by members of the
family. The "stand" table was actually a table used for
holding the oil-burning lamp and placed in the middle
of the room. The oak dining table, four of the chairs
and a platform rocker was used long after the
Lauratown days. An identifying feature of the lamp
table is its claw-footed legs each holding a glass ball.
In later years two rooms were added to the back of the
house, I was born in this house July 15, 1913 and
Helen was born in the same house January 3, 1921.
In early years Highway 67 came through
Lauratown-a highway that travelers from Little Rock
and all points south went going north. To say the least,
it was a well-traveled highway. Before there was
automobile traffic, most traveled by wagon, buggies,
and horseback. We had a one-horse buggy.
Occasionally there was some excitement when a
horseback rider would come into the store to warn the
men that coming from the south were Gypsies in
wagons that had bright covers. The store was usually
locked up at that point because when several
wagonloads of these people came into the store, there
was a need of watching them closely for fear of thefts.
Lauratown also had a doctor and he had both an
office and a house just south of the store. The John K.
12
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
Gibson house was just south of that-all very close to
each other. Dr. Stephens was the doctor who was
present when I was born. Later Doctor Wallis
Hartman, who had a son named Lewis, Ii ved in the
community. I think he may have served in the army
during World War I which had ended in 1918. He had
lost part of the third finger on his left hand and I oon
recall him thumping us on the stomach when we were
sick. A relative of his had acquired four wine(?)
glasses and later shared them with Helen and me. The
pitcher with pink roses that I now have came from his
estate sale.
After Doctor Hartman left Lauratown his house
was occupied by The Walker Smith family. Mr. Smith
was the head book keeper for the plantation. Mrs.
Smith was a frequent visitor to Hot Springs where she
took series of the baths. One little old lady in
Lauratown could never understand why anyone would
need to go all the way to Hot Springs to talce a bath! !
Mrs. Smith was a good neighbor and once while our
mother was sick, she brought a dish to her called
creamed quail on toast. Needless to say, that was a
new delicacy to us.
I remember as a child that when someone died,
men in the community would build a coffin in front of
the warehouse building. They covered the outside with
black cloth from the store and lined it with white
13
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
material, probably with no padding. There was one
occasion when my mother was asked to line a baby's
casket and she used nice, soft cotton padding.
At a later time a casket house was built and
caskets were bought from Texarkana Casket
Company. One salesman was a man named E. J.
Neece and was interesting to us because he spelled his
name like ours and we had not known many N eeces
outside our area.
I don't know when the cotton gin was built but
it was quite an experience to see the operation, which
employed a number of men and was supervised by
Mr. Jim Smith. A small house was built for Homer
and Allie Davis near the gin and I guess it was their
job to look after the grounds around the gin. Dave
McCord was the hired night watchman who made
rounds seeing about the gin, store, post office, etc.
One interesting story I remember about Mr. McCord
is a time when some men "nabbed" him and took him
up to the schoolhouse, tied him to a chair and left him
to crawl back for help. It was thought that the men
were looking for keys to the store but he did not have
them.
Behind the store and the gin lot there were
basketball goals which no doubt furnished
entertainment for local boys for many a game.
14
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
There was a blacksmith shop near the gin lot.
Mr. McCord and Earnest Sade were the blacksmiths.
The Sades were neighbors to us and the Halsteads who
lived in the house nearest to ours. At one time Charles
Phillips had a hamburger stand and later had a filling
station in front of the store. This was on Highway 67
which had much north-south traffic.
f
When Helen was ready to start to school, we
went to Portia for schooling. She was in Pauline
Watson's first grade, a room on the first floor. The
building was a large square red brick building with the
auditorium and upper grades, 4-8, on the upper floor.
We went to Portia because the Gibson children, John
K. Jr., Elizabeth, and Joe Robinson were going there.
Our mother and Mrs. Gibson took turns driving us to
school-a distance of about five miles. A few times we
were privileged to ride in the big red truck,
affectionately named the "Red Devil '1• It had a most
unusual horn-a whistle! !
Tragedy befell the Gibson family when the
oldest son, John K. was given a motorcycle-a novelty
in those times, because most people could not have
afforded one. On one day, he drove up in front of the
filling station and without turning off the motor he
attempted to fill the tank with gasoline and it exploded
causing his death. Not long after that his younger
brother died while a doctor was doing a tonsillectomy.
Needless to say these two tragic events made a
15
�Lawrence County Historical Society
2015 Number 1
difference in the lives of the remaining family.
Things took a downward tum as Mr. Gibson became
involved in some shady bond buying which
ultimately caused the loss of some of his wealth.
,,
. :,~,,,_ - '!ii' '~
'
•
.
.•
·,.
"o\'
: • ' ; . . ~ .:--r~~ ;:-, :\ .
Old P~rtia High Schooi'bti1Iciitig
•
4_.
~
....
·.j
I
I graduated from the eighth grade at Portia
and then I was ready for high school. We went to
Hoxie Schools. Our parents paid tuition for our
schooling in Hoxie since we were not in that school
district. We rode to school with two brothers, Percy
and Gerald Copeland, who lived at Clover Bend.
Alda Slayden and her cousin, Virginia Lou Slayden
also rode with all of us. One day the car "broke
down" and we had to walk on to school from a
community south of West Side Inn which was a
long, long walk for children. There was little traffic
16
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
then so there was no hope of being hitchhikers. The
way to Hoxie at that time did not go by the way of
Arbor Grove, but rather north of Lauratown on
Highway 67 and then east by the way of Beurklin
sawmill and then east to Hoxie by the way of West
Side Inn.
Most of the children of farmers went to the
school in the community in a two-story building and
was named the Bosley School. The grades 1-4 were
taught on the lower floor, usually by a woman teacher.
The grades 5-8 were taught upstairs with a man as
teacher. The upper floor was also used as a meeting
place for the Masonic Lodge with ·a room that was
kept locked for their robes, banners and other
emblems. That was also a topic of curiosity for the
children.
There was an older woman who lived just north
of the school named "Aunt Em" Campbell that our
Mother took us to visit. She was a very refined sort of
person and our mother was interested in her
needlework-mostly tatting. A little farther north was
the family of Walter Malone. We tagged him with the
name of "Jug Malone" because he was more often
drunk than sober.
School terms were divided-between the winter
term and the summer term so that children could chop
cotton and com. During September and October they
helped with the harvesting-picking cotton which was
pulled along in sacks. There was always a Christmas
17
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
program at school on Christmas Eve with a
community Christmas tree lighted with real candles.
Someone kept an eye on the tree to see that the cedar
tree did not catch on fire. This two-story building was
later replaced by a building all on ground level.
While we were still living at Lauratown,
probably in the last years of the 1920' s, and some
Brady cousins from out of state were visiting, some
of the Walnut Ridge bunch suggested a gathering on
Black River for a picnic. It was on a short notice and
Daddy had to stay at the store until closing time, so
we went to Charles Phillip's hamburger stand and
bought a bunch of 10 cent sandwiches and took off in
a hurry. As we drove up we saw a flurry of
excitement because Pauline James Dean's husband
had just drowned. Even though the man had been a
good swimmer, he did not know of Black River's
whirlpools that could pull a person down before help
could arrive. Uncle Harvey Jean was one who had
tried to save him-to no avail.
Pauline James Dean was the only child of
Grandpa Brady's sister, Allie Brady James and her
husband Fenner James. They lived in St. Louis and
he worked as a mail clerk on the Missouri-Pacific
line between St. Louis and Little Rock. Occasionally
we would get a letter with his name on the back-an
indication that he had handled that piece of mail.
Pauline was brought to our house because we lived
nearest to the scene of the drowning while his body
18
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
was recovered from the river. Pauline was an
accomplished musician having studied in St. Louis
and was a paid soloist in the Third Baptist Church in
that city.
My Grandpa Brady had some interesting
sisters and brothers. An older brother, Will, bought
land in the bottoms of Black River. The land was
good for farming and also the tiinber cleared made
him a rather wealthy man for his time. I don't
remember details but he was drowned in a flood on
the river. His wife was Aunt Maude and after his
death she moved to Batesville with all her children.
She married Paul Butler who was a lawyer. Aunt
Maude was an interesting woman who had high
ideals for her children. She and Mr. Butler had two
children, Paul, Jr. and Elizabeth. When I was
attending Arkansas College at Batesville I often
visited the family because of kinship in the Brady
family. Aunt Maude was always one who could lift
your spirits and gave you a sense of achievement.
They lived in one of Batesville's finest two-story
homes which still stands. I practiced on their grand
piano and learned the Wedding March so that I could
play while their daughter Juanita came down the
stairway for her wedding. Juanita and her husband
whose last name was Boutwell built a log cabin near
Batesville and now that cabin is on the campus of
Lyon College. Clay, Helen and I went to one of the
19
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
annual Scottish festivals on the campus (in later
years) and there were ladies quilting in the cabin.
I go back by way of remembering more of my
Grandfather's brothers and sisters. They were all
good singers and at about the same years as the
above was happening, we went to a Brady reunion.
All eight brothers and sisters sat in a circle and sang
a Capella some of the songs they had learned when
they were all at home together. Their harmony was
simply beautiful and they had learned the four-part
harmony from a traveling music teacher when they
were all very young. The names of the brothers and
sisters were: Will, Bud, Joe, Bums, Henry, Molly,
Ida and Molly. Their music might be identified as
being similar to the Shakers singing in Kentucky.
Back to Lauratown-Oftentimes when it was
cotton ginning season, there would be a fire in the
cotton gin created by some friction. It would have
been a real disaster if the gin had burned, so Mr.
Gibson had a water tower built topped with a tank
for water for such emergencies. There was no
electricity at this time, but we had light furnished by
Delco batteries which were stored in a shed outside
the house. Our father bought 40 acres of land at
about this time between Lauratown and Portia and
the house was rented to the superintendent of schools
at Portia-a W. S. Miller. Some of the land had some
20
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
valuable forested area of oak trees. We went to
Portia to a Missionary Baptist Church.
In 1927 a tornado came through and hit the
areas in Lawrence County. Much damage was done
to a house at Arbor Grove owned by a man whose
name was A.L. Lee. Their family lived in our Uncle
John and Aunt Jennie Lee's house until the Red •
Cross helped rebuild their house. This was the house
occupied by our family after Daddy bought the land
and house from the Lee's.
In the spring of 1931, the store building at
Lauratown burned and that left our father without a
job. Mr. Gibson agreed to build a cobblestone
building with the understanding that Daddy would
go into business for himself. He was to pay rent on
the building and the house where we lived.
Heretofore no rent had been charged for the house
because it was one of the perks that went along with
his salary as operator of the old store. During the
summer while the building was being constructed,
Daddy turned his time and energies to the building of
a church building at Arbor Grove. He contacted the
members of the school board and they gave an acre
of ground for establishing a building for the
congregation. Before that the people had gone to
other Baptist churches-namely Portia and Duvall.
Daddy donated oak trees from the fann near Portia,
had them cut and hauled to Buerklin saw mill and cut
21
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
into lumber for the building. Budgie Little, a
member, was the main caipenter for the building and
other men gave of their time to do whatever they
could. This worked to an advantage, because crops
were "laid by" and they had time to give before
harvest time.
When September came, the new stone
building at Lauratown was finished and ready for
occupancy. It was at this same time I was ready to
begin college at Arkansas College, now Lyon
College, at Batesville. Daddy had a cousin who lived
in Batesville. He had two daughters, Lucille and
Thelma. Lucille had already started to college and
Thelma and I would be freshmen. The Smiths
agreed to board me at their house, so that gave me
an opportunity to go to school. They lived about six
(6) blocks from the college and we walked to
classes. I took a full freshman course with English as
my major. I also began taking piano lessons. I had
won a trophy in the State contest so I thought I was
pretty good, but I soon learned from my teacher,
Carrie Mae Hudspeth who was from North Carolina,
that I needed "working over". She completely
changed my touch. She was a very fine teacher. My
voice teacher was Katherine Brooks from New
York. After the four years in college, I graduated
with two degrees-a B.M. and A.B. Another fine
22
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
instructor was Henry Sanderson who later worked at
Southern Methodist University.
Daddy, with Mama's help, operated the new
store at Lauratown from 1931 until 193 7. The Post
Office (nothing more than just a cabinet) was moved
into the building and Daddy served as Postmaster.
Along about this time Daddy bought the land
owned by Mr. A. L. Lee and at the same time began
to make plans to build a store building there and
move to that location. The house was rented to a Mr.
Shackelford for a time but by 1967 the new store
building was taking shape and we moved there in
193 7. The house that the Red Cross had built rather
hastily was of rough lumber and not much finishing
had been done inside. The first thing we did was to
cover the rough walls with deadening felt. This was
a heavy paper material thirty (30) or more inches
wide and put up in strips with paste. When the strip
was pasted, it took four of us to hold it up to stick it
to the ceiling. About the time we all got into place
with a strip of the stuff, somebody called us to the
store!! We decided that if ever we needed to have
business at the store, we'd start applying 1nore
paste!! After the felt was finished wallpaper was put
up. Finally the house looked much better. In later
years the house was remodeled to enlarge the living
room and to include three bedrooms with a screened
23
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
front porch which was enjoyed mostly in summer.
Daddy was a pipe smoker and spent many hours
sitting in the porch swing and smoking. At a later
time still, the porch was enclosed with glass
windows with made it enjoyable year round.
The two buildings are no longer standing but
the spot is easily identifiable because of the pecan
trees and the rock house built and occupied by John
and Maxine.
24
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
Mama Carried The Mail
By
Patti Living
25
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
Mama Carried The Mail
By
Patti Living
Mama (Barbara) was born May 4, 1901.
When she was three, her mother died leaving two
older daughters, Mama, and a 3-month old baby
son. All four children were placed with relatives
and friends and would not be reunited for many
years.
Mama was moved from one family to
another over the years and was finally settled into a
family's home in southern Missouri. It was still a
hard life, with physical labor in the fields as well
as cleaning, etc. in the house. She did, however, go
to school nearly fulltime-except for times when she
was needed at home. Her best friend on the farm
was "Ben" a great big chestnut horse. She and Ben
went on many rides through the woods and she
knew the area well as she rode Ben to school each
day.
At the age of sixteen ( 16), Barbara was
thrilled to have the opportunity to go to work and
as she told us 'to get paid for it' was just wonderful.
This job was with the U. S. Post Office delivering
the mail through the woods and farms she knew so
well.
She had been delivering the mail for several
weeks and had experienced no problems. The
postmaster was happy she was so dependable and
26
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
reliable and made the trip so much faster than the
man doing this before her. Postmaster Jim was not
really sure if he should hire her-being a girl and allbut decided to take a chance as he knew the family
she was Ii ving with quite well. And, everyone in the
community, and at the one-room school where his
son attended, liked her spunk. He knew she was a,
good rider as he had seen her riding Ben all around
the countryside.
Through the winter months, even though there
was lots of snow at times, there had not been any day
that the mail did not go through as required. She was
proud of her record and especially happy to hear
Postmaster Jim tell the family she was living with
one Sunday after church, that he was proud of her,
too. She beamed all the way home in the wagon.
Shortly after that Sunday, it was in the spring probably late March as she remembered it- there was
a vicious thunderstorm during the night and it was
still continuing as she headed off on Ben to get to the
Post Office in town.
It was still thundering and lightning all around,
the wind was blowing like crazy and rain coming
down in sheets. It was five (5) miles to the Post
Office from the farm, but she was determined not to
be late. She'd hurried through her chores at home and
prayed she'd get there on time. Ben seemed skittish
the whole way, but they managed to get to the Post
Office where she was to pick up the mailbags that
were waiting for her. Postmaster Jim was looking
27
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
down the road as they rounded the comer of the
building and when he saw her, he had a big smile on
his face. He told her he wasn't sure she would even
try to make it that morning. There had been several
houses damaged in town during that stormy night
and some families had to finish out the night in the
school-house! Everyone was thinking they might
have just had a tornado go through the area.
She knew he was proud of her for coming in, but
there was never a doubt in her mind that she would
deliver the mail today! Nothing scared her, certainly
not some little storm.
The mail was already in her saddle-bags and
as she threw them over Ben's back, it seemed to her
they were VERY FULL & HEAVIER than usual.
Postmaster Jim told her later there was a reason for
that, the Sears & Roebuck Spring catalogs were in
those bags!! He also cautioned her to be very, very
careful crossing 3-Mile Creek as it was near floodstage around midnight. She just shrugged her
shoulders and told him she would be careful.
The first stop on her route was at a small farm
just on the edge of the woods. She remembered a
few weeks ago when she had brought a very sad
letter to the Hendersons. Their son was in the war
and had been wounded, so she visited them regularly
to cheer them up. She normally left the mail in the
box at the road, but today what with the awful
weather conditions, she thought she should ride up to
the farmhouse so they wouldn't have to venture out
28
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
to the mailbox. She was sure glad she decided to do
that, since Mrs. Henderson was sitting on the porch
all wrapped up trying to keep warm and dry. She'd
been watching for Barbara - she heard the catalogs
were at the post office and she hadn't gotten hers yet!
Mrs. Henderson handed her a bag of cookies and a
big smile of gratitude in exchange for her catalog r
and away she went.
Because her route was thirteen (13) miles
long, she hurried Ben along as much as she could.
The storm was not letting up as she'd hoped it would.
It was very hard to see in the heavy rain and the
saddle-bags kept slipping. That meant she had to get
off several times to tighten up the cinches. She surely
didn't want to lose any of those catalogs. She would
feel so bad if any of the kids especially had theirs
among the 'lost' items. Barbara had so many friends
along the creek that she always wanted to stop and
spend a little time, but today of all days she simply
had to drop the mail and get going. The storm was
getting worse as she neared the creek.
She could hear the sound of the howling wind
and the wild water rushing. She came to the creek,
which was over the road and she couldn't see well at
all. But she urged Ben into the water anyway,
thinking if I don't act scared maybe he won't either!
The creek was about three times the size it was
normally and no bridge in sight. She guessed it had
been washed away by the sto1ms. She closed her
eyes and said a little prayer for Ben who would have
29
�2015 Number 1
Lawrence County Historical Society
to swim for the other side. Into the water they went
and as the swirling waters caught Ben, he fought hard
for his balance. She knew he was going to stop and
since that simply could NOT happen, she jumped off,
grabbed the reins and started scrambling-walking,
swimming-she wasn't quite sure what she did. But
FINALLY reached the other side where she checked
to see if the saddle-bags were still there. Thank God,
the mail WILL be delivered! They were there, but
how-she just did not know.
There were only three (3) more farms to
deliver mail to on the other side of the creek. By the
time she reached the third one, the rain was
beginning to lighten up. It wasn't QUITE so windy,
she saw no lightning and thunder was getting further
away.
She'd made it all twelve (12) miles and
everyone had their mail and Sears catalogs. She felt
GOOD knowing she'd accomplished what she had to
do, and she had a big smile on her face as she
rounded the bend in the road and saw the Post Office.
When we were young, Mama told us many
stories about her early years sometimes in the porch
swing, my favorite place and this post office story is
one of our favorites. She gave us all a good work
ethic and taught us to NEVER GIVE UP! No matter
how hard the battle, just do your very best. Your
reward is: It WST MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.
30
��Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92
Powhatan, AR 72458
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lawrence County Historical Society Journals
Description
An account of the resource
The society prints the Lawrence County Historical Journal, an excellent collection of historical articles about the county, under the guidance of Ethel Tompkins, editor.
The publication was known as the Lawrence County Historical Quarterly from 1978 through 1992, then was changed to the Lawrence County Historical Journal from 1996 until present.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
2015 No. 1
Description
An account of the resource
1) As I Remember Lauratown
2) Mama Carried The Mail
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015
-
http://fglarchive.williamsbu.edu/files/original/392b0800130208ee68c7667cd6bae557.pdf
da708b0b37db81589862066d25da9dc8
PDF Text
Text
\-. --------
Lawrence County
Historical Society
Presents
Tidbits Of
Lawrence County
History
2014 Number 1
(
For Reference
Do Not Take From the Library
·~
)
��2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
Lawrence County Historical
Society
TIDBITS OF LAWRENCE
COUNTY HISTORY
Table of Contents
Note From Editor .......... ~ .............. 4
Arkansas Black Caps ..................... 5
Ku Klux ..................................... 5
Democrats and Pops At War ........... 7
Arkansas Claims Youngest Mayor .... 7
Darkest Arkansaw ....................... 11
Hen Does Work On A Train ........... 13
Miscellaneous News ..................... 15
3
�2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
Note from the editor
Hello readers
A year or so ago, I came across the Library of Congress
Digitized newspaper collection (1836-1922), wrote
down the web address and forgot about it. While
restoring my computer system recently I came across it
agam.
While browsing through some of the papers, I wondered
if any Lawrence County news was listed in the out of
state papers. I was surprised at the number of news
items that was reported.
I have transcribed some of the articles that I found.
I hope that you enjoy them.
Happy reading - Ethel
Note: Words and phrases transcribed as they appeared
in the article
4
�2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
Arkansas Black Caps.
Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 30, 1888
Advices were received today from Lawrence County
that an organization known as Black Caps were driving
people from their homes. This organization recently
whipped several white men living on the border of
Randolph County and a number of the band were
arrested and will be tried shortly in the United States
court at this place. Three colored men living near Portia
were taken out, severely whipped with hickory switches
and ordered to leave the county. Governor Hughes is
waiting official information from The sheriff of
Lawrence County before taking action in the matter.
Transcribed by Ethel Tompkins from:
Abilene Weekly Reflector, September 06, 1888, Image 8
Vol. VI. Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas, September
6, 1888. No. 2
Bottom Left column
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84029386/l88809-06/ed-l/seq-8/
KU KLUX
Band Raiding Near Walnut Ridge, Arkansas
July 21, 1897
There is great excitement in Lawrence and Randolph
counties over the continued outrages committed by a
band of men known as the Ku Klux The band first made
its appearance in Randolph county about a month ago
and it's operations were confined to a few townships, but
5
�2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
it is spreading until now the two counties are aroused
over their outrages. Hardly a week passes. but some
new outrage is committed.
A number of men and even women have been
dragged from their homes at night and whipped in a
most cruel manner by the Ku Klux and one woman
has died from the effects of a flogging administered
on her bare back. The persons flogged have in every
case been citizens with whom the Ku Klux found
some fault. In one case an old man and his wife
were dragged from their bed, tied to a tree and
whipped until their backs were raw because they did
not send their daughter to school.
Transcribed by Ethel Tompkins from:
The Salt Lake Herald
Salt bake City, Utah Thursday July 22, 1897
Page 3 image 3
Column 5 from left - second paragraph down
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/
sn85058130/1897-07-22/ed- l/seq-3/
DEMOCRATS AND POPS AT WAR.
Contested Election Case Causes Bad
Blood in Lawrence County, Ark.
Little Rock, Ark., Feb. 7, 1897. Democrats and
Populists each had a candidate in Lawrence county 6
�2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
this state. Childers, the Democrat, was declared elected
by a small majority. Stewart, the Populist, charged
fraud. Election commissioners discovered an error and
gave the election to Stewart. County Judge Townsend, a
Democrat, held that the vote in several districts was
irregular and he threw it out and confirmed the election
of Childers. Populists and Prohibitionists on one side,
and the Childers faction on the other side, are arming
and there is fear bloodshed will result.
Transcribed by Ethel Tompkins from:
Kansas City Daily Journal. (Kansas City, Mo.) February
08, 1897, Image 1 Column 2
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86063624/1897
-02-08/ed- l/seq- l/
ARKANSAS CLAIMS
YOUNGEST MAYOR
Town of Imboden Has One Who Is 21 Years Old and
Owes Election to Pair of Goats.
Little Rock, Ark .. June 22, 1912 - Imboden,
Lawrence County, this State, enjoys the distinction of
having the youngest mayor in the United States. Joe F.
Sullivan, not past twenty-one years of age, and a
hopeless cripple, won the executive office over two old
political campaigners. A pair of goats and a dozen pretty
girls contributed to his election. The goats hauled him to
the speaking places during the campaign, the
management of which was turned over to the girls who
forced their brothers and sweethearts to vote for him
7
�2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
whether they wanted to or not.
Sullivan has had an unusual and interesting career for
a lad who has not yet reached his majority. His father
died five years ago, leaving him with a widowed and
feeble mother. He was stricken with paralysis at the age
of four years, which deprived him of the use of his left
arm and both lower limbs. In all these years he has not
known what it is to stand on his feet or take a step. He
has, nevertheless, climbed several rungs of the ladder of
success.
Gets Political Bee.
Last fall Sullivan first felt the sting of the political
bee. He intended at that time to enter the Democratic
primaries and run for a county office, but was prevented
from so doing by a severe attack of the typhoid fever.
Realizing after his recovery that his only chance to
break into politics this year lay in making the race for
mayor in the April election, Sullivan decided to
announce his candidacy for this office. Everybody in
Imboden laughed at what they considered Sullivan's
joke. Two prominent and experienced politicians had
already announced for the office.
The amusement of his opponents neither frightened
nor deterred Joe. One of his first acts was the
appointment of a committee of campaign managers,
consisting of a dozen of his pretty school girl friends.
Then the girls and Sullivan got busy.
The young women proved to be the most active and
effective campaigners that Imboden had ever seen. They
8
�2014
r
I
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
got out posters and circulars, they made a
house-to-house canvass, they worked earnestly and
hard. The result: Sullivan was elected over both of his
opponents by a good majority.
Coun~il of Friends.
Sullivan was inducted into office not long ago.
When he took over the reins of,.office he promised to
guide the destinies of Imboden just as skillfully as he
had driven his team of trained angoras for the past five
years. He began his official duties fifteen minutes after
being sworn in. He appointed his committees and
inaugurated a clean-up crusade for the town in less
than two hours time. His council is composed entirely
of friends. Among the first to wait upon the new
Mayor was his campaign committee of twelve young
ladies, with Miss Lizzie E. Wilson, aged sixteen, chief
manager, and Miss Ottie Bowers her assistant, at their
head.
Sullivan is most ambitious. Now that he has had a
taste of political excitement he expects to go a little
further. He wants to go to college. After he has taken a
tum or two at the game of politics and public life, he
expects to enter some university and complete his
course in literature.
Transcribed by Ethel Tompkins
The Washington Herald. (Washington, D.C.) June 23,
1912, Image 33
Text provided by Library of Congress, Washington,
9
�2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
DC
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045433/l 912
-06-23/ed-l/seq-33/
10
�2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
DARKEST ARKANSAW July 23, 1897
A few weeks since the "Society column" of the
Eagle contained a facetious reference to some of the
provincialisms of a people who live lower down on
the river that meanders the sands of its uncertain bed
within the corporate limits of our fair northern town,
in which reference the "snuff dippers," and the
"coons" so much in evidence in Darkest Arkansaw
came in for a fair share of space. The writer being of
southern extraction and birth himself, "set down
naught in malice," with all prejudice out of the
question, for to his mind the only people who have
over succeeded in softening our harsh "mother
tongue" are these same Southerners, and they by
dropping the whirr of its Yankee r's. It is certain the
society people of our sister state were duly praised
and their hospitality extolled. However, whether it
was the caption of the article, the "snuff' or the
"coon", in a short time we were in receipt of no less
than five Arkansas papers containing marked
editorial roasts, especially prepared for the editor of
the Eagle. These were passed over as so much more
of added gall with which every editor finds his dish
supplied, although not without a sly conviction that
we were, in all probability, the victim of imported or
carpetbag invectives, rather than of real gentlemanly
southern criticism.
The slight incident is now only recalled for the
purpose of directing the attention of those self-
11
�2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
constituted defenders of a people whom we in no wise
would offend, to two dispatches appearing in our columns
this morning, one dated Little Rock, reciting the fact that
a U.S. marshal had captured one Rhoda Fuller, a noted
female desperado and head of a counterfeiting gang, and
the other, dated Walnut Ridge, detailing the outrages in
Lawrence and Randolph counties of gangs of brutes and
murderers sailing under the name of "Klu Klux". These
lawless, uncivilized savages drag defenseless women and
innocent men from their beds, at the dead of night, to
whip and torture, and often to slay them. This dispatch
says that one Newton Gray, a respectable, man, was
forcibly taken front his home and family last week and
has not been heard of, no doubt cowardly murdered.
Pine Bluff is not Walnut Ridge, yet Walnut Ridge is in
Arkansas, as are Lawrence and Randolph counties a part
of the state and people whom these editors would defend
by adding insult. The rude natives and ignorant savages of
the interior of Darkest Africa are guilty of no greater
crimes against civilization than these bands, the details of
whose horrible work reaches us under Arkansas dates and
authority.
Transcribed by Ethel Tompkins from:
The Wichita Daily Eagle. (Wichita, Kan.), July 23, 1897,
Page 4, Image 4
Left Column
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014635/ 189707-23/cd- l /seq-4/
12
�2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
HEN DOES WORK ON A TRAIN.
Brood of Chickens Comes to Light
While Train Speeds Away.. ,
23 Nov. 1906 St. Louis. In some comers of Kirkwood
it is not considered polite to inquire too closely as to the
origin of a man's chickens or whether they were raised
in Missouri, in Arkansas, or from a low roost, on a dark
night. Horace E. Hand of that town, however, is much
interested in the nativity of 17 fowls he received from
George E. Dent of Lawrence County, Arkansas, a few
days ago he had asked Mr. Dent to send him some baby
chickens for his little girl, and Mr. Dent, who had no
small chickens on hand, shipped a Plymouth Rock hen
and her nest of 16 eggs.
Soon after leaving her Arkansas home the old hen
began to announce with exultant clucks that her three
weeks' work had not been in vain, and fluffy little
chickens began to appear. At Imboden, Ark., there were
six chickens, and back counties to hear from. The
passengers on the train became greatly interested, and
made frequent inspections to count the brood and
speculate on the next edition. As the train approached
St. Louis 15 of the eggs had produced chickens and the
passengers were disposed to agree that the old hen had
accomplished all that could reasonably be expected of
her. At Tower Grove station, ten minutes before the train
was due at its destination, the old hen triumphantly
clucked the announcement that her maternal labors were
crowned with complete success and the sixteenth
13
�2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
chicken was a St. Louisan.
Transcribed by Ethel Tompkins from:
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.),
23 Nov. 1906. Image 7
Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
Lib. of Congress.
<http://chroniclingamerica.loc.govIleen/
sn88064402/1906-11-23/ed-1/seq-7 />
14
�2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
Miscellaneous
News
15
�2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
People Talked About
March 2, 1911
Lawrence County, Arkansas, has a number of
industries, but the most unique is that of capturing and
raising animals for their fur and hides. The occupation is
followed by a boy, Crockett Gibson, who lives on a farm
four miles south of Imboden, and who has been well
paid for his labor.
Transcribed by Ethel Tompkins from:
Omaha Daily Bee. (Omaha Neb.) March 02, 1911,
Image 6
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn99021999/l 911
-03-02/ed- l /seg-6/
In Lawrence County Arkansas, two or three weeks
ago, a fellow named Columbus Rainwater, induced a
little girl, only ten years of age, to runaway from home
and marry him. The inducement was and old silver
watch.
Transcribed by Ethel Tompkins from:
Red Wing sentinel. (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]), 12
Nov. 1859. Chronicling America: Historic American
Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85025569/l859
- 11-12/ed- l /seg-2/
Fearful Warning to Snuff-Dippers.
07 Dec. 1859 Miss Tennessee Gibson died recently,
16
�2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
near Stranger's Home, Lawrence county, Arkansas. She was
passionately addicted to snuff-dipping, so much so that she
retired for the night with her poison in her mouth, and in
the morning was found a corpse with the snuff adhering to
her lips! What a commentary on the disgusting practice of
snuff-eating.
Transcribed by Ethel Tompkins from:
Weekly standard. (Raleigh, N.C.), 07 Dec. 1859. (Last
paragraph second column from left)
Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib.
of Congress.
<http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/Iccn/sn83045706/ 185912-07 /ed-1 /seq-2/>
Little Rock, April 4, 1884
News from Lawrence county, Arkansas, dated the 2d,
says a severe norther has been blowing for hours, causing
great destruction. Fences have been blown away and sparks
from chimneys and burning log piles have been scattered
broadcast, igniting and destroying many houses. There is
great excitement; details of damage not yet obtained.
Transcribed by Ethel Tompkins from:
The San Antonio Light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886,
April 05, 1884, Image 1
Text provided by University of North Texas; Denton, TX
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87090966/ 188404-05/ed-1 /seq-I/
17
�2014
Tidbits of Lawrence County History
QllTS THE FIDDLE FOR A PICK
Noted Violinist Is Working In the Zinc
District of the Arkansas.
Imboden, Ark. 07 Feb. 1919. Haydn Gunter, a violinist
of repute, has deserted the bow for the pick, and is mining
for zinc in the Smithville district. Since he began mining,
it is said he refused a contract to play with Walter
Damrosch's orchestra in New York. His appearance here
was unheralded, and he refuses to talk about himself. He
came and began getting out ore before his identity was
discovered.
Haydn is only 33 years, old. He is a geologist as well as
a musician. He was educated in France and Germany. Not
long ago he was married to a Tennessee beauty. He is a
close friend of Senator Ollie James of Kentucky, and
during the past summer was the guest for a week of the
Senator.
Transcribed by Ethel Tompkins from:
Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.), 07 Feb.
1919. Chronicling America: Historic American
Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
<http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn96076839/1919
-02-07 /ed-1/seq-6/>
18
��Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92
Powhatan, AR 72458
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lawrence County Historical Society Journals
Description
An account of the resource
The society prints the Lawrence County Historical Journal, an excellent collection of historical articles about the county, under the guidance of Ethel Tompkins, editor.
The publication was known as the Lawrence County Historical Quarterly from 1978 through 1992, then was changed to the Lawrence County Historical Journal from 1996 until present.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
2014 Tidbits No. 1
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2014
Description
An account of the resource
1) Arkansas Black Caps
2) Ku Klux
3) Democrats and Pops At War
4) Arkansas Claims Youngest Mayor
5) Darkest Arkansaw
6) Hen Does Work On A Train
-
http://fglarchive.williamsbu.edu/files/original/8c8d6c10d740be04b669d0ddb9a1cd10.pdf
01212ece97f1f246487e12d3ce3440f3
PDF Text
Text
o-,O IL( •.'
Lawrence County
Historical Journal
2014 Number 4
For Reference
Do Not Take From the Library
1i
��'l,DI~ I.JIlfllEN(~I~ (~()IJN'IT
DIS'I1()1ll(~AI. •J()IJllN1II..
www.lchsar.org
2014
Number4
�Lawrence County Historical Society
'l'HI~ I.JIlfllEN(~E (~()IJN'l'Y
HIS'l'()lll(~1II.. ,J()IJllN1II.
WWW .LCDSAR.OllG
2014 Number 4
Published by the Lawrence County Historical Society
Editor - Ethel Tompkins
Membership in the Lawrence County Historical Society is
$20.00 per year and entitles members to the Journal. Individual
copies sell for $5.00 each.
Neither the editor nor the Lawrence County Historical Society
assumes any responsibility for statements made by the
contributors. If you have questions or comments concerning an
article contact the editor by email turbo611se@suddenlink.net,
phone 870-886-3269 and I will sent them to the contributor.
The editor invites readers to submit articles, pictures and
information for publication.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN LAWRENCE
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NAME _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
ADDRESS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
EMAIL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
CITY _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Send to Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92, Powhatan, AR 72458
�Lawrence County
Historical Journal
I
2014
Number4
Contents
Race Relations in Western Lawrence
County, Arkansas by Blake Perkins.
I
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
Note from the editor
The article in this Journal is written by Blake
Perkins, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History,
Williams Baptist College, and was first published in
Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi River
Valley 9.1, Southeast Missouri State University
Press, Cape Girardeau, MO.
We owe a great big shutout to Dr. Susan
Swartwout, Editor of the Big Muddy for giving us
permission to reprint this informative article.
Enjoy
Ethel
6
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
Blake Perkins
Race Relations in Western Lawrence County,
Arkansas
Among local historians in Lawrence County,
Arkansas, the generation encompassing the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is remembered
as a golden age. During the 1870s and 1880s, railroads
snaked their way through parts of the county for the
very first time, bringing about massive and abrupt
transformations within the county. New towns sprang
up along these railways, and new industries and
businesses brought new wealth and prosperity to many
of the county's citizens and attracted folks from other
parts of the state and country for the next several
decades. Of course those places that were missed by the
railroads continued their rural and agriculturally-based
existence, but the county as a whole experienced rapid
population and economic growth. In short, it appears to
have been high times for all.
Amidst the booming excitement of this period's
history, it is easy to forget about the darker-skinned
people who inhabited certain parts of the county during
those times. Yet this seems to be what most of the
county's written histories have done. Though there are a
few scanty references to some of the county's black
residents sparsely scattered throughout the county's
history books, articles, and quarterly publications, the
history of African Americans in Lawrence County is
largely neglected. A lot of this undoubtedly has to do
with the fact that there are very few blacks in Lawrence
County today and almost none at all in the western part
7
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
of the county. However, this has not always been the
case. In fact, in the latter half of the nineteenth and
first half of the twentieth centuries, the foothills
region west of Black River in Lawrence County was
home to two thriving black communities-one in the
Black River town of Black Rock and one less than
thirty miles to its southwest in the Strawberry River
area near Strawberry and Lynn.
Though Black Rock and the Strawberry-Lynn
area are both small and quiet communities that have
much in common today, they were practically polar
opposites during the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries. Black Rock was a large, bustling
railroad town, and the Strawberry-Lynn area, which
was not in the railroad's path, was a small, rural area
in which residents' livelihoods depended mostly upon
small-scale agriculture.
So, given the long-standing paucity of
information regarding the area's nonwhite population,
what was life like for blacks in these two
communities during this great period of Lawrence
County history? After all, this was that dark and
gruesome time frame in Southern history in which
rampant racism, Judge Lynch, and Jim Crow all
reared their ugly heads. So how did race relations in
these two communities compare to other parts of the
South? How did race relations compare to other parts
of Arkansas? And how did these two black
communities in western Lawrence County, with
completely different surroundings and experiences,
compare to one another?
According to those few historical accounts that
8
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
mention blacks in western Lawrence County, whiteblack relations were quite friendly and pleasant. For
instance, in her article on the history of Black Rock in
the Lawrence County Historical Society's county
history compilation, Mother of Counties: Lawrence
County, Arkansas-History and Families, 1815-2001,
local historian Glynda Hill Stuart briefly mentioned
the town's black community and wrote, "Many of
these [black] people worked in white homes and were
often treated as part of the family." 1 In an article
published in the Lawrence County Historical
Quarterly in the summer of 1978, local historian
George Campbell wrote about the black community
near Strawberry and Lynn, and claimed that "[t]heir
lives were little or no different from.., their white
neighbors who lived around them.""" While these brief
statements give the impression that western Lawrence
County was a sort of race-relations utopia, deeper
investigation proves that this is an overly simplistic, if
not altogether false, assumption.
By 1883, the construction crews of the Kansas
City, Fort Scott, and Memphis Railroad had traversed
Lawrence County. Dr. J. W. Coffman persuaded the
railroad company to erect a depot on a piece of his
undeveloped land on the western bank of Black River,
a mile upriver from the county seat of Powhatan.
Almost immediately, people from the county's
surrounding areas, the state, and the country began
hurrying to set up shop around this new depot, hoping
to capitalize on the "boom" that was sure to come. A
year later, the depot town was incorporated and named
9
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
Black Rock.J The areas surrounding the town were
full of fine timber, and the new railroad provided
access to markets. Consequently, sawmills, factories
that assembled lumber products, and other timber
industries sprang up, enticing droves of people to
flock to Black Rock to obtain the jobs that these
businesses and industries created. According to
Glynda Hill Stuart, who derived her figures from old
newspaper clippings and oral history, Black Rock
boasted a population of about 1,000 people by 1889 .i
Of course black folks were attracted to these
jobs and undoubtedly made up a significant
percentage of the population. Unfortunately,
population records are scarce for the last several years
of the nineteenth century, so it is difficult to assess the
number of blacks that were living in Black Rock in
the 1880s and 1890s. There were forty-two blacks
living in the entire Black River Township, which
included Powhatan and the tract of land that later
became Black Rock, in 1870 ..; A decade later in 1880,
Black River Township listed seventy-three blacks in
the census records. 6 However, since Black Rock was
not incorporated until 1884, these statistics do not
mean much. An 1894 Arkansas Gazette article claims
blacks in Black Rock "number[ed] about 300" in the
early 1890s, and this is the only known statistic that
offers any insight into the size of the black population
in the first sixteen years of the city's existence. 7
It is known that blacks in Black Rock grouped
together and took up residency south of town on a hill
that whites began calling "Nigger Hill." The black
community was said to have had two churches, a
school, and an entertainment center.~ According to
�,..
2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
Inez Penn, who recalled briefly living in Black Rock
as a child later on in the second decade of the
twentieth century, blacks on "Nigger Hill" would
"come down and do things ... and trade ... and
everything." 9 However, though whites in Black Rock
may have welcomed the blacks' money and trade in
their stores and labor in their businesses and homes, it
seems that most whites were quite suspicious of the
black folks in town. Former president of the Lawrence
County Historical Society and local historian Evelyn
Flippo, in reminiscing about her childhood days in and
around Black Rock in the 1920s and 1930s, recalled
how her father constantly warned his children about
the "problems with the black[ s]" and how "he forbid
[them] from going there .... " She also remembered
that blacks "could not [be] seen in town in daytime." 10
This seems to contradict Penn's recollections of blacks
trading in town; but whatever the case may have been,
it is quite obvious that whites distrusted the town's
blacks and viewed them as inferior people.
As if this segregation and black inferiority in
Black Rock were not enough to prove that race
relations in the town were less than ideal, a report on a
racial disturbance in the town in the January 17, 1894,
edition of the Arkansas Gazette is sure confirmation.
The article stated, "A labor race war is imminent at
Black Rock ... in which whitecaps have given notice
to the negro population to leave the town and that all
negro mill and factory hands be discharged at once at
the peril of property of the mill and factory owners." It
went on to say, "From the character of the situation at
Black Rock immediate and determined action seems
11
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
necessary to avert serious trouble." These "whitecaps"
were "lawless characters out of employment" who
sought to drive black workers from their jobs and the
town using intimidation and terror if necessary. 11
Apparently, the concerned manager of the St.
Joseph Folding Bed Company sent word to Governor
William Fishback in Little Rock, asking for
government assistance, and the governor was awaiting
more information on the matter before he acted. The
Gazette report stated that several business owners had
already fired their black workers to avoid the wrath of
the vigilantes and claimed that about one hundred
terrified blacks had already fled the town. However,
the "better element of the community" was taking a
bold stance against this horrible lawlessness. The
editor of the Lawrence County Democrat, T.D.
Compton, was among them and published a strong
statement condemning the whitecaps in his paper. The
business owners who had yet to comply with the
demands of the vigilantes arranged for the streets of
Black Rock to be patrolled b~ armed citizens to protect
their homes and businesses. · Three days later, the Gazette printed a follow-up
on the Black Rock affair. Under a heading that read
"Indignant Citizens," the paper reported that the
emergency had been dealt with by the "good citizens
of the town" and that "all further trouble was
prevented." The Folding Bed Company that had
previously telegraphed the governor about the matter
forwarded word to Little Rock that affairs in Black
Rock were no longer urgent. The bed company's
statement also cleared things up by stating that only
12
�2014 Number 4
.
'1
Lawrence County Historical Society
one mill owner, in fact, had discharged his black
workers. The statement also said that "[t]he negroes
are not preparing to make a stand. They will not be
allowed to have any hand in the matter, but all that are
law abiding will be protected." In addition, the
Gazette reprinted an article that appeared in the
Lawrence County Democrat on January 19, which
noted that a special town meeting had been held to
discuss the "whitecap question," in which the mayor
and prominent citizens, including the town's founder
Dr. J.W. Coffman and prosperous sawmill and
furniture-factory owner N.F. Coffey, gave speeches
and appointed a committee to "draft resolutions
expressinf the feeling of the people in regard to the
matter." L
The affair in Black Rock was mentioned in the
Gazette for the last time the following day. A brief
article read: "The Gazette is pleased to state that
whitecapism does not prevail at Black Rock to the
extent as first reported." Once again, the Gazette
reprinted an article from a Lawrence County
newspaper, though this time it was one that had been
printed in the Black Rock Blade. The Blade editors
were furious that such a big deal had been made of
the affair and claimed that the press had blown things
way out of proportion. The Blade stated, "Our citizens
in general are good, law-abiding citizens, and such
reports is a travesty on their citizenship." The Gazette
followed the reprinted Blade article with apologetic
comments, assuring Black Rock and Lawrence
County citizens that coverage of the Black Rock
13
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
disturbance was never intended to tarnish the
reputation of their great town and county.I-'
These three Gazette articles are the only known
records that exist of this racial disturbance in Black
Rock. Unfortunately, none of the Lawrence County
newspapers from this time period have survived, and
there appears to be no documentation or references to
the matter in the county's historical records. Nothing
of this racial disturbance seems to have been passed on
through oral tradition either. So how can one assess the
meaning of this poorly documented incident for race
relations in the area? It does not seem that the incident
in Black Rock escalated-into brutal lynching's such as
those that took place in the cosmopolitan towns of
southwestern Virginia in the early 1900s, which were,
according to historian W. Fitzhugh Brundage,
"transportation, financial, and administrative centers
for the surrounding countryside." 1" Nor does the affair
in Black Rock appear to have resulted in the kinds of
brutal murders that occurred in Birmingham,
Kentucky, in February of 1908, when blacks there
refused to leave their jobs and homes after being
demanded to do so and warned by the Night Riders. 16
If indeed anyone was lynched or murdered in the
Black Rock affair, available sources do not mention it.
On a more regional and local note, the racial
disturbance in Black Rock did not explode into mass
rioting such as that which occurred in the town of
Harrison (Boone County) in northwestern Arkansas,
where whites eventually cleansed the town of its black
population. 17 Neither was Black Rock's black
population driven from the town, never to return, like
Evening Shade's (Sharp County) black community
14
J.
t
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
was around Christmastime in 1906. 1x In fact, if
indeed there were around 300 blacks in Black Rock
in 1894, the black population seems to have stayed
pretty consistent over the next 6 years, since the
1900 population census lists 277 blacks living in
{()
Black Rock Township.
So why did the racial conflict in Black Rock
not get any nastier than it did? According to Roberta
Senechal de la Roche in her essay "The
Socio genesis of Lynching," the conditions for mass
rioting, lynchings, and other violence were just right
in Black Rock in 1894. The 1890s were a period of
economic recession, and "a minority group presence
in [the] community ... [had] increase[ed] through in
-migration .... " Furthermore, she claimed that
rioting and lynching tended to occur more
frequently in "[n]ewer, faster growing" towns and
cities where residential segregation was more strict
and "paternalistic tradition" was lacking in whiteblack relations. 20 So Black Rock seems to have had
all of the symptoms. However, it seems that Black
Rock was fortunate to have "indignant citizens"
who stood firm to protect "the laws of our land,
which guarantee equal protection to the rights of life
and property to all citizens, regardless of color. . .
,,21
Granted, these prominent Black Rock citizens
should be given much credit for staving off serious
racial trouble. But was sympathy for the town's
blacks their top motive in doing so? It is likely that
protecting their property and labor force was the
chief reason these prominent whites took such a
firm stand against the whitecaps. Sure, these
15
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
business owners could have just given in to the
vigilantes' demands and fired their black workers, and
their mills and factories would have been completely
safe. But doing so would have meant losing their
cheap labor force-black workers.
One of the strongest opponents of the whitecaps,
as mentioned, was N .F. Coffey. According to Cebum
Christopher, whose Cherokee parents lived on "Nigger
Hill" with a black family in Black Rock around the
tum of the century, N.F. Coffey and Company paid its
workers-a large percentage of these were blackwith "chips" that could only .,.,
be spent at Coffey's
general store in Black Rock.-- This was industrial
peonage, even a sort of informal system of slavery, and
it is doubtful that Coffey was the only business owner
using this wage system in Black Rock at that time. So
it is clear that Coffey and other business owners had
their labor force right where they wanted it. The
situation in Black Rock certainly seems to have fit the
model of the modernizing South revealed in the study
of Stewart E. Tolnay and E.M. Beck, in which "[t]he
primary concern for white planters and employers was
to hire workers as cheaply as possible to guarantee
larger profits."13 The town leaders also realized that if
such lawlessness continued, the town's and county's
reputation would have been tarnished, as the last
Gazette article clearly showed.
Regardless of intentions, the ending results were
the same; blacks got to keep their jobs and continue
living in their separate community in town. But just
because nothing ever transpired in all of this
"whitecapism" does not mean that blacks and the
Black Rock elites had a rosy relationship. The truth is
16
]
~
j
l
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
that residential segregation, whites' suspicion of
strange blacks, "whitecapism," and exploitation of
black labor (though poor white labor was certainly
exploited as well) all provide evidence that Black
Rock's race relations were not unlike other parts of
the South. Rather, according to a descendant of one
of Lawrence County's black families who had
relatives that once lived on "Nigger Hill," "Black
Rock was a pretty rough old town" when it came to
.
2..J
race re1ations.
Less than thirty miles or so southwest of Black
Rock was another sizeable black community near the
confluence of the Strawberry and Black Rivers in the
vicinity of Strawberry and Lynn, once known as
"Little Africa." According to George Campbell, many
ex-slaves migrated into the area shortly after the Civil
War and were given land there by federal government
officials. As time went on, this poor farming
community of blacks accumulated a cotton gin, a
sawmill, a sorghum mill, two grocery stores, and a
post office within their settlement. These blacks also
had a small building that served as a school and
church house, which was said to have been the
"center of activity" for the community. Though these
blacks resided within relative proximity to one
another, the fact that this was a farming community
meant they did not live in cramped quarters like the
blacks in Black Rock. 25 In 1870, there were exactly
100 blacks living in the area, and the black
community had gained 17 more residents by 1880. 26
By 1900, the black population had reached its apex
with 146 black folks, who made up over 20 percent
of Morgan Township's total population. 27 The black
17
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
community's numbers dropped to 101 by 1910 and
92 by 1920. 28 By 1930, only 59 blacks remained in
the area. ltJ
Local whites have fond memories of the black
community that once lived in the area, and for the
most part almost all speak of friendly and pleasant
relations between whites and blacks. Inez Penn, who
has lived her entire adult life in and near Lynn,
remembered the black families that lived nearby and
claimed that whites "treated them nice" and said
"they weren't looked down on too much." When
asked if she had ever heard of any racial altercations
or disturbances in the area, she responded by saying,
"I don't much believe there was. They [the whites]
were just used to them [the blacks], you know, and
never thought much about it."Jo Nina Richey, who
grew up in Lynn and roamed around her parents'
grocery store in the late 1930s and early 1940s,
remembered that "everyone got along well with all of
them [the blacks]." She also told of frequently
accompanying her aunt to visit one of the black
families near Lynn. She continued, "These [black]
families were well liked in the community." Her
husband, Gerald Richey, who was raised on a farm
across the Strawberry River from a few of the black
families and their farms, recalled the yearly picnic
that the blacks hosted near their church and
schoolhouse, where "there would be a crowd and
lots of people [whites and blacks attended."J
While all of this suggests that the StrawberryLynn area may have been exceptionally harmonious
when it came to race relations, a closer look reveals a
more complex picture. Though no sources or local
18
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
recollections tell of any racial violence in the area,
there still appears to have been a well-defined color
line between whites and blacks. "They knew they
were black people," said Inez Penn, and "[t]hey just
knew they were thought of as workers and helpers
and things like that-not equals .... They just had
that black difference."J2
Author Montgomery, whose family was part of
the area's black community for several generations,
even recalled a tale that his father Savoy told him
that could have certainly escalated into violence. In
storyteller fashion, Montgomery explained that a
young white woman who lived near Strawberry gave
birth to a mulatto baby, probably sometime in the
1930s or early 1940s. Several of the town's whites
suspected that one of the Montgomery boys,
Author's father Savoy, was the father and decided to
run him out of town. One day, Savoy and his brother
Yancey were sitting on their porch when a white
friend of theirs rode up to their house on horseback
to inform Savoy of the plan that several of the white
men in Strawberry were concocting. According to
Author, Yancey was known as the best rifleman
around, and he happened to have his .22 rifle with
him on the porch that day. After the white friend
warned the brothers of the danger, Yancey's rifle
fired off, shooting a hole in the porch ceiling and
alarming the white man. Yancey then proceeded to
issue his own warning, so the story goes, advising
the man to ride back into town and tell the white
boys in Strawberry that they had better bring more
men than he had bullets when they came to run his
brother off. And, according to Author, nothing was
19
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
.
. '\·
ever sai"d ab out the issue
agam.
There is no evidence of this incident in the
available sources, and it is quite clear that if it did
indeed occur, it has been dramatized into an exciting
tale. But whether or not the event actually
occurred-and if it did, whether or not the facts are
accurate-is largely irrelevant. The point is that this
is what was remembered by the black community
and passed on to future generations, which shows
that the blacks were aware of their "place" in society
and knew the whites in the area did not consider
them equals.
However, even though race relations in the
Strawberry-Lynn area may not have been perfect,
things were certainly more peaceful and harmonious
than they were in other parts of the South during this
time. It also appears that race relations were quite a
bit better in this area than they were less than thirty
miles to the northeast in Black Rock. So why were
race relations so peaceful and, though imperfect, at
least moderate in this area in comparison to all of the
violence and racial strife that plagued other parts of
the South?
The black community in the Strawberry-Lynn
area, in many respects, seems to have been almost
identical to the black community in LaCrosse (Izard
County), Arkansas, that historian Brooks Blevins
analyzed in his essay "Revisiting Race Relations in
an Upland South Community." The rural, agriculture
community of blacks in LaCrosse also lived in
"racial harmony and [a] relatively relaxed
atmosphere in which blacks and whites commingled
daily.... " Blevins attributed Lacrosse's peaceful
20
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
race relations to "the community's isolation-induced
stability, the black population's rigid adherence to
racial-sexual mores, and the crucial economic
interdependence of -Brominent white farmers and
blacks in the area." ~
All of these reasons, with the exception of
Author Montgomery's family lore, can be applied to
the black community in the Strawberry-Lynn area to
explain its elusion of racial violence. Unlike Black
Rock, for instance, which had the railroad and
industries bringing unfamiliar blacks into the town,
the black community in the rural Strawberry-Lynn
area did not attract black newcomers, except maybe
for those who occasionally married into the area's
black families. And those who did move in and
marry into the black community tended to come
from places relatively nearby. In 1900-the heyday of
the area's black population-only 11 of the area's
146 blacks were born outside the state of
\.:;;
Arkansas. · And the names of most of the black
families of the community appear relatively
consistently throughout the census records-names
such as Cravens, Oaks, Rainey, Sims, Steadman,
Dickson, Montgomery, Barnett, Peebles, and
Simpson. 3" Furthermore, Montgomery's tale is the
only surviving account of any sexual relations
between black men and white women. These sexual
violations which, according to Tolnay and Beck,
accounted for 33.6 percent of justifications for black
lynchings by white mobs in the Border South, do not
seem to have been a problem in the Strawberry-Lynn
area. 37 And there was clearly a mutual economic
dependency between blacks and whites in the area;
21
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
whites certainly needed black labor on their farms, in
their stores, and in their homes, and blacks often
needed these meager-paying jobs to survive and
support their families.
Interestingly, western Lawrence County was
home to two textbook case studies for Southern race
relations. The blacks in Black Rock were like so
many of those who migrated into railroad "boom"
towns throughout the South, and lived and worked in
cramped urban industrial quarters. The black
community in the Strawberry-Lynn area, on the other
hand, was a quiet, rural, and agriculturally oriented
settlement, where blacks and whites commingled
regularly. Both of these black communities
drastically declined after the 1930s, as many African
Americans headed to large cities to find work during
the Depression years, and had mostly vanished by
the mid-twentieth century. But these two black
communities certainly left an interesting history
behind, despite their poor documentation.
It is pretty evident that neither of these black
communities in western Lawrence County
experienced the horrible violence and rioting that
many other black communities did in other parts of
the South during the latter part of the nineteenth and
early part of the twentieth centuries. In fact, the only
mention of a black ever having been lynched in
Lawrence County can be found in The Goodspeed
Biographical and Historical Memoirs of
Northeastern Arkansas. It briefly states that around
1887, "a mob composed of individuals outside the
county, forcibly took from the jail at Powhatan, a
negro, incarcerated therein on a charge of
22
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
committing rape, and hanged him." 38 However, the
facts here seem to have been confused, since diligent
research has unearthed only one lynching that ever
occurred in Lawrence County, and the victim was a
"white tramp" who was lynched in Portia for raping a
Sharp County white woman in May of 1887.3lJ
Just because widespread racial violence and
rioting never broke out in these places does not mean
that western Lawrence County has a spotless and
untarnished history of race relations. Black Rock was
obviously very segregated, and whites distrusted the
strange blacks that lived on "Nigger Hill" and
worked in the mills and factories in town. And it is
very clear that racial tensions were broiling in
January of 1894, when a "labor race war" seemed
inevitable. Though the town's "indignant citizens"
put down the lawless vigilantism, it is quite obvious
that their own capitalist interests were their motives
for doing so. Things were not necessarily ideal on the
Strawberry-Lynn area's racial scene either. Though
the good and positive memories tend to have
drowned out the racism, segregation, and white
perception of blacks as inferior humans in the area,
these latter things were definitely there-no matter
how moderate they may have been. The simple fact
is, despite the absence of much intimidation, any
major violence, and any mass rioting, race relations
were not exceptionally pure as many of the county's
citizens would like to imagine. In fact, shedding light
on the county's race relations may suggest that the
late 1800s and early 1900s were not so much a
golden age but more of a gilded age in Lawrence
23
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
County's history, when everything was not nearly as
grand as previously assumed.
Notes
1. Glynda Hill Stuart, "History of Black Rock."
Mother of Counties: Lawrence County,
Arkansas-History and Families, 1815-2001
(Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company, 2001 ),
25.
2. George Campbell, "Little Africa Has Vanished Into
the Past," Lawrence County Historical Quarterly
1.3:11.
3. Jerry D. Gibbens, "Lawrence County History,"
Mother of Counties (Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing
Company, 2001), 11-12; Walter E. McLeod,
Centennial Memorial History of Lawrence County
(Russellville, AR: Russellville Printing Company,
1936), 56.
4. Stuart, "History of Black Rock," Mother of
Counties, 24.
5. Ninth Census of the United States, 1870:
Population. Available on Microfilm at the
Independence County Library in Batesville, AR.
6. Tenth Census of the United States, 1880:
Population. Available on Microfilm at the
Independence County Library in Batesville, AR.
7. "Whitecaps: A Labor Race War Seems Imminent
24
J
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
in Lawrence County," Arkansas Gazette, 17 January
1894, 2. Available on Microfilm at Mabee-Simpson
Library at Lyon College, Batesville, AR.
8. Stuart, "History of Black Rock," Mother of
Counties, 25.
9. Interview, Inez Penn, Walnut Ridge, AR, 18 Oct.
2007.
10. Personal letter written to Bonnie Perkins by Evelyn
Flippo from Fayetteville, AR, postmarked 17 Sept.
2007.
11. "Whitecaps," Arkansas Gazette, 17 Jan. 1894, 2.
12. Ibid., 2.
13. "Indignant Citizens: The Black Rock Affair Not so
Bad as Feared," Arkansas Gazette, 20 Jan. 1894, 2.
Available on Microfilm at Mabee-Simpson Library at
Lyon College, Batesville, AR.
14. "The Facts in the Case," Arkansas Gazette, 21 Jan.
1894, 4. Available on Microfilm at Mabee-Simpson
Library at Lyon College, Batesville, AR.
15. W. Fitzhugh Brundage, ed., Under Sentence of
Death: Lynching in the South (Chapel Hill, NC:
University of North Carolina Press, 1997), 145.
16. George C. Wright. Racial Violence in Kentucky,
1865-1940: Lynchings, Mob Rule, and "Legal
Lynchings" (Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State
University Press, 1990), 137.
17. Jacqueline Froelich and David Zimmermann,
"Total Eclipse: The Destruction of the African
25
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
American Community of Harrison, Arkansas, in
1905 and 1909," Arkansas Historical Quarterly
58.2 (Summer 1999): 158.
18. "Negroes Leaving," Sharp County Record, 28
Dec. 1906, 1. Available on Microfilm at the
Independence County Library in Batesville, AR.
19. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900:
Population. Available on Microfilm at the
Independence County Library in Batesville, AR.
20. Brundage, ed., Under Sentence of Death, 60,
62.
21. "Indignant Citizens," Arkansas Gazette, 20 Jan.
1894, p. 2.
22. Unrecorded telephone interview with Cebum
Christopher, 30 Sept. 2007.
23. Stewart E. Tolnay and E.M. Beck, A Festival of
Violence: An Analysis of Southern Lynchings, 18821930 (Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1995),
59.
24. Unrecorded interview with Author Montgomery,
Batesville, AR, 28 Sept. 2007 .o:p.
25. Campbell, "Little Africa," Lawrence County
Historical Quarterly: 11-12.
26. Ninth Census, 1870: Population; Tenth Census,
1880: Population.
27. Twelfth Census, 1900: Population.
28. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910:
26
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
Population. Available on Microfilm at the
Independence County Library in Batesville, AR;
Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920:
Population. Available on Microfilm at the
Independence County Library in Batesville, AR.
29. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930:
Population. Available on Microfilm at the
Independence County Library in Batesville, AR.
30. Penn interview.
31. Interview with Nina and Gerald Richey, Lynn, AR,
24 Oct. 2007.
32. Penn interview.
33. Montgomery interview.
34. Brooks Blevins, "Revisiting Race Relations in an
Upland South Community: LaCrosse, Arkansas,"
History and Hope in the Heart of Dixie: Scholarship,
Activism, and Wayne Flynt in the Modem South, edited
by Gordon E. Harvey, Richard D. Starnes, and Glenn
Feldman (Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama
Press, 2006), 18.
35. Twelfth Census, 1900: Population.
36. Campbell, "Little Africa," Lawrence County
Historical Quarterly; Ninth Census, 1870: Population;
Tenth Census, 1880: Population; Twelfth Census,
1900: Population; Thirteenth Census, 1910:
Population; Fourteenth Census, 1920: Population;
Fifteenth Census, 1930: Population.
27
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
37. Tolnay and Beck, A Festival of Violence, 48.
38. The Goodspeed Biographical and Historical
Memoirs of Northeastern Arkansas (Chicago: The
Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1889), 766.
39. The 18 May 1887 edition of the Sharp County
Record reported that a "white tramp" had been
incarcerated in the Powhatan jail in Lawrence County
on charges of raping a white woman named W.R.
Montgomery near Williford (Sharp County).
Unfortunately, the next several issues are missing.
However, the 22 May 1887 edition of the Arkansas
Gazette reported that a rapist named Springer had been
lynched in Portia on May 21 by a Sharp County mob
after being captured from the Powhatan jail. McLeod
also mentions the lynching of a man accused of
"mistreating a woman in the vicinity of Ravenden or
Williford" in his Centennial Memorial History of
Lawrence County.
© Blake Perkins
28
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
2014 Historical Society Members
Genealogy Periodicals Allen County Public Library
Periodicals/ACQ American Antiquarian Society
Collection Development Arkansas State Library
Louise Bellew
Norma J. Brady
Denise & Bobby Bratcher
Larry Burrow
Butler Center-Periodicals Central Arkansas Library
Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd Clark
Anna Cook
Evelyn Flippo
Sherry Glenn
Frances Green
Genevieve Haley
Thomas Helms
Patricia Hillhouse
Sam Holloway
Lawrence County Library
Phillip Logan
Anna Laura Long
Mr. & Mrs. Howard Meadows
NEARA
Lesia Phillips
Craig Powell
Todd Richardson
Catherine & Loyd Richey
Melodie Sanders
Lou Saunders
Stephen Saunders
Kitty Clay Sloan
Ethel Tompkins
29
�2014 Number 4
Lawrence County Historical Society
2014 Historical Society Members - Page 2
Serials Department University of Arkansas Libraries
Jon and Lesa Walter
James Whitlow
Felix Goodson Library Williams Baptist College
Acquisition Section Wisconsin Historical Society
30
���
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lawrence County Historical Society Journals
Description
An account of the resource
The society prints the Lawrence County Historical Journal, an excellent collection of historical articles about the county, under the guidance of Ethel Tompkins, editor.
The publication was known as the Lawrence County Historical Quarterly from 1978 through 1992, then was changed to the Lawrence County Historical Journal from 1996 until present.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
2014 No. 4
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2014
Description
An account of the resource
1) Race Relations in Western Lawrence County, Arkansas
-
http://fglarchive.williamsbu.edu/files/original/551e46d5749f2aa2a5267bebafd86f86.pdf
13421fc2c46e59acbdec0f131ec6eb7c
PDF Text
Text
lhlwrence County
Historical
JOUR~AL
2014 Number 3
Dr. Charles D. Tibbels (1879-1955) in
early nineteen fifties.
(photo from The Historical Journal winter
1980)
For Reference
...
Do Not Take From the Library
��'l DU IA1171lUN(~I~ (~()IJN'IT
DIS'J1()1ll(~AI.. ,J()IJllNAI.
1
www.lchsar.org
2014
Number3
�Lawrence County Historical Society
'l'HI~ I.JIllrlll~N(~E (~()IJN'l'Y
HIS'l'()lll(~AI.. ,J()IJllN1II..
WWW .IA~HSAll.ORG
2014 Number 3
Published by the Lawrence County Historical Society
Editor - Ethel Tompkins
Membership in the Lawrence County Historical Society is
$20.00 per year and entitles members to the Journal. Individual
copies sell for $5.00 each.
Neither the editor nor the Lawrence County Historical Society
assumes any responsibility for statements made by the
contributors. If you have questions or comments concerning an
article contact the editor by email turbo611se@suddenlink.net,
phone 870-886-3269 and I will sent them to the contributor.
The editor invites readers to submit articles, pictures and
information for publication.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN LAWRENCE
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NAME _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
ADDRESS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
EMAIL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
CITY _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Send to Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92, Powhatan, AR 72458
�Lawrence County
Historical Journal
I
2014
Number3
Contents
This Journal contains a revised tribute
to Dr. Charles David Tibbels
(Doctor, Lawyer, Merchant, Minister)
By
Professor Jerry D. Gibbens
I
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Note from the editor
It's almost time for the big celebration.
Our mother, Lawrence County, will be 200 on
January 15, 2015.
We are in the process of planning a
celebration befitting the rich history of the
Mother of many Counties.
During the coming year we would like to
increase our membership so tell your friends
about the wonderful work that the Historical
Society is doing to promote Lawrence County
History.
Also if anyone has any promotional ideals
please let me know.
Ethel - Editor
tuttcann@hotmail.com
turbo611 se@suddenlink.net
870-886-3269
870-809-0604
6
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
An Honorable Career Without Parallel: The Legacy of
Dr. Charles David Tibbels
by Jerry D. Gibbens
Dr. Charles David Tibbels, who lived from 18791955, practiced medicine for 55 years, the last 28 years
in Black Rock, Arkansas. A Renaissance man, Dr.
Tibbels was a licensed Baptist minister, a druggist, a
musician, a Mason, City Councilman, a newspaper
writer, a scholar, a family man and physician. In an
April 3, 1954, interview with George Harmon, a staff
writer for the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Dr.
Tibbels recalled when he "witnessed the full circle of
life's tragedy in one day of work as a physician and
preacher... in 1927 in Imboden, Arkansas, I had a
busy Sunday when I delivered a baby before daylight,
preached and saved a few souls in the morning,
performed a marriage ceremony before noon, baptized
a crowd in Spring River in the afternoon, and preached
a funeral for an old farmer before sundown."
According to Lillian Tibbels Faulk, the Tibbels
family emigrated from France to America in 1785.
Some members of the family settled in New York
state, but Harris Tibbels settled in Cincinnati, Ohio,
where he married a Miss Machinhammer of Dutch
descent. From this union, fifteen (15) children were
born, including Harrison Machinhammer Tibbels who
traveled down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to
northern Missouri. Harrison married and moved to
southeast Missouri. He and his wife were parents to
six children.
One of Harrison's sons, John William, became a
7
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
doctor and married Sabina Edington. They became
parents to nine children, five sons and four daughters.
William Orlando, the oldest son, also studied with his
father and was licensed to practice medicine. One of
the daughters, Ollie, married Dr. David Dawson and
moved to Oklahoma. Other children of Dr. John
William included Cora, Fred, and Jim Bob, who died
before reaching adulthood.
Charles David, the third son, was born in
Henrickson, Butler County, Missouri. When Charles
David, was two years old, the Tibbels family moved
to a small community near Cave City, Arkansas. As a
child, Charles and his brothers split rails for a fence
around part of their farmland. Charles began his
schooling in a one-room school house across the road
from their home. The building also served as a
community church building where the family
worshiped. Later Charles attend school in Evening
Shade and a boarding school in Jamestown.
The son, brother, and nephew of doctors in
Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas, Charles
Tibbels studied for nine months with his father, John
William, and brother, William. In 1900, age 21,
Charles was licensed to practice medicine in
Arkansas. According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas
Culture three venues of medical training were
available to young men. The first was apprenticeship.
An established physician agreed to accept a student
for a given period of time, during which the physician
served as mentor and teacher. The student paid a fee
and served as an assistant, borrowed books to "read"
medicine, accompanied the doctor on house calls, and
8
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
observed surgeries. At the end of the apprenticeship, the
mentor wrote a testimonial letter, reviewing the areas of
medicine mastered by the apprentice, and this letter
served in many states as the only credential required for
being licensed to practice medicine. The second venue
was the "proprietary school," or a for-profit medical
school, in which a group of doctors owned the school and
served as faculty. Each doctor taught the subjects he knew
best, and students were required to purchase tickets to a
certain number of lectures for graduation. These students
never saw a patient during training, and the curriculum
was often inadequate, depending entirely on the
professional knowledge of the owners. A diploma from a
proprietary school was evidence for a license. The third
venue was a university medical school.
Following his apprenticeship and licensure, Dr.
Charles and his father and brother practiced in Calamine
and Poughkeepsie. Later Dr. Charles David practiced in
Smithville, Imboden, and Bay. Dr. Tibbels moved to
Ranger, Texas, in 1919 and practiced there for six months,
but he then returned to Imboden, Arkansas. His medical
education continued in post graduate study in Kansas City
and St. Louis. For the next 55 years, Dr. Tibbels read,
attended workshops, and kept up with the latest medical
innovations.
Dr. Charles first married Ella Barnett in 1900 and
they became parents to a daughter, Floy, but Ella died in
1902 after the birth of Floy, and the small child then lived
with her maternal grandparents-the Barnetts in Cave City.
When Dr. Charles married his second wife, Aurelia
Jacqueline Shaver Southworth, Floy-at the request of
the grandparents-continued to lived in Cave City although
9
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
she visited the Tibbels family in the summer.Aurelia,
daughter of Wesley Carroll and Mary C. Shaver, was the
widow of Eddie Southworth. When Aurelia married Dr.
Tibbels in 1906 she brought a daughter, Vera, to the
Tibbels family. Dr. Charles and Aurelia were the parents
of three girls and three boys: Little Nellie, the first
daughter died in her second summer, followed by
Eudora, Lillian, William Shaver, Charles Harris, and
John W.
The Tibbels family moved from Evening Shade to
Smithville about 1910. At that time, the only physician
in Smithville was Dr. John Henry Nixon, an elderly
doctor who gave some of his instruments to Dr. Charles.
After a few years, Dr. Tibbels purchased the best house
in town and established a drug store in the Townsend
building which was across the street from Citizens
Bank. Dr. Tibbels was a promoter of the town and
community projects. He organized a Smithville band
and was the leader of the group. His stepdaughter, Vera
Southworth, played the piano and his small daughter,
Eudora beat the big drum while he played the violin.
Lillian, William Shaver, and Charles Harris were born
while the family resided in Smithville. John W., the
couple's youngest son, was born in Imboden in 1920.
For the first 17 years of practice the doctor rode
horseback. Sometimes he used a buggy, especially when
he received night calls. In their early years of marriage
Mrs. Tibbels, who was afraid to stay by herself at night,
often dressed and rode along. However, she soon
overcame her fears and stayed home. The doctor kept a
good saddle horse and the children all enjoyed having
access to a horse. One horse, Old Dick, was too high
10
�r
2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
spirited for the children. He was a fine, sleek black
horse-and the Doctor's pride and joy. The horse's
"black coat of hair shone with ink hue beauty,"
partially because of his good food, his warm barn, and
daily grooming. Old Dick had to be sold before the
Texas trip, but the Doctor found him again when he
returned. The horse was never the same for in that
brief time he has not been well cared for.
Before the automobile became his mode of
transportation in 1917, Dr. Tibbels walked, rode
horses or mules, drove a wagon, or rode in a rowboat.
According to his step daughter, Vera Southworth
Fortenberry, his first car was a 1916 Model Ford, but
because roads were often impassable, he could not
always drive the car. The gasoline was purchased in
Imboden in a barrel and was placed on the edge of the
drugstore porch and drawn from the barrel in a
bucket. Then a funnel was used to pour the gas into
the tank. Since Dr. Charles dispensed his own
medicine, his pill bags were always kept ready for
any call.
Mrs. Fortenberry recalled that her step father was
ordained as a Baptist minister in 1918. She added that
his father, Dr. William Tibbels of Granger, Texas, was
present and participated in the ordination service. Dr.
Charles held full-time pastorates at Imboden, Pleasant
Grove, Clear Springs, and Black Rock. After his
ordination as a minister, he was often asked to
perform marriage ceremonies and once estimated that
he married at least 25 couples yearly in his office or
in the rear of the drug store. He also preached many
funerals and once stated that he believed he had
11
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
preached more funerals than any other minister in
Lawrence County. Since Dr. Tibbels could not attend
seminary, he taught himself by reading commentaries,
attending conferences and conventions.
Lillian Faulk, his youngest daughter, recalled that
in the winter the doctor had long fur-lined gloves and a
fur cap with protection for his ears. He also wore ear
muffs at times. His children loved these items. For
early doctors in the first two decades of the twentieth
century, travel was difficult, and since Lawrence
County had no clinics or hospitals, all patients were
treated either in the office or at home. All babies were
delivered in the home. Before the discovery of
"wonder drugs," pneumonia was difficult to treat, but
Dr. Charles Tibbels lost few patients.
Dr. Tibbels began practicing medicine in Black
Rock about 1927. According to Sue (Jones) Sullens,
her mother, Mary Jones, worked as a mid-wife for Dr.
Tibbels for several years. Mrs. Jones would go to the
expectant mother's house and stay until time for
delivery when she would telephone Dr. Tibbels who
would be present for the birth. Mrs. Sullens said at this
time, that grown ups never talked about sex or
pregnancies and that her mother would later comment
that a family had been visited by the stork who
delivered a new baby.
For over 21 years, Dr. Tibbels was assisted by Mrs.
Hazel DePriest, who he trained to take temperatures,
check blood pressure, give shots, assist in setting
bones, and to administer ether. Nurse DePriest and
Doctor Tibbels were always together and she often
12
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
drove the car and was always present at his office.
Mrs. DePriest's son, Don, recalls that when a patient
telephoned the Black Rock Switchboard after office
hours and requested the Tibbels residence, that the
operator had an understanding to automatically
telephone the DePriest household. At any hour of the
night or early morning, Mrs. DePriest arose and
always dressed in a white nurse's uniform, white
stockings and shoes. Both the doctor and his nurse
were ultimate professionals and always dressed
formally. According to Mrs. Faulk, Dr. Tibbels and
Mrs. DePriest wore out two Fords, two Plymouths,
three Chevrolets, and two Pontiacs in their years
visiting the homes of the sick in Randolph, Lawrence,
and Sharp counties.
The veteran physician's favorite tale concerns the
time honored practice of putting off payment of bills.
Lillian Tibbels Faulk said that her father recalled that
"I delivered a baby many years ago in Sharp County,
and forgot about the bill until she was grown up and
married. One day I mentioned it to her father, and he
soon came around and settled up. I charged him
$6.00, though the fee during all those years had gone
up to $25.00." Dr. Tibbels never refused to treat
anyone who needed medical attention whether they
could pay or not. Certainly during the great
depression of the 1930s cash money was scarce. The
doctor was often paid in vegetables, sides of meat,
fruit, loads of fire wood, or pies and cakes. Often
parents would "honor the doctor" by naming their
children after him. He kept an "accounts payable file,"
but he never harassed patients to pay or sent notices.
13
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Music and education were always a way of life for
the Tibbels family. As boys William and Charles
played the violin and guitar for family and community
entertainment. Dr. Charles sang and played the piano
also. In later years if he came home for lunch before it
was ready to be served, he played the piano. Although
he could read music, most of his piano playing was by
ear. In the evening he enjoyed playing the violin and
taught each daughter, Vera, Eudora, and Lillian to
accompany him on the piano. Their first piano was
purchased in 1912 and Vera began taking piano
lessons. She played for her father first, and then it was
Eudora's time, and last Lillian learned. When his
children were young, he assisted them with their
school lessons while Mrs. Tibbels was busy getting
supper ready and attending to the smaller children.
The Tibbels violin was given to Dr. Charles
Tibbels sometime before 1910 by a miner who could
not pay his medical bill. According to the earliest
label, the violin is an 1813 Austrian small full size
made in the style of Amati by J.B. Schlitzer. A label
inside the violin states that repairs were made in 1873
in Dresden (Germany) and in 1892 by Joseph
Luteguts. The violin has a dark varnish finish and is
constructed from a single piece of wood. The violin
passed from Dr. Tibbels to his oldest daughter, Eudora,
and she in tum gave the violin to her daughter, Willie
Jacqueline. Willie has been playing the violin
professionally since 1968 in orchestra and solo work.
She played the violin in the Jackson, Mississippi,
symphony orchestra during her college years at
14
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Mississippi College. She currently lives in Sun Valley,
Idaho, and continues to play the violin which she
describes as having a "bright tone."
The Tibbels home in Black Rock was an older
house built in the 1870s and featured a one-story
room and a large attic upstairs. The house had large
rooms with beautiful crown and floor moldings, and
pocket doors between the living and dining room. The
house had a 20-foot dug cistern-or well--- at the
back of the house. Cistern water was used for bathing
and washing hair and dishes. A few years after Dr.
Tibbels' death, his wife, moved to West Memphis and
lived with her daughter, Lillian, until her death in
1973. The house and five city lots were sold to Bill
and Bonnie Smith in 1973. The Smiths sold the house
to Ronald and Pam Horton who had the house torn
down and a residence built, utilizing all of the fine
lumber. Mrs. Faulk took a fine floor-to-ceiling
cupboard to West Memphis. The Horton retained the
quarter sawed oak fireplace and have it installed in
their house in Walnut Ridge.
The Tibbels family recalled that Dr. Charles
thought "that if Mrs. Tibbels could prepare a good
meal" that all of the children should be present and on
time. To return thanks at each meal was expected, and
Bible reading was in order at the breakfast table-the
one meal that all could most often be together. Family
members recalled that there were great discussions
around the dining table.
Dr. Tibbels was very strict on his daughters,
perhaps a little more lenient with the boys, all three
younger than the girls. Yet he spent much time with
15
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
his children. When each one wanted to learn to drive a
car, he took one at a time with him on house calls. He
would drive to the patient's home, then let the child
drive home.
The small town of Black Rock had men who were
wealthier and who had deeper roots in the community,
but no individual was more widely admired. Carolyn
Flippo DePriest, whose family lived next door stated
that she grew up seeing Dr. and Mrs. Tibbels on a daily
basis. She recalled being a member of the Black Rock
First Baptist Church when Dr. Tibbels was the pastor
in the early 1940s. She said Dr. Tibbels was a
"teaching preacher" and that she loved his sermons.
Carolyn remembered that he was very musically
talented.
Ada Jo (Hatcher) Andrews Weir said: "Dr. Tibbels
delivered me, he later baptized me, and he married me.
I adored him, his wife, and his family." I spent many
happy hours playing games on the Tibbels' lawn.
Neighborhood children were all encouraged to play
games in their lawn, and we all played croquet. Ada
recalled that one summer, Dr. Tibbels granddaughterwho was the same age-was visiting her Black Rock
grandparents. The two young girls decided to give the
Tibbels family dog, Sarge, a shot. The young ladies
walked to Dr. Tibbels' office and asked him for a
needle to give Sarge a shot of water. Ada said that Dr.
Tibbels smiled and gently explained too the young
ladies why giving Sarge a shot was not a good idea.
Carolyn (Flippo) DePriest shared similar experiences
about playing games on the Tibbels' lawn. Carolyn
said that Dr. Tibbels was perhaps the finest man she
16
�~
2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
had ever known.
Carolyn's husband, Don DePriest, whose mother was
Dr. Tibbels's nurse, also said Dr. Tibbels was his role
model and mentor. Don recalled that he never saw Dr.
Tibbels without a shirt, tie, and jacket. Don said he did
not know how much money his mother earned as Dr.
Tibbels's nurse, but he said that he was certain that she
was paid as much as the doctor could afford and that his
mother's earnings greatly financially aided the DePriest
family. Don also recalled that after Dr. Tibbels purchased
the Black Rock Drug Store in the early 1950s, that his
father, Eli DePriest, Curt Hill, Jim Sloan, and other men
regularly played checkers at a table inside the Drug Store
which was located on the comer of Third and Main Street.
Both Don and Carolyn added that they has observed
Dr. Tibbels using his mortar and pedestal to prepare
medicine. Don added that his mother measured the doses
of medicine and put the medicine in small plastic bags.
Since Dr. Tibbels was not a licensed pharmacist, he could
not fill prescriptions for other doctors, but he did mix the
medicine he prescribed.
According to Dr. Ralph Joseph, another Black Rock
native and long-time medical doctor in Lawrence County,
Dr. Tibbels, like other doctors early in the 20th century,
used calamine in treating his patients. Calamine, either a
mixture of zinc oxide or a zinc carbonate, was used as an
anti-itching agent and to treat mild conditions such as
sunburn, rashes, poison ivy, poison oak, chickenpox and
insect bites and stings or as a mild antiseptic to prevent
infections that can be caused by scratching. Calamine also
acted as a laxative and was given to flush germs from the
intestines.
17
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Dr. Joseph commented that Dr. Tibbels also treated
patients with sulphur, which was commonly used to
treat patients with depression, arthritis, congestive heart
failure, diabetes athletic injuries, and cancer. Another
common prescription was quinine, a natural white
crystalline alkaloid which was effective for treating
malaria, lupus and nocturnal leg cramps.
According to Joseph, Dr. Tibbels was unusually
adept at setting bones and delivering babies. But he was
also a generalist. Joseph said that Tibbels set bones
before x-rays were in common usage and that he was
absolutely the best. Later when x-rays were common
procedures, Dr. Tibbels would usually set the bone and
then send the patient for an x-ray, but Joseph said that
Dr. Tibbels was always right in his diagnosis. Joseph
added that early in Tibbels practice, the doctor kept
leeches and maggots which were used to draw puss out
of open sores. This practice discontinued when
penicillin and other medicine was introduced.
Sue (Jones) Sullen recalled that her father, Gert
Jones, had a fingertip that was almost severed while
working at the Button Factory in Black Rock. She
recalled that Dr. Tibbels reattached the finger and
beautifully sewed up the torn fingertip. She stated that
her father always said that Dr. Tibbels saved his finger.
Also, Dr. Joseph stated that when he was about 15 years
old that he developed a terrible toothache. Since a
dentist was unavailable, his father, Frank Joseph,
suggested that he go see Dr. Tibbels and ask him to pull
the tooth. Joseph said that Dr. Tibbels frowned and
reminded him that he was not a dentist, but he pulled the
tooth.
II
11
18
�J
2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Dr. Joseph stated that Dr. Tibbels read and kept up
with the latest medical practices and procedures. When
heroin and morphine became available, Dr. Tibbels
bought the drugs in gallon jars and carefully measured
his doses that he used in injections. Joseph said that Dr.
Tibbels gave an excellent shot of diluted heroin.
However, he emphasized that the fine doctor was never
a "drug junkie" and that he never abused or over
prescribed.
Dr. Joseph also said that a man from the Black
River bottoms gave Doctor Tibbels a baby coyote and
that the doctor raised the coyote on a Pet milk formula.
When the coyote was grown, he kept the animal on a
heavy chain and fed it raw meat that he purchased from
Callahan's grocery store. He named the coyote "Pedro,"
and the animal became a town favorite until the coyote
got loose and jumped a dog in town. Although the
coyote did not hurt the dog, Dr. Tibbels knew residents
would be fearful so he hired Archie Combs to transport
the coyote to a cousin in Birch Tree, Missouri.
Joseph said that Dr. Tibbels had encouraged him to
attend medical school and told him when he completed
his education at the University of Arkansas Medical
School in Little Rock that he would "tum over his
practice to him." However, when Joseph graduated
from UAMS in 1948, Dr. Tibbels said that he was not
ready to retire, but he offered to allow Joseph to join
him in practicing in Black Rock. Joseph said his father
told him that with two older doctors-Dr. Tibbels and
Dr. J.E Cruse--- in town, that he would "starve to
death." Joseph then opened a practice in Walnut Ridge.
19
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Doctor Tibbels really enjoyed living in Black Rock,
partially because he liked the railroad service. He loved
the sound of the whistle as the trains came around the
bend. He served as surgeon for the Frisco Railway for
many years. He even purchased a Hamilton watch from
a railroad engineer and proudly wore it in his vest
pocket with chain attached. Since the Frisco train did
not stop in Black Rock, he loved to drive to Hoxie, eat
pancakes at a local restaurant near the depot, and board
the train for Jonesboro or Memphis when a trip was
necessary. Then he returned that night. These trips were
delightful excursions for the family. The trains also
carried mail, and this, too, was important to the Tibbels
family. The letters for those at home were always in the
Doctor's coat pocket when he came home for lunch.
The Doctor wore a flower in his coat lapel if one could
be found-and a rose was preferred.
His bedside manner was most effective. He often
whistled or hummed when he was treating a patient
since he believed his calm manner relaxed his patient,
especially children. Black Rock residents recalled that
the Doctor always spoke to children and that children
were drawn to him because of his kind, gentle manner.
In a small town, baby doctors could be very busy.
Carolyn (Tate) Propst recalled that her mother always
told her that she and Glynda (Hill) Stewart were born on
the same day and that Dr. Tibbels scurried from the Tate
home to the Hill home several times that day but
managed to be present when each of the babies was
delivered.
Dr. Tibbels was civic-minded and always worked to
20
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
improve his town. He served on the Black Rock School
Board, the Town Council, and he was a member of the
Lions Club, and a Mason. In the 1950s, he attempted to
enter politics, running for the Arkansas House of
Representatives, but he came in third in district voting.
He served for many years as secretary of the Lawrence
County Medical Society. This Society was well known
for its local "catfish meals," and doctor friends from
Jonesboro and Memphis were invited as speakers and
nearly always commented on the delicious catfish
dinners.
When Dr. Tibbels first arrived in Black Rock, his
office was upstairs over the Walter Williams Drug
Store. When he built his rock clinic, he instructed his
nurse to destroy all the unpaid bills because he said the
people either could not pay or did not intend to do so.
He said we will start our billing all over in the new
office. He remained in his rock clinic, south of City
Hall, until he purchased the drug store and moved his
office back to Third and Main Street.
The historic drug store, built by Vernon Myers, the
son of Dr. Jay Myers, was managed by Mrs. Hugh
(Kell) Smith, sister of Mrs. DePriest. The store was
furnished with ice cream tables and chairs with iron
legs. The back bar was marble topped and was reflected
in the long, beveled mirror located on the wall behind
the soda fountain. The drug store was a hangout for
teenagers, and for older men who played checkers on
boards painted on the table top. The drug store sold
newspapers, magazines, candy, ice cream, fountain
sodas, and sundry items. The drug store also featured an
enclosed coin-operated telephone booth and ceiling
21
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
fans.
In 1954, Dr. Tibbels was invited to be a guest on
"Welcome Travelers" television program in Chicago,
Illinois. Tommy Bartlett, Master of Ceremonies,
introduced "the amazing Dr. Tibbels, 75-year old No. 1
citizen of Black Rock, Arkansas. Doctor Tibbels
recalled his activities as a physician, pharmacist,
minister, newspaper reporter, and town councilman, and
stated that he had delivered more than 3,000 babies. He
also said he had experienced all sides of life, "except
maybe the wealthy side." In response to a question
about retirement, Dr. Tibbels replied that he believed
"idleness to be the worse thing in life." He did add that
he planned to "taper off" his busy schedule. MC Bartlett
present Dr. and Mrs. Tibbels with a lounge chair, a
lounge robe, a pair of slippers and a set of Kaywoodie
pipes. However, the doctor interrupted the announcer to
say, "I don't smoke-don't have any use for the pipes,"
but when asked to take them to Black Rock and give to
some friend, the doctor agreed to accept the pipe. He
was also given a Portolith-an instrument used to transfer
a patient from a bed to a wheel chair-to give to the
hospital of his choice.
Before the end of the Chicago television show, the
Master of Ceremonies had arranged for a live
appearance by Ray Hall, age 54, and the first child Dr.
Tibbels delivered-and sixteen month-old Hazel Charlene
Lawson, the daughter of Mrs. And Mrs. Alva Lawson of
the Calvin Crossing community and the last child he
delivered before retiring from delivering children. (The
Lawsons named the child for Dr. Tibbels and Mrs.
DePriest.)
22
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
In 1955, Black Rock was a thriving community
with three grocery stores: Callahans, Cudes, and
Oldhams; three restaurants: the Blue Goose, Miss
Ollie's Cafe, and Mrs. Hill's Cafe, First National Bank,
Percy Townsend, an attorney, two barbershops, a movie
theater, Josephs' Dry Goods store, McKinney's general
store, Johnny Alvaraz's general store, A.P. Harrell's
shoe store and repair, Harve Smith's blacksmith shop,
two new car dealerships: a Ford and a ChryslerPlymouth, several active churches including the Church
of Christ, First Baptist, United Methodist, Presbyterian,
Assembly of God, Freewill Baptists, and Pentecostal, a
fine public school, the Frisco Rail Depot, Coffey's
lumber mill, and two medical doctors, Dr. Tibbels and
Dr. Cruse.
In October 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower
had suffered his first heart attack while in office.
Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus was making
statewide news concerning public school integration. In
Lawrence County, Arkansas, Hoxie Public Schools had
integrated twenty seven Negro students into the allwhite public school. The school made national news in
LIFE magazine. But in Western Lawrence County in
the small town of Black Rock, all the discussion was
"how did Dr. Tibbels end up dead in the bottom of the
well?"
On the front page of The Jonesboro Evening Sun,
Monday, October 24, 1955, the caption read: "Dr. C.D.
Tibbels Found Dead At Bottom of Well." The article
reported that Dr. Tibbels was 76 years old and that "his
body was discovered in six feet of water at the bottom
of the well by Wayne Weaver, a neighbor." Mrs. Aurelia
23
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Tibbels, his wife, was away for the weekend visiting her
daughter, Adhere, in Tupelo, Mississippi. Because Dr.
Tibbels rarely missed a Sunday service at First Baptist
Church, Black Rock, when he did not arrive at church,
the congregation was concerned and some members
alerted neighbors who began the investigation.
The Jonesboro Evening Sun article also stated that "a
Coroner's jury was called and fixed the time of death at 2
o'clock Sunday morning." The jury ruled Dr. Tibbels
"came to his death by his own volition." Sheriff D.S.
"Rosie" Foley stated in an interview in 2013 just a few
months before Foley's death that he had received three
telephone calls the week before Dr. Tibbels died, two
calls from Tibbels' nurse, Mrs. Hazel DePriest. She told
Sheriff Foley that Dr. Tibbels was ill and that he was
"acting strange" and wanted the Sheriff to come to Black
Rock and "do something." Sheriff Foley said he
explained that he could not arrest someone because they
were acting strange. Foley also received a telephone call
from R.C. "Tuff" Tate, the owner of the Chrysler/
Plymouth car agency in Black Rock. Tate said that Dr.
Tibbels had come into his business that week and had
threatened to shoot him. Tate told Foley that if the old
doctor came in his business again that he would shoot
him. Foley said he sternly warned Tate that he "had better
not shoot the doctor."
Foley also described how he removed the doctor's
body from the well. He said several men had gathered at
the Tibbels house that October Sunday afternoon and that
they tied a rope around the waist of Parvin (P.J.) Smith,
and several men lowered Smith to the bottom of the well,
and Foley instructed Smith in attaching ropes under the
24
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
doctor's shoulders. When Smith had followed Foley's
instructions, the men on the porch literally hoisted both
Smith and Dr. Tibbels from the bottom of the well.
Foley stated that the doctor was lying face down in
the water and that when they removed his body that the
doctor "still had shaving cream on his face. Foley said he
did not suspect "foul play" and that there was no evidence
of a scuffle on the porch and that the doctor's body
showed no signs of a fight or other injuries. No autopsy
was performed. The family buried the doctor two days
later on Tuesday, October 26. The Jonesboro Evening Sun
stated "Funeral services for Dr. C.D. Tibbels, well known
Black Rock physician who was found drowned at the
bottom of the well at his house Sunday morning, will be
held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at Black Rock Baptist
Church with Rev. W.L. Yeldell officiating. Dr. Tibbels
was buried in Oak Forest Cemetery in Black Rock.
The Jonesboro Evening Sun reported stated that Dr.
Tibbels was survived by his wife, three daughters: Mrs.
Floy Row of Batesville; Mrs. Adhere James of Tupelo,
Mississippi; and Mrs. Lillian Faulk, West Memphis; three
sons: William Shaver Tibbels of Birmingham, Alabama;
Charles Harrison Tibbels of Big Spring, Texas; and John
W. Tibbels of Memphis; a step daughter, Mrs. Vera
Fortenberry of Imboden; two sisters: Mrs. [Cora]
Copeland of California and Mrs. Nell Hinton of Texas;
two brothers: John Tibbels and Fred Tibbels, both of
Ranger, Texas; 12 grandchildren, and 5 great
grandchildren.
In the small town of 700 residents, friends and
neighbors were startled. Ada Jo (Hatcher) Andrews Weir
said she and her husband, Charles Andrews, were living in
fl
fl
25
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Fayetteville, but that her family who lived across the
street from the Tibbels' residence were stunned. Editor
Jim Bland Sr. writing an editorial tribute for The Times
Dispatch, October 27, 1955, stated: "For over 26 years,
Dr. C.D. Tibbels of Black Rock chronicled the events
of the Town of Black Rock for The Times Dispatchreporting on 'visits', deaths, marriages, births, social
gatherings, and from time to time offering editorial
comments on events of the day. His reporting ability,
we feel, was the principal reason this newspaper has
won first, second or third place in rural correspondence
every year the contests have been held in the State of
Arkansas.
Dr. Tibbels' first responsibility was the practice of
medicine and in that capacity he delivered around
3,000 babies during the 55 years he practiced medicine.
He was called to treat many thousands of sick people in
his beloved foothills of the Ozarks.
It is seldom that one could find a practicing
physician who could find time to indulge in newspaper
reporting as a hobby, but this man was also an ordained
Baptist minister and served full and part-time as a
preacher, meanwhile officiating at hundreds of
funerals. In his later years he also found time to be a
merchant and to invade the political field.
An unknown author, thinking of duty in life, once
wrote:
"To each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass and a book of rules;
And each must make ere life has flown,
A stumbling block or stepping stone."
26
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Inspired by God, Chas D. Tibbels took his bag of
tools and book of rules and fashioned an honorable
career which is without parallel. Dr. Tibbels assumed
a share of responsibility far greater than most, and his
shoulders carried this responsibility successfully
during a long, active career. We extend our sympathy
and consolation to the bereaved family. We have lost a
friend and associate of many years' standing.
Editor Eland's eloquent words were repeated in
simpler terms by many. Dr. Tibbels 's long-time nurse,
Mrs. DePriest, told her son, Don, that she was
convinced that the doctor was very ill and that he was
medicating himself; she feared that he had become
delirious and that is the reason she telephoned Sheriff
Foley begging for help. In the summer of 2013, an out
of state lady visited the NEARA Center in Powhatan
where she requested information about Dr. Tibbels.
Dr. Lisa Perry, the Archivist at NEARA, stated that
she and her assistant were not able to find much
information for the guest. However, before leaving
NEARA, Perry stated that the lady said that on his
deathbed that her grandfather had confessed that he
killed Dr. Tibbels and put him in the well because Dr.
Tibbels was treating a grandchild who died, and he
blamed the doctor.
For years, speculation continued and as time
passed, imaginations grew wilder and more sinister. In
a July 2014 interview with Dr. Tibbels' grandson, Dr.
Charles Kelly Tibbels of Decatur, Texas, said the
Tibbels family had heard all the rumors except the
"deathbed confession. Dr. Charles said that a man
11
11
27
•
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
may live a Godly life and still err. The grandson added
that all men have "feet of clay" and that we are all
"sinners save by grace." Charles Kelly added that the
family suspected that Dr. Charles David was drinking
alcohol and that he may have staggered while drawing
water and accidentally fallen into the well. Willie
Jacqueline (Billie) Brown commented that her mother
and her Aunt Lillian believed that alcohol-and not
suicide--was the cause of the doctor's death. Charles
Kelly said that alcohol "runs in the Tibbels men's
genes, adding that all three of Dr. Tibbels' sons,
William Shaver, Charles Harris and John W. were all
alcoholics and that their alcoholism destroyed their
lives and greatly affected their children.
The Tibbels legacy of education, music, and service
to mankind continued after Dr. Tibbels' death. Eudora,
the second daughter who was born in 1908, graduated
from Black Rock High School and received her
Bachelor's degree in music from Arkansas State
University in Jonesboro. She later completed a
Master's degree in music at Northwestern in Chicago.
Eudora married W. Kyle James in 1948 in Black Rock.
She taught high school music and played the organ at
Harrisburg Baptist Church, Tupelo, Mississippi for
over 25 years. She died in 2001 while living near her
daughter, Willie Jacqueline (Billie) Brown in Hailey,
Idaho. Eudora is buried in Tupelo, MS.
Lillian Tibbels Faulk, who was born in 1912,
graduated from Black Rock High School and Arkansas
State College. She later earned a Master's degree from
Peabody College of Education and a Specialist degree
in education. She taught school for seven years in
28
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Black Rock and began teaching in West Memphis in
1940. She was later made Principal in West Memphis,
Arkansas, where an elementary school is named in her
honor. She married Raymond B. Faulk. She also was
organist for First Baptist Church, West Memphis, for
over 40 years.
Vera Southport Fortenberry, who lived from 19001999, married J. Dot Fortenberry in 1919. She played
the organ all of her life. She is buried in Hope cemetery
in Imboden. Vera's son, John D. Fortenberry, Jr.,
graduated from college and became a veterinarian and
practiced in Kansas.
Floy Tibbels Row, Dr. Tibbels' daughter with his
first wife, lived from 1900-1990. Dr. Tibbels married
both of Ploy's children: daughter, Royce Marie,
married Dr. Thompson, a dentist in 1947, and they
lived in Itta Bend, Mississippi. Five years later, he
married Roy Row, Jr. and his wife Peggy Ruminer. The
Roy Rows are still living in Batesville, Arkansas. Floy
played the piano for her own pleasure. She was
outgoing and loved politics. According to her son, Roy,
she was a "hard nosed" Democrat and served as City
Treasurer for Batesville. She is buried in Oaklawn
cemetery in Batesville.
The three sons, William Shaver, Charles Harris, and
John W., each married and all three fought in World
War II. John W. died in 1959; William Shaver in 1975,
and Charles Harris in 1989. All three sons are buried in
Oak Forest Cemetery beside Dr. and Mrs. Tibbels.
William Shaver has one daughter, Sandra Tibbels
Curry, who is retired and lives in Lawrenceville,
Georgia; Charles Harris was father to five children:
29
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Charles Kelley, Kathy, Kent, Kirk, and Kayla; and John
W. has three children: John W., Jr., David, and Debra.
John W. Jr. is retired and lives in Old Hickory, Tennessee.
The medical tradition has continued in Dr. Charles'
grandson, Dr. Charles Kelly Tibbels and his great
grandson, Dr. Jason Tibbels. Dr. Charles Kelley lives in
Decatur, Texas with his wife and near their four children
and grandchildren. He graduated from the University of
Texas Medical School in Houston in 1976. He was a
Major in the U.S. Air Force and Flight Surgeon during
his military career. Dr. Tibbels stated: "Being a good and
compassionate Family Physician was my ambition even
as a youngster. I started thinking about being a doctor
because my grandfather, Dr. Charles David Tibbels, MD,
practiced medicine in Black Rock, Arkansas, and
although he died when I was a boy, he was an inspiration
to me. I was encouraged by my family and friends to
pursue a career in medicine. I am honored to work with
two of my sons in the field of Hospice and Palliative
Medical Care with Solaris Hospice. Charlie, my oldest
son, is the chief information officer, while Jason is the
the Executive Medical Director." Dr. Jason is a family
medicine doctor in Decatur, Texas. He received his
undergraduate degree from North Texas State University
and his medical degree from University of Texas
Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, in 2001. He has
been in practice for 13 years.
"Charlie and I were able to travel to Kenya, East
Africa, on a mission trip together to provide medical care
to orphanages and a slum area. I am sustained after 25
years of practice by God, my family and hundreds of
patients who have put their confidence in me as their
30
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
family Doctor. For that I am grateful."
On Thursday, October 27, 1955, The Times
Dispatch tribute stated: "A late October sun shone
brightly on the town of Black Rock Tuesday afternoon,
as a crowd first filled, then overflowed, the First Baptist
Church to pay a last tribute to the late Dr. C.D. Tibbels .
. .As we drove up and down the sharply-inclined streets
leading to the church we noticed that the season's first
hard frost, that morning, had already started the process
which changes the green leaves into multi-colored
emblems of fall. .. Had he been with us this week, Dr.
Tibbels would most certainly have commented on
Tuesday's weather in his Black Rock news .. .It was a
day which would have caused him to pause to admire
the countryside ... The wind was rustling sharply
through the trees as Dr. Tibbels was laid to rest on the
crest of a hill in Oak Forrest Cemetery, and altogether
the day was entirely befitting the burial of a man who
derived so much from life and who contributed so much
to the lives of many hundreds of people in this area."
Like many rural communities in Arkansas, the
nearly six decades since Dr. Tibbels' death have not
been kind to the town of Black Rock. Businesses have
closed and in May 2014, the high school was annexed
to Walnut Ridge. Many young people who moved away
to attend college or to find work have not returned. "An
honorable career without a parallel," a Renaissance
man, Dr. Tibbels' death left a deep void.
31
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Dr. Charles D. Tibbel parked in front of his drugstore. First paper
published in Lawrence County, The Plain Dealer, was published here in
1858 by Dr. John W. Townsend.
nus picture belongs to Mrs.
Vera Fonenbeny Wilford.
Last home of the Tibbets family in Smithville before moving to
Texas.
Picture furnished by Mrs. Vera Fonenberry Wilford.
32
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
Dr. and Mrs. Charles D. Tibbels
(Picture from The Times Dispatch
December 20, 1945)
33
�2014 Number 3
Lawrence County Historical Society
The Tibbels violin was given to Dr.
Charles Tibbels sometime before 1910
by a miner who could not pay his medical bill. According to the earliest label,
the violin is an 1813 Austrian small full
size made in the style of Amati by J.B.
Schlitzer.
34
��Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92
Powhatan, AR 72458
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lawrence County Historical Society Journals
Description
An account of the resource
The society prints the Lawrence County Historical Journal, an excellent collection of historical articles about the county, under the guidance of Ethel Tompkins, editor.
The publication was known as the Lawrence County Historical Quarterly from 1978 through 1992, then was changed to the Lawrence County Historical Journal from 1996 until present.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
2014 No. 3
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2014
Description
An account of the resource
1) A revised tribute to Dr. Charles David Tibbels (Doctor, Lawyer, Merchant, Minister)
-
http://fglarchive.williamsbu.edu/files/original/df7a0758f4d06fb2e72a47a6c1e54da9.pdf
ae6db939791fed21b5ce86bfa3ea96f7
PDF Text
Text
Lawren
-Hist
��'l HI~ I.JI111lll~N(~E (~()IJN'IT
HIS'l ()lll(~1II. ,J()IJllN1II..
1
1
www.lchsar.org
2014
Number2
�Lawrence County Historical Society
1
'l,HE I.JI117llEN(~E (~()IJN'IT
qqqquflllllm\t3i)11\illY~qqqq
WWW .I.A~HSAR.ORC.
2014 Number 2
Published by the Lawrence County Historical Society
Editor - Ethel Tompkins
Membership in the Lawrence County Historical Society is
$20.00 per year and entitles members to the Journal. Individual
copies sell for $5.00 each.
Neither the editor nor the Lawrence County Historical Society
assumes any responsibility for statements made by the
contributors. If you have questions or comments concerning an
article contact the editor by email turbo611se@suddenlink.net,
phone 870-886-3269 and I will sent them to the contributor.
The editor invites readers to submit articles, pictures and
information for publication.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN LA WREN CE
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NAME _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
ADDRESS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
EMAIL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
CITY _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Send to Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92, Powhatan, AR 72458
�Lawrence County
Historical Journal
I
2014
Number2
Contents
Note From Editor ............................ 6
A Sunday Morning in 1955 ................. 7
Our Heroes and Community Leaders .... 12
Sampling of Newspaper Headlines ...... 20
!
•
I
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
Note from the editor
Hello to all.
This issue is spotlighting one of the least known
school integration events that happened here in
Hoxie, Arkansas.
The Hoxie21 story is a story of common men,
disturbed by the Jim Crow culture in which they
had been raised, who saw a chance to do the
right thing and did it at great risk to them. It is a
story of black families who, although they never
sought integration, were courageous and
steadfast when it was thrust upon them. It is a
story of community leaders who sought to
subdue the racism around them, while others
were harnessing it for political gain. And it is a
story that has nearly been forgotten.
Happy reading
Ethel
6
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
A Sunday Morning in 1955
The Hoxie21 Story
By Fayth Hill-Washington
The Hill Foundation, Inc. was incorporated in
2004 as a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization. Our
mission is to provide voice to the 25 African American
students, families, and the Community who
experienced "Success Against the Grain" in a small
Arkansas Delta town in 1955.
There are many lessons to be learned; particularly
those successful lessons of this unpopular era
recognized and recorded to teach our children and
scholars for educational value of the most successful
story of diversity in the State of Arkansas.
Many sources conclude there was no impact in the
African American community. Most often, when
presenting the story, some in the audience would
respond, "I didn't know black folks lived in northeast
Arkansas." It is imperative that we establish there was
black life in northeast Arkansas and present factual
information and correct inadequacies (lifestyles and
filmmaker v. historian perspective) that relate to this
historical event. Hoxie students instantly became
pioneers. Hoxie was the third city in the state to
· attempt this move, but the first to be "challenged"
Fayetteville and Charleston both integrated without
incident. Hoxie, however, was different. There was
resistance, there was integration of all grades, and it
was first in the Mississippi Delta to face this challenge
successfully.
7
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
Since 1955, many attempts to tell our story have
been made. This event occurred swiftly after the court
decision in Topeka of the Brown vs. Board of
Education Court decision question Attorney Thurgood
Marshall.
On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme
Court announced its decision that separate
educational were facilities were unequal. On June 25,
1955, Hoxie School District decided against separate
schools and moved to integrate School District 46.
The decision prompted by the school board and
carried out by a united community, ignited the
community to face the challenges of successfully
going against the status quo. After 49 years, we
decided to have a reunion and it was a successful
reunion and celebration of the Hoxie21 students in
2003. It was at this time, the State of Arkansas
proclaimed the students the Hoxie21, which
represents the 21 of the original students who
attended the school for at least one year after the
desegregation. Seventeen of the twenty one students
were present. It was at this time, we decided it was
time to tell our stories, as we remember and
experienced the event.
It was a Sunday morning in 1955, one day before
the integration; the newspaper informed all of the
decision to integrate the Hoxie School District 46.
There was no option for the African American parents
but to take a stance. That stance was one of courage,
conviction, and valor as prior planning and soliciting
support was out of the question in a small town of 2
percent African Americans out of an approximate
8
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
population of 1,850. The following African American
families were impacted by this decision: Barksdale,
Henderson, Hill, Kelly, Cravens, Dothard, Tompkins,
Ruffin, and Braxton.
May 17, 1954, the United States rendered its decision
the combined NAACP school integration cases under the
heading of Oliver L. Brown et.al v. Board of Education of
Topeka KS, et al. which overturned the "separate but
equal" ruling in the "Plessey v. Ferguson" case of 1896.
In 1955, the Supreme Court of the United States
mandated to integrate schools "with all deliberate speed",
segregation should end.
Two years before Little Rock Central, Hoxie School
board, by a unanimous vote, made history. On July 11,
1955, 25 African American students entered the doors and
integrated with the white students at Hoxie High School.
This action placed Hoxie third in Arkansas to desegregate
its school system, and the first in an area of Arkansas with
a large population. Hoxie stands alone as being the first
"challenged" desegregation in Arkansas and the first to
embrace diversity during the Jim Crow, White Citizens
Group, and other segregationist groups.
Prior to desegregation, the black high school students
were transported twenty-five miles away to Jonesboro to
attend Booker T. Washington High school. In 1955, the
opinion of the school board was; desegregation would
prove to be an economic advantage for all parties
involved. The decision to eliminate separate but unequal
opportunities in education was basically economics and
the action would eradicate transportation cost of the high
school students and financial issues facing the board.
Superintendent K. E. Vance gave three reasons for
9
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
integration: 1.) It was right in the site of God. 2.) It
complied with the Supreme Court Ruling. 3.) It was
cheaper for the school system. The Hoxie School Board
was unanimous in the decision spearheaded by President
Howard Vance.
The 25 students, walking in the faith, built upon the
strength of their parents, entered the new school. None
of the students realized they were actually making
history but rather being obedient to their courageous
parents. No one was prepared for the new challenges
which were swift.
Initially, the opposition appeared slight. By the end
of the summer term, an undisclosed number of white
students were being withheld from school. LIFE
Magazine portrayed this as a seamless process, but
many families, both black and white were affected by
this decision. The school board was challenged as they
sought legal assistance and contacted Attorney Chris
Mercer who spoke to Attorney Penix, (Penix & Penix of
Jonesboro) the attorney for the Hoxie School Board
case. Not only did the school board need legal counsel,
but they also needed the support and commitment of the
African American Community and its leaders to stand
up to the intimidations and threats from some of the
town's people, outside agitators, and prevailing Jim
Crow laws and send their children to school anyway.
Many African American leaders demonstrated courage
in their commitment to provide a better educational
opportunity for their children.
We recognize the courage of the 21 African
American students, their parents, Superintendent K. E.
Vance, president of the school board, Howard Vance,
10
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
and the leaders who directed and mentored a small
community called Hoxie through this unprecedented
historical event. It is also necessary to preserve and
document this African American history in hopes that
one day it will be perceived as American History.
African Americans made significant strides in
America, so let's preserve our family history and
community heritage as it is our legacy and
responsibility to do so.
While sharing the story we were fortunate to
attract Rhodes College, Memphis, TN and Dr. Russell
Wigginton as a partner and advisory board member.
Rhodes College's development of the digital achieved
database, Crossroads to Freedom:
(www.crossroadstofreedom.org) displays the Hill
Collection of articles, photos, and current interviews
from the students and the teacher who bore the blunt
of the experience.
Hill Foundation Archived Collection was
preserved by grandmother, Ellen Mary Montgomery,
mother of Rosemary Hill in 1955.
Our Heroes and Community Leaders
By Ethel Tompkins
The following is a brief biography of some of the
unsung heroes of the Hoxie School integration.
Marshall Hill
After a very distinguished military service record
with the US Army, WW II, Mr. Hill was honorably
discharged in 1945, with 4 bronze stars. He returned
11
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
home to Hoxie and Walnut Ridge to face yet another
challenge. The challenge was to take a stand for a
better life for the African American children at home
in the small town of Hoxie.
Marshall and his wife, Rosemary met the
challenge of the 1955 School desegregation. Both
committed to providing this opportunity to the children
of Hoxie. Marshall, work with the community to
maintain calm along with his wife, as he knew that if
the African Americans keep their children home, the
segregationist would win.
First to take the witness stand to testify and offer
evidence on behalf of the school board, according to
court records was Marshall Hill. He stated six or
seven men had come to his home to discuss the
integration at Hoxie. Hill said the men asked him,
"hold my kids out of school for a day or so, until they
got the situation ironed out. I told them that I could
not unless I got word from Mr. Vance or someone of
authority."
Mr. Hill understood that without testimonies of the
African American parents on behalf of the school
board, the attorneys and board need their testimonies
regarding the harassments, threats and intimidations to
file the order of protection against the segregationist.
As well as the issuance of the court injunction against
the segregationists and halt all efforts of their
interferences to block the efforts of integration in
Hoxie.
Marshall worked in Walnut Ridge for many years,
but after the desegregation and the towns people
12
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
became intimated, he was forced to leave his job and
he establish and owned his own business in Portia, in
late 1955 thru 1956. Latel956, he left Hoxie for Gary
due to economics to make a living. His wife
Rosemary joined him in 1957. In 1959, he reunited
his family, by withdrew his children from Hoxie
School and moved his family to Indiana, where he
was also an entrepreneur.
Roy Kelly
Next the segregationist visited Mr. Kelly and wife
Tressie, who shad the most children in the K thru 8th
grades. Mr. Kelly was a black farm worker. Kelly
recalled how six men visited him, two of whom he
knew personally. Kelly's testimony was almost
identical to the previous parents. Mr. Kelly testified,
"they asked if I would co-operate and hold the kids
out of school on the following Monday because they
wanted consideration from the school board. They
were going to meet Thursday with the board and get
some consideration." Mr. Kelly stated that he told
them he would follow the pattern of the other black
people, and the group left.
Just as the school board members stayed together,
the black community stayed together.
The Kelly's moved shortly afterwards to
Michigan City, IN.
Ruben Barksdale
Mr. Ruben and Mary Barksdale had four children
attending Hoxie School District 46. As a new implant
into Lawrence County, Mr. Barksdale and his family
13
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
were comfortable in Hoxie and was as surprised as any
when the announcement was made.
In court testimony Mr. Barksdale stated that "Mr.
Brewer presented himself at my home and asked if I
would cooperate with him and act for the betterment of
yourself, and that was to keep my kids home for a day.
I told him I did not have the authority to keep my kids
out of school, that Mr. Vance had said for them to
come to school and I would do so."
Mr. Barksdale was born in Bailey, Tennessee on
March 12, 1895 the son of Robert and Nettie Lewis
Barksdale. He was married to the former Mary
Britmen on June 16, 1920. In 1940, Mr. Barksdale
moved his family to Hoxie, Arkansas. At the time of
the school integration he was employed as a porter at
the Lawrence Hotel in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. He
was employed as custodian for the Hoxie Post Office
for the last eighteen years of his life.
When Mr. Barksdale passed away November 8,
1984 he left behind a lasting legacy of doing the right
thing in the face of adversity.
Clarence Braxton
Clarence was a cook at the Air Base in Walnut
Ridge. He and his wife had only one child in the
integration. Mr. Clarence Braxton was another African
American parent called to testify for the plaintiffs in
the case of Hoxie School District No. 46 v. Brewer.
Mr. Braxton testified he sent his only son of school age
to Washington State to live with his older son. A
newspaper clipping narrated the story of Emmit Till, a
14
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
black teenager from Chicago who was murdered in
Mississippi for whistling at a white woman. The
article notated in the margin, "your boy can get the
same thins."
The envelope was introduced into evidence. The
attorneys used this as evidence of visits to black
homes by a car load of white men, occasionally at
dusk and the proof offered by Mr. Braxton to
demonstrate that the black patrons of Hoxie had been
directly threatened by segregationist.
Even though Mr. Braxton no longer had children
in school he continued to support the efforts of the
other parents to secure a better education for their
children. He participated in meeting and offered
support and supported calm in the community.
Rosemary ,Hill
Rosemary and Marshall Hill had two children in
the Hoxie School System; both committed to the
cause and they worked tirelessly to ensure the
situation was handled in an orderly and calm manner.
She wanted to keep everyone informed to ensure
the community remained calm. In another instance,
when one of the parents was hesitant about sending
his children to school, she reiterated the importance of
keeping all the children in school. She and husband
Marshall worked closely with the NAACP Field
Representative, Mildred Bond.
When the "Brown v. Board" case became law and
the Hoxie school board made the decision to
integrate, Rosemary saw this as an educational
. opportunity for of the all the black children, and
15
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
worked toward that end. For example, she met with
Supt. Vance and reported back to the community.
In the nationally publicized documentary, Hoxie:
The First Stand, Mrs. Hill provided extensive
dialogue. Revisited the day the men came to her home
to request the children not go to school, she advised
them " that would not happen and if either one of my
children are harmed, I am holding you personally
responsible." She said this because she too knew
several of the men personally and she meant it." She
was committed and said, "There was no way we were
turning back."
Both Marshall and Rosemary were born in Walnut
Ridge, and felt they had many friends there. Mr. and
Mrs. Hill continued their roles as activists with
involvement in civic and community affairs and the
fight for social injustices by supporting many causes.
The family moved to Indiana in 1959, long after
there was calm in Hoxie.
Additionally, it was the small town of Hoxie and
its' people who made this a success against the grain,
back in 1955
We also need to thank the support that's seldom
mentioned, the NAACP. On August 12, 1955 a letter
of support arrived to all of the parents with children
attending the newly desegregated Hoxie School
District 46 from Special Council, Thurgood Marshall.
While tempers, intimidations and threats were high, it
was important for the families to remain calm and
16
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
when this letter arrived we were surprised and honored
with these wonderful words of support. This letter was
sent to each family who had a child enrolled in Hoxie
School.
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Hill,
"All of us in this office are much impressed with the
courageous and intelligent manner in which you handled
the current problem involving a strike of some white
parents in Hoxie.
The important thing to bear in mind at this time is that
you must keep level heads and not be provoked. You
should stand firm and insist on your children remaining in
the school and not be provoked by any hot heads on the
other side.
In doing this, bear in mind that the entire resources of
the NAACP are behind you."
Thurgood Marshal
Special Counsel, NAACP
Collections of the Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Sources:
ww\\.hoxie21.org
www.crossroadstofrccdom.org
African American Perspectives Winter 2011 p38
Bond, Mildred L. Memo to Mr. Roy Wilkins, 6 August
1955
Bush, Annie Mae, Telephone Interview, 28 February 2011
Federal Court Documents, United States Federal District
17
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
Court Eastern
District of Arkansas, 1955
Washington, Fayth Hill, Telephone Interview, 28
February 2011
Hill Foundation, Inc. Collection, 2004 Incorporated
18
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
19
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
Sampling Of Newspaper
Headlines
20
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
This issue of Life Magazine exposed the
townspeople of Hoxie to the nation through its
pictorial essay. Cabell Phillips in his article
"Integration: Battle of Hoxie, Arkansas," New
York Times Magazine, September 25, 1955 was
fairly certain it was Life that stirred up the white
supremacy forces in Hoxie as well as the rest of
the South.
21
�21 2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
July 12, 1955
Times Dispatch
.
\
~OQC.~rnin9 Hoxie segre_gation issue
'.· .
Times Dispatch
9/15/1955
Times Dispatch November 3,
1955 • ta Pa
Hoxie School Board Wins Round
In federal Court; Judge Issues
Temporary Order For Injunction
22
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
The New York Time Magazine 9/25/1955
ANTI-SEGREGATIOM-From left to right, Howard Vance, a member of the Hoxie School Board, John Ha11ett and William Penix, attorney for the School Board,. dilcuu th ... next mo•cs in Hoxic's battle.
-Integration Foes
Suffer Setback
In Federal Court
Arkansas Gazette
9/1/1955
One Witness Tells
Of Implied Threats
In Speeches at Rally
By DEAN DUNCAN
or the Gazette Sta.ff
23
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
S"ITDY PETITIONS - Pro-scgrP1':11io11 leaders study l>el1t1uu .,
lh~v are cil'cuJating asking the
Sdloo l Bo:.n d to resign. Co1111li11 !.{
Times Dispatch 8/25/1955
Arkansas Gazette 9/7/1955
24
�N
0
,&:..
zC
3
,:;f'
~
'"I
N
....
-~-
. /1.U.~~-~ ...~
r'iitiOOfsfs1i
·-"--_, ,,..,'."",__.. ~.
.,~n .
~
..
ittle ~ ~
~
-------
. OUta!cle. In~
•
' ,-- I
-
r f t ~ _ / / ,J./s
~r~~~«~
~
i~fli1t~
-· ra~!
-,L;..
,J ,. ,•
a
• .,.~-
lenlee •
~
~
•-
,.
. _·c!ott.tc.11;1oxlt' ?Jn egrauti~llc
scllaola'besm-'thll morntng,i~t:lhere wu ~nc,iofflclal-·1ndlCJLtlon
~ bcnr, m:ani:,m.!te ·(lhlldren. ~ iJUt .af... ~ool ,becawwg'.of
tbet.11xotatlactlt}n. •·. '. • : . ':t, .'; ,.
"'~ ._ . •( ~· ~-~ · ' . .
'"I
~
=
n
~
~
0
=
=
-=...
«
r.,,
N
VI
s...
'"I
n
~
�2014 Number 2
Lawrence County Historical
.
iUS Intervenes _In
;Segregation Case
WASHINGTON -
IP
-The
jusih.'e clt•partmcnt will volun•.
tnrUy intel'vcne In an Arkansas
st'gre"atlon dlspute to suppoa·t
a school board under attack
Irom anti klte~1·atio11 forces.
The artlon wm mal'k the flrst
time since the sup1·~mc court's
1954 s~2re1?ation ordar that the
J(overnment has entered such a
case without being asked to do
so.
The Modesto Bee
Feb.24,1956
26
��Lawrence County Historical Society
P.O. Box 92
Powhatan, AR 72458
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lawrence County Historical Society Journals
Description
An account of the resource
The society prints the Lawrence County Historical Journal, an excellent collection of historical articles about the county, under the guidance of Ethel Tompkins, editor.
The publication was known as the Lawrence County Historical Quarterly from 1978 through 1992, then was changed to the Lawrence County Historical Journal from 1996 until present.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
2014 No. 2
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2014
Description
An account of the resource
1) A Sunday Morning in 1955
2) Our Heroes and Community Leaders
3) Sampling of Newspaper Headlines