Goodspeed's History of ... Carroll County, Arkansas

Township Organization, p. 358.

No record of township organization prior to 1870 is extant, but from a comparison of traditional knowledge it is inferred that the three original townships of what is now Carroll County were Carrollton, Osage and Prairie (said to have been known at one time as Ashley), to which Long Creek was added prior to 1850. The order of subsequent formation cannot be ascertained. The records having been destroyed it became necessary to establish township boundaries, which was done at an adjourned term of the county court, April 18, 1870; Hon. Robert Raines, judge, and Esquires Jackson Childers and Alexander H. McElyea presiding. On this day the court proceeded to establish the different townships, defining their boundaries and voting places as follows, to wit:

"Long Creek Township to commence at the Boone County line, at the southeast corner of Section 27, in Township 20 north, Range 22 west, running west to the southwest corner of Section 25, in Township 20 north, Range 23 west; thence due north to the Missouri line; thence east to the Boone County line; thence south with said line to the place of beginning; and that the voting place in said township be, and the same is hereby designated at the residence of Redden B. Mattox.

"Hickory Township line to commence above and near the Dallison farm on Dry Creek, running northward to the southwest corner of Long Creek Township; thence north with said township line to the Missouri line; thence with the Missouri line to a point near and east of the residence of Thomas Wise; thence southward with the range of mountains, leaving said Wise west of said line to the Pilot Knob; thence south to the Osage Mountain; thence east with the aforesaid mountain to the southwest corner of the sixteenth section; thence east with said section line to Dry Creek, near Jeremiah Youngblood's; thence down the main channel of Dry Creek to the place of beginning; and that the voting place be, and the same is hereby designated, at the residence of John S. Shahan.

"King's River Township line to commence at the northwest corner of Hickory Township; thence west with the Missouri line to a point due north of Boat Mountain; thence south with the divide between Leatherwood and King's River to the head of the Cox and Hobb's saw-mill hollow; thence down said hollow to the Master's ford on King's River; thence by Bradley Bunch's to the southwest corner of Hickory Township line; thence with said line north to the place of beginning; and that the voting place in said townsip be, and the same is hereby designated, at the frame house on the L. D. High farm in the waxweed hollow.

"Cedar Township line to commence at the northwest corner of King's River; thence west with the Missouri line to the Benton County line; thence south with said line to the Madison County line; thence east with said line to the divide between Leatherwood and Keel's Creek; thence to the southwest corner of King's River Township; thence with said township line to the place of beginning; and that the voting place in said township be, and the same is hereby designated, at the residence of William Skelton in said township.

"Prairie Township line to commence at the southeast corner of King's River; thence west with the said boundary line of King's River Township to the southeast corner of Cedar Township line; thence with the Cedar Township line to the Madison County line; thence with the Madison County line to the Rockhouse Creek; thence down said creek so as to include the settlements on said creek (which is to King's River); thence up King's River to the mouth of Piney; thence east to William Barkley's on Osage; thence north by the way of Benjamin Jenning's to the place of beginning; and that the voting place be, and  and [sic] the same is hereby designated at Berryville.

"Liberty Township line to commence at the southwest corner of Prairie Township; thence south with the Madison County line to Stephen Howard's; thence east by the way of the Widow Usry's on Osage, to Daniel Conner's; thence north on the divide to the Hickory Township line near the old Rush still-house; thence with said Prairie Township line to the place of beginning; and that the voting place in said township be, and the same is hereby designated, at the residence of Matthew Griffith.

"Osage Township line to commence at the southwest corner of Liberty Township, thence south with the Madison County line to the Newton County line, thence east to the Boone County line, thence with the divide between Osage and Long Creeks to the southeast corner of Liberty Township, thence west with said township line to the place of beginning; and that the voting place in said township be, and the same is hereby designated at the residence of John P. Carter.

"Carrollton Township to commence at the southeast corner of Long Creek Township, thence west with said township line to the Hickory Township line, thence with said Hickory Township line to the Liberty Township line, thence with said Liberty Township line to the Osage Township line, thence with said Osage Township line to the Boone County line, thence with said Boone County line to the place of beginning; and that the voting place in said township be and the same is hereby designated at Carrollton."

Yocum Township. -- October 7, 1873: "Ordered by the board that Hickory Township be divided as follows, to wit: by a line beginning where Long Creek Township line crosses Yocum Creek, thence with the bed of said creek to the residence of John S. Shahan, thence due west to Prairie Township line; and that all north of said line be known and called by the name of Yocum Township; and that the voting place of said township be at the voting place of Jeremiah Hall."

Polo Township. -- April Term, 1874 upon petition of a majority of the citizens of King's River Township for the formation of a new subdivision from its territory, the following line of division was confirmed: "Beginning about one mile and three-quarters west of Bradley Bunch's, where said township line crosses a hollow known as Methodist Hollow, thence down said hollow to King's River about one-fourth of a mile above Crabaugh's mill, thence down said river to the Missouri line." The eastern part received the name of Polo Township, with Standlee's store as its voting place.

Clifty. -- August 17, 1874, Cedar Township was divided by a line "beginning at the eastern boundary of said township, and running due west so as to divide Sections 20 and 19, Township 20 north, Range 26 west, and Sections 24, 23, 22 and 21, Township 20 north, Range 27 west, through the center of said sections to the western boundary;" that portion south of this line receiving the name of Clifty Township, with Hendry's mill as its voting place.

Piney Township. -- April 5, 1875, division of Liberty Township ordered by a line "beginning at the north line of Osage Township, near Nathaniel Rudd's, and running in a northern direction on and with the divide between the waters of the Osage and Piney Creeks to the southern line of Prairie Township;" the territory west of this line to constitute the new township of Piney. Its organization was ordered to be effected May 1, 1875, with John Gilstrop's mill as the place for holding elections.

Fork Township. -- February 7, 1876: "On this day was presented a petition of a majority of the citizens of Osage Township representing that said township is too large for the convenience of a large number of citizens thereof, and praying that said township be divided as follows, to wit: Beginning at the Newton County line, on the top of the mountain or divide separating the waters of Osage and Dry Fork creeks, and running with and on the top of said mountain or divide north to the Liberty Township line." This was favorably considered, the territory west of the line described being designated as Dry Fork Township, with the place of the election at Shiloh.

July 3, 1876 by order of court the southern boundary of King's River Township was so changed as to include that part of Prairie Township north of a line "beginning at the southeast corner of said (King's River) township, thence west to the W. R. Sartain farm on King's River, thence up said river to the mouth of Osage, thence west to Cedar Township line."

Winonia Township was formed May 1, 1882, from the following described territory, formerly part of Cedar: "Beginning where King's River crosses the line between Carroll and Madison Counties, running thence west to the line between Ranges 26 and 27; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 31, Township 20 north, Range 26 west, thence east four miles; thence north two miles; thence east to King's River; thence along said river to place of beginning." At July term, 1882, the line between Prairie and Winonia was so changed as to read as follows: "Commencing at a point on the line between Sections 4 and 5, Township 19, Range 25 west, where said line crosses King's River; thence north on said line to the southeast corner of Section 32, Township 20, Range 25; thence west to the southeast corner of Section 31, Township 20, Range 25; thence north to the southeast corner of Section 30; thence west one-half mile; thence north to King's River Township line; thence east to Prairie Township line."

Franklin Township. -- April 7, 1884, upon petition of thirty-one citizens of Cedar Township, its division was ordered by a line "Beginning at the northwest corner of Section 10, Township 21, Range 26, on the Missouri State line; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 27, said township and range; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 29, Township 21, Range 25; thence north to the Missouri State line; thence west to the place of beginning." The new township received the name of Franklin.

Johnson Spring election district was formed July 14, 1882, and includes "all of sections east of Eureka Springs, to the Prairie Township line; all south of Eureka Springs to Winonia Township line, Sections 9, 16 and north one-half of Section 10; all of Township 20 north, Range 26 west in Cedar Township," except the corporation of Eureka Springs.

The present number of townships is fourteen; of election districts twenty, there being five wards in Eureka Springs, each of which with each of the townships constitutes a separate district.

The Western Judicial District, p. 363.

Formation. -- The State Legislature, by an act approved March 12, 1883, divided Carroll County into districts for judicial purposes, that portion of the county received from Madison in 1869 to constitute the western district and the residue the eastern district. The act provided that circuit, chancery, and probate courts should be established in the western district, with original and exclusive jurisdiction within its limits. The sheriff, clerk, treasurer, and probate judge are elected for the county at large.

Deputy Clerks. -- The following named persons have been incumbents of this position: ----- Jones, J. H. Hamilton, William McCormick, Gip Taylor.

Marriage and Divorce Statistics. -- Fifty-nine divorces were granted in the district from its organization until January 1, 1887. Marriage licenses have been granted as follows: 1883, 49; 1884, 65; 1885, 55; 1886, 92; 1887, 78; total to January 1, 1888, 339.

County Finances, p. 364.

The debt of Carroll County January 28, 1879, was $11,854.57; February 148, 1880, $11,961.21; October 3, 1881, $10,350.45; October 8, 1882, $14,855.74. During this time there was a general county fund; but upon the formation of the western district, in 1883, there arose a necessity for the creation of two other funds, that of the eastern and that of the western district. Then general indebtedness November 19, 1883, was $19,769.00, this being the total amount of warrants called in for re-issue. The amount of warrants on record not issued was $7,915.65. The following is a statement of county finances from November 19, 1883, to February 1, 1888:

General prior indebtedness	$19,769.00
Warrants not issued	7,915.65
Total allowances, general fund	11,916.12
Total allowances, western district	20,149.41
Total allowances, eastern district	30,093.50
		$89,843.68
Contra.
County warrants canceled	$11,989.30
Eastern district warrants canceled	19,386.90
Western district warrants canceled	16,122.05
Total amount		$47,448.25
Outstanding indebtedness		$42,395.43

Societies, p. 364.

The Carroll County Agricultural and Mechanical Association was organized in 1876. The fifth and last annual fair was held Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 29 and 30 and October 1, 1881. The officers at this time were W. J. Hailey, president; J. A. Meek, vice-president; L. L. McKennon, secretary; J. W. Freeman, treasurer. The association owned sufficient land for its purposes, but was not a success financially, The annual fair was held at Berryville. During its short existence the association did much to promote the best interests of the county.

Medical Societies. -- The first medical society in the county was organized at Eureka Springs in 1881, but disbanded several years later. The second effort was made at Berryville, where the Carroll County Medical Society was organized February 4, 1884. Its existence ceased in 1887.

The Eureka Springs and Carroll County Medical Scoeity was organized June 5, 1887, with seven members of whom the following were officers: --- Visart, president; J. O. Ducker, vice-president; J. B. Bolton, secretary; W. A. Reese, treasurer. Examining board: An act of the Legislature provides for the appointment of three physicians as an examining board by the county court. Drs. W. P. George, D. F. Ray and W. R. Hardesty, the first board, served from 1881 to 1887. Drs. J. H. Malloy, Winfield Poynor and J. B. Bolton constitute the present board. It is the duty of this board to pass upon the qualifications of all persons desiring to practice medicine in the county.

Courts, p. 365.

The First Court in Carroll County was held at the residence of Charles Sneed, on Osage, probably in the year 1833; Archibald Yell presided, and David Walker was prosecuting attorney. The county formed part of the third judicial circuit, of which Samuel S. Hall was the regular judge.

Circuit Judges. -- The county has always been embraced in the fourth judicial circuit, to which judges have been commissioned as follows: J. M. Hoge, November 13, 1840; S. G. Sneed, November 18, 1844; A. B. Greenwood, March 3, 1851; F. I. Batson, August 20, 1853; J. M. Wilson, February 21, 1859; J. J. Green, August 23, 1860; Y. B. Sheppard, May 9, 1863; Thomas Boles, August 3, 1865; W. N. May, April 24, 1868; M. L. Stephenson, July 23, 1868; C. B. Fitzpatrick, March 23, 1871; J. H. Huckleberry, April 10, 1872; J. M. Pittman, October 31, 1872; J. H. Berry, October 21, 1878; J. M. Pittman, October 31, 1882.

Prosecuting Attorneys for the fourth circuit during the same period have been as follows: A. M. Wilson, November 13, 1840; A. B. Greenwood, January 4, 1845; H. F. Thomasson, September 6, 1853; Lafayette Gregg, August 23, 1856; B. J. Brown, December 1, 1862; J. E. Cravens, January 7, 1865; 'Squire Boon, October 15, 1866; Elias Harrell, August 11, 1868; S. W. Peel, April 26, 1873; E. I. Stirman, October 13, 1876; H. A. Dinsmore, October 14, 1878; J. Frank Wilson, October 30, 1884; J. V. Walker, October 30, 1886.

County Judges. -- George Campbell, 1834-35; William King, 1835-38; Hiram Davis, 1838-40; M. Perryman, 1840-42; W. J. Estis, 1842-44; J. D. Blair, 1844-46; Matthew Bristow, 1846-48; T. H. Clark, 1848-50; James Simmons, 1850; Samuel H. Ewing, 1850-52; Matthew Bristow, 1852-54; J. B. Turney, 1856-58; G. W. Alker, 1858-60; J. B. Turney, 1860-64; Samuel H. Ewing, 1864-68; Robert Rains, 1868-71; Cyrus Maxwell, 1871; A. Fanning, 1874-80; T. S. Bunch, 1880-82; William Walker, 1882-84; H. A. Pearce, 1884-86; R. H. Jones, 1886; Bradley Bunch, 1887.

Attorneys. -- A. M. Wilson was the first resident practicing attorney at Carrollton, and seems to have been there as early as 1836. John Wilson was his brother and partner, and their office was on the southwest corner of the square. David Walker, from Fayetteville, subsequently United States Senator from Arkansas, was also an early attorney. W. D. Reagan, J. P. Neill, J. M. Pittman, the present presiding judge of the fourth circuit; James H. Berry, at present member of the United States Senate from Arkansas, and ex-governor of the State, and George J. Crump, of Harrison, one of the most prominent attorneys in the northwestern part of the State, are among the former members of the local bar. The following is a list of resident practicing attorneys in the county: O. W. Watkins, Henry Glitsch, R. H. Jones, J. H. Show, A. Davis, M. R. Baker, George Weymouth, E. R. Ray, George W. Ray, John Watkins, John B. Pendergrass, John Chiles, Joseph Maples, J. E. Jones, Charles Watson, John I. Worthington.

The First Circuit Court for the western district began its session May 7, 1883, Judge Pittman presiding. No jury commissioners having been appointed the court, as its first proceeding, directed the sheriff to impanel the grand and petit juries. These respective bodies, the first for the western district, were constituted as follows:

Grand Jury. -- R. J. Insenberry, W. H. Jones, Wesley Kelley, Samuel Gregg (foreman), Bart Moore, L. B. White, F. J. Russell, F. S. Riley, Henry Arney, D. B. Jeringan, Z. P. Freeman, A. T. Wilson, D. A. Powell, Edward Pickering, W. W. Davis, James Ramey.

Petit Jurors. -- L. Collins, J. V. Rawlins, Isaac Chidester, Samuel Montgomery, A. B. Combs, W. D. Ingram, I. E. Perrin, P. Landaker, E. A. Trayder, S. S. Purcell, Samuel Hollsman, J. W. Cary, L. M. Lane, H. M. White, N. B. Barfield, W. W. Hudson, David Conway, K. B. Thornton, G. A. Beaver, T. O. P. Terry, J. H. Hamilton, T. W. Norwood, Philip Noll, William Leach, impanelled May 8, 1883.

First Case, etc. -- The first case tried was that of George P. Young vs. J. H. Nuttall, and resulted in a verdict of $68.17 in favor of the defendant. The first person admitted as an attorney after examination was John Carroll, who applied for a committee to inquire as to his qualifications May 8, 1883.

The first murder in the county was committed by W. W. Hutson, who was confined in jail, but escaped. Louis Russell, William Goforth and Jack Musick served as coroner's jury in making the inquest. The second murder was that of Thomas H. Clark, during his incumbency as county judge, 1848-50. His brother-in-law, Rudd, and a son of the latter were accused, and a change of venue was taken to Washington County. A nolle pros. was granted in the case of Rudd, Jr., and Rudd, Sr., was acquitted through lack of circumstantial evidence. The third murder was that of Louis Williams by his father-in-law, James Shropshire. H. F. Thomasson was prosecuting attorney. W. D. Reagan and John Wilson appeared for Shropshire, who was convicted and sentenced to be hung, but excaped from jail a short time before the time set for execution. There has been a number of murder trials, and several indictments now appear upon the records, but no judicial execution has yet occurred.

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