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Page 2 FAYETTEVILLE (ARK.) DEMOCRAT Tuesday, July 3, 1928 |
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Fayetteville Democrat ==================== L.S. Read, Managing Editor J.D. Hurst, Business Manager ------------------------------ Entered at the Postoffice at Fayetteville, Ark., as Second-Class Mail matter ------------------------------ Published daily by the Democrat Publishing Company, 28 East Center Street. ------------------------------ MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it, or not otherwise credited, in this paper, and also to the local news published herein. News Services-Associated Press. New York and Washington special daily news services; personal correspondents over the county. The Democrat is the only paper in Wash- ington County receiving daily telegraphic dispatches and daily market and weather reports. ---------------------------------------- SUBSCRIPTION RATES By carrier-50 cents a month; in advance, six months $2.75; one year $5.00. By main (inside county)-$3.00 a year, $2.00 six months, $1.00 three months, 50 cents one month, in advance. (outside county)-$4.25 year; $2.25 six months; $1.25 three months; 50 cents month, in advance. ----------------------------------------- CHARGES ON TRIBUTES Charges are made on all obituaries not included in the initial funeral news story, and on all resolutions of respect or personal tribute, and on all unsolicited memorials to the departed. Newspapers of the country generally have adopted this policy to conserve space and to protect their readers from a deluge of space-taking memorials and resolutions that must naturally follow upon the constant passing of loved ones. ---------------------------------------- RIGHTS RESERVED This paper reserves the right to accept or reject any matter submitted to it, either in advertising or unsolicited reading matter. It will not return unsolicited contri- butions, guarantee to return manuscripts, nor will it publish anonymous contributions whatever. ---------------------------------------- TELEPHONES News and Advertising.................244 Job Printing.................................163 ---------------------------------------- CENTENNIAL YEAR -------- Fayetteville! Washington County! Arkansas! The Ozarks of the early Indians, the goal of the century old pioneer, of modern America, Land of a Million Smiles! To the all roads lead. Land of poetry and promise, romance and history, to whose treasures the Old National Road of history traversing this section, was the key. Hear again ye, this: -------- Vision of a Pioneer "When Arkansas shall have put aside politics and rises to the majesty of a great State, creating highways of indomiable purpose and power, the oldest of national highways that traverses Fayetteville and the lovely Ozarks-the Great National Road-over which travelled most of picturesque people of early America going West-will be made 100 feet wide of the best macadam clear across the State from the monumental landmark, Hix's Ferry, to that other monumental landmark, the town of Fulton. "All the way from here to there, barbarous and half-civilized tribes camped and danced their harvest, their peace and their war dances. "Here tradition pointed out the spot where the savages first clashed with first whites who dared to cross the line. "I trust that sometime in the future someone will build this road; that someone will record properly early Arkansas and Fayetteville history, genius, romance, history and poetry of which there are so much of mar- velous worth and interest." So wrote Robert Graham, pioneer Fayetteville educator. Will we keep the faith? We are now building our Jefferson highway. We are now endeavoring feebly to recall and record our brilliant history. May an abler pen take up the work which is only just now started. -------- A Dedication To Robert Graham, pioneer educa- tor of Fayetteville, founder of the Christian Church in this section and of Arkansas College; to Rev. N.M. Ragland, his biographer; to Mrs. M. A. Schoofield, Fayetteville's oldest citizen and now in her 100th year; to Mrs. Margaret Blakemore Taylor, Fayetteville's oldest native-born; to Mrs. Martha Wallace Skelton Van Hoose who has lived in Fayette- ville longer than any other living citizen, her entire 82 years of life; to Miss Sophia Sawyer, founder of the Fayetteville Female Seminary; to the earlier educational pioneers who established a college here in 1836; to Fayetteville's settlers and to their descendants; to America's great whose descendants are living in Fayetteville: George Washington's brother, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, Daniel Boone, Jefferson Davis and Roger Williams, and others, and to these descendants; to all first settlers pioneering everywhere and to their children, grand-children |
and great-grand-children who carry on,
holding high the torch, this Centen -nial edition of the Fayetteville
Daily Democrat is with gratitude dedicated. -------- A BIG PART The Marion Chapter of the Daugh- ters of the American Revolution has had a big part in the Fayetteville Centennial's collecting and caring for articles of historic interest and in marking a Revolutionary soldier's grave with permanent marker. -------- DON'T MISS SEEING THESE Rare documents, some of them priceless, old china, coverlets, samp- lers, antique furniture and other pieces are being shown at the Centen nial Museum, collection gathered under supervision of the D. A. R. The Mildred Lee Chapter, U. D. C. also has taken on a big work in helping assemble relics of bygone days. Don't miss seeing any of these. It has taken a hundred years to gather them. We won't be here in another 100 years. Let's make the most of our oppor- tunity today. -------- SIX WARS War relics of the Revolution, War of 1812, Mexican, Civil War,Spanish -American, and World War are on display at the Centennial Museum in charge of the Southern Memorial Association, under chairmanship of Miss Sue Walker, one of the local direct descendants of George Wash- ington's father. These relics are authentic and interesting. Take the children to see them and tell the little ones the history pertaining to each. -------- SACRED CEREMONIES Each of the "Markings Unveilings" is to be sacred ceremony on July 5. Each deserves a large attendance. True, hours are when business people are at work but maybe somebody can slip off from each place of busi-ness just for the unveiling hour. Much interesting history will be recalled by old-timers at each service. This should be taken down for future information. All to rapidly are Fayette -ville pioneers passing and with them their priceless heritage of their fore- bear's adventures. Hear these "marker programs."They form a rare and interesting part of the Fayetteville three-day Centennial program. =====*===== RESIDENT, BORN IN 1812 TELLS OF LOCAL HISTORY IN AGED "REVIEW" COPY The following clipping, yellowed with age, and giving much of Washington county and Fayetteville early history as related by Mrs. Charlotte Fine Wilson, born in 1812, was lent the Democrat by J. F. Rieff: The First Ball in Fayetteville Capt. Thos. Brooks, Editor Review:- I have been frequently requested by my friends to give them another chapter on the early history of Wash- ington County, and in order to get material for my sketch I have recently visited our old and mutual friend, Mrs. Charlotte Wilson, widow of the late Judge Thomas Wilson. You have known her for forty years, and I have known her as Aunt Charlotte for fifty-eight years, and we can safely vouch for the correctness of her statements which I give below in her own language Since the death of her husband, Judge Wilson, which occurred fifteen years ago, she has made her home with her son-in-law, Robert Mayes, who lives one mile northwest of Farmington in the county. On last Wednesday, p.m., I went from Fayetteville to his home expressly to interview Mrs. Wilson and spent the night in his elegant home, and must be pardoned for saying that I was royally entertained by Bob and his excellent wife, and especially by that noble old pioneer mother, who has lived in Washington County sixty-nine years-longer than any other persons except Mrs. Arrington, Mrs. Combs of West Fork and Wm. Alexander, all of whom came to this county about one year before Mrs. Wilson came. Mrs. Wilson is now eighty-six years old, but could pass for a woman of 65. She is active, walks erect and does not use spectac- les except when reading. She assists her daughter in her household work, and is quite cheerful and fond of conversing with her friends. Her maiden name was Fine. She was the fourth child of Wm. and Catherine Fine, and was born in Giles County, Tenn., on the 22nd of May, 1812, came with her parents to Arkansas Territory in 1828. They left their old home in Tennessee on Oct. 15th, 1828, and reached West Fork of White River on the 2nd of March 1829 and settled in the woods seven miles south of Fayetteville, which then was called "Washing Court House." They were well equipped for the long jour- ney through the wilderness. They had one large four-horse wagon called "Prairie Schooner," and another two- horse wagon, and a good tent to sleep in at night. They stopped three weeks in Conway county, and six weeks at Billingsly, on account of a big snow which fell about the middle of January, 1829 and did not all melt away until the first of March. There was not room |
in the wagons for all the family and she walked all the way from Giles county, Tenn., to West Fork. She says she was happy as a lark, and when the evening camp fire was built she cooked supper for the family, 12 or 13 in number, and then cooked breakfast every morning. She says her father was a powder maker in Tennessee and had brought several gourds full to sell along the route, and seeing so many mortars and sweeps with pestle for pounding corn into meal, her mother told Mr. Fine that he would not find sale for his powder, as every squatter makes his own powder. She thought those pounding machines were to pulverize charcoal and salt petre for powder. She said she felt lonely for awhile in their new home in the wild woods, with no neighbors near and no society for young ladies, and felt herself very fortunate when she received a ticket to a ball to be given by the young gentlemen of Fayetteville on the 4th of July, 1829. Her father and mother came to town with her on the morning of the 4th and she saw no houses between their home and Fayetteville. The dancing commenced at 2 p.m. in the new court house which was built of round logs, with puncheon floor and board roof. A splendid supper was served at Byrneside's Tavern, and each young gentleman was taxed $1.50 for supper for himself and partner. Bryant H. Smithson and young Thos. Wilson were two of the committee of arrange- ment. Abram Cartwright, assisted by Alx. Scott, furnished the music. They danced some square dances, but mostly the old Virginia eight-handed reels, which required no one to prompt She danced her first set with Thos. Wilson, to whom she married on the 6th of the following September, 1829. She said Bry Smithson had several dollars in silver loose in his pocket, and while dancing "first upon the heel tap, then upon the toe," his silver money would jingle, jingle, keeping time with the music of the fiddle. They danced until 2 o'clock in the morning, and adjourned until next morning. Mrs. Byrneside took her home with her, also another girl from the country, Miss Phoebe Standifer. She and Miss Standifer were the only country girls present, all the others being town girls, eleven in all. There were seven sisters dancing in one set at the same time. Their names were Kingcade and Bry Smithson afterwards married Miss Cynthia Kingcade, one of the sisters. One the morning of the 5th the dancing was resumed, and kept up until about the middle of the afternoon, when feel-ing that they had shown sufficient re- spect to the glorious 4th of July, they separated and repaired to their respec- tive homes, all happy and contented. The best of order prevailed, everybody was on his good behavior and the young gentlemen proved themselves to be as gallant as any she ever saw. Every few hours refreshments were handed around, which consisted of biscuits well buttered, and slices of turkey breast fried brown, which we know is good eating. I inquired as to how the young ladies were dressed, and she replied "All kinds of dresses were worn." As for herself, she wore a black silk dress which she brought from Tennessee. The young ladies used a dry goods store near by the court house for a toilet room. Their head dresses looked very pretty by the light of the tallow candles. Their heads were ornamented with ribbons which shone like silver. Miss Sallie Byrneside was present, but did not dance. Miss Sallie was afterwards married to young Lee C. Blakemore, and her daughter, Mrs. Maggie Taylor, now lives in Fayetteville. On the 6th of Sept, 1829 she was married to Thos. Wilson, who had built a log cabin in the woods near where his son, James Wilson, now lives. They went to keeping house the day after they were married, and she says there were no cooking vessels of any kind, and when she went to cook their first breakfast, she had to cook their bread in the ashes, making what was called an "ash cake." There was no furniture in the home, only a suffold bedstead, made by setting up one post into which auger holes were bored, into which one end of the bed rails were inserted, and the other ends inserted in holes in the logs of the house, and on those rails, or round poles, were laid rough oak boards four feet long on which was placed the strawbed. This bedstead served a double purpose, being used to sleep on, and when the meals were ready the bedding was removed and the table cloth spread on it, which made a table to eat on. They had no knives and forks, and used a butcher knife to cut their meat, and made forks out of hard cane. She says she took a good cry the first meal she tried to cook, and was very much discouraged, but her mother and Mr. Wilson went to Cane Hill in a few days and bought a skillet and oven, some dishes and knives and forks, and she was then happy. She says wild game was plentiful, and they could shoot deer and turkeys from the door of their cabin, and that many |
times when she would be spinning on the big wheel the wild turkeys would come into the yard, walk by the door and look in and cluck, cluck, being attracted there by the buzzing or singing of the wheel. Foxes would chase the chickens in the yard in day light, and she saw a chicken fly up in a bush to escape the fox and it climbed up after the chicken. Wolves howling around their cabin was a familiar sound, and bears would kill their hogs within 100 yards of the house. She attended the hanging at Cane Hill in 1839, and saw the three men hanged for the murder of the Wright family. She saw Rev. Andy Buchanan climb up a ladder to where the three men were standing on the platform and heard him tell them that they had only a few minutes more to live, and asked them now to tell the truth. One declared he was innocent, but an- other man whose name was Richard-son called out to him saying: "There is no use to die with a lie in your mouth, for you know we did commit the murder." She also saw old man Burnett and his wife hanged here at Fayetteville in 1845. Mrs. Wilson has had ten children, four of whom are now living, viz: James Wilson, Mrs. Lotta Mayes, Mrs. Elizabeth Graham, of Wedding-ton, and Mrs. Black, now in Kansas. She says she often heard her husband tell of the fun he and Judge David Walker used to have in the early days when they were gay young men; that they would ride 20 miles to attend a country dance. Mrs. Wilson has lived an active and useful life, taught her children to re- spect honest labor and to live honest, useful lives, and it is a great comfort to her in her extreme old age to feel assured that they have lived up to her teachings and that they love their old mother who cared for them in their early life. I sometimes fear that the younger generations fail to appreciate those noble, true hearted fathers and mothers who first penetrated the wilds of Arkansas and made so many sacrifices for the good of those who are to take their places in life. I love to meet up with them and listen to them while they relate their early adventures in Arkansas. I hope some of your readers will find pleasure in reading his account of the first big ball in Fayetteville. She only remembers the names of a few of the young men present at the ball. They were Bryant Smithson, John Kingcade, Dave Kingcade, Dick Dye, Tom Stevens and Tom Wilson. Mrs. Wilson is a remarkably well preserved woman of her age, and bids fair to live many years yet, and we trust she may live to see her centennial birthday. If I have made any misstatement in this sketch I hope that she will pardon her old friend whom she has known from his childhood. ---J. H. Van Hoose. =====*===== VICIOUS BULL VICTIM DIES AT PRAIRIE GROVE PRAIRIE GROVE, July 3.- Taking a turn for the worse late Monday, M.F. Rollans who was gored by a bull last Wednesday, died from injuries and doublt pneumonia which resulted from having his lung pierced by broken ribs. An operation was performed in vain effort to save his life. Funeral services were held at 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the Cumberland church at Prairie Grove, Rev. J. M. Asbell and Rev. E. M. Freyschlag, both of Fayetteville, officiating. Mr. Rollans was about 58 years of age. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Nora Dean Rollans; three sons, Dean, Harold, and McGill, all of Tulsa; a brother, Dee Rollans of Westville, Okla; two sisters, Mrs. E.C. Carl of Prairie Grove and Mrs. Bob Stewart of Rogers. All had been called to his home by news of his accident. Mrs. John Oiler of Enid, Oklahoma, a sister of Mrs. Rollans, came for the funeral. Mr. Rollans had been a member of the school board and pallbearers were selected from this group. =====*===== DEMOCRAT FOUNDED 1860 SUCCEEDING "ARKANSIAN"; FIRST NEWSPAPER 1840 Culminating in the Fayetteville Democrat in 1860, Fayetteville journalism had a birth in the "Fayetteville Witness`' in 1840, sprang into remarkable vigor under editorship of the journal by the "prince of wits" William Quesen- bury, and grew until it now has the names of 20 publications on its history book. The Democrat was founded in 1860 by W. W. Moore. A copy of volume 1, number 45, issued Thursday, May 30, 1861, the property of Miss Amanda Stone, is on exhibition at the Democrat office, and will be lent to the Museum. The very first copy was printed Thursday, June 14, 1860. =====*===== |
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