Marion Co TOC

Having titled this book MARION COUNTY FAMILIES 1811-1900, we thought it only fair to note some of the pertinent events in Marion County history during those years. As all historians know, our area of the world has been here since time began, but, for the sake of space, we decided not to go back quite that far.

In 1803 nothing west of the Mississippi River was a part of the United States. That year approximately 1 million acres was purchased by the U.S. from France for a little over $27 million - or about 4 cents an acre. This was known as the Louisiana Purchase, and the spot that eventually became Marion County was right in the heart of it.

In 1811, when some of our oldest and most prominent families - John and Rachel (Wood) Hurst, William W & Sarah Ann "Sallie" (Coker) Trimble, Abram & Miriam (Williams) Wood Jr - settled here, our area was a part of Louisiana Territory. This was also the year of earthquake of all times in this part of the world. The New Madrid Fault did its thing, and the Mississippi River actually flowed backward!

By 1812, Louisiana Territory had been divided into several smaller areas, and we were then part of Missouri Territory. On December 1813 this Territory was subdivided into counties and we became New Madrid County. Subdivision occurred again 15 January 1815; now we were Lawrence County. Then on 4 July 1819, 43 years after the Colonies won their independence from England, Missouri Territory was divided, and Lawrence County became part of the newly formed Arkansas Territory.

County lines changed again 2 October 1825, and we were now Izard County, Arkansas Territory. On 3 November 1935 we became Searcy County, Arkansas Territory, for nearly a year. Marion County, Arkansas, was created out of the northern half of Searcy County 29 September 1836. Meantime, Arkansas Territory was granted statehood; we became the State of Arkansas 15 June 1836.

To put all this a bit more briefly - what today is kown as Marion County, Arkansas, was added to the United States of America with the Louisiana Purchase and was called Louisiana Territory. We then became Missouri Territory; then New Madrid County, Missouri Territory; then Lawrence County, Missouri Territory; then Lawrence County, Arkansas Territory; then Izard County, Arkansas Territory; then Searcy County, Arkansas Territory; then Searcy County, State of Arkansas; and finally Marion County, Arkansas. Whew! All this in a span of a mere 33 years.

Around 1820 the settlement known as Shawneetown was established by Indians on the banks of Crooked Creek. In 1840 Governor Archibald Yell offered $50 to the people of Shawneetown if they'd change the name of Yellville. The name was duly changed, but Yell was killed at the Battle of Buena Vista before paying his debt. The Indians had moved westward by this time; more and more white settlers were moving in; and the population of Marion County was 1,286 men, women, children, and free colored. By 1850 her population had grown to 1,991 free persons.

1849 saw the eruption of the "Marion County War", better known as the "Tutt-Everett Feud". And still the county grew.

In 1857 Marion County residents bore witness to the Mountain Meadow Massacre, the horror of which was merely a forerunner to the events which followed the 1 June 1861 adoption by the State Legislature (by a 1-vote majority) of he Constitution of The Confederate States - the Civil War. This was probably the very worst time in the entire history of the area. For four long years, Marion County was a "divided" place - brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor. Although there were no actual battles fought in Marion County, there were many war-related deaths. At one time or another, either a Union or a Confederate Post was located in Yellville - both with hospitals, enlistment centers, and regimental headquarters. Simultaneously Bushwackers, Jayhawkers, and just plain renegades ran rampant throughout the area, threatening, stealing, burning, terrorizing, murdering, and torturing everyone and everything. Many families left Marion County, most traveling to Missouri, seeking both food and safety. Before the Civil War there were 922 families in Marion County; by 1870 there were only 750. By 1880 the population had grown slightly, but there was no major increase until the mining era of 1890 through 1920.

Our history has been rugged, bloody, hard, and some say slow in progress. But we can still boast of some of the cleanest air, purest water, and most pleasant rolling countryside in northwest Arkansas. The people of Marion County take pride in their county and in their heritage. We hope you will enjoy as much as we have "Marion County Families 1811-1900".

(The Marion County Families 1811-1900 book may be purchased from the Marion Co Historical Society)

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