Marion Co TOC

The following is a series of articles written by W. R. Jones and published in the Mountain Echo Newspaper, Marion County, Arkansas.

Week of June 6, 1929
     The first actual white occupants of Marion county were hunters, trappers and fishermen, who did not bring their wives into the wilderness. A few came to trade with the friendly Indians, who had been here nobody knows how long. And not a few of the first white comers had more or less of Indian blood in them; which did not hurt them or their posterity in the least.
      Many of the very best citizens of Marion county, to this day, have a trace of Indian blood in them; and this is perhaps true of the people of every county in Arkansas and throughout the entire South, wherever friendly Indians inhabited when the whites first came in.
      Uncle John Tabor, who carried a chain when Marion county was being sectionized by the U. S. Government, once told the writer that he was present, and danced in the Indian "Green Corn" dance, at the mouth of big North Fork, in what is now Baxter county, in the presence of Chief Cornstalk, who seemed to be the "Big Mogul" of all the Indians for many miles around.
      He said that he (Tabor) was in Yellville before it contained a single white settler. It was founded, he said, by the Shawnee Indians, and was known for many years as Shawneetown. They had built cabins of split cedar, most all of which were near to what is now known as the Noe spring, in the Tourist Park, just northeast of the concrete bridge across the state highway over what is known as "Town Branch".
      Uncle Jack Hurst, now one of the oldest living citizens of Marion county, says there were at least three towns in Marion county built by the Shawnee Indians. On what used to be called the Jefferson farm (now belonging to Hon. J. C. Floyd) on Crooked creek, less than a mile from Shawneetown (now Yellville) was a village called "Little Shawneetown". Then there was another near the mouth of Clear creek, not far from Pyatt, that was called "Upper Shawneetown".
      The writer used to believe that these Indians came from near Shawneetown, in Illinois, on the Ohio river. He is now convinced that they came from the vicinity of Mussel Shoals; either from Tennessee, Georgia, or Alabama; from whence their kinsmen were removed to the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) some years afterward; at which time the Indians in Marion county also went west; or soon thereafter.
      Presidents of the U. S. were trying from Jefferson's day on, to persuade the Indians east of the Mississippi to exchange their lands for lands west of the Mississippi; and as Jefferson said, "the further west the better for both races". That the removed Indians became the owners of the great oil and zinc fields of Oklahoma, in exchange for their poor farming lands in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama, is proof that the Great Spirit "Tempers the wind to the shorn lamb."
      There seems to be some question as to how these Indians got here. Also some question as to how and when the old trail, afterward converted into a rough military road, from Memphis, through North Arkansas, was made over which the government, under President Jackson, Administrator, removed the remnants of the Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama Indians to what used to be called the Indian Territory, now Oklahoma.
      The government, it seems, had two military roads across Arkansas, one going up the Arkansas river, the other paralleling for most of the way the White river.
      As what afterward became the Arkansas Territory came into the possession of the United States while Thomas Jefferson was President, and as it was the policy of Jefferson and the presidents following him, that these Indians should bye and bye be sent to the headwaters of these two rivers, forcibly, if they would not go peaceably, it is probable that the government had those two trails cut out before a single white man reached Marion county. Cut out for the purpose or encouraging the Indians east of the Mississippi, and south of the Ohio, to emigrate westward.
      Fort Gibson, where U. S. troops were kept before Marion county had a white settler, could be reached by either of the two poor roads above named.
      The North Arkansas trail, or road, for a long time, was known as the Military road, and seems to have crossed the Mississippi at Memphis then made a great bow to the north, west and south, to keep out of the swamps as much as possible, finally reaching White river at a point where Batesville was afterward built.
      From there, it followed a general northwest direction, not so very far from the east bank of White river, until a fine ford was struck in low water, some distance above what is now known as Denton's ferry, where State highway (one branch of it) No. 12 now crosses that stream.
      The old ford where the Indians and early whites crossed into what is now Marion county was known as Talbert's ferry; sometimes called Mooney's ferry. From that point it soon reached what is now No. 12 highway, and it ran through the entire county substantially as No. 12, or "Arkoma" runs today. That it was laid out by a competent engineer there can be little doubt; and an army engineer most probably.
      While this road was never a good one always rough (until very lately) and muddy in places during wet weather, yet it was the best road in the county, will doubtless one day be covered with slabs of cement and made one of the best roads in Arkansas.
      After Yellville was founded, it was for a good many years a pretty berg, and whiskey venders began to sell "fire water" to the Indians passing through, and causing trouble. The government sent engineers and road builders, and leaving the old military road on Fallen Ash creek near the present town of Flippin, built what is yet called the Fallen Ash road up that creek, connecting again with the old road about a half mile west of the present railroad town of Summit. After that the Indians were carried by the government troops over this route. I had this Fallen Ash road history from W. B. Flippin, one of the pioneer settlers in the Flippin Barrens. His father, Thomas Flippin, I believe, was the first man to be buried in the present Flippin graveyard, just northeast of the present railroad town of Flippin.
      The same man told me that Fallen Ash creek was named after an Indian, known as "Fallen Ash", one of the first of the civilized Indians to reach Fallen Ash valley from the east. The same man told me that Jimmy creek was named for a friendly Indian named "Jimmy," who lived in Fallen Ash valley, but ranged his horses along the present Jimmy Creek because that section was better watered.
      Perhaps the first corn grown in Marion county was planted by a civilized Indian who once owned what is generally known as the "Uncle Bob Hurst" place, now owned by Lee Wood. Will have more to say about this place later on.
      Eventually all the Indians in North Arkansas had left Marion county by 1836, but a few remained.
Top of Page

Week of June 13, 1929
      Old settlers believed that DeSoto crossed the Mississippi in June, 1541, and came through North Arkansas along substantially the route our government engineers, some 260 years afterward laid out, the North Arkansas military road, that passed through what is now Marion county.
     Eld. W. B. Flippin believed that DeSoto crossed White river at same ford used by the government when the Indians were removed to the west.
     Eld. Flippin had a number of old Spanish coins of around the date of DeSoto's time that had been picked up between what is now Yellville and the old Talbert, or Mooney, ford; and afterward ferry. He also had a great number of curious Indian relics gathered up in Marion county that, with the Spanish coins, were lost when his house was destroyed by fire.
     A. S. Wood (called Uncle Bud), the first white man born in Marion county, remembers the old "Salt Road" that was cut out from "Old Buffalo Landing" to Springfield, Mo., by way of what is now Gainesville, Mo., the "Landing" was near the foot of Buffalo Shoals, at a point near what is the present R.R. station, called Buffalo, in Baxter county. Over this road was carried in old ox wagons the salt and other heavy merchandise that, from Springfield as a center, supplied the pioneer settlers in nearly all southwest Missouri; also from local points along said road, much of South Missouri and North Arkansas was supplied.
     From the "Buffalo Landing", at that time considered the head of navigation, another freight road was cut out from the north bank of the river to Old Carrollton, once the metropolis of North Arkansas. The freight which came up White river to Buffalo was then hauled over this very poor road to Carrollton, and from there all the pioneers in Northwest Arkansas were supplied. Old Carrollton failed to get the North Arkansas railroad, when it was built, and is now, I believe, abandoned. It was once the most important trading point along the old Military road. I believe that its site now is not on any State highway.
     This old Carrollton road passed right across creeks, and over some of the roughest ground in Marion county. It crossed Blue John creek, near the present site of Ware's Chapel, named for Dr. Ware; crossed Clabber creek near Bluford Mears' old place, at same point now crossed by the county road. It went on across the south end of the Cowan Barrens, the little village of Weast City being by this old road. It passed just south of the Pat Carson old place, and I believe crossed Hampton creek near what is now known as Jefferson Hall. From here to the Boone county line I am not sure, but think the present site of Eros is on or near this old road, and that it reached the old Military road near the present Harmon school house in Boone county. Hope some one will correct me if I am wrong about any statement; there are not many left that know things accurately.
     The early settlers did not find half as much timber as is here today. There were three great prairies, known as "barrens". One, the Flippin barrens, named for the Flippin families who very early settled there. The Cowan barrens was so called because of the Cowan family that was the first, I believe, to settle there. Then most all of what is now southwest Marion county was called simply "The Prairie".
     It is more than likely that, when DeSoto passed through North Arkansas, it was all prairie country, except along the rivers where the timber struggled with the tall wild grass and still taller cane. When the Indians left, almost a hundred years ago, the country was not burned over every year, as before, and the timber land began to encroach on the prairie or "barren" lands.
     Perhaps ninety per cent of the heads of families in 1887 had either seen service in the Confederacy, or were sons of ex-Confederates. There were a few ex-Union soldiers, and to my surprise, they were well thought of by those who had fought on the other side. A few exceptions, but not many. The war had evidently taken the dross out of most of those who had survived that awful tragedy -- the Civil War. I believe that fully ninety per cent of the families in 1887 were either religious or religiously inclined. I can not believe that a better people have ever lived in this world. One seldom heard, in those days of an atheist or an agnostic. The writer can remember but two, and they had not lived but a year or two in Marion county, prior to his arrival. There were no expensive church buildings, but religious services were held pretty often, in almost every school house in the county. In those days preachers, of all denominations, gave the gospel message, practically "without money and without price". The Methodist (South) preachers, usually, devoted all their time to the ministry, and were paid (poorly paid) for their services. The preachers of most of the other denomi-nations, generally kept up their farms, made a living on them, and only gave a part of their time to religious work. These received but little for their preaching, but as they were staking all on the future, they seemed a happy and contented lot of men.
     Of the Methodist preachers of around forty years ago, the writer can remember "Old Parson" John H. Wade, whose membership was, I believe, at Pleasant Ridge, as was "Grandma" Cantrell, wife of "Uncle" Billie Cantrell. These two, preacher and lay sister, did a great work; especially in the Cowan Barrens, and in and around Yellville.
     Pleasant Ridge turned out a number of real able preachers under the encouragement of these two. Among them were Rev. George Wade, Rev. P. B. Summers, Rev. J. M. Watts, Rev. J. M. Cantrell (son of Uncle Billie and Grandma Cantrell), and Rev. Lee Bearden.
     Rev. Lynn Wade, now one of the most noted Methodist preachers in Arkansas, is a grandson of the "Old Parson Wade", the nestor of Methodism. Rev. Lynn Wade 's father, George Wade, was also a Methodist preacher.
     The two nestors of the Christian church were Elders W. B. Flippin of the Flippin Barrens, and William Jenkins of Sugar Loaf. Their families intermarried. Other Christian preachers were Elders James Rose,
     Tom Nowlin, and some others whose names I can not just now recall.
     Among the Missionary Baptist preachers were Elders Henry Sasser, "Tosh" Soward and Elder Parmer, and some others whose names have escaped me.
     A faithful old Primitive Baptist preacher was Elder Jasper Casey. He is yet living at Olvey, in Boone county. His faithful wife is also still living. Although poor in the goods of this world, they are rich in their expectancy of the next.
     The Presbyterians are not strong, but had in these communities, some of the best citizens in the county. The same may also be said of the General Baptists and other denominations that were not numerous in membership.
Top of Page

Week of July 11, 1929
     As our salaried State Historian has not been able to give me the former boundaries of Marion county, I shall not attempt to do so. Marion, much larger than it now is, became a county in 1838; since the Baxter cut-off in 1873, it has remained as it is today.
     Its officers, up to a little beyond the time of the coming of the winter 1887, are as follows: [For easier reading, this information is set out in a table at the end of the index, page 48.]
     The writer cast his first vote in 1888. All of the above did not serve full terms. Following are those that finished said terms:
     T. H. Flippin as clerk; Wm. Wood as sheriff; J. Mooney as clerk; C. D. Lance as judge; William Roylston as treasurer. J. Smith refused to serve as coroner one term; W. P. Jefferson as county treasurer part of a term, caused by death of Perry G. Carter.
     
     COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES
     Remember that Marion county covered a much greater territory; also that for a while voters in both Marion and Searcy had a vote for two representatives to represent both counties. Also for a while all the voters in the Senatorial district voted for four representatives in said district, and did not elect them, one for each county. As senatorial districts changed around, sometimes it was Marion, Fulton, Izard and Carroll. Sometimes, Marion, Boone, Carroll and Madison. Generally, however, Marion county had just one representative. Below they occur, in order of service, and election:
     1838-40: Brown C. Roberts; 1840-42: For Marion and Searcy, Brown C. Roberts and John Campbell; 1842-1844: Albert R. Robinson; 1844-46: Nathan Clements; 1846-48: John H. Deeds; 1848-50: Marion not represented; 1850-52: J. A. Wilson; 1852-54: W. B. Flippin; 1854-56: D. C. Williams; 1856-58: J. B. Carlisle; 1857-60: E. H. Messick; 1860-62: J. E. Hull; 1862-64: Marion not represented; 1864-66: Jesse Mooney; 1866-68: (For Marion, Madison and Carroll): Berry Vaughn, S. A. Fitzwater, J. T. Hopper and P. A. Williams; 1868-70: (For Marion, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Fulton and Izard): E. P. Watson, G. J. Crump, F. J. Eubanks and J. S. O'Seal; 1870-72: (For Marion, Carroll, Fulton, Izard and Boone): W. L. Chapman, Joseph Wright, J. M. Foster and J. F. Cunningham; 1872-74 (For Marion only): W. B. Flippin; 1874-76: J. F. Wilson; 1876-78: W. B. Flippin; 1878-82: F. M. Cash; 1882-84: T. H. Flippin; 1884-86: W. W. (Tosh) Soward; 1886-88: J. C. Floyd.
     In a later chapter, the county officers will be brought down to date.
Top of Page

Week of July 18, 1929
COUNTY OFFICERS AND FAMILIES
     Izard county was formed Oct. 27, 1825, while Arkansas was still a territory, and some ten years before she became a state. At first, all Northwest Arkansas (sparsely settled then) had to go to Melbourne to circuit court.
     Washington county was cut off in 1828. Van Buren county in 1833. Carroll at same time. Madison county was formed after Marion and Searcy in 1836.
     Both Marion and Searcy were formed by the Territorial Legislature on same day, Nov. 3, 1835. Evidently the two counties were not entirely independent of each other the first two years, for William Wood, living in what is now Marion county, was elected County Judge of Searcy in 1836; and William Kavanaugh, also of Marion, was elected Clerk of Searcy. He also served 1836-1838, as clerk of Marion.
     Secretary of State's report shows that from 1836-1838 T. E. Everett served as county judge of Marion; R. B. Tutt as sheriff, J. B. Hudson as treasurer, W. H. Murphy as coroner, and I. N. (possibly I.B.) Everett as surveyor.
     Will pass up discussion of these until data is complete on chapter about the "Tutt and Everett War". Will begin with William Wood, who served as county judge of Marion, only, from 1838 to 1840, and again from 1850 to 1852. And about his son, William Jr., who served as sheriff from 1850 to 1852, both father and son being successful in same election. Also about Thomas D. Wood, a grandson of Judge Wood, who was sheriff from 1842 to 1844, and county judge from 1850 to 1852. Thomas was son of John Wood, son of the judge. Thomas married an Everett, daughter of our first county judge, T. E. (possibly Ewell) Everett.
      
     GENEALOGY
     The children of Judge, by his wife, Hannah, were: John, "Obe", George, Betsy, Solomon, Jeff and Charity.
     JOHN WOOD. It is believed that John married a daughter of Jesse Hudson. Their children were: Thos. D., married an Everett. John, Jr., was killed during the war. Minta married her cousin, son of Obe; Cinda married Zeke Hampton; Mary married a man from Yell county. There were probably other children.
     John settled what is known as the Ike Hudson place, at mouth of George's creek. Think he and his son, Thomas D., owned the bottom on both sides of George's creek, as well as the bottom across Crooked.
     The U. S. Land Survey of 1830 shows that John Wood had an improvement at mouth of Georges creek prior to that year. Johnny's creek, which flows into George's creek near the R.R. bridge, was probably named for John Wood.
     John was a man of substance. He grew fine horses, traded in cattle, and had both gold and negroes. Three of his negroes are still remembered: "Green", "Joe" and "Morg". The latter cost ten fine horses, valued at $100 each; just before the war broke out.
     Negro "Green" married "Hannah", a handsome negress belonging to James Wilson, an early merchant of Yellville. When Wilson removed to the Rally Hill country, of course he took Hannah along. But John Wood furnished "Green" a fancy horse and saddle and gave him from Saturday evening to Sunday evening to visit his wife at Rally Hill.
     Green Wood came back perfectly happy Sunday evening and remained happy all week. He was a trusted negro, and also a philosopher. He gave out the following as an axiom: "A man and his wife will always think more of each other and will be happier all through life, if they only spend one day out of seven with each other". Green used as good language as anybody. John thought a world of him; allowed him to trade and buy horses, cattle, and even to collect and loan money.
     William Wood, Jr., son of the judge, who was both an early sheriff and a county judge of Marion county, married Elizabeth Goodman. Their children were: Frank, married Jane Davis; W. B. (Dick), married Margaret Duren; Elizabeth, married Andy Hudspeth; Arminta, married, first, ______ Bench; second, James Burns; Agnes, married Sam Davis, brother to Frank Wood's wife.
     George Wood, son of Judge William married Nancy Coker, daughter to Ned Coker, one of the pioneer Cokers of Marion county. Their descendants were: Dicie, who married James Laremore. To this union was born Martha Jane, who married Cyrus (Si) Wilson. They had Dora B., married Will Patterson; Eld. John T. married Resse Young; Kelsie, married Mary Ebee. Uncle "Si", now an old man, is still living.
     George Wood had another daughter, "Janie", married "Dud" Coker; a son, Hard, married a daughter of John Dixon; Hard's brother, Ned, also married a Dixon; another son, George, who unlike most of the Wood's, joined the Federal army, went to Texas after the war. George Wood, Sr. had another daughter, Sarah Ann, married Elihu Henderson; another daughter Winnie, married a Stalcup. Their children were: George, who never married, and Rachel Ann, who was the first wife of John Hampton. "Uncle" John Hampton is yet living, now 79. Patsy Wood, another daughter of George Wood, Sr., never married. George also had two sons, William and Solomon, killed in the Mountain Meadow Massacre, on their way to California.
     George and his wife, Nancy, settled on Sugar Loaf, and opened up the fine farm, now generally known as the Blackwell Springs place. George, like his brothers, Wm., and John, had both negroes and gold. He built a water mill that was run by the big spring in the front of his house, and people went there for corn grinding for miles around.
     Will say right here that William Wood, Jr., called sometimes, to designate him from the other "Bill" Wood's, "Squirrel Bill," settled near his grandfather; and the two opened up the fine farm, across Crooked creek a mile southeast of Yellville. His grandfather, with his negroes and gold, opened up what is now the Judge Berry and Cam Briggs farm. William Wood, Jr., his grandson, the place just beyond, down the creek.
     Will also say that Judge William Wood seems to have lived on and improved two or three places. A part of the time he lived on what is now the Yellville jail lot. He also, before the war, opened up what is now the Bradford place, on George's creek; what used to be called the Luke Lee place. Later, he is said to have owned a place, near where his son, Solomon, lived on Crooked creek, about 15 miles west of Yellville. He is said to have died during the war, an old man; probably 80.
     Before George Wood opened up his farm on Sugar Loaf, he lived where his father afterward lived on George's creek. Possibly that creek, as well as Johnny's creek, were named for these two Wood brothers.
     Betsy, daughter of Judge and Hannah Wood, married David Stinnett, who lived and died where "Uncle Bill" Wilkerson now lives, a mile west of Yellville. David's children were, or at least a part of them, were: Lethe, married Dave Tutt; Elizabeth, married Jess Wickersham; Isom, married Harriet Goodall; David Jr., married a Ramsey, and removed to Texas; William, married a Ray; Wiley, married Rebecca Goodall; Benjamin never married.
     Of David's children, Isom Stinnett, backed by his mother's people, the Wood's, and by the remnant of the old Everett faction, into which some of the Woods and Hudsons had inter-married, was elected sheriff, in 1858, and served six years; until 1864. Think he lived, at first, on his father's old place. His brother, Will, lived on the place now owned by Eld. Reed, adjoining the place now owned by Rev. J. W. Black (the old Frank Hudspeth place) some three miles west of Yellville, on the old Yellville and Harrison road.
     Isom finally removed to what is now the Joe Fee place (once known as the Albert Cravens place) on White river, northeast of Flippin, at old Talburt, or Mooney, ford and ferry. Isom died on this place.
     His brother, Benjamin, (Ben) was a Confederate soldier. He lost a leg at the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark. He served under Col. James P. Eagle, afterward governor of Arkansas. Ben never married, but lived with his mother, Patsy (Wood) Stinnett, until her death at great age. He then bought a little place, on the old Yellville and Harrison road, about a mile further east, and died on it, some years ago.
     Pioneer David Stinnett was the ancestor to all the Stinnetts of both Marion and Baxter.
     Solomon, son of Judge Wood, married Patsy Magness, daughter of Pioneer James Magness, the first white man in Yellville. Solomon settled on Crooked creek, some 15 miles west of Yellville, on what was then Marion, but now Boone county. "Uncle Jack" Hurst, nephew to Patsy, was mostly reared in this home.
     Obed (Obe), possibly the oldest son of Judge William Wood, built the first house in Dardanelle, Arkansas. he put in a big saw mill and sawed about all the lumber that went into the houses of Dardanelle, for many years, during its infancy.
     Who "Obe" married is not certainly known, or whether he came to Marion with this Wood family; that seems to have not been related to the Abram Wood family, that must have arrived here about the same time. Both Abram and Judge William spelled the name Wood. Some of the descendants on both sides spell it Woods. In pioneer days, both these Wood families played a prominent part in the development and settling of Marion; also they always took a prominent part in her politics.
     When "Obe" Wood was 81, and his children had all married and moved to themselves, he, being wealthy, agreed to set a marriage portion of $1,000 in gold, and a 160-acre tract of Arkansas bottom land, on a young 26-year-old woman, if she would agree to marry and take care of him the rest of his life; and at his death, allow him to bestow the remainder of his considerable fortune on his other children.
     In about a year, a son was born to this union. In his will "Obe" left $10,000 in trust for this last child. There seems to have been a lot of visiting between "Obe" and his Marion county relatives. One of his daughters, married a Marion county cousin. Probably two of them did so.
     Jeff Wood, son of the Judge, was killed during the war. Have been unable to find out who he married. Think he lived near his brother, George, a part of the time, at least, on Sugar Loaf. Some of his children are dimly remembered. "Uncle John" Hampton, who married a cousin to them, says one of Jeff's girls married Taylor Frazier. He thinks that Jeff's son, John, married Nancy ..[Note: a line left out of paper]..Texas, when so many of the Wood family left for that state; not long after the Civil War.
     Will conclude this family of Woods next week.
Top of Page

Week of July 25, 1929
     Charity, daughter of Judge Wood, married an own cousin, James Wood, sometimes called "Limber Jim" Wood. This James was son of Pioneer James Wood, sometimes known as "Rosin the Bow" Wood, brother to Judge William. Rosin came to Marion county a little ahead of the others of his family, "to spy out the nakedness of the land".
     "Rosin the Bow" and Elder Wm. Flippin made their first entry into Marion when but one full blood white man was living in what is now Marion, a Yocham. Pioneer "Mike" Yocham, at mouth of Little North Fork. Flippin, the first time he came to Marion, was but 19 years old.
     Rosin the Bow may not have been much older. Later came Thomas Flippin, his son, Perry, and perhaps William had gone back and relatives had returned with them. Also Judge Wood, his brother, Rosin the Bow, their father, some half sisters and at least two nephews. But whether the Flippins and Woods came in together the second time is not known.
     At the time that Rosin the Bow and his brother, Judge William, came to Marion the latter, because of his exuberance of spirits and love for dancing, was sometimes called "Dancing Billy" Wood.
     The writer was fortunate enough to find, at Olvey, a living son of Charity and James Wood. His name is William Wood, but he is known as "Barnett" Wood, to distinguish him from the numerous Bill Woods. "Barnett" could remember his grandfather, Judge William Wood, his mother's father, and his grandmother, Hannah Wood. Also all their children, John, "Obe", George, Betsey, Solomon, Jeff, and of course, his own mother. He is 85, hale and hearty, his mind active and bright. Makes one wonder if a marriage of cousins is as dangerous for their posterity as is generally believed.
     "Barnett" says his grandfather, "Rosin the Bow" James Wood, died a good while before did his grandfather, Judge Wm. Wood. So long he does not remember seeing him. Says the children of his father and mother, Charity, were: "Obe", married Ellen Casey, sister to Uncle Jasper Casey; William, married Eliza Jane Abels; Margaret, married Thos. Maddon; George, married Paralee Wills; John, married Nettie Woodmore; Jeff, married Nettie Wright; James, married Nina Woodmore; Hannah and Elizabeth never married.
     "Barnett" Wood, Uncle Jack Hurst and Uncle John Hampton each remembered something of two nephews of Judge and Rosin the Bow. They were "Fed" and William, the latter usually known as "Southfoot Bill" Wood. Both came to Marion county when the other Woods of their line came. Names of their fathers are not remembered.
     "Fed" was a race horse man and all-round sport. When the war came on, he joined the Confederate army, as did most of the Marion county Woods of both strains. He rose to be a captain. He went to Texas with a great caravan of Woods after the war. If "Fed" ever married, no one remembers his wife.
     "Fed's" brother, "Southfoot Bill" Wood, settled where Uncle John Hudson afterwards lived, near the head of George's creek. He put in a large mill near his home and sawed most of the lumber with which early Yellville was built. He kept on sawing after the war, and furnished the lumber by which most of the houses, burned in Yellville during the war, were rebuilt.
     "Southfoot" Wood married Melinda Coker. Their children, or a part of them were: Thomas, who it is believed married a McColough; it is thought that "Sid" married a Hudspeth; it is also believed that "Southfoot" had another daughter that married a McColough.
     Some time after the war, Southfoot and family removed to Texas.
     To show a dividing line between the two strains of Woods in Marion county, will say that Ebben and Lee, of the Flippin country, are grandsons of Abram, while Carroll and Nin are great grandsons of Judge William, who was said to not be related to Abram; at least not nearly.
     We now come to discuss the ancestor to all the Wood families of the Wood line of kin to Judge William and "Rosin the Bow". We are not "dead sure", but believe that this old, old ancestor bore the same name as did two of our county judges and one of our sheriffs, that of William. Some one says he was known as "Old Revolutionary Bill" Wood, to distinguish him from the other Bill Woods.
     Besides Judge William and Rosin the Bow, and the father of "Fed" and "Southfoot Bill", and perhaps other children by his first marriage, this old, old pioneer, William Wood, had by his last companion, Polly Norton, three girls, half sisters to Judge William and Rosin the Bow, that he brought to Marion county when the family came from Middle Tennessee. Their names were Charity; Winnie, and Polly Wood. Their mother was killed by a fallen limb just before the family left Tennessee. They were mere girls when their aged father settled on what is now the Judge Berry and Cam Briggs place southeast of Yellville across Crooked creek. His grandson, Sheriff Bill Wood, lived on the place just below him. Sheriff Bill took the job of trying to look after him, though they lived apart.
     The old gentleman had been a Revolutionary soldier, and perhaps an officer. At any rate, he made a trip to Washington about once a year as long as he lived.
     On these occasions he would discard his pioneer garb, put on a splendid suit of broadcloth, with tall silk hat and shiny boots, which his negroes had to polish just to suit him. With "frilled" shirt front and cravat of the times, he had the eyes of all in Shawneetown, as he passed through, both white and red. Just what route he took and what conveyance to Washington he used, is not remembered.
     He was said to possess considerable gold and several negroes. His negroes evidently went to his son and grandsons. He evidently intended his gold to go to his three young daughters. Judge William did not believe in slavery, but set "Old Chloe" free, and she stayed with him and his wife, Hanna, as long as they lived.
     When grown, Polly Wood married a man named Brashears. Have learned little of this marriage, or the history of Polly.
     Charity Wood, daughter to the old pioneer, married John Adams, son of pioneer "Mat" Adams. John built a water mill, where the Pascoe water mill was afterward built. Have record of three of John and Charity's daughters. One, Mary, married R. J. Hurst; one, Agnes, married Alex Hurst; another, Winnie, married John Wickersham. "Uncle John" is yet living.
     Winnie Wood, young daughter of the pioneer, married Mike Mathis, a blacksmith in Yellville who also at his death owned the Layton Farm and graveyard, just east of Yellville. Tradition says that the old pioneer died at this home. Some say he gave to Mrs. Mathis her share of his gold, and buried the remainder, intending to divide it with Charity and Polly. It is said he died before doing so, and that a part of his gold was never found after his death.
     Of Mike's children, Mary Ann married Cole Manley; Jane married "Pence" Burch, son of pioneer Henry Burch; Winnie married "Merce" Burch; "Sis" married Tom Burch; Mike, Jr., married a Hollis. At Mike's death, his widow married Tom Noe. Cyrene married Andy McCabe; Ardine married Henry McCabe. Could not learn much of William or Winnie's mother.
     This is about all the writer could learn about the old Revolutionary William (?) Wood and his descendants, which are not only numerous in this county, but through out many other states. It seems to have been a well educated family, with ambitions.
     They, like most of the early settlers, had the Virginia Cavalier idea of life, rather than that of New England Puritan. They were probably (most of them) religiously inclined, but did not believe that religion meant giving up fiddling, dancing, horse racing and other (to them) innocent "thrills" of existence.
     P.S. Have just learned that the old Revolutionary ancestor to these Woods was really another William Tilden Wood, a great, great, great grandson remembers that his father used to say, "My father, my grandfather and my great grandfather were all named William". Also that his great grandfather, aged over 90, got sore once when his grandsons were objecting to him going bear hunting with them, because of his eyesight and great age. The old man declared that he was as young as any of them, and could see a gnat's bristle clear across the river.
next week.
Top of Page

Week of August 1, 1929
     WOOD, HURST, MAGNESS, TABOR, WILLIAMS and others
     Abram Wood and John Hurst came to lower Big North Fork in 1811. Hurst had before leaving the Blue Grass section of Kentucky, married Rachel, sister to Abram Wood. But he had been previously married. So had Wood, I believe. At least, when a little later John Hurst, Jr., known as "Old Jacky" Hurst married Nancy Wood, the daughter of Abram Wood, the newly married couple were said to not be of kin.
     The Wood and Hurst families were very early intermarried with the pioneer Magness, Williams, and Tabor families. So we include all these families, or parts of them, in this article.
     As the Big North Fork country finally became a part of Marion county, 1835, and so remained until 1873, think I can class its early citizens as among the Marion county pioneers.
     John Hurst, Sr., was a man of substance. He brought into the wilderness of what was to become Arkansas, gold, negroes and livestock. If the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 had been sectionized, when John Hurst arrived, he could have entered land, as the U.S. Government, in 1809, had acquired the title to it from the Osage Indians; and the treaty of 1817 by which all of the upper White river country, and as far south as the Arkansas river, between the two rivers, was ceded to the Cherokee Indians, had not been consummated.
     But Little North Fork abounded with Cherokees in 1811, as did the Crooked creek valley abound with Shawnees, friendly to the Cherokees; and as did White river, between the mouth of Fallen Ash and Sugar Loaf, abound with Delawares, friendly to both the Cherokees and Shawnees. And all friendly to the white pioneers. Nothing ever like it, in all America, not even Pennsylvania.
     Before many years John Hurst, Sr. died, and his wife, Rachel (Wood) Hurst, called on her brother, Abram to administer on the estate. Whatever local rights Hurst had acquired to lands on Big North Fork were sold, and the family of John Hurst were brought into Marion county where Abram Wood had already located with his family.
     Abram had, some time after 1811, date not certain, come over from Big North Fork and settled on a fine tract of land on Crooked creek which used to be known as the "Bob" Hurst place some two miles east of Yellville. Lee Wood, a great grandson of Abram Wood, now owns this fine farm. Abram bought the "Squatter" right that a Shawnee Indian had to it, and afterward got a patent to it from the government; paying 50 cents per acre for same. He gave the Indian, who had settled on and cleared a little of it, a pony, a gun, and $25 for his "claim".
     Within a radius of a few miles of his farm, the early Hurst and Wood children grew up. It was at the home of John Hurst, Jr., "Jacky", who had married Nancy Wood, that the first gospel sermon ever preached in Marion county, was delivered. It was by a Primitive Baptist minister, Eld. Jesse Casey, grandfather to Uncle Jasper Casey, who is yet living at Olvey.
     It was in this section that "Uncle Bud" Wood, grandson of Abram, was born. He was said to have been the first white child born in what is now Marion. There were white folks living in what is now Marion at least seven years before the birth of "Uncle Bud". At first very few of the pioneers brought their wives into the wilderness; generally it was after they had come, built cabins, fenced lands and cleared enough of same to grow corn for bread. The earliest comers should be classed as hunters more than as prospective farmers.
next week.
Top of Page

THE WOODS
     Abram Wood came from the Blue Grass section of Kentucky. According to the tradition of his grandson, A. S. Wood, usually called "Uncle Bud" Wood, he must have descended from the Abram Wood that, at the age of 11, reached Jamestown, Va., in the year 1611.
     There was not a more prominent Virginia pioneer than this Abram Wood became. Virginia history is full of him and his posterity. One of his daughters married Major Peter Jones, who with a kinsman, Col. Cadwallder Jones, ancestor to Paul Jones, were classed as two of the most noted Indian fighters in early Virginia.
     Another Peter Jones, great grandson to Abram Wood, founded Peter's Point, which grew into the present city of Petersburg, Va., where Grant and Lee held each other at death grip for months during the awful Civil War. In Virginia, Kentucky, and a number of other states, a favorite name among the Jones is that of "Wood" Jones, so highly is their ancestor, Abram Wood, regarded.
     The first Abram Wood of Virginia was an extensive Indian trader and explorer. He doubtless set foot on what is now Kentucky soil an hundred years before Daniel Boone did.
     Before the Marion county Abram Wood left Kentucky, 1811, he had married [Parmer] __________ Yates. To this union was born, in Kentucky, William, John and Nancy. The second wife of Abram Wood was a Williams. She was a sister to Pioneer Shelt Williams, who was father to "Fed" and "Wils" Williams, yet well remembered in Marion.
     To this second union was born Derl, Abe, Tom, Gid, Clara, Rebecca, Katy, Rachel and Missouri.
     William, son of Abram, sometimes, because his eyes "snapped", called "Snappin'" Wood, married ________ Williams, sister to his father's second wife.
      
     DESCENDANTS TO WILLIAM (SNAPPIN) WOOD
     By his marriage to ______ Williams, William Wood had three children: A.S. (Bud), Nancy, and Rachel.
     The second wife of William Wood was Margaret Rea. To this union was born Joe, John, sometimes called "Foot", Nin, Derl, Lucinda and Tilda.
     Of the above children of William Wood in order named, A. S., a physical giant as well as one of the most intellectual men, with no education, that Marion county has yet produced, and perhaps the first white child born in Marion. He was a lieutenant in the Confederate army, married previous to 1850, Caroline (Katy) Estes, daughter to Pioneer John Estes, Sr. To this union was born Paralee, married first John Martin; Rachel, married Zack McAfee; Ollie, married first Alex Davis; Minnie, married Charly Daffron; Bob married a daughter of James Lynch. His second wife was ____________ Williams, a daughter to "Fed" Williams. Henry was killed probably by a drunken wretch, at Avan, Mo.; Rome, married ____ Whitlock and removed to Oklahoma; Lillie married Tom Burns.
     "Uncle Bud" Wood was quite a politician and though he could neither read nor write, once came with in a few votes of being sheriff.
     Nancy, full sister to "Uncle Bud" Wood, married James Phillips, son of Uncle John Phillips, a pioneer whom many will yet remember as living and dying on Mill creek, some three miles south of Yellville. To this union was born Warren, William, and "Bunk" Phillips, that never married, I believe. James married Mat Dodson, daughter of Pioneer Daniel Dodson, who lived to great age, beloved by all who knew him.
     Myra Phillips married Wiley Huddleston. Vint Phillips is a son of James Phillips, Jr., that married a daughter to Eli Dodson. Grundy Huddleston is a son of Wiley and Myra (Phillips) Huddleston above named.
next week.
Top of Page

Week of August 8, 1929
     WOOD, HURST, MAGNESS, TABOR, WILLIAMS and others
     The oldest son of William (Snappin) Wood by his second wife was Joseph. He was the father of twenty children, sixteen of whom became heads of families.
     His first wife was Emily Summers, daughter of Ewing Summers, I believe. To this union were born, John, married Demerri ... Parmer, daughter of Eld. James Parmer, a Missionary Baptist minister; Mary, married Thomas Erwin, son of Uncle Jim Erwin; Jim, married Zoe Hutchinson; Charley, married in Texas; Fanny, married G. Butler, son of Eld. Alex Butler, a Baptist minister (Missionary); Lena, married Caleb Williams; Albert, married Mat Higgs, daughter of Uncle Tommy Higgs; Bill, married Mrs. Martha Camp; Henry, married Ora Reynolds, daughter of Ed Reynolds, and granddaughter of Uncle Billy Reynolds, who sold bread corn to the poor on a credit, while demanding cash from those able to pay; Sol, married in Boone county; Emma, married George Ward; Dor.., married Albert Williams.
     The second wife of Joseph Wood (Uncle Joe) was Mrs. Sarah Pickle. To them were born: Brun, married Willie Craig; Margaret married Elmer Wooten; Jessie, married Pat Doshier; Kate, married Ernie Wilson, son of Eld. John T. Wilson.
     Uncle Joe, like all of his kin that were of soldier age, was a Confederate soldier. He got a lot out of life, and had a lot of friends, especially among the young.
     His brother, John, also a most lovable man, was also a Confederate soldier; married Martha Weast, daughter of Pioneer Adam Weast of Yellville. Their children were: Jack, married Georgie Barnett, sister to Alex and "Buck" Barnett; Mels, married Clara Gibson; Walter, married Etter Briggs, daughter of Andy Briggs, and granddaughter of Uncle John Briggs; Hard, married first, Cordelia Messic, daughter of James Messic; second, Ocra [Cora?] Parnell, daughter of Dick Parnell. Pew [?] and Oscar, I believe did not marry; Hattie, married Baxter Hall, son of Uncle Geo. Hall.
     John Wood, son of William Wood, was a farmer and a good liver. He died on his farm just below what is now known as the Gibson place on Crooked creek, but on south side of ....ld creek. Because of a very large foot, he was sometimes called by his friends "Foot" Wood. And he had no enemies that the writer ever heard of.
     His brother, Nin Wood, married Mary Weast, also daughter to Adam Weast, and sister to Uncle Len Weast. To this union were born: Derl, married Cassie Erwin, Ebben, married Ida Alford, a daughter of "Uncle John" Alford; Lee, married first Betty Talbert, daughter of Sim Talbert; second, Maud McBee, daughter of Wm. McBee, third, Della Matthews; 4th, her sister, Dora Matthews, both were daughters of Dr. D. Matthews, and granddaughters to Uncle Jasper Matthews; William Wood, married first, Maud Noe, daughter of Crit Noe; and second, Etter Gibson, daughter of Uncle John Gibson; Maggie, married Silas Estes; Alice, married first, Ernie McBee; second _____ Brooks.
     Nin Wood was, I believe, a member of the Missionary Baptist church, as were also, I think, his brothers, Joe and John and his half-brother, Bud. Nin was one of the most substantial men in Marion county. The reason was he was a believer in livestock, especially cattle. He really loved his horses and cattle, and requested that he be buried in the stock pasture near his residence, where he could be near his stock. His request was complied with. His son, Lee, now owns both his father's fine old farm and the still finer one just above it, on Crooked creek, that was improved by his great grandfather, Abram Wood. (In the last issue [1 Aug 1929] of the Echo, we, by slip of pencil, said that Lee and Ebben were grandsons, when I should have said great grandsons to Abram.) ***
     Derl Wood, full brother to Joe, John, and Nin, married his cousin, "Tiny" Wood, daughter to Derl Wood, Sr. They removed to Texas, and their children are not remembered.
     Lucinda, daughter to William (Snappin) Wood, married Henry Atterberry. Believe they had but one son, Ambrose. He went to Texas when young.
     Tilda, another daughter, married James Holland, who lived to great age, dying but a few years ago. He was also a Confederate soldier, and fine man. His children were: Arby, married Tom Baker, son of Eld. Newt Baker, a minister of the Christian church; Fonce, married Lee McAfee; Bub, married, first, Rachel Burch, daughter of John Burch; second, Minnie Flippin, daughter of James Flippin; Alice, married _____ Roberts; Lou, married first, Tom McAfee; second, Bob Lee; Donie, married first, Scott Barnett; second, Frances Pangle; Lydia, married Theodore Poynter; Rachel, married William Hurst.
     Bub has served several terms as representative of Scott county. The writer served with him during the session of 1929. He made an able and conservative legislator. He ought to go back for 1931 session.
     With this imperfect sketch of William (Snappin) Wood and his descendants for two or three generations, I now go back to some others of his brothers and sisters, children of Abram.
     John Wood, son of Abram, settled what was afterward known as the Dee Burch place. The name of his wife is not remembered. He, rather early, removed to Izard county. Of his children yet remembered are Allen and Oliver. The writer, a few years ago, had a very pleasant and satisfactory business experience with James Wood, a descendant of this John Wood. James is one of the leading business men of Calico Rock, and well respected by all who know him.
     Nancy, daughter of Abram Wood, married John Hurst, Jr., known as "Old Uncle Jacky" Hurst. Will mention Nancy again when we reach the chapter on the Hursts.
     Derl Wood, son of Abram by his second wife, married Sarah Adams. Think they had but one child, "Tiny", whom we have already mentioned as having married Derl, son of William (Snappin) Wood.
     This Derl Wood was, near the close of the Civil War, murdered at his home (afterward known as the Uncle Joe Wood place) near the present town of Flippin; on what is now State Highway No. 12. His family removed to Texas and his children are not well remembered.
     Abe Wood, son of pioneer Abram, married a daughter of pioneer Daniel Wickersham of Yellville.
     Tom Wood, another son of Abram, married Leb Keeter.
     Both Abe and Tom were killed in Yellville, just after the war, in an unfortunate family row with their nephews. Their families removed to Texas, I believe, and their children are very faintly remembered.
     Katy, another daughter of pioneer Abram Wood, married James Gage, who was treasurer of Marion county from 1842 to 1846. The family then moved west and names of children are not remembered.
     Clara, another daughter of Abram Wood by his second wife, married Jackson Blythe. There children were: Johne, married Hanna, daughter to Elijah Williams, brother to pioneer Shelt Williams; William, removed to Faulkner county, not much remembered as to him; "Doc" [or Doe] married Missouri Newton. He and his brother, "Cad" Blythe, left Marion county some twenty-five years ago. Both yet well remembered. "Cad" married ______ Cox; Andrew went to Oklahoma and married there; Martha, married Dick Parnell, son of pioneer Johnny Parnell; another daughter of Jackson Blythe and his wife, Clara Wood, married George Ballard.
     In 1830 the engineers, while sectionizing Marion county, showed a short trail leading to Bly's on White river, below Bull Shoal mountain. Did Jackson Blythe or Bly, or his father, live there that early?
     Rebecca, full sister to Mrs. Blythe, and daughter of Abram Wood, married Eld. Frank Treat, a very prominent minister of the Christian church. They removed to Indiana and reared a large family, none of whom are remembered.
     Missouri, another daughter of Abram Wood, married John Estes, Sr. of Yellville. Their children will be mentioned when we publish the chapter on the Estes family; which are legion.
     Rachel, I believe the youngest of pioneer Abram Wood's many children, married first, a Haines. They had but one daughter, and she married a Peacock. Rachel's second husband was John McVey, still well and favorably known to many of our older people. Their children were: Abe, married ___ Noe, [Sabine] daughter of Uncle Jack Noe; Bud, married Mary Layton, daughter of John Layton; Lou, married William Hudson, son of Forrest Hudson, who was son of pioneer Berry Hudson, possibly county treasurer for six years after Marion first began doing business as a county.
     In two chapters, I have told all about Abram Wood and his descendants for a few generations; or at least as much about same as can reasonably be learned at this late date. Hope to be able to make additions or corrections later.
     Pioneer Abram Wood had a sister, Katie, that married David Womack. It is said that Womack built the first residence on upper Fallen Ash; the place usually known as the Joe Rowden place, near the Noe graveyard. Womack was living there in 1830.
     Afterward, the family moved to what is now known as the Hull bottom on White river. Here "Aunt" Katie planted the famous apple tree well remembered by our older citizens. It grew to be the largest apple tree in the world; and in good seasons bore as much as an hundred bushels of apples. Finally Whitfield Harris cut it down, when it was over 60 years old.
     A section of this tree was sent to the Worlds Fair at Chicago, 1893, and took the premium as being a section of the largest apple tree ever on exhibition.
     (Beg pardon for getting the name of the wife of Uncle John Wickersham wrong in the last issue. Her name was Belle Adams.*** Also she had seven sisters and four brothers that became heads of families instead of the two sisters mentioned last week. Will discuss the family of John Adams at another time).
next week.
Top of Page

Week of August 15, 1929
     CONTINUATION OF WOOD, HURST, MAGNESS, TABOR, WILLIAMS and others
     John Hurst, Jr., son of pioneer John Hurst, came to Big North Fork in 1811, married Nancy Wood, and had the following children that became heads of families:
     Robert, married Mary Adams; their children were: Hulda married first, George Layton; second, James Wilson; Ann, married first, Sam Seawel; second, De Cox; Henry, married Kike McKinney; Bob, married Pauline Fields; Nell, married ______ Jernigan; Virge, married Gus Seawel.
     Alex, married Agnes Adams. Their children that became heads of families were: John, married Lizzie Johnson; Arthur, married, first, Mary (Mamie) Cowdrey; second, Alma Carri___;[?] Tom, married in Oklahoma; Helen, married James Johnson; Della [?] married Walter Horner; Ina, married Grate or Crate [?] Dalton; Jim, married __________.
     Betsy, daughter of pioneer John Hurst, married Jack Dean. The only child of this marriage, remembered by the informant of the writer, was Richard Dean, who married Martha Cowan, daughter of "Uncle" Alfred Cowan.
     Mary, another daughter to John, son of the pioneer, married John Briggs. Their children were: Jack Briggs, married Edith Brooksher; Andy, married Sis Hutchinson; Bob, married Julia Stevens; Ella, married first, John Bawcum, second, Jake Noe; Rebecca, married Doc Cowdrey; Eliza, married ______ Bryan, or Bryant.
     "Uncle" John Briggs, father of the above, is yet well and favorably remembered by all now living, that used to know him.
     Martha, also daughter to John, the pioneer, married B. King. Their children were: John King, married Jennie Stanley; Shelt, married, first, Laura Phillips; second, Gertie Jobe; Sis, married J. Y. Phillips; Fount, married Zee Jobe; Matie, married Charley Willingham; Council, married Bob Gilley.
     John Hurst, Jr., was generally called in his old age, "Uncle Jacky" Hurst. He died on what was afterward the "Uncle Jim" Berry place, on south side of Crooked creek, near what is known as the Harrison Poynter place.
     His brother, Abe Hurst, married "Rile" McCurry. Their children were: John M., married first, Julia Gaines, half sister to Wes Gaines. She and all five of their children died of smallpox, while John M., the father, was in the Confederate army. When he came home, he had neither wife nor children. His second wife was Ann Coil. She died without children. The third wife was Maude Adams. Their children were: Ben, married _______ Riter; John Jr., married ______ Atterberry; Lee, married "Pet" Burch; Nancy, married Vern Woods; Agnes, married Henson Newton, son of "Uncle Eb" Newton; Lydia, married John Gillispie; had but one child, I believe, that was never married.
     Abe, married ____ Briggs; Catherine, another daughter to Abram Hurst, never married.
     Sarah, daughter to the old pioneer John Hurst, of 1811, married Silas Farrier. They removed to California. Children now known.
     Katie, sister to Sarah, married _____ Tutt, one of the Tutt brothers that took part in the Tutt and Everett war.
      
     HURST AND WILLIAMS
      Polly, daughter to pioneer John Hurst of 1811, married Shelt Williams, ancestor to so many Marion county Williams. Their children were: Wils, married first, Matilda Phillips, daughter to Uncle John Phillips, of Mill creek. To this union were born: John, married _____ Mears; James, married, first Lucy Higgs;
     second, Cora Layton.
     Wils Williams' second wife was Mary Ann Johnson, daughter of Moses Johnson. To this marriage were born: George, married first, in Missouri, I believe; second, Ida Marberry; Robert, married, first, Alice Erwin; second, Vesta Marberry; Janie, married Everett Noe.
     Fed, another son of pioneer Shelt Williams, and his wife, Polly (Hurst) Williams, married Jane Lynch. Their children were: Mary, married James Drake; Belle, married Dr. George Gullidge; Laura, married John Goff; Thomas, married Oklahoma; Albert, married _____ Wood, daughter to Joe Wood; Clyde, married Ollie Cypert; Joyce, married Bob Wood. Clyde's second wife was an Oklahoma girl.
     Rachel, daughter of Shelt Williams and his wife, Polly, married James Tyler, and had John, Thomas and Andy Tyler. They left Marion county a long time ago. Their history is not known.
     Martha, sister to Rachel, married John Burch. Their children were: Maggie, married Wm. Woods, not of kin to either line of the Wood families heretofore mentioned.
     Emma, married Claud Flippin; Rachel, married Bub Holland; Cora, married Marion Woods; Emma never married; George and Don went to Oklahoma.
     Pioneer Shelt Williams and his wife, Polly (Hurst) Williams, had also Jack, George, and Abe, that were either killed or died while in the Confederate service. Both Wills and Fed also saw much service in the Confederate army, but came out alive. Their father, however, was murdered by Jayhawkers just before the close of the war.
     Perhaps no family gave more for the South in all Marion county, than did this Williams family; nor suffered more. On the other side, it is said that they gave back about blow for blow. The son-in-law, James Tyler, was also killed during the war. Erve Williams, son of pioneer Shelt Williams, married "Crick" Tucker, a daughter of Uncle Jack Tucker. They went to Oklahoma years ago.
     Wm. Hurst, son of pioneer John Hurst, married first, Narcissus Magness, daughter of pioneer James Magness, perhaps the first white man to settle adjacent to the Indian town known as Shawneetown, now Yellville. But Wm. Hurst did not probably marry Miss Magness until he had returned to near the mouth of Clear creek, or "Upper Shawneetown".
     But one child came of this marriage, or rather one that became head of a family. That was John D. Hurst, now universally known as "Uncle Jack" Hurst. He is yet living on Highway No. 12, southwest of Flippin some half mile. He was born in 1847, and his mother died when he was eight days old. She was the first white person buried in the Patton graveyard. Uncle Jack, when small, was principally reared by his mother's sister, Patsy Magness, who married Solomon Wood, son of Judge William Wood, a pioneer.
     Uncle Jack Hurst married Mary Ann Burch, daughter of pioneer Henry Burch. To this union were born: Seth, married Cressie Matthews; Walter, married Stella Messic; Gus, married Arkie Newton; Frank, married Eula Matthews; William, married in Texas; Mittie, married Francis Lancaster; May, married Thomas Wooten, son of Uncle John Wooton, and grandson of Uncle Dow Wooton; Bob, married Fay Lovelady; Theodore, married Annie Shavenstein.
     Uncle Jack is carrying his 82 years well, and bids fair to go to an 100. He has an inexhaustible lot of early tradition, and a wonderful, wonderful memory.
     After the death of his first wife, William Hurst, son of John of 1811, married Katie Kavanaugh, but no children came of this marriage. He married, for third wife, Patsy Lynch, widow of pioneer William Lynch. We will mention her Lynch children in the article covering the Flippins, Poynters and Lynches. William Hurst and Patsy had but one child, Martha, who married James Flippin.
     Wm. Hurst, like all the early Hursts and Woods, of Abram's line, and most of their kin, was buried in the old graveyard that was on what is now the Rorie place, on Crooked creek, south of Flippin. Wm. Hurst once owned the Uncle Wash Coker old place in Prairie township, south of where Eros now is. He once visited the lead mine, used by the Indians, a mile south of Yellville.
     His uncle, "Old Uncle Jacky" Hurst, already mentioned, owned at his death, all the land afterward known as the Bob and Alex Hurst place, that had first been settled by Abram Wood. He had a son, Cam, that never married. He divided his land among his sons.
     We hope for more and more information than we are getting regarding the early pioneers of Marion. Will take up the Magness and Tabor families next. Afterward, one branch of the Magness line (pioneer James Magness) when we take up the Milum line.
next week.
Top of Page

Week of August 22, 1929
     WOOD, HURST, MAGNESS, TABOR, WILLIAMS and others
     Nothing would be more congenial to me than to spend the remainder of my life in writing the history of Marion county's pioneer families.
     But we just can't ask the Echo to give us the space needed to bring the descendants of the pioneers down to date. Hereafter, we must be content to bring them down to the memory of those living. A later and younger historian must write a book and bring the descendants of the old pioneers down to date.
      
     JAMES MAGNESS
     James Magness was probably the first white man to settle adjacent to the old Indian village of Shawneetown, now Yellville. He was probably here ahead of even the Tutts, Everetts, and Hudsons, that came in 1822; while all of Northwest Arkansas between the White and Arkansas rivers formed the Arkansas Cherokee nation, which existed from 1817 to 1828.
     Magness came from the Spartanburg district of South Carolina. His wife was _______ [Narcissus] Barnett. He had a daughter, Nancy, that had married Nimrod Teaff. The two families settled on what is now the Layton farm, just east of Yellville, and near what is now the Layton cemetery.
     Teaff was a gun working and gun repairer, and did a thriving business with the Indians at Shawneetown. Little Shawneetown and Upper Shawneetown. The two families afterward removed adjacent to Upper Shawneetown, at mouth of Clear creek, where the Patton graveyard now is.
     In both towns the Magnesses and Teaffs hunted, fished, and neighbored with the friendly Shawnees. They never had the least trouble with them.
     James Teaff, son of Nimrod and Nancy, was said to have been the second white child born in Marion county. James, his brother, Dave, and a number of relatives moved to Texas some 30 years ago. The writer remembers the Teaffs most kindly. Think there were nine of Nimrod's children.
     John Magness, son of pioneer, married Sarah Wickersham. At death of Magness, the widow married Uncle John McVey -- his third wife, I believe. No children by this marriage. John Magness' children were: Daniel, James, William, and Nancy. The later married "Ad" Hampton; William married Margaret Rea. Don't know much about Daniel, James, and William.
     Pioneer James Magness had two twin boys, Perry and Morgan. Perry married Cordelia Milum, daughter of Bluef Milum, son of an earlier Milum pioneer; Morgan married Melvina McLearen [McClary]. Both Perry and Morgan reared large families.
     James Magness, son of the pioneer, married and had four children, I believe. After the death of James, the widow removed the children to Saline county, Mo.
     Narcissus, daughter of pioneer James Magness, married Wm. Hurst, already mentioned in previous chapter. Uncle Jack Hurst is the only representative of this marriage.
     Patsy, another daughter of pioneer James Magness, married Solomon Wood, son of Marion county's second county judge. In fact, its first, as, for some months, Marion county bore the name of Searcy, and Wm. Wood was the first county judge of it while it was called Searcy county.
     Betsy, another daughter of pioneer James Magness, married John Tabor, who erected the first cabin in the Flippin barrens; the man that danced the "Green Corn" dance with the Shawnees at Yellville, the Delawares in what is now Tucker bottom, on White river, not far from John McCraken's river bottom; and with the Cherokees at mouth of Big North Fork, Peter Cornstalk, chief of the Cherokees, being present. John Tabor, a fine but quaint old pioneer, lived to the great age of 96. Children were: Andrew, who Uncle Jack Hurst thinks married a Milum; Jane married David Bawcum that used to own the Bawcum water mill, up Crooked creek from Yellville a few miles. He recently died, over 90. Aunt Jane his wife (formerly Jane Tabor) is yet living at age of 91. They removed to Texas some years ago. They are mentioned here, however.
     Winnie, daughter to pioneer John Tabor, married a Clark. They removed to Woodruff county. Another son of Uncle John, "Doc", married a Cheek, sister, I believe, to Uncle Sylvester Cheek. Not sure, however.
     Another son of pioneer John Tabor was Elijah. He married, I think, half sister to Uncle John McVey.
     Pioneer James Magness had a brother, Joe, that settled very early across White river, near north of Peel. He was the ancestor of the Lead Hill Magnesses and many of those around Pyatt. Will get to them as soon as I can see Uncle Newt Milum and work out the Milum pioneers.
     These two Mangesses, James and Joe, were the pioneers of all the Marion county Magnesses, I believe. And Uncle John Tabor was ancestor to most of Tabors I have known. Uncle John had a nephew or cousin, named Tabor, that people forty years ago believed had found a great silver mine on Buffalo, not far from the mouth of Water creek. Uncle John, just before his death, told the writer that this Tabor silver mine never existed.
     I know but little of pioneer Elijah Williams, brother to pioneer Shelt Williams. Both were among the very earliest settlers of Marion. Elijah married Hannah Keeler, a widow. Her maiden name was Adams. There were probably more Marion county pioneers named Adams than that of any other family; and all were of kin. Hanna, by her marriage with Keeler, was the mother of "Aunt Joe" McCracken, now living, and I believe over 90; and one of the finest of Marion county's fine old ladies. Hope to reach her splendid deceased husband, "Uncle Thomps" McCracken, and the entire McCracken family before many weeks.
     Pioneer Elijah Williams and his wife, Hanna, had two girls, twins. One, Hanna, married Jahne Blythe, or Bly. The other married Worth Walker of Mountain Home.
     Elijah's wife was also sister, I believe, to Aunt Agness Flippin, wife of Eld. W. B. Flippin, who saw the Flippin barrens when not a man lived in it, and only one white man was living in Marion county. Some say that man was pioneer Mike Yocham, first settler on Little North Fork. Uncle Jack Hurst thinks it was John E. Stallings, father of Capt. Tom Stallings, of steamboat fame. No doubt that Stallings set out the first orchard in Marion county, in the Tucker bottom, prior to 1829. His brother-in-law, John Tabor, above mentioned, set out this orchard for him. And Tabor told of how Stallings would go out with Johnny Coke, chief of the Delawares, whose village occupied a portion of what was afterward Tucker bottom, and kill buffalo. Tabor would go out and help them drag the buffalo in, with Indian ponies.
     Tabor always said that Marion county was full of buffalo, bear, deer, and all kinds of wild beasts, when he first saw it. Also wild grass as high as a horse's back, and even higher; pipe stem cane in all the river and creek bottoms, where bear delighted to lurk; timber did not cover one fourth the area it now covers.
     It seems impossible to keep errors out of these articles. Help me correct same. In article last week, I meant to say that Miss Wood married John Estes, Jr. *** The article read John Estes, Sr., father to John Jr. I knew better, but did not get it right. Perhaps Abram Wood and John Estes, Sr. have more descendants living than any other two men of the old pioneer stock. However, Silas Cowan, ancestor to all the Cowans, and Revolutionary Wm. Wood run them a close second. Might beat them.
Top of Page

Week of August 29, 1929
OLD MILITARY ROAD
Northeast corner of the Old Cherokee Nation in Arkansas definitely located.
     In a recent issue of the Sunday Gazette I stated that Chataunga Mountain, the northeast corner of the boundary line of the Cherokee Nation from 1817 to 1827, must have been near the mouth of Big North Fork of White river, in Baxter county, Arkansas. This is an error. *** The Cherokee Nation, in Arkansas, between 1817 and 1828 was very much larger than the article claimed for it. I got wrong by following Fay Hempstead's History of Arkansas, page 58 of Vol. 1.
     On this page, Hempstead quotes Governor Izard with saying that the Chataunga mountain mentioned in the treaty with the Cherokees as being the northeast boundary of their nation in Arkansas, about 71 miles up White River from Batesville.*** Evidently, Governor Izard said 7 miles instead of 71 miles. Probably Hempstead meant to say 7 miles above Batesville, but a typographical error made him say 71.
     Anyhow, Mr. Ernest Neill of Batesville, son of Col. Robert Neill, who I believe was born near Chataunga mountain, has corrected me, without question, that Chataunga mountain, and what used to be the old Shield's Ferry, mentioned also in the treaty, is on the south side of White river, in Independence county. The mountain is yet called by some as "Shield's mountain". It is almost on the bank of the river and rises abruptly to a height of nearly 500 feet above the country hills surrounding it; making it just such a monument as the Indians would delight in. The southeast corner was to be at mouth of Point Remove creek, where it flows into the Arkansas river, not far from Morrilton. All west, for an indefinite distance, between the Arkansas and White rivers, should belong to the Cherokees forever. However, by treaty of 1828, the Indians ceded this vast territory back to the United States for other lands in what is now Oklahoma.
     On top of the many local traditions, Mr. Neill was able to quote the following note made on township plat by the engineers that were sectionizing the lands remaining to the U. S. east of the Cherokee boundary line, between 1817 and 1819. Note says: "Cherokee boundary line". The survey shows this line to be, beginning in section 22, in township 13 N., R. 7 west; and running southwest on such a variation, that if followed on like variation, would reach the mouth of Point Remove creek, on the Arkansas river, near Morrilton.
     Those going up or down the White River branch of the Missouri Pacific railroad can note Chataunga mountain, just across White river, about two miles below lock and dam No. 2; the only lock and dam on White river that can be seen from a railroad train. This lock and dam is about 9 miles up the river from Batesville. Greenbrier creek comes into the river about five miles above Batesville. From the mouth of this creek down to Chataunga mountain is river bottom; the mountain abruptly terminates at this point. Here is where the old Shield's ferry was that was mentioned in the treaty.
     Now, as to how the Cherokees were removed into the country now known as Oklahoma. I have given this matter much study. Some Cherokees began moving on at their accord soon after the treaty of 1828 was signed. But many of them, who had settled in Arkansas, after the treaty of 1817, like those that yet remained in east Tennessee and surrounding states, were reluctant to leave their old homes. It was not until General Jackson became President, 1828, that the government began taking a hand in helping, or rather forcing, the Indians to get to the Oklahoma country.
     Outside the eastern Cherokees and the tribes confederated with them, most of the Indians east of the Mississippi, on reaching this side of that stream, found their way across the state of Arkansas over the government military road that, from Arkansas Post, went up the Arkansas river to Fort Smith, and on to Fort Gibson. And all the Cherokees in the south half of the Cherokee Nation in Arkansas followed this road.
     But the government had to greatly improve the various short lines of roads the pioneer Indians and early white settlers had made in reaching upper White river. In some places, new roads entirely were constructed by the government. This was especially so where the distance could not be shortened. In one instance, where the through east and west pioneer passed through what is now Marion county, it passed through Shawneetown (now Yellville), some whites in Shawnee town were selling whiskey to the Indians the troops were conveying through, and the government built an entirely new road -- a cut-off -- up Fallen Ash creek, and no more Indians were conveyed by way of Shawneetown.
     This fact was told to me forty years ago by Eld. William Flippin, who was living in this county when the Indians were being removed to the Oklahoma country. He saw the Fallen Ash section building, under super-vision of army engineers. One of the old settlers, who was living in Marion county at the time, said the Cherokees were not all gotten out of this section until about 1840.
     The military road up White river must have reached the crossing of that stream before the end of 1835; for it was reported to Washington that the road had reached Talbert's Ferry (afterward Mooney's ferry) "in Izard county". This point became a portion of Marion county in 1835. So the military road to this point must have been completed before that date.
     As there are no notes made by the U. S. Surveyors on the township plats of Marion county, of a military road through this section, in 1829 and 1830, when the country was being sectionized, it is evident that the government converted the old trails up White river into a military road, between 1830 and 1835.
     Old traditions seem to agree that as soon as the government had, in 1828, got back for the Cherokees the domain ceded to them in 1817, President Jackson, who had never forgiven the Indians for siding with the king during the Revolutionary war, decided that they should go clear west of what is now the west boundary of Arkansas. That, so far as the Cherokees along upper White river were concerned, they should have, at expense of the government, a road over which they could convey their effects, as well as families. Also that the eastern Cherokees that had relatives living in the old Cherokee Nation in Arkansas, that wanted to come through this White river route might be accorded the privilege.
     Capt. A. G. Cravens, formerly assessor of Marion county, is now nearing 92. A few days ago he said: "We came to Marion county in 1857. We crossed the Mississippi at Memphis. I was around 20 years old. We came over the government military road that President Jackson had made, or improved, while removing the Indians east of the Mississippi into what is now Oklahoma. We came in wagon from Memphis to Jacksonport, on the White river, which I understood to be 90 miles from Memphis. If the road we came over passed through a single town I do not remember to have seen it. However, I do not know the counties through which we passed. Mighty few people in the country between Jacksonport and Memphis in 1857. At least along the road we came."
     "I understood that President Jackson had decided that the port, or landing, on White river which his engineers had named for him, should be the supply depot of the Indians, and troops conveying them, on their way west. Steamboats could have reached Jacksonport, in the days the Indians were being removed, all the year round. Black river flowed into White river just above the town, and from there on down was deep water."
     "When we left Jacksonport we left the then village of Batesville, a little to the left, passed on through Melbourne, on through Iuka, touching White river again at mouth of North Fork; then on through Whitesville (now Gassville) until we crossed White river at Talbert's ferry (afterwards Mooney's ferry) where it was well understood by everybody in those days, some twenty years after the event, that the government had crossed the Indians, going westward. In 1857 this road was called "the military road" all the way from Memphis to Talbert's ferry, and on westward. Thousands of white people used this road in moving west, until the automobile made a demand for better roads."
     "from Talbert's ferry it ran on through Marion and Boone to Old Carrollton, not far from the Carroll county line; thence on west. Think Carrollton, once the most important town in the old Cherokee Nation, is now about deserted, as is Jacksonport, once the most important town on White river. It was so difficult to keep needed supplies brought up for the weary Indians, from Jacksonport, think the government built another road from the foot of Buffalo Shoals on White river, to intersect the main military road some where between Talbert's ferry and Carrollton. Steamboats could come as high as Buffalo Shoals in those days, when the river got up a little. Anyway, there was an old road, called the "Old Carrollton Road" that ran clear across Marion county, east and west, some ten miles south of Yellville. It was no little undertaking for the government to remove the Indians."
     This much about the Cherokees, and their removal. Can anybody be sure the route the military road ran between Memphis and Jacksonport, over which the Indians came? As many of them came to Arkansas Post, by steamboat, and went from there over the military road up the Arkansas. I have a notion that many of them that came up the military road from Jacksonport, had reached Jacksonport by steamboat. Who has a tradition? Also, who can be certain how the military road ran westward from Old Carrollton?
     According to Encyclopedia Britanica, 11th edition, government troops, under General Scott, 2,000 in number, were being employed as late as 1838, in removing the Cherokees from their old haunts, in the upper Tennessee country, to their new Cherokee Nation, in what is now Oklahoma. So, there were doubtless Cherokees passing through northwest Arkansas as late as 1838, or even later. The last to go were in a dangerous mood, declaring their chiefs had no right to cede to the U. S. their old homes in Tennessee, Georgia and adjacent states. Did any in the Cherokee Nation, in Arkansas, who thought between 1817 and 1838, that this was their future home, feel as did their kinsmen above mentioned?
     Did the White river military road fork at Old Carrollton, or near it? Did one branch of it strike out, via Fayetteville, and reach the Arkansas river near the present town of Tahlequah? Did the other go on toward the north, via Southwest City, and on to the country around Vinita, Okla? Who knows?
Top of Page

Week of September 5, 1929
TENNESSEE AND NORTH CAROLINA
     Had no opportunity to write a pioneer article for this week, so will give you my trip to North Carolina. I suspect that two thirds of the readers of the Echo have ancestors that came out of either Tennessee or North Carolina.
     The reason for this was largely because of the Cherokee Indians. They once held a vast domain in the south. Great portions of Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. An area at least twice as large as the state of Arkansas was theirs.
     The main line of the Southern railroad into North Carolina now passes almost through the center of the old Cherokee country. And to get them out of it and into Arkansas and Oklahoma, the U. S. government had to build a military road through almost the center of Tennessee, and two military roads clear across Arkansas: one through North Arkansas and one up the Arkansas river. Most of the Indians east of the Mississippi, and south of the Ohio, crossed the Mississippi, either at Memphis or Helena. A few at Reelfoot Lake.
     It is true the government military roads were not smooth highways. They were rough and generally unbridged, and the government utilized, in all the states named, the broken pieces of roads the pioneer Indian and White settlers had used in coming into the states named. But the government did leave from western North Carolina to Fayetteville, Ark., a continuous road, called military road; sometimes more than one, and by conveying the Indians over same convinced the white people of Tennessee and North Carolina that they could take the north one in Arkansas and convey the families into the Ozarks -- into a "land of promise", where maybe the fabled "honey ponds and fritter trees" might possibly be found. So, after 1835, about the time the military road through North Arkansas reached Marion county, there began a perpetual stream of fine white families from Tennessee and North Carolina, into the Ozarks.
     Of course, a number of families had arranged to get in from these states before the real pioneers. But most of these did one of three things: They came up White river in a sort of boats, called piroques -- two skiffs of various sizes, lashed side by side, or with more or less space between. Another way was to come by pack horses, over old Indian trails. The other was to swing away north, and come in via Springfield. Not many people here before 1835. The military road was a God-send to Marion county. Now that we have it improved, we should get more and more people from Tennessee and North Carolina. And we could get no better people in the world. No two states in the Union have made greater solid strides in education, morality and thrift than in the two states named.
     Really, a stranger passing through them now, from east to west, can't help wondering why any man ever left them. The country looks prosperous indeed; yet men have always had an urge to go toward the setting sun; and if Arkansas did a little advertising in these two states, and less in others, we would soon be getting another stream of people coming into North Arkansas in automobiles, as the older emigrants came in ox wagons, and other slow means of locomotion.
     Space is limited to tell what the cities along the Southern R.R. are doing. Manufacturing all along the line, both in Tennessee and North Carolina.
     And yea, agriculture is not being neglected. Everywhere, where there is land that can be plowed, was corn, cotton, tobacco and wheat; also meadows and pastures. Tennessee and North Carolina, together, reach from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, some 1500 miles. I should say that, along the Southern R.R., at least three-fourths of it could be cultivated. Most that much is in cultivation. For some 300 miles out of Memphis the land is comparatively level and practically susceptible to cultivation. Then comes some two hundred miles of mountains, but they are not in many places much higher than are the Ozarks; and I should judge about as much in cultivation, among these mountains, as in the ranch portion of the Ozarks.
     Then between this range of mountains that run nearly north and south, called by the people, I believe, "Smokey Mountain", clear on to the west foothills of the Blue Ridge, this land is again comparatively level, for some 200 miles; and looked to be a little more productive than the lands of west Tennessee. Roughly speaking, I should say that the Blue Ridge mountains, which also run almost north and south, are around 300 miles in width. They are in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, and are much higher than the ridge already described; and not nearly so much land in cultivation; but even where the land seems standing on end, I saw little patches of corn growing, also other crops, especially vegetables.
     If it were not for the beautiful wide, shallow and crystal clear French Brand [Broad] river valley, I do not see how they could ever have got a railroad up to the now important town of Ashville, in western North Carolina. The valley is so narrow in most places the R.R. right-of-way takes up almost all the land between the river and the bluff; yet, where any land is left, it is cultivated. It was up this narrow valley that "Uncle" Tom Flippin, on his way with Congressman Brundidge to Washington, via Memphis, reported seeing a corn field that was three miles long and three rows wide.
     For about 100 miles east of Ashville, it is some railroad climbing, and strange to say, just as you are reaching the peak ridge of the Blue Ridge chain, there is, away down in a deep glen, a great geyser that shoots a good sized column of water from 80 to 110 feet high, according to rainy and drouthy season. It runs off down a stream almost the size of lower Mill creek, in Marion. It is one of the many wonders of the Blue Ridge, and of the world.
     But I must not take much more space. I read a paper on August 25th, to some 400 Jones, that had assembled out in the county, near an old Primitive Baptist church graveyard, where my great-great grandfather was buried, aged 94 years and 20 days. Name Cadwallader Jones. He came to North Carolina about 1750 - five years before the French and Indian war. He had six sons, all of whom emigrated to either Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, except one, Aquilla. This Aquilla had ten sons; all of them also went west but one, Jessie. This Jessie stayed near where his grandfather lived and died. It was about one-half of the descendants of Jessie that made the 400 I addressed. Besides that part of the sub-tribe of Jessie, I was the only descendant of the old, old Cadwallader Jones that was present.
     This old man died poor, and yet he was a direct descendant of a great king of Wales, that died 683 A.D. known to Welsh history as "Cadwallader the Blessed." His history is more like the history of David of the Scriptures than of any one else I can think of -- a mighty warrier, who never for a moment failed to serve and adore his God. No ruler of Wales was ever loved and revered by the Welsh as was Cadwallader the Blessed.
     I sure was given a fine reception and enjoyed every moment while there. P.S. Soon after you reach the summit of the Blue Ridge, you have not gone down more than 50 miles until you are seeing nice farms and farm houses again. From there on to the Atlantic ocean, you have first the wide Piedmont, or great bench,
     some 200 to 300 miles wide, and fine agricultural land, north and south though North Carolina, and several other states. From the east is what is known as the coast strip, fine also.
     I should say that both Tennessee and North Carolina are fine states, with excellent roads and excellent schools. North Carolina, especially, is just now having an era of great prosperity. That state now pays a greater federal income tax than any other state in the union, except New York. Yet I prefer Arkansas to North Carolina, and the Ozarks to the rest of Arkansas.
     On my way home I spent half a day in Little Rock; took a long drive with one of the State Highway Commissioners. Took dinner in his home, then another long drive. I really have some excellent road news but am not at liberty to put in print just yet.
     However, will say this much; if the people of Arkansas, and the Arkansas legislature will do its duty, it will not be ten years until every mile of state highways in Arkansas will not only be an all-the-year road, but a dust proof one as well. It is dust proof roads that North Carolina is building now. That is all that the tourists demand -- dust proof roads. The wealthy state of North Carolina finds that even it can not finance all concrete. North Carolina has found that a road can be built that answers every purpose of a concrete road at about one sixth of the cost of concrete, and can be maintained forever, with the interest on the amount more that would have to be paid for concrete.
Top of Page

Week of September 12, 1929
THE FLIPPINS
     According to a book, called Reminiscent History of the Ozarks, and written by a man who interviewed Judge W. B. Flippin some years before his death, we can get an idea of how slow the Prairie portion of Marion county was in attracting settlers; for when Eld. Flippin, in 1836, first visited Flippin Barrens, at age 19, in company with "Rosin the Bow" Wood, they got the impression that there was not a family living in that great section of Marion county; and not going further west, they got the impression that but one other man had preceded them into Marion county; though it is known that at least the Everetts and Hudsons came to Marion county as early as 1822.
     And possibly there were a few other families here that early, or possibly a little earlier. The old "Field Notes", made by the surveyors, while sectionizers of Marion county show that as early as 1829 and 1830, there were a good number of places in Marion county being cultivated though perhaps some of these improvements had been made by Cherokee Indians who were suffered to own this section of Arkansas between 1817 and 1828. However, there were a number of white settlers here when the land was sectionized.
     According to Eld. Flippin's written biography (he was both a minister and county judge) he was born in Monroe county, Ky., Sept. 4, 1817. He was the elder of two sons born to Thomas H. and Elizabeth (Baugh) Flippin. The grandfather of Eld. Flippin, a Thomas Flippin, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The grandfather (the Revolutionary soldier) removed to Kentucky in 1800. Does not say where from but most likely from Virginia. Four sons of Revolutionary Thomas Flippin served in the war of 1812; among whom was the father of the judge, Thomas H., who lived in Kentucky from the year 1800 to about 1825, when he removed to Tennessee, then to Arkansas in 1837, when the Elder was 20 years of age. In Kentucky the Elder's father and grandfather lived near Pikeville.
     Tradition says that the Elder came to Arkansas a year ahead of his father and family, and went back with such a glowing report that his father's family, together with some kinsmen and friends, among them the Poynters, decided to remove to what became the Flippin Barrens. The cutoff of the old military road, that took that road up Fallen Ash creek, was made after the Elder arrived, so they must have yet been removing Indians as late as 1837. Probably a few years later than that date.
     When the Flippin family arrived, the father settled on the place where the Elder lived and died, a little northeast of the present railroad town of Flippin. Lots of blue grass used to grow on this fine farm. The judge had a younger brother, Perry Flippin; his full name was Thomas H. P. Flippin.
     The judge's father died in 1856, and his was one of the early graves in the present Flippin cemetery, which occupies a portion of the old Flippin farm, I believe. The mother of the judge lived to near the century mark, 97, not dying until 1889, the writer was entertained at the home of the old judge, while his old mother was yet living. The Elder had a perfect museum of Indian and Spanish relics that he had gathered on first coming into the country. He had a number of evidences that convinced both him and the writer that DeSoto marched across Marion county nearly 300 years before the Flippins came in. When the judge lost his home by fire, all his precious collections were destroyed.
     The Elder's father, Thomas H., was clerk of Marion county, and both he and wife, and the entire family were members of the Christian church. Perry became well to do and was highly respected. He died near the town of Flippin.
     The judge, in 1841, married in Izard county, Miss Agnes W. Adams, daughter of James Adams. She was born near Madisonville in Hopkins county, Ky., in 1815. Her father removed to Missouri and from there to Arkansas, about 1835. To this union were born three sons and four daughters, as follows:
     Thomas, who represented Marion county, was private secretary to Gov. Fishback, and secretary to Congressman Brundidge; James A., a well respected farmer, and John P., who died in Texas. The daughters were: Elizabeth, married James Lynch, whom everybody liked and respected; Lelitia, who married Henry Lynch, brother to James; also a good and well loved man; Matilda A., married W. C. McBee, one of the prosperous merchants of Marion county. She had a number of children, but died comparatively young.
     Thomas married "Sis" Jenkins, daughter of Eld. William Jenkins, a minister of the Christian church and one of the finest men that ever lived in Marion county. They reared a large family, which is now considerably scattered. Garland served as sheriff of Marion county for four consecutive terms. Wish I had space to mention all the others, as well as their married companions. A son-in-law, Gus Butler, a promising young attorney, was for four years clerk of Marion county. He and family recently removed to McAllen, Texas.
     In a former article we mentioned that James Flippin, son of the judge, married Tishe Burch. They reared also a large family, quite a number of whom yet reside in Marion county. Ella J. never married.
     We hope to be able to give you a history of James Adams, father-in-law to Eld. Flippin, in the near future; also a history as far as it can be reconstructed, of the entire Adams family of Marion county, some of whom were here as early as anybody.
      
     PERRY FLIPPIN
     Perry, son of pioneer Thomas Flippin and his wife, Elizabeth (Baugh) Flippin, married first, Harriet Tabor, sister of pioneer John Tabor, who built the first cabin in the Flippin Barrens. To this union was born "B", Cordelia, "Sack", Mary, and Thomas.
     "B" married Cassie ________; Cordelia never married; "Sack" married Pleas Marberry; Mary married Spencer Owens, who was afterward both county representative and county judge of Marion. Senator Elmer Owens was born of this union.
     Thomas, the youngest of the children of Perry Flippin and his first wife, married Margaret Owens, sister to Spencer Owens. They reared a large family.
     Perry Flippin's last wife was Julia Drake, widow of Steven Drake, and mother to James and Frank Drake. But one child was born of this marriage, Lee Flippin, who was scalded to death at Leslie some years ago. Lee's wife was Una Horner, daughter of Jess Horner. She afterward married Ab Watts.
     In rather early life, Eld. W. B. Flippin became a minister in the Christian church, and was all his life a prominent exponent of the tenets of the order.
     He was, for his opportunity, perhaps the best educated man in Marion county. He was trusted implicitly, and was elected to hold almost every county office in the county. No man yet has held as many various offices in Marion county as did Eld. Flippin. In his old days most of his friends addressed him as Judge Flippin.
Top of Page

Week of October 3, 1929
JOHNNY CAKE
     Fourteen years after Thomas Jefferson had bought the great territory, known as Louisiana, and in 1817 ceded to the civilized Cherokees, east of the Mississippi, all of northwest Arkansas between the White and Arkansas rivers, the Cherokees, who had been really in possession on this vast area since about 1790, but did not claim it as their very own until after the treaty of 1817, kindly allowed the broken remnants of other civilized Indian tribes of their blood to come into their territory in Arkansas and make their home therein. The Cherokees belonged to the great Algonquin family that once owned about all the Atlantic coast.
     Among those that came were quite a lot of Shawnees that settled mainly in the Crooker [Crooked] creek valley, in what is now Marion county. A smaller remnant of Delaware Indians were allowed to occupy the west side of White river, from about the mouth of Fallen Ash creek, on White river, to about the mouth of Sugar Loaf creek, near the present town of Lead Hill. The local chief of the Delawares was named Johnny Cake. His headquarters was in and adjacent to what is now known as the Tucker bottom, where drilling is to begin in a few days by Mr. Couch's Power and Light Company. The idea is to erect a great water power dam at that point on White river.
     Johnny Cake, though a full blood Delaware Indian, is believed to have built, on a fine spring near his home, the first mill dam in what is now Marion county. He is said to have ground the corn that the Delawares and Shawnees and Cherokees needed for bread, for many miles up and down White river; and along its tributaries coming in from the west and south.
     At that time all east and north of White river still belonged to the white people. But the lands, even on that side of the river, were several years in being sectionized.
     A pioneer by the name of "Fed" Talbert, a white man, had squatted on land he hoped to enter as soon as same was sectionized, about the time that Chief Johnny Cake and his little tribe had settled a few miles above on the Cherokee side of White river. Talbert had settled on the farm that was afterward the crossing place of the eastern Cherokees, after the treaty of 1828. Talbert's ferry used to be known from East Tennessee, Northern Alabama and North Georgia; or wherever a Cherokee east of the Mississippi lived, all the way into the newer Cherokee Nation in what is now Northeast Oklahoma. Later the name of this ferry was changed to Denton's ferry.
     Johnny Cake and the Talberts got along famously; and this band of Indians did not go west until after the government had sectionized the land on which Mr. Talbert had lived for many years. As soon as Talbert could describe the lands he wanted to enter (think it was around 1828) he crossed over the river and told his friend Johnny Cake he wanted him to send over some of his men every day to see how his wife and children were getting on. Johnny readily agreed to do this. Mr. Talbert called his bear dogs, shouldered his rifle and, kissing his wife and children, struck out, on foot, northeast for St. Louis, the then seat of the nearest Land Office to the Territory of Arkansas. St. Louis was so distant and unhandy, that Squatter Sovereignty prevailed in all North Arkansas, until after about the year 1840. Mighty few entries were made in Marion and Baxter counties before that date. Only when the squatter feared some "mean" man might attempt to enter his improvement. It was almost sure death to attempt this. And, if the one attempting such a thing succeeded, and yet lived, he was forever thereafter ostracized by the other pioneers. Evidently Talbert feared, because of the fine ford, where people up here believe DeSoto crossed White river, and (according to Theodore Roosevelt) reached northeast Oklahoma, before turning toward Hot Springs; and knowing it to be a fine site for a ferry, determined to enter the land, even if he did have to go to St. Louis to do it.
     Next morning after the husband left, Johnny Cake's braves came down on west side of the river and Mrs. Talbert waved, from the other bank, the signal agreed on that all was well in the strongly build log cabin. Not an hour after the friendly Indians had gone away, Mrs. Talbert happened to look across to the west side of the river, and saw a mammoth black bear going down to the water. At first she supposed that he was going down for a drink of water, but instead of stopping, he threw himself into the water and began swimming across; possibly he had scented a newly slain venison that Mr. Talbert had killed just before leaving home.
     Mrs. Talbert feared so, and ran back to the yard and got the little children inside the cabin, and carefully barred the only door with a heavy bar with which all cabins were supplied in pioneer days. The bear first tried the door, shaking it fearfully, but could not open it. He next marched around the cabin several times in a great rage. The cabin was not well chinked and the bear could be seen rearing up and looking into the cabin through these chinks. Finally he seemed to decide to climb up to the loose board roof, believing these chinks would enable him to scale the wall.
     Mrs Talbert had, when the bear first began to try to enter the cabin, seized the only available weapon in the cabin -- a sharp broad-axe. When the bear reared up on his hind legs and thrust his paws into a chink, one of them went clear through. Swinging the broad-axe with all her might, Mrs. Talbert severed some six inches of the paw from the rest of the leg. With a great roar of pain, the bear gave it up, and limped away up a hollow, leaving a trail of blood behind.
     Next morning, when Johnny Cake's men came, Mrs. Talbert signaled for them to cross over. She told them her story, showed them the bear's paw, and took them to the trail of blood. The Indians found the bear holed up in a sort of cave, about a mile and a half away, and finished him. They skinned him, and coming back by the cabin, left a hind quarter with Mrs. Talbert and her children.
     Nothing else happened to them while Mr. Talbert was away. At this time buffaloes were as plentiful as deer. Even after Mr. Stallings, father to Capt. Tom Stallings of early White river steamboat fame, had settled in the Tucker bottoms, about where Johnny Cake then lived, Uncle John Tabor, who built the first cabin in Flippin Barrens, used to tell how Stallings, Johnny Cake and himself used to kill buffalo and take them down to Johnny Cake's spring to skin, wash and cure; sometimes they cured by fire and sometimes only in the sun. Dried buffalo meat in those days was as plentiful as corn bread; and even more so.
     There is said to be living at this time, in Oklahoma, a grandson of old Johnny Cake. He bears the name of the grandfather -- Chief Johnny Cake. John Flippin, son of Hon. T. W. Flippin, was living with this Johnny Cake in Oklahoma a few years ago in fact, he died in his home.
     The above really historical story is vouched for by "Uncle Jack" Hurst, yet living in Marion county, born here, and now over eighty years old. He had it from both his father and uncle, who were among the very first white settlers of upper White river valley. The father, for many years lived on the west side of White river, with the Talberts living just across the river in what is now Baxter county. There seems to have been at least three of the pioneer Talberts that were brothers. All settled in what is now Baxter around 1820. They were "Fed", Wat and Sim. One of them was, by three wives, the father of 36 children. One had a son, "Wat," or "Uncle Watty," that died in Baxter a few years ago, nearing his hundredth year. The writer hopes to be able to give a fair, brief history of this family in the near future.
     Mr. J. N. McCracken now owns the farm and the two springs that came together and formed the small water power that Johnny Cake utilized a good bit more than a hundred years ago. Mr. McCracken now grows corn on the bottom where Johnny Cake and his tribe used to grow it in the long ago. The Power and Light Company will, in a few days, be drilling on the very site of Johnny Cake's old corn field. It will be fitting, if the first mighty water power in Marion county will be within a stone's throw of the first water power that was developed by Johnny Cake, the civilized Delaware Indian, around 1818.
     Mr. McCracken says that all his life he has heard the story of the bear that lost its paw by Mrs. Talbert's broad-axe. He is also of the opinion that Johnny Cake, or his father, died on what is now his place and was buried before the Delawares removed with the other Marion county Indians, to what is now Oklahoma. Says there is a lone Indian grave that is marked in such a way that makes him believe an Indian chief was buried there. Said a huge slab of rock used to cover this grave; some of his neighbors, some years ago, thinking Indian treasure might have been buried there, began, without his permission, to dig after it.
     But about every six inches they encountered a heavy slab like unto the one covering the grave. Then they would encounter about six inches of "pounded" clay; then another heavy slab. Before the party got to the bottom of the grave, Mr. McCracken forbade the desecration, and the grave, still partly uncovered, is yet to be seen. The grave was evidently a deep one.
     It was the Delawares, then in the far north, that stood by the colonists during the darkest days of the Revolution.
Top of Page

Week of November 14, 1929
     ***It is so difficult to keep out mistakes when you are writing genealogy. But the writer will be glad to correct when his attention is called to same.
     Mrs. J. A. Flippin, well and favorably known to half the people in the county, was before her marriage, a Hurst. She was a daughter of William Hurst, and half sister to "Uncle Jack" Hurst. Once we had it that way. Later, in another article, we had it that she was a sister to "Uncle Jack's" wife, who was a daughter to "Uncle Henry" Burch, deceased.
     SNAP SHOTS
     George Hamlet, who was here last week, while his mother was being buried, said that the Revolutionary William Wood, written up by us some time ago, was his great-grandfather. That he was grandfather to his (Hamlet's) mother, who was nearly 90 at date of her decease. He also told the writer that this old Revolutionary William Wood lived, so his mother told him, to be 115 years old.
     He was ancestor to most all the Woods that ever lived in Marion county except those descended from Abram Wood. Uncle Billy Wood, a teacher and preacher, ancestor of a number of Woods, came to Marion county much later. Think he spelled it Woods.
     I find I have a patent to a 40 acres of land patented by Jeff Wood, son of Judge Wm. Wood, and grandson of Rev. Wm. Wood. Land is on Georges creek. Lies to west of my farm and on south of Hon. George Perry's farm.
     All the Wood's of this line, of the old set, seemed to be possessed of both slaves and gold, both of which were lost during the awful Civil war. Several of them buried their gold, lost their lives, and no one ever knew where the gold was buried.
     It is believed that a lot of this gold, as well as the slaves, once belonged to Revolutionary Wm. Wood, who lived longer than any man has ever lived in this county.
     Old Uncle Luke Marler, ancestor to so many Marlers, especially in Marion and Baxter counties, lived to be 110. He was the Sugar Loaf country.
     Chief, Johnny Cake, was not buried on the John McCracken farm, for he, Linden, a number of years ago, heard this very country; and heard him tell of his old home on White river. Says he was a Baptist minister. That he could preach in either Delaware or English. Says he was hale and hearty when he last saw him. He must have been a very old man.
     Uncle Lyn Adams, ancestor to so many Adams, was a direct descendant of either President John Quincy Adams, or of his father, President John Adams. All the Adams, that came of this stock, were well-to-do before the Civil war. They also had slaves and gold.
     The writer once heard Gould Thompson say that Ike Adams, brother to "Uncle Lynn", and a Confederate soldier, was the finest shot he ever knew, so far as Ike could see. But he was very short-sighted. Gould Thompson was said to be the best all round revolver shot in this country. He often won beef, shooting at a target with a revolver, at ten steps against others using a rifle at fifty steps.
     "Uncle Dan" Thompson, uncle to Dr. Thompson, was also said to be awfully good shot with a Colt six-shooter. He could hit a half dollar, at ten steps, three times out of four.
     "Uncle Jim" McCabe, ancestor to so many McCabes and Otts, was also a fine revolver shot. He at one time attempted to capture a Yankee gun boat on the Mississippi with a carbine and a six-gun. Many old settlers will remember of hearing this incident. Marion county never produced a better citizen or a braver soldier than was James H. McCabe. The writer will never forget him.
     Bluford Mears, almost the last of Cowan Barrens immortals, is yet living at his old place on or near the old Carrollton road, in the Clabber creek country. He is in poor health. The writer was told that Bluford's horse fell down in front of the old Carter house, in Yellville, and the Yankees would have got him but for Gould Thompson holding back some twenty Yankee cavalrymen, single-handed, until Bluford could get up and get behind Thompson on the latter's horse.
     Thompson's little band had fired the old Masonic Hall at Yellville, which was being used as a commissary by the Federals. The Federals were camped west of the present Methodist church, and Thompson, Mears and others were trying to prevent them from putting out the fire. In this they succeeded. The Federals lost much of their powder and other needed supplies in this fire.
     This incident was told to the writer by Rev. "Bas" Summers, while he was presiding Elder of this county, nearly forty years ago. Summers, as old citizens will remember, was a brother to Judge Jeff Summers. Their fine old father was Calvin Summers, one of the pillars of the Methodist church, in the Pleasant Ridge country. Think he died near DeSoto Springs. Many tombstones in Pleasant Ridge graveyard were made by him. He generally used our native Marion county red marble.
Top of Page

NOTE: Mr. Jones continued writing articles in the Mountain Echo throughout the next year until August 28, 1930. His subject matter consisted mainly of current-day political and business interests with some personal elements from time-to-time. Indication was that his health was poor when writing the historical articles, and may have improved such that he resumed activities in current affairs the last year of his life.
     On September 18, 1930, a death notice was printed on the front page of the Mountain Echo as follows:

HON. W. R. JONES PASSES AWAY MONDAY EVENING

     On Monday, Sept. 1st, Hon. W. R. Jones became ill and a doctor was summoned. A few days later peritonitis developed and Dr. Pyrtle of Flippin and Dr. Smith of Russellville were called into the case, and the services of two nurses were secured, one of whom kept a constant vigil at his bedside.
     Everything that could be done to overcome the dread disease was done, but he grew gradually worse, and several days ago all hope was given up, but the fight to overcome the poison which was making inroads on his system was kept up. He had a strong constitution and a good nerve, and his friends throughout the county continued to hope that he might be spared, but at 5 o'clock Monday evening, just two weeks from the time he was stricken, almost without a struggle, he passed into eternal sleep, at the age of 68 years.
     At his bedside when the end came were his wife and his two daughters, Mrs. Bertha Ward of Russellville, and Mrs. Ina Duren of Brawley, California, and his son-in-law, Mr. Ben Ward of Russellville.
     The Holt Undertaking Company was called and took charge of the body and prepared it for burial.
     Funeral services will be conducted at the home this (Wednesday) afternoon at 3 o'clock, after which the body will be laid to rest in the Layton cemetery.
     Mr. Jones came to this county with his family from Wayne County, Ill., about 44 years ago and located in Yellville. He was a graduate of Valparaiso University and was employed as principal of the Yellville school, which position he held for two years, after which he purchased the Mountain Echo and became its editor.
     In 1894 he was elected to the Arkansas Legislature, and again in 1896. He then retired from politics, and later became engaged in the banking, mercantile and real estate business, being president of the Miners and Citizens Bank. A few years ago he sold his banking business and for a time retired from public life.
     In 1926 he was again elected to the Arkansas Legislature, and again in 1928. At the recent primary election he again received the Democratic nomination for that office, and had he lived, he would have been elected at the November election. During his eight years in the Arkansas legislature he helped to enact into law many measures which will stand as a monument to his efforts and to his memory.
     Few men have ever lived in Marion county who had a wider circle of friends than did Mr. Jones, and no man was ever more loyal to his friends than was he. He will be missed as few of Marion county's citizens have ever been missed.
     He loved Marion county and her people, and his every act, both in private life and in the Arkansas legislature, was in the interest of Marion county--her road and school interests were uppermost in his mind, and his efforts were directed to making them better.
     In his death Marion county has lost one of her most progressive and distinguished citizens. His family have lost a devoted husband and a loving father, and his friends have lost a man upon whom they could depend in every crisis of life. He will be missed for many years to come.