Arkansas Genealogy Trails
COUNTY OFFICES
Edited by: JOHN HUGH REYNOLDS, c1906.
Vol. 1
Transcribed by Cathy Ritter
| INDEX The Arkansas Historical Association Arkansas County Outline History Public Records Baxter County Benton County Boone County Calhoun County Carroll County Chicot County Clark County Clay County Cleburne County Cleveland County Columbia County Craighead County Crawford County Crittenden County Cross County Dallas County Drew County Faulkner County Franklin County Garland County Grant County Greene County Hempstead County Hot Spring County Howard County Independence County Izard County Jackson County Johnson County Lafayette County Lee County Lincoln County Little River County Logan County Madison County Marion County Miller County Monroe County Montgomery County Nevada County Newton County Ouachita County Perry County Phillips County Poinsett County Polk County Pope County Prairie County Pulaski County Randolph County Saline County Scott County Sebastian County Searcy County Sharp County St. Francis County Stone County Union County Van Buren County Washington County White County Woodruff County Yell County Municipal Offices Hot Springs Fort Smith Little Rock Batesville Quitman Paris Fayetteville Malvern Monticello Searcy Educational Institutions University of Arkansas Ouachita College Hendrix College Arkansas College Arkansas Cumberland College Galloway Female College Central Baptist College Quitman College Henderson College Branch Normal College of U of A Philander Smith College Cane Hill College St. John's College Churches Baptists in Arkansas Catholic Church Methodist Episcopal Church South Arkansas Conference Little Rock Conference White River Conference Presbyterian Church The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Arkansas The Disciples of Christ in Arkansas The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Arkansas | In gathering the material for this chapter the secretary prepared blanks, calling for the essential facts about county records, including an outline sketch of the history of the county, and sent them to the associate members of the commission in the several counties. Where answers could not be secured from this source, the blanks were addressed directly to the county clerk. In spite of sending letters repeatedly, no replies were received from some counties. This chapter is largely a tabulation of the replies to our communications. Some of the historical sketches have been abbreviated, while in other cases no sketch is given because none was received. For the purposes of the chapter the replies have been altered in form and language. Some blanks were prepared with great care, others indicated haste. The original replies from which the chapter is compiled are kept on file. At the close of the paragraph on each county is given the name of the person who filled out the blank. On Monday, December 6, 1813, the second session of the first territorial legislature of Missouri convened in St. Louis. At this session the county of Arkansas was created by an act thereof dated December 31, 1813. The boundaries of the county, as designated by said act, were as follows: "All that portion of the territory bounded north by the south line of the county of New Madrid, east of the main channel of the Mississippi River, south by the thirty-third degree of north latitude or north boundary line of the Osage purchase and by a line commencing upon the Arkansas River where the boundary line of the Osage purchase intersects the same, thence in a direct line to the main source of the Washita, thence south to the northern boundary line of the State of Louisiana or the thirty-third degree of north latitude. The line dividing Arkansas and New Madrid counties as referred to in the above description began at the lower end or foot of island numbered nineteen in the Mississippi River." This island as shown on the chart of the Mississippi River made by Samuel Cummins from actual surveys in 1819-21 and published in his Western Pilot in 1836 is about forty miles by the course of the river *This subject was originally assigned to another member of the commission, but other duties would not permit him to do the work, whereupon the secretary gathered the data and wrote the chapter. below New Madrid and about where the line of public surveys dividing townships seventeen and eighteen north of the base line passing east and west through the State strikes the Mississippi River. From the foot of island number nineteen the line dividing Arkansas and New Madrid counties runs in a southwest direction to the mouth of the Little Red River in the present limits of White County, thence up Little Red River to the source, thence west to the western boundary of the State, thence south with the western boundary to the north boundary of the State of Louisiana, thence to the main channel of the Mississippi River, thence up said river to the beginning. Steele and McCampbell's Digest of Territorial Laws, 1835. The first appearance of Europeans in Arkansas County was the landing of De Soto and his men in May, 1541, opposite the present site of Memphis. De Soto died and was buried at Helena in 1542, and it was here that his successor, Mascoso, was appointed. This opinion as to location is based on the description given by Irving in his Conquest of Florida, by the Gentleman of Elvas and by De Biedma, and upon a full personal knowledge of the topography of the country. In July, 1673, Marquette and Joliet visited the mouth of the Arkansas River: See Marquette and Joliet’s account in French's Historical Collections. March 12, 1682, La Salle and De Tonti with twenty-two Frenchmen and eighteen savages reached the mouth of the Arkansas River. Here La Salle took formal possession of the territory in the name of the King of France and erected a cross bearing the arms of his country—the first formal declaration of sovereignty over Louisiana. See French's Historical Collections and Parkman's Discovery in the Great West. In the spring of 1686 the first settlement by white men made in Louisiana was at Arkansas Post on the north bank of the Arkansas River by Frenchmen to whom De Tonti granted the privilege under a grant to him from La Salle. De Tonti "by deed, dated November 26, 1689, gave to Father Dablon, then Superior of the Canadian Mission, a strip on the Arkansas River a little east of his fort, of about eight acres for a chapel and mission house * * *" See Memoirs of De Tonti. A settlement of Germans and negroes was made in 1718 near the Post through the efforts of John Law. In 1751, M. Bossu, a French captain of marines, visited Arkansas Post and in his report to his government says of Law's colony, "It was four leagues square and the colony was erected into a duchy." See Bossu's Travels through Louisiana, Volume i. The District of Arkansas was established for civil and military purposes in 1722, a judge and commandant being appointed to reside at the Post. See Le Harpe. Du Paessou, after a voyage full of discomforts, of which he has given a most graphic description, reached the Arkansas Post on July 7, 1727. See Catholic Missions, by John G. Shea. December 20, 1803, Louisiana was formally transferred to the United States. The transfer of the interior posts was made later, that of Arkansas Post being made to Major J. B. Maury in the spring of 1804, at which time civil and military authority of the United States began in Arkansas County. In 1806, the legislature of Louisiana Territory established the District of Arkansas, separating it from New Madrid, and established a general court to sit twice a year at St. Louis in May and October. It seems however the division was not made nor the court established until 1808. The first term of probate court was held by John W. Honey December 12, 1808. The first term of circuit court was held at Arkansas Post November 1, 181?. The first territorial legislature of Arkansas met at the Post July 28, 1819. The records of Arkansas county are rich and are well preserved. The first record at the Post after the Purchase was made by Major James B. Maury of the United States Army, June 5, 1804. This record was continued by military authority until September 12, 1805, the instruments recorded in this book being as a rule without acknowledgment. This record is in good condition. The second record is styled "Record A" and was for the registration of all instruments duly acknowledged under the civil law, the first entry being October 9, 1808. This record continues to August, 1814. There seems to be no break in this line of records from this time to the present. The first civil court record was that of the probate court held by John W. Honey December 12, 1808. This book contains the proceedings up to June 20, 1814. The probate records seem to be complete from that time. The first circuit court record bears date of December 12, 1819, the time of holding the first circuit court in the county after the organization of territorial government in Arkansas, and is doubtless the first ever held in the county, as it will be remembered that the Louisiana legislature in June, 1806, passed an act creating "A general court for the Arkansas District to sit twice a year in St. Louis, in May and October." There seems to be no break in the circuit court records down to the present. In the official catalogue of Exhibit Department of Anthropology at the St. Louis fair, on page 61, is the following statement: "Arkansas Post Records: all that remain of the records of Arkansas Post, the other records were destroyed during the Civil War and the ones below were lost for about forty years." The books referred to as "below" are the ones mentioned above. How such an idea got current or from whom obtained the author can not say, but the statement is not true. The author has been familiar with the records of Arkansas County as an attorney since 1847, and has no recollection of any of the records ever having been lost or destroyed. The records of the county were removed from Arkansas Post to De Witt in September, 1855. "Record A" and the circuit court record named above are bound, but are in poor condition. The probate records referred to above were never bound, being made up of several quires of paper bound together with cord. The writing however is legible. They are kept in fire-proof vaults at the court house. W. H. HALLIBURTON Baxter County was formed in 1873 out of territories taken from Izard, Fulton, Marion and Searcy counties. Almost all records are complete from 1873. Records prior to that date were destroyed by the burning of the courthouses of Izard, Fulton and Marion counties. The courthouse of Baxter county was destroyed by fire February 24, 1890; the court records, five deed records and all marriage records except one were saved. All records not totally destroyed have been transcribed and rebound. What records exist are in good condition and are kept in a fireproof vault. Z. M. HORTON. This county was created September 30, 1830, out of territory taken from Washington County and was named after Honorable Thomas H. Benton of Missouri. The first will and probate record is dated April 17, 1837, and this class of records is complete from that time. All deed and county records are complete. The records are kept in a fire-proof vault. S. J. BLOCHE Territory was taken from Carroll County in 1869 to form Boone County. The records are complete from the formation of the county, but are not kept in fire-proof vaults. J. R. NEWMAN This county was organized in 1852 and was made up of territory taken from Union, Dallas and Ouachita counties. The records are complete from the formation of the county, but at present are kept in the courthouse, a frame building. J. H. ROWLAND, ClerkThis county was created November 30, 1833, out of territory drawn from Izard County. The records of this county were entirely destroyed by fire in December, 1869; they are complete however from March 14, 1870, to the present and are kept in fire-proof vaults. N. C. CHARLES, Clerk. Chicot county was established October 25, 1823, and was drawn from Arkansas County. The records are complete from 1824, though they are not kept in a fire-proof vault. R. D. CHOTARD, Clerk. This county was formed December 15, 1818, by an act of the Territory of Missouri out of the territory of Arkansas County and was named after Governor William Clark of Missouri. The records are complete from its organization and are kept in a fire-proof vault at the courthouse. DOUGALD McMlLLAN. Clay County was formed March 24, 1873, out of territories taken from Randolph and Greene counties and was named after Senator Powell Clayton. The will and deed records begin in April, 1881, and are complete to date except deed record "E" from March 1, 1891, to January 31, 1892. This record was burned. The following records are missing: Book "E" named above, the entire records of Clayton County, and the records of Clay County from December, 1875, date of change of name from Clayton to Clay, to February 29, 1893. The latter records were burned at Piggott when the courthouse was destroyed by fire. The records are kept in a fire-proof vault. J. M. PICKENS, Dep. Clk. This county was formed by act of the general assembly in 1883 part of territory taken from Van Buren, Independence and White counties. Its records are complete since organization and are kept in a fire-proof vault at the courthouse. WM. T. HAMMOCK. Cleveland County was created April 17, 1873, out of territories drawn from Jefferson, Dallas, Bradley and Lincoln counties. It was first named after Stephen W. Dorsey, but in 1885 the legislature changed the name in honor of President Cleveland. The records are incomplete and some are not in good condition. Several tax books, one marriage record and one or more court records are missing. J. M. McMuRTREY, Clerk. This county was formed of portions of Ouachita and Lafayette counties on December 17, 1852. The records are complete from the organization of the county and are in good condition. The new courthouse, now under construction, will have fire-proof vaults for the preservation of the records. W. H. ASKEW. Craighead was formed out of Greene, Poinsett and Mississippi counties February 19, 1859. The temporary seat of justice was at a private residence in Greenfield township. The commissioners appointed to select the county seat designated Jonesboro. The county was named after Senator Thomas B. Craighead of Mississippi County. Records prior to its formation are to be found at Paragould, Harrisburg, Osceola and Powhatan, the latter being mentioned because Lawrence County is the mother of all counties in Northeast Arkansas. All records were destroyed by fire in 1869 and again in 1878. The records are therefore incomplete. Since 1886 the records have been kept in a fire-proof vault and no records have been injured or lost since March 28, 1878. J. C. HAWTHORNE. This county was created by an act of the territorial legislature October 18, 1820, and was drawn from Pulaski County. In 1828 the Osage and Cherokee country was added to the county. The boundaries were frequently changed down to 1851, since which time there have been comparatively few alterations. It was named in honor of William H. Crawford, President Monroe's secretary of the treasury. The records from 1818 to 1820 are on file at Little Rock. On March 23, 1877, the courthouse was destroyed by fire and all records were destroyed except those of the treasurer and a few deeds and mortgages. Since that date however the records are complete and are kept in fire-proof vaults. Miss CLARA B. END. Crittenden was formed October 22, 1825, out of territory taken from Phillips County. It was named in honor of our first territorial secretary, Robert Crittenden. The boundary of the county has been frequently changed by detaching territory for new counties. The records of this county are intact except that during the reconstruction period, a few pages of the deed records and of the chancery court records were mutilated, and the taxbooks for the year 1878 are missing. There are deed records much older than the county and the original deed records, "A" and "B," are now hardly legible. Many of these early deeds are in Spanish. The records are in good state of preservation with the exceptions named above. The records have been kept in an old brick building, standing apart from the courthouse, but there is now being constructed a modern fire-proof vault for them. FRANK SMITH. Out of territories drawn from Poinsett, St. Francis and Crittenden counties the Confederate legislature, November 15, 1862, formed this county and named it in honor of Judge Edward Cross. The records are complete from 1862 to the present and are kept in fire-proof vaults. O. N. KILLOUGH Dallas County was formed in 1845 out of territory belonging to Clark County and the records up to that time will be found at Arkadelphia. At different times territory has been taken from this county to form others. Records are complete from the formation of the county except a few taxbooks which are torn and faded. They are kept in fire-proof vaults. L. E. PURDY This county was created November 27, 1846, out of territory taken from Bradley County and was named after Governor Drew. The records have been well preserved and are complete from the formation of the county. They are kept in fire-proof vaults. W. A. BROWN This county was formed in 1873 and its records are complete from and including that year. The courthouse was burned, but a fire-proof vault saved the records. J. H. HARTJE, Clerk. This county was organized December 13, 1837, out of a part of Crawford County. The first county seat was at Whitsontown, located on Big Mulberry Creek, about five miles northwest of the town of Mulberry. It was changed to Ozark in 1839. The general assembly in June, 1895, established two districts for holding court, viz: the Ozark district, embracing the northern part of the county, and the Charleston district, embracing the part of the county south of the river. In 1905 the Ozark district erected a courthouse costing $60,000.00, while the courthouse at Charleston is built of native stone. The records of the county, common pleas, probate and circuit courts, are complete from the date of the first court in 1839. The deed and mortgage records are incomplete; the courthouse was burned in 1863, but G. H. Ross, the clerk, saved from the fire all except the deed records. Since that date the deed records are complete. The records of the Charleston district are complete from 1891, they having been burned in that year. For the most part however they have been rewritten. T. A. PETTIGREW. Garland County was created under an act of the legislature approved April 5, 1873. It was formed out of Hot Spring, Saline and Montgomery counties. By act of legislature of 1897 this county was compelled to pay equitable apportionment of debt of Hot Springs County. See Garland County v. Hot Spring County, 68 Arkansas, p. 83. No records from parent counties have been transcribed. With respect to the records, Honorable Chas. D. Greaves writes: "They were complete until February 25, 1905, when fire and heat charred, damaged or destroyed everything except taxbooks of 1904 then in the hands of the collector. The deed and mortgage records, except two, have been recopied or reproduced as they were left after the fire, edges being badly burned and only portions legible. As records will have considerable value, these consist of books designated by alphabet (26) and about 39 by number, I to 39. Circuit court records were totally destroyed, 10 books; chancery records practically destroyed, book I has been recopied, 8 (A to H) being burned. Probate records all except last one destroyed; so also the county court records, the marriage license records were partially destroyed, one will record burned, one partially restored, mechanic's lien judgment record destroyed, probate docket partially restored, pending cases in chancery court partially saved, all law and probate papers destroyed. The county never had vaults. New courthouse just completed at cost of over $175,000.00, including furniture, has complete set of vaults." C. D. GREAVES. This county was formed February 4, 1869, and was taken from Saline, Hot Spring and Jefferson counties. It was named in honor of General Grant . All the records from the formation of the county to March 14, 1877, were destroyed by fire. The records since that date are complete and are kept in fire-proof vaults. DAN J. TAYLOR, Clerk. Greene County was formed out of Lawrence County November 5, 1833; this county has since then furnished territory in part for Poinsett, Craighead and Clay counties. All the records of the county were totally destroyed by fire March 13, 1876. Since that date the records are complete and are kept in fire-proof vaults. B. H. CROWLEY. This county was formed December 15, 1818, out of territory of Arkansas County. This was by act of the territorial legislature of Missouri and the county was named after Edward Hempstead. The circuit court records are complete from March 15, 1824; deed records are complete since October 9, 1820. The records prior to these dates have been lost through carelessness of officials. The first record of county court bears date 1837. The records are in good condition, and are kept in fire-proof vaults. A. H. CASKIGAN This county was formed from territory taken from Clark County November 2, 1829. The territory of the county was reduced in 1873 by the formation of Garland County. The records are complete from the formation of the county and are kept in fire-proof vaults. W. H. COOPER In 1873 Howard County was formed out of territory embraced in the counties of Polk, Pike, Sevier and Hempstead. Records prior to this date are to be found at the county sites of these respective counties; since the formation of the county the records are complete and are kept in fire-proof vaults. CHAS. HUGHES This county was created by act of the territorial legislature October 20, 1820. See page 140 of Steele and Campbell's Digest of Territorial statutes. The county was formed from territory taken from Lawrence. The following records are complete from the dates named: Records of common pleas court, first held by two justices of the peace, begin November 19, 1821; records of deeds and mortgages begin with December 14, 1820; all court records and records of the recorder's office are complete from these dates. No records are missing. The state of preservation is good: a number of the records have been rebound, but the writing is legible. They are kept in fire-proof vaults. ROBT. NEILL This county was formed October 27, 1825, out of Independence County and was named after Governor Izard. April 11, 1869, the courthouse with all records was destroyed by fire. Since that time the records are complete and are kept in an office built of stone. W. K. ESTES, Clerk. Jackson County was formed November 5, 1829, out of territory of Independence County. The records have never been destroyed; they are complete and are kept in fire-proof vaults. GEORGE A. LOCKHARD, Clerk. This county was formed November 15, 1833, and was taken from Pope County. It was named after Judge Benjamin Johnson. The records are complete from 1838 to the present, are in good condition, and are kept in fire-proof vaults. J. W. SALLIS This county was created in 1827. No misfortune has ever befallen the records. They are complete and are kept in fire-proof vaults. M. D. HARRELL, Clerk. This county was created in 1873. No records are missing; they are in good condition and are kept in fire-proof vaults. E. E. KING, Clerk. Lincoln County was formed by act of legislature in 1871, and all records from that time are complete. H. H. PALMER, Clerk. This county was formed in 1867. Prior to the formation of the county the records of Sevier County are the records of the territory embraced in Little River. The following records are missing: County court record from 1867 to January, 1876, destroyed by fire in 1882; marriage record from 1867 to December, 1880, cause of destruction unknown; real estate taxbooks from 1867 to 1882, destroyed by fire in 1882. Otherwise the records are complete. The records are now kept in a temporary courthouse, an unsafe frame building. A. D. DuLANEY This county was formed in 1873 from Franklin, Johnson, Yell and Scott and was named Sarber. The name was changed in 1874. Some territory was added from Scott County in 1900. All records from the formation of the county to 1878 were destroyed by fire; since that time the records are complete and are kept in fire-proof vaults. HENRY STROUP This county was formed in 1836 out of territory taken from Carroll County. Probate court records are complete from 1860; county court records are complete from 1873; will records, complete from 1880; deed records, complete from 1843. A fire in 1902 destroyed deed record "A" and all will records except those recorded on court records. The records are kept in a fire-proof vault. JAS. R. STOTTS This county was formed November 3, 1835, out of Izard, Boone, Baxter and Searcy. Records are complete to the present from 1837, at which time a fire destroyed all records except one deed record. Fireproof vaults protect the records. J. L. BOND There have been two counties in Arkansas named Miller. The first formed after the territory was created was thus named. Date April 1, 1820. It was named for Governor Miller, the first territorial executive. It was taken from Hempstead County and embraced nearly all of south Arkansas and a large portion of northeast Texas. It was abolished in 1836. The present Miller County was formed December 22, 1874, out of part of Lafayette County and was named after our two governors of that name. The records are complete from the formation of the county in 1874. Some of the records of the first Miller County are to be found at the county sites of Lafayette and Hempstead. Records are in good condition and are kept in fire-proof vaults. A. H. SEVIER This county was formed out of territory taken from Phillips and Arkansas by act of November 22, 1829. It was named after President Monroe. The records are complete since 1894, when prior records were destroyed by fire. The records are not kept in fire-proof vaults. W. L. HUNTER This county was created December 9, 1842, out of territory from Hot Spring County. It was not organized until 1844. The first courthouse was a log cabin; it is now used as a barn. The county site was first named Montgomery; in July, 1850, the name was changed to Salem and in October of the same year it was named Mt. Ida. The county court records date from July, 1845. The taxbooks for the year 1845 consist of ten sheets of foolscap paper sewn together. The number of taxpayers was 205, the number of taxable polls was 190, and the amount of taxable property was $42,880.00. The records are complete from the organization of the county to the present. GIBSON WITT The county was created by act of the general assembly March 20, 1871, from parts of Columbia, Hempstead and Ouachita counties. The county seat was fixed at Mt. Moriah, later in the same year it was located at Rosston. In 1877 it was located at Prescott. The records are complete from the organization of the county. For the records prior to its formation, see the records of parent counties. For want of adequate vault space the records are only in a fair state of preservation. Contract for repairing vault and for metallic furniture for it has recently been let. THOMAS C. McRAE December 14, 1842, this county was created out of territory from Carroll and was named after Thomas W. Newton. In 1866 all records were destroyed by fire. Since that time however they are complete and are kept in fire-proof vaults. J. F. CARLTON This county was created November 29, 1844, from territory drawn from Union and was named from its largest stream. December 10, 1875, all records were destroyed by fire; from that date to the present they are complete and are kept in fire-proof vaults. J: W. LIVINGSTON, Clerk. Perry County was formed December 18, 1840, from Conway County, and was named after Commodore Perry. In 1874 a fire destroyed courthouse and records, and again in December, 1881. One small chancery record was saved. The records are complete from 1881 and are kept in a fire-proof vault. P. L. BURROW Phillips County was created by the territorial legislature May 1, 1820, and was taken from Arkansas County. The first records of Phillips County seem to have been kept in Helena. The first deed on record was recorded October 13, 1820, the land surveyed is near Helena but is described as being in Arkansas County. The first deed in which the land is conveyed as being in Phillips County is recorded November 19, 1820. The first probate record bears the date of January 17, 1821; the first order of the court of common pleas was made January 15, 1821. From these dates the records seem to be complete. Some few of the records have been slightly damaged by being moth-eaten, but have been recopied. The records were removed during the war, but were afterwards returned in good condition. During the time they were gone a record was kept in a volume known as "Irregular D." No misfortune has ever befallen our records and they are kept in a fire-proof vault. GREENFIELD QUARLES. The county was created in 1838 and has contributed territory to make Cross and Craighead counties. The first county site was at Bolivar, three miles north of the present county site. Harrisburg was made the county site in 1857. All records were burned in the courthouse September, 1873. The records appear to be complete since 1873. J. J. MARDIS This county was created November 30, 1844, and was taken from Sevier County. All records prior to 1883 were destroyed by fire, except one probate record dating from September, 1876; one county court record dating from July, 1876; and one circuit court record dating from February, 1877. All records are complete from 1883 and are kept in fire-proof vaults. H. L. NORWOOD This county was created out of territory taken from Crawford November 2, 1829. The records are complete from the organization of the county until the present and are in a fairly good state of preservation. They are kept in fire-proof vaults. A. B. SHINN The county was organized in 1846. The records were destroyed by fire at Brownsville now in Lonoke County in 1853. They are complete however from 1855. The records are kept in fire-proof vaults. EUGENE LANKFORD The county was created by act of the territorial legislature of Missouri on December 15, 1818, and was named after Count Pulaski. All records are complete from May 24, 1819, to the present, and are in excellent state of preservation. They are kept in fire-proof vaults. E. W. WINFIELD This county was formed from a part of Lawrence in 1836. All the records are complete from the formation of the county to the present and are in fire-proof vaults at the courthouse. J. W. CAMPBELL. This county was created November 2, 1835, from the western portion of Pulaski County. The records are in a good state of preservation, are complete and are kept in fire-proof vaults. M. H. HOLLEMAN This county was created November 5, 1883, and was drawn from the territory of Crawford and Pope. It was named in honor of Judge Andrew Scott . The records are complete since the formation of the county and are kept in fire-proof vaults. K. DUNCAN, JR., Clerk. This county was created January 5, 1851, from territory taken from Crawford, Scott and Polk and was named after Senator Sebastian. The county is divided into two judicial districts, the Greenwood and Fort Smith; this was by provision of the constitution of 1874, being the only county in the State that has constitutional districts. These districts for all judicial purposes are separate counties with separate and distinct tax rates. The courthouse in the Greenwood district was destroyed by fire in 1881, and again in 1882, but few records being saved. All records since 1882 are in good condition and those prior to that date have been recopied as far as possible. The records are kept in fire-proof vaults at the respective county seats, Greenwood and Fort Smith. JOHN H. HOLLAND December 13, 1838, the legislature created this county out of territory drawn from Marion and named it in honor of Richard Searcy. The courthouse and records were destroyed by fire in January, 1864. There was a partial destruction of records by fire in March, 1877, and again by fire in August, 1885. All records prior to 1881 are missing except deed record "A," one chancery court record, one probate court record, one circuit court record. Fire-proof vaults protect the records and they are in good condition. ED MAYES, Clerk. The organization of Sharp County was by an act of the general assembly approved July 16, 1868. It was named after E. Sharp, one of the representatives in the assembly from this part of the county. The territory was nearly all taken from Lawrence County. March, 1873, a small section from Independence was added to the county. All of the records were destroyed by fire January 20, 1880. The records since that date are complete, in good state of preservation and are kept in a fire-proof vault made of stone at Evening Shade, and in a fire-proof iron safe in a stone courthouse at Hardy. C. W. SHAVER This county was created by act of legislature October 13, 1827, out of territory drawn from Phillips County and was named after its greatest river. A fire in the latter part of 1874 destroyed many of the court records, but many of the deed records were only partially burned. They have since been recopied as far as possible. All the records were destroyed by fire during the war. They are therefore complete since 1874, and almost complete since 1865. T. C. MERWIN This county was formed out of Izard, Independence, Van Buren and Searcy counties April 30, 1873. Records "A," "B," "C," "D," and "E" of deeds and mortgages are complete; "A," "B" and "C" of deeds only are complete; "A" and "B" of mortgages only are complete; "A," "B," "C" and "D" of county court records are complete; "A" and "B" of probate court, ''A" and "B" of circuit court, and "A" of chancery court are nearly complete; "A" of marriage records is complete. No records are missing. All records are in good condition and are kept in fireproof safe. WILLIAM H. H. OYLER November 2, 1829, out of territory taken from Hempstead and Clark counties, Union was formed. All records except tax books are complete from 1830 to the present; taxbooks are complete from 1868. The new government coming into power at the last named date destroyed the taxbooks. Records are in excellent state of preservation and are kept in fire-proof vaults at the courthouse. ALBERT F. RILEY This county was formed of territory taken from Pope and Searcy November 11, 1833. It contributed some 300 square miles to Cleburne County in 1883. Nearly all county records were destroyed by fire in 1863. A few of the old books were hidden by the clerk in a cliff and were thus saved. Records are complete since 1863 and are in a fair state of preservation. There are no fire-proof vaults for protection. GARNER FRASER This county was created by an act of the legislature October 17, 1828, and was made to take the place of Lovely County. County court records are complete from August 3, 1835; probate records, from October 9, 1837; marriage records, from 1845, except the record of the period between 1861 and 1864. Probate and will records, "A" and "B," were stolen. During the war Presley R. Smith, Clerk, hid the county records in a dry cave in the mountains south of Fayetteville to prevent their falling into the hands of the Federals. Only one record was thus lost . The records are in good condition and are kept in fire-proof vaults. BEN F. GREEK, Clerk. Was formed in 1835 from the counties of Pulaski and Independence. The records of the county date from the year 1836 to the present and are in a good state of preservation. They are in a fire-proof vault at the courthouse. They are complete from 1836. None are missing. JESSE N. CYPERT Was created November 26, 1862, out of territory taken from Jackson and St. Francis counties and was named in honor of William E. Woodruff, Sr. The records are complete since the organization of the county. V. E. SIMPSON, Clerk. Was carved out of Scott and Polk counties in 1840 and was named after Governor Yell. All records are complete since 1865. In addition for the period prior to 186s the county has the probate records from May 7, 1858, to February 10, 1862; the marriage record from July 23, 1841, to March 24, 1849; and the deed records from March 2, 1841, to December 4, 1848. The missing records were destroyed by fire during the war. • The records are in good condition and are kept in fire-proof vaults. J. E. CHAMBERS  Bryce says that the government of our cities is the worst in the American system of government. If carelessness in keeping our public records is an index to government, Arkansas cities are poorly governed. Blanks calling for information about city records were sent to all of our cities and towns of importance. These communications were repeated many times and many personal letters were sent requesting information about city records. The information herein given is all that could be secured. It is to be hoped that our cities will become interested in their records and that later volumes will make a better showing for them. The town of Hot Springs was incorporated April 5, 1876. It was declared a city of the second class September 1st of the same year, and on March 13, 1879, it was made a city of the first class. All city records are complete except that from 1901-03 the records were not kept accurately, due to the failure of the clerk to discharge his duties. The records have never been injured in any way and are in good condition. Fort Smith derived its name from a military post established at what had been called Belle Point by the early French settlers. The site of the post or fort was chosen by Major Stephen Long (of Pike and Long's exploring expedition) in November, 1817. The post was named for Brigadier General Thomas A. Smith. Its first commander was Major William Bradford, who' remained in charge until February, 1822, when he was succeeded by Colonel Matthew Arbuckle of the seventh infantry. Major Bradford's command consisted of company "A," rifle regiment, recruited largely from frontiersmen who had fought with General Jackson at New Orleans. *This subject was originally assigned to another member of the commission, but private business not allowing him to do the work, the secretary collected the data and wrote the chapter. It is unsatisfactory and is by no means a thorough treatment of the subject, but it is the best that could be done with the facts before him. The town was incorporated under state law in December, 1842. The first mayor was George Herd and the five aldermen were called trustees. The general assembly in 1853 granted another charter to the city, but as it proved too drastic, it was set aside by the courts, and another was granted December 19, 1854. Records.—The records are incomplete. There is an old book giving some ordinances passed during the fifties. There seems to be extant no record of the proceedings of the council prior to the war. The police court records are in fair state of preservation since 1853 except from November, 1862, to 1864. The yankees being in town after September 1, 1863, doubtless explains this break in the records. There are records giving the names of all the mayors, recorders and aldermen since 1853, except the mayor for 1862 and the council for 1863. The mayor during the war period changed frequently, owing to the proximity of the Federals. The records of the recorder's office were burned or destroyed about 1865. The records of the meeting of the city council and the register of ordinances are complete and in good condition from 1866 to the present. In fact about all of the records are complete since that date. J. F. WEAVER The "City of Roses" was incorporated by act of the legislature in the year 1831, and the town council was first organized January 15, 1832. An act of the general assembly passed March 9, 1875, declared it a city of the first class, and the city council met and organized the new government April 12, 1875. The estimated population of the city now is 55,000. Records.—The city clerk, F. M. Oliver, writes that the following records were on file in his office and that they are in fairly good condition. Records of the proceedings of the city council from November, 1869.. Record of city ordinances from November, 1869. Death records from April 1, 1871. Birth records from January, 1902. Record of proceedings of board of public affairs from January, 1831. The town of Batesville was laid off and platted March 23, 1822. The deed of covenant stipulated "that no tax shall be levied until the population of the town exceeds forty." It was therefore quite small. The town was incorporated January 5, 1841, by order of the county court, but was dissolved January 10, 1845. It was reincorporated by act of the legislature December 20, 1848, which act was later amended in 1851 and 1857. December 24, 1892, the town was raised to a city of the second class. As an improvement district, the city owns its water works and electric light plant, taking water from the White River. Records.—The records of the town were destroyed by fire January 16, 1800; since that time they are complete and in the possession of the city recorder. This town was incorporated in 1881. Records.—The minutes of the council are complete from the organization of the town. Mayor's docket is complete from June 30, 1898. Record of ordinances and by-laws are preserved from the organization of the town in 1881. Records of the treasurer's office have been lost or burned except for the last three years. The mayor's docket from 1881 to 1898 was burned. W. T. HAMMOCK This town was laid off in 1874 when the plot of ground was selected as the county site. The records of the town are in good condition from the first council in 1878. HENRY STROUP This town was incorporated at the January term of the Washington County court in 1841, under the title of "The aldermen and town council of the town of Fayetteville." Pleasant V. Rhea was first mayor. It was made a city of the second class November 15, 1883, and was declared a city of the first class in June, 1905. Records.—The record of the proceedings of the city council is complete since 1896. The script register is complete for the same period. The license register is complete from 1902. The record of ordinances exists from 1889 to the present. Malvern began its town life in 1872 and was soon made an incorporated town. In 1905 it was declared a city of the second class. All records were destroyed by fire in 1896. They are complete since that time and include register of warrants, ordinances, mayor's docket, and minutes of the city council. The records of the city are kept by the clerk. They are in two volumes and date from 1873. Prior to that date the records were poorly kept and have for the most part been destroyed. This town was laid out some time between 1836 and 1840. Ten acres of land was donated by James Walker for a county seat. The courthouse is situated near the center of the ten-acre tract and lots around it are still described as lying within the "Ten-acre Donation." The town was named for Judge Richard Searcy, one of the territorial judges of Arkansas. It was incorporated by act of legislature about 1854. All records of the town are preserved in the mayor's office and for the most part are in a good state of preservation. They include mayor's dockets, council proceedings and ordinances. The latter have been digested from time to time and printed copies are in the mayor's office. The records date from about 1868 to the present. Some few have been lost. J. N. CYPERT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, CHURCHES AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. Congress in 1862 offered to each state 30,000 acres of public land for each senator and representative in Congress. In 1871 the general assembly of Arkansas accepted this offer. Fayetteville and Washington County gave $130,000.00 to secure the location of the University and in January, 1872, the doors opened to students. The State has been a constant friend of the University, and by appropriations has broadened its scope so as to include the liberal as well as the applied arts. The following buildings are on the University grounds: University Hall, three boys' dormitories, one girls' dormitory, engineering hall, mechanical shops, experiment station buildings, agricultural building, dairy building, chemistry building, infirmary, greenhouse. These buildings and grounds with equipments represent an outlay of $500,000.00. There is a library of about 12,000 volumes.By JOHN HUGH REYNOLDS Part I. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS The University has been administered by the following presidents: N. P. Gates, 1871-1873, 1875-1877; A. W. Bishop, 18731875; D. H. Hill, 1877-1884; George M. Edgar, 1884-1887; E. H. Murfree, 1887-1893; John H. Buchanan, 1893-1902; Henry S. Hartzog, 1902-1905; John N. Tillman, 1905— SOURCES OF THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY.—The land grant acts of congress, acts creating the Morrill Fund and Experiment Stations, acts of the general assembly of Arkansas from 1871 to the present. In the president's office are to be found a complete set of the catalogues, a complete set of faculty records, a complete set of minutes of the board of trustees, a full set of the biennial reports of the board of trustees to the governor. In the journals of the two houses of the general assembly will be found the proceedings of that body with respect to the University, also reports of visiting and investigating committees. In possession of Dr. Henry S. Hartzog of Fort Smith are biographical sketches of graduates, college reminiscences, papers written by Dr. Hartzog on the development of the course of study and other subjects, a collection of statutes respecting the University. History of Education in Arkansas, a monograph by Josiah H. Shinn, published by the bureau of education at Washington, D. C., contains a sketch of the University. The Arkansas Baptist Convention at Fayetteville in 1883 decided to establish a college and appointed a commission to agitate the question. The commission worked for two years and at Hope in 1885 the convention elected a board of trustees and instructed them to locate and to build the college. Arkadelphia was selected as the location and in July of 1886, John W. Conger was elected president. The work of developing the institution has been largely that of Dr. Conger, who is still at its head. It opened September 6, 1886, with six teachers and one hundred students in an old frame building. The main building was completed in 1889; a Young Ladies' Home was erected in 1891 and a conservatory building was constructed in 1898. The total value of grounds, buildings and equipments is $100,000.00. The institution grew rapidly. During the first sixteen years the average enrollment was 350. The college has a library of about seven thousand volumes. It, moreover, has a system of affiliated academies scattered over the State. SOURCES.—The minutes of the Arkansas Baptist Convention complete in the office of the missionary secretary at Little Rock; in the office of the president are files of the printed minutes of the State Baptist Convention, partial set of faculty minutes, an incomplete but large collection of the printed minutes of the different Baptist associations in Arkansas, a complete set of the college catalogues, copies of the Arkansas Baptist and of the Baptist Advance devoted to Ouachita College; the records of the board of trustees are complete and in the care of the secretary, S. M. Powell, Little Rock; files of the Arkansas Baptist are complete in the hands of the Reverend B. M. Bogard of Argenta; files of the Baptist Advance are in offices of the Advance at Little Rock. The faculty records were destroyed up to 10x15. "President Conger however, writes "that all material facts are preserved in one form or another, either in catalogues or in the minutes of the present year (1905-06)." History of Education by Josiah H. Shinn contains a brief sketch of the college. In 1883 the Arkansas conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, authorized its centenary committee to establish a college for men. The committee in June, 1884, purchased the Central Collegiate Institute at Altus. The other two conferences in Arkansas, the Little Rock and the White River, became joint owners with the Arkansas conference in 1885 and 1886 respectively. The board in 1886 elected Dr. A. C. Miller, president. The rapid development and distinctive character of the college are due to his strong personality. The Institute was co-educational until 1889 when Galloway Female College was established. The board thereupon changed the name to Hendrix College and made it primarily a high grade male college. In 1890 it was moved to Conway, the latter place giving the ground and $55,000.00. There were erected on the campus the main building, Tabor Hall and two dormitories. The grounds, buildings and equipments are worth some $75,000.00. Besides this the college has an endowment of about $100,000.00. Its library contains 10,000 bound volumes and 3,000 pamphlets. It owns and operates three or four academies at different points in the State. The college has been administered by A. C. Millar from 1886-1902, Stonewall Anderson from 1902 to the present. SOURCES.—Minutes of the Arkansas, Little Rock and White River conferences since 1883 in the hands of their respective secretaries; in the president's office are a complete set of the faculty minutes, of the president's annual reports to the board of trustees, of the college catalogues, of the Hendrix College Mirror; the minutes of the board of trustees are complete in the hands of the secretary, P. D. English, of Little Rock. History of Education in Arkansas by Josiah H. Shinn contains a brief sketch. In 1872 the Presbyterian Church established the Arkansas College at Batesville. A nucleus already existed in the form of a small school maintained under the auspices of the local congregation at Batesville. The leaders in establishing the college were Reverend I. J. Long, Reverend T. R. Welch, Reverend S. W. Davies, and Reverend D. C. Boggs. The college opened in a frame building, but later in the year a brick structure was built. In 1888 a stone building was erected for chapel and public exercises and in 1892 the Isaac J. Long Memorial Building, a three-story brick, was built. The college is co-educational. It is controlled by the synod of Arkansas through a board of trustees. Its library numbers 5,000 volumes. The college owes much to its first president, Reverend I. J. Long. It has been administered as follows: Reverend I. J. Long, 1872-1891; E. R. Long, chairman of faculty, 1891-1895; John C. Cleland, 1895-1897; E. R. Long, 1897 to the present . SOURCES.—Records of board of trustees from 1872 to the present, kept at Batesville; records of Arkansas Presbytery to 1886, then from that time the records of Arkansas Synod, these records being in the hands of the stated clerks of the presbytery and synod; catalogues of the college complete in the college library; general catalogue of college, containing all students, time of attendance and items regarding subsequent life, all members of the faculty and trustees with period of service, all public speakers on commencement occasions, from 1872 to the present, this being in manuscript form in the college library; sketch of Arkansas College by Reverend I. J. Long, D. D., reprint of seven articles in Arkansas Presbyterian, 1891, copies in office of president; History of Education in Arkansas_ by Josiah H. Shirm; "Presbyterianism in Arkansas," containing historical addresses and papers. The Cumberland Presbyterian Synod of Arkansas in 1889 created an educational commission to take steps toward establishing a college. In 1890 the synod authorized the committee to receive bids for the location, and in 1891, Clarksville having subscribed $51,800.00, was selected as the site. The synod selected a board of trustees under whose control a good building was erected, a faculty chosen and the college opened September 7, 1891. Under different presidents the college has continued to the present, Reverend G. D. Crawford now being at its head. The college has a library of 4,000 volumes. The president writes: "The minutes of the faculty are not on file. The minutes of the board of trustees are supposed to be complete and are in the hands of the secretary, W. D. Shibley, Fort Smith." The records of the synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church since 1889 in the hands of its clerk will give the relation of that body to the college. A set of the college catalogues exists. This college, the property of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was chartered in 1888 and opened in September, 1889. The college began work in a large four-story brick erected by contributions from the people of Searcy. This building, destroyed by fire in 1898, was replaced at once by another equally as good. An annex stands near the main building. The college has a large patronage. Administrations: Reverend S. H. Babcock, 1889-1892; Reverend John H. Dye, 1892-1897; Reverend C. C. Godden, 1897 to the present . SOURCES.—Minutes of the Arkansas, Little Rock and White River conferences from 1888 to the present in the hands of their respective secretaries; in the president's office, faculty records since 1898, and a set of college catalogues. Records of the board of trustees are complete and will be found in the hands of the secretary. In 1890 the State Baptist convention at Eureka Springs appointed a committee to report at their next meeting upon the advisability and practicability of establishing a separate institution for female education. In October of the following year the committee reported favorably. A board of trustees was selected by the convention and the college was opened in 1892 at Conway, the town giving some $30,000.00 and the grounds for the location. A large three-story brick building was erected. The college has been administered by Presidents C. M. Williams, J. G. Lile and W. W. Rivers. SOURCES.—The minutes of the State Baptist Convention and of the Baptist associations since 1890; the college catalogues and faculty minutes in the president's office; the minutes of the board of trustees complete in the hands of Frank Jones of Conway. Quitman College was founded by Reverend G. W. Stewart in 1870; it was turned over to the Arkansas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1871. The college was at first conducted in a small frame house, later in a large commodious frame building, and during the last few years of its existence in a brick building. For many years it had a successful career and educated many strong men. In erecting the last building the college had an experience common in educational history—'a mortgage was executed, foreclosure proceedings followed, the building fell into private hands, and in 1896 the college passed out of existence. Among its presidents are Peter A. Moses, J. A. Peebles, Jerome Haralson, Sydney H. Babcock, O. H. Tucker and Frank Barrett. The minutes of the trustees of Quitman College from 1895 to 1898 are in possession of Honorable William T. Hammock of Quitman. The records prior to that date seem to have been lost. No complete file of the catalogues can be found; isolated copies can be located here and there. The records of the Arkansas Conference during the last quarter of the nineteenth century throw light upon the relation of the church to the college. This institution was organized under the name of the Arkadelphia Methodist College in 1881. A large brick building was erected. The college for many years was administered by Prof. C. G. Jones. Later it came more completely under the control of the Little Rock Conference of the Methodist Church and is now presided over by Honorable John H. Hinemon. It is co-educational. The name was recently changed in honor of C. C. Henderson of Arkadelphia, a strong financial friend of the college. The minutes of the Little Rock Conference since 1890, the faculty records and the minutes of the board of trustees are the sources of the history of the college. In 1873 the general assembly directed that a college for the education of the colored people be established equal to that for the whites offered at the State University. The financial and political condition of the State at the time was such that the law was not carried out until 1875, when the board of trustees of the University under Governor Garland engaged J. C. Corbin to take charge of the school. They located it at Pine Bluff. It was opened in temporary buildings in September, 1875. The first year 75 pupils were enrolled. Since then a main building costing $20,000.00, a dormitory for girls, and a mechanical building have been erected. The course of study is normal and industrial. The school has a library of 3,500 volumes. It is supported by state appropriation and by part of the Morrill Fund. Isaac Fisher in 1902 succeeded Corbin as principal. The faculty minutes do not seem to have been preserved. The acts of the general assembly and the records of the board of trustees of the University are about the only sources for the student. The Freedmen's Aid and the Southern Education Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1877 started for the colored people Waldon Seminary in modest quarters at Little Rock. Two years later it was moved to a colored church in the city. In 1881 the enterprise was abandoned, but in November of that year was again resumed. The name of the institution was changed in honor of Mrs. Philander Smith of Oak Hill, 1ll., who gave the school $19,500.00. A main building, a dormitory, the president's house and machine shops have been erected on the grounds. The course of study is normal, collegiate and industrial. The college has a library of 1,700 volumes. The records of the Freedmen's Aid and Southern Education Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the catalogues of the school are about the only sources of the history of the college. This institution was. incorporated in 1852. It was controlled by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The college suspended work during the war, but was reopened afterwards. For a number of years it did good work but later its patronage did not justify its continued existence and it closed. F. R. Earl was for many years its president. There are no original sources for a history of this college, but the student is referred to MacDonald's History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Shinn's History of Education in Arkansas, and the History of Northwest Arkansas by the Goodspeed Publishing Company of Chicago. This institution was incorporated in 1850. It was a Masonic college and was opened at Little Rock in 1859 as a military academy. It continued as such until after the war. In 1869 it was reorganized with O. C. Gray at the head. Later it was administered by R. H. Parham. In 1874 it closed by reason of the Brooks-Baxter War. A diligent search has failed to locate any records of the school, the records doubtless having been destroyed when the buildings were burned in 1874. There is a brief sketch of the college in Shinn's History of Education in Arkansas. ARKANSAS COLLEGE Arkansas College at Fayetteville was opened in 1852 with Robert Graham as president. The Civil War put an end to this excellent institution, the buildings having been burned in 1862. This fire destroyed all records and catalogues. A brief sketch will be found in Shinn's History of Education in Arkansas. When, where and by whom the first Baptist Church in Arkansas was founded does not appear from documentary evidence at our command. The author of this sketch was accustomed to hear a tradition among the old ministers with whom he was associated, about fifty years ago, that Rev. Isaac C. Perkins was the pioneer Baptist preacher in Arkansas. The documents to support this tradition are wanting. It is known that Rev. Jas. P. Edwards was a Baptist missionary in Arkansas soon after the opening of the 19th century, and that he established at least two churches, but the records of these churches seem to have perished. In 1828 two or three devout Baptist women, living in Lawrence County, wrote to. Rev. David Orr of Missouri, asking him to come and preach to them. He responded favorably and came. He soon organized a church called "Spring River" and baptized eleven persons into its fellowship. This, so far as we find from records, is the first Baptist Church in Arkansas. Growth. Later in the same year LV. Orr organized Richland and New Hope churches. In 1829 he moved permanently to Arkansas, organized Norfolk and Rehoboth churches, and in the fall of that year organized Spring River Association with the churches named herein. In 1835, six years thereafter, Spring River Association had grown to a body of ten churches with nine ministers and three missionaries laboring in the destitute portions of the country. By this time Little Rock Association had come into being with eight churches. In 1839, four years later, Saline Association was formed, which embraced the churches of the entire State south of Little Rock. In 1848 the denomination felt that they had grown sufficiently strong to organize the Baptist State Convention, which was done at Tulip. General Nat G. Smith, Rev. W. H. Baylis, D. D., Rev. Jesse Hartwell, D. D., Rev. W. H. Barksdale, Rev. Sam. Stevenson, Rev. R. J. Coleman and D. C. Hall were prominent in its organization. Baptist female education was fostered by the Fayetteville Institute under the Rev. T. D. Van Home, A. M.; Camden Female Institute under Mrs. M. D. Hay; Arkadelphia Female Institute under Rev. Sam Stevenson. In 1858 The Arkansas Baptist began with Rev. P. S. G. Watson, editor, published at Little Rock. The same year a college commission was appointed, namely, T. B. Van Horne| Fayetteville, John H. Carleton, El Dorado, Peter Siler, White Bluff, T. S. N. King, Helena, L. B. Fort, Lewisville, John Woods, Dardanelle, Gen. Nat. G. Smith, Tulip, Prof. W. R. Trawick, Monticello, and Prof. M. S. Kennard, Batesville. The plan was to raise $100,000 in notes bearing interest at ten per cent. and payable so soon as that amount was raised. Prof. Trawick and Rev. W. M. Lea were appointed agents. At the convention in 1859 they reported $41,800 secured. In 1860 the convention met in Pine Bluff. There were at that time 18 associations in the State with a membership of 10,826. Nearly $75,000 had been secured on the college fund, but the ominous approach of war forced the abandonment of the college enterprise, and we have here a hiatus in the denominational work for nearly a decade. November 11, 1869, the convention met at Helena with W. D. Mayfield, president, and J. B. Searcy, secretary. Having no college in the State nor religious paper, the convention accepted the offer of Mississippi College to co-operate with them for the time being. Dr. J. R. Graves offered space in The Baptist to represent Arkansas Baptist interests in that paper, and he arranged with J. B. Searcy to attend to this matter editorially. In 1875, the General Association of South Arkansas was organized at New Edinburg for the purpose of establishing an academy called Baptist Centennial Institute. The school was located at Warren and began its first session January 10, 1876, with Prof. M. S. Kennard, president. This general association was not in opposition to the convention, but auxiliary to it. In 1880 Governor J. P. Eagle became president of the convention. Mainly through his efforts a paper was established called The Arkansas Evangel with Dr. T. B. Espy and J. B. Searcy elected editors, but before the publication of the first issue of the paper Dr. Espy died and Dr. B. R. Womack was chosen in his place. The Baptist Advance now fills the place of the Evangel. Dr. A. J. Barton was the prime mover in the establishment of this excellent paper. He was at one time its editor, followed by the Rev. J. J. Hurt. Now it is under the editorial management of Rev. E. J. A. McKinney and Rev. Ben. Cox Governor Eagle closed his service in the relation of president to the Arkansas Convention in 1905 by declining re-election. Thus a quarter of a century of unselfish and efficient work was given to the Baptist cause in Arkansas by one of the noblest men. Three times during that period, he was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention, which is the largest and most efficient body of Baptists in the world. In 1883 an educational commission was appointed looking to the establishing of a Baptist college in Arkansas. In 1884, the commission reported progress and was continued. In 1885, the commission reported that the time was ripe for the launching of the enterprise. A resolution was adopted by the convention appointing J. P. Eagle, A. B. Millar, B. R. Womack, A. J. Kincaid, J. B. Searcy, A. J. Faucette, J. M. Hart, Jasper Dunnigan, J. K. Brantley, C. D. Wood, W. E. Atkinson, M. F. Locke, V. B. Izard, W. A. C. Sayle, and A. W. Files as a board of trustees to locate, procure a charter, employ a president, and to be a self-perpetuating body subject to the order of the convention, to whom they were to report annually. The board of trustees proceeded with their work at once, locating the college at Arkadelphia as a co-educational institution under the name of Ouachita Baptist College. They elected Dr. J. W. Conger, president, who selected a faculty of six teachers and the first session was opened on September 6, 1886, with one hundred students enrolled the first day. The enrollment rose to 235 that session. It has affiliated with it, Central Female College, Magazine, Maynard, Mountain Home and Batesville academies, which are all under the management of the same board of trustees. The affiliated schools have property estimated at $95,000. Besides these, Baptist academies at Fordyce and Bodcaw prepare students for Ouachita College. Old Spring River Association is still in existence and 48 others have been added to it with churches planted all over the State. Outside of the work of the regular pastors, the missionaries of the State baptized last year, 1,927 persons and organized 18 new churches. There are two foreign missionaries from Arkansas in Brazil, two in Mexico and three in Africa. The value of Baptist Church property in the State is $718,257.00. Their entire contributions for last year was $157,086.45. The total membership at last report was 88,664 white Baptists. REFERENCES. For the tradition found in this paper, the Triennial Baptist Register, the transcript of the Register, convention minutes for 1858 and 1859, the Southern Baptist Register, the records of the general association, bound volumes of the Evangel, see J. B. Searcy, Malvern, Arkansas. For the minutes of the State Baptist Convention and of the several associations in Arkansas, see statistical secretary, Rev. E. J. McKinney, Little Rock. For files of catalogues, of association and convention minutes, see Dr. Conger, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. The bound files of the Baptist Advance are complete in the office of the Advance at Little Rock and the bound files of the Arkansas Baptist are complete in the possession of Reverend B. M. Bogard at Argenta. Father Lucey divides the history of the Catholic Church in Arkansas into three periods: First period from the coming of De Soto in 1541 to 1805, when Louisiana and the Floridas were placed by the Pope under Bishop Carroll of Baltimore; the second period extends from 1805 to 1844, when Right Reverend Andrew Byrne was consecrated first bishop of the Diocese ^f Little Rock, erected in 1843; the third period from 1844 to the present. During the first period the energies of the church were primarily devoted to missions among the Osage and the Quapaw Indians. In 1689, three years after Arkansas Post was established, De Tonti granted several thousand acres of land near the Post for a Catholic mission. Priests worked in Arkansas among the Indians at intervals throughout the 18th century. The second period is marked by closer supervision of the field and by foundation work being done. A strong hold was secured on the Osage and the Quapaw Indians; pioneer church work was done at important points throughout Arkansas; and a school was started at St. Mary's Mission, which was headquarters for missionaries laboring in Arkansas at that time. It is of course during the third period that most progress has been made. The creation of the Diocese of Little Rock and the presence of energetic bishops have stimulated church work. Bishop Byrne served from 1844 to 1862 and Bishop Fitzgerald from 1867 to the present. Bishop Byrne found about 1,000 Catholics in Arkansas when he took charge. He brought priests and sisters to the new field, organized churches, and built new church houses at Fort Smith, Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Helena, and other points. St. Mary's Academy was opened at Little Rock about 1850 and St. Andrew's College and St. Ann's Academy at Fort Smith the next year. The diocese was left vacant from 1862 to 1867 when Bishop Fitzgerald was consecrated. He found two schools, five priests and about 1,600 members in the diocese. One of the most noteworthy features of Catholic history in Arkansas for the last quarter of a century is the planting of Catholic colonies. Strong German colonies have been established in Logan and Faulkner counties, and about Pocahontas and Jonesboro; a Polish colony, at Marche, sixteen miles above Little Rock; and a strong Italian colony at Tontitown in Washington County. Schools have been founded, the most noted being the new Abbey of Subiaco at Spielerville, Logan County, which when finished will cost $500,000.00. It is now supplying priests for many churches in the State. The following archives could be consulted to advantage in studying Catholic history in our State by French and Spanish scholars: The archives of Havana, Cuba; the archives of the New Orleans Church; the archives of St. Andrew's Cathedral, Little Rock. In the latter will be found baptismal and marriage registers. "The Jesuit Relations," originally in French, but of which there is a compendium in English, contains much valuable information of the times of two and three centuries ago. The "Souvenir of a Silver Jubilee" by J. M. Lucey, Pine Bluff, a pamphlet prepared for the celebration, of the episcopal jubilee of Bishop Fitzgerald in 1892, contains valuable information carefully compiled about history of the church in Arkansas. "Catholic History in Arkansas," an article in the Arkansas Gazette, July 17, 1906, by Father J. M. Lucey, Pine Bluff. Notes, papers and library of Father J. M. Lucey. He has been gathering data on Catholic history for years. He hopes some day to put this matter in form for publication. "Historical sketch of the Catholic Church of Pocahontas" by Father Weibel of Jonesboro. The Methodists established the Spring River Circuit in northeast Arkansas as early as 1815 and placed Reverend E.H. Lindsay in charge. The following year the Hot Springs Circuit, embracing the southern half of Arkansas, was formed. The first Methodist church, called "Henry's Chapel," was built about two years later in Hempstead County. The circuits in Arkansas up to 1836 were within the jurisdiction of conferences outside of the territory. In 1836 the general conference created the Arkansas Conference, embracing the territory of the new State and some of northern Louisiana. The first annual conference was held in the fall of the same year at Batesville with twenty-seven members, seven remaining on trial, and eight admitted on trial, Andrew Hunter being among the latter. There were in Arkansas 2,042 white, 423 colored and 1,225 Indian members of the Methodist church. Bishop Morris was president and Reverend W. P. Ratcliffe was secretary of this first conference. The Arkansas Conference has held regular annual sessions without interruption down to the present time, not excepting the period of the war. The church has grown steadily, and in the meantime south and east Arkansas have been detached to form two other large conferences, known as the Little Rock and White River conferences. SCHOOLS.—The church has ever had a distinct educational policy and before the war endorsed and supported many good schools, the Soulesbury Institute at Batesville, Ouachita Female College at Tulip, Wallace Institute at Van Buren and Arkadelphia Female College, being among the number. These schools, however, have all passed away. For many years after the war the Arkansas Conference supported Quitman College, and since the foundation of Hendrix and Galloway Colleges it has had a third interest in each. The Western Christian Advocate, formerly the Arkansas Methodist, published at Little Rock, is the organ of the conference. There are now 25,031 members and 105 traveling preachers in the Arkansas Conference. SOURCES.—Horace Jewell's History of Methodism in Arkansas; the bound files of the Arkansas Methodist since its foundation in the office of the Western Christian Advocate, Little Rock; the original minutes of the Arkansas Conference in the hands of the secretary, Reverend Henry Hanesworth, Bentonville. These minutes are practically unbroken from the first conference in 1836 to the present. They are the most valuable original source. Files of the printed minutes can doubtless be found in the hands of older members of the conference. The general conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, which met at Columbus, Georgia, in May, 1854, divided the original Arkansas Conference into two bodies, dividing the State by a line running east and west. The conference in the northern part of the State retained its original name that in the southern part was named the Ouachita Conference. The first session of the Ouachita Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was held in Washington, Hempstead County, November 22-27, 18S4> Bishop H. H. Kavanaugh presiding, W. P. Ratcliffe, secretary. The routine business of this session was transacted and forty-four preachers were assigned to pastoral charges. The membership of the church in this conference at its first session was: Whites 7,339, colored 1.975. local preachers 126. Reverend James E. Caldwell of Tulip furnished some of the material for this paragraph on the Little Rock Conference. At the close of the Civil War, the name of this conference was changed to the Little Rock Conference. The first religious paper published by the M. E. Church, South, in this conference was The Ouachita Journal, published at Arkadelphia, and edited by Reverend J. E. Cobb, 1863-66. The publication of this paper was transferred to Little Rock (1886) and styled The Arkansas Christian Advocate. The Memphis Conference Advocate, the Western Methodist and the Arkansas Methodist have all been published in the interest of the Methodist Church, South, in Arkansas. SCHOOLS OF THE CONFERENCE.—The Little Rock Conference Training School at Fordyce, Henderson College at Arkadelphia, and jointly with the Arkansas and the White River Conferences, Hendrix College at Conway and Galloway Female College at Searcy. SOURCES.—For the history of the Little Rock Conference consult Horace Jewell's History of Methodism in Arkansas; the bound files of the Arkansas Methodist complete in the office of the editors, Anderson & Millar, Little Rock; the minutes of the Little Rock Conference, which ought to be in the possession of the secretary, their legal custodian, but unfortunately are scattered as follows: The minutes from the first conference held at Washington, November 22, 1854, to and including the one held October 23, 1865, are in the possession of Hon. W. P. Field, clerk of United States Circuit Court, at Little Rock; the minutes from 1866 to 1872 and from 1882 to 1894 inclusive, are in the hands of Reverend J. A. B. Fry, Arkadelphia; the minutes from 1874 to 1881 inconclusive are in the office of the Western Christian Advocate at Little Rock; the minutes from 1902 to the present are in the hands of the secretary, Hon. John H. Hinemon, Arkadelphia. This leaves the minutes for a few years unaccounted for. These scattered minutes will doubtless be collected in the office of the secretary. The above are the official manuscript minutes. For many years the conference has printed its minutes and sets of these are to be found in the possession of ministers. Reverend J. H. Riggen of Camden has a set from 1881 to present and a set of the general minutes from 1855 to the present. Diary of Reverend James E. Caldwell of Tulip, Ark., a superannuate of the Little Rock Conference. Mr. Caldwell has been connected with the conference since its organization, and his diary from 1852 to 1880 throws much light upon the growth of the Church as well as upon his co-laborers in the ministry. The general conference of 1870 made the White River Conference out of the eastern half of the territory of the Arkansas Conference. The first session of the White River Conference was held at Mount Zion Church, Cross County, September, 1870, Bishop John C. Keener presiding, and James Wickersham, layman, secretary. There were thirty-two members. The conference has met annually since its organization. Its growth has been steady. It has a third interest in Hendrix and Galloway Colleges. The Western Christian Advocate is its organ. There are 24,670 members of the church and 106 traveling preachers in the conference. SOURCES.—Jewell's History of Methodism in Arkansas; files of the Arkansas Methodist in the office of Anderson & Millar, Little Rock; the minutes of the White River Conference. Unfortunately the original minutes of the conference were destroyed in 1905 by a fire which burned the building and contents where the secretary, Reverend Z. T. Bennett, was residing. The minutes of 1870 and 1872 were printed; those for 1871 • and from 1873 to 1882 inclusive were not printed. Beginning with 1883, however, the minutes have been printed regularly since. In the minutes for 1883 is an epitomized history of the conference compiled by George Thornburgh. There is in the possession of Hon. George Thornburgh of Little Rock a complete file of all these printed minutes and in the possession of Reverend M. M. Smith of Jonesboro is a full set from 1883 to the present. Further sources of the history of the Methodist Church in Arkansas are the records of the general conference, a complete set of which is on file at Nashville, Tennessee; the general minutes, issued by authority of the general conference, are condensed minutes of all of the conferences of the whole church and a complete set of which is on file at the Publishing House of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Nashville, Tennessee; the minutes of district conferences, which are subdivisions of annual conferences, are in the hands of their respective secretaries; quarterly conference minutes in the hands of the recording steward of each local church, and the records of the board of stewards in the hands of their respective secretaries. In 1828 was organized at Little Rock by Reverend James W. Moore the first Presbyterian Church in Arkansas. In 1835. by order of the Synod of Mississippi and Southern Alabama, the Presbytery of Arkansas was organized in the First Presbyterian Church at Little Rock by Alfred Wright and Loring S. Williams of the Choctaw country and James W. Moore of Little Rock. The church at Little Rock was still the only Presbyterian congregation in the territory. The western part of what is now the Indian Territory was embraced in the presbytery thus organized until about 1840 when the Indian country was constituted a new presbytery. This division so reduced the churches in the Arkansas Presbytery that it met at irregular intervals for the next five years. Meanwhile new churches had been organized at Washington, Spring Hill, Batesville and Sylvania. After 1845 was a period of rapid growth. Churches were organized at Mount Holly, Fort Smith, El Dorado, Norristown, Jacksonport, Helena, Cotton Plant, Pocahontas, and other points. In 1846 the Arkansas Presbytery was first represented at the general assembly, which met at Philadelphia. The second presbytery in Arkansas was constituted by order of the Synod of Memphis in 1848. It occupied the southern half of the State and was called the Ouachita Presbytery. It first met at El Dorado March 30, 1849, and with few exceptions during the war, it has met twice a year to the present time. The Synod of Arkansas was organized October 16, 1852, and was composed of the Arkansas, the Ouachita, the Indian and the Creek Presbyteries. The church suffered much during the war, but since then it has had a steady growth. In 1883 the synod held at Pine 'Bluff authorized two new presbyteries—the Pine Bluff and the Washburn. The State is thus divided into four presbyteries—Arkansas in the northeast, Pine Bluff in the southeast, Ouachita in the southwest, and the Washburn in the northwest. 'Each of these presbyteries meets twice a year and the four constitute the Synod of Arkansas. The Presbyterian Church emphasizes Christian education. In the early days some of her ministers were teachers as well as pastors. Rev. J. W. Moore maintained for years a classical academy at Sylvania, about thirty miles east of Little Rock. The church at different times has supported several schools, but its most serious educational undertaking in this State is the Arkansas College at Batesville. SOURCES.—The records of the Arkansas Presbytery are complete from its organization and are carefully preserved by the stated clerk, Rev. S. L. Grigsby, Jonesboro; the minutes of the Ouachita Presbytery are in the possession of its stated clerk, Reverend J. Leighton Green, Mena, and are complete except for the years 1874 to 1882; the minutes of the Pine Bluff Presbytery are complete and are in the possession of Reverend E. P. Kennedy, Monticello; the minutes of the Washburn Presbytery are in the hands of its stated clerk, Reverend J. W. Cobb, Morrilton. The manuscript records of the Arkansas Synod from 1852, the date of its organization, to the present are preserved and are in excellent state of preservation. Since 1894 these minutes have been printed in pamphlet form each year, and one set of eight years is bound together. These records are in the possession of the stated clerk of the synod, Reverend James E. Green, Arkadelphia. History of Presbyterianism in Arkansas, 1828-1902, is a book composed of papers read at the semi-centennial celebration of the organization of the Synod of Arkansas held at Little Rock, October 21-24, 1902. Files of the Christian Observer, which has a wide circulation in Arkansas and in which appear frequent articles and notices about the progress of the church in the State. The file is complete from 1827 to the present in the office of the Observer at Louisville, Kentucky. The minutes of the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church are complete from its organization in 1862, and are in the possession of its stated clerk, Reverend W. A. Alexander, Clarksville, Tennessee. These records embody annual statistics of the whole church, including the Synod of Arkansas. For the period prior to 1861, the assembly records are in the possession of Reverend W. H. Roberts, stated clerk of Northern Presbyterian Church, Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia. Records of early missions, both to white and to Indians, are with the executive committee of foreign missions, Nashville, Tennessee, and the executive committee of home missions, Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to the war, transactions pertaining to Arkansas can be found in the archives of the home and foreign mission board of the Presbyterian Church in U. S. A., New York City. Material in the Presbyterian Historical Society, 518-532 Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia, relating to the church in Arkansas: History of Presbyterianism in Arkansas: paper read before home mission convention by Maj. C. B. Moore; Christian Observer, July 30, 1890. History of Presbyterianism in Arkansas, 1828-1902. Papers read at the semi-centennial celebration of the Synod of Arkansas; Little Rock, 8 vo. pp. 199. Abstract of the minutes of the Synod of Arkansas, 1855; Presbyterian Magazine, vol. 6, p. 42. Presbyterianism in Arkansas, a historical discourse by J. W. Moore; Journal of the Presbyterian Historical Society, June, 1905. Arkadelphia Presbyterian Church, brief history, Christian Observer, August 26, 1903. Bethany and Potts Station Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, historical sketch by the pastor; Associate Reform Presbyterian, January 12, 1898. Fayetteville Presbyterian Church, twenty-fifth anniversary of the pastorate of the Rev. S. W. Davies, D. D. Extract from historical sermon; Christian Observer, October 17, 1900. Hot Springs Second Presbyterian Church. Dedication of. Presbyterian Banner, March 28, 1883. Little Rock Presbyterian Church, fiftieth anniversary, discourse by the pastor, the Rev. Thos. R. Welch, D. D.; St. Louis, 1878, 8 vo. pp. 40. Mabelville Presbyterian Church. Historical sketch; St. Louis Presbyterian, March 30, 1894. Marianna Presbyterian Church. Brief historical sketch; Southwestern Presbyterian, December 11, 1902. Scotland Presbyterian Church. Historical sketch; St. Louis Presbyterian, July 13, 1888. Osceola Presbyterian Church, brief historical sketch by Rev. W. K. Talbot, manuscript. (1 p.) ; The Presbyterian Historical Society. Batesville Presbyterian Church. Pastoral letter from the session. 12 mo. pp. 8. The earliest record of Cumberland Presbyterian settlers in Arkansas goes back to 1811. In that year James and Jacob Pyeatt and their wives, and two young Carnahans, James and Samuel, sons of John Carnahan, a minister, embarked in a flatboat and floated down the Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi rivers to the mouth of the Arkansas River. They were Kentuckians. They went up the river to Arkansas Post. This location did not suit them. In 1812 they went past the spot where Little Rock is located. In 1812 John Carnahan moved to Arkansas to live. He had been preaching in Arkansas for some time as a licensed exhorter. In 1814 he was licensed as a probationer for the ministry by Elk Presbytery, but two years before that he was ordered to form a circuit on the Arkansas River "among the people where he lived." It is thought by many that he preached the first Protestant sermon in Arkansas Territory in the house of Jacob Pyeatt. In 1816 he was ordained to the full work of the ministry, upon petition of the people to whom he preached, by the Elk Presbytery (Vol. 1, p. 25). In this same year (1816) he held the first sacramental service conducted by a Cumberland Presbyterian minister in Arkansas in the home of one of the Pyeatts. These things transpired at Crystal Hill, 15 miles above where Little Rock now stands. All of Arkansas was a part of McGee Presbytery, organized in 1819. Before that it was simply missionary ground. John Carnahan had been transferred to McGee Presbytery. In 1823 McGee Presbytery met in Arkansas; Reverends R. D. King, W. C. Long and John Carnahan with licentiate Reuben Burrow, were the ministers in attendance. The meeting was held at the home of John Craig on White River. The Rev. Hiram MacDonald of Kentucky spent the winter of 1823 in Arkansas as a missionary. In 1823 the Cumberland Synod authorized a presbytery in the territory of Arkansas. "To include the meets and bounds of the said Territory, to be known by the name of the Arkansas Presbytery and to consist of the following members, viz.: The Reverends John Carnahan, William C. Long and Robert Stone of McGee Presbytery, and William Henry of Anderson Presbytery." This regularly constituted presbytery met in the dwelling house of John Craig, Independence County, Territory of Arkansas, May 27, 1824. The Rev. Robert Stone was absent. The ruling elders participating in the organization were Jesse M. Blair, James Akins and John Craig. The first moderator was the Rev. William C. Long and the first clerk was the Rev. William Henry. Some additional names occurring in the early history are Rev. J. H. Black, Rev. W. W. Stephenson, Rev. Andrew Buchanan and Rev. A. J. Cornwall. It is impossible to trace the formation of all the succeeding presbyteries without access to material in the hands of the historical society of the church. Much valuable material was also lost in the war. The tendency has been to reduce the number of presbyteries in late years. Four years ago there were eleven presbyteries. Now there are only eight. They are: Arkansas, Bartholomew, Burrow, Fort Smith, Little Rock, Morrilton, Mound Prarie and White River. These constitute the Synod of Arkansas in which all ordained ministers, members in good standing in above presbyteries, and one ruling elder from each congregation may sit with power to vote. The present strength of the church in the synod is as follows: 134 ordained ministers, 266 churches, 11,203 members, $249,225.00 value of church property. The first school established by the church in Arkansas was opened in 1835 at Boonsboro (now Cane Hill) Washington County. Seventeen years later the school was chartered and became Cane Hill College. The first president was the Rev. R. M. King of Missouri. Professor S. Doak Lowry succeeded him. In 1859 the Rev. F. R. Earle of Greenville, Kentucky, took control of the college and remained at the head with but two brief interruptions until the college was closed because overshadowed by the State University at Fayetteville. The name of Doctor F. R. Earle, now in his 76th year, must ever be connected with the early educational work in the State. Many of the great men of the State received their education under him. The Synodical College is now located at Clarksville and known as the Arkansas Cumberland College. It has property worth $50,000. The president is Rev. G. D. Crawford. By the action of the general assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Decatur, 1ll., May 17-24, 1906, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was consolidated with the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America under the name of the last named body. There is therefore no longer a Cumberland Presbyterian Church except in history. The names of the presbyteries will remain the same probably and the synod is the Synod of Arkansas for the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. The names, boundaries, membership and time and place of meeting of the presbyteries or of the synod may always be obtained from Dr. W. H. Roberts or his successor as clerk of the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia, Pa. THB RECORDS OF THE CHURCH 1. Arkansas Presbytery has her own records in written form from 1824 to 1846, now in the hands of Reverend R. Thomsen, Fayetteville, Ark., and the minutes in printed or in written form are in the archives of the historical society at Nashville, Tenn. 2. Washington Presbytery, now a part of Arkansas Presbytery. The minutes are now in written form in the hands of Reverend W. T. Nicholson, Bellefonte, Ark., but will be transferred to the h1storical society of Nashville. 3. All the records of the presbyteries and the synods, if in existence, will be found with the historical society. 4. The church periodicals, will be found on file with the Cumberland Presbyterian Publishing House, Nashville, Tenn. 5. The individual congregations are all ordered to keep a record in book form, but many fail to do so. 6. McDonalds' History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, C. P. Pub. House, Nashville, Tenn., contains much valuable information. 7. Stephen's Digest, 1809, C. P. Publishing House, Nashville, Tenn., contains a record of the rulings of the general assembly. HISTORICAL SOCIETIES 1. Historical society of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Reverend J. W. Stephens, D. D. secretary and treasurer, Lebanon, Tenn. Reverend Ira Landreth, LL. D., D. D., librarian, Nashville, Tenn. 2. Historical Society of the Presbyterian Church of U. S. A. Reverend Samuel T. Lowrie, D. D., corresponding secretary, Philadelphia, Pa. Library and museum, 1319 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Penna. The religious body known as the Disciples of Christ originated in Western Pennsylvania in 1809 under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Campbell and his gifted and godly son, Alexander. Both the Campbells were natives of County Antrim in the north of Ireland. Alexander Campbell received his higher education in the University of Glasgow, Scotland. The movement inaugurated by the Campbells spread rapidly over the states and the middle West and in the South. After a hundred years the Disciples of Christ number something over a million and a half of communicants. The Disciples made a beginning in Arkansas in May, 1832. The first church was founded in Little Rock by Doctor B. P. Hall of Kentucky. During the territorial period effective work was done by W. W. Stevenson, David Orr, Thomas Wood, Benjamin Clark, and Wesley Wade. In 1845 R. T. Ricketts and John I. Johnson, able and distinguished men, held a great meeting in Little Rock. Mr. Johnson was a younger brother of Richard M. Johnson, who was vice-president of the United States during the administration of Martin Van Buren. In 1848 Robert Graham; who had just graduated in Bethany College, came to Fayetteville and held a meeting in which many were converted and a strong church was planted. Later he founded the Arkansas College, which became the leading institution of learning in the State. It was the first school in Arkansas to confer a literary degree. The history of the Disciples of Christ in Arkansas may be found in files of the Millennial Harbinger, Bethany, West Va.; the Christian Monitor, Little Rock; the Christian Work, Dr. J. S. Shelbey, Paris, Ark.; the Missionary Bulletin, Rev. A. C: Browning, Little Rock; and the Arkansas Sentinel beginning with the year 1877. Fayetteville. Almost from the beginning the Disciples of Christ have held annual state conventions for the purpose of doing missionary benevolent and educational work. Much valuable information can be gathered from the minutes of these assemblies, kept by the secretary. On September 16, 1838, Rt. Rev. Leonidas Polk was elected missionary bishop of Arkansas, Indian Territory, and the Southwest. He was consecrated December 9, 1838. In March, 1839, he made his first visit to Arkansas. While in Little Rock he organized the first parish in Arkansas. So Christ Church, Little Rock, became the mother church in the Diocese of Arkansas. He was made bishop of Louisiana in 1841. In 1861 he entered the service of the Confederate Army and was killed June 15, 1864, near Kenesaw, Georgia. When Bishop Polk was made bishop of Louisiana in 1841, the missionary work in Arkansas was given to the Rt. Rev. James H. Otey, bishop of Tennessee, by the general convention. He exercised jurisdiction over the diocese until Bishop Freeman was consecrated. Rt. Rev. George Washington Freeman was consecrated missionary bishop of Arkansas, Texas and Indian Territory, October 26, 1844. Owing to the large territory over which he had jurisdiction, traveling mostly by horseback, his visits to the different parishes were few. He died April 29, 1858. Bishop Otey again became acting bishop of Arkansas. The third missionary bishop having jurisdiction over Arkansas was the Rt. Rev. Henry Champlin Lay, who was consecrated missionary bishop of Southwest October 23, 1859. He remained until 1869, when he became bishop of Easton. The fourth missionary bishop and first bishop of the Diocese of Arkansas was the Rt. Rev. Henry Niles Pierce. He was consecrated missionary bishop of Arkansas at Mobile, Alabama, January 25, 1870. On May 3, 1889, Bishop Pierce formally accepted the office of diocesan instead of missionary bishop. He died at Fayetteville, September 5, 1899. Bishop Pierce was succeeded by Rt. Rev. William M. Brown, who had been consecrated bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Arkansas June 28, 1898. The first Protestant Episcopal churches of Arkansas were at Little Rock, Batesville, Van Buren, Fayetteville, Washington, Fort Smith, Camden, Helena and Lake Village. The following books and periodicals contain references to the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Arkansas. Diocesan Council Reports, Bishop's Library Life of Bishop Polk, by Dr. Polk. Vol.1. Chapter 4. Letters from Little Rock and Spring Hill, Boston Public Library. Vol.1. Letter from Van Buren. Boston Public Library. Bishop Otey's Diary: Mrs. Donna Otey Compton, Washington, D. C. Bishop Freeman's Diary, Bishop Freeman of Arkansas by Rev. John N. Norton, Bishop Lay's Diary, In possession of Mrs. Fannie Freeman Carothers, Bardstown, Ky. Pastoral letters to the Protestant Episcopal Church in the diocese of Arkansas by Bishop Lay. Printed by the Hutton and Freligh, Southern Publishing House, Memphis, Tenn., 1861. Bishop Pierce's Diary—Mrs. Elizabeth Lyman, Little Rock, Ark. Annals of Christ Church, Little Rock, by Mrs. Ellen Harrell Cantrell, Little Rock, Ark. Parish Registers. Files of newspapers in towns where churches are located. The Anglo-Saxon Churchman. The Arkansas Churchman, The Little Rock Churchman, Published at Little Rock, by Rev. Mr. Carnahan, 1887 to 1890: The Diocese of Arkansas:—Edited by Rev. Mr. Degan, Rector of St. John's Church, Fort Smith, Ark., 1888. Church Cyclopaedia, by Rev. A. A. Benton. New York Churchman. The Living Church. The Standard. Church Almanac. Spirit of Missions. |
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