GOODSPEEDS' - BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS
Part 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed
Publishing Co., 1889.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
USGENWEB NOTICE:
In keeping with our policy of providing free Information
on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial
entities, as long as this message remains on all copied
material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in
any format for profit or for presentation by other persons
or organizations.
Files may be printed or copied for Personal use only.
Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for
purposes other than stated above must obtain the written
consent of the file contributor.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.
page 14
THE county of Benton lies in the extreme northwestern corner of the State of
Arkansas, and is bounded north by McDonald and Barry Counties in the State of
Missouri, east by Carroll and Madison Counties in Arkansas, south by Washington
County in the same State, and west by the Indian Territory. The meridian of longitude
94 west from Greenwich, England, or 17 west from Washington, passes through the
eastern part of the county near the village of Garfield, and the parallel of latitude
36º and 20' north, passes east and west through the county near its center. The
boundary lines of the county are described as follows, to-wit: "Commencing on the
State line between Missouri and Arkansas at the northeast corner of fractional
Section 8, Township 21 north, Range 27 west; thence south to the southeast corner of
Section 8, Township 18 north, Range 27 west; thence west eight miles to the southwest
corner of Section 7, Township 18 north, Range 28 west; thence south two miles to the
southeast corner of Section 24, Township 18 north, Range 29 west; thence west
eighteen miles to the northeast corner of Section 25, Township 18 north, Range 32
west; thence south five miles to the southeast corner of Section 13, Township 17
north, Range 32 west; thence west three miles to the northeast corner of Section 21,
in the same township and range; thence south three miles to the southeast corner of
Section 33; thence west nine miles (more or less) to the southwest corner of the
county at the corner, to Townships 16 and 17, and Ranges 33 and 34; thence north on
the eastern boundary line of the Indian Territory, [p.14] on a bearing of about 10º
west, twenty-nine miles, more or less, to the northwest corner of the State; thence
east on the State line to the place of beginning."
History of Benton County
TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.
The site of Benton County is the plateau of the Ozark Mountains, the greatest
unbroken portion of which in this State lies west of White River, in the counties of
Benton and Washington. The elevation of the county above sea level averages from
1,400 to 1,600 feet, and the summit of Poor Mountain, in the northeastern part, is
probably the highest point. With the exception of a strip of land about two miles
wide, extending from Rogers to the southern boundary, the whole surface of the county
lying east of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad is so broken and uneven that it
is mostly unfit for cultivation, except in the valleys of the streams. In the north
central portion of the county, extending several miles on both sides of Sugar Creek,
is also a large tract of broken and hilly land. There is an elevated, broken and
uneven ridge, or water shed, extending north and south through the county, mostly in
Range 32 west, along the line of which much of the land is too rough for cultivation.
With these exceptions, together with the steep hills or bluffs bordering on the
streams, the balance of the county, and by far the greater portion thereof, consists
of elevated plateaus of gently undulating or rolling prairie and timbered lands, all
of which are susceptible of a high state of cultivation. These latter lands are
classed as the table lands of the State, and are in fact the beginning of the prairie
region which covers the southern part of the Indian Territory.
History of Benton County
TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.
"The ascent from the level of White River, on the east, to the table lands, is 375
feet; the ascent from the level of Elk River, a tributary of the Grand River fork of
the Arkansas, is 406 feet; and the ascent from the Illinois fork of the Arkansas is
394 feet. The area of the county is 900 square miles, or 576,000 acres. The
proportion of unmodified prairie is, approximately, 86,000 acres; oak barrens or
modified prairie, 175,000 acres; wooded mountain or ridge territory, 200,000 acres;
and river and creek valley lands, 86,000 acres."
History of Benton County
TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.
page 1516
[p.15] Streams, Springs, etc.-The southeastern and extreme northeastern portions of
the county are drained by White River and its tributaries. This river enters the
county on its southern boundary, near the line dividing Ranges 28 and 29, and flows
thence in a northerly, northwesterly and northeasterly direction, and in fact toward
all points of the compass, in its tortuous route, and finally leaves the county at
its eastern boundary, from Section 5, in Township 20 north, Range 27 west. Its
principal tributaries on the east are War Eagle and Little Clifty Creeks, and on the
west are Spider, Indian, Prairie and Esculapia Creeks. White River, after crossing
the northwest corner of Carroll County, enters the State of Missouri, in which it
forms a bend, and then returns to Arkansas, and flows in a southerly direction, and
empties into the Mississippi about twelve miles above the mouth of the Arkansas
River. A portion of the extreme northeastern part of the county is drained by
tributaries of Big Sugar Creek, flowing generally in a northwestern direction. The
north central part of the county is drained by Little Sugar Creek and its numerous
tributaries. This creek rises in the northeastern part of the county, and, after
flowing in a general western direction about fifteen miles, it bears to the
northwest, and enters the State of Missouri near the middle of Range 31 west, being
also near the center of the north boundary line of the county. The south central and
southwestern portions of the county are drained by the Osage fork of the Illinois
River and its various tributaries, the main one of which has its source at the noted
Osage Spring, at the home of Ezekiel Dickson, in Section 16, Township 19 north, Range
30 west. The Osage fork flows in a general west-southwest direction, and leaves the
county near its southwest corner, where it enters the Indian Territory. The west
central portion of the county is drained by Flint and Spavinaw Creeks and their
tributaries. The former runs in a direction west of southwest, and crosses the
western boundary line of the county in Section 23, Township 18 north, Range 34 west,
and the latter runs in about the same direction, and leaves the county from Section
10, Township 19 north, Range 34 west. The extreme northwestern portion of the county
is drained by creeks which flow mostly in a northwestern direction, and [p.16] empty
into the Neosho River. All the streams here mentioned, excepting White River and its
tributaries, eventually flow into the Arkansas. On the larger streams, especially
White River and War Eagle, excellent mill-sites abound, and a few have been improved,
the most noted of which is at War Eagle Mills, on War Eagle Creek. This creek was
named after an Indian chief called "War Eagle."
History of Benton County
TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.
Benton County has the great advantage of having many springs from which flow pure,
soft water, "as clear as crystal." and of a quality unsurpassed in any country. There
are several groups or systems of springs distributed throughout the county, the most
noted of which are White Sulphur Springs, in the northwestern part; Siloam Springs,
in the southwestern part; Crystal Springs, near Bentonville, and the Electric and
Esculapia groups, near Rogers. Some of the springs have medicinal qualities, mention
of which will be made elsewhere in this work. There are also hundreds of individual
springs, some of which produce a stream large enough to furnish good water-power, if
properly utilized. Prominent among the individual springs is the one at Springtown,
another one at the residence of Oliver I. Anderson, in Anderson Township, and the
Osage Spring, before mentioned. According to tradition the latter derived its name
from the following incident: An Indian belonging to the Osage tribe visited the
spring to quench his thirst, and was shot and killed by one belonging to the Delaware
tribe, who had concealed himself in a tree-top overlooking the spring, hence the
name. These tribes are said to have then been at enmity. An abundance of good water
on the uplands is obtained by digging or boring for it at various depths, ranging
from fifteen to eighty feet, and much water is obtained from this source. Cistern
water is also used to some extent by many who prefer it to any other water. Away from
the streams stock water is frequently obtained from ponds of rain water kept in
artificial excavations, the sub-soil or bottoms thereof being of such a nature as to
hold the water and prevent its sinking. Upon the whole the supply of water is
abundant, and its quality is first-class.
page 1718
Timber.-The table lands and ridges of the county, where not improved, are mostly
covered, and in some places densely [p.17] covered, with the several varieties of the
oak, the black, or "jack oak," predominating, and hickory. Some chestnut is also
found on these lands. In the valleys and along the streams sycamore, hackberry, elm,
black walnut, butternut, gum, ash, several kinds of oak, and other varieties of
timber exist. Many trees of sycamore, hackberry and elm grow from two to five feet in
diameter at the base, but all of them have a short, scrubby growth, so that but few
trees will produce more than two saw-logs each. In the southeast corner of the county
is a tract of land, six miles north and south by about eight miles east and west,
covered with pine timber, much of which is large enough for lumber, and of it there
is a seemingly inexhaustible supply. The best white oak timber is found in the
gulches of the mountainous portion of the county, the ridges being covered with black
oak of a short, scrubby growth. When the settlement of the county began (in the early
part of the present century) all of the comparatively level upland was called
prairie, while in truth there was but little real prairie. The timber was then very
thin, the trees stood far apart, and the country which is now covered with a dense
growth of young timber was then so open that the wild deer could be seen anywhere at
a distance of several hundreds of yards. The entire surface of the earth was then
covered with a rank growth of vegetation, consisting of the native grasses and wild
flowers, which gave to the landscape, especially in the timbered lands, a more
beautiful appearance than it now has. Annually, after this rank growth of vegetation
became dead and dry, the Indians set fire to it, and burned it from the entire
surface of the country. This they did to destroy the places of concealment for the
wild game, the better to enable them to secure their prey. This burning of the
decaying vegetation also destroyed the germs or sprouts, and thus prevented the
growth of young timber. When this practice ceased the germs of underbrush and young
timber began to grow, and the surface of the timbered lands, where they have not been
cleared, are now covered with a dense growth of young timber and bushes. The supply
of this young timber, all of which has grown in the present century, is so abundant
that there is much more wood now in the county than when its settlement began. As yet
not much of the [p.18] young timber is large enough for lumber, but much of it can be
made into rails.
History of Benton County
TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.
Geological.-But little can be definitely said upon the subject of geology, as there
never has been made a geological survey of the county. The surface, especially the
broken portion thereof, is underlaid with limestone, sandstone, vermicular and
cavernous rocks, and in many places in the bluffs along the streams the rock crops
out and forms perpendicular walls of immense height. Where the rock is thus exposed
many caves are found, and from many of them streams of pure, cold water are flowing.
The surface of the ridges and broken lands is composed of earth intermixed with
pieces of flint and chert rock about the size that rock is generally broken into for
the making of macadamized roads. This rock is so abundant that it is only necessary
to clear a highway and use it in order to have a road as good in quality as the best
of macadamized roads. In the beds of the streams and along their margins a sufficient
supply of this naturally prepared rock can be found to thoroughly macadmize all the
roads in the county.
History of Benton County
TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.
At a point on White River, about five and a half miles southeast of Rogers, there is
a large deposit of rock composed of fine, white sand, which is believed to be of the
best quality for the manufacture of glass. It has, however, not been tested. Minerals
are believed to exist in considerable quantities at various places in the county.
Lead has been taken out at Cherokee City and on Spavinaw Creek, and specimens have
been found at other places in the county; but no measures have yet been taken to
ascertain its quantity. Indications of the existence of copper and zinc have been
discovered in the county. It is believed also that silver exists, but in such limited
quantities that its mining cannot be made profitable. A controversy is at present
going on between the State geologist and certain citizens of the State, in regard to
the existence of silver in Arkansas. The former claims that with the possible
exception of Silver City, there is not sufficient silver in the State to pay for its
mining.
Footnote
Col. M. L. DeMalber.
History of Benton County
TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.
page 19
Soils.-"As due to geological origin and the local modification-the soils having been
derived from the red and yellow upper strata of the sub-carboniferous group, and also
from disintegration [p.19] of magnesium and sub-carboniferous limestone-the following
distinct bodies of land are found distributed throughout the county: A rich and
strong barren soil, a gravelly and cherty ridge soil, a compact soil on a foundation
of stiff clay; a fourth, a dark brown soil lying in the valleys adjacent to the
streams; and a fifth, the best of all, a soil of brown color, upon a foundation of
red clay, and with a timber growth of black and red oaks, sugar maple, locust,
hickory and walnut. This is in the interior. In the marginal areas, as in the broken
country forming the eastern and northern boundaries, the characteristic types of
interior lands are lost to an extent in coarser soils of a pale brown, and of a
darker color, more silicious or more compact, as the case may be, and imposed upon a
subsoil of no greater depth above the bed rock, excepting, of course, from this
classification, the alluvial valley lands of White River."*
History of Benton County
TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.
The soils of Benton County are well adapted to diversified agriculture, a system that
has been adopted and practiced by the farmers. With proper cultivation, corn, oats,
wheat, rye, potatoes and all kinds of vegetables can be produced in great abundance,
and a large proportion of the soil produces the finest quality of tobacco. While the
county is well adapted to diversified agriculture, its greatest advantage, perhaps,
is its complete adaptability to horticulture. Apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes
and all manner of small fruits are grown in great abundance: The climate being mild
and the atmosphere pure, all manner of fruits adapted to this latitude grow in Benton
County to perfection. It has acquired the cognomen of "The apple orchard of America,"
this fruit being so successfully and so extensively grown. Hereafter, in its proper
place, more will be said about the agricultural and horticultural interests of the
county. Comparative tables of the quantities produced, and the future prospects for
obtaining wealth in Benton County will be mentioned.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
Climate.-"Benton County is generally accepted to have a climate as that of the
Piedmont region of Virginia, which is borne out in its annual mean temperature of
approximately 60º F., and in the following approximate temperature: Spring, 60º;
summer, 78º; autumn, 60º; winter, 40º F. The annual rainfall is from thirty-two to
forty-four inches."
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
The First.-While it is not positively known, it is believed that Adam Batie, who
settled on the prairie that now bears his name, near the present site of Maysville,
was the first settler in Benton County. The date of his settlement has not been
ascertained, but it is presumed to have been prior to the year 1830. Batie Prairie
and the creek that flows from it are both named in honor to this early and first
settler. In 1830 John McPhail and his father settled on that prairie. Soon thereafter
Martin Mays settled on the present town site of Maysville, and William Bird Keith
settled near by. The above named five persons were the only residents on Batie
Prairie in 1838. Soon thereafter Judge English, Robert Cooper, Lemuel Tynnon and
several others followed, until the whole of the prairie was occupied.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
page 21
One of the first settlers of the county was William Reddick, who settled early in the
thirties or late in the twenties at the place since known as Elkhorn. He and his son-
in-law, Samuel Burks, also an early settler, came from Illinois. Reddick was a
politician and a prominent citizen. For many years he controlled the politics of the
Sugar Creek settlement, and that settlement usually controlled the politics of the
county. Jacob Roller, from Hawkins County, Tenn., settled where his son William now
lives, on Roller's Ridge. This ridge lies northeast of Garfield, and is about four
miles long, east and west. It is so called by reason of Roller's settlement thereon.
Two improvements had been made on this ridge prior to Roller's settlement, one on the
east and one on the west end. Mr. Roller erected and for a number of years kept a
whisky distillery where he settled. He was thrice married and had twenty-four
children. His third wife, who survived him, is still living. There were other
settlers in that neighborhood by the name of Roller. James Jackson, from Overton
County, Tenn., settled near the site of Garfield in 1829. Daniel Ash was a very early
settler near the State line north of Garfield, and in 1849 Jacob R. Forgery, from
Scott County, Va., settled in the same neighborhood. The Pascals were early settlers
in the country southeast of the site of Garfield. Before the organization of the
county Henning Pace, from Tennessee, [p.21] the father of the first sheriff of the
county, settled on Sugar Creek, a few miles north of Bentonville, and one or two of
his sons settled lower down on the same creek. Chris. C. Pace, who is still living at
a very advanced age, settled south of Bentonville. Henry Ford, and other Fords, were
also among the early settlers on Sugar Creek.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
page 22
Others.-Three miles east of Bentonville was the Woods' Settlement, where Samuel and
William Woods, of Tennessee, located. They both raised large families, and lived
there until their deaths. George P. Wallace, at whose house the county was organized,
settled one mile and a half east of Bentonville. He was a large and powerful man,
being nearly seven feet in height, and had several sons who were his equal in
stature. He subsequently sold his first improvement and moved to another place in the
county, a few miles further north. It is said that when he wanted to raise a house he
did not invite his neighbors to assist, for he and his stalwart sons were always
equal to the task. John B. Dickson, the first clerk of the county, settled on what is
now Deming's Addition to the town of Bentonville. He subsequently settled at Osage
Springs, where Ezekiel Dickson now lives, and afterward moved to Texas, where he
died. He came to this county from Bedford County, Tenn. James Jackson and his sons,
and Samuel Williams, his father-in-law, settled one mile west of Bentonville, and the
locality was afterwards known as the "Jackson and Williams Settlement." Robert
Dickson and his son Joseph settled one-half mile west of Bentonville, and Uncle
Ezekiel Dickson, a brother to Robert, settled about eight miles west from
Bentonville. The Dicksons all came from Bedford County, Tenn. James, Joseph and David
McKissick settled from five to eight miles west of Bentonville, and Edward Cunningham
settled at the Cunningham Springs, about six miles from Bentonville. About a mile
south of these springs William Pelham settled. He subsequently became surveyorgeneral
of the State. He was a brother-in-law of ex-Gov. Conway. Rev. James Harris, a
Cumberland Presbyterian minister, and probably the first preacher in the county,
settled about three-fourths of a mile west of Bentonville. In 1836 Col. Hugh A.
Anderson brought his family from Kentucky, and settled [p.22] where his son Oliver I.
Anderson now resides, nine miles southwest of Bentonville. A large spring, heretofore
mentioned. is at this place, and Col. Anderson used to keep a deer park so enclosed
that the deer had access to the spring branch.
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
Phineas Holmes settled about five miles southwest of Bentonville, and John Kinchelve
settled near the same place on Osage Creek. The latter took an active part in the
organization of the county, and was for many years a justice of the peace for his
township. A few miles southeast of Bentonville was the Graham settlement, where
George and Joseph Graham located with their families. An early settler, still
surviving, says "there were a host of the Grahams." Robert and James Cowan settled
about eight miles south of Bentonville. A brother-in-law of the Cowans, by the name
of Colville, settled in the same locality. Colville Township derives its name from
the latter. Colville went to California in 1850, and on one occasion he left the camp
of himself and comrades and went out prospecting, and was never afterward heard from.
Robert Hubbard, the first representative of Benton County in the State Legislature,
settled near the Cowans, and Benjamin and Jefferson Hubbard settled lower down on the
Osage. The Maxwells also settled in the Cowan neighborhood. Isaac Horton, from
Tennessee, settled near the site of Lowell, in 1830. All of the foregoing
namedindividuals, whose date of settlement is not mentioned, were living at the
places mentioned in 1838, when Judge Alfred B. Greenwood came from Georgia and
settled in Bentonville. Many of them had settled several years prior to that time.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
page 23
In 1833 Felix G. Lindsey came from Kentucky and settled about three miles west of
Sulphur Springs. In 1835 Christopher C. Pace and his son J. H. Pace, also from
Tennessee, settled about six miles east of Maysville. In 1840 Solomon Phillips and
his son Pleasant, from Tennessee, settled about one and a half miles north of
Maysville. Among the first children born in Benton County were John and Elijah Keith,
who were born about three miles southeast of Maysville, the former in 1834 and the
latter in 1836. Among the later settlers near Maysville was A. T. Hedges, from
Indiana, who located one and a half miles southeast of that place in 1844. Henry R.
Austin and his mother, [p.23] Ellen Austin, came from Bedford County, Tenn., in 1845,
and settled west of Nebo, where Elijah Austin, son of Henry R., now lives. Mrs. Ellen
Austin has survived her son, and is now living with her grandson, at the advanced age
of one hundred and one years, and is yet active and intelligent. She was well
acquainted with Gen. Jackson and with President Polk, and is such a stanch Democrat
that she declares that if she could control a thousand votes she would give them all
to "Grover."
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
In 1839 Richard Burgess and his family, including W. W. Burgess, who now lives at
Springtown, came from Bedford County, Tenn., and settled on Lick Branch, near the
Osage, where Ed. Maxwell now lives. The same year Walter Thornberry and his son-in-
law, David Brickey, came from Virginia, and John Edwards from Tennessee, and settled
on the same branch. About the same time Joseph Neal and Charles Kincheloe settled on
Brushy Creek. In the fall of 1840 Archey Wilson and his brother Samuel, also from
Bedford County, Tenn., settled in the Burgess neighborhood. This made quite a colony
of Tennesseeans. David Brickey was a famous hunter, and on the first night after the
arrival of the Burgesses he and W. W. Burgess went out and shot and killed six
turkeys. Certainly the new comers were not "out of meat." The first settlers on Flint
Creek, in the vicinity of Springtown, were as follows: Isaac and Hasting Dial, the
latter settling about a mile east, where John Reynolds now resides. In 1850 Robert
Duckworth, Matthew Vaughan, Perminter Morgan, Wiley Jones and Maj. Jack Russell all
came from Georgia, and settled in that vicinity. The following year Robert Hall and
his sons, Jesse and Young, Rolly Hood, Joseph Thomas and his son Joseph, also from
Georgia, Hiram Thomason and his sons, John and Sanford, and several others, settled
on Flint Creek, and William Addington settled in "Coon Hollow."
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
page 24
Simon Sager, a German, after whom Sager's Creek was named, is believed to have been
the first settler in the Hico-Siloam vicinity. He settled on the creek where John De
Armon now lives, near Siloam. About the year 1844 Dr. Henry Powell settled with his
family on Flint Creek, four miles north of the site of Siloam. His widow, Mrs. Anna
Powell, still resides on [p.24] the place. About the same time James Riddle also
settled on Flint Creek, in that vicinity. John Quinton was the first settler of the
place now occupied by Col. D. Gunter, at Hico. The latter came from Tennessee in
1844, and settled where he now resides. Daniel Copeland was also a very early settler
near Hico.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
P. M. Phillips, of Bedford County, Tenn., came to Benton County in 1838, and in 1847
settled on Round Prairie. Col. Henry Hastings came from Tennessee in 1836, and
settled seven miles west of Bentonville. He subsequently located at Corner Spring
(Decatur), where he lived until his death. Thomas Quarles, from Georgia, settled on
the northeast part of Round Prairie about the year 1840, and in 1844 Col. John
Phagan, from North Carolina, settled at the Double Springs, on the Line Road. In 1846
David Chandler, also from North Carolina, settled on the farm which he still owns,
one and a fourth miles southwest of Bloomfield. He now resides in Bloomfield. Rev.
John Givens, a Baptist minister from Tennessee, was an early settler on Butler Creek.
About the year 1845 Z. M. Winnery, from Tennessee, settled on the site of the village
of Sulphur Springs. Near the same time Frank Lauderdale, James Thomason and Daniel
Tittle, all from Tennessee, settled in that neighborhood.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
page 25
The first settlement on War Eagle Creek, in Benton County, was made by two brothers
known as bear hunters, their names being Isaac and Levi Borne. They came from
Illinois early in the spring of 1832, and settled above the present War Eagle Mills,
and each one raised three acres of corn that year. The following fall Absalom Thomas,
Henry Taber, Lewis Russell, Robert Taber, William Brazeel and a Mr. Nelson all
settled with their families in that neighborhood, and in December of that year
Sylvanus Blackburn, Josiah Blackburn, Julius Kirk and Matthew Brewer with their
families, all from Hickman County, Tenn., settled in the same neighborhood. The
latter party came by way of Springfield, Mo., and, crossing what is now the line
between Missouri and Arkansas, on the old State road passing north and south, they
reached the cabin of John Fitzgerald, then living near the present village of Lowell,
and stayed there over night. The next day, leaving their families at Fitzgerald's,
they [p.25] prospected for and selected their respective locations, and then moved
thereon. Sylvanus Blackburn located on the place, at the present War Eagle Mills,
where he and his estimable wife, who then accompanied him, are still residing, he
being in his eightieth year at this time, and she being about the same age. Julius
Kirk settled on the creek about half a mile below the mill site and Matthew Brewer
about three-fourths of a mile above it. Mr. Blackburn and his wife are the only
survivors of these settlers. The next year John, David and Abram Stanley, James
Borne, James Matthews and Daniel Flannery settled in that neighborhood, and soon
after George Crabaugh and his son-in-law, Oliver Miller. About the same time two
famous hunters, Stephen Coose and John Scennett, settled on White River. The former,
in order to illustrate the crookedness of this river, once related that he traveled
one entire night on the river in his canoe from a point near his residence, and on
landing in the morning found that he had gained so little distance that he walked
home to get breakfast.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
The first death that occurred in the War Eagle settlement was that of a little
daughter of David Stanley, and hers was the first grave in the Austin graveyard,
about four miles above War Eagle Mills. The second death was that of John B. Kirk,
son of Julius Kirk, and he was buried in the first grave in the Blackburn graveyard,
near War Eagle Mills. Among the first marriages that took place in that neighborhood
were those of John Highland and Rachael Borne, James Blackburn and Sarah Crabaugh,
Joseph Stanley and Millie Blalock, Oliver Miller and Miss Blalock, the latter being a
sister to Millie.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
page 26
Later Settlers.-About 1848 William Wells, from Washington County, Ark., settled one
mile south of Sulphur Springs. In 1851 G. W. Mitchell, from Tennessee, settled on the
site of the present village of Bloomfield, and H. T. Gillespie, from North Carolina,
settled where he now lives on the Line Road, two miles south of Cherokee City. About
the year 1855 James Ingle settled two and a half miles northeast of Bloomfield. In
1855 Jesse Benton settled where he now lives on Honey Creek, eight miles west of
Sulphur Springs. He came from Georgia. Prior to 1853 the following persons settled in
the upper Pea Ridge [p.26] neighborhood, near the famous battle-field, to-wit: Enoch
Trott, from Tennessee; James Wardlaw, from Illinois; Mat. Cavaness, George Miser,
from Tennessee; Lewis Pratt, Rev. Jasper Dunagin, Wash. Ford, John and Samuel
Reddick, Wiley Foster and his two brothers, and Granville Medlin. J. Wade Sikes and
his father and family, from Tennessee, settled there in 1853. H. H. Patterson and his
two brothers, William Marsh, John Lee and the Morgans were also early settlers in the
Pea Ridge vicinity. In 1851 Young Abercombie and his sons, James, William, John,
Samuel, Hiram, La Fayette and Floyd, settled on Round Prairie.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
For other early settlers the reader is referred to the biographical department of
this work. It must also be borne in mind that many other persons hereinafter
mentioned in connection with the organization of Benton County were early settlers
thereof.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
page 27
Nativity and Character of the Settlers.-By far the greater portion of the first
citizens of Benton County came from Tennessee. Many came from Georgia and North
Carolina, and a goodly number came from Virginia and Kentucky, with here and there a
man from the free States. Many were descendants of the first settlers of the States
from whence they came, and were thoroughly acquainted with pioneer life, and thus
well qualified to open the country and establish new homes on the wild western
frontier. Nearly all were farmers and hunters, without much education or polish, and
with moderate ambitions and wants easily satisfied. To establish a home on a farm of
greater or less extent, to live plainly, frugally and honestly, to enjoy comfort and
not to work too hard seems to have been their chief desires. The majority were poor
and they never became wealthy. As is the case everywhere the few only became rich. Of
cultured, scholarly, enterprising and ambitious men there were a few. Many brought
some money, slaves and other property to the county, established themselves
comfortably from the first, and soon or eventually reached conditions of affluence.
Some of the merchants and other business men were shrewd and successful. The doctors
and lawyers were fair representatives of their professions. There were no gentlemen
of leisure, all had duties to perform, and though they were a little rough, uncouth
and unpolished, they [p.27] were free and hearty, generous and hospitable, and on the
whole just the right kind of people to brave the storms, "subdue the wilderness" and
press forward the line of civilization.
Some people sigh for a return of "the good old times," but there was no more morality
in the first decade of the county's exist ence than in the one just past; and on
looking over the first indictments in the courts one would conclude that there was
not so much. There were not then so many churches, schools and school books in
proportion to the population as at present. Indeed, some of the "noble old pioneers"
were a little "tough." One of the first enterprises was the establishing of whisky
distilleries, and in those "good old days," when the intoxicating fluid was cheap,
and free from government gaugers and revenue collectors, nearly everybody drank it.
And notwithstanding the declaration that some are disposed to make, that intemperance
is on the increase, the truth is just the opposite, as there is not nearly as much
whisky consumed now, in proportion to population, as there was then. It is customary
to indulge in a great deal of ext ravagance in extolling the virtues of the first
settlers of any country. Their good qualities are extolled immoderately, while it is
seldom, or ever, hinted that they had any vices. Our first settlers were men and
women, with all of the virtues and graces, and all of the vices and frailties
possessed by their ancestors, and retained by their descendants. They were hospitable
and generous, as a rule, and their successors practice the same virtues.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
page 28
The Pioneer's Cabin.-Log cabins were the domiciles of the pioneer settlers, and the
building of one was a notable event. The first two or three settlers had to erect
their own, with the assistance of their families. Later, the pioneer, upon arrival
into the country intended for his future operations, would stop and camp at the house
of some former settler, and leaving his family there would, under the guidance of the
former settler, set out and hunt and select a place to his liking, usually at a
spring or some creek, and then return and move his family thereto. The next thing to
be considered was a cabin in which to dwell. A day for its erection would be
appointed, and the former settler would mount a steed and ride far and near to the
habitations of the [p.28] few scattered settlers and notify them when and where the
"raising" was to take place. They would come from within a radii of fifteen to thirty
miles, and on the day appointed the cabin would go up; meanwhile the newcomer would
clear the spot for the new house, and live with his family in the "covered wagon."
Axes, with which to cut and prepare the logs, froes, with which to rive the
clapboards, and augers, with which to bore holes for pins and to prepare the wooden
hinges for the doors, were all the tools required. If there were enough helpers, the
logs would be hewed, otherwise put up round. Ridge poles would be placed in order,
and the clapboards placed thereon and weighted down with poles, and thus the cabin
would be covered. A huge fireplace cribbed with logs at one end of the building,
lined with stone and mud, and topped out with a stick and mud chimney, constituted
the heating apparatus. The floor and door would be made of puncheons, and the door
hung with wooder hinges. Thus the pioneer's cabin would be completed. With the use of
the ax and auger bedsteads were made of small poles in the corners of the building.
In such humble houses the pioneers dwelt, wore plain apparel and fed on humble fare-
lived comfortably, happily and well. They did not sport fine clothes, but had plenty
of comfortable and durable linsey and jeans and homespun cotton, much better suited
to their rough-and-tumble life.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
page 29
Population.-The increase in the population of Benton County, since its settlement,
was very gradual until since the year 1880. In 1860 it was 9,285; in 1870, 13,782; in
1880, 20,255, and now it is 31,000; an increase of 10,745 since 1880. This unusual
increase is due mostly to the large influx of immigrants that have come into the
county since the completion of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad through it, and
since the fact has been advertised that this region is unexcelled in the United
States for the growing of all kinds of fruit. The population of Benton County, by
race, for the dates here given, is as follows: For 1860, white, 8,905; negro, 385;
Indians, 16. For 1870, white, 13,640; negro, 182; Indians, 9. For 1880, white,
20,167; negro, 128; Indians, 33. Of the present population the number belonging to
each race cannot be accurately given. By a comparison of these figures it will be
noticed that [p.29] while the white population is rapidly increasing, that of the
colored is decreasing, there being only one-third as many of the latter in 1880 as
there were in 1860, and more than three times as many whites as there were then. It
will also be noticed that the small Indian population doubled in the same period of
time.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
A PIONEER LOG CABIN.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
Wild Animals, Game, etc.-The wild animals that originally inhabited the territory of
Benton County were buffaloes, bears, wolves, wild cats, catamounts, panthers, elk,
deer, foxes, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, squirrels, etc. The buffaloes fled in
advance of the approach of the white man, and but few lingered after his coming.
Sylvanus Blackburn remembers having seen two soon after he settled, in 1832. Probably
these were the last ones seen in the county, or, at least, among the last. Unlike
other wild animals, they did not remain to annoy or be annoyed by the settlers, but
sought new pastures farther toward the setting sun. The bears, not willing to abandon
their native haunts, lingered and struggled with their exterminators. Many were
killed by the "bear hunters," who loved the dangerous sport. In the open country they
have become extinct, but occasionally one is yet found in the mountain fastnesses.
They were very annoying to the early settlers, and destroyed many of their hogs. The
wolves were very numerous and troublesome, and destructive to sheep, pigs and young
cattle. Sylvanus Blackburn relates that they killed nine of his sheep for two
successive nights.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
page 30
The bears would kill the largest hogs, and the wolves would generally take the pigs.
The bears were hunted and killed for their meat and skins, and for their
extermination. Many were killed simply to gratify the love of the adventure. The
wolves being unfit for food, and their skins being of no value, were hunted and
killed with a view of their extermination. They are not wholly exterminated, but are
no longer troublesome. A few yet remained in the broken country distant from the
settlements. The wild cats, catamounts and panthers, once very numerous and annoying,
have become so nearly extinct as to cease to be troublesome. The elk became extinct
many years ago. The deer were numerous but not annoying. They were hunted and killed
for [p.30] food. Their skins were also valuable. Josiah Blackburn, son of Sylvanus
Blackburn, was a great hunter. He killed forty deer one winter on one "hunting snow."
The old gentleman, though not a professional hunter, sometimes killed as high as
three deer per day. Many of the surviving old settlers say that they often went out
and killed a deer before breakfast. Many a deer lost its life by approaching too near
the "clearings" of the old settlers, who always had their trusty rifles near at hand.
The other animals mentioned above, though not so numerous as they formerly were,
still abound in considerable numbers.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
Wild fowl, of various kinds, especially turkeys, were numerous. The turkeys, like the
deer, were easy of acquisition, and were extensively used by the early settlers for
food. The wild fowl still exist, but in very limited numbers. The varieties are those
common to all parts of America in this latitude. In the hollow trees of the forests
wild bees and their honey were found in great abundance by the early settlers. Had
there been a market near at hand, the quantity of honey that could have been gathered
from the forests would have been a considerable source of revenue, but, as it was, it
was only gathered for home consumption. When a bee tree was found, the next thing to
be done was to kill a deer and skin it. Then the deer skin, by true pioneer
ingenuity, was formed, and tied up so as to form a sack that would hold about two
bushels. Into this deer skin sack the honey would be placed and carried home, the
sack hung up in a safe place, and left hanging until the honey was consumed. The
reader may think this was a novel vessel in which to put the honey, and so it was. In
those days the people were not close to market where they could purchase earthen and
wooden vessels to suit their conveniences, and consequently were obliged to improvise
many things that we would not think of using at the present day. Sylvanus Blackburn
and other surviving pioneers can testify to the truth of the foregoing concerning the
wild bees and their honey.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
page 31
Hardships, Advantages, Disadvantages, etc.-The first settlers labored under great
inconvenience from the want of grist and saw-mills, post-offices, blacksmith and
other mechanical shops, there being none within convenient distance. The pioneer,
[p.31] before entering the extreme frontier, would provide himself with a supply of
meal, which would last for a short time after making his settlement, then a new
supply had to be obtained. Then came the test of pioneer life-some corn had to be
obtained by making a long trip to some point back from the frontier, or to some
distant settler, who had "made" a crop and had a few surplus bushels. Mr. Sylvanus
Blackburn, of War Eagle, and those that settled with him, went to Richland, about
twenty-five miles distant, to get their corn. Many others had to go a greater
distance. The corn being obtained the next thing to be done was to reduce it to meal,
and in the absence of mills how was it to be done. The following is the method as
related by the old settlers, who of necessity had to use it: First a large tree was
felled, so as to leave a stump with a level surface, then a fire was kindled and kept
burning on the center of the top of the stump, while the outer portion or rim thereof
was kept wet to prevent its burning. In this way a hole would be burned into the
stump, and when it was of sufficient depth to form a good bowl, the fire would be
taken out and the hole cleaned, the coals adhering to the wood would be scraped out
with some edged instrument, and a bowl thus formed sufficient to hold a quantity of
corn. Then a pole with one end hinged to a forked post set near the stump, and
extended horizontally over the stump, and a pedestal or maul suspended to the pole
over the bowl in the stump, completed the pioneers' grist-mill. The corn would then
be placed in the bowl, and one or two persons (often the settler and his good wife)
would take hold of the loose end of the pole or "sweep" and move it up and down, thus
causing the pedestal to pound the corn into meal. Such were the pioneer grist-mills
on which the corn was ground for the hardy settler, his wife and little children. The
first few grindings would be considerably mixed with the black, burned wood of the
stump, and the meal would be of a dark color. Bread or "hoe-cakes," made of such
meal, together with wild meat, of which they had a great abundance, and a little
coffee and sugar-the two latter articles being very inconveniently obtained-usually
constituted the diet of the pioneers for the first year and until they could raise a
crop.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
page 32
Clothing.-Their clothing consisted of what they brought [p.32] with them, which they
subsequently made out of cloth manufactured at home with the spinning wheel and loom;
and while it was not the finest in quanty or of the most fashionable style, it was
withal very comfortable. Until stores were opened on the frontier, it was very
inconvenient for the settlers to obtain such goods as they could not manufacture.
Another great inconvenience was the absence of post-offices. It took as many months,
or more, as it now takes days for the news of the East to reach the settlers on the
frontier. Many were the inconveniences, too numerous to mention here, which they were
compelled to endure. Children should remember with gratitude the parents who endured
these hardships and deprivations for their benefit.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
Later Mills.-The stump and pedestal mills were superseded by "horse mills," and these
by small water mills. Among the first of the latter kind erected was one put up by
John E. Turner, on War Eagle Creek, about six miles below the present War Eagle
Mills. This was probably in what is now Washington County. There is no mill there
now. The first mills at War Eagle were put up in 1848. The early settlers in the
western part of the county went to the Elk Mills, in Missouri, to get their grinding
done. Subsequently the Hilterbrandt Mills were erected on Flint Creek, in the Indian
Territory, about twelve miles southwest of the present village of Bloomfield. For
many years these mills were patronized by the people of the western part of the
county. Finally the Hico, the Bloomfield and other mills were erected within the
county, and now it is well supplied with both saw and grist-mills. Several of the
flouring mills are supplied with the latest improved machinery and apparatus for
making the roller process flour. The most noted ones are mentioned in the history of
the towns in which they are located.
page 33
Although the early settlers had to endure many hardships and privations, they
certainly had many of the sweets of life along with the bitter. After having raised
and gathered a crop, and thus secured a supply of breadstuffs and vegetables for
their families, they lived on the fat of the land, which was then "flowing with milk
and honey." The milk was supplied by the cows that fed upon the luxuriant wild
grasses, and the honey was procured from the hollow trees, where the busy little bees
had stored it in [p.33] great quantities, the latter costing nothing but the labor of
securing it, and, perhaps, an occasional sting. Yes, with plenty of bread and
vegetables, wild honey, venison, turkey and other wild game to suit their tastes,
they could certainly prepare meals such as kings and potentates, in the midst of
magnificent splendor, never dreamed of enjoying.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
Pioneer Weddings.-The courting of the young people, in the frontier settlements, was
attended with some inconveniences. For the want of house room it was often difficult
to visit and woo a young lady except in the presence of her parents. No costly
parlors furnished with upholstered chairs, into which the young couple might retire
to tell of their loves and expectations, then existed, and it was seldom that a young
man had the pleasure of escorting his lady love to church or to Sunday-school. But
there were "frolics" and dances on the puncheon floors, and in spite of the many
inconveniences the young people enjoyed themselves. The climate being mild, there is
no doubt but that the native forests were often utilized by young lovers for pleasure
walks, and that on such occasions, underneath some beautiful shade tree, the question
was asked and the answer given that forever bound their hearts together. A pioneer
wedding could not compare, in point of elegance and finish, with one of these days,
for there were lacking the paraphernalia of display, and the pomp and circumstances
attendant, in this age, upon affairs of that character. In those days the wedding
trousseau was not costly and elegant, but plain and simple. The bridal toilet was
neither expensive, elaborate, fanciful or showy, but it was sensible, for it was
sufficient and appropriate to the times, the manners and circumstances. Yet she was
as well dressed as the groom with his coon-skin cap, his jeans coat, his linsey or
cotton shirt, his jeans or coarse linen trousers, his feet in home tanned shoes, and
without a glove to his hand or name. But for all the discomforts and disadvantages,
the marriages were as fortunate and felicitous, and the weddings themselves as
joyous, as any of those of modern times.
History of Benton County
[p.20] SETTLEMENT.
page 34
Early weddings were sometimes attended with some public amusement. A shooting match
was sometimes common, and foot races and other athletic sports were frequently
indulged in. At night a dance, in which all participated, was common. The [p.34]
wedding feast was well worthy the name. The champagne was good old whisky,
manufactured at some local distillery, clear and pure as mountain dew. Then there
were venison steaks and roasts, turkey and other wild meats, and other delicious
edibles, sufficient to appease the appetites of the most fastidious guests. The
particulars of the first marriage or marriages in Benton County cannot now be given,
nor the names of the first parties married, unless they were some of those mentioned
in connection with the War Eagle Settlement. If any public record of the early
marriage was made, it has been lost or destroyed, as no such record can be found in
the clerk's office prior to the year 1860.
Footnote
So spelled on the record.
History of Benton County
INDIANS.
The record was commenced in 1861, and records only three marriages for the year 1860,
viz.: March 28, Thomas Wells and Miss Adaline Baker; August 30, James Riddle and Mrs.
Emla* McWilliams; October 9, T. J. Holum, aged twenty-three years, and Mrs. Elizabeth
Thomas, aged forty-one years, all being solemnized by Rev. H. Powell. Sixty marriages
are recorded for the year 1861, and six in January, 1862, and then no more are
recorded until July, 1865, after which forty-two are recorded for that year. The war
suspended marriages, or else they were not recorded. For subsequent years the record
shows the number of marriages in the county to have taken place as follows: For 1866,
108; for 1870, 133; for 1880, 142; for 1887, 243, and for the present year, up to
August 7, 142.
History of Benton County
INDIANS.
Tribes.-At the beginning of the settlement of the territory now embraced in this
county, it was occupied by roving bands of the Osage and Delaware tribes of Indians,
though it was not then and had not been the permanent location of these tribes. While
the tribes were at enmity with each other, they were at peace with the whites, and
friendly to the early settlers.
History of Benton County
INDIANS.
page 35
Removal.-The Indians were not numerous here, and did not remain long after the
settlement by the whites began. In 1837 the removal of the Cherokee Indians from
Georgia to the Indian Territory began. There were several thousand of them, and
[p.35] before the removal took place they were divided into two parties, under the
respective leadership of two chiefs, named John Ross and John Ridge. They were
accordingly designated as the "Ross Party" and the "Ridge Party." In treating for
their removal, the Government recognized the Ridge Party, whereupon Ross and his
party claimed that Ridge and his party had no authority to enter the treaty, and at
first refused to be removed. But upon further negotiations Ross entered into a
contract with Gen. Scott to remove his party, by which it cost the Government about
$54 per head for their removal. In making the removal the Cherokees were divided into
several detachments of about 1,000 each, and each detachment was properly officered
with white men. A military escort and provisions were furnished by the Government.
History of Benton County
INDIANS.
They started on their journey in the fall of 1837, but, like Moses in the wilderness,
they lingered by the way, and did not reach their "promised land" until the spring of
1838. They congregated at and started from Calhoun, on the Hiwassee River, in McMinn
Co., Tenn. The detachments started at different times, and one of them, belonging to
the Ridge party, traveled westward, and crossed the Mississippi at Memphis. The
others came by way of Nashville, Tenn., crossed the Ohio River at Golconda, and the
Mississippi at Green's Ferry, thence westward, passing through Benton County to their
destination, some of them passing directly through Bentonville.
History of Benton County
INDIANS.
Judge A. B. Greenwood, now of Bentonville, then a young man, was appointed commissary
for one of the detachments, and came with it as far as Nashville, then resigned, and
returned to Georgia for his family, and moved directly to Bentonville, where he has
ever since resided. He was here to witness the passing of the Indians on their way to
the Territory.
History of Benton County
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
page 36
For a number of years following the Indians would come out of the Territory and
establish camps in Benton County from which to hunt game. Being unmolested they
became bold and a little treacherous, and did not at all times confine themselves to
the capture of wild game, but began to appropriate the hogs which the settlers had
turned out to feed upon the mast. Being discovered in their thefts they were finally
ordered by the citizens [p.36] to retire from the county, and not return again for
the purpose of hunting. The order was obeyed, and no further trouble was had. On one
occasion, in 1840, a band of Indians encamped on Flint Creek, about a mile above the
present site of Springtown. After committing some thefts a body of armed citizens met
to drive them out, peaceably or otherwise. W. W. Burgess, now of Springtown, was in
this party, and on their way he killed a deer, near the site of Springtown, and threw
it into the big spring there to keep it cool until their return. Arriving near the
Indian camp the citizens notified them to leave instanter, which they did, and thus
all further trouble on that occasion was avoided. Aside from killing a few hogs and
committing some petty thefts the early settlers of Benton County were not molested by
the Indians.
First County Court.-Benton County was organized in accordance with an act of the
General Assembly passed or approved September 30, 1836. In accordance with the act
the first term of the county court, Judge George P. Wallace, presiding, was held in
April, 1837, at the residence of said Wallace, one and a half miles east of the
present site of Bentonville, when and where the organization of the county was
completed. The first county officers were as follows: George P. Wallace, judge of the
county court; John B. Dickson, county clerk; Gideon G. Pace, sheriff; Henry C.
Hastings, treasurer; Henry Ford, coroner, and A. McKissick, surveyor.
History of Benton County
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
The County Seat.-According to the act creating the county, an election was held for
the selection of three commissioners to select and fix upon a site for the county
seat. On counting the returns it was found that Robert Cowen, Robert Weaver and
Thomas Swaggerty were elected as such commissioners. On the 7th of November, 1837,
they filed with the county clerk a report of their proceedings in the words and
figures following, to-wit:
History of Benton County
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
page 37
We, the undersigned commissioners elected under an act of the General Assembly of the
State of Arkansas, after having been duly qualified, and giving the notice required
by law, and having duly examined the various situations, donations and conveniences,
beg leave to report that we have selected a site-to-wit: [p.37] The south half of the
southeast quarter of Section 30, in Township 20 north, Range 30 west of the fifth
principal meridian, as presenting to your commissioners, duly considering its
situation, the donations offered, and its eligibility for a county seat, more
advantages and conveniences than any other situation which was presented for the
consideration of your commissioners. They have, after selecting the same, in
accordance with the powers vested in them as commissioners, proceeded to lay off a
town thereon, leaving a square and 136 lots, and have named and called said town
Bentonville; all of which is respectfully submitted to the court.
History of Benton County
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
[Signed.]
ROBERT COWEN.
ROBERT WEAVER.
THOMAS SWAGGERTY.
History of Benton County
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
The report was addressed to the circuit court, to which tribunal the law required it
to be made, and on the second day of the first term of that court, which was held in
November, 1837, the report was presented to the judge thereof, and the following
entry was ordered to be made of record, viz.:
History of Benton County
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
And now on this day comes the commissioners elected to locate a county seat for the
county of Benton, and present their report, which is approved by the court and
ordered to be filed and recorded. And it appearing to the court here that a court-
house will be prepared for the reception and use of the court by the next term
thereof, it is therefore ordered by the court that the clerk of the Benton Circuit
Court do move all the files, records and papers of his office to the town of
Bentonville, the county seat so selected by said commissioners, or within one mile
thereof, at least thirty days before the next term of this court. And that the town
so selected be established as the seat of justice for said county, and be called and
known by the name of Bentonville, in honor to the Hon. Thomas Hort Benton, and that
all writs and process hereafter issued from this office, shall bear test and be made
returnable at the court-house in the town of Bentonville, county of Benton.
History of Benton County
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
In accordance with this order the books and papers of the court were moved to the
court-house in Bentonville before May, 1838, in which month the second term of the
court was held in the established county seat, which has ever since remained as such.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
page 38
Lost Records.-The records of the proceedings of the county court from its
organization to the year 1857, and again for a number of years including the war
period, have been lost or destroyed. It is thought that many of them were destroyed
by soldiers during the war. In consequence of the absence of the records some
important items of the proceedings of the county court, that might otherwise appear,
will necessarily have to be omitted. [p.38] The major part of the business of this
court in the early history of the county consisted in the appointment of
commissioners to lay out and establish public roads, and to accept and approve, or
reject, their reports, to audit accounts, to make contracts for public improvements,
to examine and approve the reports of guardians and administrators, to exercise
jurisdiction over all county and probate business in general and to levy and
superintend the collection of revenues for both county and State.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Court-houses.-The first court-house was a small hewed log building, which stood on
the north side of the public square, in Bentonville. It was built in 1837. Being only
a temporary "makeshift," to be used only until a better building could be
constructed, it stood only two or three years, or until the second court-house, a
more permanent building, was completed. This was a two-story brick structure about
fifty feet square, and stood upon the center of the public square, where the well is
now located. The court room was in the first story, and the county offices and jury
rooms in the second. John and William Walker were the contractors, who built it, as
it is said, at a loss to themselves. This house stood until some time during the late
Civil War, when it was destroyed by fire.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Immediately after the close of the war a temporary courthouse was built on the lot
near the old jail, it being on the north side of the street, a short distance east of
the northeast corner of the public square. This was a two-story frame building,
costing in the neighborhood of $1,000. It was used until the present court-house was
erected, after which it was moved to and now stands on the county "poor farm."
page 39
On Monday, January 4, 1870, the county court made the following entry on the record
of its proceedings: "Whereas, there being no suitable court-house in the county of
Benton in which to hold the courts of said county, and no jail for said county,
therefore it is hereby ordered by the court that a courthouse and jail be erected in
the town of Bentonville, in said county of Benton, in the State of Arkansas." William
W. Reynolds was then appointed commissioner of public buildings within [p.39] and for
the county, "and there being no suitable ground belonging to the county on which to
erect said buildings," the commissioner was ordered to select a proper piece of
ground in the town of Bentonville for that purpose, and to purchase the same and take
a good and sufficient deed of conveyance in fee simple therefor, and to make report
of his proceedings to the court at his earliest convenience. Commissioner Reynolds
accepted his appointment, and on the same day filed his report in the words and
figures following:
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Hon. County Court of the County of Benton, State of Arkansas:
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The undersigned commissioner of public buildings, instructed by order of your
honorable court to purchase a suitable lot of ground for the erection of a court-
house and jail thereon, beg leave to submit the following report: That he has
(subject to your approval) purchased, of Joseph R. Rutherford's estate, Lots Nos. 90,
91, 94 and 95 of the town of Bentonville, Benton Co., Ark. In arriving at the
consideration for the property purchased, the kind of payment was considered, and
from the fact that such payment would be made in county warrants, the sum of $1,250
was agreed upon as the consideration for said lots. These lots could have been
purchased with greenbacks for the sum of $1,000. The deed for said lots to the county
of Benton, in fee simple, is herewith submitted and asked to be taken as a part of
this report. As a confirmation of the contract of your commissioner, he would ask
your honorable court that county warrants to the amount of $1.250 be issued to the
said Joseph R. Rutherford in consideration of said property. Most respectfully
submitted.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
[Signed.]
W. W. REYNOLDS,
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Com. of Public Buildings.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
page 40
The report was accepted and approved by the court, and county warrants to the amount
of $1,250 were ordered to be drawn in favor of J. R. Rutherford in full payment for
the lots named therein, the warrants to be issued in such sums as he might desire.
The commissioner was then ordered to make out and submit to the court, at its next
term, a plan or plans, with an estimate of the probable cost of a court-house and
jail, to be erected on the grounds purchased for that purpose. At the next term of
the court Commissioner Reynolds submitted plans and specifications for the proposed
building, drawn by W. T. Ritter, architect, together with an estimate of its cost, at
$35,000. The plans and specifications were adopted by the court, and spread in full
length upon its records. ["A" pages 121 to 127 inclusive.]. The commissioner was then
ordered to proceed to let the contract for the building of the court-house and jail
combined to [p.40] the lowest responsible bidder, after giving at least twenty days'
notice of the time and place and terms of the letting, the commissioner to receive
sealed bids from any and all parties until 12 o'clock of the first day of May, 1871,
and to open all bids on that day in the presence of the Court. A sufficient amount of
bonds, not exceeding $50,000, was then ordered to be issued for the purpose of
raising funds for the construction of the proposed building, the first $10,000 to be
made payable in one year after date, the second $10,000 in two years after date, and
so on until the contract should be fully paid, or the $50,000 exhausted: all bonds to
bear interest at the rate of 10 per cent.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
On the first day of May following, the court being in session, the following entry
was made upon its record of proceedings: "Now, on this day comes W. W. Reynolds,
commissioner of public buildings of the county of Benton, and at 12 o'clock M. of
this day, proceeded and did open, in the presence of this Court, the several bids for
the erection of the court-house and jail, in accordance with the advertisement of the
commissioner in this behalf. Whereupon the following bids were presented. to-wit: J.
H. Neely and Samuel H. Kelton, of Bentonville, $33,000; A. H. Leady, of Springfield,
Mo., $36,575; M. A. Rowles, of Illinois, $36,500; W. T. Ritter & Co., of Springfield,
Mo., $34,735; J. Oliver, of Springfield, Mo., $31,910."
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
After an examination of the several bids, the contract was awarded to John H. Neely
and Samuel H. Kelton, at $33,000, whereupon the contractors immediately filed their
bond conditioned for the fulfillment of their part of the contract, in the sum of
$66,000, with good and sufficient security to the satisfaction of the court. In June
following Commissioner Reynolds reported to the court the progress of the work, and
that the work done on the new court-house and jail, together with material purchased,
amounted to $7,900. The next month he reported the sale of bonds made by him on the
24th day of June preceding, amounting to $7,669, with the following credits, to-wit:
Receipt of Neely & Kelton, contractors, $6,115.51; receipt of R. & T. A. Ennis for
printing bonds, $80; receipt of Cory & Cook and A. B. Cory, printing, $24; receipt of
M. B. Maxwell for surveying, $6.25; total credits, $6,225.76.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
page 41
[p.41] On the 15th day of August, 1871, a petition signed by John A. Dickson, J. V.
Lee, J. C. Woods and twenty-eight others was presented to the court, praying for the
abandonment of the bond system. The petition reads as follows:
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
We, the undersigned tax payers of Benton County, would most respectfully represent to
the Honorable County Court, that, whereas, they did, at the April term of said court,
according to Act 66 of the Acts of the Assembly of 1871, authorizing them so to do,
order the commissioner of public buildings to have $50,000 in interest-bearing bonds
struck, $10,000 of which have already been sold; and whereas, said bonds cannot be
cashed except at such rates as proves ruinous sacrifice to the people, we would
therefore pray your honorable body to dispense with the use of the remaining Benton
County Court House and Jail Bonds amounting to $40,000, and make such modification
with the contractors as will be equitable and satisfactory to them and the court, for
the erection of the building, levying cash tax according to the law for raising
revenue for county expenses; provided you find you are authorized so to do by the
law. Believing that you will save the public money on the balance of the bonds, and
meet the approval of almost the entire population, who feel deeply aggrieved by the
bond system. All of which is most respectfully submitted by your petitioners.
Then, in response to a citation issued to them, Messrs. Neely and Kelton came into
court, as also did the petitioners by their attorney, and the Court took into
consideration the matter of the petition. The contractors refused to accept any
change from the bond system, showing that they could not use county scrip at all, and
that the bonds would furnish them cash in hand, and further that they could not
accept the payments from a direct tax in lieu of their contract, for the reason that
it would take eight or ten years to realize the amount due them.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
page 42
Then follows of record the following entry: "Therefore the Court, after due and
respectful consideration, is of the opinion (as the petitioners have wholly failed to
show any plan that is satisfactory to the contractors, by which one cent would be
saved to the county, but on the contrary the plans submitted would cost the county a
large amount in excess of the present system), that it would be unwise to change the
present bond system." Upon request of the contractors, the court then ordered the
second year's bonds, being for $10,000, to be offered for sale by the commissioner of
public buildings, to the highest bidders for cash, at the door of the court-house, on
Monday, September 4, 1881. In October following, Commissioner Reynolds [p.42]
reported a further sale of bonds, and that the whole amount then paid to the
contractors was $14,569.25.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
page 43
In January, 1872, the court (having undergone a change in its formation, being then
composed of a board of supervisors) found that the contractors could not proceed with
the building without additional aid, and that unless the bonds could be converted
into money the enterprise would of necessity be retarded in its progress, and that
the deplorable condition of the finances of the people of the county, asshown by the
last effort of the commissioner to sell the bonds, satisfied the court that the
policy of again offering the bonds for sale at public outcry would be attended with
failure, as in the sale of the last installment. It further appeared to the court by
written assurance of Denton D. Starke, a banker of Fayetteville, that he had
negotiated with the contractors for the purchase of the bonds, at such price as to
enable them to proceed with their work, and complete the building within the time
specified, provided the court would issue the whole of the bonds remaining unsold,
and turn them over to the contractors. To remove all obstacles and to secure the
speedy completion of the building, the court ordered that the remaining $30,000 in
bonds should be issued, and turned over to the contractors at 75 cents on the dollar,
in full payment of their contract for the construction of the building, and that the
commissioner should take their receipt in duplicate for the same, and file one with
the clerk of the court and retain one in his possession. It was further ordered that
before turning over said bonds the contractors should give bond to the court, in the
sum of $30,000, conditioned for the delivery of the bonds to said Starke, as
aforesaid, within fifteen days from date of the order. And it was further provided
that the funds arising from the sale of the bonds should be drawn from said Starke,
as follows: $500 on or before April 1, 1872, and $2,500 monthly thereafter, unless
otherwise ordered by the court, until the whole amount of the proceeds of the sale
should be exhausted, except the proceeds arising from the sale of the $7,500 of
reserve fund, which was to remain in the bank subject to the special orders of the
court. The contractors filed their bond as required, received the bonds for the
$30,000, and turned them over to Starke, the banker, at [p.43] Fayetteville, and
filed his duplicate receipt for the deposit of the same, with the court, as directed.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
In May following Commissioner Reynolds filed with the court the following report, to-
wit: "To the Honorable County Court of Benton County: The commissioner of public
buildings respectfully submits the following report, to wit: The amount paid
contractors as per last report, $14,569.25. Amount of contingent fund, $175.75. Work
done to this date: Excavation, $150.00; stone wall, $1,500.00; cut stone, $800.00;
guion corners, $1,000.00; door sills, $50.00; brick in wall, $8,500.00; cut stone
window sills, $300.00; well and pump, $100.00; rods and anchors, $350.00; carpenter
work, $1,700.00. Total, $14,450.00. Material ready for use, $500.00; cut stone ready,
$600.00; cut post ready, $150.00; iron cornice, $1,400.00; vault doors, $375.00; iron
columns, $500.00; ceiling joists, $160.00; oils and paints, $300.00; 35,000 feet
lumber, $1,050.00; 5,000 feet walnut, $160.00. Total, $5,195.00. Whole amount of work
done and material ready for use, $19,645.00."
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
page 44
At this time the court found that the constructors had failed to negotiate with D. D.
Starke for the sale of the $30,000 in bonds, or to realize any money from the bonds.
The contractors then returned the bonds for that amount to the court and took up
their receipt, whereupon the court rescinded its former order by which the bonds were
issued, and they were burned by order of and in the presence of the court. The
commissioner was then ordered to prepare three hundred interest-bearing bonds of the
denomination of one hundred each, and to offer for sale a sufficient number of them
to raise the sum of $5,075.75, less 15 per cent on said amount in currency. "That
said bonds should bring five cents on the dollar, and should be sold one at a time at
the court-house door of said county, for cash to the highest bidder, commencing on
Saturday June 1, 1872, and to continue from day to day until the full amount required
was sold," and it was further provided that if no sales were made, the commissioner
should pay to the contractors the amount in bonds at 75 cents on the dollar. On the
3d of July following the commissioner reported that the bonds had been offered for
sale as per order, and that one of them, No. 54, was sold to C. H. Davis for $75.05
[p.44] and all the others were sold to the contractors for 75 cents on the dollar.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
In January, 1873, the court found that the contractors, Neely & Kelton, had failed to
finish and complete the court-house and jail by the 1st of September, 1872, according
to contract, and called upon them to show why their said contract should not be
declared forfeited. In response the contractors replied that they had nothing to say;
whereupon the court declared and ordered the contract forfeited by the default of the
contractors, Neely & Kelton. On the 15th day of February following the offered
resignation of Commissioner Reynolds was accepted, and S. G. Elliott was appointed
his successor. In April, 1873, the court ordered that forty-six one hundred-dollar
interest-bearing bonds should be issued, and that the commissioner should proceed at
once to negotiate their sale by private contracts to the best advantage of the
county, provided that he should not sell any of them for less than 75 cents on the
dollar, and if he could not thus dispose of them he was authorized to offer them for
sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash. He was also authorized, as
soon as practicable, to contract with one or more responsible persons "for the
completion of the walls, roof, windows, doors and second-story rooms of the court-
house of said county." And if he failed to get money by the sale of the bonds, he was
to pay the workmen with the bonds at such discount as in his judgment justice would
be done the county.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
In May, 1873, the county court, then consisting of a board of supervisors, ordered
Commissioner Elliott to let out to the lowest bidders the contract for finishing the
work on the court-house, the bids to be received June 2, 1873, and the work to be
completed on or before the second Monday of September following. Accordingly, on the
3d of June, contracts were entered into as follows: To F. A. Johnson, Robert Anderson
and P. Q. O. Rabb, the wood work remaining undone, for the sum of $800; to J. C.
Alexander, the tin roofing, spouting and capping and covering cornice for $230; to
James Haney, the brick, stone and plastering work remaining undone, for $830. In July
following the court found the court-house completed as per the last aforesaid
contracts.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
page 45
[p.45] In July, 1874, W. C. Lefors, the county treasurer, submitted the following
report:
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Benton County, Ark.:
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
I hereby certify that all the court-house and jail bonds that has ever come into
my hands as collector of revenue for 1871, and as treasurer for the years 1872 and
1873, amount to the sum of $37,570, and that I have paid out on 254 bonds $29,599
71
On court-house warrants and coupons 7,236 37
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Total amount paid out less commission $36,836 08
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Leaving in treasury July 22, 1874 $124 18
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
(Signed)
W. C. LEFORS, County Treasurer.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
It is not known just what the court-house and jail actually cost the county, but it
is estimated that on account of the interest and discount on the bonds actually
issued and sold, and the depreciated county scrip, that it cost nearly $60,000. It
is, according to the plans and specifications, a three-story brick building, 56×76
feet in size, set on a stone foundation. The first story, twelve feet in height,
contains the county offices. halls and stairs; the second story, eighteen feet in
height, the courtrooms, and the third story, twelve feet in height, the jail with
cells, etc., for prisoners.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The County Jails.-The first jail for Benton County, which was erected immediately
after its organization, stood on the north side of the east and west street, about
sixty yards east of the northeast corner of the public square, in Bentonville. It was
a small building, consisting of a double wall of squared logs, with a cavity of
several inches space between the walls. In this cavity poles were stood upon end,
thus making what might be called a third or interior wall.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
In April, 1860, the county court made the following entry upon the record of its
proceedings, to-wit:
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
page 46
This being the day heretofore appointed by this Honorable Court to take the vote
whether a direct tax should be levied for the purpose of building a county jail, and
the court being satisfied that notices have been put up in every township, as
required by law, and there being a number of the justices of the peace of the county
present, and they having unanimously voted for the levying of a direct tax * * * on
all property now assessed for the year 1860, for [p.46] county purposes, and also a
poll tax of 25 cents per capput, which said tax can only be paid and received by the
sheriff in gold or silver.
Footnote
This must have been intended for 20 cents on each $100, instead of twenty per cent,
as written on the record.
It is therefore ordered by the court that a county jail be built. and that a direct
tax of twenty per cent* be levied on all property now assessed for the year 1860, for
county purposes, and also that a poll tax of 25 cents per capput for the year 1860 be
levied, and the sheriff is hereby ordered to receive and collect in discharge of both
of said taxes only gold or silver.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
At the July term following plans and specifications were adopted for the building of
a jail, forty feet long by twenty-two feet wide, from outside to outside, the wall of
the first story to be eighteen inches thick and nine feet high, with two partition
walls thirteen inches thick across the building. The second story of the building was
to be eleven feet high, and the whole was to be set upon a solid stone foundation.
Full details for the construction of the building were given in the plans and
specifications. At the following August term of the court the contract for the
erection of the building was awarded to E. R. McKeen, the lowest bidder, for $3,475.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The political campaign of 1860 was now on, and probably the results which followed
were foreseen or apprehended by the contractor, for nothing further was done with
this jail, it never being built. The next county jail was the one constructed in the
third story of the present court-house. Proceedings pertaining to the construction of
the present jail were commenced in October, 1887, when Robert N. Corley was appointed
commissioner, to let the contract or contracts for its construction, and to
superintend the work. The contracts were let in January, 1888, to different parties,
as follows: Stone mason work to H. G. McWhirter for $1,693; brick work to William D.
Kelton for $475; carpenter work to Duffey & Fristoe for $475; iron work to Clapp,
McGruder & McAdams for $682; steel cages, etc., to the Paulling Jail Co. for $3,000;
tin work (roofing, etc.), to Hobbs & Co. for $82; excavation to different parties,
estimated at $50.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
page 47
At this writing the building is not wholly completed; the painting, construction of
sewerage, etc., remains to be done. It will cost when completed, according to the
plans and specifications, including sewerage, about $7,500. It is located on the
[p.47] court-house grounds on the north side thereof. It is a one-story building,
forty-two feet two inches by thirty-two feet two inches in size, outside measure. It
contains a hall, which extends all around the building inside of the brick wall, and
on the interior the place proper for the prisoners is a space thirteen feet square,
containing two cells six and a half feet square, and a corridor six by thirteen feet.
It is so arranged that the prisoners cannot have access to the outer wall. It sets
about three feet below the level of the ground, and has an excavation of that depth,
and about six feet wide, all around it. The roof of the building extends over this
surrounding excavation. Upon the whole, it is a very substantial building, and so
arranged that the jailor need never come in contact with the prisoners.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Poor-House.-In April, 1857, the county court, finding it necessary and expedient to
establish a poor-house in the county of Benton, ordered that Samuel Woods, James
Jackson and Dysert Woods be appointed to act as commissioners to select a proper site
for such building. At the following October term of the court two of these
commissioners, James Jackson and Samuel Woods, reported that they had not been able,
as yet, to select such a place as in their judgment would be suitable for such
purpose, and asked for further time, which was granted until the next regular term.
The court then ordered its clerk to make or draw a warrant upon the treasurer of the
county, in favor of the commissioners, for the sum of $1,200, provided they or a
majority of them call for the same, to enable them to purchase a farm or site for a
poor-house. It seems, however, that this order was not called for. In January, 1858,
the commissioners, all joining, reported to the court that they had selected a site
for the poorhouse on forty acres of land lying north of Bentonville, owned by William
Clements, together with five acres off of a tract owned by William McDaniel,
including a spring or interest in the spring, and had made a contract, therefor, at
the sum of $300. They further reported that there was a log house on the same without
floor, ten acres in cultivation, and about four acres in wheat, and recommended the
place as the most eligible site they had been able to select, and asked the adoption
of their report.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
page 48
The report was adopted, and a warrant for the $300 was [p.48] ordered to be issued
and paid to the said Clements upon his making, to the commissioners and their
successors in office, a warrantee fee simple deed for the lands aforesaid. The court
then authorized the commissioners to enter at the United States Land office at
Fayetteville, forty acres of land lying due north of the forty-acre tract already
purchased. Afterward, in April, 1858, Jacob Candill, county surveyor, in obedience to
a former order issued to him, made to the court a survey of the poor-farm, showing
that it embraced the east half of the southwest quarter, and four and a half acres
out of the southeast corner of the southwest one-fourth of the southwest quarter of
Section 20, in Township 20 north, Range 30 west, as surveyed by him February 26,
1858. As soon as the neccessary buildings on the poor-farm were put in order, the
paupers of the county were removed thereto and placed under the care of a
superintendent engaged for that purpose. In November, 1875, the court appointed Zach.
Baker commissioner to let the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, after giving
ten days' notice, for the removal of the old frame court-house to the poor-farm, and
for repairing the same so as to make it suitable for a poor asylum. In January
following Commissioner Baker reported in full to the court, whereupon it was ordered
that a county warrant for the sum of $330 should be issued. payable out of the public
building fund, to William Stewart and J. V. Lee, for removing the old court-house to
the poor-farm, and for materials for fitting it up and putting it in order; and that
another warrant for the sum of $120.50 should be issued to James Haney for materials
furnished and work and labor performed by him in fitting up the same building.
History of Benton County
MUNICIPAL TOWNSHIPS.
The pauper inmates of the poor-house average from eight to ten in number. The method
of keeping them is by letting or renting the poor-farm to a superintendent, who takes
care of them for a stipulated price. Temporary relief is also administered in a
limited degree, to a few persons not confined in the poor-house. by small
appropriations from the county treasury.
History of Benton County
MUNICIPAL TOWNSHIPS.
page 49
Roller Township.-The loss of records prevents the formation and organization of the
original municipal townships of Benton [p.49] County from being satisfactorily
ascertained and given. The first change appearing of record was made in January,
1857, when John Roller and sixty-one other citizens filed a petition with the county
court asking for the formation of a new township in the northeast corner of the
county, within the following boundary lines, to-wit: "Commencing at Henry Moor's on
the line of Walnut Township, and running to Burks' tanyard; thence with the State
road north to the Missouri line, including all the inhabitants on said road; thence
east to the Madison County line; thence south with the Madison County line to the
Walnut Township line; thence with said line to the beginning." The prayer of the
petition was granted, and the territory included, with boundary lines described
therein, was declared to be a new township by the name of Roller, and Jacob Roller,
Samuel Burks and David Gunner were appointed judges of elections, with the election
precinct at the house of William Herds. The name of the township has since become
"Roller's Ridge."
History of Benton County
MUNICIPAL TOWNSHIPS.
Prairie Creek Township.-In April, 1859, John B. Putnam, with fifty other citizens of
Sugar Creek, White River and Big Spring Townships, filed with the county court a
petition for the formation of a new township taken from the above townships and
bounded as follows, to wit: "Commencing at Henry Moor's; thence to the mouth of
Prairie Creek; thence up White River to William Graham's farm; thence to George
Callahan's on the State road; thence to and with Osage Township line to Sugar Creek;
and thence up Sugar Creek, making the bed of said creek the line up to Blankenship's
farm, and thence to Henry Moor's at the beginning." The prayer of the petitioners was
granted, and the township was named Prairie Creek, and the voting place was
established at Job R. Mona's mill.
History of Benton County
MUNICIPAL TOWNSHIPS.
Alterations.-No further proceedings pertaining to the municipal townships appear on
record until March, 1873, when the following entry was made of the proceedings of the
court:
Ordered, that the sixteen political townships or voting precincts as existed in 1860,
in the county of Benton, be recognized and re-established as they stood in said year
1860, and that all elections hereafter held in said county be held at the original
voting precincts in each original township, respectively, as they were in 1860; and
that this order take effect from and after the tenth day of March, 1873.
History of Benton County
MUNICIPAL TOWNSHIPS.
page 50
[p.50] Ten years later, at the October term. 1883, of the court, the following order
was made:
History of Benton County
MUNICIPAL TOWNSHIPS.
Now, on this day it appearing to the court that the records of the county court have
been destroyed. showing the true boundary lines between the townships of the county.
It is therefore ordered by the court that the township lines as shown by the map of
Benton County, Ark., issued by S. B. Robertson, in 1883, be, and the same are hereby
declared to be the correct and true lines between said townships of Batie, Sulphur
Springs, Dickson, Osage, Mount Vernon, Sugar Creek, Roller's Ridge, Walnut, War
Eagle, Esculapia, Bright Water, Colville, Big Spring, Anderson, Wager, Ball, Flint,
Hico, Round Prairie, Eldorado Springs and Wallace. That said townships be as they are
hereby established and set forth. and designated in said map as published by said S.
B. Robertson in 1883.
History of Benton County
MUNICIPAL TOWNSHIPS.
Decatur Township.-Following the above proceeding, a petition was filed for a new
municipal township, to be called Decatur Township, whereupon the court, after due
consideration of the matter, ordered that "the said new township, which is called
Decatur, should be composed of and bounded as follows: Commencing at the northwest
corner of Section 34, in Township 20 north, Range 32 west, and running due south
along the west boundary of Section 34, and on west side of Sections 3, 10. 15 and 22,
Township 19 north, Range 32 west, to the southwest corner of Section 22, thence on
south boundary of Sections 22, 23 and 24, Township 19 north, Range 32 west, and on
south boundary of Sections 19, 20 and 21 to the southeast corner of Section 21,
Township 19 north, Range 31 west; thence due north along the east line of Sections
21, 16, 9 and 4, Township 19 north, Range 31 west; thence west to southwest corner of
Section 33, Township 20 north, Range 31 west; thence north to the nortwest corner of
Section 33, Township 20 north, Range 31 west; thence due west along the north line of
Sections 31 and 32, Township 20 north, Range 31 west, and on the north side of
Sections 36, 35 and 34, to the northwest corner of Section 34, Township 20 north,
Range 32 west, to the place of beginning."
History of Benton County
MUNICIPAL TOWNSHIPS.
By clerical error the above description places Decatur Township just six miles east
of where it is actually located. To correct the error, Township 31 west should read
32 west, and Township 32 west should read 33 west.
History of Benton County
MUNICIPAL TOWNSHIPS.
page 51
Garfield Township.-In July, 1884, A. J. Wilks, J. N. Ingram, J. B. Lamkins, J. C.
Vandagriff and others filed with the court [p.51] a petition for the formation of a
new township within the following boundary lines, to-wit: "Beginning at the northeast
corner of Section 26, in Township 21 north, Range 28 west; thence west to the
northeast corner of Section 29; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 20;
thence west to the northwest corner of Section 19; thence south in Range 29 to the
northeast corner of Section 25; thence west to the northwest corner of same; thence
south to the township line between 20 and 21; thence east to the range line of 28 and
29; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 18, in Township 20 north; thence
east to the southeast corner of Section 14; thence north to the beginning." The
prayer of the petition was granted-the township being established as prayed for, and
it was named Garfield, and the voting place for the township was established at
Garfield Station, on the railroad.
History of Benton County
MUNICIPAL TOWNSHIPS.
Yell Township.-On the 29th day of April, 1886, A. Twiggs and others presented to the
court a petition for the formation of a new township, to be composed from parts of
Ball, Flint and Hico, and bounded as follows, to-wit: "Commencing at section corner
between 15 and 16 and 21; thence north one mile and a half to center of sections 9
and 10; thence west on said half mile line to the line of Hico Township; thence north
to the line of Flint Township; thence northwest with said line to the center or half-
mile corner between Sections 15 and 22, Range 33; thence east on said section line to
the present line between Flint and Ball; thence with the original line to the
starting point." The prayer of the petition was granted-the township as thus
described being established and named Yell.
History of Benton County
MUNICIPAL TOWNSHIPS.
page 52
Washington Township.-On the 1st day of May, 1886, J. C. Hopkins, B. C. Martin, Martin
R. Walker and others presented to the court a petition for the formation of a new
township within the following boundary lines, to-wit: "Beginning at the southwest
corner of Section 22, in Township 18 north, Range 30 west, and running north to the
northwest corner of Section 27, in Township 19 north, Range 30 west; thence east to
the northeast corner of Section 30, in Township 19 north, Range 29 west; thence south
to the Washington County line; thence west to the place of beginning." The prayer of
the petitioners was [p.52] granted, and the township organized as prayed for, and
named Washington. The voting place was established at the village of Lowell.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
The descriptions of the boundary lines of the civil townships, formed since the
county map was published, in 1883, have been given in full, so that the reader can
trace and mark them on the map if he so chooses. The names of all the civil or
municipal townships in the county, beginning in the northeast corner and going west
on the north tier to northwest corner, thence east and west successively, after the
manner that sections are numbered in Congressional townships, are as follows, viz.:
Roller's Ridge, Garfield, Sugar Creek, Mount Vernon, Dickson, Sulphur Springs, Batie,
Eldorado, Wallace, Osage, Bright Water, Walnut, War Eagle, Esculapia, Anderson,
Decatur, Round Prairie, Flint, Wager, Colville, Washington, Big Spring, Yell, Hico
and Ball-twenty-five in all. Some of them are very irregular in shape.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
page 53
Line and State Roads.-There are two noted highways passing through Benton County,
known as the "Line Road" and the "State Road." The former passes on or near the
boundary line of Benton County and the Indian Territory, hence the name "Line Road."
It is also known as the "Old Military Road," having been cut out and established by
the general government from Fort Scott, in Kansas, to Fort Smith, in Arkansas, for
the purpose of opening and establishing communications between those important
points. In some places this road runs on the boundary line, especially at and for a
few miles south of Maysville, but it lies mostly on the Benton County side. It passes
through Maysville, Cherokee City and Silvan in Benton County. The State Road leading
from Fort Smith, bearing a little to the east of north, passes through the eastern
part of Benton County, along the general route of the "Frisco" Railroad, into the
State of Missouri. Before transportation was provided by the railroads, this State
Road was the great thoroughfare over which Texas cattle were driven in large droves
to the north, and mules were driven southward. All along this road, at convenient
points accessible to water, were formerly "taverns" or "stands," as they [p.53] were
called by the drovers. There were two such noted taverns in Benton County, one at
Bright Water and one at Cross Hollows. Large yards for confining stock were always
connected with these "stands." The remains of the old tavern at Cross Hollows are
still standing.
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
Ferries.-The particulars concerning the laying out of the early highways cannot be
given on account of the loss of the records. In January, 1857, a license was granted
to Abner Jenning to establish and keep a ferry "across White River, at the crossing
of the Blackburn mill road," and he was authorized to charge the following rates of
ferriage: Each footman, 5 cents; man and horse, 10 cents; one-horse carriage, 20
cents; two-horse carriage, 25 cents; four-horse carriage or wagon, 35 cents; three
yoke of oxen, or six-horse wagon, 50 cents; each head of loose stock of all kinds, 2
cents. It was ordered that the ferry should be known and called by the name of
Jenning's Ferry, and that Mr. Jenning should pay for his license or privilege a
county tax of $1 per annum.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
The same year, in October, William Early was granted permission to establish and keep
a ferry across White River, at or near the crossing of the Bentonville and Huntsville
road, and the same was declared a public ferry. He was authorized to charge the
following rates of ferriage: Footman, 5 cents; man and horse, 25 cents; wagon and two
horses or oxen, 50 cents; wagon and four horses or oxen, $1; wagon and six horses or
oxen, $1.50; each head of loose stock, 21/2 cents. He was charged $1 per annum for
his license.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
page 54
Other Roads.-In 1857 a road was established "to commence on the State line near
Shell's mill, at the termination of a road leading from Neosho, thence running to the
Elkhorn tavern, to meet a road leading from said tavern on the road to Huntsville, in
Madison County." At the same time Joseph Blackburn was appointed overseer of the
Blackburn Mill road from the first crossing of Cleptny to where it intersects the War
Eagle road. David Baylston was appointed overseer of the same road from the Poor
Mountain to the crossing of White River. C. C. Squires was appointed overseer of the
Smith Mill road down Sugar Creek, to commence at the first [p.54] crossing of the
creek, and terminating at the State line. John F. Jenkins was appointed overseer of
"class No. 1. of the Springfield road, commencing at Bentonville on the line near
James Woolsey's, thence to A. C. Young's; thence along a neighborhood road to near
the corner of Mrs. Jefferson's field; thence along said road to where the same
intersects the old Springfield road near Warren Wright's, or Sugar Creek road; thence
along said old road to the first crossing of the river channel of Sugar Creek." John
L. Booth was appointed overseer of the State road from Robert Sikes' place to the
Cross Hollows district. The Sikes place is now the site of Rogers.
History of Benton County
RAILROADS.
There are no macadamized roads in Benton County, but many of the ridge roads in the
broken and mountainous portions are equally as good, the surface of the lands being
so completely filled with small chert and flint rocks of the proper size, that all
that is necessary to have a road macadamized by nature is to clear it and travel it.
Of course this does not apply to the roads through the prairie and more level lands
of the county, which form by far the greater portion. There is an abundance of this
small chert and flint rock of proper size along the ridges and in the beds of the
streams to thoroughly macadamize every mile of the public roads of the county without
breaking a stone. Of course in some places it would have to be hauled a long way.
History of Benton County
RAILROADS.
page 55
An effort to secure the building of a railroad through Benton was made prior to the
breaking out of the Civil War, as will be seen by reading the following order of the
county court made at its July term in 1860: "Ordered by the court that the sum of
$500 of the industrial improvement funds, so soon as that amount shall be accumulated
in the hands of the commissioners of Benton County, be paid over by said
commissioners into the hands of C. W. Rice, Sr., to be retained by him and disposed
of in the manner following: "It is contemplated to have a survey made in order to
determine the nearest and most practicable route for building a railroad from Van
Buren, Crawford Co., Ark., through the counties of Crawford, Washington and Benton,
to intersect at the most practicable point the southwest branch of the Missouri
[p.55] Pacific Railroad. Now, if the counties of Crawford and Washington, or the
citizens of each in their individual capacity, shall appropriate and expend upon said
survey an equal amount, then the said Rice shall, and is hereby authorized, to pay to
the person or persons bearing the expenses of said survey the said sum of $500, he
taking his or their receipts therefor, and filing the same in the clerk's office of
Benton County, provided that the same shall be expended exclusively within the limits
of Benton County upon said survey. The said Rice is required to retain said funds
until it is certain that the same will be expended as last above directed. It is
further ordered that the order heretofore made by this court for a similar purpose is
annulled."
History of Benton County
RAILROADS.
This was the effort made on the part of the county to secure a railroad; but for some
reason, perhaps the apprehended danger of the trouble following the result of the
political campaign of 1860, the proposed survey was not made, and, consequently, the
$500 appropriated for that purpose was not expended.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC LANDS AND THEIR SURVEYS.
The St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad, which runs through the eastern part of Benton
County, giving an outlet to the great States both north and south, was completed
through the county in the summer of 1881. It has stations within the county at
Garfield, Bright Water, Avoca, Rogers and Lowell. The railroad leading from
Bentonville to Rogers was built by the Bentonville Railway Company, at a cost of
about $42,000. It was completed in 1883.
History of Benton County
PUBLIC LANDS AND THEIR SURVEYS.
page 56
The rectangular system of surveying the public lands now in use by the United States,
and by which the lands in Benton County were surveyed, was inaugurated and adopted by
Congress at or near the beginning of the present century. The first surveys made
under the system, and before it was fully perfected, were made in what is now the
State of Ohio. Under this system the lands are surveyed into strips six miles wide,
running both east and west, and north and south, those running east and west are
called "townships," while those running north and south are called "ranges." The
squares-six miles each way-formed by the crossing of these strips, are called
Congressional [p.56] townships, each of which (if full) is subdivided into thirty-six
sections, containing each 640 acres, more or less. The "townships" are numbered north
and south from a given base line, and the "ranges" are numbered east and west from a
named meridian, called a principal meridian. The "first principal meridian" is the
State line between the States of Ohio and Indiana; the "second principal moridian"
runs through the State of Indiana only, a few miles west of the city of Indianapolis;
the "third principal meridian" runs through the central part of Illinois, a few miles
west of Bloomington; the "fourth principal meridian" runs through the western part of
Illinois, from a point near Bardstown, on the Illinois river, to the Mississippi on
the north; the "fifth principal meridian," which in part governs the surveys of this
county, passes through Arkansas near the ninety-first degree of west longitude from
Greenwich, or the fourteenth degree from Washington. It extends northward through the
States of Missouri and Iowa. The "base line," which, together with the last named
principal meridian, governs the surveys of Arkansas and the States north of it, runs
east and west through the central part of Arkansas, from a point on the Mississippi
River near the mouth of St. Francois river, to the Indian Territory on the west,
passing about five miles south of the city of Little Rock.
History of Benton County
[p.57] AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
From this base line and the fifth principal meridian the lands of Benton County are
found to embrace parts of Townships 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 north of the base line, and
Ranges 27 to 34, inclusive, west of the meridian. The public surveys in Benton County
were made late in the thirties and early in the forties. Among the persons making
them were Elias Conway, Robert W. Mecklin and Matthew McClellan. As soon as surveyed
the public lands became subject to entry at the land office, then at Fayetteville.
Scattering entries were made by the early settlers prior to 1858, and from that date
to 1861 the entries for the greater bulk of the lands that have been taken up were
made. Land entries still continue, and there still remains a large quantity of land
subject to entry. The unentered lands are mostly broken and undesirable. They will
probably become desirable on account of their timber, and their adaptability to
growing fruits.
History of Benton County
[p.57] AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
Farm Statistics.-Benton County has been mainly an agricultural county, other
industries not having been, until recently, introduced. While the soil is not as rich
as it is in some counties, it produces well, although but little scientific farming
has ever been applied to it. The farm areas and farm values of the county, as
ascertained by the census of 1880, were as follows: Number of farms, 2,725; acres of
improved lands, 121,874; value of farms, including land, fences and buildings,
$2,256,424; value of farming implements and machinery, $112,193; value of live stock,
$580,425; cost of building and repairing fences, $30,621; cost of fertilizers
purchased, $1,272; estimated value of all farm productions (sold, consumed or on
hand) for 1879, $509,458. From the same census it is found that the principal
vegetable productions of the county for the year 1879 were as follows: Barley, 200
bushels; buckwheat, 183 bushels; Indian corn, 1,119,834 bushels; oats, 245,382
bushels; rye, 1,300 bushels; wheat, 156,087 bushels; value of orchard products,
$4,265; tons of hay, 2,376; cotton, 126 bales; Irish potatoes, 28,165 bushels; sweet
potatoes, 14,058 bushels; tobacco, 395,982 pounds. Also from the census of 1880 the
"live stock and its productions" of Benton County are found to have been as follows:
Number of animals-Horses, 5,864; mules and asses, 2,233; working oxen, 69; milch
cows, 5,397; other cattle, 6,307; sheep, 12,919; swine, 46,516; pounds of wool,
36,764; pounds of butter, 298,346; pounds of cheese, 700.
[p.57] AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
page 58
By comparing these statistics with like statistics of all other counties in the
State, it is found that according to the census of 1880 Benton stood first in the
production of oats, Irish potatoes, tobacco and butter, and second in the production
of Indian corn and wheat (Washington being first), and in the number of horses, sheep
and swine, and in the production of wool. Where Benton County stands second
Washington generally stands first, and where Benton stands first Washington is
second. Benton was pre-eminently first in the production of tobacco, as she produced
more than ten times as much as any other county in the State. Boone was the next best
tobacco producing county, and its [p.58] product was 34,089 pounds. White with 28,184
pounds was next, and Washington with 26,357 pounds next. Benton County's large
production of tobacco accounts for its being second in some other things.
History of Benton County
[p.57] AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
The following quotations from the pen of Col. M. L. DeMalher, who has recently
written up the resources of Benton County, show the increase and decrease of products
since 1880: "Number of bushels of corn produced in 1887, 1,679,751; increase over the
production of 1879, 559,917 bushels. Bushels of oats produced in 1887, 378,093;
increase over 1879, 122,691. Bushels of wheat produced in 1887, 234,130; increase
over 1879, 78,143. Bushels of rye produced in 1887, 2,040: increase over 1879, 680.
Value of orchard products in 1887, $500,000; increase over value of orchard products
in 1879, $496,735; number of tons of hay mown in 1887, 3,519; increase over 1879,
1,173 tons; pounds of tobacco raised in 1887, 400,000; pounds of wool clipped in
1887, 31,480; bushels of potatoes produced in 1887, 42,247; dozens of eggs marketed
in 1887, 485,000, valued at $52,000."
History of Benton County
[p.57] AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
The value of live stock in the county assessed for taxes is $639,065, divided as
follows: Number of horses 7,774, value $298,854; number of mules 3,184, value
$151,072; number of cattle 18,123, value $144,290; number of sheep 10,732, value
$6,806; number of hogs 31,653, value $29,043. The abstract of the tax books also
brings out the fact that the number of wagons in use in the county is 3,333.
History of Benton County
[p.57] AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
page 59
Tobacco.-"Intimately related to the mixed farm pursuits and to the present and
prospective total production, argued in the fact of the subdivision of its territory
into small farms, is the production of tobacco. It is both the chief tobacco county
of the State, and one of the few districts in which, together with other varieties,
the famous White Burley attains perfection. But at the same time this is established,
its agricultural conditions being flexible, and the farmer left free to avoid the
pressure of the tobacco market, it transpires that from 1880 until the improvement
last year in price, Benton County had almost lapsed in the production of tobacco. The
industry was not killed, but so long as the farmer had to work against his interest,
and recourse [p.59] was had in other profitable crops, its production was lessened
until the price of tobacco had improved, and indeed, that in its adaptable
agriculture, which applies to tobacco, may be said to apply to every other production
of the county. If, upon economic grounds, the production of one kind of crop does not
pay, the pressure can be overcome by the production of another kind, for nothing is
truer of Benton than its agricultural conditions, affording the farmer perfect
freedom to adopt his methods, and his productions to varying states of the market.
History of Benton County
[p.57] AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
"Of the area of the county it is accepted that 200,000 acres are adapted to the
profitable growth of tobacco. The varieties grown are notably the White Burley,
Virginia Golden Leaf, Yellow Pryor and Orinoco. The production of 1877 was the same
as in 1880, approximately, 400,000 pounds. The relative proportion of types was as
follows: Dark shipping leaf, 15 per cent; fillers, 25 per cent; bright wrappers, 10
per cent; nondescript, 35 per cent.
History of Benton County
[p.57] AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
"In this connection it should be added that instead of going wholly abroad, much of
the crop, the best at least, finds a market at home, the Arkansas Tobacco Company, of
Bentonville, being large consumers of the superior product of the county. The
company, dating from October, 1887, is a successor of Trotter & Wilkes, who had for
the first time in the history of the county worked up the tobacco manufacture to the
advantage offered in the superior production of the region. Flowing out of the
experience of the old firm, and the acquisition of good manipulators and a superior
equipment, they have already carried the business of the present year to twice the
volume of 1887, with a prospect of a like result following during the remainder of
the year. It is an incorporated stock company, backed with capital sufficient to the
purchase of the production of the county, and hereafter in turn may be expected to
control the tobacco crop of Benton County.
History of Benton County
[p.57] AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
"The secretary and general manager of the company is J. W. Trotter, formerly of the
firm of Trotter & Wilkes. Their superintendent has had a life-long experience in
handling tobacco, acquired in Virginia. The president is W. B. Deming, a local
capitalist, formerly of Abilene, Kan."
History of Benton County
[p.57] AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
page 60
[p.60] Fruit Growing.-Fruit growing has recently become one of the leading industries
of Benton County, and the prospects are that with one or two more railroads to give
sufficient transportation, it will become the leading industry, and will bring the
greatest income. The completion of the "Frisco" Railroad through the county, giving
it an outlet north and south, gave a great impetus to the business of growing fruit.
A great surplus of fruit has long been grown in the county, but, until the completion
of this railroad, there was substantially no way of getting it to market. Since an
outlet has thus been obtained men have set out and are still setting out large
orchards of various kinds of fruit, such as apples, peaches, pears, plums, etc. Many
have also gone into the cultivation of small fruits, strawberries, raspberries and
blackberries. Fruits grow here to great perfection, and the crop is always certain.
The young apple orchards that have been set out consist of trees that have been
grafted into the best varieties suitable for growing in this climate, and the same
may be said of the peach orchards that have recently been set out by professional or
skillful fruit growers. It seems, however, that before the fruit growing interest was
opened up but little attention was paid to raising a good quality, especially of
peaches. One will observe in passing through the county, that the great bulk of
bearing peach trees are only seedlings, and many of them occupy the fence corners
along the highways. At this writing (August), they are loaded with small and inferior
fruit. It will soon be discovered that budded peach trees produce a superior and more
profitable fruit than seedlings, and will take the place of the latter.
History of Benton County
[p.57] AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
page 61
The climate and natural conditions are so superior for the production of fruit that
this is destined to be a great fruit center. It is estimated that if all the orchards
in Benton County now in cultivation were consolidated into one, it would cover a
tract of land equal in size to a congressional township-six miles square. At the rate
that new orchards are now being planted and established, the area now devoted to the
raising of fruit will soon be doubled and tripled. Now is the time to purchase the
lands and establish the orchards, so that they will come into bearing by the time the
greater facilities for transportation are obtained. [p.61] Certainly there can be no
place found in the States where fruit trees grow more thrifty, or with cleaner bark,
or where a greater quantity can be grown, that in Northwestern Arkansas. In
consequence of the large amount of fruit already produced, a number of evaporators,
or drying factories, have been erected, and more are contemplated. A canning factory
is also in full and successful operation, and more are projected. It is believed that
enough of these factories will soon be established to dry or can all the surplus
fruit that cannot be shipped to market in the natural state. The factories already
running have established a home market for the fruits, and given employment to a
large number of men and women. These factories will be mentioned individually in
connection with the history of the towns where they are located.
History of Benton County
[p.57] AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
Another important industry of Benton County is its fruit tree nurseries, the largest
of which is located near Bentonville, and of which G. C. Davis is the proprietor.
There is no need of sending abroad for trees, as all kinds best adapted to the place
can be purchased at the home nurseries.
Benton County Horticultural, Agricultural and Mechanical Fair.-This fair association
was organized in the summer of 1888 at Rogers, where its exhibitions will be held.
The officers of the association are J. Huffman, president; W. R. Felker, treasurer;
W. J. Todd, secretary. The directors, aside from the officers, are Charles
Warbritton, W. A. Miller, J. A. C. Blackburn, J. S. Miser, J. W. Scroggs and G. F.
Kennon. The association has secured several acres of land at Rogers for a fair
ground, and have fitted it up with a race track and appropriate buildings, and have
published their catalogues announcing premiums offered, and the dates of October 10,
11, 12 and 13, 1888, for the first annual fair. Very liberal premiums are offered.
History of Benton County
BENTON COUNTY FINANCES.
page 62
The financial condition of Benton County is so good that but little pertaining to it
has to be said. The following is the recapitulation of the taxable property of the
county for the year 1887: Number of acres of land assessed, 349,940; assessed value
of the lands, including town lots, $1,780,018; assessed [p.62] value of personal
property, $1,672,568; total value of real and personal property, $3,452,586. This is
the assessed value of the property for the purpose of taxation, but by no means the
true value. Property is not usually assessed for taxation at half of its real value;
so in order to ascertain the true value of the taxable property of Benton County its
assessed value must at least be multiplied by two. This would make the approximate
real value stand at about $7,000,000 in round numbers.
History of Benton County
BENTON COUNTY FINANCES.
The amount of revenue collected in 1887 for both State and county purposes was
$37,733.30. To this should be added $10,279.93, special school tax collected, making
the total amount collected $48,013.23. These taxes were divided as follows: State
tax, $6,905.17; State sinking fund, $3,452.58; State school tax, $6,905.17; county
tax, $15,191.37; poll tax, $5,279; special school tax, $10,279.93.
History of Benton County
SOCIETIES.
Benton County has no bonded indebtedness whatever. It has, however, a small
indebtedness in the way of outstanding county scrip, which, according to the report
for the last fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, amounted to $1,693.30. It may,
therefore, be said to be substantially out of debt.