xt79319s4k2x https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt79319s4k2x/data/mets.xml Arkansas Historical Records Survey (Ark.) United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Community Service Programs 1941 xiii, 112 p.: ill.; 27 cm.: UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Program libraries. Call Number FW 4.14:Ar 4k/no.4 books English Little Rock, Ark.: the Survey This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. Arkansas Works Progress Administration Publications Archives -- Arkansas -- Benton County -- Catalogs Benton County (Ark.) -- History -- Sources -- Bibliography -- Catalogs Inventory of the County Archives of Arkansas. No. 4. Benton County (Bentonville) text Inventory of the County Archives of Arkansas. No. 4. Benton County (Bentonville) 1941 1941 2019 true xt79319s4k2x section xt79319s4k2x x111\TTTTTRTTTTM11 '
t“ f kit/r 3 LINES HE‘IBHUB

 d1
' v
w

  1

X

1
1
I
1

 5
INVENTORY OF'THE COUNTY ARCHIVES
- ' 'OF ARKANSAS ,
No. 4 Benton County (Bentonville)
‘ ‘ Preparedhy
, The Arkansas Historical Records Survey
‘ . Division'of Community Service Program
, Work Projects Administration
1 - Little Rock, ‘Arkansas . '
{ The Arkansas Historical Records Survey .
' December 1941

 V 1 HISTORICAL RECORDS-SURVEY PROJECTS ~
i Sargent B. Child, Director -
i Raymond Foster, State Supervisor
i
‘ RESEARCH AND RECORDS PROGRAMS .
‘ Harvey E. Becknell, Director
1 John C. L. Andreassen, Regional Supervisor
i Howard H. Jacoway, State Chief
DIVISION OF
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS
Florence Kerr, Assistant Commissioner
‘ Leo G. Spofford, Chief Regional-Supervisor
‘ May Bevens, State Director
WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION
. Howard 0. Hunter, Commissioner
Chas. B. Braun, Regional Director '
‘ Floyd Sharp, State Administrator
* * ** * * *
' SPONSOR
~ University of Arkansas
College of Arts and Sciences
. CO—SPONSOR
Judge Joe Beasley
County Judge of Benton County

 §
"To bring together the records of the past I
and to house them in buildings where they will
be preserved for the use of men living in the
future, a nation must believe in three things. .
It must believe in the past. It must “believe
in the future. It must, above all, believe in
the capacity of its people so to learn from the
‘ past that they can gain in judgment for the
creation of the future."
FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT

 ‘v 7 V , , , . , ,d.

I 1
‘ 1
|

, i
x

‘

‘

‘

‘

.

M
v)

‘

,

‘ , <

, Q

' I. . ,» . !

1 . . r, ‘ V

‘ w
' 4

' 1

!

‘ i
\

§

l

‘ »
,

k

‘

‘ i
A J
i

l

1

‘

‘ i
‘ f
i

x

r

‘ 4
. t
i r
1 o

 f

l

4

FOREWORD

The Inventory 2f the Countv Archives 2f Arkansas is one of a number
of guides to historical materials prepared throughout the United States

, by workers on Historical Records Survey projects of the work Projects
Administration. The publication herewith presented, an inventory of the
archives of Benton County, is number 4 of the Arkansas series.

The Historical Records Survey program was undertaken in the winter
of 1955-56 for the purpose of providing useful employment for needy un-
employed historians, lawyers,teachers, and research and clerical work-

' ers. In carrying out this objective, the project was organized to com-

. pile inventories of historical material, particularly the unpublished
government documents and records which are basic in the administration

" 7 of local government, and which provide invaluable data for students of
political, economic, and social history. The archival guide herewith
presented is intended to meet the requirements of day-to-day administra-
tion by the officials of the county, and also the needs of lawyers, bus—
inessmen, and other citizens who require facts from the public records
for the proper conduct of their affairs. The volume is so designed that
it can be used by the historian in his research in unprinted sources in
the same way he uses the library card catalog for printed sources.

‘ The inventories produced by the Historical Records Survey projects
attempt to do more than give merely a list of records -- they attempt
further to sketch in the historical background of the county or other

' ‘ unit of government,and to describe precisely and in detail the organiza-

‘ tion and functions of the government agencies whose records they list.
The county, town, and other local inventories for the entire country
will, when completed, constitute an encyclopedia of local government as
well as a bibliography of local archives. Up to the present time more
than 1,500 Survey publications have been issued in the country as a

i whole. .

The successful conclusion of the work of the Historical Records ‘

. Survey projects, even in a single county, would not be possible without

‘ the support of public officials, historical and legal specialists, and
many other groups in the community. Their cooperation is gratefully ac—

i knowledged.\

' The Survey program was organized by Luther H. Evans, who served as

i Director until March 1, 1940, when he was succeeded by Sargent B. Child.
The Survey operates as a Nation-wide series of locally sponsored pro- '
jects in the Division of Community Service Programs, of which Mrs. Flo-

‘ rence Kerr, Assistant Commissioner, is in charge.

, HOWARD O. HUNTER

Commissioner of

1 Work Projects

 ‘W,Wlii.Wi.r ,, r_ii.ni,._.vwi,i ,iii_i_rliifliiw,miivwl,mmii,fliiwviiii.Hi-iiuiirm .l,, V .
- i
' i
i
ii PrefaCe
i c
i classification is directed by law. Under agencies, records have been
.3 classified, so far as possible, according to the subjects with which
i they deal. They are described in entries whose style is formalized to
Hi give the following information: Title of record, dates for which avail—
ji able, quantity, labeling of volumes or containers, variant titles, de-
Mi , scription of record contents, manner of arrangement, indexing, nature of
hi recording, size of volumes or containers, and location.
i The inventory of the Benton County archives was begun during the '
jg latter part of 1958 and completed in December 1940. The original field
ii workers were Belle P. Fisher and Mattie B. Downer. They were assisted
T; in the recheck of ’the'records by Sam E. Beaseley and Marshall Bennett.
ii All field Work was done under the supervision of Rand Barker and Joe W.
[? watkins, District'SuperviSors of the Historical Records Survey Project;
1i The work in the State office included the editing of forms, writing
‘i of entries, historical and legal research, writing and editing of essays
ji and publication of the volume. Persons in the State office to whom
ii credit is due are: “Albert A. Condray, forms editor; Mary H. 'Winburne
ii and Jennie Birkhead, entry editors, and Virginia Farley, essay editor.
ii The historical sketch was written by the 'editorial_staff; the govern-
.i mental essay by Maida Arnold; and the indeXes‘were compiled by Carl E.
i Ott. ‘ ‘ ‘ '
ii mabel S. Brodie, editor in charge of public records inventories in
ii the Central office, and Guy P. Timboe, assistant editor, ’examined the
‘i volume in manuscript form and offered helpful editorial criticism. The ,
1‘ administrative personnel of Work Projects Administration, of the Divi-
ii sion of Community Service Programs, and of Research and Records Programs.
31 have cooperated with the Survey in all phases of its program. The help-V
i ful suggestions and friendly counsel ongohn C. L. Andreassen, Regional *
i Supervisor of Historical Records Survey, is gratefully acknowledged. :
W
i The Survey's official sponsor, its State-wide Advisory'Board, and
; the Community AdviSory_Board of.Benton County 'each contributed valuable
fl assistance to the project in the compilation and publication of this
‘ volume. 'Other centributing agencies were: The Arkansas Histbry Commis—‘
. sion; the Arkansas Supreme Court Library;the Little Rock Public Library;
j. the'Secretary of State; the Arkansas StateéLibrary Commission;,Arkansas
2 writers' Project, WPA; and the county officials of Benton County.
i ' ' ’ '
i " '
i ‘ . .. .
i ; ~ ~ , . w -
i x . .
,ii . , ‘ .
‘ a . . . a i . ... i
ii . . ~
i]?! _ i

 I ». ABBREVIATIONS, SYMBOLS, ANN EXPLAHQTORY_NQTES
Abbreviations
admr. .................................................. administrator
agts. .....................................:,,,.,...,...,...... agent's
alph. ..............;;.............}..l.............. alphabetical(ly)
amend. .........}.....;..................L.....,,,.,...,..... amendment
app. ...............;..........;..........1..,.........;..... .approvod
. arr. ..............;...................L.................. arrangement
Ark. ................................................ Arkansas Reports
A. Ark. ............................................. Acts of Arkansas
art. .......................................................TT article
aver. ........................................................ average
ba. ......................................................... basement '
chron. ...........................................J. chronological(ly)
cir. ...................................,..................... circuit
elk. 3......3..s................................................ clerk
co. .....,.....,............................................... county
Const. ......;....¢..............................L....... Constitution
Crim. Code .........i..;................................ Criminal Code
000 ...................;................. Civilian Conservation. Corps .
.dist. .......................................................- district
:. ed(s). ..................................................... editor(s)
Qest. ..................;.................................. estimate(d)
f. d. ................................................. file drawer(s)
gdn. ........................................................ guardian
h. ....................................................... handwritten
hpf. ..................................... handwritten on printed form
hph.‘ ..................................... handwritten on printed head
ibid. ..................................... ibidem (in the same place)
L. K. ............................................... Laws of Arkansas
m. .............................................................. main
ms. ....................................................... manuscript ‘
mim. bul. ...................................... mimeographed bulletin
_ n. d. ..............;......................................... no date
n. p. ................................................. no page number
no(s). ..................................................... number(s)
numer. ................................................. numerical(ly)
. NYA .................................... National Youth Administration
off. .......................................................... office
op. git. ............................. opero citato (in the work cited)
pr). .......................................TTTTTTZ.......... page(s)
r. ............................................................. range
Rev. Stat. ......................................... Revised Statutes
sec(s). .....,....;...................................TTTTT“seEEEE?(§T ,
Sher. ...;...........................}........................ sheriff
t. E...g......................................................... typed
‘tpf._ ....;..................e................... typed on printed form
treas. ....;...............................\................ treasurer
twp. ........................................................ t0wnship
U. S. Stat. .......................... United States Statutes at Large
v. ............................................................T- vault
:.~‘Vj_ ...

 v 3‘ j
3 Abbreviations, Symbols, and 1
1 ; Explanatory Notes 1
‘ . v01(s); DIOO‘IIIOCIOQIO‘IH‘DIIIIQIOOIIIOQI..0003'OOOIOOIIIIOII v01me(s)
‘1‘ 1IIIJPA ODOQIUIIDOIOOOIIIIIIOOUOICOICIOOOOIOC Work ProjeCts Administration
‘ ... . ""'§Wb01$_ ... . ,... . . .,. .
; "' , OOOIO.I|COOIODO.IAO‘I5>-IA.IIIDLI'IIOVC'DII'I‘IOI'OOIOO'OD‘ tO- date and continuing
: ' DI.DOD.I.'"O‘.I.O...0.0.I'I—OI'I|OChit-O'UI'IVI'IIIIICIO‘O'OO'IIOI‘I'Ioov‘I' -f00t’-feet
1 " coco-00003t'o'e'o'onoouo'uo'oo'oo'ouoooao'uo‘oooanon-Ionon’uocg‘owuu’o- inch-(es)
X Inclolloono0’."Iolooo'ouo'l‘ou'oooaonto-'0.no'oo‘.’.“o'oo‘oo'.u by (inv dimenSiOl’lS)
i ~ ' ~ " ~Ekp1anatory Notes ': ..,. ... -‘ V
1 TitlesoiRecords‘ ~ -. - - . . ~-
Exact titles of records are written in solid -capitals without pa-
rentheses (as inlentry 7); ~In-the-abscnce-of titles, descriptive titles
1 have’been assigned, which-arc written in- solid capitals and enclosed in'
i brackets-(as in entry 46). elf a record title- is not descriptive ofl the
‘1 contents of the record, an assigned~ explanatory title ~(or.explanatory
‘ Words),l written with initial capitals and enclosed in parentheses, rhas
-3 been added (as in entry 17).' The current or most recent title of a rec-
.; ord is used as the entry title and title variation is indicated -(as in
l entry 70). ' ‘ ‘ ‘ ~ ' -‘ < .‘ ‘ '
g All dates used are inclusive.' Missing records are- indicated by
i broken dates. 4, ; ‘ ~ . 5' - . .H'H
Quantity ~- - ' ., . . 1
.3 . When tw0 or more types of containers are considered in a single en-
1 try, the quantity is shown in chronological-order,in so far as possible.
it Edbeling ’ ' - - g - -- I -' '
} Figures or letters in parentheses, following the number of volumes, '
‘t file boxes, 'or other type of container, -indicate the labeling. If no
l labeling is indicated, itmay, be assumed that there is none.
1 Discontinuance - ' , - - - . ..H.
i ~' ‘ Where no statement is made that‘ the record was discontinued at:the
; last date shown in the'entry,it could not be definitely established that
‘E such was the caSe. Where no comment is made on the'absence of prior,
7 subsequent or intermediate records, no definite information could‘be‘ob—
3 teined. " ‘ ' ' ' ' 'f ‘ " “'
3 - vii —

 1 Abbreviations, Symbols, and .
Explanatory Notes ,
, Description 33. Records , y _
The description of the contents of a record applies only to the
current or most recent record unless change in. contents is actually .
’ shown in a record entry., ~ ‘
Indexing
All indexes to records,un1ess otherwise atated,are self-contained.
Condition of Records
Records are in good condition unless otherwise indicated.
Dimensions
Dimensions are always given in inches, unless otherwise indicated,
and, therefore, the symbol for inches (") is omitted.
Location of Records
All records are in the county courthouse unless otherwise noted.
When all or a majority of the records of an office have a common loca-
tion, the location is indicated in the last sentence of the office essay
instead of in each individual entry.
Cross References
Title-line cross references are used to show the continuity of a
’ record series which has been kept separately for a period of time and
with other records for different periods of time. An example is that in
entry 8: "1860-87, in County Court Record, entry 7.” They are also
used in all artificial entries, those set up to cover records which must a
be shown separately under their proper office even though they are kept
in files or records appearing elsewhere in the inventory, as, for exam—
ple, the title-line reference in entry 106: "In County Court Papers, en-
try l." The description of the entry shows the title and entry number
of the record from which the cross reference is made, as, for example,
_ these Words in entry 50 do: "Also contains Chancery docket, 1866—1902,
entry 78.“ Dates shown in the description of the master entry or entry
of miscellaneous content are only used for the part or parts of the rec-
ord contained therein, and are shown only when they vary from those of ‘
the master entry.
Citations
A citation of an act of the Legislature of the Territory of Arkw
ansas, or of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, or an Act of
a legislative body of another Territory or State, refers to the page
number of the official publication of the laws.
- 9. viii -

 3' l - 7 7 ' 7 ' ""1“? '7 1 1‘1 '1 1 ' *5" ‘3‘; A: ;-;-v~:;—,—A,--g»:»---¢~nil-Tr:—T:._..,:_.W..__:~,-TTSWfifnvrxfifi 7
3 V ‘1
1 Abbreviations, Symbols, and ,
‘ Explanatory Notes ‘
3‘ A citation of a decision of the Arkansas State Supreme Court gives
the style of the case and the volume and page number of the publication.
‘ A citation of any other published volume is shown in full the first
‘ , time used and in short—title form subsequently throughout the inventory.
\ ,
1; ' " . . . 4
53 ' . » ,
.H‘ ‘ V '
l 1 .’ . , , . ‘. '-
1 - . _
2 l - . ,
y ‘ , .. ,. l‘ . I;
‘3 _ ' Q ix -
ii,‘ '1 , _

 E~~i“—lkj——-
, LL- ~—T‘“——*-—P——-. --___
‘ ~L.-I i“‘—-—' ' J.
‘ 4-3-1“ I "‘ 1.. -' I7
\ I'V‘L'“.I i'T“r-.L fiCL‘T‘ -*'— '-——-
'. I .. : F‘“ . i_._ I
I f i I, L _ I I__ I -—~—.l
. 3‘me I! 1"“- :l t‘?‘ i“‘ J‘
t -— ' “ ' ‘
' ‘,-_ IIJ .1“ I *1 7
>1:- —1 f_- I P I ! .
I ,4 - 1-0 a "1 .“‘_""""
,‘fi._.-,_ r,j~;__I_'L:J_“-«.53 \I‘" I {rT' ;
' T‘ j LL I I 7 "“‘“"*'
' l I .’ LL,r "L. a l ' I.1 {
_ __~____- I_ le'. ___ILL_ \Lr_o‘ I‘—~"Q-’
I, I “‘rr “‘ W"— I 5-. 1 ‘
f“ :_ firm“ . . l ' J
I 1“-i I3 l‘ I
."\‘~ II \34____l ) '
. I I r‘ ' ‘ ‘
W ’ l \_ - f, F‘ g ‘ Benton Countv
‘ I -‘”— . I d
I ' ‘-__F“-'~ '-
: a4 ' , f 5* ARKANSAS
‘ .I I/ .I“ _____I“‘i_ , 40mm ‘
L‘ —'~__I'“_ I , _
——-“~‘—_L__'"

 ‘1 I~,-»--/~“~‘—»-r 1-1117111.» f j :1, ' : 7; “:7- : j; ; 7, », , 7,111,”, .- r v. 75-7 1 r, 77:" ,1 .1 ,
‘1 M y
\ a
. 4 ‘ .
1 ' r"~_ ,
A, .,
‘ . . ‘ ' .‘ .,
- \ ,- ,I , . .
, ..
‘ u. -‘I
l!
: . a
. .
1 . . , .
’. ~
, .- ,I a
‘ ‘ ~ ”I“ l ' . \
. r ,‘I-/ , ' -.
,",. ‘ .. I. 4 v -| I, ‘
‘ I
, ..1 . .
I , I ‘1 ,. . , .
L . f L.‘ g ' ' .
, .‘ -, . ~ u .
1 1 ,"
\
m, , ~ - l 1
1 ' .hr
x 1 I‘m .-.., “I“ . _ . ’
I \ .Il't‘n.‘¢q‘ 2 . .' .
I .
1 ‘ v. i l
I 1 , , ' ,
, .
1 1 I . . I. ~ .
‘1 . , , ,
, I I
lI 1 A . A ,
.
I . I .
| 1 .
1 \ '
I I ' ; I u '—
' ‘ v 8 . . A
, . ,
‘ 1 A u
7
I I .
I .I I . ,
, 1 ~ ' 1 , 1
.‘ I I
\ ‘ 1 , ' ‘
1 1 . . . -
, \ . :
x 7 , ,
Hi ‘ ~ \
1 ‘ r -
1 I ' .
x I - ~ . .
I I 1 . ,. _‘ 1
? .x " " ‘ , ,
, . u
1 1‘ .
, ‘ . .
: | ‘ ‘ '
‘ , ,
I w , , .
1 1 '
x ‘ .
, I - ..
> 1 ‘ "
'1
1 1
1
I ,
1
I ,
1 1 V
I
1
‘1
,
1
R
j.
, , ;
"‘A‘ ‘ |
l
I«

 > =—' fiflfgflfifif< ~
_ %§E§iwmmm .

 ”'1' "“ 111:1?“1... 11:1:::'::'_;:::.*::_:,,; ,,,._,;,::;,_:,;_,,1__,,1 77;“, r I
‘1 .v WW—M
‘1 ‘1 I
' - " n— I" '. ‘I‘v.l1 . .1.
' ' u." ’n—yg... ‘w ..~n ‘J: 1‘... \1 I
l .p" l I. V I .4 . 1.. . . . .
1" g ---.1 . . a «man . . . ,
‘V‘! V '1 .
~' » ' 1 ,1.' I
15 ’1 1 _ ’." II I
1 l‘ 1 I II I I II
1‘ .4 - . .1 . I . I 1 I I
‘ 1. i 1 1, .II .. I I. . 1 I I
'- ' l 1
W. . ... x . ‘ 1_ I
‘ ‘ ‘1 ‘ .-- ~ -' .. -.~ . 4 . '
‘ - :1 . III I
‘ I. 1 :
“ .t
V 2 , 1 . . . . H
1 . II I
‘1‘. V . 1 .
x; 1
. 11‘ . . . .
1 1 Z“ I 1 I I I
1 I, 1 I
1 . .. . 1 I
v . . _I .
1 1 5 2
L ‘ . ., .1.- .1. . 1. . . . 1 . . 1
u _ . 1 ,1 . 1 .
-' ' x _ ; "' .. . . . '_
’ I J? . -I 1 . I. 1 I II .
1 1 . 1 I
1 11 . .1 .. . I 1:“ 1 . . . I .
1 . 1 I I 1 1 I I
H‘ ‘ . - ‘ I 1 . .
11 11: . 1 .' I II II I I II
1 1 1 . . . . 1 1 I I I I
1 - - .r', -1 . 1 I I 1 II
‘ ‘ I 5 - ~ 1 .
1 , - I .. . II 1 . ; _ I 1 I I I I
1' ~ ‘- 1 -. , . .,I~ I
'1 1 _ 1. 1 . 5- 1. . . . II I II I 1 II I
‘1 ‘1 . , ‘1 - ‘, I IIII.I.I I 1 I III II I
‘ . . 1n 1 . I I I I I
"‘ 'I ~.. I I I I I II
I ‘ I V‘ n ‘ . _ .
1 ‘ ‘ r .‘ I II I . I II II
1 1 I =‘vI' - g I 1 1 ~ , , . I II I I
1 11‘ 1' 1 . '. I I
1.1 1 1 . . . II I I I I I
1‘11. 1 1. ’ _ .' I,II . 1 II III I
‘1 1 ‘ 1 . - -. 1: . . I . I I .' II I I I
1 ‘ ‘ ( . . . '. 1 I 1 . I I
1 1 1 , I III I I . I II .
1 ‘1 1 1 .5. . ‘. 1 I I I I II I I
1 1 ' ; ,  1 1 1! 1 I I I I
1 ‘ I ‘ . ‘ 1 ' v . . I. II
I ' .’ u , . 1 I 1
1 a 1 ; ‘.. I
‘ ‘ '. e 1 1, . 1 . I I I
1 , ‘ III . II II . I 1 II
1 - . ,1,._,.I..1I1.... . .4 1 II I 1 II I I I
‘ . 1I II I . . 1 I I
I ‘ ‘ ’ - ‘ .. n . a . , . . .
1 1 . 1 I
1 1 II I I I
‘ .1 4 r I- . . 1
1 . . I I I II . I
‘ ‘ .1, . _ : .
1 l - _ II I
.T -, I , . , z I 1
‘1 I I I I ..
‘ ‘ ' 3 ' ‘ “ : 1 .
‘ I \ 1 | .I ".. . I
t ' 1 '. 1 , .1 JJ . r I
‘ i~ :' - -. . I
‘ ‘ :l ' I - - “1... --- -«.‘-,--- .. . .. .1 . , __ _.... 1
‘1‘ x
‘ ‘. 1 .'
. i
1 I I I
1 .1 1 .
1 2'
‘1 '3 1 _I
1 ‘ ‘. I I
‘ 1
‘ .
‘ «. _> .
1
1
1
1 I I
A‘ I I
.I\ I

 --r-» - TABLE OE,CQNTENTS, , _ . p
' ‘ Page
ForewortioltOO‘I'I'IIIOICOI’OIDOOthrBO‘IkyfilI.OII-oli‘t'ttI‘I’I‘I’CIIIQIOUIDIIOO iii‘
PrefaceuoIDIOIIIIOIUOIIIIOIIIOISIIOIIIIOIOIIICIIIIICIOICI‘:O'IO.'I:III "iv "
Abbreviations; Symbols, and Explanatory Notes,.................... Vi
General. ‘ 4" . " ' '
Historical Sketch 1 ’
Governmental Organization.............................:.......;LL. 15']
Chart of County GovernmentOOIIIUIIICIl0;I'DICIOIQOIOOOD‘IIOIOICIO 19
Housing, Care, and Accessibility of the Records................... 20
Floor Plans of Courthouse.......................................' 25‘
County Offices and Their Records... " '
County CourtIIQIJOCOCIO......OCOQCCIIUOOOOIOIQ....OI'I'O‘I.CQOCCIO'C.D 29
Case papers.‘ Claims. Proceedingsm ,_, _ . ,

‘ County Highway-Commissi0n.........................................I 52
Internal Improvement Commissioner.......................I......... ' '53
Circuit Clerk as Recorder.........................................' 33

Real property conveyances: Daily register; deeds; leases; mort—
, _ gages; liens and lis pendens. Surveys and p1ats.Personal prop—'
erty: Conveyances; mortgages. Army discharges. 'Miscellaneous.

N‘Ota‘ry PublicIOQ‘IIIIII’UOJ.‘IIOIOII-O'III.IO...III.IIDOOIIICII.Olit... 4]- I
Circuj-t courtIOOIflvfi.I!IlIIIIOQI‘CIIUO‘DOU.I.IIIIIO.IOOIIIOOIVIIOIOIIIOD 42
Civil Division: Case papers; proceedings; naturalization;finan- '

cial. Criminal Division: Inquests and indictments; proceedings
Jury COmmj-ssionCOOOIO...D.OI...OOOIIIICUOIIIIOOIICOIIIOIOIIOIIIC‘OCQI 48
C11anceryCourt..IOI-‘OOOOOIQIOI..IIICC-‘0'.OID‘lI-OO'IOI.O‘IO.O‘IIOOOCIILIOIOII 49‘

Case papers.. Proceedings. Foreclosures. Financial. Delinquent

Taxes. ' ' ' ' ' ' '
Probate Court-'IIIOIOIIIOOlOI0‘0‘IIIIOIIT’VQO'I‘III.C.'I‘O:UOIOQI'OVCIIO‘I'IOI... 52

Case papers. Wills. Bonds and letters. Accounts. Inventories, ‘

appraisements and sales. Settlements. Proceedings. Financial.
Juvenile Court '56
JuStices 6f the Peaceclooovoocoo-coon;pooocnon-uoooooooooooooI-ooo 57
Prosecuting Attorney..................;L.............. ........... 58‘

' -Xi':, .

 “Tin—Tu‘rlig‘ 7f 1:." 77:27:: .3: 17:11, 7;, :7 _;: 3;; .-::-5<—;»__;,;,;, ,7 "1.3.1.7.,” as“, 9,12%: 1,,1.,.,,__._,.m___.: :r;n:.~r:-_A.-.w_-.zxfigww__,w_ ‘
1 Table of Contents .
i Page
i‘ County Attorney (mmnct)tlfi.fiID.OIVI.IOI..O..IIIIOOIIQIUIUOCOIOOI 58
Sheriff...ICOCIIOOIIOOOCOIOOICIII'.IDOOICDOO'OIII'lDIOIIIOOODIICQ 58
‘ COII‘Oner‘UIIODIQICOO;_.OII'IO‘I‘Il...0...."'II‘D0‘...II.‘II;I'¢'¢Q;'I;‘IJ'I.O'OA|IOOIIIO'I’QIIO.‘ 59
Constable 60
‘ Quorum CouI‘tOOIOOUOOI0'...IDI'O...CIOI'OIOIGOO-IIIIOOICOOIII'IIII 60
i "1“; County Clerk 61'
; Financial: Accounts; audits; warrants. Assessment and taxa—
i tion: ‘Collections; tax sales; redemptions; improvement dis—
1 , tricts. 'Elections. Marriages; Corporations. Professional '
i ‘ licenses. Livestock. Firearms. School lands. Roads and high-
‘ . ways."Miscellaneous. ' ' _ ‘ " '
‘1‘, Tax AssessorOOOIIOIOII.OOIOIIIUIOOlI.I...0......IOIIII'IOIOOOOOOO 72
Board ofEqualization..........'......................'............ 75
1 Tax 0011.6.clt'0r'c'clu I I I I l I l'."‘.‘.‘. I" c I I I ."".. I 0". 0-0'. I a "I a I II... C’OVlt'OII'O.I.O I I I I 73
i: County Treasurer 74
‘3“ Papers; Accountsu“Warrantsu 'Receiptsu-'Land redemptions." '
:_i CommissYOners of Accounts‘(Defunct0.u§.u......;...;..........;...‘ 76
ii‘. County Board_of Election CommissiOnersffi;{J1;;................... I 76
i t Board of Registration (DefunCt)......................,...........A h 77
,iii County Board of Education........................................ 77
vyil‘i; - I u . . .. ~ -., . . . .,» ’
iii County's‘upfirint-endent of SGhOOlSIIIIIIuI-III‘IIIIIIgIIIIIIIIoI-uccu 78
iii . . . V ','f'. r . . ,. .. . ,. . .
iii' CountyrExaminer ofSchools 78
ii‘ Reports. Licenses and contracts. Financial. Miscellaneous. '
i
ii - .
‘i i‘ County IT.e'X‘fibodk 'Bodfd.0';. "U 0-D“. U C'. C’I I 0'. I,"..I O. I I 00-... 0-. I‘- I’I‘ .V‘. O I O l C I D 81 V
1,
School Directors 82
if ‘ Health Unl’C ”82
1‘ .lndex. Reports. Immunization. School Records. Vital statis-
‘i ' tics.7"f 'l.f:1"" ' ' " “" ' ' .' "‘-- . _' j
if County'Board'of Medical Examiners (Defunct)...;.................. 84
‘ County'De'partment of Public Weirar‘en..;;........;.....'..':..'.'.... 85
Confederate 'Pens'iori Board (Inactive);.‘...‘.‘...‘......’........'...... 86
.iMN “i ‘V

 ’3
Table of Contents ‘
Page
County Surveyor................................................. 86
Agricultural Extension Service Agents........................... 88
Timber Inspector................................................ 89
Bibliography.................................................. 90
List of County Officials...................................... 94
Chronological Index........................................... 102
Subject Index................................................. 104
List of Publications.......................................... 112
i
S
7
7
3 . I
B
1
2
2 V
s4 '
35
36
— xiii -

 ~————-—--»-—-~r~—~-r~-~ rrrefifxz; :2..~.;:Ti:::..v-.. ,.-;;,~:r_;fl.m_;.~:;r_.:gg_~‘«am #» __._u kw www.—-————.———‘-——~——iww , .
”M“: J
‘1‘

M wt

‘ ‘

1‘ 11-: v ~yo.‘.-:-u-o-n.

M ‘ 1 , .

, ‘

w‘ ‘

‘ 1‘, ‘i

‘ .

‘

‘ i _

1 I In 1 - a . V .

u‘l ‘ 1 ~ .

‘ ‘1 .

‘ ‘ A - n g o 4 J y - u , . ‘ . . ‘

‘ ‘.

‘
‘ ‘
‘, ‘

J‘ Y‘

1

"w M ‘

I 1 1 ‘

.1‘

m 3 ‘ §

‘; fl
1 ‘ 1 ‘ .
t
1 ‘ 1‘ 1
‘l ‘.
i z I“
§
> ‘
\ 1
i 1
x z
i
W 1 j ‘
‘21 1 1
‘ W" .
“ N
‘g ‘m
H l '
w ‘ ‘
‘ l 1
i 1
i ‘
l \
x l ‘ .
1 i ‘ V
m, - ‘ 1
s ‘
‘ .
‘
‘
‘ :
t ‘ ‘
y .
u; ‘
‘ ‘
‘ ; H '
,1 .‘
1
§ H‘
U?»
x
E o
‘ < ‘ ‘
. § ‘
1 ‘} ‘
'i‘
. j ‘
: i
”A“ M
\‘d v

 (First entry, p. 29)
HISTORICAL SKETCH
Physical Characteristics

Benton County, one of the most picturesque counties in Arkansas, is
situated in the Ozark Plateau in the extreme northwest corner of the
State. It is bounded on the north by Missouri; on the east by Carroll
and Madison Counties; on the south by washington County; and on the west
by Oklahomaa (l)

The greater part of its 876 square miles is covered by the Spring-
field Plateau (2), ranging in elevation from 908 feet at Sulphur Springs
to 1820 on the summit of Poor Mountain (3). In places its mountainous
surface is broken by fertile areas known locally as prairies (4), The
largest of these are Osage Prairie, south of B<';11t011vill.., and Lindslxy
Prairie, south of Gentry (5). A spur of the Salem Plateau; lower than
the Springfield and deeply eroded, extends into the eastern part of the
county (6). Blansett Mountain, 1,650 feet above sea level, Devil's Eye
Brow and Elkhorn Mountain, each 1,600, and Big Mountain at Pea Ridge,
1,682 feet, are among the highest peaks (7). . - ..

The White River on its devious northern route.drains the eastern [

. part of the county; the Illinois River, the southwestern; and Spavinaw
Creek, a branch of the Grand River, the westmcentral (8);, Distinctive ,
features are the springs, which occur frequently in groups as ianentonw.
ville, Siloam Springs, and Sulphur Springs (9). : , q ‘ _ '

1 Apart from the geological interest with which the Paleozoic depos-
its,sedimentary in origin, enhance the county, these deposits, especial- '
ly the Batesville sandstone,limestone of the Boone chert foundation, and
(1) Arkansas Geological Survey, ‘ Missouri, Fayetteville ”Quad-

Topographic Map, of the State FEHETET_ ‘"_—_.‘”___—— '__‘—

‘ BEAr'kan‘s—afsff' _"‘“‘_' (6) Was State ‘ Planning
(2) Arkansas State Planning _ Board, Progress Report, 1936,
. Board, Progress Report, 1956, (,, pp. 7, §:__—-'—'_5.__'" -—*
,,p. 9: (7) Arkansas Geological ‘Survoy,
(3) Arkansas Geological Survey, ‘Elevations in Arkansas, p.26.
' 'Elevations in Arkansas, p.26. (8) fiHitEd—StatEE EEBTEEIEhl Sur—
(4) Arkansas_ St§t5—_—Fiflanning vey, State of Arkansas.[Map,]
._ Board, Progress Report, 1936, (9) Arkansas—- —§t§tE———_Pfianning
”1 pa ll. - ’ " - Board, ’ Arkansas water Re-
(5) United States Geological Sur~ I sources, fij’ifi?"’KHEFEEEthE%
‘ ' . ' vey, Ehe_gppographie Maps of Eiffidg—as Arkansus' Planning
' :23, United States, ArEEEERE: ' Board, water Resources.)

 133,3, 3, 3~“’““”’-——-—=-7~—-.—?=--—A—=~—=— sew—1W.gnaw—,finwd~..w,#._-__._,1.W_________.._.____. _ _,
3 _ i
i ‘ - 2 - E
3 Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 29) 3
3 ‘ magnesian limestone poSsess considerable commercial value (10). Besides, ’
3‘ there are limk deposits, clay suitable for brick, silica, and marginal
1' 3 veins of lead and zinc (ll).
33 3 Cherty, non-magnesian limestone soils are found throughout the
h : greater'part of the county. One type, the Baxter Silt Loam, is describ—
1; ed as One of the soils in North Arkansas best adapted for diversiflied
: farming. Interspersed with this are found gray soils of limestone and
f“‘ sandstone origin. Richer alluvial soil is found along the Illinois and .
3 “White Rivers. (12,) The weathering of the soft shale which underlies the
3 V surface limestone has resulted in the formation of numerous caverns, the
‘ 3 larger of which often have subterranean drainage (13). In many of these,
33‘3 small apertures.open into narrow passages which lead into vaulted rooms
3‘ E and corridors.'iTho mineral contents in the stalactite and stalagmite ’
:3 formations in these caves give them varied and striking colors. (14)
3” 3 The county boasts of its salubrious climate, emphasizing that dis—
33; cases prevalent in other sections of the State are conspicuously absent ,
33W 3 there. (15) The mean annual temperature at Bentonville,’ the county ‘
‘E3‘ seat, which is 1,303 feet above sea level, is 57.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
3 3 During a period of 25 years the records Show extreme variations from 106
”1&3 degrees Fahrenheit to 17 degrees below zero. The average annual precip-
“3f3 itation is 44.24 inches. The average snowfall is 17.1 inches. TThe
W2“? growing season, as estimated at Bontonville, is about 200 days between
3X1 April 7 and October 24, the average dates for the last killing frost in
‘3j3 spring and the first in fall. (16)
, 1 I ‘ .
11(3 Trees of commercial value, cedar, walnut, Arkansas black hickory,
3p dogWood, beech, and 'shortleaf pine stud the Ozarks (17). The streams
‘3fi3 offer unexcelled opportunities for fishing, swimming, and boating (18).
,3} Unfortunately, door, wild turkeys, and lesser game are the only remains
_3H3‘ of the once abundant wildlife (19). The artistic value of the variegated
f i .
1;, WW...—
1 x 3 ‘ '
313(10) Ibid., p. 65 p. 216. 3
3333 (11) Arkansas Geological Survey, (16) United States Department of
”133 Annual Report of the Geologi- Agriculture, weather Bureau,
A1: ' 3%; Survey ££.Arkansas, 1891, ‘ Climatic Summary of the Unit-
313 p. 60. ' ed States, see. 55,—"Ep. ll,
33i‘ (12) University of 'ArkanSas, Col— El,—§§T‘_
‘31'3 logo of Agriculture, Agricfiiflt (17) University of Arkansas, Col—
33%; tural Experiment Station, The ‘ lege of Agriculture,Extonsion
C113; Soils' of Arkansas, Bulletin ‘ ‘ Service, Common Forest Trees .
11g,‘ ‘ N0. 187:fp. 25. of Arkansas,pp.3,6,8, 16, 25.
433y3 (13) Arkansas Planning Board,Water (18) AEdéEEifing_ Planning Board,
3 ResourCGS, p. 65. Water Resources, p. 70.
§_ (14) Arkansas Gazette, September '(19) United States Department of
L1 18, 1952. _ - Agriculture, Forest Service,
33; (15) Arkansas 3 State‘ Planning Region Eight, Ozark National
33' Board, Progress Report, 1936, Forest, Arkansas, n.d., n.p.
‘33. 3 ‘ ,

 _ 3 _

Historical Sketch 5 (First entry, p. 29)
' landscape is well expressed by the famous artist, Thomas Benton, grand-

nephew of Senator Benton for whom the county was named. "In the spring

or in the fall of the year there is no more delightful walking ground in

the world than the Arkansas Ozarks. The timber is full, the foliage is

rich, and the changes in the character of the landscape rapid and varied

. . .It has rolling hills, deep valleys, jagged bluffs, rich foliage,

and clear streams." (20)

Egg—County History '

Neither the fascinating archaeological remains of the primitive
bluff dwellers, the earliest known inhabitants of the Ozarks, nor the
possible derivation of the name Ozarks from the phrase aux arcs of the
French explorers,justifies lengthy treatment of those peoplgs. When the
United States acquired Louisiana in 1803 the present Benton County area
was in the possession of the Osage Indians. In 1808 (21) and 1818 (22)
they ceded lands along the eastern and southern borders of the present
county to the Federal Government. The Government disappointed the Osages

i by placing Cherokees on former Osage lands in north central Arkansas.
Finally the Osages agreed in 1825 (23) to leave the State,but not before
their resentment at the che