RootsWeb is funded and supported by
Ancestry.com and our loyal RootsWeb community.
Learn more.
About Us | Contact Us | Copyright | Report Inappropriate Material
Corporate Information | Privacy | Terms and Conditions | CCPA Notice at Collection
Growing up Daddy claimed to be poor, he had to go barefoot most of his boyhood years. Going to school, it embarressed him extremely. Only by dreaming and imagination did he envision a classy pair of shoes being on his feet. One day while walking about town, barefoot as usual and distressing over it immencely, he happened upon a gentleman sitting on the curb. This man had no feet. Daddy said, 'I've never complained about being barefoot again'.
In Dedication to Marcus Haywood Goodwin 28, who first appears in Richwoods Township of Stone County enumerated within Hanover Post Office with Pauline M Halpain Goodwin 25, 2yr old Arminia, and 1yr old Elbert. Believed to have been born in Mississippi, the only family story handed down was that He came from out of the hills of Elizabeth, Arkansas; coupled with the belief that he was half-indian. As a 10yr old, Marcus was witnessing a bloody civil war happening about him and many are the speculations of his whereabouts. I would like to think that his Daddy packed up Momma and the Kids and headed to the relative safety of the frontier lands of Arkansas that surely were being advertised in the newspapers and flyers of the time, however, if the indian blood is true, Daddy would have been fullblood indian, or was it perhaps Mamma was fullblood? The 1850s reveal much of Mississippi's west as indian lands. So, did Daddy Goodwin marry an indian or did Mamma Goodwin marry an indian and give him her last name as was the custom of many tribal communities. Speculations take up very much valuable time and generate very little results, therefore this web site is a culmination of research notes in the pursuit of finding one man out of 100,000 sum odd number of people. Successful investigations usually begin with the last known whereabouts and this one has resulted in the complete and unabridged Stone County web site.
One day while sitting under a big hickory tree and being on the trail for about a week I was heating up the last of what coffee I had on a small fire. Weather had been pleasant for the most part until I reached a bog in the trail of which I decided to skirt off to the left and around it when I found myself without a trail. While relaxing and pondering what to do, of a sudden these crows came flying in raising a terrible crow ruckus. It was somewhat entertaining watching their antics and what appeared to be one particular crow being harrassed by all the others. To avoid the onslought in air, this crow flew down to a rock across the fire from me. It puzzled me at first because he seemed to be looking me over trying to decide if I were any better company than his antagonizing friends above, after a few minutes of this stare down, that crow told me a story:
I had previously hunted north and west of Blue Mountain killing two bears. Jenny had to play pack-mule loaded down with the two skins scraped fair and salted with a supply I brought for that purpose, ham and shoulder quarters neatly bundled, and using the rib halves to hold the choice cuts and vittle makins. Jerkie strips were hung up and were just right for packing for travel. I watched as mamma laid everything I would need out on an army issue wool blanket, every family had at least one, those that had chil'ns at the time of rationin out of these comforts of the cold recieved one for each child. I will tell you from experience that wool blanket is my prized possession while on the trail. I was headed to the big town of Mountain View to stock up on some supplies. I knew I could find a youngster who'd drive a rented wagon back to town after delivering my goods. On this particular trip to town I had met a kind and generous man by the name of John Halpain. He had brought his two daughters into town to see the Arch P Green Steamboat land with presumably fine fabrics from across the big waters. Not only fine fabric amoungst a myriad of other stuff, but two fine southern belle dresses made on the looms of Mississippi Plantations, and them two girls were sportin them dresses in all their finery when Mr. Halpain properly introduced them as 'Pauline Marietta and Lydia Isabelle Halpain, my daughters'. While I had not come to town to find a bride, I did not hesitate to ask Mr. Halpain if I might court the elder of his two daughters. He seemed eagerly happy to oblige and by 1877 we had a proper weddin at the new seat of justice building which was built out of rocks shipped in from the four corners of the county. It was a lovely place and many a time after a hard day of work people would gather about the square in which it was built and sing and play music with the fiddle, jews harp, banjo, a guitar called a dobro and one old gent often came with his bagpipes from Scotland. Marietta's grandpa, Samuel Brown, having been in the area almost since its start had a prime location atop a hill just across from the ridge at John Halpain's that would be perfect for his granddaughter and new husband. Mr. Brown had several dealings with acquiring property through the land office and had arranged for me to go to the Land Office at Harrison to file the required entry for the Homestead Act of 1862. I had to pay a 5 dollar fee and show improvements on the land within 5 years at which time I returned and paid 2 dollars and a quarter per acre. My 361 acres cost me a total of 740 dollars and some change. This was in March of 1886.
When I woke up, I knew I'd better get on with this Stone County Stuff. Them starefull eyes in the corner are from an unaltered image (except for cropping) from BLM/GLO. I believe them to be my guide to the past. I see Pappa doing something when he cuts them eyes over at me and knocks a hole plum through my eyeball all the way to that part of the brain that says 'Boy, you better pay attention!'
Sum 500 Thousand Acres situate around 35 North Latitude, 92 West Longitude are actually considered the Corporate Limits of Stone County and these limits weren't established until 1873, plus the surrounding 4.5 Million Acres with Elevations from around 200 feet to 1800 feet encompassed this land which were governed by certain other Corporate Limits as established, viz, below; archeology, anthropology, paleontology, geology and physiology (defined by mousepoint) have also left their signatures on the land; not to forget genealogy as well,
being carved in stone in the many Cemeteries of Stone County.
This just about covers our paleontology section for now.
As does the Archeology section.
My inquistive mind just has to know.
Ok, maybe in the 1500s, I'll come up with a synapsis for this section.
arkansasheritage.com - "The Louisiana Purchase" of 1803
the study of the Louisiana Purchase including some particulars of Surveying the Louisiana Purchase.
"Everything... must have a beginning and the public land survey of Arkansas is no exception. Over in eastern Arkansas where Monroe, Lee and Phillips Counties all join at a common point, is located the point where all the surveys have their beginnings." -- Claude A. Rankin Arkansas State Land Commissioner, 1943-1954. (from the Arkansas Heritage Web Site)1
The United States finally gains political and administrative control over our land we call Stone County. Washington DC and the National Archives2 would be the place to search for documents relating to the U.S. involvement of said lands. Soon after the purchase, Louisiana District was set up east of the Mississippi while west was classified as Louisiana Territory. For a while portions of this area were under administrative control of Indiana Territory.
The Osage Treaty of November 10 1808 extinguished the Indian Claims in southern Missouri and norther Arkansas. The western boundary extended from Fort Clark or Fire Prairie east of Kansas City south to the mouth of Frog Bayou on the Arkansas River, south of Alma, Crawford Co.
One of 5 Districts established during Louisiana Territory's division of Missouri Territory
Concerning the White River Country, April 20, 1814, William Russell dated a letter at Poke Bayou to William Rector stating 'There are settlements from the mouth of Big Creek to the Big North Fork'.
The mouth of the Little Red River divides New Madrid from Arkansas County, up the St. Francis River to Cape Gerardeau County Line, west to the western boundary of the Osage Treaty, south to Arkansas County line and to the beginning. In 1816 Arkansas County divided into Clark, Hempstead and Pulaski Counties with the tip of Pulaski County reaching up to Poke Bayou on White River. By 1817 the surveyors reach the northern boundaries of Lawrence County and work their way over to Spring and Strawberry Rivers. In June of 1817 the Post Office at Davidsonville was established and in July the Post Office at Arkansas Post was established.
It during this time that the surveyors decided what they had to do and commenced to survey, working their way north to New Madrids southern boundary. In 1817 on Black River at the mouth of Eleven Point River we find a settlement established as Lawrence town. The Missouri General Assembly is readiing Missouri for their exclusion of Arkansas District into their territory and plans for statehood, and our people at Lawrence are readiing the settlers for Lawrence County of Arkansas Territory. By 1819 Lawrence changed names to Davidsonville and a post route established from St. Louis. Research will tell if New Madrid post office helped establish the route or just joined in later on. In 1817 our surveyors worked their way from Lawrence to the west crossing Eleven Point and Spring Rivers. When they crossed Spring River they commenced to survey Township 19 north of Range 7 west of 5th PM. The adjoining surveys were acomplished and many settler names can be found on the survey plats. The surveyors worked their way south to White River upstream from Poke Bayou where they found the settlement of Batesville growing and lawyers lobbying for a post office. One is not entered on the plat of 1819, but before that year was over, Poke Bayou Post Office was established on the St. Louis to Arkansas Post route, which also by this time extended to Monroe, Louisiana through the Washita Valley. The U S Military also plied their interests in the Southwest Trail by building the trail up to bonified road, which included removing all stumps or burning them below the ground level and filling in all the holes. Who'd ever imagine a chuck wagon worrying over pot holes? As little as 6 inch drop in ground throws everything inside to one side. Which is also why they designed those wagons with large wheels. This particular section Military Road from the French Property which is downstream from Poke Bayou by a couple of miles was negotiated and bid on for a sum of 825 dollars and completed extending from Davidsonville which by this time is the seat of justice for Lawrence County Territory of Arkansas. The road is labeled as Arkansas Road and Main road to Lawrence Courthouse. This road reached the old military road which was the post route just above Davidsonville by way of ford on Spring River and ferry on Eleven Point River.
Cherokee Territory Treaty Particulars: Why was it called Cherokee Territory and the Shawnee had the villages? Did the Cherokee Chief negotiate an actual Patent of Land persuant to the distribution of Public Lands to Individuals? At least until the US decided to remove the Legal Terms which implied its right of ownership.
The Osage were original land dwellers and were considered warlike bullies who in fact just wanted to be left alone with their piece of paradise.
Two wise Shawnee Chiefs who realised the benefits of jumping on the band wagon, so much so that they took on American Names of Col. John Lewis and Prophet. These two chiefs had their villages in the Livingston and Sylamore Creek Valleys of Stone County's White River.
Quatawapea and Tenskwatawa -
Painting 1825 by Charles Bird King
On July 4, 1819 Arkansas Territory was created and on December 29 the Poke Bayou Post Office was established at the mouth of White Run on White River.
Independence County was created in 1820 with Batesville as its seat of justice.
Beginning halfway between Strawberry River and Cure River at the Black River following the ridge dividing Strawberry River from Cure River to the headwaters of Cure River, then along the ridge dividing White River from Strawberry River to the north reaching the northern boundary of the territory, then west along said boundary to the southeast bank of White River,
Our surveyors have pulled off a tricky job. The townships are laid out for Batesville north and south of White River and the indian territory boundary of 1817 run to the southwest following some imaginary line toward Point Remove on the Arkansas River, upstream from Little Rock by several miles. Following this line, near the Little Red River and the crossing of this line, we can view yet another survey plat of 1819. However, completion dates show us that our surveyors worked their way west on the north side of White River from Batesville all the way up to Big North Fork and townships north being 18 and 19 at Ranges 12, 13 and 14. The early 1820s and later 1828. This being the time of Cherokee Ownership of land south of White River.
By 1825, Indepedence County settled the northern banks of White River all the way up to the territory boundary, west of Big North Fork into the area of Bull Shoals. North Fork White River saw the settlement of liberty and seat of justice for Izard County. The reputed Wolf House overlooked the White River into Cherokee Lands including a Shawnee Village with yet another Chief along with Quatawapea and Tenskwatawa. Their villages being across from Athens and Mt. Olive which both eventually become the county seats in their due time.
Van Buren took Izard's southern lands of Township 13 North, Stone Co's southern Townships of Red River, Turkey Creek, Richwoods, Smartt, Wallace.
Carroll Co - 1833 took the western region of Izard so in 1840 census of Izard Co these missing people will be found in Carroll Co census. These people did not move only their addresses changed. The people who lived in the easten fringes of Carroll Co found themselves hemmed in between the Buffalo River, White River and the Ozark Mountains. The same mountains that open into the Blue Mountain Valleys and our Stone County Lands. After only two years of being in Carroll Co, Marion Co took these eastern regions of Carroll Co and once again our settlers find their addresses changed. And in less than a year Marion changed its name to Searcy and another year passed until Searcy gave up its northern region to a newly formed Marion Co. These people would be just northwest of Rorie, Northwest and Farris Twps of Stone Co. and of course, Izard Co still. In 1840 they would be neighbors to Blue Mountain Twp of Izard Co. and in 1850, Blue Mountain and Sylamore. Baxter Co is still a few years away.
Jackson Co - 1829, did to Independence Co like Carroll did to Izard Co, although this did not affect the western portion of Independence Co in what later became Stone Co. except for the fact, that some migrants stopped off in Jackson Co for a spell before moving on further west.
White Co has the distinction of the Little Red River and its confluence with White River, its northwest course leads to Owl Fork and Devil's Fork in southwest Stone Co. Crossing the Little Red River south led to Clinton to the west and Bloomingdale to the south.
Sharp, Fulton, Randolph, Pope, Boone, Conway
The Surveyors recorded Improved Land on many survey plats of the townships. Some were just listed as improvements while others were recorded as Smith's Field and a few with cabins or houses recorded. While these folks may have recieved land patents, I've noticed some that didn't. Maybe you have a missing person who's just living life and gets a visit from the surveyors one day.
1840 Townships | 1850 Townships | 1860 Townships | 1870 Townships |
Blue Mountain Athens Rocky Bayou Ruddell | Blue Mountain Franklin Richwoods Rocky Bayou Sylamore | Blue Mountain Franklin Harris Richwoods Rocky Bayou Sylamore | Blue Mountain Franklin Harris Richwoods Rocky Bayou Sylamore |
1840 Townships | 1850 Townships | 1860 Townships | 1870 Townships |
not listed | Wallace Ruddell | Franklin Ruddell Wallace | Franklin Ruddell Wallace |
1840 Townships | 1850 Townships | 1860 Townships | 1870 Townships |
researching | researching | researching | Big Flat Locust Grove Red River |
1840 Townships | 1850 Townships | 1860 Townships | 1870 Townships |
Red River | Red River | Red River | Red River Turkey Creek |
January 1831 Captain Phillip Pennywit commandeered the Waverly up White River to Batesville with Captain Todd Tunstall piloting the steamboat.
The western bypass route of the Old Military Road also known as the Arkansas Road and the Postal Route from St. Louis, Mo. to Monroe, La. diverted west to easier upstream crossings of Eleven Point River and Spring River avoiding the rather trickier crossing at the mouth of Spring River, in doing so the bypass route passed by ways of River Boat Landings at Elgin, Clover Bend, Lauratown and east of Powhatan.
The Sylamore Swinging Bridge built in 1914 yet survives.
'...but owing to the rough ground of the country my skirmishers could not pursue the enemy, who made their escape.' - 1st Lt. Fedinand Hansen, 5th Missouri Cavalry (U.S.)