History of EARLE & CRITTENDEN

Taken from

The pages of the “Earle Enterprise”

Written by W. H. Phelps

Earle, Arkansas

 

 

 

The following appeared in a series of articles published in issues of 

THE EARLE ENTERPRISE

 

March 29, 1957 and May 3, 1957. 

 

These articles were written for the column,

“TIME OUT”

by W. H. Phelps

 

 

            This is the first in a series of articles on the history Earle.  The historical facts about Earle in the early days were compiled by Mrs. T. J. Cloar Sr.  There are others who have valuable and interesting information concerning Earle’s history and we will publish them as they become available.

 

HISTORY OF EARLE

 

            Our records go back to the year 1869.  At that time, what we now call Earle, was a dense forest inhabited by bears, wolves and other wild animals.  This property was owned by the late Thomas J. Cloar, who also owned what is now known as Norvell.  Mr. Cloar lived in a log house in the Norvell section.  There was also a saloon and one store in the vicinity at that time.

            The cemetery was where the Earle schools are now.  Mr. Cloar’s wife was buried directly in front of the present Assembly of God Church.  Because so much of the land where Earle is now, was so low, Mr. Cloar moved form his log house in Norvell to where the Cloar families now live.  At that time a slough ran through the middle of his property here.  Mr. Cloar died in 1880.

 

Name Still On Records

 

            Some of the property owners in Earle today have abstracts with Mr. Cloar’s name as the first to own the property.  This spot of ground remained in woods until 1888, when the first railroad was built through Earle.  The land had to be cleared and drained, an immense levee had to be built to keep the Mississippi in bounds in time of floods.

            In those early days, malaria imposed a heavy toll and the man was fortunate who had only the three-day chills.  In most cases it was the every-other-day chill that the people suffered.  The humidity of the atmosphere, lack of road and other inconveniences made this a dismal territory.

 

People Prospered

 

            In spite of hardships, the inhabitants of the community believed strongly in their ability to improve the land and had great visions of things to be.  With all their ups and downs the people still managed to make money.  The timber business was getting better and people also made money on their cattle and small farms.

            Each newcomer became so impressed with the opportunities presented here that soon the community began to grow.

 

First Church Is Built

 

            The first church in the territory was built on the banks of Gibson Bayou, near where the present church now stands.  The church was about 20x40 feet, constructed of huge logs, covered with clapboard, with a chimney at each end made of sticks and clay.  The church was used for various purposes.  It also served as a schoolhouse.  The benches were made of split logs with the split surface neatly polished.

 

Drove Cattle to Memphis

 

            Turkeys, wild hogs, and other wild animals provided most of the meat for the early settlers.  Livestock was big business and at marketing time the people drove large herds of cattle and hogs to the Memphis market, which was their main trading point.  After disposing of their surplus hogs and cattle, they would purchase vast quantities of supplies for home use.  They carried supplies home by wagon.  It usually took a full week for the people to make a round trip to the Memphis market.

 

 

HISTORY OF EARLE

 

            In 1889, W. N. Brown Sr., W. N. Brown Jr., and B. F. Garrett bought the Cloar land and began selling it for future home sites.  Mr. Brown Sr., died July 31, 1904.

            The town of Earle was incorporated February 20, 1905.  The town was named for Major Earl.  The Earl family was one of the first to move here and lived in a wooden hotel where Jim’s Hardware store is now.  Major Earl married one of the local school teachers.

 

            Earle was spelled Earl until a few years ago.  The big hotel which was located on the corner of what is now Main and Second Streets was destroyed by fire in 1911.  There was another large wooden hotel in New Earle which was in the lot next to the present home of Mrs. C. P. Belue.  There was a shingle mill on the corner where Mr. and Mrs. Frank Beattie now live.  The school house was on the lot where Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Bird now have their home.

            The Marshal of Earle in 1905 was a man by the name of W. C. Cunningham.  The first store and saloon was owned by John F. Rhodes and Earle’s first pool room was owned by Bob Stoner.

 

            Senator John F. Rhodes with Dr. James C. Throgmorton, cleared the land for the first house to be built in Earle.  At that time Dr. Thogmorton was Earle’s physician.  He made his calls on horseback, often plunging his horse through dense forests, swimming rivers and lakes to call on his many patients.  A buggy was altogether unknown in Earle then.

 

Town Begins to Grow

 

            After 1905 Earle began to grow.  Two wooden churches were built and more stores of brick were being constructed.  The stores carried a complete line of groceries and dry goods.  Earle had two drug stores and two banks and a first class brick hotel.  This hotel was the Hotel Commerce and was located where Sam Saig’s store now stands.  Better and more modern school houses were built.  The present High School was built in 1919.

 

Business Houses

 

            Some of the business firms in Earle in 1912 were:  The Crittenden County Bank & Trust Company, Rhodes Realty & Investment Co., R. A. Scott’s New York Life Agency, Bank of Commerce, Matthews Bros. Grocery, the Hub Clothiers, owned by Fred Hare, Boone & Graham Undertakers, C. E. Matthews Undertaker & Funeral Director, R. L. Morris Pool Room, The Earle Enterprise (here since 1906) Thredgill & Davis Barber Shop, Morris Mercantile Company, M. T. Boone Dry Goods, Crittenden Merc. Co., and Arkmo Lumber Company.  Earle also had five doctors, Dr. J. V. Satterfield, Dr. J. H. Matthews, Dr. J. M. McBee, Dr. W. P. Hicks, and Dr. A. G. Hicks.  Earle also had an up-to-date blacksmith shop operated by S. R. Montcalm and in August of 1912, Mr. Jack Clark opened a pool room with soda fountain and lunch counter.

 

HISTORY OF CRITTENDEN

 

            We have given you some early history about Earle during the past two weeks and will continue with more historical facts next week.  This week let’s take a look at Crittenden County and the man for whom it was named.

 

            Crittenden is the twelfth oldest county in Arkansas.  The act of the Territorial legislature creating it was signed by Governor Izard, on October 22, 1825.  It was cut off of the north end of Phillips County.  The first county seat was at a place called Greenock.  In 1837 the county seat was moved to Marion.

 

Named For Robert Crittenden

 

            Crittenden County was named for Robert Crittenden who was secretary of Arkansas Territory when the county was crated.  Robert Crittenden was born near Versailles, in Woodford County, Kentucky, January 1, 1797.  He was the youngest of the four sons of Major John Crittenden, a Virginian, who had fought throughout the Revolutionary War and afterward settled in Kentucky.

            Robert enlisted in the United States army in 1818 when he was 16 years old and fought throughout the campaign in Canada that year and the following year.  His company Commander was Captain Ben Desha.  Robert made such a good soldier that he won the attention and friendship of Capt. Desha.  Their friendship lasted as long as the young soldier lived.  When on March 2, 1819, President Monroe signed the Act of Congress creating Arkansas Territory, John J. Crittenden was one of the U. S. Senators from Kentucky.  He asked Pres. Monroe to appoint his youngest brother, Robert, secretary of the new territory; and on March 3, 1819, Robert Crittenden was appointed the first secretary of Arkansas Territory.  He was then 22 years old.

 

Crittenden Becomes Governor

 

            As soon as Crittenden received his commission he proceeded by horseback to Arkansas Post, the capitol of Arkansas Territory, to assume the duties of his new office.

            The Congressional Act creating Arkansas Territory empowered the secretary to at as governor, in the absence of the governor.  On July 4, 1819, at the age when most young men are still in school, Crittenden assumed the duties of governor of Arkansas Territory and proceeded to organize its government.

            Robert Crittenden continued to hold the office of Secretary of Arkansas Territory for ten years, until Andre Jackson became president in 1829.

 

 

HISTORY OF CRITTENDEN COUNTY

 

            This week we will continue with some of the historical facts of Crittenden County.

            Last week we found that Robert Crittenden, the man for whom Crittenden County was named, had been appointed secretary of Arkansas Territory.  He continued to hold this office for ten years, until Andrew Jackson became president in 1829.  During much of that time Crittenden performed the duties of the chief executive during Jackson’s absence.  Crittenden was a man of great physical and mental strength.  Many who knew both him and his distinguished brother John J. Crittenden, said he was an abler man than his celebrated brother.

            About the time President Jackson appointed his successor as secretary of the Territory, Robert Crittenden built on East Seventh Street in Little Rock what was then by far the finest residence in Arkansas.  The property three quarters of a century later, became the home of Governor James P. Eagle.

            About the time Arkansas Territory was crated, the two great leaders of “the West”  --  Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay, became mortal enemies.  Robert Crittenden was a devout disciple of Henry Clay; and he was the unrivaled leader of the Clay followers in Arkansas to the day of his death.

            In 1823, young Henry Conway, who fought under and almost worshipped Andre Jackson, defeated Crittenden’s law partner, James W. Bates, for delegate to congress.  In 1825 Conway had again defeated an opponent for that office who had Crittenden’s support.  Crittenden became more and more aggressive in his opposition to Conway during an election in 1827 in which Conway defeated Robert C. Oden for congressional delegate.  The hot words spoken and written by Conway and Crittenden in that campaign resulted in a duel between them, which was fought on an island in the Mississippi, opposite the mouth of the White River, October 29, 1827, in which Conway was mortally wounded.

 

J. F. EARLE

 

            This week we have the last will and testament of J. F. Earle, deceased (the man for whom Earle was named).  Major Earle’s will was taken from Will Record “B: page 219 of the Crittenden County files.

 

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF J. F. EARLE, DECEASED

            Marion, May 13, 1882

 

I make this my last and first will.  I do so in good health, but I am satisfied that one W. E. Scanlan and one Clark Brewer have confederated for the purpose of procuring my assassination, but I will protect myself if courage and good sense will succeed.

 

I give to my wife one half of all my property, and one half to my children.

 

I authorize and direct my wife to sell all of the real property and reinvest in some better county for herself and children.

 

I direct that she control and manage and sell the same and reinvest when she can get a fair price to satisfy her, same as if she were the sole owner.

 

I owe but little and I wish that paid out of my life policy.

 

 

Witnesses:       J. W. Guerrant                                     J. F. EARLE

                        John R. Chase

                                                                                   

 

 

            For the past several weeks we have published historical facts of Earle and Crittenden County.  This concludes our little history lesson until and unless more interesting facts become available.