Martin & Zelda Capehart Genealogy Website

Benton County, AR

Benton Counrty, formed from Washington County, was founded in September 30, 1836 and is located on the Ozark plateau in the northwest corner of Arkansas. The county adjoins Oklahoma to the west and Missouri to the north.

Two years after Arkansas received statehood in 1836 thousands of Cherokee people from Georgia passed through Benton County on what is known as the trail of tears route to the Indian Teritory in what is now Oklahoma. After the civil war a vibrant apple industry was established and Benton County became the leading apple producing county in the nation by 1901. In the 1920's and 1930's the county became a leader in poultry production and still maintains that position today.

Bentonville, AR

The area now known as Bentonville was used by humans as a hunting ground by the Osage Nation who lived in Missouri. They would leave their settlements to hunt in present day Benton County, for months at a time before returning to their families. White settlers first inhabited the area around 1837, naming their settlement "Osage". The Osage had ceased using the area hunting and the white settlers began establishing farms. Upon establishment of Benton County on September 30, 1836, Osage was chosen to be the county seat and the following year the town square was established as the home of county government. The county seat in Bentonville is named in honor of U. S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton Of Missouri. He was instrumental in helping the Arkansas Territory achieve statehood.

No civil war battles were fought in Bentonville but the city was occupied by both armies and most of its buildings were burned either by opposing armies or guerilla outlaws. Bentonville was the staging point for the Confederate army prior to the Battle of Pea Ridge which was fought about 12 miles northeast of town. The town saw a brief skirmish jsut prior to the battle. The city began rebuilding about a decade after incorporation on April 3, 1873. Many of the Reconstruction Era buildings are the oldest structures in Bentonville today.

Bentonville is the tenth-largest city in Arkansas and is centrally located in the county, with Rogers adjacent to the east. It is the location of the Walmart Home Office and has been the home to Walmart since Sam Walton purchased a store on the town square in 1950 and renamed it Walton's 5 & 10. His wife, Helen Walton, wished to remain in Bentonville to raise the family and therefore by the time Walmart became the #1 Fortune 500 in 2002 it was still based in Bentonville. The impact from the Walmart Home Office is multiplied by over 600 prospective Walmart vendors who have establishedd sales offices in the region.

Bentonville is also home to of the Northwest Arkansas Community College, a public two-year college that provides students undergraduate, technical education. vocational and career courses.

Bentonville Cemetery

Benttonville Cemetery is located on SW "F" Street, between SW 4th Street & SW 2nd Street.. The 19 acre cemetery has 11,000 grave sites and a Mauusoleum. Internments include:

♦ Lt. Col. Samuel Peel (1831-1924) a US Congressman serving from 1883-1893 in the US House of representatives.

♦ Sam Walton ( 1918-1992) founder of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

♦ Governor James Henderson Berry (1841-1913) the 14th governor of Arkansas from 1883-1885

♦ Mary Ann Gilbert, the last freed slave of Benton County.

♦ Alfred Burton Greenwood (1811-1889) served as an Arkansas Representative. Prosecuting Attorney, Circuit judge, U.S. Congressman and Tax Collector

♦ Clarence A. Linebarger (1889-1978 general manager and part owner of Bella Vista, AR from 1917-1952

Sources: http://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Benton_County,_Arkansas

http://www.argenweb.net/benton/

http://www.bentonvillear.com/departments/residents-bentonville-cemetery/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bentonville,_Arkansas

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GRid=7337441&CRid=53009&

http://mapq.st/1h5y2hT

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