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Archiver > ARSHARP > 2002-03 > 1015862737


From: Jean Mayfield Cuevas <>
Subject: Re: [ARSHARP] Ash Flat Historical Society
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2002 11:05:37 -0500
References: <5.0.0.25.2.20020309151027.0294d9e0@pop3.norton.antivirus><001901c1c7ae$9a5ce260$0201a8c0@coxinternet.com><5.0.0.25.2.20020310103631.0265feb0@pop3.norton.antivirus>
In-Reply-To: <000001c1c8bd$d232c000$19007ccf@fcc.net>


Here you go, Doris.

A bit of early history of the area.

Historical and Biographical Sketches of Early Settlement of White River
Valley, by A. C. Jeffery.
Edited by Dale Hanks.

Page 2:

"On the south bank of White River old many Lafferty settled opposite the
mouth of Lafferty Creek, bringing with him from east of the Mississippi
River considerable live stock. He was living at thsi place in time of the
earthquake of 1811, and reported he saw the bottomless well near his
landing blown out. He said there came a terrific shock, and muddy water
raised form one side of the river to theother with a great explosion near
the south bank where this well appeared. It is about the size of a small
cabin at the mouth and has been sounded over two hundred feet without
finding any bottom. This well remains to be seen, a silent witness of
God's power.

Lafferty had a large family of sons and daughters, the oldest of whom was
John C. Lafferty of Van Buren country. He made quite a display, as an
early politician in this country. He was an unlettered, cunning, oily
talker full of wit and native shrewdness, and a good electioneerer. He
used to tell in his early campaigns that aobut 1812 he went to the Post of
Arkansas with beef cattle, and on this trip he learned for the first time
in his life that men wore breeches made of cloth. He set several sessions
in the Arkansas Legislature, and at the later date while canvassing for
State Senator for Van Buren and Izard Counties, he made a speech at Athens,
which created a great laugh at the time; he had a very keen, shrill
feminine voice and talked very smooth; his time to speak came and he
whistled out: "Fellow citizens, my name is John C. Lafferty of Van Buren
County. I came to this territory in 1809. In 1810 helped to take a
four-years-old he out of a hollow sycamore near the mouth of this creek,
fellow citizens four inches on the back." By this time a great shout was
raised and he continued. "I am a candidate, fellow citizens, for State
Senator. " He lived to shoulder his gun and og into the rebel army during
the negro war."

Note: Not sure what was meant by the "four-years-old he" that was written
about in this article! These articles were first printed in the newspaper
of A. C. Jeffery's day (1824-1880).

p. 25:

" Henderson Lafferty was the Methodist minister and pastor of the church
and was teaching a school near Hively's mill..."

p. 41:

"The Yocums and Friends were perhaps North Carolinians, the Cokers and
Sneeds East Tennesseeans, Ben Bryant a Portugee, the Trimbles, Hawthornes,
Ramseys and Partees were Kentuckians. Partee being of French blood, the
Irons North Carolinians, Lafferty, East Tennessean, and Falenash a Frenchman."

At 01:47 PM 3/10/02 -0500, you wrote:
>Jean: No I haven't thus far but I will. This bunch are the moving-est.
>Born in Kentucky, in Tenn, Ill and Lawrence Co. Ark. Also Sharp Co {land]
>but there is something funny with the Records and it is probably the fire
>that all the old court houses suffered. Thanks for your tip. I will look
>into it. Doris


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