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Norristown, Arkansas
Arkansas Gazette Articles
The following articles are used in reference:
Norristown, Arkansas
February 7, 1838
A PUBLIC sale of lots, in this newly
laid off town, will take place on the town site, on
Wednesday the 19th of Sept., 1838 - a site so well known
to every steam-boat officer and passenger, and every
traveler who may have penetrated the new and flourishing
State of Arkansas, to its centre, that comment is
rendered needless; yet some remarks, for the information
of those who are less acquainted with this rural spot,
may be requisite.
Dardanelle is one of the most ancient names known in the
late Louisiana Territory. It was a place much fancied,
and so called by the French settlers, prior to the
purchase of this country by the United States
government.
Dardanelle is handsomely situate on the southern bank of
the Arkansas river, (nearly opposite to Norristown, the
county seat of Pope), at the point where the military
road crosses the same, being nearly the Centre of the
State. The surrounding back country is rapidly improving
and becoming thickly settled. The dense population of
the rich and flourishing valley of Petite Jean, for 50
miles distant, resort to this as their best and most
convenient depot, for receiving the great quantity of
goods that they necessarily consume, and for the
shipment of their valuable crops of cotton, which they
begun to raise in great abundance; also, a great section
of the rich and thickly settled valley of Fourche Le
Fevre are so defendent on this landing for an outlet to
their trade.
Dardanelle, though monopolizing the trade of the above
mentioned country, is not confined solely to it, but
receives a great share of patronage from the rich
settlements north of the river.
Those who have ever examined a place, cannot say that
there is a more handsome town site on the river, or one
that possesses more real advantages, that the town of
Dardanelle. The landing is as good as any other on the
river, and the town site lays ten feet above the high
water mark of the great flood of 1833, when the banks
were so universally overflowed.
The sale will commence in the morning, and may last for
several days. Terms, unless altered on the day of sale
for the better convenience of purchasers, will be 20 per
cent cash, 40 per cent in nine months, and the residue
in eighteen months, payable by note, with good security.
A liberal discount will be made to purchasers who pay
the money down. Current notes will be taken on all
solvent banks of Illinois, Tennessee, Mississippi,
Louisiana, and Arkansas.
Indisputable title will be given to purchasers, and
those wishing to invest capital, or locate in a
delightful and healthy place, would do well to examine
the town site.
J.H. BREARLEY, Agent for the Proprietor
Dardanelle, Jan. 18, 1838
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March 28, 1838
NORRISTOWN,
On the north side of the Arkansas river, nearly opposite
to Dardanelle.
THE subscriber would most respectfully inform the
public, that, owing to the great emergency from the
rapidly increasing business that is centering to this
point, (as well as for the greater accommodation and
relief of steam-boats that frequently, in low stage of
water, cannot ascend higher,) has prepared himself with
a large and convenient Warehouse, such as will keep the
goods entirely secure from the weather, and is now ready
to attend to all kinds of
STORAGE AND COMMISSION BUSINESS.
His assiduous attention thereto, he trusts, will not
only merit the favor, but hopes that the patronage will
prove a sufficient justification for the expense and
trouble he has been at for the better accommodation of
the public.
There is also, in this place, a private House of
Entertainment, where travelers from steam-boats can
receive comfortable accommodations.
Any person wishing to purchase a valuable stand for
entertaining the traveling public, can do so on easy
terms by applying to Samuel Norris.
Norristown, February 10, 1838
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August 8, 1837
NORRISTOWN,
THE Commissioners of the county of Pope, having
permanently located the Seat of Justice, for said county
upon a tract of land belonging to the undersigned, and
the site possessing many superior advantages over any
other on the Arkansas river above Little Rock, for a
large town, has induced the undersigned to lay it off in
TOWN LOTS, and offer them for Public Sale, on the town
site, on Tuesday, the 22d August next.
Norristown is beautifully situated on the north bank of
the Arkansas river, at the point where the military road
crosses it, and equal distant from Little Rock and Fort
Smith. Its location was ten feet above the highest stage
of the great flood of 1833. The adjacent country, on
both sides of the river, is rich, and beautifully
situated for extensive and valuable farms. Most of the
bottom lands having been located, are already becoming
thickly settled.
Norristown is the only steam boat landing and depot for
the large and flourishing settlements on the Illinois,
the upper settlements of Point Remove and Little Red
river; and even the settlements on White river, in
Carroll and Izard counties, resort to this landing, as
the most convenient for their trade. And the Petit Jean
settlement, on the south side of the river, which is
becoming one of the most dense in the State, does the
most of its trading, and makes its depot at this point
of the river.
This town site is so well known by the name of
Dardanelle, (which name properly and originally belongs
to the south bank alone), that the proprietor considers
it needless to say anything more in relation to its
peculiar advantages.
The terms will be liberal, and made known on the day of
the sale.
N.B. - Also, for sale, the large and commodious
BUILDING, now occupied by the subscriber, together with
the Kitchen, Smoke-house, and other convenient
out-houses, well calculated for public entertainment,
which patronage has become so great, as to have induced
the proprietor, of late, to enlarge, and improve the
premises, which is now comfortably and well fitted up
for the purpose; but he, wishing to retire from the
duties of such an establishment, will dispose of it at
private or public sale, on the most accommodating terms.
Persons desirous of keeping public house, will find, in
the purchase of this, a great bargain. Among all the
town lots, there cannot be a more advantageous spot than
its location, being directly in front of the steam boat
and ferry landing, and near to the court house square.
Samuel Norris, Proprietor
Norristown, June 24, 1837
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March 27, 1839
New Post Offices - The following post
offices have been recently established in Arkansas:
Bolivia, Poinsett county, Wm. Thrawer, P.M.
Norristown, Pope county, Samuel Norris, P.M.
Richland, Jefferson County, Nath'l H. Fish, P.M.
David Honston has been appointed Postmaster at Clifton,
Johnson county, vice Samuel Adams, resigned.
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July 5, 1836
$300 REWARD
I WILL give the above reward of Three Hundred Dollars,
for the delivery to me, in St. Francis county, Arkansas,
of JOHN HILL alias NIXON CURRY, who was condemned to be
hanged, Iredell county, North Carolina, for negro
stealing and murder. Said Curry made his escape from
North Carolina, about fourteen years ago, and was, a few
weeks since, taken up and indentified to be Nixon Curry,
and committed to my custody; and, on the 23d instant,
made his escape. Said John Hill, alias Nixon Curry, is
six feet high, blue eyes, sandy hair, will weigh upwards
of two hundred pounds when in good health. He was shot,
about three months ago, the ball, having entered the
right breast just above the nipple and came out near the
point of the shoulder blade. He is a gambler and
drunkard, plays the fiddle, and is fond of joking, and
makes a great many shrew remarks - is good company, and
a pretty smart man. He has lived in this county twelve
or thirteen years, and has been elected to the
legislature twice during his residence here.
Thomas J. Curl, Sheriff of St. Francis county.
Editors in the Southern states, who are friendly
disposed to the detection of fugitives from justice,
with render an essential service to the community by
giving the above an insertion in their respective
papers.
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September 2, 1840
State of Arkansas
County of Pope
We, the undersigned appraisers, have this day viewed a
certain stray mare, shown to us by John Hill, of
Magazine township, Pope county, and do find the same to
be a red bay mare, fourteen years old, fourteen hands
high, branded on the right thigh with 3 J W, white on
each side of her bag, and long tail, white on the inside
of her thigh, no other brand perecivable; appraised to
twenty dollars. Given under our hand this 14th day of
July 1840.
William M. Moore,
Hutson Farmer
Thomas Butler, Appraisers
Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 14th day of
July, 1840.
Meshach Skaggs, J.P.
Attest- Josh Ferguson, Clerk
Norristown, August 8th, 1840.
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April 7, 1841
No. 17 - Whole No. 1328
Justifiable Homicide = The notorious John Hill alias
Nixon Curry, was killed at Norristown, Pope county, on
the 30th ult., with his own knife, by a man named Hutto.
Hill was intoxicated, and had just beat another,
individual severely - Hutton having interfered to
separate them, Hill knocked him down - but, recovering,
he grappled with and threw Hill, when the latter
attempted to draw his knife, but was anticipated by
Hutton, who obtained possession of it first, plunged it
into his heart, and killed him instantaneously. Hutton
immediately surrendered to the sheriff, and the grand
jury being in session, the affair underwent an
investigation before that body, which resulted in his
discharge - the jury considering it a case of
justifiable homicide.
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June 1, 1824
THE DUEL!
The long talked of and much ridiculed DUEL, which has
been the topic of conversation in every class throughout
our Territory for six weeks past, has at length,
contrary to our expectations, resulted in the death of
one of the parties! We have received the following
particulars of this affair, from an eye-witness:
A Duel was fought on the east side of the Mississippi
river, (in the state of Mississippi), opposite the town
of Helena, on Wednesday last, 26th ult., between Andrew
Scott and Joseph Selden, Esqs., both Judges of the
Superior Court of the Territory of Arkansas. At the
first fire, Judge Selden was killed on the spot. The
ball of his antagonist entered his body just below his
right nipple, passed thro' his heart and lungs, and came
out on the opposite side below his left nipple. He
expired in a few seconds, without speaking a word, or
uttering a groan. Judge Scott received no personal
injury.
As the laws of this Territory against dueling, are
probably as rigorous as those of any state in the Union;
and presuming that a legal investigation of this affair
---- which is a flagrant violation of the laws of God
and man; at variance with, and destructive of, every
principle of good morals, and an insult to the community
at large --- will of course take place, we forbear
making any father remarks for the present.
We, however, wish it to be distinctly understood, that,
in making the foregoing observations, we are actuated
only be a sense of duty, and not from any private
hostility, or personal animosity, toward either of the
gentlemen concerned in this unfortunate and melancholy
affair --- for both of whom we have hitherto entertained
the most sincere sentiments of friendship and respect.
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