Although there has never been a railroad in Newton County (save at Dogpatch USA), it has not been because of a lack of interest. As early as 1875, a group of interested citizens met at Cave Creek The … more

One hundred years ago, the nation experienced a period of lawlessness and excess that has been called "the Roaring Twenties". Newton County was not home to mobsters like Al Capone or Machine Gun … more

Arwine Yates Standridge was born in Newton County in October 1881, son of Alexander and Sarah (Yates) Standridge. He acquired the nickname "the Wolf." At a young age, he took up moonshining, although … more

Newton County made front page news in the Baxter Bulletin Feb. 20, 1920, when the county won first prize for best organized club work in the state. The article quoted the "Arkansas Democrat," which … more

Van Buren Township was one of the original eight townships of Newton County. It was situated in the western part of the county and included Boxley Valley and Cave Mountain. Part 2 William B. … more

Van Buren Township was one of the original eight townships of Newton County. It was situated in the western part of the county and included Boxley Valley and Cave Mountain.Abner Casey was born around … more

Jackson Township was one of the original eight townships in Newton County, and in the early years one of the most populated. It is located in the area around Jasper and Parthenon, which were two of … more

Jackson Township was one of the original eight townships in Newton County, and in the early years one of the most populated. It is located in the area around Jasper and Parthenon, which were two of … more

Osage Township, located in the northwest corner of the county, was one of the original Newton County Townships. One of the first settlers in the township was Charles Bunch. He was born in Overton … more

Union Township is located in the southern part of Newton County. It was one of the eight original townships. Anthony Casey was one of the early settlers there. He was born in Morgan County Tennessee, … more

Polk Township was one of the original eight townships in Newton County. It was located the east-southeast part of the county. Thomas Eli Cook was one of the early settlers. He was born in 1805 in South Carolina. He moved first to Tennessee, where he married Mary Margaret Maddox in 1826. The couple was living in Arkansas by 1840. In 1850, they were living on a farm in Polk Township, along with Thomas's aged mother, Fannie. more

White Township was one of original townships in Newton County. It was located in the eastern part of the county, south of Prairie Township. Mount Judea is in this township. Barnett "Barney" Cheatham was an early settler. He was born in Georgia in 1804, and was living in Arkansas by 1834. He was contracted to build a road from the east prong of Big Creek near Mt. Judea to the top of Criner Mountain and then south to Moccasin Gap in Pope County. The work involved felling trees and moving rock to create a lane wide enough for a wagon. When completed, it was a toll road called "Cheatham's Turnpike." Barney and his family lived near the road he built. He had $400 in real estate in 1850. He died in 1858 and was buried in Criner's Cemetery. more

LITTLE ROCK – The Division of Arkansas Heritage will present 2022 Small Museum Grants to recipients on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 11 a.m. at the division’s headquarters, located at 1100 North St. in Little Rock. more

Prairie Township was one of the original eight townships that made up Newton County. Situated in the east and northern corner of the county, it included the town of Marshall Prairie, which, in the 1880s, was renamed Western Grove. The following are brief biographical sketches of these Prairie Township pioneers. more

LITTLE ROCK – The Division of Arkansas Heritage will present 2022 Arkansas Heritage Grants to recipients on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m., at the division’s headquarters, located at 1100 North St. in Little Rock. more

William M, Garner was born in Rome, Georgia, in 1809, and was practicing medicine in Newton County by 1850, when he lived in Polk Township. Census records for 1850 and 1860 show he had $150 in real estate He moved to Cave Creek sometime around 1870, and lived in that area until his death in 1894. He was buried in Thompson Cemetery in Bass. more

William M, Garner was born in Rome, Georgia, in 1809, and was practicing medicine in Newton County by 1850, when he lived in Polk Township. Census records for 1850 and 1860 show he had $150 in real estate He moved to Cave Creek sometime around 1870, and lived in that area until his death in 1894. He was buried in Thompson Cemetery in Bass. more

Continued from last week Not all the businesses that advertised in the weekly newspaper Arkansas Wheel in 1886 were located in Jasper. L. R. Jones had a general store in Yardelle where he sold … more

In 1886, a weekly newspaper called the Arkansas Wheel was published in Jasper. A couple of copies of this paper can be found online, and the ads give a glimpse of the businesses of Newton County at that time. As may be expected, most businesses advertised were in Jasper. more

In 1886, a weekly newspaper called the Arkansas Wheel was published in Jasper. A couple of copies of this paper can be found online, and the ads give a glimpse of the businesses of Newton County at that time. As may be expected, most businesses advertised were in Jasper. more