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Gone, but not forgotten: Early White Township

By BARBARA LEROY
Posted 1/25/23

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.

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