Just after Newton County was created, Barnett "Barney" Cheatham was contracted to construct a road from the east prong of Big Creek near Mount Judea to Moccasin Gap in Pope County.
The road went from Big Creek to the top of Criner Mountain and then south along the route that Highway 7 takes today. "Construction" consisted of clearing trees and moving rocks so that there was a trail for a wagon to travel.
Since Barney was the foreman of construction, the road was called Cheatham Turnpike.
Barney was born around 1805 and made his way to Arkansas as a young man, settling on the east prong of Big Creek, near the Criner family.
He died there in 1858 and is believed to be the second person buried in Criner Cemetery.
Barbara LeRoy is the author of “Which Side Were They On?,” a new 302 page book listing biographical sketches of the Newton Countians who were involved in the Civil War, available for sale either in the Bradley House Museum or by purchasing online at www.newtoncountyar.com. The book sells for $33.
