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This Day in Arkansas History

September 16, 1995

Marlin Conover Hawkins, who had served Conway County as an elected official for thirty-eight years, died. One of Hawkins’s longest-running political feuds was with Gene Wirges, editor of the Morrilton Democrat. Wirges wrote several scathing stories about Hawkins on topics ranging from election irregularities, comparatively high patrol car expenses, a speed trap on Highway 64, and mishandling of fines collected. As these stories ran in the early 1960s, Hawkins enjoyed a contradictory set of headlines, which announced some positive gains for Conway County. When Hawkins retired from public office in 1978, Hawkins’s friend George Fisher, a popular political cartoonist, placed Hawkins with contemporaries such as Orval Faubus in a fictional rest home for Arkansas politicians, the popular “Old Guard Rest Home.”

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Fort Smith in 1836

In November 1817, the first American troops arrived at Belle Point and began building the first structures that would become Fort Smith (Sebastian County). The principal purpose of the fort was to keep the peace between the Osage and Cherokee tribes that had entered the area. The army abandoned the fort in 1824 but by 1836, it had returned and begun building the second Fort Smith military post, which is depicted in this 1836 drawing.

 

In November 1817, the first American troops arrived at Belle Point and began building the first structures that would become Fort Smith (Sebastian County). The principal purpose of the fort was to keep the peace between the Osage and Cherokee tribes that had entered the area. The army abandoned the fort in 1824 but by 1836, it had returned and begun building the second Fort Smith military post, which is depicted in this 1836 drawing.

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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