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| 1900s Searcy County group promoted land, timber |
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| Question: In a very old newspaper, I read mention of The North Arkansas Immigration Company. Where did this company operate and what was its purpose? |
| Answer: About 1905, a group of Searcy County citizens formed the organization known as The North Arkansas Immigration Company. This group promoted the area and touted themselves as willing and able to assist persons interested in looking over the county. |
| These residents of Boone's neighboring county Searcy advertised directly at anyone interested in farms, mines, timberlands, poultry farms, fruit farms and city property. At this time, Searcy County had more free stock range than any county on the St. Louis and North Arkansas Railroad, and this appealed to many seeking to relocate. |
| Boasting that for $50 an acre you could purchase better land than that offered by Mississippi and Missouri Valley farmers for $100 per acre, the group tried to make the northern man feel like what they were offering for sale was a gift instead of a purchase. Marshall, the county seat of Searcy, was an up-to-date community with hotels, elegant residences, a canning factory, a growing business section and the only bank in the county. |
| Just down the road was the enterprising town of Leslie. Sitting in the lower portion of Wiley's Cove valley, this town was picturesque and pleasing. The soil of the valley was black, rich and fine meadowland - and the surrounding hills of timberland were a source of revenue for the entire county. |
| The Crampton Hotel at Leslie was owned and managed by E. J. Crampton. He and his wife made sure guests were comfortable, well-fed and spared no pains to keep their crowded hotel operating as one of the best along the railroad line. |
| Clarence Darby, who served as mayor of Leslie in 1905, was in the real estate and insurance business, and sold pianos and organs as a sideline. The Spring Creek Mining Company was another of his enterprises, and he believed that Leslie was "the spot" for anyone relocating. |
| Elberta Fruit Farm, managed by A. C. Edwards, had more than 11,000 fruit trees of different varieties set out, and had plans for 6,000 to be planted in the spring of 1905. This company made a specialty of whole root or crown graft trees as they grew straight and hardy and would produce for years. This writer's grandfather had a large orchard near the community of Angora. The family would live on the Angora Mountain in the spring and summer, while grandmother canned and dried the fruit, then the family would return to their home in the Campbell Valley in the fall and winter. No trace of this orchard can be found now - like so many others that once dotted the local landscape, they are only memories for the families involved. |
| Although this question was not about Boone County, we encourage you to attend the North Arkansas Ancestor Fair and learn more about the history of Searcy County. This fair will be held June 3 and 4, 2005, at the Searcy County Community Center. Just as Boone County strives to preserve the history of our county, so do our neighbors in surrounding counties. |
| The Boone County Heritage Museum, located on the corner of South Cherry Street and Central Avenue in Harrison, invites you to visit the museum and enjoy the three floors of artifacts generously donated by citizens who value our heritage. Observing winter hours, the museum is open only on Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. |
| This column appears Fridays in the Harrison Daily Times. Mail questions to Boone County Heritage Museum, P. O. Box 1094, Harrison, AR 72601. Marilyn Smith can be contacted at bchm@windstream.net |
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