February 2, 1849 Arkansas Intelligencer Van Buren, Crawford County,AR TO CALIFORNIA EMIGRANTS A large number of letters have been recieved by our citizens from persons in Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, Mississippi, and our own state, asking information, a majority of whom seek very much of the same information-- These facts have induced us to prepare the copy of the Letter from H.W. Bell, Esq. of this city, one of the gentlemen engaged in organizing a company to start from this place, to a gentleman in KY, whose letter was in the shape of inquiries, embracing the kind of information sought in more than half of the letters recieved here on this subject. Mr. Bell is one of the commettee appointed for a reference, and those interested would do well to address him. We will strike off some extra copies of this number, which our citizens can procure and send to their correspondents. Van Buren, Ark., Feb. 2. 1849 Sir- Yours of the 27th Dec., requesting information of the route from this point to California, etc, was handed me by the Postmaster; and I take pleasure in replying to your several inquiries as follows: 1. A Company will start from Van Buren to California, on or about the 1st April, making Santa Fe a point on the route, or taking a route south of that place, should it be deemed preferable. 2. The advantages of this, over the Independence route, are that it is nearer by about 200 miles; grass is up sooner, enabling emigrants to start a month earlier from this place than form Independence; the roads are as good, if not better, and no water courses of importance to cross, after leaving Arkansas river at this place. 3.Everything necessary for emigration can be procured at this place, with the exception of wagons. Oxen can be purchased at from $20 to $35 per yoke; flour at say $2.50 per 100 lbs. It would, perhaps be advisable for you to purchase your wagons and teams in Kentucky, and come here by land, provided with only what can be hauled conveniently, such as cooking utensils, and etc. Mule teams are far preferable to either oxen or horses. 4. The amount of money to be contributed as a company fund will be trifling, say two or three dollars. 5. Corn can be procured from the friendly Indians, for about 200 miles west of this point; it is however, of small importance, as the grass wil be sufficient. After going 200 miles the road is through a wilderness near 500 miles to Santa Fe. or 600 to the Rio Grande, opposite the Rio Gila. 6. The road from Memphis to Little Rock is very fine, if the season is dry, -- otherwise it is almost impassable for wagons. From Little Rock to this place,-- always good. There is a good road at all times, by going through the southern part of Illinois and Missouri. Your best way would be to bring your wagons without teams as far as Van Buren by water, and purchase the latter here. Should you come by way of Memphis your best plan would be to leave the Military road at Mrs. Black's and go through to the Cadron, leaving Little Rock to the south, by which you will save 30 miles. But unless there is a probability of a dry season in March, which is not very probable, you should by all means take the Missouri route to this place, Cross the Ohio at Golconda; the Mississippi at Green's ferry, and come by the way of Springfield Mo and Fayetteville, Ark. This will be but little farther, and is one of the best natural roads in the world. I will send you a number of the "Van Buren Intelligencer" which will give you what other information is necessary on the subject. I will advise you to be here, as early before the 1st April as convenient. Very Respectfully, H.W. Bell Thanks, Fran Alverson Warren

I don't know if anyone is interested but I bought a microfilm reader and several rolls of Crawford County Newspaper Microfilm and I have really been enjoying reading about the area while searching for my ancestors. The following is something I found interesting. January 24, 1849 Arkansas Intelligencer Van Buren, Crawford County,AR HO! FOR CALIFORNIA Persons intending to go by overland to California, in the spring, via Arkansas, must be in VAN BUREN, on or before the 1st of April next, as the company forming here will leave at that date. It is expected of every emigrant to be provied as follows: 100 lbs bacon, 180 bs. flour, 30 lbs. coffee, _ lbs. sugar, 15 lbs salt, with a proportionable quanity of small stores. One four-horse wagon, hauled by mules, horses or oxen, the former being preferable will carry the provisions and baggage for a mess of five persons. Each mess must be furnished with a good tent and the necessary coking utensils, as well as 1 axe, 1 hand-saw, 1 auger, 1 drawing knife, 1 spade, and 5 lbs. nails and spikes. Each male emigrant of 18 years and over must be furnished with a good rifle,or shot gun and the necessary quanity of ammunition. Each mess should take along surplus mules or oxen, to supply losses in the teams. It is expected that when the party is organized each one will bear a proportionalbe part of the cost of a chest of medicine. A doctor will accompany the party. Emigrants can supply themselvers with all the necessary provisions, arms, tools, etc, for the expedition, in this cityh, at the most reasonable rates. On the 1st of April, a Captain and three Lieutenants will be elected, to whom will be assigned the control of the movements of the party, until its arrival in California. For further information, address either of the following named gentlemen, appointed for that purpose: Eli Bell, H.W. Bell, Van Buren, G.S Dyer, Belmont, Dr. J. Foresman, Pleasant Hill, Ark. I can just imagine what all I am about to read as the time for departure approaches! Fran Warren, Crawford County, AR

Looking for Sandy in Oregon who has book with Obits in the Arkansas Gazette, I accidenly erased the first message. I am looking for a Sam/Samuel WELCH, Jane CAMPBELL WELCH. I may have already ask for this info, can't remember.(LOL) Thanks, Carolyn in Florida CSmith1180@aol.com

June 6,2000 My Grandfather was Bill Mite Baker Born Nov,25,1886. Father's name was columbus Sam Baker born in Montgomery,Alabama.His Mother;s name was Fannie Brooks born in Alabama. Bill Mite was born in Waco Texas. If anyone has any information on them please E-Mail .Bill Mite was Married to Walsie Viola Creighead Thank you once again Barbara Ann Warrior "Baker"

Posted on: AGSQueries Board URL: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/GenSoc/Ar/AGS?read=49 Surname: Fink ------------------------- I have a Fink that traveled to Picher Ok. First name Roy. Is either the father or Uncle of Marge and Clara. Any connections?

There is a Jack Henderson who is an insurance agent in Conway, Arkansas. There are about 20 or 30 in my phone book. I live in Greenbrier, Arkansas and these names are within a 15 to 20 mile radius of Mt. Vernon and Enola. The agency is a State Farm Agency. There is a Jack listed in the Conway phone directory. Gerri -----Original Message----- From: AGS-D-request@rootsweb.com <AGS-D-request@rootsweb.com> To: AGS-D@rootsweb.com <AGS-D@rootsweb.com> Date: Monday, June 05, 2000 10:57 PM Subject: AGS-D Digest V00 #243

Someone had written in about the Anglin family. When checking the Arkansas cemetary site at rootsweb.com/~cemetary/arkansas site listed this past week ,under Baxter Co site there are Anglins listed. Linda

I am trying to find past of m ather James Tolbert Willams andMy grandparentsEdmond night Williams and grand mother Melisa Randolph Williams Father ss# application list him as being born 1/20/1879 in Miss. I have no info on date's and places of my Grand parents, Please can anyone help me or direct me to where I might find some thing I have been trying for quite awhile and keep hiting a brick wall thanks in advance for any help Sincerly yours in the love of Jesus Christ Donald Williams dldwilliams@centurytel.net

Hi folks! Thank all of you for your work on the 'Providence' question. I received so many responses that I will answer here to hopefully clear up any confusion I caused. There is a church called 'Providence Church' (Baptist, I believe) in Grant County near the county line. It is closest to Redfield (which is in Pulaski County). At this church, there is a cemetery and in that cemetery is a marker for my great-grandfather, Leroy Stokes Kemp, Sr. I wasn't *exactly* sure what I was looking for, so my question was confusing. Someone helped me clear this up. Thanks again! Rebecca ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

As the Digest number was referenced, I can't tell what the query was that prompted the information on Jack Henderson in Conway without looking in the archives. I can tell you, however, that Jack Henderson who is a State Farm agent in Conway is the son of Murray and Polly Trimble Henderson. I hope this helps. Jack married my best friend in High School. Carolyn Haisty jhaisty@tcac.com

There was a post office in Van Buren Co in 1872 named DARDENVILLE. In view of the fact that your Alfred & Rosie were married in Van Buren Co, this looks like a good bet. Best wishes, Ed Janette & P.J. wrote: I find nothing on a Darnell, Arkansas - could you possibly mean Dardanell in Yell County? P. J. Cowling In a message dated 06/06/2000 10:12:15 AM Central Daylight Time, jdavis@srv.net writes: << Hi I am seeking information on my great grandparents Alferd Burmingham and Rosie Britton. They married on January 28 , 1884 in Van Buren , Arkansas. They had a girl , My grandmother, Tina Marie Burmingham. She was born in March 3,1890 in Darnell,Arkansas we think.Tina passed away on May 21,1953 in Jonesboro,Arkansas. Any information would be greatly apprecated. Janette(Sadler) Davis

Posted on: AGSQueries Board URL: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/GenSoc/Ar/AGS?read=48 Surname: Shenk ------------------------- The Benton County Confederate Pension Fund Applications Enhanced Index in our database contains most of the relevant data from the Minutes of the 1901-1929 Benton County Arkansas Confederate Pension Board. These records are available from: Benton County Archives Office 3rd Floor, Room 305 215 E. Central Bentonville, AR 72712 Fees: $3.00 Research Fee (one time only for multiple records), Regular Copies $. 50, Certified Copies $5.00 SHENKHATTIE D.MARRIAGE INDEX B BENTON AR SHENKI. N. (REV.)CEMETERY BENTON AR SHENKMARYC. S. A. PENSION BENTON AR SHENKMARY L.MARRIAGE INDEX A BENTON AR SHENKSISAAC (REV.)HISTORY INDEX 4 BENTON AR What type of pension is this :(Mary Shenk, C.S.A. Pension) Where would I find the application for this? I would like to have this as I am doing a genealogy on Mary Shenk, my grandmother. Beverly Brown

Posted on: AGS Pensions Board URL: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/GenSoc/Ar/AGSPens?read=1 Surname: Shenk ------------------------- The Benton County Confederate Pension Fund Applications Enhanced Index in our database contains most of the relevant data from the Minutes of the 1901-1929 Benton County Arkansas Confederate Pension Board. These records are available from: Benton County Archives Office 3rd Floor, Room 305 215 E. Central Bentonville, AR 72712 Fees: $3.00 Research Fee (one time only for multiple records), Regular Copies $. 50, Certified Copies $5.00 SHENK HATTIE D.MARRIAGE INDEX B BENTON AR SHENKI. N. (REV.)CEMETERY BENTON AR SHENK MARY C. S. A. PENSION BENTON AR SHENK MARY L.MARRIAGE INDEX A BENTON AR SHENKS ISAAC (REV.)HISTORY INDEX 4 BENTON AR What type of of pension is this? C.S.A. Mary Shenk of Benton County was my grandmother. Can you tell me what type of Pension this was? Also, I would be glad to send payment for a copy of this. Beverly Brown bjfb1936@kscable.com

Hi I am seeking information on my great grandparents Alferd Burmingham and Rosie Britton. They married on January 28 , 1884 in Van Buren , Arkansas. They had a girl , My grandmother, Tina Marie Burmingham. She was born in March 3,1890 in Darnell,Arkansas we think.Tina passed away on May 21,1953 in Jonesboro,Arkansas. Any information would be greatly apprecated. Janette(Sadler) Davis

I am seeking information relating to George Spanhanks (George Spanhake) .Hre is my Grandfather.He came from Bremen Germany and Landed at Jefferson Texas the day the Civil War ended.He made his Passageway by River from New New Orleans.He came to Arkansas around I885,and settled in South West Area (Tokio).I was reared in Arkansas and would like to trace his Personal History from the time he left Germany until he moved to Ark.If you have any Information relating to Spanhake Surname please contact me. John Spanhanks John Spanhanks J.T.B. jspan@webtv.net

Looking for the surname Fink. Father was possibly Roy Fink. Could have been in any county along the Ok side. They resided in Picher OK for awhile. Thank you,Sonja

hello, please help rootsweb, looking for my granddad's birth record, andrew calvin baker jan 8, 1883 in ark, possibley in hope or hiram , his father was s.w.baker mother sarah margret dye baker , s.w.born in tn? sarah born ? andrew had several brothers and sisters, sisters emma, sally, elli, brothers doc, lonnie, willis , dutch , , i believe all born in arkansas, samuel married in independence , sorry no dates except on andrew, (my granddad) help ! kathy baker -email is parvona@aol.com

I find nothing on a Darnell, Arkansas - could you possibly mean Dardanell in Yell County? P. J. Cowling In a message dated 06/06/2000 10:12:15 AM Central Daylight Time, jdavis@srv.net writes: << Hi I am seeking information on my great grandparents Alferd Burmingham and Rosie Britton. They married on January 28 , 1884 in Van Buren , Arkansas. They had a girl , My grandmother, Tina Marie Burmingham. She was born in March 3,1890 in Darnell,Arkansas we think.Tina passed away on May 21,1953 in Jonesboro,Arkansas. Any information would be greatly apprecated. Janette(Sadler) Davis >>

please help find my great grandfatherr S.W.BAKER he was in arkansaw in 1883 fro the birth of his son ANDREW CALVIN BAKER, IN JANUARY. can not find him anywhere, s.w. was married to sarah margret dye and that is listed on andrews death certificate, there were 8 children born to s.w.and sarah. please if you can help me i would appericate it very much.

Sandy, There are a couple of names I hope you will look up in your Obit book, there may be some information given that will knock down my "brick wall": Edward Wild born 1819 died unknown Jane McDonald Wild born about 1822 died unknown William Harvey Wild born 1850 died 1897. I would appreciate it so much. Many Thanks, Stephanie Shurley Kengirl57@aol.com