Author Archives: docfoster2

Early Arkansas Environment: Sickly 1820 or Healthy?

In 1820, “OSCAR” wrote to the Arkansas Gazette at Arkansas Post, blaming the general sickness of inhabitants on something other than mosquitoes or “bad air.  The fever and ague, which has heretofore been prevalent among the people, was, doubtless, rather owing to their mode of living than to any baneful properties of the atmosphere.”  HeContinue reading “Early Arkansas Environment: Sickly 1820 or Healthy?”

Arkansawyers Have Distrusted Oosers for Some Time: 1870 Traveler

In the 1870s, sportsman Farran Wyde compared Arkansas and Mississippi’s general population and appearances.  He claimed he had hunted on both sides of the Mississippi for several years, but he preferred the east side because of uncouth people who resided on the Arkansas side.  “Many a weary mile have I ridden in search of aContinue reading “Arkansawyers Have Distrusted Oosers for Some Time: 1870 Traveler”

Early Arkansas Environment: The Deadly Mosquito 1819

At night, there were only partially effective remedies did exist to ward off mosquitoes.  Flint slept under what he called a “very close musquitoe [sic] curtain.  When I drew it up and attempted to inhale a little of the damp and sultry atmosphere, the musquitoes [sic] would instantly settle on my face,” evidently having difficultyContinue reading “Early Arkansas Environment: The Deadly Mosquito 1819”

The Early Arkansas Environment: Mississippi River Valley

The overflow land of the Mississippi, Flint explained, contained “immense swamps of cypress,” and the water of these swamps was “covered with a thick coat of green matter,” filled with the “moccason [sic] snake with his huge scaly body lying in the folds upon the side of a cypress knee.”   The enormous cypress, hundreds ofContinue reading “The Early Arkansas Environment: Mississippi River Valley”

This Day in Arkansas Wildlife History March 28

On this date in 1909, Grant County Representative T. E. Grant introduced a general state game bill to replace the countless county bills. Because multiple legislators, within the period of several years, had submitted and passed a multitude of local county game and fish bills, the situation for the Arkansas outdoorsman was confusing and frustrating.Continue reading “This Day in Arkansas Wildlife History March 28”

This day in Arkansas Wildlife History: February 1, 1895

Garland County Representatives John D. Kimball introduced a bill to end statewide deer hunting for three years and for the state to appoint game “commissioners” in each Arkansas County. This was in 1895. Why would an Arkansas legislator want to pause deer hunting in Arkansas for three years at this early date? Because the ArkansasContinue reading “This day in Arkansas Wildlife History: February 1, 1895”

Colonel Joseph Acklen of Tennessee, February 27, 1901

Colonel Joseph Acklen, millionaire lawyer, and sportsman from Nashville hunted Arkansas several times and developed the Big Lake Shooting Club near Manila in northeastern Arkansas. He was an enemy of the market and pot hunter. The former Tennessee State Game Warden lobbied in Little Rock several times to end market hunting in Arkansas but foughtContinue reading “Colonel Joseph Acklen of Tennessee, February 27, 1901”