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Early Arkansas Hunters: 1840 Grant County

Francis Posey (1823-1901) came to Grant County in 1840 and observed Natives and European hunters headed toward Pine Bluff with meat, hides, and deerskins filled with bear’s oil. Witnesses claimed that the woods and waterways in Grant County contained plenty of wild game and fish, enough to provide sustenance for any number of families. TheContinue reading “Early Arkansas Hunters: 1840 Grant County”

Early Arkansas Hunters: Pete Junkersfeld 1910.

It’s not a clear image, but it’s very interesting. Circa 1917. Randolph County, Arkansas: Peter (Pete) Junkersfeld (b. 9 FEB 1890) and a group of unnamed fellow hunters. This group has a wagon and a team of horses. They also have some riding horses in the background. These young men have a hunting dog and shotguns. From the bevyContinue reading “Early Arkansas Hunters: Pete Junkersfeld 1910.”

Early Arkansas Hunters: 1860 Union Soldier Views

(Union Reenactors at the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Prairie Grove.) While traveling through the Ozarks during the Civil War, Union soldiers commented about Arkansawyers, who continued to live the hunter-farmer lifestyle alongside farmer-hunters. “You have no idea how miserably poor the inhabitants of this section of the country are,” concluded one fellow. “TheyContinue reading “Early Arkansas Hunters: 1860 Union Soldier Views”

Early Arkansas Hunters: 1910 Poinsett County Deer Hunter

Circa 1910—Deer Hunter and Farmer Minneral (Minnie) Millinder Spence (b. 2 FEB 1869 in Tennessee) with 1899 Model 99 Savage deer rifle. Spence lived in Boliver in Poinsett County in 1910 with his wife, Lillie, and his seven children. More info on the Savage: https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/review-savage-model-99/357148. Source: Ancestry.com

Early Arkansas: Enslaved Hunters and Gunners

(Andrew Jackson Bounds—Beaver Dam Ducks Club– Ho’ace) In a July 1854 Arkansas Supreme Court case, testimony indicated that several slaves belonging to Benton County resident Sarah Ridge “frequently carried guns.” One of the men, Wagoola, used a “large rifle.” Bondsman Quinn had several accidental encounters with bears where he was forced to climb a treeContinue reading “Early Arkansas: Enslaved Hunters and Gunners”

Early Arkansas Hunters: 1910 Faulkner County

Circa 1910. Seventeen-year-old Luther Hampton Sims (b. 25 JUN 1893) near Greenbrier in Faulkner County with his hunting dog and a single-shot shotgun. Let us hope it isn’t loaded since his hand is over the end of the barrel. He might have a shell or two in his coat pockets. Source: Ancestry.com

An 1835 Traveler Views Arkansas

Reverend Timothy Flint claimed that “the western states are already comparatively populous. The tide having there found its level continues to roll on, eddying, disparting, and finding its secret currents into every and valley of the wilderness. The smoke of hearth arises, and man with his axe, gun, and human incitements to action, is there.” Continue reading “An 1835 Traveler Views Arkansas”

Early Arkansas Hunter: 1908 McNab

Circa 1908 Duck hunter and farmer Charles W. McNab (b. 30 JAN 1884- d. 28 Aug 1962) near McNab, (Hempstead County) Arkansas. McNab has a large string of mallards. He has a shell vest made from leather and canvas. He carries a 1908 Remington Pump 12 gauge shotgun. Source: Ancestry.com #shotgun #remington #arkansas #arkansashunting #arkansasoutdoors #duckhunting #ducks #mallardsContinue reading “Early Arkansas Hunter: 1908 McNab”

Early Arkansas Hunters: Circa 1900 Washington County

Circa 1900 (Left to Right) Robert C Burson (b. 26 JUL 1874) Henry Morris, Julius A Burson, Green Kenney, and William Henry Burson in Washington County, Arkansas. These men have powder horns, muzzleloaders, and a few hunting dogs. A split-rail fence is in the background. Burson (middle) looks like he is carrying a possibles bag. They are all wearingContinue reading “Early Arkansas Hunters: Circa 1900 Washington County”

Early Arkansas Visitor: 1810-1815

When visiting the region sometime between 1810 and 1815, an unknown Frenchman proclaimed, “This is, without a doubt, the most beautiful and agreeable part of the United States, both in point of [the] temperature of climate and fertility of [the] soil.” His comments certainly served as a positive recruiting tool after so many other observersContinue reading “Early Arkansas Visitor: 1810-1815”