In 1782, the Spanish government sent Jean Baptiste Filhiol to establish a post in the Ouachita region, and he chose Ecore a Fabre, today known as Camden. Here, early French trappers and traders had rendezvoused on the high bluff above where the Caddo Trace crossed the Ouachita River. Filhiol moved the Post a few yearsContinue reading “Early Arkansas Trappers and Traders: Ecore A Fabre 1782 and 1819”
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Early Arkansas Hunters: 1780 Standlee Family
Kentucky long hunter John Standlee crossed the Mississippi River sometime between 1778 and 1780. Standlee lived on the Cossatot River in southwest Arkansas with his brothers Benjamin and William, hunting for the market. After moving back to Kentucky and Missouri, the Standlees settled down and began families. John Standlee wished to make his permanent homeContinue reading “Early Arkansas Hunters: 1780 Standlee Family”
Early Arkansas Environment: Northern Soldier’s Opinion 1862
During the Civil War, many Northern soldiers commented about the Arkansas countryside. “I doubt if few of the habitable portions of the globe presents a more dreary and uninviting wilderness,” commented one fellow. One Iowan remarked that this was the “roughest, meanest country God ever made.” “We are in a perfect wilderness,” wrote an Illinoisan,Continue reading “Early Arkansas Environment: Northern Soldier’s Opinion 1862”
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”
Today in Arkansas Wildlife History: April 27…Outdoor Health!
The notion that engaging in outdoor activities is beneficial for one’s health is not a new concept. In several cases in Arkansas, health resorts in multiple locations across the region touted hunting and fishing as part of their exercise and restorative regimen. If the patient/client could participate in the rigors of hunting, for example, itContinue reading “Today in Arkansas Wildlife History: April 27…Outdoor Health!”
Arkansas First Hunting License 1875
Picture of a 1940 Non-resident license Arkansas passed the first statewide non-resident hunting laws in the nation. A direct shot at market hunting. Approved on March 6, 1875, the Non-Residents License Law stated that “a tax of ten ($10.00) dollars is hereby levied upon all non-resident trappers, hunters, seiners, or netters of fish…in this state.” Continue reading “Arkansas First Hunting License 1875”
Arkansas Hunting Dogs
An Act to protect Dog-Raising in this State (1875) Whereas, We hold these truths to be self-evident that man and dogs have the inalienable right irrespective of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, to hunt the festive coon, the solemn possum, the odorous polecat, the squalling pig and the stupid sheep; and Whereas, HuntingContinue reading “Arkansas Hunting Dogs”
Arkansas Wildlife History 