Early Settlers Personal History

1. Mr. Virgil Samual Davidson

2. Dyer, Arkansas

3. General Mdse

4. Gasoline Station operator

5. Nov.9, 1881

6. Dyer, Arkansas, Crawford County

7. Yes, May 15, 1916, Clarksville, Arkansas- Johnson County

8. Not immigrant

9. Come from Tennessee to Arkansas in a ox wagon right after the Civil War.

10. Born here

11. Born here

12. He lived in a frame boxed house. Native rock chimney, 3 room house

13. None

14. About the year 1917.

15. Wood was used all the time as coal was very rare.

16. Fish and game was plentiful

17. Factory made just as they are today

18. None

19. If there was family in town that was in need some of the neighbors would tell someone about it and someone would go from house to house colleting the food and clothes and take it to the needy.

21. None

22. A twisted shovel and Georgia stocks and home made double shovels. Cultivators. John Deer manufactures.

23. Farming was an early industry

24-25. None

26.They used wet sacks and put out fires with them.

27. Heard Branch called that because is near Mr. Dick Heard place. Morse Branch north east of Dyer. Called that because on Mr. Morse's land, Minyard Cave north of Dyer called that because Mr. Joe Minyard lived near there.

28. None

29. Lastchance

30. Located on Georgia Ridge north of Dyer.

31. Lanny Adams was his teacher.

32. This school was paid by the school taxes just as schools are now.

33. Blue Back Speller and McGuffey Reader.

34. Kansas City Star, St. Louis.  Globe Democrat.

35. At the depot at Dyer.

36. None

37. First car he every saw was seen in Shreveport, La., and it was running as a taxi for some hotel there

38. First train he saw here at Dyer in about the year 1885

39. First airplane seen here in Dyer in about the year 1920. He said people quit their work and come to see the plane. It was a 3 passenger – He charged $10 a ride and went about 3 or 4 miles and circled.

40. About 1930

41-46. None

47. Saw a negro hung on the Van Buren House Town.

48-52. None

53. He is a member of the Methodist Church of Dyer.

54. This a cave know as the Minyard cave located about ¾ mile north of his home.

55. There is a Store Building located on the south side of the railroad that is about 52 years old. This building was built by Mr. J. W. Moss, a merchant there. The building belongs to Mr. Charlie Moss son of J. W. Moss

56. None

57. Has no children

58. None

59. He has not written any books, diaries, journals, sketches as newspaper articles.

Transcribed by Whitney Robison, GHS Class of 2009