From the WPA Federal Writers Project - answers to Questionnaire - Arkansas HRS Form J
Interview done by: no name given

 

Early Settlers Personal History

 

     1. Hosea Van Bennbrook [sic] Benbrook
     2. Mt. Sequoyah, Fayetteville, Ark.
3.  3. Retired farmer and stockman
4.  4. –
5.  5. Nov. 8,1946 (probably should be 1846)
6.  6. Near Elkins, Ark.
7.  7. Miss Catherin Ervin-Jan. 1, 1876, near Elkins, on White river
8.  8. –
9.  9. No
10.10. All of life
11.11. Native
12.12. His father came to Ark. before statehood
     13. Houses were made of logs.  The logs were brought to the place where the house was to be erected then a “house raising” was given.  Neighbors came together. Some times the logs were hewn, but most of the time the logs were placed in the building with the bark on. The cracks were stopped by means of small blocks of wood which were securely fastened by means of "mud mortar". Sometimes this was whitewashed with lime. The chimney was constructed with clay and split wood and were made with large fire places. The cooking for the family was done "on the fire" there being not stoves at that early date. The house raisings were always followed with a dance in which all took part and had a good time.
     14. The form of lighting used in his childhood day was "tallow candles". This was set in a little "brass candle" holder, a little brass device mad to hold the candle. These tallow candles were made at home. Sometimes his mother required his help in molding these candles.
     15. He states that according to his memory it was not until 1888 that electricity was used for lighting and then only in town.
     16. Only wood was used for fuel.
     17. The foods used in his early days were just plain foods such as; meat, bread (Corn & Wheat), milk, butter, vegetables, potatoes (sweet and Irish). No canning was done them. Turkey & deer were plentiful. Fish was also in abundance. They depended on raising their own hogs.
     18. Home made. They raises sheep which furnished material from which his mother made "Gean" a heavier woolen cloth from which men's outer garments were made. They also made cloth from cotton & from cloth they made bed clothes, hand towel, and under garments. The more "well to do" sometimes bought a "calico" dress. His mother was a seamstress and often made men's suits from broadcloth.
     19. It was the custom when folks got married for the whole community to charivaree the married parties.
     20. He states that he took no notes of early prices since so much of their living was taken from the farm & forest. He remembers that broadcloth was very high.
     21. If some family came to want because of sickness or burn out, the community went together and supplied their needs.
     22. The early cultivated crops were corn, wheat, oats, & rye. Potatoes, turnips and pumpkins were among the vegetables grown.
     23. The early farm implements were the Bull tongue plow. This was a home made steel point used on a wood plow stock which was also homemade. The earliest turning plows were manufactured, but he does not remember he prices.
     24. The principal industries were farming, & milling. The mills converted corn and wheat into flour.
     25. "Poke Salad" was eaten in the early spring. Sassafras roots were used for tea.
     26. There were group activities in the way of "Arbor Meeting". This always came about after "laying by time" and only lasted for a few days. "Corn huskings" followed by dances were common experiences in Autumn.
     27. Sometimes in the spring the wood would get on fire. The whole community would meet and fight fire. Sometimes all night until it was under control. The fire was often brought under control by “back firing” that is they would sweep a pathway and fire it on the side next to the fire.
     29. There were few taverns or hotels, but there was a stage coach line from Ft. Smith via Fayetteville to St. Louis and on to San Francisco, Calif. The stage was drawn by 4 or 6 horses and the trip was made sometimes in 40 or 50 days. There were stations along where team and drivers were changed. His arrival on the return trip was the exciting time. It was announced often by the fireing of a cannon.
     28. Doesn't know (handwritten out of order)
     30. The early schools were subscription schools. If the teacher would get as many as thirty subscribers he would teach for $1.00 per head.
     31. The first school he attended was on Middle Fork in an old log building. Their seats were split log.
     32. The teacher was Mr. John Carter.
     33. Funds were provided by paying tuition which was always paid in money. The teacher paid no board, but stayed with first one and then another of his pupils.
     34. The old Blue Back speller, Davies, and Ray's Arithmetic, and McGuffey's reader were the books used.
     35. The reading matter was the Bible, and newspapers ( St. Louis Republic and Globe Democrat )
     36. The first telegraph station in this community was at Fayetteville about 1883. (handwritten July 1860)
     37. There were no trolly cars nearer than St. Louis. When they gave way to electric drawn streetcars, Mr. Beenbrook and his father went to St. Louis and bought three car loads of those mules which had been used as trolly mules. They sold them to cotton farmers in the South, but the mules never proved satisfactory for the farm.
     38. He saw his first automobile in Fayetteville, thirty years ago.
     39. He does not remember the first train he saw, but he saw the first train to pull into Fayetteville, in 1883. He tells Pat Nankins, who was 100 years old being brought to Fayetteville to see his first train by his son in 1883. Later in the season his son, Pat, seventy years old, gave his father a birthday dinner to celebrate his 100th birthday. This was a great day for the neighbors and all took part. Charley Vance ran the first train into Fayetteville. He served in Lee's army and was in the battle of Gettysburg in which 4300 soldiers were killed.
     40. He does not remember, but he was in Fayetteville.
     41. He cannot recall, since it is of late origin. He says things have happened so rapid of late that he cannot retain them.
     42. There were no early theatrical performances.
     43.  None
     44. He remembers the Anti-Horse Thief Association to which he belongs, but only remembers how he found one of his neighbors horses in Springfield, Missouri. He came back and reported it. The horse was restored. Two horse thieves were hung at Ozark and several were killed out right on White River in Washington County.
     45. He knew a young man, Mr. Long Goodrich, who followed a young man into the Oklahoma territory and undertook a fight a duel; but was killed.
     46. He does not recall any feuds of any consequence.
     47. He does not know any tombstones that have any extraordinary inscriptions.
     48. He remembers only of hearing of stage holdups, but was never an eye witness. He also knew of several lynchings, but was never an eye witness. He stated that horse thieves were shot on White River near Elkins.
     49. Civil War days were days of great anxiety during which time the people suffered great poverty. At times food was very scarce.
     50. He remembers when the Federals captured Mt. Sequoyah, and out of the West side cut a lot of timber. He remembers when McCull was killed at Pea Ridge, and  when the battle was fought at Elk Horn and Prairie Grove. How disappointed he was when the Confederates had to retreat from Prairie Grove!
     51. The days of reconstruction were perilous days for those who in any way had taken part in the rebellion. Sometimes folk were accused of aiding in some way the South, and were disfranchised! Often the very best citizens were not allowed to vote.
     52. He states that he took no great part in the Ku Klux Klan, but says that no doubt it was a fore that helped to establish order.
     53. None
     54. He joined the Confederate Army when he was 18 years old. That was the year the war closed. He took no part in any battle. As has been said before he recalls that Harley Vance was in Lee's army and took part in the three day battle at Gettysburg where 4300 men where killed.
     55. None
     56. Mt. Sequoyah, Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge
     57. He doesn’t know
     58. Herbert H. Bennbrook, born 1874, Fayetteville, Arkansas. He has charge of the City Water Work. Clyde Raymond Bennbrook, son of Herbert H. Bennbrook, born September 11 1905, is now Mayor General at Columbus, Missouri. Addie Jewell daughter of Herbert H. Bennbrook, born March 1, 1899. Now lives at Farmington, Arkansas. Mildred Bennbrook, daughter of Herbert H. Bennbrook, born Feb, 1, 19??. Now lives in Montana.
     58. C. P. (Pat) Bennbrook, second son of Hosea V. Bennbrook was born Feb. 8, 187? Now lives at Little Rock, Arkansas.
     59. Clyde Raymond Bennbrook, his grandson, has been promoted to Major General in the U. S. Army. He is now stationed at Columbus, Missouri.
     60. None.
 
Transcribed by Katie Calvert, Class of 2012