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Profile of Chronology of Fort Smith Arkansas: A Timeline of Significant Events

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Date: 1817
Location: Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas, United Statesmap
Surnames/tags: Sebastian_County US_History Arkansas
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Overview

This page is a timeline of significant events in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Fort Smith is a city located in western Arkansas, near the Oklahoma border. It has a rich history that dates back to the 1800s and has played a significant role in the development of the region.

Timeline

Year Event Description
1817 Establishment of Fort Smith December 25, 1817 - Major William Bradford and his men built a fort at Belle Point to keep peace between the Osage and Cherokee tribes, who were in confict over hunting rights.[1]
1818Construction of Fort CompetedJanuary 1, 1818, on New Year's Day Bradford reported to his superior officer, General Thomas Adams Smith, that his men were comfortably taken care of and that he was starting a hut for himself at the fort. The fort was later named after General Smith.[2]
1819Arkansas becomes a TerritoryMarch 2, 1819, when Congress created it from part of Missouri Territory.[3][4] It included the greater part of Oklahoma, west to the 100th meridian.[3] Arkansas Territory was reduced in area in 1824 and 1828 to generally assume the boundary of the present state.[3][5]
1821First official weather observationJanuary 1, 1821 the first official weather observation at Belle Point, Arkansas by the Army post surgeon was on January 1, 1821.[6] The post surgeon recorded the temperature, wind direction, and weather conditions at 7:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. every day.[6] These observations were part of the meteorological functions of the Office of the Surgeon General from 1818 to 1870.[6]
1822First SteamboatApril 20, 1822 the first steamboat, the Robert Thompson, arrived at Fort Smith.[7] Among the arrivals were Benjamin Louis Eulalie de Bonneville, Aaron Barling and John Rogers.[7]
1823First White Child Born at FortDecember 23, 1823 Sarah (Ann) Tichenal was the first white child born in Fort Smith, Arkansas on the military post.[8]
1824Soldiers abandon Fort SmithApril 20, 1824 U.S. Army troops left Fort Smith because of Indian hostilities to the west and to the south to Fort Gibson and Towson.[9]
1828First post office and postmasterApril 25, 1828 Fort Smith got its first post office and its first postmaster, Frank Wharton. This is one of the earliest post offices in the Arkansas Territory.[10]
1832Washington Irving visits Fort SmithOctober 10, 1832 George Washington Irving visited Fort Smith as part of his tour of the Indian Territory with a delegation of U.S. commissioners and Osage Chiefs.[11]
1836Arkansas becomes a stateJune 15, 1836 Arkansas became the 25th state to join the United States.[12]
1837Garrison AvenueGarrison Avenue laid out under directions of John Rogers, early settler and trader.[13]
1838Troops return and rebuilt FortJuly 1838 Captain Charles W. Thomas returned to Fort Smith and began construction of the second fort on the site adajcent to the first fort.[14]
1841General Zachary Taylor commands the fortMay 1, 1841 General Zachary Taylor (later President of the United States) commanded the fort in Fort Smith, Arkansas from 1841 until 1844.[15]
1842Fort Smith organized as a townDecember 24, 1842 Fort Smith, Arkansas was organized as a town. It was part of Crawford County at the time as Sebastian County had not been formed.[16]
1843Earthquake was felt in Fort SmithJanuary 4, 1843 an earthquake was felt in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The entry in the weather diary reads: "About 8 o'clock PM several shocks of an earthquake at this post and Van Buren."[17]
1846First Presbyterian Church in Fort SmithNovember 15, 1846 the First Presbyterian Church opens in Fort Smith, Arkansas.[18]
1848First newspaper publishedSeptember 20, 1848 the first newspaper, Fort Smith Herald, was published by John Foster Wheeler.[19]
1849California Gold RushFort Smith became an important point of departure for settlers heading west to California seeking gold.[20]
1857First Baptist Church organizedDecember 1, 1857 the First Baptist Church organized in Fort Smith.[21]
1858Overland mail reaches Fort SmithSeptember 19, 1858 the first stage line entered Fort Smith. The stage arrived on the old Washington Street (now 2nd Street) at 2:00 a.m. Sunday. From Fort Smith the Overland mail route crossed the Poteau River and angled through Indian Territory to Sherman, Texas and on to San Francisco, California, by way of El Paso, Texas, Tuscon, Arizona, and Los Angeles, Californai.[22]
1860John Rogers dies founder of Fort SmithOctober 7, 1860 John Rogers founder of Fort Smith, died in the home of his nephew, Jeremiah Rogers Kannady.[23]
1863Union forces reoccupy Fort SmithSeptember 1, 1863 Union forces reoccuppy Fort Smith when the Confederate forces withdraw after the defeat of Devil's Backbone.[24]
1864Battle of Massard PrairieJuly 27, 1864 the Battle of Massard Prairie was fought at Massard Prairie in Sebastian County, Arkansas, near Fort Smith (the area is not part of Fort Smith proper).[25]
1867Fort Smith ExpandedMarch 9, 1867 Fort Smith is incorporated as a city of the second class and its boundaries are extended.[26]
1871first federal court session in Fort SmithMay 8, 1871 Judge William Story Sr presides over the first federal court session in Fort Smith.[27]
1873First Execution in Fort SmithAugust 15, 1873 the first execution carried out by the federal court at Fort Smith. Condemned man John Childers Jr his hung at the gallows.[28]
1875Judge Isaac C. ParkerMay 10, 1875 Federal Judge Isaac Charles Parker (who would become known as the hangin judge) presides over his first court session in Fort Smith.[29]
1876Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad (LR&FS) Railroad company completes rail line service between Little Rock and Fort Smith. A portion of the track was found to be on Indian land and they were forced to tear up the track and relay it so actual service did not begin until 1879.[30]
1892Fort Smith public library27 Jul 1892 the Fortnightly Library Association opened a library in the Belle Grove school building.[31]
1893first electric streetcarOctober 10, 1891 the first electric street car began operation in Fort Smith.[32]
1898Worst tornado in Fort Smith HistoryJanuary 11, 1898 the worst tornado in Fort Smith's history struck, taking 51 lives and destroying dozens of homes and buildings.[33]
1910first airplane flight in Fort SmithMay 17, 1910 a Curtiss biplane arrived by train, was assembled and flew for the first time on May 18, 1810.[34]
1914Fort Smith went dryAugust 1, 1914 All the saloons in the city were closed on the order of Judge Hon.[32]
1922Garrison BridgeMay 11, 1922 the "Million Dollar Free Bridge" is opened spanning the Arkansas River from Garrison Avenue to Oklahoma.[32]
1930first commerical radio in Fort SmithJune 23, 1933 KFPW makes the first commercial radio broadcast from Fort Smith.[32]
1933Trolley cars cease operation in Fort SmithJune 23, 1933 Fort Smith Light & Traction Company cease its trolley operations.[32]
1937First refrigerated air conditioning in Fort SmithMay 23, 1937 First equipment for a refrigerated air conditioning system arrive in Fort Smith to be installed at Tilles Inc. at 702 Garrison Avenue.[32]
1943Arkansas River floods Fort SmithMay 11, 1943 Arkansas River floods Fort Smith, forcing some 250 people from thier homes.[32]
1953Fort Smith First Television Station - KFSAJuly 19, 1953 KFSA went on the ari with a live broadcast for the first time.[35]
1975First Vietnamese refugees arriveMay 2, 1975 first refuge airplane arrived in Fort Smith with 70 Vietnamese fleeing the fall of Saigon and South Vietnam.[32]
1980First Cuban refugeesfirst planeload of 128 Cuban refuges arrived at Fort Smith's airport.[32]

Sources

  1. ↑ National Park Service (NPS). Fort Smith, National Historic Site. "First Fort (1817-1824) - Bad Tempered Buffalo." Accessed 29 Mar 2023.
  2. ↑ Warren, Steven L., Overland Park, Kansas. Encyclopedia of Arkansas, last updated on 28 Jun 2022. "William Bradford (1771–1826)." Accessed 28 Mar 2023.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Press Release Number CB21-SFS.85, June 25, 2021, United States Census Bureau. "Arkansas 185th Anniversary of Statehood (1836): June 15, 2021." Accessed 29 Mar 2023.
  4. ↑ The following (as per The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition) is the preferred citation for articles: S. Charles Bolton, “Arkansas Territory,” The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, "Arkansas Territory." Accessed 29 Mar 2023.
  5. ↑ Wikipedia Contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last edited on 27 Mar 2023. "History of Arkansas." Accessed 29 Mar 2023.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 National Archives, (n.d.). "Records of the Weather Bureau." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Newspaper, Times Record, Fort Smith, Arkansas, 17 Apr 2022. "Fort Smith History: April 17-23." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  8. ↑ Titchenal, Oliver, Ray. The Geneology and History of Thirteen Generations of the Tichenor and Titchenal Families Coupled with American and Local History. (n.d.). "The Titchenal Saga 350 Years of Faith and Hope and Family Life in America." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  9. ↑ Wikipedia Contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last edited on 18 Dec 2022. "Fort Gibson." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  10. ↑ Newspaper, Times Record, 24 Apr 2022. "Fort Smith History: April 24-30." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  11. ↑ Heitman, Danny, The Magazine of The National Endowment for the Humanities, Jul/Aug 2014, Volume 35, Number 4. "Washington Irving Was the Original City Slicker. Here's What Happened When He Went West." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  12. ↑ The Library of Congress, America's Story from the America's Library. (n.d.). "Western Expansion and Reform (1829-1859)." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  13. ↑ Cyrus A. Sutherland with Gregory Herman, Claudia Shannon, Jean Sizemore Jeannie M. Whayne and Contributors, SAH Archipedia, (n.d.). "Commericial Buildings on Garrison Avenue." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  14. ↑ National Park Service (NPS), Arkansas: Fort Smith National Historic Site, (n.d.). "Fort Smith National Historic Site." 30 Mar 2023.
  15. ↑ Coop, Griffin, Little Rock, Arkansas, Encyclopedia of Arkansas, last updated on 12 Oct 2021. "Zachary Taylor (Leadership of Fort Smith)." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  16. ↑ Wikipedia Contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last edited on 14 Mar 2023. "Fort Smith, Arkansas." Access 30 Mar 2023.
  17. ↑ Compiled by Richard L. Dart and Scott M. Ausbrooks, U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 2011. "Earthquakes in Arkansas and Vicinity 1699–2010." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  18. ↑ Warner, Sydney Yanits, Internet Archives, 1960. "History of the First Presbyterian Church, 1846-1960 : including Fort Smith and the early churches." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  19. ↑ Fort Smith Herald newspaper, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas. "Fort Smith Herald newspaper, 1848 September 20." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  20. ↑ Etter, Patricia A., Emeritus College, Arizona State University, Encyclopedia of Arkansas, last updated on 20 Mar 2023. "Effect of the California Gold Rush." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  21. ↑ Fort Smith Historical Society, (n.d.). "First Baptist Church, Fort Smith, Arkansas." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  22. ↑ National Park Service (NPS), Fort Smith, National Historic Site, (n.d.). "Overland Mail Celebration." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  23. ↑ John Rogers papers, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas. "John Rogers papers, 1856-1860." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  24. ↑ Cox, Dale, (n.d.). "The Battle of Devil's Backbone, Greenwood, Arkansas." Accessed 30 Mar 2023.
  25. ↑ 'Wikipedia Contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encylcopedia, last edited on 11 Jul 2022. "[Wikipedia:Battle_of_Massard_Prairie|Battle of Massard Prairie]]." Accessed 31 Mar 2023.
  26. ↑ Fort Smith Museum of History, 9 Mar 2019. "Fort Smith Museum of History." Accessed 31 Mar 2023.
  27. ↑ Bowden, David, Little Rock, Arkansas. Encyclopedia of Arkansas, last edited 16 Mar 2023. "United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas." Accessed 31 Mar 2023.
  28. ↑ National Park Service, (n.d.). "Executions at Fort Smith." Accessed 31 Mar 2023.
  29. ↑ Wikipedia Contributors, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last edited on 17 Mar 2023. "Isaac Charles Parker." Accessed 31 Mar 2023.
  30. ↑ LeMasters, Larry, LeMasters' Antique News Service, last updated on 20 Jan 2022. "Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad." Accessed 31 Mar 2023.
  31. ↑ Fort Smith Public Library. (n.d.). "Fort Smith Public Library." Accessed 31 Mar 2023.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 32.6 32.7 32.8 Fort Smith Historical Society Inc., (n.d.). "Fort Smith Historical Society Inc.." Accessed 31 Mar 2023.
  33. ↑ Wikipedia Contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last edited on 23 Oct 2022. "1898 Fort Smith, Arkansas, tornado." Accessed 31 Mar 2023.
  34. ↑ Boulden Ben. Fort Smith Historical Society Inc. (n.d.). "Fort Smith's First Flight." Accessed 31 Mar 2023.
  35. ↑ Fort Smith Historical Society Inc., "Fort Smith First Television Station - KFSA." Accessed 31 Mar 2023.




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Prentice-1539 Ronald Prentice
The "History of the Western District Court" is a WikiTree page you may have interest to reference from this page as well.

History of the Western District Court

posted by Ronald Prentice

Categories: Sebastian County, Arkansas | Fort Smith, Arkansas