NOTABLE ARKANSANS

NOTABLE ARKANSANS

NOTABLE ARKANSANS

STEVE STEPHENS AND CLYDE SNIDER

Special to the Democrat-Gazette

He was born in Massachusetts, the son of a Puritan schoolmaster. From an early age he longed for adventure. In 1826 he arrived in Little Rock and became a printer for a newspaper and its publisher, William Woodruff. It would become the oldest newspaper west of the Mississippi River, The Arkansas Gazette. He wrote numerous letters to his brother, letters that have been called the greatest surviving literature of our state's early history, describing life in this new pioneer territory.

A few years later his health became a problem and he moved to Hot Springs, a small village with healing waters and only six full-time residents. There he opened a general store, a post office, founded a whetstone factory and started the state's first circulating library.

He was elected to public office and was instrumental in the development of Hot Springs as a world-renowned resort. Today a Hot Springs avenue and a park honor this man.

Notable Arkansans is written by Steve Stephens and produced by Clyde Snider.

Who was this man whose home was a large log cabin that was located where the Majestic Hotel stood later for many years?

Answer on Page 6E

Style on 01/20/2019

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