Clay County lies in the northeast corner of the State, and is bounded
north by Ripley and Butler Counties, in Missouri; east by Dunklin County,
of that State; south by Greene County, Ark, and west by Randolph, in the
latter State. It is separated from Dunklin County, Mo., by the St.
Francis River, and its boundary lines are as follows: Commencing
where the line between the States of Arkansas and Missouri intersects
the St. Francis River; thence down said river, following its
meanders, to the line between Sections 21 and 28, Township
19 north, Range 9 east; thence west on the section lines to the
range line between Ranges 2 and 3 east; thence north on the range
line to Black River; thence with the meanders of that river to
the line between Sections 15 and 16, in Township 19 north,
Range 3 east; thence north on the subdivisional lines to the
line between Townships 20 and 21 north; thence west to the range
line between Ranges 2 and 3 east; thence north on the range line
to the State line between Arkansas and Missouri; thence east
on the State line to the place of beginning. The area of the
county is 613 square miles, or 392,320 acres, about one-tenth
of which is improved.

A strip of broken or hilly lands, averaging between seven and
eight miles in width, known as Crowley's Ridge, extends through
the county in a southwesterly direction from its northeast corner.
The summit of the hills in this tract reaches an altitude
of from 100 to 200 feet above the surrounding country. There are
also four or five sections of hilly lands in the northwest portion
of the county, west of Current River; and all the balance of the
county varies only a few feet from a level surface.

The village of Knobel, on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern
Railroad, is 181 feet-above sea level, and this is about the
average elevation of all except the hilly portions of the county;
hence the highest point in the county may reach
an elevation of 400 feet above the sea. All that portion lying east
of the broken or hilly tract above described is drained by the St.
Francis River and its tributaries, a large part of it being subject
to overflow in the winter and spring, and that division located west
is drained by Cache, Black and Current Rivers and their tributaries.

Cache River enters the county from the north, near the middle of
Range 7 east, and flows on through the county in a southwesterly
direction to Cache Lake, on the southern boundary line, in the
eastern half of Range 5; thus dividing the
area of the county into nearly two equal portions. It drains
the western slope of Crowley's Ridge, and central portion
of the territory.

Black River enters from the north about two miles east of the
range line, between Ranges 5 and 6, and flows, on a very
tortuous route, toward the southwest, leaving the county
at a point about two miles north of its southwest corner.

Current River enters the county from the west, a short
distance south of the northwest corner, and flows thence
easterly to the second tier of sections, thence in a
southerly and finally in a southwesterly direction,
passing out at the western boundary of Section 30,
Township 20 north, Range 3 east. The bottom lands along
the St. Francis and Black Rivers usually overflow in the
late winter and early spring to a depth of from one to
two feet, and those along the Current River from three
to five feet. The water, however, recedes so early as
seldom to interfere with the raising of summer crops,
and the overflow always deposits a sediment which
enriches and re-fertilizes the land. It has been
demonstrated that the river beds are sufficiently
low to admit of the complete drainage and reclamation
of nearly all swamp and overflowed lands in the county.
Such can be done by removing the drift and rubbish from
the rivers, straightening their channels, and constructing
lateral ditches to empty into them. This, however,
can only be accomplished by a State drainage law, which
will assess for the purpose the lands alike of the non-
resident and resident owners.

The entire county was originally covered with a dense forest,
consisting of four varieties of white oak, several of black and
red oak, three of gum, several of hickory, a little walnut,
cypress, ash, maple, honey locust, poplar, beech,
elm, sassafras, catalpa, etc., with an undergrowth of dogwood,
pawpaw, redbud, spice wood, hazel, privet, hornbeam, huckleberry,
blackberry, etc. Some trees of the largest kinds of timber
measured from four to six feet across the stump. Much of
the timber has been cut into logs and floated down the streams
and thus shipped away; and since the county has been traversed
with railroads, a great deal has been cut into lumber and shipped
by rail, and there is yet a seemingly inexhaustible supply. The
average acreage production of lumber is care fully
estimated as follows: Cypress, 5.000 feet; poplar and sweet
gum, 3.000 feet each; white oak. 2,000 feet; hickory, ash,
walnut and black oak together, 3,000 feet. Logs can be rafted
on all the rivers mentioned and on some of their tributaries.
It is estimated that each acre of timbered land will produce
from twenty-five to thirty cords of wood, after the saw
timber is taken away.

The soil of the entire county is moderately rich and fertile,
that of the bottom or overflowed lands being mostly composed
of alluvial deposits; the balance is formed of sand, clay
and vegetable mould, and the whole is underlaid with a clay
subsoil.

At present the cutting and shipping of logs and lumber, with
the running of the many saw-mills in the county, which give
employment to a large number of men, constitute one of the
leading industries and form a source of considerable revenue
to the people of the county. This occupation will continue
for many years, or until the supply of timber becomes
exhausted.  The vegetable productions, as shown
by the census of 1880, were as follows: Indian corn,
343,836 bushels: oats, 12,406 bushels; wheat, 13,408
bushels: hay, 100 tons; cotton, 2,307 bales; Irish
potatoes. 4,427 bushels; sweet potatoes. 5,381 bushels;
tobacco, 11,390 pounds. These amounts were then produced
from much less than one-tenth of the area of the county.
Considering the large increase of the present population
over that of 1880, together with the advanced  improvements.
It is certain that the amount of vegetable productions now
far exceeds, and in some things more than
doubles that of 1880. Surely "Cotton is king" in
Clay County, as it is the moneyed crop, and the source
of the greatest income. It is raised to the exclusion of
many other things that might be produced in larger
quantities. Some of the late immigrants have begun the
raising of clover and tame grasses. for which the soil
is well adapted, with a view of making the raising of
stock a leading industry.

The number of live animals in the county in 1880, according
to the census of that year, were as follows: Horses, 1,444;
mules and asses, 832; cattle, 6,574; sheep, 1,960; hogs,
24,277. The number of animals within the county, according to
late assessment rolls, are: Horses, 1,698; mules and asses,
922; cattle, 8,802; sheep, 1,159; hogs, 1,325; a large gain
in all except sheep and hogs. The reduced price of wool
accounts for the decrease in the number of sheep, and the
hogs enumerated in 1880 were all that were produced and on
hand during the year, including those slaughtered and sold;
while those recently enumerated included only those on hand
when assessed for taxation; consequently there is not a decline
in this direction. As before stated, the county is well
supplied with streams, and an abundance of good well water
can be obtained almost anywhere at a depth of from
twenty to forty feet by simply digging, without any
blasting or boring through rock. These facts, coupled
with the great adaptability for the growing of tame
grasses and clover, the mildness of the climate, and
the good shipping facilities, must eventually make
Clay one of the best stock growing counties in the
United States, a truth of which farmers may profitably
avail themselves. It is also well adapted to the growing
of all kinds of fruit common to this latitude. Fruit-growing
however has not been made the specialty that it might.
Some of the late immigrants  have set out, and are
preparing to do so, large orchards and develop this industry,
having perfect confidence of success.

In 1880 the real estate of the county was assessed at $468,561,
and the personal property at $244.717, making a total of $713,278;
and the total taxes charged thereon were $10,022. The real estate
of the county, as shown by recent assessment
rells, was valued at $1,211,258, and the personal property
at $522,227, making a total of $1,733,485, upon which the
total taxes charged were $25,502.25. By comparison it will
be seen that since 1880 the taxable property and taxes
charged have much more than doubled. The county has fair
public buildings, is out of debt, and its scrip is worth
one hundred cents on the dollar.

There are twenty-six saw mills and eight stave factories
within the county.

In 1880 the population of Clay County was white 7,191,
colored 22, total 7,213. Since that time, and especially
within the last four years, emigration has so
increased that the population at this writing (1889)
is estimated at about double that of 1880.

The St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad runs in
a southwesterly direction across the western half of Clay
County, the length of the main line within its
territory being about nineteen miles. The Helena branch
extends in a southeasterly direction from Knobel, and has
a length of about four miles within the county. The
St. Louis & Texas Railroad crosses the St. Francis River
in Section 18, Township 21, Range 9, where it enters the
county, and runs southwesterly along the eastern
side of Crowley's Ridge, departing a few hundred yards
below Rector. The length of its line here is about
seventeen miles. The combined length of the railroads
within the county is forty miles, not including a few
branches extending one or two miles out to certain saw
mills. The main line of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain
& Southern Railroad was completed through the county
early in the 70's. The Helena branch of this road,
and the St. Louis & Texas (Cotton Belt) Railroad were
completed through this vicinity in 1882.

The settlement of the territory composing Clay County began
about the year 1832, but increased very slowly for the first
twenty years, after which it advanced quite
rapidly, until the outbreak of the Civil War, when it
came to a standstill. Its most noticeable growth has been
within the last five years, immigrants having located
here from Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and other
States. Among the first settlers in the western part of the
county were John J. Griffin, who located on Black
River in 1832, and Abraham Roberts, who settled a few years
later near the present site of Corning. Prominent pioneers
in the eastern part of the county–mostly on
Crowley's Ridge–were William and Elihu Davis, who settled
early in the 30's and were soon followed by the Payne,
Hollis and other families. Among the settlers
of the 40's were William H. Mack, James Watson and
others, and during the 50's the families of the Liddells,
Millers, J. G. Dudley, Buck Wagster, B. H. Mitchell,
William Dean, H. M. Granade, James Campbell, Singleton
Copeland, Edward Allen, C. H. Mobley, Dr. Simmons were
some of those who became settlers. Nearly all of the
earliest comers were from Tennessee. Later immigrants
came from other Southern States, and now many are
entering from the North.

Clay County was organized as Clayton County, in accordance
with an act of the General Assembly, approved March 24, 1873,
and became a part of the Third judicial circuit and of the
First Congressional district. That part of it now known as
the Eastern district was taken from Greene, and that known
as the Western district was removed from Randolph County.
The county seat was originally located at Corning, on
the lot of ground now occupied by the present court-house
in that place. The first term of the county court was held
at Corning, beginning on the 16th day of May, 1873.
Soon after a temporary frame court-house, 22×40 feet in
size, containing two rooms, was built, by order of the
court, under the supervision of the sheriff. A common
jail was also erected; subsequently the question of the
removal of the county seat to Boydsville–a more central
point–began to be agitated, and on the 30th of
June, 1874, an election was held for the purpose of
submitting the question to the electors of the county,
and when the votes were counted it was found, by the court,
that the people, by a majority of 316, had voted in favor
of removal. Thereupon the court declared Boydsville to be
the county seat. However, such strong resistance to
this decision was manifested that no permanent removal
of records was made for a long time.

Finally, after a lapse of a few years, the question was again
submitted to the people at an election held May 22, 1877, on
which occasion forty-two votes were cast against
the removal and 603 in favor of it, making a majority of
561 in favor of the project, and the court again declared
Boydsville to be the county seat, to which place the
records were soon removed and placed in a temporary court-
house, previously erected by order of the county court.
The first term of the county court was held in
Boydsville beginning on Monday October 1, 1877. By an
act of the General Assembly of the State, approved
December 6, 1875, the name of "Clayton" County was changed to
"Clay."

Having lost the county seat, the people of Corning and the
western portion of the county, finding it difficult to reach
Boydsville, commenced to consider the question
of dividing the county into two districts. Consequently the
legislature, by an act approved February 23, 1881, provided
that the county should be divided into two judicial districts,
the "Eastern" and the "Western," and that the following described
line should separate them: Commencing at the center of the
main channel of Black River where it crosses the Missouri
and Arkansas State line; thence down the main
channel of said river to the range line between Ranges
5 and 6, in Township 21; thence south on the range line
to the west bank of Cache River; thence with the west
bank of Cache River or lake to the line between Clay
and Greene Counties. The act further provided that the
seat of justice for the Western district should be at
Corning; that the circuit, chancery and probate courts
should be held both at Boydsville and at Corning; that
the circuit courts established in the respective
districts of the county should be as separate and distinct,
and have the same relations to each other, as if they were of
distinct counties: that the sheriff, clerk, treasurer and
probate judge of the county should be the same for both
districts; that the financial affairs of each district
should be kept as separate and distinct as though they
were separate counties and that the offices for the
Western district should be filled by the deputy county
officers.

Footnote
(The cells were those taken from the jail at Corning.)

After dispensing with the temporary court-house at Boydsville,
the present two-story frame court-house, with the hall and
four rooms on the first floor, and court-room on the second,
was erected, about 1881. The present log and board
jail, with iron cells, at Boydsville, was erected immediately
after the county seat was permanently located there. The
public buildings at Corning consist of a court-house
similar to the one at Boydsville, and the original
jail with iron cells, which latter were put in
immediately or soon after the county was divided into
districts. The county has no "poor farm" or asylum for
her paupers. The latter are let out separately for their
keeping, to the lowest responsible bidders.

Following is a list of the county officers of Clay County,
from its formation to the present time:

Judges: T. M. Hollifield, 1874-78; E. N. Royall, 1878-86;
Robert Liddell, present incumbent, first elected in 1886.

Clerks: T. L. Martin, 1873-74; W. H. Smith, 1874-78; R.
Liddell, 1878-86; W. E. Spence, present incumbent, elected
in 1886.

Footnote(E. N. Royall from September, 1877, vice Allen,
suspended by order of circuit court.)

Sheriffs: William G. Akers, 1873-74; E. N. Royall,
1874-76; E. M. Allen, 1876-78;† J. A. McNiel, 1878-86;
G. M. McNiel, 1886-88; B. B. Biffle, present incumbent,
elected in 1888.

Treasurers: William Little, 1873-74; James Blackshare,
1874-78; John Bearden, 1878-80; N. J. Burton, 1880-82;
W. S. Blackshare, 1882-84; J. S. Simpson, 1884-86; A. L.
Blackshare, present incumbent, first elected in 1886.

Coroners: J. Cunningham, 1878-74; J. J. Payne, 1874-76;
J. N. Cummins, 1876-78; H. W. Cagle, 1878-84; Dallas Taylor,
1884-86; D. G. See, elected
in 1886, but failed to qualify; office since vacant.

Surveyors: W. C. Grimsley, 1878-74; E. M. Allen. Jr.,
1874-76; A. J. Caldwell, 1876-82; E. M. Allen, 1882-86;
A. Williams, 1886-88; E. M. Allen, present
incumbent, elected in 1888.

Assessors: E. N. Royall, 1873-74; J. S. Rodgers,
1874-76; W. H. Mack, 1876-78;
J. W. Rodgers, 1878-82; Henry Holcomb,
1882-86; J. S. Blackshare, present
incumbent, first elected in 1886.

The county at this writing is represented in the State
legislature by Hon. J. W. Dollison, of Greenway, and
the offices of the Western district are filled by the
following persons, viz.: E. D. Estes, deputy clerk; W. A.
Brown, deputy sheriff; E. V. Sheeks, deputy treasurer;
Jacob Brobst, deputy assessor; Z. T. Daniels,
deputy surveyor. The judge of the county court is
also judge of the probate court, and the clerk, by
virtue of his office, is recorder of deeds, the sheriff,
by virtue of his office, being collector of revenues.
The school examiner for the Eastern district is R. L. O.
Bryen, and for the Western district, F. G. Taylor.

Politically the county of Clay is strongly Democratic. At the
State election, held in September, 1888, J. P. Eagle, the
Democratic candidate for Governor, received 1,108 votes,
and C. M. Norwood, the Wheeler, Labor Union and Republican
candidate, received 717 votes. At the same time B. B. Chism,
Democratic candidate for secretary of State, received 1,121
votes, and G. W. Terry, opposition candidate for the same
office, received 697 votes. Only a light vote was cast at
the presidential election.

The several courts of the county consist of the county,
probate and circuit courts, The judge of the county court
is also judge of the probate court, and the clerk
of the circuit court is also clerk of the county and
probate courts, and ex-officio recorder.

The county court, which is held only at Boydsville, meets on
the first Mondays of January, April, July and October of each
year, and the probate court meets at Boydsville on the third
Mondays, and at Corning on the fourth Mondays of the same
months. The circuit court convenes at Corning on the first
Mondays of January and August of each year, and on the third
Mondays of the same months at Boydsville.

The local bar of Clay County consists of G. B. Holifield, of
Boydsville, F. G. Taylor, G. B. Oliver and J. C. Staley,
of Corning, John Jones, of Peach Orchard, J. A. Barlow,
of Rector, and H. W. Moore, of Greenway.

Only two men have been legally executed in Clay County
for the crime of murder; one of these being Bent Taylor,
hanged for the murder of Riley Black, and the other
Lafayette Melton, for the murder of Fank Hale. Both
were executed at Corning, the former in 1882,
and the latter in 1884. Other crimes have been committed
within the county, for which the perpetrators have received
lighter punishments.

The territory over which Clay now extends was but slightly
over-run and devastated during the Civil War of 1861-65. The
citizens at that time, having emigrated mostly from Tennessee
and other slaveholding States, were in full sympathy with
the Southern cause, in consequence of which a goodly number
of soldiers were furnished for the Confederate army, while
none joined the Union forces. Three companies of soldiers,
organized respectively by Capts. F. S. White, Reed and E. M.
Allen,
were recruited principally from what is now Clay County. A
few also enlisted in the company commanded by Capt. G. D.
Byers. A company of Home Guards consisting of old men was
organized. In the spring of 1863 Col. Daniels with a force
of Federal cavalry moved southward on Crowley's Ridge, and
at a point about two miles northeast of the present site of
Rector, came in contact with this company of Home Guarde,
firing upon and dispersing them. In this action Squire
George Lynch of the attacked party was killed. There was
no general bushwhacking here during the war,
but a number of citizens were taken out and "removed"
by scouting parties.

Of the towns of the county, Advance is a postoffice in
the northeastern part.

Boydsville, the county seat, situated on the southeast
quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 25, Township
20, Range 6, was established in 1877. It contains the
court-house and jail, four general stores, one drug
store, one grocery, one hotel, two cotton-gins with grist
and saw-mills attached, one school-house, two churches–
Methodist Episcopal, South, and Methodist Protestant,
with a hall over the former; a lodge each of Masons,
Odd Fellows and Knights of Honor, some
mechanics' shops, and a population of about 150.

Corning, the seat of justice for the Western district,
situated on Section 6, Township 20, of Range 5, and on
the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, was
established in 1873. It contains the court house and jail,
six general stores, two drug stores, one grocery, three
saloons, one livery stable, four hotels, one stave factory,
two cotton gins with grist mills attached, one wagon shop,
one blacksmith shop, two shoe shops, three church
organizations–Methodist Episcopal, South, Christian
and Baptist–with but one church edifice, belonging
to the Methodists, one school house, postoffice, and
a population of about 600. It also contains a lodge
each of Masons. Good Templars and Triple Alliance.

Don is a postoffice in the western part of the county.

Greenway, a town on the St. Louis & Texas Railroad, on
Section 28, Township 20. Range 8, was laid out in
February, 1883, by the Southwestern Improvement Company.
It contains four general stores, one drug store, two
groceries, one hardware and furniture store, one saloon,
two saw-mills, two grist-mills, one stave factory, one
schoolhouse, two church organizations–Methodist and
Baptist–five physicians, one attorney,
the postoffice, and a population of about 500.

Knobel, a station at the junction of the St. Louis,
Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad and Helena branch,
on the south part of Section 36. Township 20, Range 4,
was established soon after the completion of the
railroad. It contains three general stores, the railroad
buildings, a large hotel, one school house and about
twenty-five residences.

Moark, situated on the same railroad, near the northern
boundary of the county, was established soon after the road
was completed. It contains three saw-mills, one of which is
located on Black River, three miles east, being connected
with the village by a wooden tramway, one general store, one
school house, postoffice, and a few residences.

Peach Orchard, a station on the St. Louis. Iron Mountain
& Southern Railroad, on Section 20, Township 19, Range
4, contains one general store, one cotton gin, with
sorghum and corn mill attached, postoffice,
and a few residences.


Piggott, on the St. Louis & Texas Railroad, on Section
10, Township 20, Range 8, was laid out in November,
1882. It contains two general stores, one drug store,
three groceries, one cotton gin and grist-mill combined,
one stave factory, one hotel, some work-shops, one school
house, church and hall combined, a lodge of Odd Fellows,
a post of the G. A. R., two physicians, and about 150
inhabitants.

Pitman, a postoffice hamlet, is in the extreme northwest
corner of the county.

Rector, on the St. Louis & Texas Railroad, on the south
half of Section 23, Township 19, Range 7, was laid out in
June, 1882, by the Southwestern Improvement Company. It
contains seven general stores, three drug stores,
one grocery, two (temperance) saloons, one hardware and
grocery, one harness and saddlery store, some work-shops,
a photograph gallery, one stave factory, two saw-mills,
two cotton gins, with grist-mills attached,
one livery stable, two hotels, one meat market, a
millinery store, postoffice, four church organizations–
Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal,
South, and Methodist Protestant; two church
edifices, a lodge each of Masons, Odd Fellows
and Knights of Honor, a public schoolhouse, two
select or private schools, four physicians, and a
population of 700 or over.

St. Francis, on the St. Louis & Texas Railroad, on the west
bank of St. Francis River, was laid out in January, 1883,
by the Southwestern Improvement Company. It contains six
general stores, one drug store, four groceries, four
saw-mills, one stave factory, one meat market,
some work shops, two churches, Methodist and Cumberland
Presbyterian, two hotels, one school house, restaurant,
postoffice, two physicians, a lodge of Triple Alliance,
and a population of about 200.

Thurman is a postoffice seven miles west of Corning.

Vidette is a postoffice ten miles north west of Corning.

Williams is a postoffice four miles west of Moark.

The press of Clay County has ever exerted no slight
influence in the growth and development of this section.
While not numerous, those journals found here are ever
active and energetic in giving to the outside
unprejudiced, candid facts relating to the locality
whose interests they represent.

The Corning Index, a six-column folio weekly newspaper,
at Corning, was established in the fall of 1887. It is
published by Clyde C. Estes, and edited by E. D. Estes
in an acceptable manner, indicating ability and force.

The Clay County Record, a seven-column weekly newspaper
published at Rector, was established in January, 1889, by
its present proprietor, Mr. Taylor. This journal also has at
heart the welfare of the community, and enjoys a liberal
circulation.

Before the inauguration of the free school system, the
educational facilities of the territory now composing this
county were very meager. The old subscription schools taught
in the primitive log school houses were generally of little
benefit to the country. The scholastic population
of the county in 1882 amounted to 2,868, five of them being
colored, and in 1886 it reached 3,274, with only one colored–an
increase, in the four years, of 411. In the latter year only
1,791 pupils (all white) were enrolled in the public schools,
but a little over one-half of the scholastic population. This
shows that the schools were not well attended, or that nearly
one-half of the children were not compelled
to attend school. For the year ending June 30, 1886, there
were thirty-four male and eight female teachers employed to
teach the common schools of the county. The male teachers of
the first grade were paid an average salary
of $50 per month, and the female teachers of the same
grade $37.50 per month. The male teachers of the second
grade were paid an average salary of $35,
and the female teachers $32.50 per month. The male
teachers of the third grade were paid an average
salary of $25, and the female teachers $20
per month. The number of school houses reported
in the county in 1886 was thirty-six, both frame
and log, valued at $6,505. The amount of revenue
received for the year ending June 30, 1886, was
$13,224.60, and the amount expended for the same
time was $11,272.00, leaving a balance on hand of
$1,951.60. These statistics have been taken from
the last published report of the State superintendent
of public instruction. The public schools here, as
elsewhere, are improving and becoming more and more
efficient.

The first organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, in Clay County was effected at Mar's Hill, four
miles north of Boydsville, early in the 50's, and the
first church edifice was erected there in 1856.
The next society was organized at the house of Capt.
F. S. White, at Oak Bluff, in 1856, near where
Evans' Chapel was erected the next year. There are
now three circuits of this church within the county,
with an aggregate of eighteen organizations and about
570 members. The circuits are the Boydsville,
St. Francis and Corning, belonging to the Jonesboro
district of White River conference.

Salem Church, three-fourths of a mile south of Boydsville,
was the first Missionary Baptist Church organized within the
county, and the number has since increased to fourteen, with
a total membership of 630. Elder Lloyd preached here forty years
ago, and was probably the first Missionary Baptist minister in
the county. The Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Association was
organized at Salem Church in 1868.

The first society of the Methodist Protestant Church within
the territory of Clay County was organized in 1858, at Liberty
Hill, five miles north of Rector. There are now ten or more
organizations within the county, with a membership of about 350.

The oldest Cumberland Presbyterian Church here was organized
at Chalk Bluff, about the year 1855. There are now four
organizations, located respectively at St. Francis, Piggott,
Greenway and Rector. The total membership numbers, perhaps, 100.

Within the county there are at least two Regular Baptist
Churches, with an aggregate membership of about fifty, and
one or more Free Will Baptist Churches. There are also a few
Christian Churches of recent organization.