Samuel Lee (S.L.) Nance, born in 1880 in Elmwood, Boone County, spent much of his career in banking. He first worked at the Newton County Bank in Jasper, where he rose through the ranks from … more

John Murphy was Newton County judge from 1882 to 1884. No other information has been found for him. David D. Steagall was judge from 1884 to 1886. He was born in Missouri in 1825. He was living in … more

The office of County Judge has been in existence since the beginning of the county. The first judge, Samuel Bristow, served from 1842 to 1844. It is likely he was Samuel Bristow of Virginia, who was … more

Newton County has had its share of disasters, both natural and man-made. During the Civil War, Jasper's public buildings were burned by Federal troops, likely in May, 1863, when a company of Federal … more

Continued from last week Will Jones served the next two terms as sheriff, from 1924 to 1926 and 1926 to 1928. He was born in 1892 and was a manufacturer of staves. He lived in Jackson Township … more

Continued from last week Sidney Lonzo Bristow was Newton County Sheriff from 1906 to 1908. He was born in 1867 in Johnson County and moved to Newton County sometime before 1900, when he was a … more

Continued from last week William Gillespie Harris was Newton County Sheriff from 1866 to 1868. He was born in Alabama in 1825, moving to Newton County sometime after 1860. He served in Co D 2nd … more

Continued from last week Andrew J. Casey was sheriff from 1878 until 1880. He was born in Newton County in 1853, and was farming in Pleasant Hill Township at the time he was sheriff. Around 1890 … more

Although there has never been a railroad in Newton County (save at Dogpatch USA), it has not been because of a lack of interest. As early as 1875, a group of interested citizens met at Cave Creek The … more

One hundred years ago, the nation experienced a period of lawlessness and excess that has been called "the Roaring Twenties". Newton County was not home to mobsters like Al Capone or Machine Gun … more

Arwine Yates Standridge was born in Newton County in October 1881, son of Alexander and Sarah (Yates) Standridge. He acquired the nickname "the Wolf." At a young age, he took up moonshining, although … more

Newton County made front page news in the Baxter Bulletin Feb. 20, 1920, when the county won first prize for best organized club work in the state. The article quoted the "Arkansas Democrat," which … more

Van Buren Township was one of the original eight townships of Newton County. It was situated in the western part of the county and included Boxley Valley and Cave Mountain. Part 2 William B. … more

Van Buren Township was one of the original eight townships of Newton County. It was situated in the western part of the county and included Boxley Valley and Cave Mountain.Abner Casey was born around … more

Jackson Township was one of the original eight townships in Newton County, and in the early years one of the most populated. It is located in the area around Jasper and Parthenon, which were two of … more

Jackson Township was one of the original eight townships in Newton County, and in the early years one of the most populated. It is located in the area around Jasper and Parthenon, which were two of … more

Osage Township, located in the northwest corner of the county, was one of the original Newton County Townships. One of the first settlers in the township was Charles Bunch. He was born in Overton … more

Union Township is located in the southern part of Newton County. It was one of the eight original townships. Anthony Casey was one of the early settlers there. He was born in Morgan County Tennessee, … more

Polk Township was one of the original eight townships in Newton County. It was located the east-southeast part of the county. Thomas Eli Cook was one of the early settlers. He was born in 1805 in South Carolina. He moved first to Tennessee, where he married Mary Margaret Maddox in 1826. The couple was living in Arkansas by 1840. In 1850, they were living on a farm in Polk Township, along with Thomas's aged mother, Fannie. more