The position of County Surveyor was an important one.
As people moved in and registered their lands, it was vital that the surveyor provided documents that made it clear exactly where the land was. The first surveyor of Newton County was Thomas Jones, who served from 1844-1846 and again from 1858 until 1864.
There were at least three men named Thomas Jones who lived in Newton County in that period, so it is unclear which Thomas Jones was the surveyor. All were listed as being farmers in the census record.
It is likely, however, that he was the same Thomas Jones who served as County Clerk from 1846 until 1848. In 1860, this Thomas Jones was living in Prairie Township, gave his occupation as "clerk", and had $1,000 in real estate.
The second County Surveyor was Erby Self. He was born in 1812 in Tennessee, and was farming in White Township during the time he was surveyor (1846-1848). He died in 1858 and was buried in Shiloh Cemetery.
James Salmon was the third County Surveyor, who held the post from 1848 to 1850. He was born in 1826 in Tennessee, and moved to Newton County when he was a young man. He lived in Prairie Township and served in Company D, 2nd Arkansas Cavalry (US). He died in 1899 and was laid to rest at Bass Cemetery.
James M. Dickey was County Surveyor from 1850-1852 and 1866-1868. He was born in Tennessee in 1827. He married Cansada Thompson in 1850 and had nine children. He, too, served in Company D, 2nd Arkansas Cavalry. He died in 1880 and was laid to rest in Old Dodson Cemetery.
Edmond Randle was County Surveyor from 1852-1854. He was born in 1822 in North Carolina. During the Civil War he fought in the 46th Missouri Infantry. He died sometime after the war, and was laid to rest in Western Grove Cemetery.
William Calvin Evans served from 1854-1856. He was born about 1820 in Alabama, and farmed in Prairie Township until sometime after the Civil War, when he moved West.
Barbara LeRoy is the author of “Which Side Were They On?,” a 302 page book listing biographical sketches of the Newton Countians who were involved in the Civil War, available for sale either in the Bradley House Museum or by purchasing online at www.newtoncountyar.com. The book sells for $33.
