poorfarm


White County Paupers Farm

Searcy, Arkansas

by Martha Harris Poplin

Henderson      No one ever spoke of Oscar Henderson. My Dad, nor his brothers and sister knew anything about their �black sheep� maternal grandfather. Having left the family about 1900, he had not raised my grandmother, Mary Ella, so nothing was ever said of him. He must have been quite a scoundrel, probably an alcoholic��but he was my greatgrandfather and I felt the need to know about this piece of my puzzle.

In my search for this part of my ancestry, I found Trustin Oscar Henderson was born June 4, 1857 in Wilkes County, GA to Joseph M. and Elizabeth M. R. Henderson. I have much information on the ancestors of Joseph and Elizabeth. They were both born to old Georgia families with interesting, documented histories. By 1870, Joseph, Elizabeth, Oscar and sisters Cara and Mary were in Clay Twp., White County, AR. I have found no information on them past 1870.

In 1880, Oscar worked as a laborer on the farm of George Staple in White County. On March 4, 1896, he married young Mary Margaret Harrison, daughter of William Henry and Rosanna Matilda Flowers Harrison who also lived in Searcy. Oscar was 39 years old; Maggie was 17. The age difference was probably a big problem. They had two children quickly; Luther and Mary Ella.

Henderson2      In 1901, Maggie filed for divorce in White County. Oscar apparently went �downhill�, possibly into alcohol. In the 1900 Census, he was listed as a pauper. He died at the �poor farm� September 13, 1915. His death certificate gives no information about him except name, cause of death and that he was buried at the �county farm�.

Little is known of the County Poor Farm, so I investigated the place where my greatgrandfather lived and died. I have found no records so far with information personal to Oscar, but have compiled the following:

The County "Poor Farm" of the late 1800�s and early 1900�s consisted of 120 acres where the White County Fairgrounds are now located in Searcy. Part of the paupers cemetery, I've been told, is under the parking lot, but there are a few marked graves still located there.

The following are news clippings I found in regards to it:

Our County Poor House

"This institution is now under the supervision of W.S. Knox, Esq. and is situated one mile and a half from the Court House on what is known as Backbone Ridge, near the public road. The buildings are good, substantial box-houses-two of them, two rooms each. The rooms are not furnished with fine carpets and elegant furniture, neither are there any beautiful and costly pictures hung on the wall, but the floors looked neat and clean and the plain, common furniture, though in structure, are robed with neat and comfortable looking bedding, etc. The occupants, not withstanding, they look as though they were cared for in a comfortable and substantial way, are paupers, indeed, of which there are nine. They seem to be happy and their emaciated faces beam with delight on seeing the face of anyone whom they may meet, thus giving every evidence, though they be "poor in purse they are rich in soul." True, they seem to be a little chagrined on account of their misfortune and having to become inmates of a poor house, yet that sparkling glance of their eyes bespeaks for them an unbounded gratefulness that their fellow creatures have even supplied them with a home like this to dwell in while they are subjects of charity and dependent upon the world for support.

For the information of our readers and the tax payers in general we have visited the above house and spent an hour with paupers and found them as we have described them and for further edification we still give their, etc. Seth Dabbs and his two children are the first that we will notice. Mr Dabbs is only a resident of the county for 2 years and came from Tennessee, he is afflicted with rheumatism. His wife is also there though she is not on the county. Next comes Sam Murray, an old gentleman about 55 years old and had been a resident of the county some 20 years. He is blind, or nearly so. Henry Evans, who is about 37 years old is another, he is down with the rheumatics and has been on the county for the last 6 or 7 years. These are all the men at the poor house.

The rest of the inmates are helpless women and children who are unable on account of feebleness to make support and have no one to look for help but from the county. In our conversation with them we found that they fared very well and wanted for nothing that was reasonable. They had plenty of good clothing and had sufficient variety of food so as to live even better than they did when they depended upon their own resources. In fact, we were agreeably surprised at finding the poor house so clean and the paupers doing so well.

It speaks volumes for our county and should be a source of great pleasure to all to know. that they were doing something to support the poor and needy.

From "White County Record" September 15, 1877; page 4 column 8

Poor House

"The contract for keeping and subsisting the County Paupers of White County for twelve months from the 1st day of October next, will be let at public outcry to the lowest responsible bidder at the courthouse door in Searcy. On Monday, the 1st day of October, 1877. The contract to be awarded by the County Court." A.M. Foster, County Judge

From "Searcy Eagle", Dec. 10, 1859

Poorhouse

"By virtue of an order of county court of White County, Arkansas made at November term thereof A.D. December 1859. At the door of the Courthouse at 10 o'clock of said day, proceed to lease the Poor House in said county for a term of 12 months to the person who will pay the highest price for said Poor House and premises and will keep the paupers who may be placed in said Poor House for the smallest sum per month. Bond and security will be required of lessee according to law."

From "White County Record"; March 3, 1877

Poor House Barbeque

"The inmates of the White County Poor Farm are sending out special invitations for the citizens of White County to attend a Barbeque and Picnic and see for themselves how the Poor Farm is run under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Fox.

All old soldiers are invited to come and eat dinner with the inmates FREE. Politicians are all invited to come and speak. Barbequed sandwiches and cold drinks for sale on ground."

"From "Searcy News" August 5, 1926, p. 1, col. 6:

Letting of Contract for Paupers Coffins

The undersigned will receive bids covering Pauper coffins, digging graves and preparing for burial��.dead paupers of White County for the year 1897, until 12 o�clock noon January 4, 1897. Bids taken on each item separately. Bond to be paid of $300 for faithful performance of contract must accompany bids. Rights reserved to reject any and all bids.
G.W. Morrow, County Judge, White County, Ark.
This December 16, 1896

From The Arkansas Beacon December 25, 1896

Letting of Contract to Keep Paupers

The undersigned will receive bids until 12 o�clock noon January 4, 1897 for the contract to keep and subsist the county paupers of White County for the year 1897. Contractors will be required to furnish lights, fuel, food, clothes and all necessary medicine and medical attendance to all inmates of the poor farm or house. All bids must be uniform. Each bid to be accompanied by good and sufficient bond in sum of $2000 for faithful performance of contract. Blanks for bond and bids on file in County Clerks Office. Right reserved to reject any and all bids. G.W. Morrow, County Judge, White County, Ark.
This December 15, 1896.

The Arkansas Beacon December 15, 1896

Information from Eddie Best at the White Co. Historical Society:
Legal description: SE, NW, SW, Sect. 1, T7N, R7W
Earliest listed grave: 1914
Last listed grave: 1942
Arkansas Archeological Survey site #3WH0615

Gerald Torrence of the White County Historical Society first recorded this cemetery on July 27, 2001. He had heard stories from White County employees about the �poor house cemetery� located at the White County Fairgrounds and how the graves had been disappeared over the years. Only two tombstones remain.

In an article in the Searcy Sun February 9, 2006, Leroy Blair of the White County Historical Society wrote, �Where the White County Fairground is presently located, there was a place called the Poor Folks Home. I have traced its operation from 1859 to 1972. People who were poor or handicapped lived there. The people who died at the home and others were buried in a cemetery that was located about where the livestock display building is now located at the fairgrounds. The cemetery was called the County Farm Cemetery. I have been told that there may have been more than a hundred graves in the cemetery. Most were not marked. According to fair personnel there were two graves with tombstones � Charles Wilson and C.R. Wright. The two tombstones were moved up the hill near to the country garage. In going over death records in the county I have been able to find the names of four more people who were buried in the County Farm Cemetery. I was told that at least one grave was moved to Oak Grove Cemetery on Moore Street in Searcy. What became of the other hundred or so graves � were they moved to other cemeteries or are they still at the fairgrounds unmarked?�

If you have additional information on this cemetery or those buried here, contact the White County Historical Society, P.O. Box 537, Searcy, AR 72145.

Benifield, Matt � died September 27, 1938 � age about 35 � unmarked grave per Leroy Blair

Henderson, Trustin Oscar � June 4, 1857 � September 13, 1915 � unmarked grave per descendent Martha Poplin

Johnson, Andrew M. � died March 9, 1942 � age 71 years � unmarked grave per Leroy Blair

Kilring, Willett � died May 10, 1939 �age about 60 years � unmarked grave per Leroy Blair

Unidentified youth � killed by car at Bald Knob July 14, 1936 � age unknown � unmarked grave per Leroy Blair

Wilson, Charles � July 11, 1909 � May 7, 1941

Wright, C.R. � August 15, 1849 � December 23, 1914

The Poor Farm was a part of Searcy history and also a part of one of my family members. In finding information about the Poor Farm, I feel I�ve come to know Oscar just a little better, too.

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Webpage created by Martha Harris Poplin Last updated February 9, 2009

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