Greenwich Connecticut

Establishment of Fort Smith in 1817

Quapaw Cession Map

In 1817, a military post was established at Belle Point, now Fort Smith, Arkansas, to protect white settlers and the Cherokee from Osage hostilities. Major William Bradford led the detachment tasked with this, supported by Major Stephen H. Long, who surveyed the area. The post was strategically located at the junction of the Poteau and Arkansas rivers, facilitating navigation and trade. Subsequent treaties with the Osage and other tribes led to significant land cessions, shaping early relations and territorial boundaries in the region.

Biography of John H. Stephens

John H. Stephens, born on January 8, 1847, in New York City, was an influential educator and postmaster in Clifton Springs, New York. After graduating from local schools and attending Canandaigua Academy, he held various teaching roles from 1868 to 1881, including principal positions and school commissioner. He served as principal of Clifton Springs school and later became postmaster in 1906, a role he maintained with confidence and respect for many years. He was active in community organizations and was married to Elizabeth Johnson, with three accomplished children.