Establishment of Fort Smith in 1817

Quapaw Cession Map

The white population in Arkansas in 1817 had increased to several thousand, whose protection, as well as that of the Cherokee people living in that territory, from the continued hostilities of the Osage, required the establishment of a military post at the western border dividing the white settlements from the Osage. From Saint Louis came further news of threatened hostilities by the Osage near Clermont’s Town, and a report that Major William Bradford with a detachment of United States riflemen, and accompanied by Major Long, topographical engineer, had left that city for the purpose of establishing a military post on … Read more

Biography of Jasper Newton Wilkinson

Jasper Newton Wilkinson of Muskogee is widely known as a most enthusiastic Rotarian and as an untiring worker in the interests of boys. In the latter connection he is state councilor of the Order of DeMolay for Boys and is doing a work of far-reaching importance. In the business world, too, he has made a creditable name and place for himself as a lumber dealer in Illinois and as a banker in Oklahoma. He was born in Vinton County, Ohio, a son of Jackson and Mary (Morrison) Wilkinson, both of southern descent. In 1874 he was graduated from the Illinois … Read more

Progressive Men of Western Colorado

Early Life in Colorado

This manuscript, in its essence, is a collection of 948 biographies of prominent men and women, all leading citizens of Western Colorado. In this context, Western Colorado encompasses the counties of Archuleta, Chaffee, Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Lake, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Routt, San Juan, and San Miguel.

Earliest Known Traders on Arkansas River

Country Home of Augustus Pierre Chauteau

With the help of contemporary records it is possible to identify some of the early traders at the Mouth of the Verdigris. Even before the Louisiana Purchase, hardy French adventurers ascended the Arkansas in their little boats, hunting, trapping, and trading with the Indians, and recorded their presence if not their identity in the nomenclature of the adjacent country and streams, now sadly corrupted by their English-speaking successors. French Influence in Arkansas One of the first of the French traders up the Arkansas whose name has been recorded was Joseph Bogy, an early resident of the old French town, Arkansas … Read more

Descendants of Richard Borden of Fall River MA

American Printing Company 1910 Illustration

The Borden family is an ancient one both here in New England and over the water in old England, as well as one of historic interest and distinction. The New England branch has directly or indirectly traced the lineage of the American ancestor, Richard Borden, many generations back in English history. His first English forbear went over to England from Bourdonnay, Normandy, as a soldier under William the Conqueror, and after the battle of Hastings — A.D. 1066 — was assigned lands in the County of Kent, where the family afterward became useful, wealthy and influential, the village where they … Read more

Abby Family of New England

A genealogical dictionary of the first settlers of New England vol 1

Variants: ABBY, ABBEY, ABBEE, or ABEY John Abby, Salem An early settler of New England, born about 1613, if age at death is any indication, died late in life, 1689-90. Probably arrived in 1635 aboard the bonaventure. In Salem in 1637, when grant of land was made to him, of Reading later, and freeman 1685, then called senior. John Abby, Wenham Born about 1636, probably in Salem, son of the John preceding; died suddenly in 1700, leaving widow Hannah, and child Richard, b. 9 Feb. 1683; prob. others. Moved from Wenham about 1696 to Windham, Connecticut, where he was admitted … Read more