Fayetteville Manuscripts

A Sensational Marriage in 1891

On April 22, 1891, the Cherokee Advocate at Tahlequah, Indian Territory, published the following short note about a hastily arranged marriage across the border from Arkansas.

"Quite a sensational marriage occured [sic] in our usually quiet city on Wednesday morning, the contracting parties were Mr. J.A. Arnet of Fayetteville, Ark., and Miss Alice Fancher, of Berryville, Ark. It seems that it was extreme circumstances at home compelled them to come abroad in order that the marriage vows might be solemized [sic]. Miss Fancher is the beautiful seventeen year old daughter of a prominent merchant in Berryville, while Mr. Arnet is a prominent young business man at Fayetteville; the happy couple returned to implore the forgiveness [of] their angry parents."

Obituary of James Hayden Van Hoose

The following obituary of James Hayden Van Hoose was published in the Arkansas Democrat on Monday, May 8, 1899. Van Hoose was twice elected mayor of Fayetteville and served as representative in the Arkansas General Assembly one term as well.

COL. J. H. VAN HOOSE

Sad Death of an Arkansas Pioneer
in Washington County Last
Saturday Afternoon.

WAS INJURED BY A GUN

He Was Prominent in Masonic Circles,
and Was a Member of the State
Legislature in 1897

FAYETTEVILLE, May 7. — (Special.) — Col. J. H. Van Hoose died a few miles east of this city Saturday as the result of an unfortunate accident. With some friends he had gone to the country, hunting, and an accidental discharge of his gun cause a recoil which struck him with such force that an internal injury was inflicted, resulting in death soon afterward.

Twice did he serve Fayetteville in the capacity of major, and his record has been an excellent one. He was elected a member of the general assembly in September, 1896, and amply demonstrated his ability to fill the position. He was chairman of the committee on insurance and a member of the temperance committee during the session of 1897. He was the author of a bill to regulate insurance companies and one to encourage the growth of grapes. For forty years he had been a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was one of the most prominent figures in Masonic circles in the state, and, indeed, throughout the United States, ranking among the highest degree Masons. He was correspondent for a number of leading papers, and achieved quite a reputation in journalism, as both historian and poet. His writings have for years found an extended and appreciative reading public through the columns of “The Arkansas Democrat.” His mind was stored with an illimitable fund of reminiscences, and his long residence in the northwest gave him a grasp of pioneer history that comparatively few possessed.

James Hayden Van Hoose became a resident of Fayetteville in 1850. He was born January 8, 1830, near Paintsville, Johnson county, Ky., son of John and Lydia Van Hoose, who were natives of North Carolina, but who died in Washington county. He came to Arkansas with his parents June 1, 1839, they settling on the Middle Fork of White river, in Washington county. He received schooling in the “old-field” schools of the county, taught in log-houses with dirt floors and split puncheons for desks and seats. He worked for his father until 21 years of age, then went to Ozark Institute, near Fayetteville, for fifteen months, working to pay his board. He then went into the store of James Sutton as clerk, and sold goods for him for four years. Next he went into the mercantile business with Wm. McIlroy, and continued selling goods until 1881, when he entered into the life-insurance business which he followed the rest of his life. In 1856 he was appointed notary public by Gov. Elias N. Conway, and held the position continuously till his death. He was mayor of Fayetteville from April, 1880, to April, 1881, and in April, 1888, was elected again for two years. He was twice married. August 9, 1855, in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at Fayetteville, he was married to Miss Melinda Ann McIlroy, and after her death he was married in the same church, June 13, 1869, to Miss Martha W. Skelton. There are no children now living of these marriages. He, however, raised an orphan girl, Mary W. Eaton, who is now the wife of Samuel Jarman, of Burton, Phillips county. Taking an active part in Masonry, he was honored by that fraternity, having been grand master, grand high priest and grand commander. He joined that order in 1853, and never changed his membership. He was born and raised a Methodist, but out of respect to the memory of his first wife, who was an Episcopalian, became a member of the Episcopal Church in 1868, being confirmed by Bishop Henry C. Lay. He was an ardent Henry Clay Whig in politics, and reverenced Albert Pike, Absalom Fowler, Frederick W. Trapnell, Robert Crittenden, David Walker and other Whig leaders in Arkansas, but after the demise of that party was an ardent and uncompromising Democrat.

Obituary of J. Linn Duke

The following obituary of J. Linn Duke, a prominent jeweler and civic leader in Fayetteville during the last half of the 19th century, was published in the Arkansas Gazette on January 28, 1898. The battle of Oak Hill was the Confederate name for the Battle of Wilson Creek near Springfield, Mo.

J. LINN DUKE.

Was One of Fayetteville's Most Prominent Citizens

FAYETTEVILLE, January 23 — (Special Correspondence) — A gloom hangs over our little city on this Sabbath day on account of the death of our old and intimate friend, J. Linn Duke, who for more than forty years has been one of our most enterprising citizens. Mr. Duke had been very successful in business and owns several elegant brick buildings in the city, and the handsomest jewelry store in northwest Arkansas. His wife and Miss Annie, his only child, are greatly distressed, but he had suffered so long and so severely that they find some consolation in the fact that his sufferings have ended. He had been kept alive several days by artificial means.

Mr. Duke has a host of friends in Arkansas and Missouri who will be sorry to hear of his death. He came to Fayetteville in the year of 1856, when quite a youth, and had lived here ever since. He enlisted in the first military company organized in this county, in May, 1861, known as the Pike Guards, commanded by Captain S. R. Bell, who was killed in the battle of Oak Hill, August 10, 1861. No braver, truer, southern soldier, ever wore the gray than Linn Duke, and his only brother Martelis Duke, who was adjutant of Colonel Burk’s regiment and was killed in the battle of Prairie Grove. This is the third veteran of that splendid company of volunteers who has died at this place within the last ten months — First Colonel E. B. Moore, ex-secretary of state, then Ben McCurdy, who died two weeks ago, and now Mr. Duke. There are but few members of that company left.

Mr. Duke will be buried tomorrow at 3 o’clock p.m. in Evergreen Cemetery, by the Knights of Honor, to which order he belonged for twenty years, having been one of the charter members of the lodge of this place.