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Russell Pennington of Springdale qsfced ipe swhile back to check on the origin of the name ofYellville, the Marion County seat. He said a friendfrom Mountain Home had given him an explanation of how Yellville got its name, but he wondered if there might be other explanations.His friend’s version went this way: In the pioneer days, when the Ozarks were first being settled by whites, the Indians had a campground a large hollow where Yellville now stands. The settlers were treated to a lot of drum beating, hollering and yelling by the Indians, and so they named the settlement Yellville. I rather like that little story and and am glad to add it to my collection. However, there’s another one and it doesn’t concern Indians at all.Yell County, which is in west-central Arkansas, was named for Archibald Yell. This is known for certain. Arkansas historians generally presumeYellville was named for the same man, and a man he was. He first came into the Ozarks from Tennessee, and settled in Fayetteville. He had been appointed a territorial judge by Pres. Andrew Jackson, with whom he had served in the war of 1812. Then when Arkansas became a state, Yell was elected our first congressman, governor for two terms. He was killed by aican lancer while leading a charge in the Battle of Buena Vista, near Saltillo, Coahuila, in the Mexican War. His grave is in Evergreen Cemetery in Fayetteville. His home, “Waxhaws,” which was oneof the oldest frame houses in the Ozarks Country, was torn down in recent years. It stood on a hilltop just south of Fayetteville.Many places in the Ozarks are named for individuals. For example,1 Harrison honors the memory of M. LaKue Harrison, who surveyed the townsite. He commanded Federal troops at the Battle of Fayetteville, by the way. Beaver wasnamed for Wilson Beaver, a pioneer, and nowBeaver Dam and Lake perpetuate his memory. Several counties in the Ozarks were named forindividuals. Marion honors Francis Marion of Revolutionary War fame. Benton was named for Thomas H. Benton, longtime U.S. senator from Missouri. Gov. Elisha Baxter’s name was given tothe county newly formed 98 years ago this month.The name of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was given to Carroll County. And Washington County was named for the “father” of our patipEu Historians disagree about the origin Booife County’s namer^buttftffee^a^ it was *spi r*by the fame of OF Daniel hinfself.v , V/While it’s pleasant to look into the stories of places named for people, I find special enjoyment in “tall tale” origins of place names in the Ozarks.For example there’s Fly Gap on Highway 23 in the Bostons in Franklin County, near the Mulberry RiTTer. Tradition has it that a lot of moonshine distilling used to go on there, and great swarms offiles were attracted to the gap. Thus, Fly Gap. And there’s Gassvilie, in Baxter County, about which I asked a local resident some years ago. He told me that a crew of railroad trackmen were installing a sidetrack there years ago and had to give it a name. They argued late into the nightaround their campfire. Finally one of the groupcommented that there’d been so much “gassingIJabout the matter they might as well name it Gassville. As my friend Otto Ernest Rayburn, the folklore authority, used to say, I don’t vouch forof such stories, but merely tell’em thewere told to me.
Newspaper Details
Harrison Daily Times
Harrison, Arkansas, US
Tue, Mar 09, 1971
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Tanya W.
USA 11 Mar 2023
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