Madison County Arkansas in the Civil War Madison County had a number of skirmishes and troop movements during the Civil War but no real battles. According to the Civil war Timeline, there were 5 skirmishes in or near Huntsville throughout the war, 1 in Kingston on November 10, 1863, and 1 listed only as Madison County on January 15, 1865. It is my understanding much of Huntsville and Kingston was destroyed during this fighting. Known Scrip notes issued in Madison County, Arkansas during the Civil War Huntsville: H C Berry J C Smith (pictured below) White and Norris Hindsville: S H Carlile Kingston: J A Parker W P Rodgers (pictured below) W & WC Wilkerson Wesley: Elijah Drake J. C. Smith Rothert list all J. C. Smith notes as R-7. He reports a 25 cent and two printing varieties of $2.50. This one dollar, printed on what looks like paper from a brown paper bag is a nice addition to my collection. I cannot read the writing in the bottom left side of the note. I did notice that one of the $2.50 notes pictured in Rothert's book has similar writing on it. That is where the serial number is on the other two notes so I assume that is a serial number. Mine appears to be 160 454?  About J. C. Smith The following information was provided by the Madison County Historical and Genealogical: John Calvin Smith was born October 13, 1830 in TN and died January 29, 1901 in Tarrant County, Texas. He married Elizabeth Caroline Fagan on January 28, 1849 in Cannon County, TN. J.C. Smith was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and moved to Huntsville Arkansas in about 1853. It appears John and his family moved to Denton County Texas late in 1862 to avoid the Civil War. John and Elizabeth had 3 children, 2 boys and 1 girl, all born in Huntsville, before she died on December 12, 1863 in Denton, TX. He re-married Lucy C. Blount and had 6 children with Lucy. It is reported that in Texas, he ran a general store called J.C. Smith & Co. Based on this, it is reasonable to assume he operated a general store on the Huntsville square and thus the reason for issuing this note. This note is dated March 21, 1862 before the Civil War really came home to Huntsville. From late 1862 through 1864, the war would ravage Huntsville as it did most of north west Arkansas. Huntsville square has some very old buildings. The First National Bank on the north east corner of the square has a new front but the old building can still be seen along the sides and back.  Hindsville today. You would never believe a store large enough to issue their own money once was located here.  Kingston - little remains of this once vibrant community in east central Madison County although the old square still exist at the intersections of Hwy 21 and 74. Hwy 21 actually makes up the west and south side of the square. It's easy to see why these isolated communities needed to issue their own scrip as I am sure money was scarce. According to Goodspeed's Histories, Kingston was laid out in 1853 and was named in honor of King Johnson. Located on the road from Clarksville to Springfield with the road from Jasper and Carrollton, Kingston was at an important cross road at the time of the civil war. The first house was built by King Johnson and the first store was built by Johnson and William P Rodgers who operated the store from the founding of the town to many years later. W.P. Rodgers is listed in Rothert's as issuing 25 cent and 50 cent notes. All are listed as R-7 and are very scarce. Mine is in very rough shape, like me, but is still a very welcome addition to my collection as Madison County scrip is hard to find.The "town" consisted of mainly the square and most of it was burned during the Civil War. According to the 1860 census, William P Rodgers, Merchant, age 37, born in Alabama, wife Sarah M. age 21, born in Arkansas, Berry A., son, age 4, born in Arkansas, Bellmedia, Daughter, age 2, born in Arkansas. According to information provided by the Madison County Historical society, Saraha M Rodgers died January 1, 1861 and is buried near Kingston. The son Berry was noted to live in Texas in the 1880 census. What happened to William P is unknown. It is safe to assume he moved his family to Texas to escape the war. This note is dated July 25, 1862 so we know he was still in Kingston up to that date. I did find a William P Rodgers who acquired land in Franklin County (just south of Madison County) which is located to the north and east of present day Ozark in Franklin County, Arkansas on the north side of modern day Interstate 40 and east of modern day highway 23. I am assuming at the current time they are one and the same persons.  The bank at Kingston still boast the old fashion bank teller window with the cashier and bookkeeper windows and the excellent wood work. It was almost like stepping into a museum.  And the old safe still protecting your money from fires and mobs. One less thing to worry about.  Wesley - Nothing exist today of this once thriving community but an old store, long since closed, a post office and a church. Wesley is located in west central Madison County at the intersection of Hwy 74 and 295.  |