Boonsboro (now called Cane Hill): T. K. Kidd and Son

Evansville: B. Johnson

Fayetteville:
        Branch Bank of the State of Arkansas at Fayetteville (pictured below)
        Bank of Dixie (pictured below)
        Corporation of the Town of Fayetteville (pictured below)
        Fayetteville Post Office
        C. L. Fewell
        Fewell & Henley
        Holcomb & Barnard (pictured below)
        Wm M Kidd (pictured below)
        R. R. Newel
        Stirman & Dickson (pictured below)
        W. T. Taylor (pictured Below)
        Wade & Haswell
        W. A. Watson
        Fayetteville Labor Exchange

The Civil War came to Fayetteville, Arks on February 20, 1862. Fayetteville was burned and looted by the Confederate Army on February 20 and 21, 1862³under Gen. Ben McCulloch retreating in the face of advancing Union troops under the Command of General Curtis before the Battle of Pea Ridge. It is reported that all buildings on the square were burned except one brick building owned by Steven K. Stone. I assume most Fayetteville scrip notes still exist today because of the extensive destruction to the town during the war made redemption of the notes impossible.

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Branch Bank of the State of Arkansas at Fayetteville

According to Matt Rothert, Sr.'s book, Arkansas Obsolete Notes and scrip, SPMC 1985, there were no banks in Arkansas before it became a state in 1836. After formation as a state, the Legislature, in September 1836, authorized two banks: The first act of the legislature created the Real Estate Bank of Arkansas and the second act created the Bank of the State of Arkansas. According to Rothert, "There probably could not have been a more inopportune time in the history of the United States to start these two financial institutions. A depression, lasting from approximately 1834 to 1844, was in progress at the time, including the famous panic of 1837...this depression was caused by inflated land values, paper money speculation, and unregulated "wildcat banking".

Sound familiar?

The main bank of the Bank of the State of Arkansas in Little Rock opened August 15, 1837. Branch banks were located at Fayetteville, Batesville, and Washington Post but the opening of these banks was delayed due to lack of funds.

According to William S Campbell One Hundred Years of Fayetteville 1828-1928, page 77, the Branch Bank of the State of Arkansas at Fayetteville opened January 18, 1838 with the first notes issued February 2, 1838. Jacob Wythe Walker, father of Judge David Walker, signed notes up to November 1, 1838 and died in December 1838. According to an article in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly (Spring 1964), the original Board of Directors was James McKissick, President, Alfred Henderson, Lodowick Brodie, Morris Wright, William Skelton, John Henry, William T Lawrence and Alfred Wallace. James McKissick soon resigned (apparently before the bank even opened) and Jacob W. Walker was elected President. After Jacob Walker's death, W.L. Wilson was elected president. According to the same article, the bank was located in a two story brick building which stood on the site later occupied by the Van Winkle Hotel. According to William S Campbell One Hundred Years of Fayetteville 1828-1928, page 137, the Van Winkle Hotel was located at 24-28 East Center Street in Fayetteville. Campbell further writes "Who built the bank no one seems to know. It afterwards was used as a residence. Chas. Butterfield and family from Utica N.Y. lived in it while running the Overland Stage Lines from 1858 to 1861." Rothert reports the Branch Bank at Fayetteville was an extravagant affair costing $7,500 to build in 1837 yet only sold for $800 upon liquidation in the mid 1840's. That is little more than 10 cents on the dollar.

Center Street is the one way street that runs west from College Avenue (old Hwy 71B), makes up the north side of the Fayetteville square, and then continues west toward the University of Arkansas. Today, 24-28 Center Street is on the north side of the street about half way between College Avenue and the Fayetteville square.

The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, volume 26, autumn 1967, page 231 refers to a letter dated July 19, 1841 and published in the Times and Advocate newspaper in Little Rock on August 9, 1841 that calls the Branch Bank at Fayetteville the most poorly managed of the State banks. It is reported the Bank made large loans to State banking officials in violation of the Bank's Charter. In the same Quarterly, page 233, it is noted that Governor Archibald Yell appoints Alexander Boileau as a bank commissioner to investigate the rumors of mismanagement at the Fayetteville branch. The report of the completed investigation appears in the Gazette on July 29, 1842 and is called a shocking expose of fraud and embezzlement. Just before the investigation into the affairs of the Bank was begun, Mr. Ball reported that the four ledger books of the bank had been stolen. The Fayetteville Witness newspaper reports on May 1, 1841 that on the previous day (April 30th) the bank had been broken into and the ledger book were stolen. Based on the description of the break in, it appears to me to be an inside job and apparently no attempt was made to steal any funds - just the books. A search of the town and outlying areas was made.

Some of the books were later found, one in the West Fork of the White River and another in a barn belonging to Mr. Gillet, all badly mutilated. After the investigation, Mr. Ball was found to be short $46,199.60 (keep in mind this is in 1840 and differing amounts is reported in different articles), but escaped to Texas. Even though Rothert says he was found guilty, I did not run across any other information to make me believe he was ever prosecuted for this crime. It should also be noted here that I never found any information that said William McK Ball actually took the money but only that the Bank was short that amount while he was Cashier at the bank. In the Arkansas Historical Quarterly article Autumn 1967 page 234, bank examiner Boileau is reported to express conviction that the Fayetteville board of directors had furnished the general board (of the main bank at Little Rock) with false statistics (regarding the bank's true financial condition).

An online Google search for William Mck Ball returns a Google book titled House Document, otherwise publ. as Executive documents:13th Congress 2d which reports the following information starting on page 201:

May 6, 1841 Ball reports to the board of directors the robbery of the bank, that all four of the bank's books were stolen but that two of the books, the general ledger and the Bill-Book had been recovered although badly damaged. The Board authorized and did pay a $100 reward for the return of each of the books. (Authors note: the Fayetteville Witness newspaper article reports the robbery and search for the books on May 1, 1841 so it is assume this is minutes from the first board meeting after the actual robbery took place.)

June 4, 1841 negro Jim is paid $5 reward (thought the reward was $100) for the return of the third book. The board also authorized the bank's attorney to inquire as the legal authority of David Walker (note son of the first president of the bank Jacob Walker now deceased) and R. C. Byrd, members of the Arkansas Legislature, to act as commissioners to examine the bank. (Author's note: apparently these men could have been considered first for appointment by the governor but this action may have cause him to appoint Boileau instead.)

July 2, 1841 paid John Brodie $25 for the return of the fourth book.

August 18, 1841 the Baltimore Patriot newspaper says Ball has absconded to Texas

August 27, 1841 the board agrees that Boileau is at liberty to proceed with his examination of the bank.

September 29, 1841 it is reported that Ball has returned from Texas, denied all charges, and promised to bring charges himself against the persons slandering him.

October 4, 1841 the cash committee of the bank reports to the board that the books cannot be reconstructed without a thorough examination such as the one now being conducted by commissioner Boileau.

March 30, 1842 the Baltimore Patriot reports there can be little doubt as to Ball's guilt.

However, in the book Arkansas, 1800-1860 remote and restless by S. Charles Bolton, on page 60 Bolton writes that "Cashier William Mck Ball claimed he had over reported the specie (the funds of the bank) with approval from the board but the directors denied it". It is possible the board members, who could be personally liability for the banks losses, may have falsified the reports of the bank to cover up those losses and then framed Ball once the Governor appointed an examiner to investigate the Bank. While certainly not substantiated, this theory is further augmented by:

1.  Boileau's expressed conviction the Fayetteville board of directors had furnished the general board (of the main bank at Little Rock) with false statistics.

2. Ball also claims he falsified the books with the approval of the Fayetteville board.

3. The fact the board appears to have at first blocked the attempt of the Governor to appoint someone to examine the bank - an act they should have welcomed with open arms.

4. Who breaks into a bank and steals the banks books? I did not see anything that says any money was stolen and the description of the robbery seems to indicate the thieves specifically targeted the books and did not attempt to steal any money.

5. According to Rothert, the Fayetteville Board also committed other documented illegal acts.

6. Ball allegedly stole $46,000 over 39 months. That means on average, ball would have to have stolen $1,200 a month or about $60 per work day. The average salary for a bank cashier at the time was around $1,000 per year. Wouldn't someone have noticed that? Wouldn't someone notice him carrying out $60 in gold or silver coin every day? In a letter dated May 21, 1837 Jacob W Walker writes that his annual salary at the bank was to be $1,200 per year. As cashier, Ball's salary would have been some less than that. This means Ball would have to have stolen more than his entire annual salary EVERY month.

7. Wouldn't someone have noticed the amount of cash on hand was significantly less that the cash on the books? I mean $46,000 over 3 years? If the cash in the vault is supposed to be $50,000 and its $49,500, you probably wouldn't notice. But if the cash is supposed to be $50,000, aren't you going to notice if it’s only $4,000.

8. What started the investigation in the first place were rumors of the Board's mismanagement of the bank. If Ball stole all the money but no one knew about it, what started all the rumors?

9. Ball was never charged with the crime that I could determine. Surely it could not have been so difficult to prove someone stole such a large amount of money. Of course the books were destroyed but they were able to re-construct them enough to allege he stole $46,000. You would think they would have at least attempted to prosecute.

Whatever involvement the board of directors may have had, if any, will probably never be known. However, what is certain is these events played a part in down fall of the Bank of the State of Arkansas.

By 1843, all assets of the bank were in the hands of receivers to settle up the affairs of the bank. The Real Estate Bank followed a similar course. These bank failures resulted in the loss of millions of dollars to the State of Arkansas, its citizens, and its creditors.

As a result of these failures, the first amendment to the Constitution of Arkansas of 1836, ratified by the state legislature on November 17, 1846 read: "No bank or banking institution shall be hereafter incorporated or established in this State". Rothert further notes in his book that "As a result of this amendment, there were no commercial banks in Arkansas from 1846 until after the end of the Civil War."

About William Mckinly Ball

William McKinley Ball from all accounts seemed like a fine upstanding citizen. He is reported as one of Fayetteville's earliest citizens and the Flashback volume 15 #2 April 1965, page, 7, reports he was deputized as a deputy clerk of Fayetteville in June 1831. Information from various sources documents he was a member of the Washington County Bar, served in the Constitutional Convention of 1836, was one of the incorporators of the Fayetteville Female Academy, was one of the charter members of Masonic Washington Lodge No. 1 on December 13, 1838 and is reported as Treasurer of the Lodge in August 1841 (Volume 10 July 1960 page 45).  I found no reports of any embezzlement from Lodge funds.

About Jacob Wythe Walker

The following is taken from the book on the Walker Family written by W.M. Lemke and on file with the Washington County Historical Society: Jacob W. Walker was born September 7, 1778 in Culpeper County, Virginia and died in Fayetteville Arkansas in December 1838. He is buried in the Walker Cemetery across from the entrance to the Confederate Cemetery on East Mountain in Fayetteville.  He moved to Arkansas in 1836 and had nine children. The most prominent of which was Judge David Walker.

About the note:
This note is from the first issue by the Branch at Fayetteville, plate letter B, printed by Rawdon, Wright & Hatch, New York, serial number 284 and is dated February 2, 1838. The note was originally payable on demand but was changed to a post note (payable at a future date) by writing the words "after twelve months" above the "on demand" phrase. The note is payable to A. Wallace which was one of the Bank's directors.  It is signed by William McK. Ball as Cashier and Jacob W. Walker as President. Rothert rates all the Branch Bank at Fayetteville notes as R-6 with 6 to 10 known to exist. I would personally place the rating as R-5 as these note pop up at auction every so often so there must be more out there than 10.

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Bank of Dixie

The Bank of Dixie was a bank operating, I presume, on the square in Fayetteville at the start of the Civil War. It was apparently owned by W.L. Wilson who signed all the notes as President of the bank. As discussed above, the Bank of Dixie was an illegal bank that operated without benefit of a state charter or legal authority. Apparently, the laws were not enforced or maybe since it WAS the "Bank of Dixie", southern furor at the start of the war allowed the bending of laws. Had it been named the Bank of the Union...well, one wonders.

About the Note: Bank of Dixie notes are listed by Rothert as R-7 which means only 1-5 of each denomination is known to exist. All reported notes are dated January 8, 1862 and this note is serial number 167. Denominations include 25 cent, 50 cent, 75 cent, and one dollar. Rothert assumed larger denominations may have been issued. I personally have only seen a 25 cent note and this 75 cent note. This note is signed by W. L. Wilson who apparently made once last attempt at Banking even though it violated the Arkansas Constitution. It, like most businesses, was destroyed, along with the rest of the town, in the war.



About W.L. Wilson: The following information is taken from the History of Washington County, Arkansas copyright 1989 by the Shiloh Museum: Washington Lafayette (W.L.) Wilson was born in Verona, Oneida County, New York on May 8, 1810. He married Catherine Drysdale and moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas in the early 1830's  with his first land purchase recorded on June 27, 1839. W.L. was one of Fayetteville's earliest merchants, operating a dry good store on the north side of the Fayetteville square. Records show that his frame home was located on the north east corner of the square, that he was a representative of Washington County to the General Assembly of Arkansas in 1838, that he served in the Mexican War and died in Fayetteville in 1864. Catherine died in 1860. Both are buried in the Wilson plot just across from the entrance to the Confederate Cemetery in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Washington County Historical Society Flashback articles reveal the following:  Washington L. Wilson came to Fayetteville, Arkansas around 1831, helped organize the Masonic Lodge in 1835, was one of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas organizers in 1838, served as Master of the Washington County Lodge No. 1 in 1851 and High Priest of Far Western Chapter in 1854. His Paternal granddaughter reports in the Flashback -  W.L. Wilson conducted the meeting of the Masonic Lodge the night before his death. He died suddenly of a heart attack. His wife had preceded him in death several years before.

His exact connection to the Branch Bank of the State of Arkansas at Fayetteville is not clear. As discussed above, he was the president and signed notes issued by this bank for a time around the 1838-1840 period and then in January 1862 issued notes under the name Bank of Dixie. It appears he conducted these banking activities in addition to his mercantile business. The exact location of the Bank of Dixie has not been established. It could well have been located in his store.

W.L. had 7 children (4 girls and 3 boys). According to the articles in the Flashback, one son, Drysdale, joined the Confederate Army at age 14, lost a leg at Pea Ridge (Fayetteville Arkansas in the Civil War by Russell L. Mahan, copyright 2003 page 54), and died a few years later. A daughter married John Thomas who, in the 1840's, owned the farm where the Frisco railroad curves south across Dickson Street. The Thomas Family cemetery plot is now Evergreen Cemetery in Fayetteville. Another daughter, Sarah, married Henry Rieff, a well known Fayetteville merchant. According to the Book Fayetteville Arkansas in the Civil War by Russell L. Mahan, copyright 2003 page 19, Henry Rieff was appointed Colonel of the 20th Regiment of the Arkansas Militia and raised a militia company in Fayetteville called "The Washington Rifle Guards". Mahan also reports that Kate Wilson (spelling) died on November 16, 1859 after a long illness. It is also reported in the Flashback that W.L. gave a very young Stephen K Stone his first job upon arriving in Fayetteville clerking in his store. SK Stone would one day be one of Fayetteville's most wealthiest citizens.


According to The Journal of J.L. Dickson, published by the Washington County Historical Society Fayetteville, Arkansas, Joseph Lawrence Dickson was born September 23, 1817 and died October 6, 1868. He came to Fayetteville with his Father, Ephrain D Dickson, in 1835 and married Sarah McKissick on April 8, 1847. She died February 2, 1892. All are buried it the Evergreen Cemetery in Fayetteville.

Harvey Stirman and Joseph Dickson were successful merchants in Fayetteville during the 1850's and up to the Civil War. Dickson street in Fayetteville is named after Joseph Dickson⁴. According to the book, Once Upon a Time on Dickson Street, the Stirman and Dickson store was located on the North side of the Fayetteville square and the Dickson home was located on the north side of West Dickson Street were the Central United Methodist Church now stands. They were also co-owners in a milling operation with Judge Jonas Tebbetts in south east Fayetteville⁵ .  It is also reported that Joseph Dickson and W.L. Wilson bought stock in the Arkansas Western Railroad on January 10, 1853.

About the Notes

These notes, issued from his store, are dated just weeks prior to the burning of the town at the hands of the Confederates. As a result, notes were not issued after this date.

Stirman and Dickson Merchants Fayetteville, Arkansas January 25, 1862 $2.00 Note listed as R-7. Printed on the back of 25 cents notes from the Corporation of the Town of Fayetteville, May 1, 1842.

This note is the note listed in the book as it once belonged to Matt Rothert's personal collection and is listed as R-6. I am very happy to have it in my collection.

My understanding is the store was rebuilt on the same spot after the war but Joseph Dickson died in 1868.

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W. T. Taylor

Rothert's book list a W. T. Taylor, 50 cent note as R-7. This $1 dollar note is not listed. Note dated May 29, 1862 issued in Fayetteville, Arkansas. An excellent note printed on yellow paper. Serial number 442. Rothert further says George Gibson defeated W. T. Taylor for sheriff of Washington County in 1860. The Washington County sheriff's history does show the George Gibson did defeat a W.P. Taylor for Washington County sheriff in 1860. The Fayetteville Arkansan newspaper articles dated from June 1860 to September 1860 documents that Whitson B Taylor ran for sheriff of Washington County and was defeated by George Gibson. He had served as a deputy for a while and had apparently prior law enforcement experience. No additional information has been found concerning a W. T. or W.P. Taylor. Information is available on Whitson B Taylor who was a carpenter shop, ran a wagon making business and owned 4 slaves, a lot of land, and personal property according to the 1860 census.  According to land records of Washington County, the signature for Whitson B Taylor does NOT match that of this note. Whoever the issuer was, he was not Whitson B Taylor. Based on the signature on the note, it appears the name of the issuer was W. T. Taylor. Accordingly, I have no choice but to assume Rothert's information is not correct and that W. T. Taylor is not the person who ran for sheriff in 1860. Assuming this to be true, who, then, was W. T. Taylor and why does no information for him surface?

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Holcomb and Barnard, Fayetteville

About Jo Holcomb

Joseph (Jo) Holcomb was a merchant, land speculator, and business partner in Barnard's drug store in Fayetteville.

The following information was obtained from the book John Holcombe's Odyssey by Herbert Gordon Holcomb, copyright 1999:

Joseph Holcomb went by Jo (signing all notes as Jo Holcomb) and was the oldest son to John Holcombe who settle the town of Shiloh that is now known as Springdale, Arkansas. Jo was born November 2, 1825 in Fulton County, IL and died in Fayetteville on August 19, 1904. He married Cener Boone, Born March 14, 1839 and Died June 11, 1867, on December 12, 1860 in Fayetteville. His second wife was Sarah Isabelle Smith Dupree born January 16, 1844 died May 30, 1898 in Springdale. They were married on May 20, 1869. The Holcombe family home was on the east side of Spring Creek in what is now downtown Springdale just across the creek from the Shiloh museum as shown in this 1876 map of Shiloh. Note the map is turned sideways and north is to the left while the top of the page is east.


Jo began clerking in the Washington County Clerks office at the age of 19. He also obtained the Land Grant Script rights to thousands of acres across north west Arkansas in what is today Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, and Newton Counties. What is now the town of Western Grove, then known as Marshall's Prairie, in north east Newton County was started on 160 acres purchased by Jo from a Choctaw Indian⁶. In 1851, Jo sells land to Stephen K Stone and begins a successful partnership in the Stone and Holcomb mercantile business selling staples, dry goods, books, and hardware. He purchased the Ridge house in 1859, married Cener Boone on December 12, 1860 and sold the Ridge house on April 19, 1861. Jo apparently was not active in military affairs in 1861 but does volunteer as Commissary Officer for the Cane Hill Hospital in November 1862. B.F. Boone, Cener's cousin, was badly wounded at Prairie Grove and died on March 1, 1863. After his death, Jo enlists as private in the Confederate Calvary on May 10, 1863 and serves for the remainder of the war as assistant quartermaster clerk to Major John Crawford under the command and at the Headquarters of General William Cabell. After the war, Jo moves to Mineral Springs in Hempstead County, Arkansas were Cener dies after childbirth on June 11, 1867. Herbert Gordon Holcomb writes "Jo was heartbroken as he had always held her in high esteem. She was known to be a very capable and beautiful woman. Cener's grave cannot be found. Maybe future records will reveal it, but it appears that Jo placed his "Queen" in a private grave only to his knowledge." At this time, Jo was also in business partnership with his former command, Major John Crawford in Mineral Springs. On May 20, 1869, Jo marries Sarah Isabelle Smith Dupree, liquidates most of his holdings and moves back to Shiloh (Springdale) in 1870. In 1872, Jo is elected as Washington County Circuit Clerk, purchases a home in Fayetteville on May 27, 1873, originally built by Henry Reiff, on the north side of Center Street block 18 right across the street from the Walker- Stone house where he had lived in 1860 before marring Cener. It appears Jo had come full circle. Jo won a second term in 1874 but sold the home and moved back to Springdale on March 16, 1876. His father, John, had sold him almost all his property holdings on October 25, 1875 totaling 493 acres. It is reported John is in failing health at the time. Jo Holcomb continues to live out his years in Springdale, outliving his second wife, and dying at the age of 79 on August 19, 1904. What a life this man lived and the events he lived through. This knowledge makes collecting Holcomb notes significantly more enjoyable.

The following appeared in The Springdale News on 8/23/1904:

"The final summons came for Uncle Jo Holcomb on Friday night and at 10:30 o'clock...he quietly and peacefully passed away. His death occurred at Fayetteville at the home of his daughter where he was making his home. His death was sudden and unexpected as he had been feeling well as usual on Friday..soon it was all over. The faint flickering glow had been forever dimmed..There was no pain, no struggle - a simple, peaceful transition. Funeral services were held at the South Methodist Church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock.. The remains were taken to the Bluff cemetery" in Springdale.

According to Russell L Mahan, Fayetteville Arkansas in the Civil War, The Arkansian was a weekly newspaper whose purpose was political in nature and was owned by James R. Pettigrew and Elias C. Boudinot with William Quesenberry as editor. The following information was provided by Charlie Alison: Another note on Barnard from the Jan. 25, 1861, issue of The Arkansian (page 2, column 2): "The office and entire business of the Arkansian has been removed to the second Story of the Dunlap buildings, immediately over the Drug Store of Mr. Barnard, west side of the Court Square; where we shall at all times be pleased to receive and accommodate those who are in any manner disposed to encourage this our new enterprise." Barnard's Drug Store was on the west side of the Fayetteville Square.

About the notes

Barnard's Drug Store did issue three different series of notes dated January 15, 1862, January 17, 1862, and January 27, 1862 all signed by Jo Holcomb on the front and James Barnard on the back.

Holcomb and Barnard Drug Store Fayetteville, Arkansas January 17, 1862 2.50 note  listed as R-6

Holcomb and Barnard Drug Store Fayetteville, Arkansas January 17, 1862 .50 cent note listed as R-6

Holcomb and Barnard Drug Store Fayetteville, Arkansas January 27, 1862 .50 cent note listed as R-6

Apparently both the extreme left and right ends of this note have been cut off at some time in the past possibly when the note was redeemed as a way to cancel the note?

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William Kidd

About the Note:
William Kidd notes are rare and listed as R-7 in the book. This note was once part of the personal collection of  Matt Rothert and is the note listed in the book. The book list denominations of 25 cents, 50 cents, $1 dollar and $2 dollar so we know there must be at least 4 notes still in existence. One of the things interesting about this note is the Fayetteville post office stamp on the back. It appears this may be an actual time period post office stamp. Possibly the note was printed on the back of an envelope.

Wm Kidd note dated August 12, 1862 one week before his father, Tandy K Kidd was shot dead in the streets of Boonboro (Cane Hill).  While this note has some wear and tears, it is a great addition to my collection and is a very rare note.

The note has a post office stamp on the back. Maybe printed on the back of an envelope?

About William Kidd : The following information is taken from the Kidd Family manuscripts.

William Madison Kidd was born the second oldest son to Tandy Kee Kidd on August 10, 1839. At the time of the Civil War, Tandy K Kidd was a well to do farmer and ran the flour mill and store south of Boonsboro (now Cane Hill) and operated a saw mill in Cane Hill.  T.K Kidd was shot dead on the street in Cane Hill near the water trough on August 19, 1862 by a Perry Parks. Some say the shooting was as a result of political differences and some say it simply was a dispute over a grain purchase the two were negotiating.

In May 1861 William M Kidd joined Co. B 3rd Arkansas Infantry, State Troops and participated in the Battle of Wilsons' Creek near Springfield, MO on August 10, 1861 where William was slightly wounded. The company disbanded when it returned to Cane Hill. This ended Williams documented military activities.

In 1861, Tandy Kidd bought the Ridge house in Fayetteville possibly as a wedding gift to William. In January 1862, William M married Mary E Moore. After his father's murder, William and his wife moved to Clarksville, TX. However, in 1863 he was indicted in Fayetteville for treason for .."excite insurrection, rebellion and war against the United States.." Based on the accounts, it appears he made a number of trips back and forth from Texas and Arkansas.

It is reported that William and family returned to Fayetteville sometime in 1867 where he owned a salon, a general store, a restaurant and speculated in real estate. In 1874, they returned to Clarksville where William M would die on November 28, 1876 of pneumonia..

No mention is made of William Kidd operating a store in Fayetteville in 1862. Yet, the note exist. It is possible William did not operate a store but issued the money to be payable at the Ridge house where he was apparently residing at the time. This thought has merit since much of the Fayetteville business section existed on the square and was burned during the Confederate retreat on February 20th and 21st, 1862.

The following items were noted in the family documents:
September 19, 1859 Ridge House sold to Joseph (Jo) Holcomb (see discussion of Jo Holcomb above)
1861 - it is unclear if T.K. bought the Ridge House or if William bought it. Later court documents say William owned it.
October 1865 William Kidd is reported to the court as out of state
August 14, 1866 it is reported to the court that William Kidd can't be found
December 3, 1866 William M and Mary E Kidd transfer Ridge House to Fredrick M Kidd where it was reported they (William and Mary) had been living.
August 20, 1867 Ridge House is sold at public auction to James D. Walker and J.R. Pettigrew
Apparently William owned a number of houses in Fayetteville because the legal papers refer to a list of homes abandoned by William Kidd between 1865 and 1870. A notation says 25 homes were abandon?? but no additional information is provided.

Early Streets of Cane Hill or Boonsboro, Arkansas around turn of century looking south.

Early streets of Cane Hill or Boonsboro, Arkansas around turn of century looking north. You can still see the watering trough??

Cane Hill (Boonsboro) today looking south.


T K Kidd and sons mill south of Cane Hill - or remains thereof - as it appears today

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Town of Fayetteville
This note is actually the back of the Stirman and Dickson 50 cent note. The Corporation of Fayetteville printed these notes dated May 1, 1842 and this one was never issued so they turned it over and printed on the back. It was recycled. The left end and the bottom is cut off a little but most of the original note is still intact.

Town of Fayetteville, Arkansas interest Note 50 cents 1873. I assume these bonds were issued to finance the University of Arkansas. One of my planned research projects is to find out more about these bonds and why they were issued.