A History of The Sheridan Headlight

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By Melody Moorehouse, Publisher

Note: The following is a compilation of information taken from historical records and historians, as well as former editors/publishers of The Headlight. There is some missing information - this is a work in progress by our current owner/publisher, Melody A. Moorehouse.

            The Sheridan Headlight was founded on Sept. 1, 1881 and has been around almost as long as Grant County itself and has recorded many changes over the years in the community. The newspaper has served as a historian, observer and promoter of civic pride and as a major source of recorded community history.

            Grant County Historian Elwin Goolsby has noted that the small-town newspaper is a mirror of the community and provides insight into the local history.

            “It not only records the local happenings, it lives them.,” he said. “It would be pleasant to be all good news with rosy-colored glasses, but that is not the way our society is any more. The newspaper has to report the bad along with the good, otherwise it wouldn’t provide a good overview of the community. We enjoy now going back and reading old articles and looking at old photographs to learn about the history and development of Grant County. Well today’s news in the future will be the history. Years from now people can go back and look at old issues and learn a lot about what was happening here today by reading the newspaper.”

            “One of the best things about the Headlight is that it is locally owned and is local news that is unique to Grant County. When you pick up the Headlight it’s not the same news that’s in the state-wide newspaper, it’s about local people, the schools, churches, society and civic clubs, ball teams… things you won’t be able to find in the daily or large coverage newspapers,” he added. “With more and more group or chain ownership the identity of small-town newspapers is diminishing, along with the community as people become wrapped up in their own lives. Some people nowadays don’t even take the time to know their neighbors or who lives across the street, or even the names of important local government leaders. The Headlight kind of helps residents keep in touch with these local roots.”

            Goolsby’s sentiments are also echoed throughout historical references of early newspaper history in the United States. M.V Atwood, author of The Country Newspaper, noted that the early small-town press loved its community and that the content of hometown newspapers was what made it distinguishable from the dailies and other weeklies.

Bernard A. Weisberger, author of The American Newspaperman, stated that common early newspaper content involved clippings from exchange papers, literary pages, telegraphic news concerning state, national and international incidents and syndicated material; and the local news consisting mostly of personal chit-chat.

Today, as in the past, many country newspapers still carry personal news. Some editors claim it is old-fashioned and space consuming, yet others suggests it preserves the tradition of the small town paper--to get as many names as possible into the paper, a tradition that is promoted by the current editorship at The Headlight.

“The Headlight enjoys promoting our roots. We want people to be able to pick up The Headlight and find news, features, club information, society, church and other items as they relate to Grant County. You find stories about people, clubs, churches et cetera in The Headlight that you’re not going to find elsewhere,” SAYS WHO?

Once past the turn of the early 1900s, weekly newspapers continued their healthy growth. The peak of country newspapers occurred around 1914 to 1916. The number of newspapers tripled during the years 1870 to 1900, and the number of newspapers continued to rise, hitting a peak in the mid-teens when there were almost 15,000 weekly newspapers in the U.S.

COUNTRY WEEKLY DESCRIBED

The weekly newspapers of today's small communities, as in the past, have maintained a characteristic that has set them apart from dailies and other types of weeklies. A country newspaper is not just a newspaper that is published in rural America. Rather, it is defined by its relationship with the town, how it's managed and its news emphasis. The characteristic that plays the largest role in setting the country weekly apart is the role it plays in the community. In 1923, M.V. Atwood described the weekly as a cornerstone of the community: “The country weekly is not only a community institution, but it is an institution, in possibilities for helpfulness, at least, the equal of the others mentioned; it is an institution which can affect and aid greatly the work of all the other institutions. It can speak to hundreds, where the church, for example, can only speak to scores.”

Many country newspapers and the communities they serve had, and do have, an intense closeness. The editors do not and can not distinguish himself or herself from the job in public. The editor, through the newspaper's contents, solidifies the community.

THE SHERIDAN HEADLIGHT

One result of the Easterners' trek westward during the early 1800s was the development of country weeklies. In the area now recognized as Grant County, Arkansas, the first residents were the Mound Builders. These people hunted wild game, built earthen mounds for religious, burial and living purposes, and were largely farmers.23 By 1541 the Mound Builders had disappeared from the area and the territory was settled by the peaceful Quapaw Indians from the Ohio Valley, who later ceded the land in 1818 to the United States and left the area by 1833.24 The first white men did not penetrate the area until 1541. The first to enter was Spaniard Hernado DeSoto, who entered Arkansas south of Helena and proceeded to the central part of the state, where he entered the Benton area and moved down the Saline River into Grant County. However, the first white settlers did not make the area that is now known as Grant County their home until 1841 when Francis Posey brought his family from Louisiana.25

In the late 1860s a move was made by the settlers of the area to form a new county. During the Reconstruction Period, taxes were high and a feeling grew among the settlers that a more convenient means of doing county business was needed. At the time, all legal business had to be conducted at Benton or Pine Bluff and the journey was usually long and tedious. As a result, several residents began a motion for a new county. Grant County was approved by the first reconstruction legislature and Republican Gov. Powell Clayton signed the bill on Feb. 4, 1869. The county was comprised of territory from Hot Spring, Jefferson and Saline counties.26

Twelve years later, on Sept. 1, 1881, W.N. Cleveland and Henry Bales established the county's first newspaper, The Sheridan Spy, at the county seat of Sheridan.27 Bales was born in Adams County, Illinois, on Aug. 25, 1855 and came to Sheridan in 1876. Early biographical material on Cleveland is unavailable.28

The county was served by the Missouri Pacific Railroad and was bordered by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. The county seat, Sheridan, was conveniently located between Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Fordyce and Malvern.30

The Sheridan Spy underwent one name change, and ownership changed hands numerous times in the first 50 years. The publishers also served as the editors. Former editor of the newspaper Harlan Walker noted that it has been said that “the editorship changed hands as often as the moon changed.”33

The first of the original two founders and the first editor, W.N. Cleveland, retired about a month after the first issue. F.V. Winston then became the second editor.34 On Dec. 29, 1881 the paper was bought by W.H. Rutherford, who sold it to Bales and S.D. Reese on March 2, 1882, who in turn continued it for about two months.35

Joseph S. Williams purchased Bales' interest in 1882 and renamed the paper The Sheridan Headlight.36 N.G. Wallace, T. Havis Nixon, W.P. Goodman, Isaac McClellan, R.R. Adams, and Britt Adams also had financial interest in the paper.37 Goodman was the editor until 1894,38 when Joseph S. Williams reassumed command of the newspaper.39

R.W. Blanchard took control, perhaps as early as 1913, and published it until his death in 1926. Blanchard's wife sold the newspaper to J.H. McQuery in 1928. W.D. Phillips bought the newspaper from McQuery in 1930. In 1932, W.D. Phillips sold the newspaper to Dalton Walker. Walker and his wife Clyde owned and edited the newspaper until July 1967, when he sold the newspaper to his brother and sister-in-law, Harlan and Eudene Walker.40 Harlan Walker sold the newspaper to Tom Feimster and Associates in 1982. Feimster turned the newspaper back over to Harlan and Eudene Walker in 1989.41

Similar to the content contained in other country weeklies at the time, The Sheridan Headlight relied upon syndicated copy to fill much of the newspaper. Of the news articles, many were out-of-town crime stories including many stories about “colored” people committing crimes. International, national and state news were condensed into summary form and placed in a news column under a set headline. The Headlight also ran a syndicated sermon, fiction serials and human interest news stories.

Syndicated material filled much of the inside pages, leaving the front page open for local news and syndicated odds and ends. Local news, for example, consisted of covering the front page with local speeches, personals and legals.42 The editors did not hesitate to use one- or two-paragraph personal items to complete the front page. Although the majority of the personal items told of who was visiting whom, others told of little happenings in town.43

The personal news indicated to the subscribers that the editors kept tabs on the town and cared for it by relating even the smallest of its problems. The newspaper enhanced the social climate of the town by providing topics of conversation to shoppers or neighbors who casually meet.

Economically, The Sheridan Headlight suffered hardships in the first 50 years. In general, the nation's country newspapers had more than small business problems to overcome during the early 1900s; the country was experiencing several periods of a difficult economy, including the Panic of 1903, Panic of 1907 and 1913. The hard economic conditions were almost too much for some newspapers to bear; however, the Headlight never missed an edition.44

Conditions worsened. Pre-war prices hit the newspaper industry hard. During 1916, the price of ink and paper skyrocketed. Newsprint was formerly purchased on contract as low as 2-3/4 cents a pound, but jumped to 7 cents a pound. Even the bond paper used in job printing increased from 6 cents to 16 cents per pound. In addition, the cost of subscriptions rose from $1 per year to $1.50.45

EFFECTS OF WORLD WAR I

Nationwide, the country also was coping with a depressed economy, but the budding war in Europe brought the United States mixed blessings. America sent its boys to war, and civilians did their part in conserving for the war effort.46 The war turned America's economy around; it gave the country nearly six years of prosperity. But for the American newspaperman, it gave little economic relief. It was a period of high taxes and shortages on its most important material--paper.47

Nearly 1-1/2 years after the U.S. entered the war, newspapers were taxed on all advertisements, free or paid. An advertisement was defined as something “giving publicity to anything that is being given or sold for gain, whether by an individual or society.”48 Another measure taken was a postage increase on papers going out of the county.

Following these actions, the nation took two more steps to conserve paper. The government wanted newspapers to drop non-subscribers off their circulation lists, which meant no free copies, especially to other newspapers for exchange columns. The next action was effective September 15, 1918. This made newspapers reduce their paper use by 15 percent and report the amount of paper used monthly to the government.49

Historians paint a dark picture during that period of newspaper history, especially for the independent weeklies. Almost 1,800 weeklies folded during wartime because of the newsprint shortage.50 The price of newsprint was $80 a ton in 1918 when the government fixed the price. At the end of the war, the set price was lifted. After peaking in the early 1920s, paper costs declined, from $80 a ton to $62 a ton in 1929.51

The decline of newspapers started by high prices continued when prices stabilized as small town residents' attitudes changed. Newspaper numbers leveled off toward the end of the 1920s, but then resumed a steady decline that started during the depression and continued declining until the late 1970s.

The survival of The Sheridan Headlight is due to several men with great business instincts, a penchant for trying the new and a natural charisma that helped them become leaders in both Sheridan and Grant County. These qualities were typical of successful country editors, who were “men of substance in the community.”53 By keeping a good profile in the community, accomplished through a quality product and political dabblings, the editors were able to keep good business relationships with advertisers. Knowing this, the editors took great pains to promote Sheridan through the newspaper: special sections describing Sheridan and the county and a progressive section on its industries and businesses.54

The editors encouraged merchants to advertise and residents to buy locally. Rallying people around the town, county and newspaper involved more than just writing articles in the newspaper. The editors had a knack of getting right into the center of a problem and people noticed. Sometimes, they capitalized on their positions as editors and publishers to further political careers and hold offices and positions of high esteem (*designates held some positions during their terms as editors and publishers). During his brief term, *Cleveland served as a county representative55 and the first postmaster for the Dogwood office established in 1880.56 He previously had served the county as county clerk from 1878-1880.57 Although Bales did not hold any political positions while editor, he later served as the first recorder at the first city council meeting held in the courthouse on Oct. 14, 1887. He later served as mayor from 1891-1892 and 1893-1894.58 He was also one of the signers of the incorporation petition that was filed with the Secretary of State for incorporating Sheridan.59

W.H. Rutherford served as city marshall for Sheridan in 1897.60 *Seaborn D. Reese served as Grant County Sheriff from 1880 to 1884 and as Mayor of Sheridan from 1892-1893 and 1894-1895.61 He was also one of the signors of the Sheridan incorporation petition.62 *Joseph S. Williams was elected state senator in 1880 to represent the Ninth Senatorial District (Hot Springs, Grant and Saline counties). He was admitted to the bar in 1877 and moved to Grant County in 1882. In 1872 he was licensed to preach by the Methodist Episcopal Church.63 He was also one of the signers of the Sheridan incorporation petition.64 He also served as Mayor of Sheridan from 1888-1890 and 1896-1897.65 He announced his services as an attorney in Grant County in 1882.66

*Nathan G. Wallace served as Mayor of Sheridan from 1901-1902.67 *T. Havis Nixon served as Grant County Surveyor from 1896-189868 and announced for services as an attorney in 1900.69 Isaac McClellan served as Grant County Judge from 1912-191470 and announced for services as an attorney in 1912.71 R.R. Adams was selected secretary of a newly organized Missionary Baptist Church in 189272  and was one of the incorporators of Grant County Bank.73 *Robert W. Blanchard served as mayor from 1923-1925.74 Dalton Walker served as Mayor from 1977 until 1986.75 *W.D. Phillips was a charter member of the Sheridan Rotary Club established in 1930.76 *Harlan Walker served as president of the Grant County Chamber of Commerce in 197177 and as Grant County Clerk from 1975-1976.78 Walker was the only Sheridan editor and publisher to hold a state-wide press position, serving as president of the Arkansas Press Association in 1966.79 The Feimsters did not hold any political or public positions.

It was not known whether or not F.V. Winston, W.P. Goodman, Britt Adams and John H. McQuery held any political or public-eye positions.

The Sheridan Headlight did not have a page or section designated for opinion, with the exception of the Feimster years and the current publisher/owner, Melody Moorehouse, who allows for Letters and sometimes features editorials from staff. Instead, the editors put their comments in the story along with the straight news, or they wrote the article in the style of an editorial without a designation.80

The Headlight's correspondents gathered local news from nearby communities such as Leola, Grapevine, Prattsville, Poyen and Tull. During various editorships, the personals have comprised as much as 20 percent of the editorial copy, the remaining being comprised largely of prefabricated copy from outside, such as features and state news released by various agencies encompassing such topics as preserving your health and scam alerts.

Americans began to bury themselves in the image of the good old days, longing for small town American values. The country editor knew that life in a small town was not all rosy, but he did not dispute the notion. In fact, the editors often used the idea to pump up a community's self-esteem.

For these reasons, declining farm economy, declining population trend, the editors and publishers wanted to promote Sheridan and Grant County as a thriving community. The Sheridan Headlight periodically carried articles promoting the idea of Grant County being a perfect area for business and industry to locate. The newspaper's editors used articles to promote the community's image of itself and to encourage its residents to work toward growth.87

Optimism came to an abrupt halt as the effects of the depression hit the community. As times became tougher, the newspaper, Chamber of Commerce, and local residents put community spirit to work and formed a community chest to provide food and clothing for the needy. Local news about the depression was mostly limited to helping the less fortunate.88

The Headlight was also affected by the depression. Editors and publishers reduced the number of pages and subscriptions and payment for advertising were often paid for with food and household items, such as eggs, vegetables, or a load of firewood.89

As the economy began to pick up, editor and publisher Dalton Walker began promoting the virtues of small town life and took an active role in boosting community spirit by describing the community's entertainment, churches, social organizations, etc.90

WORLD WAR II

During World War II, small-town editors nationwide geared the newspaper toward patriotism. Unlike the newspapers of World War I, the newspapers of the late 30s and later used little or no material produced outside. They did not carry stories on the war, national or state news unless they were given to them by a state politician. Replacing those items were locally produced items and rewritten press releases. Also lending to more local material was the popularity of the radio which provided much of the world news and current events.91

In small towns, the newspaper editors told citizens what local organizations were doing as part of the war effort and boosted the morale of the town. Walker gave front page preference to those efforts.92 Patriotism was evident everywhere in the paper. Advertisements supported local war efforts. Some newspaper advertising campaigns centered upon a patriotic theme. The newspaper did its part by sending the newspaper to those serving to provide news from home.93

With Dalton Walker at the helm, the newspaper's content was somewhat predictable each week. A typical Headlight contained a lot of club news, few pictures, some sports, church news, marriages, personals and some public affairs stories, often on the front page. City council and school board stories were often just the city clerk's and board's meeting minutes. Political news was largely confined to anti-communism, pro-Grant County growth and pro-Democratic party.94 

Harlan Walker's tenure was similar to his brother's. The news was often predictable and the format of the newspaper went somewhat unchanged. Harlan Walker held to the idea that the small town newspaper should bolster the community. To do that, he would: aid local shoppers through advertising, promote local welfare and projects, give recognition to those who work on community projects, and serve as a unifying force for the community.95

In 1982, the Walker's decided to retire and sold the newspaper to Tom Feimster and Associates. Feimster and his wife, Monique, carried on the promotion of bolstering the community. However, they took a different stance on editorials and letters to the editor. Previous editors had refused to publish letters to the editor and editorials, although Harlan Walker occasionally published a few from readers as paid advertisements. The Feimsters opened up the newspaper to local comment and received numerous letters on such topics as the school board, the local waste disposal site and roadside pollution.96 The Feimsters turned the newspaper back over to the Harlan Walker family in 1989. Walker quickly re-instated his editorial policy of no letters to the editor, which he continues today. In an interview, Walker said there is a danger in running letters and editorials, although he does publish a weekly Personal Reflections column in which he reminisces of childhood and discusses local elections and issues. He said some people associate letters and editorials with his and the staff's viewpoint and that although only a few people may disagree with a stand a particular letter took, they will remember and hold it against the newspaper.97 Walker also stays away from controversy. He often relies on school board and city council meeting minutes to contain the only mention of controversial items. Walker also points out that local newsgathering is largely accomplished by what “walks in the door.” He said due to his age, 82, and a small staff of six, he must rely on the news that is brought in by local residents.98 Due to his age and health, Walker is again looking for a buyer for the newspaper. He said he has turned down numerous offers from chains, hoping to see the newspaper remain independent and locally owned. The Headlight was sold to Melody Moorehouse and the Webb family in 1991.99

NOTES FROM ELWIN GOOLSBY

1. A copy of The Sheridan Spy, as far as I know, has not turned up.  It is a very rare publication.  When the old brick jail was torn down on the courtsquare in 1939, a copy of The Spy was in the cornerstone.  There is no account of what happened to it.

 2. Originally The Headlight was a "KKK" paper, supporting whatever they did or said through the early 1920's.  This accounted in part for the paper's local support.

 3. The Headlight and the Grant County News kept up a running feud.  The editor of the Headlight, I believe R. W. Blanchard (Ca 1913-26), kept a loaded shotgun near his desk at the Headlight office in case he needed it!

 4. Editor Dalton Walker told me that the Headlight once had a "George Washington" hand press that they used very early on.  The heavy press was set out by the office's front door one day when they were cleaning inside.  While they were inside, someone took the press.  It was never found.  Dalton said he thought it had been taken by a nearby merchant.

 5. When editor R. W. Blanchard died suddenly in 1926, Dalton Walker (then about 17 years old) got that week's paper out by himself.

 6. When the Headlight office was in the back of the building on the southwest corner of Oak and Bell Streets, I remember a large bulletin board (homemade) completely covered with pictures of local men and women then in service in World War II.  I believe these were original photos which had been printed in the paper.  (The firetruck was also kept in this building, and I guess that's why I remember the pictures.)

 7. The Headlight used The Weekly Headlight as its banner at one time.

 8. On pg. 230 in my book, add The Leola Ledger to papers published there (Ca. 1910).

 9. Apparently few copies of the Headlight exist from World War I.  I know of only two.  They may have gone to paper drives for the war effort.  There are quite a few that survived from World War II, and the same drives were used then.

 10. For your information, I met the son of Tom Graham (Peoples Advocate) and knew J. S. Goodman, son of J. P. Goodman (Leola Gazette).  J. S. Goodman told me what he saw of the Jenkins Ferry Battlefield as he rode his horse from Leola to Sheridan.  Some of the earliest Headlights I have (1880's, etc.), I got from him.

 11. The Headlight varied in size (inches) from time to time (really big, to quite small).  I can measure the copies I have if you want.

 12. The first Sheridan High School paper (The Booster), edited by Dalton Walker, was printed by the Headlight in 1926.  Walker was very, very proud of this. 

NEWSPAPER OFFICE LOCATION

One of the earliest locations was on Cumberland Street between Center and Holly streets, followed by an old store building near the northeast corner of Main and Pine streets. In 1894 the newspaper was in a house formerly occupied by the Henry Brothers' firm (Our Timberland Home, page 229).

The office was moved to a small room at the rear of the Bradley-Rushing Building on the southwest corner of Center and Oak streets. In 1932 it was moved to a building on the southwest corner of Oak and Bell streets and then later to the north side of Center Street between Main and Rock streets. The newspaper in 1984 occupied a building on the northeast corner of Center and Main (Our Timberland Home, page 229). The Webb family purchased the old First Baptist Church at 111 N. Rose St. and renovated the education building, renting out the church facilities to another church, before selling off that property to the church and moving to Dr. Jack M. Irvin's old building, located at 211 W High St. 

OTHER COUNTY NEWSPAPERS

In 1906 M.D. Buckley established the Grant County News, a farm labor union paper, which operated into the 1920s. The weekly newspaper operated out of a building on Main Street between Center and Pine streets and sold subscriptions at $1 per year. It was discontinued for a time prior to 1916, then revived (try to get precise dates). The editors of The Sheridan Headlight and Grant County News became rivals and sporadically assaulted each other's paper in print. William Goforth served as editor and publisher of the Grant County News in 1916 and into the 1920s (Our Timberland Home, page 230).

In 1907 the Leola Gazette was established in the community of Leola, but lasted only briefly (how long was briefly). It was edited by N.S. Phillips and J.P. Goodman. Phillips also edited a publication called the Arkansas Journal, said to have been published in Leola in 1917. Another newspaper called The Lance was started in Leola about 1910 but was soon discountinued. Charles Hopper was the publisher (of what???) in 1912 (Our Timberland Home, page 230).

About 1910 a newspaper called The People's Advocate was established in Sheridan. This business was once located at the rear of a building near the northwest corner of Oak and Center streets and offered subscriptions at 50 cents per year. Their motto was “If you see anything in the People's Advocate you don't like, laugh!” Tom Graham was editor of this weekly newspaper, which was discontinued in ???? (Our Timberland Home, page 230).

In 1975 a 81/2" by 11" paper was circulated by the Poyen Jacettes. This mimeographed paper was called The Poyen Patter and offered subscription rates of six months for $2. It featured local business ads, club news, obituaries, poems, school news, recipes and other features of interest to the Poyen community. The publication was discontinued after a year (Our Timberland Home, page 231).

Henry Williams printed a weekly newspaper called the Banner Shopper News in Sheridan in 1980. This paper was located in a shopping center on Highway 167 one block north of the railroad tracks. It ceased publication in 1981, although printing services continued for a short time. (I don't agree with this because I was the editor of the high school newspaper in 1982 and Mr. Williams did our printing that year. If I am not mistaken he was still printing the Banner at that time. I'll have to track him down because he has moved out of the county.) (Our Timberland Home, page 231).

•Bio the editors, founders and owners

      W.N. Cleveland — clerk from 1878-1880 (The Goodspeed Bio and Histo Memoirs, page 748, and the Histor. Report of the Sect. of State Sesq. edition, page 636), representative, for the county, 1874-1875 and in 1881 (Goodspeed, page 748).

      Henry Bales — born in Adams County, Illinois, on Aug. 25, 1855. He was the son of Jacob and Catharine Bales who settled in Illinois on their arrival here from Germany. The family relocated to Louisville, Kentucky and H. Bales worked as a mechanic there until 1874, when he relocated to Little Rock where he established a chair factory with E. Keohler. He sold his interest and in 1876 moved to Sheridan. and embarked on a mercantile life, starting with a limited capital of $500. His annual sales now (1889?) are $20,000 a year. Bales owns 2,000 acres in the area, as well as considerable business and residence property in the city. On April 30, 1876 he married Mrs. Nancey C. Manuel (Goodspeed Bio and Hist Memoirs, page 757-758).

      F.V. Winston

      W. H. Rutherford

      Seaborn D. Reese — born in 1818 and died in 1895, served as Grant County Sheriff from 1880 to 1884 and as Mayor of Sheridan from 1892-1893 and 1894-1895 (Our Timberland Home, page 96). (Histo. report of Sect. of State, Sesq. edition says he was sheriff from 1874-1876, 1876-1878 and from 1880-1882, 1882-1884, see page 636.)  On July 14, 1882, Reese deeded property to the Methodist congregation meeting in Sheridan (Our Timberland Home, page 112). He was born in Wilkinson County, Georgia on July 22, 1821, the son of Aaron and Charity (Delk) Reese. S.D. Reese was orphaned while quite young and was adopted by an uncle, Seaborn Delk. He married in his native state where he was engaged as a planter before moving to Sheridan in 1859. He bought a large farm, which he cleared and worked. He purchased additional land from time to time until he owned around 2,000 acres. When the war broke out he entered the Confederate service in the Eleventh Arkansas Calvary and remained there until the close of the war. He participated in a number of skirmishes but in no general engagement. He was made a justice of the peace and in 1874 was elected to his first term as sheriff of Grant County. He filled that office for four terms. There are seven children in his family, four sons and three daughters, all married but one, the youngest. Mr. and Mrs. Reese are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Reese is a steward. He is a member of the Masonic lodge (The Goodspeed Bio and Hist Memoirs of Central Arkansas, 1889, page 783).

      Joseph S. Williams — The son of Dr. W.W. Williams and Elizabeth B. (Harvey) Williams, J.S. Williams was born Feb. 21, 1844 in Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tennessee. Dr. Williams died in 1847 and J.S. Williams and his mother moved to Arkansas in 1855. In 1861 he enlisted in the regular Confederate army at Lynchburg, Virginia, in the Third Arkansas Infantry, and served as a private, but was later promoted to sergeant-major. He surrendered at Appomattox Court House with Lee on April 9, 1865 and was one of seven remaining of the original compay of 117. After the close of the war Williams returned to Arkansas and taught school at Hot Springs for 10 years, and in 1874 commenced the study of law. In 1876 he was elected representative of Hot Spring County in the legislature and served one term with honorable distinction. In 1880 he was elected state senator to represent the Ninth senatorial district (Hot Spring, Grant and Saline counties). He was admitted to the bar in 1877 and moved to Grant County in 1882. He purchased the Headlight with S.D. Reese, but bought out Reese and changed the name to the Headlight from the Spy. His first wife was Mattie Seay of Montgomery County, Arkansas. Of this marriage there are four children. His present wife is a widow, Mrs. Mary L. Mabis. Williams is District Deputy Grand Master of the Masonic district of Arkansas. In 1872 he was licensed to preach by the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he and his wife are members (The Goodspeed Bio and Hist Memoirs of Central Arkansas, 1889, page 792).

      Nathan G. Wallace

      T. Havis Nixon — served as Grant COunty Surveyor from 1896-1898 (Hist. Report of the Secret. of State, Sesq. edition, page 636).

      E.P. Harrison

      George Rutherford — There is a G.W. Rutherford who served as Sheriff of Saline County from 1842-1844 listed on page 235 in the Goodspeed Biog. and Historical Memoirs of Central Ark.

      Dave Wray — Check to see if any connection with William D. Wray or David Wray on page 316 of Saline County in the Goodspeed Bio. and Hit. Memoirs of Central Ark.

      Dan Taylor — Grant County Clerk from 1902-1904 and 1904-1906 if this is the same Dan J. Taylor (Histor. Report of the Secret. of State, Sesq. edition, page 636). See if connection with Joseph Taylor who begat Daniel Taylor, page 305-306 in Saline County of Goodspeed Bio and Hsit. Memoirs of Central Ark.

      Guy S. Williams

      Opie Adams

      W.P. Goodman

      Isaac McClellan or (McClelland, Histo. of Ark Press for 100 years or more, page 170) — served as Grant County Judge from 1912-1914 (accord. to Historical Report of the Sect. of State, Sesq. edition, page 636).

      (Rubin) R.R. Adams — In December of 1892 a convention was held in Grant County to organize a Missionary Baptist Church. At the convention, R.R. Adams was chosen secretary. The church was Sweet Home Baptist Church in Prattsville (Our Timberland Home, page 115).

      Britt Adams

      Robert W. Blanchard

      Dalton V. Walker (wife Clyde)

      John H. McQuery or McQueery or McQuerry

      W.D. Phillips

      Harlan Walker (wife Eudene) — Harlan Walker formerly operated the McCrory Leader and papers in Cotton Plant and Augusta (A Chron. of Ark. Nwsp. published since 1922, page 46). Served as Grant County Clerk from 1975-1976 (Hist. Rept. of the Sect. of State, Sesq. edition, page 638).

      Tom Feimster (wife Monique)

HISTORY of Sheridan and Grant County

Grant County was approved by the first reconstruction legislature and  Republican Gov.  Powell Clayton signed the bill on Feb. 4, 1969. The county was comprised of territory from Hot Spring, Jefferson and Saline counties. It was named for Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, who had been elected president of the U.S. in November 1868. The act also named the permanent county seat in honor of Union General Philip H. Sheridan. Selection of the county name and the location for the county seat was accepted with silent objection by most local residents, although some became more outspoken. An opposing faction planned to name the county Anson in honor of Anson County in North Caroline, the origin of many DeKalb Township residents. They wanted to locate the county seat in Franklin Township about 10 miles north of the proposed Sheridan site. It would be named Poe in honor of William E. Poe of DeKalb Township. However, the residents efforts were fruitless (Annals of Arkansas 1947, page 682; Our Timberland Home, pages 77-78).

Resentment and disappointment continued long after the bill was passed. Some county's Republican place names were changed after the Democrats returned to power, but the names in Grant County were not changed (Our Timberland Home, page 78) because of the kindness General Grant showed to General Lee and his defeated Confederate Army when they surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House in April 1865 (letter to County Judge Otto Cearley in 1945 from Little Rock lawyer Tom W. Campbell, Our Timberland Home, pages 78-79).

It is located in central Arkansas and is bounded on the north by Saline and Pulaski counties; on the east by Jefferson County; on the south by Cleveland and Dallas counties; and on the west by Hot Spring and Saline counties. It is comprised of 637 square miles and is drained by the Saline River and Hurrican and Brush creeks (Annals of Arkansas 1947, page 682, also the Centennial History of Ark., vol I, page 759).

Commissioners selected to locate the county seat were Thomas A. Morris, John W. Harrison and William M. Allison. They acquired land for the county seat from Lyttleton M. Veazey and A.N. Harris of Illinois. Veazey provided 40 acres of land and Harris provided 80 acres. Some reports indicate that at least part of Harris' land was deeded back when it was decided his land lay too far east (Our Timberland Home, page 79).

The first courthouse was completed in 1871, but was destroyed by fire on the night of March 13, 1877, supposed to have been of a suspicious nature. All county records up to that time were destroyed. Temporary quarters were erected until the new courthouse was completed on the original site in 1880 and was used until a third courthouse was erected in 1909. In 1963 construction began on the present courthouse after the 1909 structure was condemned as unsafe (Annals of Arkansas 1947, page 682; Our Timberland Home, page 81, 84-85, “Early History of County Reveals Mound Builders,” The Sheridan Headlight, Thursday, April 17, 1969, Section II, page 1).

The first county officials appointed by Gov. Clayton were Judge T.A. Morris, Clerk E.H. Vance, Jr., Sheriff T.W. Quinn, Treasurer Thomas Page, Coroner J. Holiman, Assessor J.H. Burk, and Surveyor L.G. Williams (Our Timberland Home, pages 80-81).

The county is divided into the following townships: Calvert, Darysaw, Davis, Dekalb, Fenter, Franklin, Madison, Merry Green, River, Simpson, Tennessee and Washington (Annals of Arkansas 1947, page 682).

Sheridan, incorporated on August 4, 1888, is the largest town in the county (Annals of Arkansas 1947, page 682).

In 1896 R.M. Rodgers established a normal school in Sheridan. This school trained teachers and set the pattern for a college established at the turn of the century in Sheridan. This college, located on the present elementary school campus, conducted classes until about 1934. The building burned in 1956 (“Early History of County Reveals Mound Builders,” The Sheridan Headlight, Thursday, April 17, 1969, Section II, page 1).

In World War I 10 county men lost their lives, a large number for a rural area. At home the people of Grant COunty were urged to save good and other goods, buy liberty bonds and give to the Red Cross. A serious influenza epidemic swept the county in late 1918 and many people died as a result (“Early History of County Reveals Mound Builders,” The Sheridan Headlight, Thursday, April 17, 1969, Section II, pages 1-2).

In World War II 44 men lost their lives. Grant County people worked hard for their men on the front, cultivating victory gardens, saving scrap metal and paper, donating blood to the Red Cross, and serving in civilian defense units (“Early History of County Reveals Mound Builders,” The Sheridan Headlight, Thursday, April 17, 1969, Section II, page 2).

The population of the county in 1920 was 10,710, a gain of 1,285 over the census of 1910. Therefore, 1910 population would have been 9,425 (Cent. History of Ark, Vol. I, page 760).

POSSIBLE SUMMARY FOR BEGINNING

This study tells the story of The Sheridan Headlight since its inception in 1881. The newspaper serves as an historian, observer and promoter of civic pride in any community, and this is especially true of small towns and less populated counties served only by small weekly newspapers. In publication for 111 years, The Sheridan Headlight also serves as a major source of recorded community history. This study records the history of the newspaper and how it has developed into its present format and content.

Much information came from personal interviews with past owners and examination of past issues of The Sheridan Headlight. Additional information came from books and historical papers on the history of Grant County.

The history of The Sheridan Headlight can be traced back to Sept. 1, 1881 when the first issue was printed on a ????? press in Sheridan by founders W.N. Cleveland, who served as editor, and Henry Bales under the name The Sheridan Spy. The newspaper changed ownership and editorships numerous times until it came to rest in the hands of the Walker family in 1932, where it has remained with the exception of 8 years.

The Sheridan Headlight was established 12 years after the formation of Grant County and is the oldest surviving business institution in the county.