Date Original
1832-1861
Description
This collection consists of a store ledger from Ultima Thule, Sevier County, Arkansas. There is biographical data related to some store customers and several indexes.
Biographical/Historical Note
In 1831, Little River Lick, one of the western-most post offices in southwest Arkansas, was established in Sevier County, Arkansas, along the boundary between Arkansas and the Choctaw Nation. In 1833, its name was changed to Ultima Thule, Latin for "a distant territory or destination," because of its location. Choosing this new name was the first postmaster, Joseph W. McKean, a veteran of the Florida Wars and an “intimate friend” of Andrew Jackson and David Crockett. He and his family came to the area on the first steamboat to ascend the Red River after it was cleared for navigation. Shortly after his arrival, McKean opened a general store from which he supplied provisions for settlers on both sides of the border. He also represented Sevier County in the 1836 Arkansas Constitutional Convention and served in both the Territorial Senate and the State General Assembly. He was married to Lucy D.G. Kearney. McKean died in 1851 and was succeeded in business by one of his sons, John G. McKean, who was a lawyer, Methodist minister, and veteran of the Confederate Army.
Physical Description
Document, 8.5" x 11"
Geographical Area
Ultima Thule, Sevier County (Ark.)
Language
English
Identifier
MG.00274
Resource Type
Text
Collection
Ultima Thule, Arkansas, store ledger, MG.00274
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
Ultima Thule, Arkansas, store ledger, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History
