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The first years
following the Louisiana Purchase brought little change to Arkansas
Post, as it remained an isolated community in an isolated region.
The American government only slowly appointed judges and other
officials at the town. In the early years of the 19th-century,
the number of Americans slowly increased, but it wasn't until
1819 that everything changed.
In March of 1819 Congress passed a law creating
the Arkansas Territory, and designated Arkansas Post as the capital
of the new Territory. During the two years that the Post served
as territorial capital, nearly 1,00 people lived in the town;
lawyers, doctors, businessmen and government officials transformed
the sleepy French community here to a bustling American town.
It didn't last - In 1821 the territorial capital was moved upriver
to Little Rock, and the town quickly deflated to its former
size.
| 1804 |
- March 23 The
United States takes formal posession of Arkansas Post
from Spanish Authorities. Arkansas Post was located
in the District of Louisiana, administered by the Governor
of the Indiana Territory.
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| 1805 |
- October The
U. S. Government started a factory or trading post,
at Arkansas Post. Most trading
was
done with the
local Quapaw Indians. James B. Treat was the factor
[chief trader].
- The District of Louisiana was redesignated
the Territory of Louisiana, administered out of Saint.
Louis, MO. The present day State of Louisiana was designated
the Territory of Orleans. Within the new territory,
Arkansas Post was part of the District of New Madrid
|
| 1808 |
- Louisiana Territorial Governor Meriwether Lewis appoints
the first district officials, including positions at
Arkansas Post.
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| 1810 |
- The Arkansas Post area had a population
of 874.
- Competition from private traders
caused the government factory to close.
|
| 1811 |
- Rev. John P. Carnahan, a Cumberland Presbyterian,
preached the first Protestant sermon in the Arkansas
Territory at Arkansas Post.
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| 1811 & 1812
|
- The series of severe earth tremors known collectively
as the “New Madrid Earthquake” changed landforms
and waterways in Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas.
Travel, communication and administration became extremely
difficult between New Madrid and Arkansas Post.
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| 1812 |
- The Territory of Orleans becomes
the State of Louisiana, to avoid confusion, the
Louisiana Territory was renamed the Missouri Territory.
- Arkansas Post became the county seat for Arkansas
County and began acquiring governmental mechanisms.
The county then included most of the present-day state
of Arkansas and was still governed by Missouri Territory.
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| 1813 |
- December 13 The
southern part of the New Madrid District is designated
Arkansas
County. The county seat was located at Arkansas
Post.
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| 1816 |
- Nathaniel Pryor, who served as a sergeant on the Lewis
and Clark expedition, moved to the Post and established
a fur trading business here. He would remain at the Post
for three or four years before relocated upriver to the
three forks area in eastern Oklahoma.
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| 1817 |
- A post office was established at
Arkansas Post. Eli J. Lewis was the first postmaster.
The first post office in Arkansas, at Davidsonville
is established only days earlier.
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| 1819 |
- January 26 - February
26 British
botanist Thomas Nuttall visited Arkansas Post on his
way upriver. Nuttall commented
on the distinctive French flavor of the community.
- March 2 By act of congress, Arkansas was made a territory
and Arkansas Post designated the Capitol.
- July 4 Arkansas began its existence as territory and
Arkansas Post as the Capitol. James Miller was the first
governor and Robert Crittenden was the first secretary.
- July 4 Robert Crittenden reached Arkansas Post to
assume his new duties.
- July 28 The first territorial legislature met at Arkansas
Post. Robert Crittenden acting as Governor in the absence
of Governor Miller.
- October 30 W. E. Woodruff, the founder of the Arkansas
Gazette, arrived at Arkansas Post.
- November 1 The first term of the Circuit Court convened
at Arkansas Post. James Woodson Bates presided.
- November 20 The first issue of the Arkansas
Gazette was published
at Arkansas Post.
- November 30 The first lodge of Masons in the new territory
was organized at Arkansas Post.
- December 26 Governor Miller arrived at Arkansas Post
and assumed his duties as Governor.
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| 1820 |
- January The
first Supreme Court of the new territory was established
at Arkansas
Post. Judge Ben Johnson and Andrew Scott presided.
- January 15-19 On his way downriver, British botanist
Thomas Nuttall returned to Arkansas Post. Nuttall
commented
on the changes that the territorial government had
brought to the Post.
- February 7 The first regular
session of the general assembly of the new territory
met with delegates elected by the people.
- March 10 Representative
William O. Allen and attorney Robert C. Oden takes
place near the Post. Allen, also Brigadier General
of the Territorial Militia, was shot in the head, and
died ten days later.
- March 31 The
first steamboat, “The Comet” landed at
Arkansas Post. This was the first steamboat to enter
the Arkansas River.
- A land office was established at Arkansas Post with
William Douglas as registrar and Henry W. Conway receiver.
- The town of Napoleon was established
at the mouth of the Arkansas River by Col. Notrebe
of Arkansas Post
as a shipping port.
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| 1821 |
- June 1 The Capitol of Arkansas
Territory was moved from Arkansas Post to Little Rock.
Arkansas Post remained the county seat for Arkansas
County.
- November 24 The last issue
of the Arkansas Gazette to be printed at Arkansas
Post was printed. The proprietor, William E. Woodruff,
moved his outfit to Little Rock.
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