The Van Buren press., 1872-04-30
The Van Bursn Press,
VAN suRnN. ARKAlssAA

>--------------
VAN BuRnN, ARKklsoAA
Letter from Rev n. B.. Withsrs, Pre-.
siding Elder Of the Van Dursa
District, 70 the Western
Methodist, Memphis,
k Tennessee.
Mr.. Editoy;--I have just closed NY
second quarter, terminating ct Van bu-
rem. This town was settled In 1885.
Fort Smith was settled about the same
time, and for while Van Buren, was con.
sidered the best town, with advantages
Of location and health. but becausc the
owners OF land at Rodgsrs' Landing
(now Fort Smith held property lower,
the United States purchased the site, and
established Fort Smith. This gave the
latter an advantage which was rapidly
follevefi ~, end today Fort Smith, ealr
Are ISlIto Slista6t, uosbsso about fNue
thousand sonls, while Van BuroR cIaims
only about fifteen hnfdred.
This 10 not the only town that has lost
The vantage ground by holding it, prop
srty too high. LiberalIty we'll directed,
10 sometimes more valuable than money.
But the prosperity enjoyed BY Van Blu.
rem, though not 90 great - that Of Fort
Smith, is on a solid base. I am told
that there has been but one commercial
failure in tho place. Her people are In.
telligsnt. gentesl and generous. Among
her prominent citizens note MIR J. 3.
Dunham, editor and proprietor Of the
Van Buren, Press. Moderate but drm,
his positions are taken always with Wis.
dom, and sustained with ability. He
keeps entirely sloof from schemes Of
bargain and sale, 30 common among
politicians, and smulates the old Roman
virtue
:. That would not aastsr Neptane 70. bic tsidsat,
Nor Joys for his power to thunder.
His opinions are eracular with his party.
A. NJ. Callahan Is q Christisn gentleman
Of the best type, and steward Of ster,
ling worth, Invaluable to this society.
He is the proprietor Of cotton factory,
4 wool carding and Touring mill Il Van
Buren,. He is eminently qualified for Bic
business, and furnishes the valley OF the
Arkansas river with cotton yarns cheap
sr than can be boughtin Eastern markets.
All our merchants and farmers would
flnd II profitable TO patronizs this estab.
lishment, even at Eastern prices. They
save river insurance, which on this river
IL heavy. p5' " i
Mcthodism Ia the power OF Van Buren,
and IL handsomely sustained BY the Rev
). II. Babcock, who Is with this charge
Tho third year. He IL . young man Of
promise, already with reputation BE-
yond his age We would thank Biahop
Pierce for other favors OF this kind. But
az Van Buren has, at somc indistinct pc.
Rod Of the past, fed her preachers on
" horse flesh" and thus become historic,
It's we'll to consult the record. The Rev.
John Harrell, Superintendent OF the IN.
dian Mission Conference came here long
before the town came, preaching under
he trees to trappers. stragglsrs, The few
settlsrs. and the /" wild man "--prcachtng
The word, and organizing Mcthodism.
lie was the presiding elder whom the Van
Buren circuit entered its appearance"
,n tho Conference Journal In 1640, and
The Rev. Benz. +. Harris was the preach
,r. w. A. Cobb was here In 1S41, andl
N 1912 Van Buren, and Fort Smith be-
came q /" station. with II. Bsysr ~ pas.
,or. Brother Boyer, At the following
Conference, reported forty.hve white
md ninsty.two colored member. L NJ.
occupied the station In lS43,
md Brother J. j. Roberts Was stationed
herein 1S44, though the appointments
'or that year do not appear In the Jour
nal. have bocn thus particular IN sst
ing out the above dates AMI names,
,hiedy to correct an error into which our
,ghly esteemed Bishop McTyeirs was
ed, last fall, by some brother, In the
natter of planting Methodism In Van
3ures,. ;" The Rev.AJ. }. Roberts 10 On.
tiled to the gratitude Of oil Msthodists
or his m oral heroism on this A. well -
many other hard fought battle hslds.
4 md this correction cannot injnre him,
while It docs justice to the grandest
,ams in Methodism west Of the river
Tohn Harrell. This veteran planted
II ,lcthodism hors. He first threw our
,annsr TO tho breeze, In Northwest Ar.
tahsas, ct 4 time when the Missouri Con
erence extended to the mouth OF Red
liver. Three men alone Of these heroes
vho organized the Arkansas Conference,
L Batesvills, In 1886, new stand sentry
o our camps Ia Arkansss--John Har.
ell, Burrsll Lee and Andrew Hunter; oil
,obls trio! Like faith, hope and char
ty," their gloriss blend In common
,iazs "thcse three, but the greatest oil
hess is s"--Hsrrsll. His veteran eoad. |
utors are wanting in nothing, but hs
bounds more in tolls and the exposures
II constsnt frontier life, dsspits I'll
which, his learning. sloquencs and the,
,logy are Of the highest order. ~
ButI had intended speaking Of the
district st large, 90 ! shall give passing !
,otics Of our sdvsrsaries. They are nu-
nsrous--soms very strong. Among
hem w observe q low, suspicious leok |
ng, piratical craft. She seems to have
,een expressly for fast running, and dies
he celors OF Messiah's kingdom. Her
q movements have attracted our attention,
md q very brief observation disclosed
he fact that she was an enemy to the
,ery kingdom whose oolors che bsars.
She 10 employed In running down our
ne nerchantnen, and some OF our unarned
'essels have fallon an easy prize. Her
lnc vn hava disoovarAd Il hopna vopv