The Winslow mail., 1915-07-17
CACTUS COVERS
GOVERNOR GRAVE
Movement on Foot to Bring Body of
Thomas S. Drew Back to
Arkansas.
LOST HIS FORTUNE IN OFFICE
First Campaign of Land Owner, Buried
in Texas, Cost Him Only
Ten Dollars

Ten Dollars
Pocahontas, Ark-Cactus and mes
quite now cover the neglected grave
of Thomas S. Drew, one Of the first
Governors of Arkansas, whose body is
buried in Hood County, Texas. A move
ment is on foot to have the State Leg
islature make an appropriation for
bringing the body back for burial at
Pocahontas, and bill providing for
such action probably will be intro
duced.
Drew came to Arkansas when a
young man and soon became Demo
cratic leader in the northern part Of
the state He was appointed Register
of Public Lands at BatesVille, served
as Indian Agent and afterwards held
other offices.
He and his father-in-law, Ransom
Bettis, soon became the owners of con-
siderable property. They held tract
of magnificent land in the territory be-
tween Current and Black Rivers,
known far and wide as Cherokee Bay.
In 1914 Drew was nominated by the
Democrtic party to run for Governor
and was elected.
A story is current in Randolph Coun-
ty that marks a wonderful contrast
between the campaign of that day
and the expensive campaigns of to-
day. When he received the nomina-
ton, the story goes, Drew sold one of
his slaves for $1,000 in order to get
funds to run. On his return home,
after canvassing the entire State, it
was found that he had spent less than
So 1t is said that this was for horse
shoeing and ferry hire.
In early days of honest simplicity,
candidate was received with open arms
everywhere and it was usually con>
sidered an insult to offer to pay the
host.
In 1848, Drew was reelected Cover.
nor, an honor conferred on but one
other man while the term of the Gov
ernor was four years.
The salary of the Governor was then
1890 a year, and with large family
to support, Drew soon found himself
Oh the verge of financial ruin. While
serving the second term he resigned
and returned to Randolph County, tell
ing his friends that he was forced to
do so in order to support his family.
His property dwindled, his father
in-law, his wife and other members
of his family died and cares bore heav-
lily on the now "old man."
In an effort to retrieve his fortunes
Drew went to California, and for 8
few years fought against the fates. But
he was staggering beneath the aug
mented weight of years and sorrows
and soon returned to POcahOntaS.
widowed daughter moved to Texas and
that he might not be cast on charity
of the world, he went with her. He
died soon afterWard.
His father-in-law, his wife, and 9TH
er members of his family were buried
here in what is nol the south part OF
the city, in their private burying
ground. AS the city expanded and
grew in population new streets were
laid off, One of the streets was 10
Gated over the identical spot where
the bodies were buried. For many
years the graves wer neglected. Robt.
Hamil a few years ago took the matter
in hand, and had the bodies buried ln
the Masonic Cemetery.
The grave Of Gov. Drew IS in Hood
County, Texas, covered with wild cac-
tus and mesquite. A slab has never
been erected.
In 1911 C. E. Henderson, then Sem
ator from this district, introduced and
passed through the Senate measure
to bring the body back to Arkansas.
T. was defeated in the Lower House.