In time Historic Spots in HSC before1830

The first recorded settlement of this county was made by William Blaylock. Deed Book “A”, HSC Records, pages 3, 4, 17, 18, etc. “Occupants Claim by Act of Congress of U. S. granting pre-exemption rights to settlers on public lands . . . “was settled about 1812.” This tract was called and recorded as “The Sulphur Springs Plantation” because of the many springs on the land. It was bought by James S. Conway in 1834 and was shown on the first survey map in 1837 as his home where he lived during his term as governor. Also, it was where the noted English Geologist, G. W. Featherstonhaugh, visited him and his family in 1834.

The Southwest Trail crossed this county from the Saline River below Benton, crossing the county to the Ouachita River at old Rockport where it crossed that river and continued on down the west side of the Ouachita River until it entered Clark County near the Salt Springs. The Military Road was surveyed on this trail in 1832 by James S. Conway.

The first house built in this county was shown on the first survey map and was said to have been a trapper’s cabin which was located on the Southwest Trail and the Military Road where it crossed the line of Section 24-3-16, on the west side of the road – while the trapper’s field was a clearing across the line in Section 25-3-17. The road now passes over the spot where the house stood.

This Tidbit in Time shared by the Hot Spring County Historical Society The Heritage, Vol.2, p. 5