William Hardy HUTTO (1796-)

Isabelle Jane SMITH (1799-Between 1850)

William Alexander HUTTO (1817-1892)

 

Family Links Spouses/Children: Rosannah Copeland SPIRES William Hardy HUTTO II+ Henry Pinckney HUTTO Elizabeth Jane HUTTO+ Emma Barfield HUTTO+ Rosannah Caroline HUTTO Martha Alice HUTTO Oly Georgia HUTTO Mary Lou Dora HUTTO Ida Augusta HUTTO William Alexander HUTTO Born: 13 Oct 1817, , , South Carolina, United States 1 2 Marriage: Rosannah Copeland SPIRES on 3 Sep 1844 in , Neshoba County, Mississippi, United States Died: 31 Mar 1892, , Van Buren County, Arkansas, United States at age 74 1 Buried: Bee Branch, Van Buren County, Arkansas, United States   General Notes: Founder of Damascus, Van Buren Co., Arkansas   Noted events in his life were: • Occupation: Baptist Minister. 1 • Other: Migration, 1874, Damascus, Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. 3 • Other: Naming of Damascus, Apr 1887, Damascus, Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. 4 William married Rosannah Copeland SPIRES on 3 Sep 1844 in , Neshoba County, Mississippi, United States. (Rosannah Copeland SPIRES was born on 15 Feb 1825 in , , North Carolina, United States,1 2 died on 2 Dec 1894 in , Van Buren County, Arkansas, United States 1 and was buried in Bee Branch, Van Buren County, Arkansas, United States.)

1 William Donald Parker, Aug 2002 Compilation of "Arkansas Hutto Family Outline" (August 2002 Compilation), 3.

2 1870 Census, Mississippi, Neshoba Co, Page 365 Family 1007.

3 William A. Brown, Faulkner County Historical Society, "Faulkner Facts and Fiddlings" (Vol. IV, Number 1, Conway, Arkansas, Spring 1964), p. 5; privately held by Autumn Dipert Brown, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,];
Less than 75 years ago this plateau was a dense forest of virgin timber with hardly "a stock-a-miss" when the Huttos, the Lees and some of the Spires families arrived.
At that time the only public road was one to the east leading through the forest and long remembered as the "Old Clinton-Little Rock Road", a part of which is still in use, running through Gravestown, four miles east of Damascus.
Shortly after 1870, a log hut could be seen going up here and there through the forest where early settlers had applied for a patent to homestead. To qualify for a homestead, one had to start a clearing and build a hut in which to live.
In 1874 William A. Hutto came to the area from Mississippi to look for a place to build a home. He decided on two tracts of land lying side by side with the county line separating them. The town of Damascus is now located on this site. He and his son-in-law. Alex A. Brown, who moved here with him, found abundant turkey and deer, with which to provide meat for the table.
All the early settlers built huts of pine logs with clay plastering to fill the cracks.

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Thus the first home built in the Damascus area by the Hutto family was made of split pine logs. The home consisted of one large room, 18 x 20 feet, with only the ground for a floor, till "sawed lumber" could be had. This home is still standing and in good livable condition. Modern additions have been built on by the late A. A. Brown and by Eugene Presley, the present owner. Few residents ever suspect the building to be made of split pine logs, since it has been made into a comfortable farm home through the years.

4 William A. Brown, Faulkner County Historical Society, "Faulkner Facts and Fiddlings" (Vol. IV, Number 1, Conway, Arkansas, Spring 1964), p. 8-9; privately held by Autumn Dipert Brown, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,];
Later a little town sprang up "overnight", on Cadron Creek south of this place. It was called Pinnacle Springs. Soon a postoffice was established there and some of the folks would receive their mail through that office. In 1887, the Hutto family, together with others who moved in by that time decided that they should have a postoffice at the Hutto community. In April, 1887, a postoffice was established and the name given was Damascus, upon suggestion by William A. Hutto, reportedly because it was found in the Bible.
According to tradition, one day a traveler was passing through and was looking for a place to spend the night. The Hutto family was glad to furnish accommodations to the traveler. Friendship between the visitor and the family grew and he was permitted to remain in the home for several days. For this the family would not accept any pay. The visitor being grateful for the hospitality, wanted to do something for his keep. With permission from the folks he drew a likeness of the American Flag and the American Eagle on the door of the postoffice cabinet, which was made of walnut lumber. This cabinet is now in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Short. The office was located in the home of William A. and the first postmaster was Johnnie Allen.