09/15/2026
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The River of Salt and Settlers: A History of the Saline River Frontier in Southeast Arkansas, 1700-1920
By K. Brad Barfield
The story of a place often begins with a personal memory, a patch of ground known since childhood. For those who grew up along the Saline River in Ashley County, at a place called "Mouth of Creek" where Fountain Creek empties its waters, that connection is deep and tangible. It is a landscape of family homes on the hills near Fountain Hill, of watermelon patches and tomato gardens, and of fishing and squirrel camps down by the river. This report embarks on a journey back to that specific place and time, tracing the history of the Pennington family and their neighbors—who populated Longview Township.
To understand this community, one must first understand the river that shaped it. The Saline is more than a geographical feature; it is the central character in the region's story. For centuries, it was a source of life, a highway for commerce, a magnet for settlement, and a silent witness to history. Its banks saw the rise and fall of Indigenous civilizations, the arrival of French trappers seeking fortune in salt and fur, the relentless push of American pioneers, the turmoil of the Civil War, and the roar of the timber boom that followed. This report will trace these broad historical currents, connecting them to the specific bluffs, landings, and family plots that form the historical memory of southeast Arkansas, from the earliest French ventures in the 1700s to the dawn of the modern era in 1920.
Part I: The Early Saline River Frontier (1700-1840)
Section 1: Before the Americans: Indigenous Homelands and French Ventures
Long before European maps charted its course, the Saline River valley was a settled and sophisticated homeland. The primary inhabitants of this region were the Caddo and Quapaw tribes, whose presence stretched back for centuries. These were not nomadic peoples but agricultural societies living in established clan-based towns. The Caddo constructed tall, circular grass-thatched houses, while the Quapaw lived in bark-covered longhouses. They were master navigators of the river systems, and their agricultural prowess sustained a vibrant culture. Tangible evidence of this deep history remains etched on the landscape. Near Benton, in Saline County, the Hughes Mound stands as one of the largest ceremonial mounds along the river, a testament to a complex social and religious life. Even more striking is the discovery at Peeler Bend of a 24-foot dugout canoe, expertly tooled in the Caddo fashion and dated by archaeologists to the 1100s. These artifacts dismantle the myth of an empty wilderness awaiting discovery, revealing instead a landscape that was managed, populated, and imbued with meaning for centuries before the first Europeans arrived.
The first European contact in Arkansas came with the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1541, but it was the French who established a lasting presence beginning in the late 17th century. French explorers, missionaries, and trappers pushed into the interior from their initial outpost at Arkansas Post, established in 1686. They were drawn to the Saline River by a crucial commodity: salt. Eighteenth-century records from French traders refer to the river as L'eau de salle, or "salt water," named for the natural salt springs and marshes near its banks. This resource, which Indigenous peoples were already utilizing, was vital for preserving meat and curing hides, making it a cornerstone of the frontier economy.
While French presence was initially transient, focused on trapping and trade, permanent settlements began to emerge along the lower Saline in the late 1700s. Historical accounts confirm that among these earliest European settlers were French Creole families, including the Fogle (often spelled Foquel), LaBeouff (LeBoeuf), Bullet (or Gulett), Charron, DuBose, and Pevetoe. The very first European settlement in what would become Ashley County was the river town of Longview, founded on the Saline as a trading link between the major posts of Arkansas Post and Monroe, Louisiana. Goodspeed's history explicitly names the Fogle and Gulett (Bullet) families as having located there as early as 1768 or 1770.
The query's reference to "Fogle of LaBoeff" points to a real and influential family connection at the heart of this French Creole community. Genealogical and church records confirm the marriage of Andre LeBoeuf to Genevieve Fogle (Foquel) in Baton Rouge in 1783. A second ceremony, performed by the commandant of the Ouachita Post, was recorded in 1795, solidifying their union within the region's official Catholic records. This marriage united two prominent French families whose descendants, often spelling the name "LaBeff" in Arkansas, became key figures in the settlement of the Ouachita and Saline river valleys for generations. The name "Fogle of LaBoeff" therefore represents not a single individual, but the enduring legacy of this foundational family alliance. The establishment of these French families marked a transitional period. They entered a landscape long shaped by the Caddo and Quapaw, and their initial economic success was built upon resources and knowledge networks already in place. It was only after the Louisiana Purchase that a new wave of American settlers, backed by the U.S. government, would arrive and initiate the forced removal of the Quapaw in the 1820s and 1830s, fundamentally and permanently altering the region's cultural and political landscape.
Section 2: The American Influx and the Founding of Communities
The acquisition of the Louisiana Territory by the United States in 1803 triggered a new era of settlement. While some early American pioneers arrived by river, many more entered Arkansas via primitive overland routes from the northeast, seeking to bypass the swamps of the Delta. The most significant of these was the Southwest Trail, later improved and known as the Military Road, which cut diagonally across the territory toward Texas. This rough trail became the primary artery for American migration, carrying thousands of settlers, traders, and famous figures like Stephen F. Austin and Davy Crockett through the heart of Arkansas.
The points where this vital road crossed major rivers naturally became focal points for settlement. One of the most important was Saline Crossing in present-day Saline County. In 1815, William Lockhart of North Carolina and his family established a cabin on the banks of the Saline River at the precise spot where the Southwest Trail forded the stream, becoming the first recorded white settlers in the county. The settlement quickly grew in importance. By 1817, it was substantial enough that a Methodist circuit rider, Rev. William Stephenson, delivered the first recorded sermon in the county at Lockhart's cabin. By 1819, the naturalist Thomas Nuttall noted "nine or ten families" living there, remarking that the land was "fertile enough and healthy enough" to attract more people. Lockhart capitalized on his strategic location, securing a license from the Territorial Legislature in 1831 to operate a toll bridge and ferry. That same year, a post office was established at "Saline Crossing" with Lockhart as postmaster, cementing its status as a key landmark. For a time, it vied for the position of county seat. However, the story of Saline Crossing also illustrates the precarious nature of frontier towns. The success of these early settlements was not guaranteed by geography alone; it was often decided by political power. In 1835, when Saline County was officially formed, the nearby settlement of Benton was named the county seat. With this decision, the political and economic center of gravity shifted. People, resources, and influence flowed to Benton, and Saline Crossing began a slow decline, eventually disappearing from the map entirely.
The formal organization of government followed the settlers. The vast Arkansas frontier was progressively subdivided into more manageable counties, providing the administrative framework for land ownership, law, and commerce. The counties central to this history were carved out of earlier, larger territories. Bradley County was formed from Union County in 1840. From there, Drew County was created in 1846 from parts of Bradley and Arkansas Counties, and Ashley County was formed in 1848 from Drew, Chicot, and Union Counties. These shifting boundaries are a critical factor for modern researchers, as a family's records from different decades may be located in the archives of different counties even if the family never moved.
Part II: The Heart of the Settlements: Drew and Ashley Counties (1841-1920)
Section 3: The Ozment Legacy: Ozment Bluff and Gee's Landing (Drew County)
The Ozment family represents a foundational thread in the American settlement of Drew County. While family tradition holds that Alfred and his brother James Ozment arrived in 1841, official records indicate an even earlier presence. Genealogical data shows that their father, James Henry Ozment Jr. (born 1793 in North Carolina), was already established in Drew County's Veasey Township by 1830, the year his son Joseph C. Ozment was born in the county. James Henry Jr. had married Elizabeth Eddings in Tennessee in 1817 and was living in Drew County for the 1850 census. It is therefore likely that Alfred and James arrived in 1841 to join a family settlement that was already taking root. The settlement they helped build became a recognized local landmark: Ozment Bluff. This name was not merely a family designation but an official place-name, appearing on the 1892 geological survey of Arkansas and in the records of the Arkansas Genealogical Society. Providing a tangible link to this antebellum community is the Champ Grubbs House, a historic dogtrot log cabin built in 1859 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It stands today on what was once Ozment Bluff Road (now County Road 141), southwest of Monticello.
Nearby was another key location, Gee's Landing, which is directly connected to the Ozment family through local history and cemetery records. A findagrave.com entry for Caroline Ozment, wife of Robert Shelby Ozment, recounts a story about the family cemetery being located near the "Ben Franklin Cemetery, which is near today's Gee's Landing". This is a critical link, as Benjamin Franklin was the son-in-law of the patriarch James H. Ozment. The landing itself is situated along a geologically significant fault scarp, which likely created the high bank or "bluff" that made it a suitable spot for riverboats to dock. While the name almost certainly derives from a Gee family that settled in the area, a definitive link to a specific individual is not present in available records. The primary records of these original settlements are the land patents issued by the federal government. By plotting these patents, it is possible to create a physical map of the Ozment family's footprint on the landscape.
Section 4: The Longview Nexus: A River Town and its Environs (Ashley County)
The settlement of Longview in Ashley County boasts one of the deepest histories in the region, predating American control by several decades. As noted earlier, it was founded by French families, primarily the Fogle and Gulett (Bullet), in the 1760s or 1770s. It served as a crucial river town on the Saline, a waypoint on the route connecting the French colonial centers of Arkansas Post and Monroe, Louisiana. The name "Longview" itself is descriptive, derived from a four-mile-long straight stretch of the Saline River that was ideal for navigation and landing.
With the arrival of American settlers, Longview's role evolved but its importance continued. In 1846, Captain Phillip Derden arrived from Virginia and established a general store and a two-story log warehouse, buying furs and skins from trappers and supplying goods to the growing number of pioneer families. Before the arrival of railroads, Longview was a vital hub for the timber industry, with logs and staves rafted down the Saline to other settlements and markets.
Longview's strategic importance peaked during the Civil War. Confederate forces constructed a pontoon bridge across the Saline at Longview, making it a critical link for moving troops and supplies between their main army at Camden and the Mississippi River port at Gaines' Landing. This vital crossing did not escape Union notice. On March 27, 1864, Colonel Powell Clayton, commander of the Union garrison at Pine Bluff, dispatched a cavalry force to destroy the bridge. In the pre-dawn hours of March 30, a detachment of 100 Union horsemen charged the Confederate camp at Longview, achieving complete surprise. The successful raid resulted in the destruction of the bridge, the capture of 260 Confederate soldiers and 300 horses, and the seizure of a payroll chest containing over $60,000. This "Skirmish at Longview" is commemorated today by a historical marker in Ashley County.
This rich history directly connects to the personal geography of the "Mouth of Creek." The town of Longview and the modern Longview Township are situated precisely at this historical nexus. The confluence of Fountain Creek and the Saline River, where the Pennington family's fishing camp was located, lies within the historic bounds of the Longview settlement. The family's homes and gardens on the hills near Fountain Hill were part of the upland area that supported this river community. Thus, the family's life was lived upon a landscape shaped by French trappers, American pioneers, and the armies of the Civil War.
Section 5: A Community Woven Together: The Families of Longview Township
The settlement of Longview Township was not a random collection of individuals but a deliberate process of community-building by interconnected families. The names associated with the Pennington family—Stanley, Craig, Meeks, Welch, McKeiver, Hollis, Moffatt, Broach, and Henslee—represent the threads of a social fabric woven through migration, marriage, and mutual support. The Pennington family is well-documented in Ashley County. Genealogical records place Jeffie James Pennington living in "Longview Crossing" in the 1940 U.S. Census. His marriage to Allie Ree Sawyer in 1929 is recorded in county marriage books, as is the 1933 marriage of Edward Jackson Pennington to Maude Marie Moss. The family's presence in the area, particularly in the communities of Crossett and Wilmot, is further confirmed by birth and death records from the early to mid-20th century. The families associated with the Penningtons were also deeply rooted in the region. The "association" between these families was not merely geographic proximity; it was a formal network of kinship and community obligation. Frontier life was perilous, and survival often depended on these bonds. Families migrated together from older states, settled on adjacent lands, and solidified their alliances through marriage.
Part III: The Changing River (1860-1920)
Section 6: Commerce, Conflict, and the End of an Era
From the 1840s until the 1880s, the Saline River was a bustling commercial highway. During the high-water seasons of winter and spring, steamboats navigated as far north as Bridges Bluff in Cleveland County. They carried the wealth of the region—bales of cotton, and countless barrel staves and timbers—downriver to the major commercial hubs of Monroe and New Orleans. At least 54 different steamboats have been documented on the Saline, piloted by well-known river captains like Bob Withers, Len Moore, and John Wesley Smith. Shippers like the Hampton brothers and John N. Wheeler built their fortunes on this river trade.
The Civil War transformed the river from a commercial artery into a military theater. While no major set-piece battles like Pea Ridge or Prairie Grove were fought along its banks, the Saline was the site of constant skirmishes and strategic maneuvers. In addition to the pivotal 1864 raid on the Confederate bridge at Longview in Ashley County, significant engagements occurred at Jenkins' Ferry in Grant County and at Mount Elba and Marks' Mills in Cleveland County. Local men from the river counties filled the ranks of the Confederate army, with companies like the "Saline Tornadoes" and "Saline Avengers" from Saline County joining the 11th Arkansas Infantry, and numerous regiments drawing soldiers from Drew County.
The steamboat's reign was ultimately ended not by war, but by technology. The arrival of the Little Rock, Mississippi River, and Texas Railroad (later the Iron Mountain) in the 1880s fundamentally reoriented the region's economy. The railroad offered faster, cheaper, and more reliable year-round transportation, making river transport obsolete. This new infrastructure fueled an explosion in the timber industry. Vast tracts of pine and hardwood that were previously inaccessible could now be harvested and shipped to national markets. Massive enterprises like the Crossett Lumber Company in Ashley County became the dominant economic and political forces, building entire towns and employing thousands. The era of river commerce faded quickly. One of the last steamboats to travel the Saline, the Gate City, sank near Warren in 1913, and by the 1930s, commercial traffic had all but vanished.
The post-war period was one of profound social and political turmoil. Reconstruction brought federal oversight, which was met with fierce resistance. The Ku Klux Klan was active in Drew County, and Governor Powell Clayton declared martial law there in 1868 due to violence and voter intimidation. The late 19th and early 20th centuries were marked by numerous incidents of horrific racial violence, including multiple lynchings in both Ashley and Drew counties, which created an oppressive social climate under the system of Jim Crow. This difficult period is an inseparable part of the region's history and shaped the lives of all who lived there.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of the Saline
From the Caddo who first paddled its waters in dugout canoes to the steamboat captains who hauled cotton to New Orleans, the Saline River was the central force that shaped the settlement, economy, and culture of southeast Arkansas for over two centuries. It dictated where the first French trappers built their posts, where American pioneers established their farms, and where towns like Longview rose to prominence. The river was a source of wealth, first in salt and furs, then in cotton and timber. It was a strategic asset in wartime and the lifeblood of the community in peace. The transition from a world defined by the river to one defined by the railroad and the sawmill marked a profound shift in the life of the region. The landings grew quiet, and the economic focus moved from the riverbanks to the rail depots and company towns. For families like the Penningtons and their neighbors in Longview Township, this meant new opportunities and new challenges, as the agricultural and river-based life of their ancestors gave way to the industrial timber economy of the 20th century. The fishing and squirrel camps at "Mouth of Creek" are a living connection to that older world, a legacy of a time when life, travel, and fortune flowed with the current of the Saline.
Sources
This essay was developed using information from several key historical and genealogical sources. General background information on county formation and early settlers was drawn from Goodspeed’s Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas. The history of the French Creole families and the founding of Longview is detailed in historical accounts like History Of The Old Historic Town Of Longview, Ashley Co. Arkansas. Family histories and settlement patterns were reconstructed using genealogical websites, county marriage and census records, and specialized publications such as the Family Maps of Drew County, Arkansas and the Drew County Historical Journal. Information regarding the Champ Grubbs House was referenced from its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The broader historical context of the post-war era was informed by texts such as Old Times Not Forgotten: A History of Drew County.
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