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This Day in Arkansas History

August 21, 1900

Mary Elizabeth Smith Massey was born into an average middle-class mountain family in Marshall (Searcy County). She became one of the earliest women’s success stories in Arkansas by forming and serving as president of the Citizens Bank. In the 1950s, she reaped the rewards of her early endeavors by serving as Worthy Grand Matron of the Arkansas Order of the Eastern Star and by being admitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Fayetteville Confederate Cemetery

The Fayetteville Confederate Cemetery in Washington County, established in 1873, is the burial site of more than 500 Confederate war dead. In 1873, the newly formed Southern Memorial Association, possibly the oldest such organization in continuous operation in the United States, purchased approximately three acres of land on East Mountain. Remains of Confederate soldiers were reburied on the site, and on June 10, 1897, the large monument shown in this 1942 photo was dedicated in the presence of a crowd estimated at 20,000. The cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

 

The Fayetteville Confederate Cemetery in Washington County, established in 1873, is the burial site of more than 500 Confederate war dead. In 1873, the newly formed Southern Memorial Association, possibly the oldest such organization in continuous operation in the United States, purchased approximately three acres of land on East Mountain. Remains of Confederate soldiers were reburied on the site, and on June 10, 1897, the large monument shown in this 1942 photo was dedicated in the presence of a crowd estimated at 20,000. The cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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