October 21, 2011

Veterans of the War of 1812 were offered land grants or bounties for their service to their country. While many never occupied their grants, a number of veterans did journey to Arkansas Territory to stake their claims. One such veteran was Dexter Harding, who in the early part of 1850 moved to Pine Bluff (Jefferson County), having received his grant after his service as a drummer boy in a New York regiment. He became one of the leading businessmen in the Pine Bluff area, and his gravestone is shown here.