The original Old Wire Road ran from St. Louis, MO to Fort Smith, AR. The second Old Wire Road began at Fort Smith and followed old Indian trails along the river terminating at Arkansas Post at the confluence with the Mississippi River.
Old Arkansas Post was the first military post in Arkansas, and scene of a major Civil War battle.
These three photos are of the same house.
Just thinking that what would be good with this is a map of the road and directionsto it from the nearest town.
See location outside Ozark, Arkansas
Located on the historic Wire Road, a military route of Civil War days, the old house (built before the Civil War) served as a stagecoach stop and watering place. The house was a white framed house with steep roof line and a fireplace at each end of the house. There were two large, high ceilinged rooms with stout oaken beams overhead, connected by an enclosed hall, the three being referred to as the front room, the hall, and the “other room.” Each of these rooms had a door opening onto the front porch, which extended the full length of the house, and faced the south. The house was a story and a half with a stairway in the hall, leading to a roomy attic.
According to Abstract number 3741, the place was owned by Lawson W. Nichols, Sr., during the Civil War. Upon the death of Mr. Nichols, the land was purchased from his widow and other heirs by two of his sons, Lawson. W. Nichols, Jr., and Alvin A. Nichols. Soon afterwards, however the three brothers conveyed ownership to Pleasant W. Hamblen (1867). The Hamblens lived there until 1878, when they moved to Texas.
On June 8, 1878, the Hamblens sold this house, along with 120 acres, to Roswell B. Moore for $1,500.00. The Hamblens moved on to Texas, leaving, however, their grandson, William M. Hamblen, behind with his mother, Martha Maranda (Ensley) Hamblen. Many of William’s descendants still live in Franklin County.
In 1887 W. E. (Ed) Barnes and his wife Margaret (Mag) became owners of the place. By the way, my great grandfather, Thomas M. Hamblen, married Mary Jane Barnes, relative to Ed Barnes. In 1891 Henley Kirby and his wife, Susan, became owners of the place. The house remained with that family until it was torn down in 1969.
My Dad and I visited that site in 1987, and visited with Mrs. Gerald Kirby. She had lived in the house for many years. I asked about the death of an Indian there on the place. It seems that Frank Hamblen and an Indian were hoeing cotton there, got into a fight, and Frank killed the Indian with a hoe. Mrs. Kirby told us that the Indian died in the house close to the fire place, and that blood stains remained there until the house was torn down. She said that the Indian was buried across the road from the house, about 100 feet west of the well. That grave was maintained there until the road crew mowed over it.
Special thanks to Norman Powell and Mrs. Gerald Kirby for their help with one of the photos and other information. Also, the Ozarks Mountaineer, March 1969.
Click Photo for full page view.
 |
Henly Kirby family at Hamblen House 1891. House torn down 1969 |
 |