Wiliam LOVELY, Indian Agent in the west, obtained an agreement whereby the Osages and the Cherokees ceded to the Federal Government land along the Arkansas River at Fort Bayou; then up the Arkansas and Verdigris to the falls of the Verdigris river; thence eastward to the said Osage boundary line. at a point 20 leagues north from the Arkansas River; and with that line, to the point of beginning. "Lovely's Purchase Arkansas. [History Atlas of Oklahoma, Pg 19]
Lovely County was created on October 13, 1827, from Crawford County and the Lovely Purchase. The Northwest portion of Arkansas was an important area of growth from 1827 when the territorial legislature created the county, which was much larger than Lovely's purchase. Lovely County included more of present day Oklahoma than present day Arkansas. The Oklahoma portion was lost to Arkansas in 1828 with the Cherokee Treaty of that year. Most of the remainder became Washington County on October 27, 1828, and the county officials were directed to "take over the affairs and moneys of Lovely County."
John Nicks was one of the commissioners appointed by the Arkansas Legislature to locate a county seat for Lovely County. This settlement, named Nicksville, was established April 25, 1828, with John Dillard as first postmaster. The office was discontinued October 2, 1829. The buildings at Nicksville were subsequently acquired by Dwight Mission located near where is now Marble City, Sequoyah County. From 1824 to 1828 this part of Oklahoma was included in Lovely County, Arkansas

The following links provide more detailed information on the events and circumstances that led to Lovely's Purchase (July 9, 1813), the formation (October 13, 1827) & the abolishment (October 17, 1828) of Lovely County, and other links that will help the researcher understand the history behind this historical and short-lived Arkansas County.

Encyclopedia of Arkansas~ Lovely County History

Maggie Smith Papers~ Nicks & Gibson Business papers

Oklahoma Historical Society ~ Nicksville History

University of Arkansas ~ Cherokee in Arkansas

Lovely County Resident~Alexander Barnhill Jr.

Will Johnson ~1828 Lovely County Emmigrants

Benton Co. Hist. Society~Lovely County History

1890 Goodspeed Article

Arkansas Maps

Benton County Hist. Society ~ Lovely County History

Paul Sarratt Jr ~ American Cherokee Indian Research

CouchGenWeb ~ History of Benton County Arkansas

Benton County Historical Society ~ Benton County Timeline

Oklahoma Historical Society ~ Gen. John Nicks

1828 Treaty of Washington

The Settlers of Lovely & Miller County, Arkansas Territory 1820-1830
by Don and Don & Melinda Crawford

1821 Crawford County Arkansas Tax List by Will Johnson

1829 Crawford County Arkansas Tax List by Will Johnson

History

1820 Arkansas Territory Map

Native American History in Arkansas

Osage Indian Treaties

Lovely County Maps~James McConaughy

Lovely Land Donations, Images