5th North Arkansas Ancestor Fair

Marshall, Arkansas - June 3-4, 1994

Press Release

The Searcy County Historical Society is sponsoring the Fifth North Arkansas Ancestor Fair Saturday, June 4, in Marshall, Arkansas. This outstandingly successful event which links genealogical researchers working on north Arkansas families will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Community Center. A mixer dinner will be held the night before (Friday, June 3) for those who arrive early.

Family historians, authors and publishers, and historical and genealogical societies from a wedge-shaped area of north central Arkansas, cornered by Washington County in the west, the Missouri line in the north, Fulton County in the east and Pope County to the south, are invited to share the results of their research.

Tables and chairs are provided at no cost to family historians who share their information, to authors who sell their books, and to historical/genealogical societies who share their information and sell their publications. People who are researching families from this area should not miss this opportunity to see what is available in the latest research. Admittance is free.

Described as a "genealogical swap meet" or "a place to brag on your ancestors," the North Arkansas Ancestor Fair brings together researchers working on north Arkansas families. The Marshall Mountain Wave will have some of its volumes from the 1950s available for researchers.

James Carl Hefley - writer-in-residence at Hannibal-LaGrange College and author of books about his Newton County, Arkansas, heritage - will present a writers’ seminar after lunch. He will also be available all day to autograph and sell his books, and to discuss Newton County. Mr. Hefley is the author of best seller Way Back in the Hills about growing up in Newton County, and its companion book, Way Back When. He is also director of the Mark Twain Writers Conference and writer-in-residence at Hannibal-LaGrange College, Hannibal, Missouri.

In addition to being available to autograph his books and discuss Newton County, he will lead a one-hour seminar at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, June 4, on writing your family story. His book, Way Back When, is his family story and also the story about his search for his family roots.

Following the Ancestor Fair, there will be two Heritage Tours on Sunday, June 5, for those visitors who remain in the county and for those natives who want something different.

Silver Hill Canoe Rental, St. Joe, AR 72675, 501 439-2372, will take a small number on the old Gilbert/Tomahawk/Maumee Mail Run, with Bill McClain as tour guide. They will visit old cemeteries, home places, schools and receive a liberal dose of Searcy County mining history (and other history as well) from McClain, a lumberman whose father was a miner. Sack lunch and soft drink included on this 4- or 5-hour tour.

The Newton County Resource Council, PO Box 513, Jasper, AR 72641, 501 446-5898, will sponsor a Genealogy Ecotour on Big Creek, Newton County, led by James Carl Hefley, author, who grew up in the Big Creek Valley. The tour will eat lunch near Mt. Judea, and visit cemeteries in the area with Hefley associations. Printed materials relating to these cemeteries, as well as general Newton County history, will be available during the tour.

Cost of each of these tours is $50 and arrangements may be made at the Ancestor Fair Saturday, June 4, in the Community Center, Marshall, or by contacting the operators directly.

At the 1993 Ancestor Fair in Leslie, Arkansas, 64 family historians, authors and genealogical societies provided information on 161 families, 13 counties and 8 ethnic/historical organizations to more than 400 researchers from 20 states. People who attend have a good time.

• Upcoming Ancestor Fair
• Past Ancestor Fairs
• What is an Ancestor Fair?
• Area Dining and Accommodations

• The Searcy County Historical Society
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Activity at the tables during Saturday's Ancestor Fair, 2008.

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