Senator J. William Fulbright's father, sister, and nephew once owned the land where our childhood house now stands in Fort Smith, Arkansas. My parents, Dayton and Mina Young, bought part of that land in 1951 and built a house there.

When Dad bought the property, the title company gave him a title history that revealed a good deal about the history of the land, and even a few nuggets of information about some of the former owners including; wills, probate court rulings, dates of death of previous owners (including Senator Fulbright's sister), and clues to date of birth of a minor owner (Senator Fulbright's nephew).

This is a chronological summary of the title history for property at 4412 Park Ave. Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903, researched by the Ozark Title Company, Inc. in 1951.

• September 20, 1839
  The U.S. government transferred a tract of land to Samuel Davis and wife Maria C. Davis and Wm. M. Gwin and wife Mary E. Gwin. At this time the land was part of Crawford County, Arkansas. The land consisted of all of section fourteen (14), Township Eight (8) North of Range Thirty two (32) West (along with other lands).

  June 4, 1852

  The property was sold to William Wood. At this time the property was in the newly formed Sebastian County.

  February 15, 1867

  William Wood and Margaret Wood, his wife sold for $420 1/16th of their property to:
  William A. Stephenson

  June 16, 1873

  William A. Stevenson for $250 sold all his property to:
  James Smith (Smyth)

  February 2, 1887

  James Smyth and wife Sirilda Jane Smyth sold ½ of their property containing 50 acres for $3000 to:
  Thomas H. Barnes

  February 18, 1888

  Thomas H. Barnes and wife Fronie M. Barnes for $2000 to:
  Hannah Carpenter

  The Barnes took out a mortgage of $2000 due in 3 years, at 10% interest at Bennington County National Bank, Bennington, Vt.

  The description is the same as previous, but now described as 40 acres.

  February 24, 1891

  Margaret A. Carpenter released 2 tracts after the mortgage was paid off.

  March 12, 1891

  Thomas H. Barnes and wife Fronie M. Barnes took out another $2000 5 year mortgage of 8% interest to:
  Sarah W. Walker

  November 9, 1892

  Sarah W. Walker transferred the mortgage to:
  Harry E. Kelley

  April 26, 1895

  Barnes family could not make payments. Mortgage transferred from Harry E. Kelley for $2175 to:
  Sarah W. Walker

  June 1, 1896

  Sold to Joseph Limberg for $812.72 and costs after Thomas Barnes failed to redeem the property during the one year grace period.

  July 23, 1906

  Joseph Limberg, Sr. and Margareth Limberg, his wife sold about 1/8th of their property for $2000 to:
  H. B. Salls

  July 23, 1906

  H.B. Salls, widower took out $1000 mortgage interest of 7% to:
  Joseph Limberg, Sr.

  June 27, 1908

  H.B. Salls sold for $2500 to:
  Rebecca R. Wallace

  $1500 cash and $1000 mortgage to Joseph Limberg, Sr.

  L July 2, 1908

  John M. Wallace and Rebecca R. Wallace his wife sold for $2250 to:
  A.J. Nichols

  October 13, 1908

  A.J. Nichols and Alpha L. Nichols, his wife took $1000 mortgate at 7% to:
  Kelley Trust Company

  March 27, 1909

  A.J. Nichols and Alpha L. Nichols sold for $3000 to:
  Albert S. Williamson

  February 28, 1910

  Albert S. Williamson for $3500 to:
  J.F. Mayes and A.H. Purdue

  February 28, 1910

  J.F. Mayes and A.H. Purdue and Nora B. Mayes and Ida Pace Purdue for $2333.33 7% mortgage to:
  Albert S. Williamson

  March 6, 1912

  Albert S. Williamson released deed after mortgage paid

  December 15, 1917

  J.F. Mayes and Nora B. Mayes mortgage $3822.55 at 8% their half interest to:
  Jay Fulbright

  January 23, 1920

  mortgage satisfied in full

  December 29, 1917

  A.H. Purdue's will probated in Nashville, Tennessee. Mrs. A.H. Purdue took possession of the West half of the jointly owned land and transferred it to Jay Fulbright. Don't know what happened to the East half.

  August 6, 1918

  J.F. Mayes and Nora B. Mayes one half interest to:
  Jay Fulbright

  January 26, 1923

  Jay Fulbright and Roberta Fulbright gave 2 ½ acres to:
  Lucile Fulbright Gilbert (Senator Fulbright's sister)

  April 8, 1925

  Lucile Fulbright Gilbert died in Washington County Arkansas. She was survived by her husband Dr. Allan A. Gilbert and her son, Allan A. Gilbert, Jr. At the time of death she owned real estate in Washington, Crawford, and Sebastian Counties.

  June 18, 1928

  Arkansas claimed the land owned by Dr. Gilbert due to failure to pay property tax.

  October 22, 1931

  J.F. Petree and Roxie Petree redeemed land for $3.75

  April 12, 1933

  Wallace A. Kreig paid $450 to Grover H. Webb, but title was defective as the title to said property is vested in a minor heir. Webb was ordered to refund payment.

  June 24, 1933

  J.F. Petree and Roxie Petree for $110 to:
  Allen Gilbert, Jr.

  May 28, 1934

  Redeemed by Alan Gilbert, Jr. including taxes for 1933

  September, 13, 1937

  J.W. Fulbright redeemed property including taxes for 1936. This was probably Senator Fulbright's father,

  January 28, 1944

  Washington County Chancery Court declared that Allan A. Gilbert, Jr. is no longer a minor. This suggests that Allan Gilbert, Jr. was born sometime before January 28, 1926.

  December 12, 1945

  While Allan Gilbert, Jr. was out of state serving in the armed forces, Hal Douglas, Attorney-in-fact sold 2.5 acres to:
  Charles M. Bach, Thelma D. Bach and Fred Bach.

  1950

  Sewer Improvement taxes paid

  February 26, 1951

  Charles M. Bach and Thelma D. Bach sold west half of property to:
  Fred Bach and Hazelle D. Bach

  March 6, 1951

  Fred Bach and Hazelle D. Bach to:
  Dayton Vennard Young and Mina Christine Young

  Charles Bach built a house on his property about 1950, and lived there for about 35 years. Charles' brother, Fred Bach, decided that he did not want to live on his property, and sold it to the Young's.

  June 5, 1951

  Dayton and Mina Young took out a mortgage of $7,700 at 5% with payments of $60.90 to:
  United Building and Loan Association of Fort Smith.

  October 9, 1959

  Mortgage paid off.