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Early History of Ione, Logan County, Arkansas
This history is published in this place for the purpose of research, sharing of historical information, and special interest of descendants of the people of Ione, Logan County, Arkansas and surrounding communities. It is not to be used for the profit of any individual or organization without the written consent of the author. ©1999 by ArteLab Copies must include this message.
Contents
If you have additional information, questions, or comments on this article, or other information about the area, please contact Clyde Wiley .
Photos:
Ione Baptist Church 1898 - 1963
Other Links:
Ione Baptist Church Minutes A document contained in the Logan and Scott County USGenWeb Archives on the Logan County, Arkansas and the Scott County, Arkansas web sites.
EARLY HISTORY OF THE IONE AREA
LOGAN COUNTY, ARKANSAS
by Clyde Wiley
Sometime before 1880 the French Prairie Union School was established on the site of what is now French Prairie Cemetery about a mile and a half north of where the community of Ione
now stands.
In 1881 the Shiloh Baptist Church, later to become the Ione Baptist Church, moved its meeting place from Long Ridge School to the French Prairie Union School.
In 1882 a store and post office were opened at Belva, about a half-mile south of French Prairie. Mr. R.L. Duncan owned the store and served as Post Master. Mr. J.J. Lucas and Mr. H.
Harwell also owned an interest in the store. In this same year the Shiloh Baptist Church built a place of worship at Belva.
In 1886 the Shiloh Baptist Church and the Freeman Church consolidated and changed the name to Good Hope Baptist Church.
Significant events in 1897 signaled the beginnings of the community of Ione. First, a Mr. Slawson (perhaps spelled Slaucion) and his two sons, Dick and Sim, established a sawmill in the
area. Soon thereafter the first Ione school was established in a two story frame building. As soon as the schoolhouse was completed the Good Hope Baptist Church moved its meeting place
from Belva to the new Ione School.
The Good Hope Baptist Church continued to meet in the Ione schoolhouse until 1898. At that time they built their own building just north of the school. The name was subsequently changed
to Ione Missionary Baptist Church and later to simply Ione Baptist Church.
In 1904 Mr. W.J. Pennington opened the first store in Ione. The store was located just northwest of the school property. The post office was moved from Belva to this store but the name
wasn't changed to Ione until several years later, about 1907. It is reported that Richard Hurt suggested the name because of the fond memories he had for a mining town in California
named Ione. This little mining town is near Sacramento and Richard Hurt had lived there several years previously, probably during the gold rush days around 1849.
In 1905 a Presbyterian Church was built just east of the Baptist Church. In was located in a two story frame building, the top floor utilized as the Masonic Lodge.
These were probably the peak years for the community of Ione. In addition to the post office and two churches the community had a sawmill, drug store, blacksmith shop with a gristmill in
the back, and a millinery shop in the general store. There were four doctors in the community -- Dr. Greenwood, Dr. Stringfield, Dr. Pendergraff, and Dr. Turner.
About 1930 the old frame schoolhouse was replaced with a new brick building. At this time the Ione School had three teachers. It is believed that over the years Ione School had 43 teachers.
Some time about 1950 State Highway 23 between Booneville and US Highway 71 was greatly improved. The road east from Ione toward Booneville followed a completely new more
southerly route. A new concrete block store was built along the new road and both the post office and Masonic Lodge were moved to this building. The post office shared space with the store
on the ground floor and the upper floor was the Masonic Lodge.
As time passed improvements in roads and transportation spelled the end for communities like Ione. In 1950 the school, except for the first four grades, was consolidated with Booneville.
Then in 1952 these four grades were moved to Booneville and the Ione School was closed. The Ione post office remained until it was closed about 1956. The store remained in operation for a
few more years, but eventually it too was closed.
Today the old school building remains and is used as a community center. The church built in 1898 was torn down and a new building erected on the same site in 1963. After standing empty
for many years the old Presbyterian Church was demolished.
Today there are still many families living in the Ione area. Some of them are "newcomers," but many descendants of the early day settlers continue to occupy and farm the same lands where their ancestors established homesteads.
Clyde Wiley, 1999.
This page last Updated on April 17, 2006 by ArteLab
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An Ione Group - 1906
From the collection of Sue B. Sitzler
Second from left, front row: John Wiley. Fourth from left, James Pennington.
Third from left, second row: Myrtle A. (Sanford) Pennington. If you can identify any of the other people in this photo, please contact ArteLab
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Ione Singing School, Ione, Arkansas - 1904
From the collection of A.Tyler
Singing schools were very popular in the early days of Ione and the surrounding communities. Some of the people pictured here came from the neighboring community of Lucas. The trip, made very quickly by automobile today, was not so simple then. George W. Wiley was a well-known conductor around this time. The simple pleasure of people getting together to sing was a major source of enjoyment. Besides the schools, Singing Conventions were very popular social events that could pack area churches on a Sunday afternoon. There were solos, quartets, duets, choirs, and general congregation numbers. There was music on the program and songs by request. Some came to sing, some came to listen, and some came to do both--but all came to enjoy.
Back row: 5th from left, James Pennington, 7th from left, James F. Blair. Extreme right, Edgar A.Wiley, 2nd from right, Robert Slaughter. Third Row: 6th from right, John Wiley. First row: 3rdfrom left, Latt Wiley, 4th from left, Elmer "Bug" Wiley, little boy 5th from right may be Vester Wiley. George W. Wiley is the gentleman standing with the baton.
If you can identify any of the people pictured, please contact ArteLab
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Ione Lodge, Ione, Logan County, Arkansas (c. 1900)
3rd from left, second row, is James F. Blair. 7th from right, fourth row, is Arthur Sanford. Other members are unidentified. If you know the date of this photo or the identity of anyone pictured here, please contact ArteLab
James F. Blair, was a teacher, farmer, share cropper, merchant, church deacon, Sunday School Superintendent, one-time owner of the Lucas Cotton Gin, singer, long-time member of the Mansfield School Board, and Justice of the Peace, who made his permanent home in Lucas.
Arthur Sanford was a community leader and a farmer who held a place of esteem in both communities as well. More information about him, and all others in this community, is invited.
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Visitors since March 20, 1999
Ione Baptist Church, Ione, Logan County, Arkansas
Ione Baptist Church
1898 - 1963
Photo given by Shirley Denney,
From the collection of Shirley Denney & Clyde Wiley.
See Clyde Wiley's Early History of Ione, Logan County, Arkansas and the Ione Baptist Church Minutes link on this page for more on this historic church.
Last Updated on April 5, 1999 by ArteLab