Benton County Historical Society

06/23/2026

The stars of this 2004 Benton County Fair booklet cover were the 1954 Benton County Fair Dairy Winners. And - one of them is very special to the Benton County Historical Society!

We recently rediscovered this wonderful booklet that was published for the Fair's 100th anniversary in 2004. It’s full of fun historic photographs, and tells the story of one of Benton County's longest-running traditions.

The first Benton County Fair was held in 1904, when you could still purchase land in Bentonville for $5 an acre! It wasn't even called the Benton County Fair back then. Instead, it was known as the Benton County Free Fruit Fair and was organized by the county's Horticultural Society.

Early fairs were held on the Bentonville Square and featured exhibits such as fruit displays, canned fruits and jellies, homemade wines, flowers, and needlework, with some exhibits displayed upstairs in the courthouse.

According to old-timers, the fair was so popular that not even murder trials drew larger crowds on the Square!

And it continued to grow - until it was too big for the Square. In 1940, the Benton County Fair Association was formed and purchased three acres that had once been part of Bentonville College.

The carnival was part of the fair from the very beginning—even when it occupied the Square. Back in those days the carnival included high-wire performers, high-diving dogs, merry-go-rounds, and even a steam calliope.

The fairgrounds moved to their current location near the Northwest Arkansas National Airport in 2007.

And who was on the cover? Look closely and you’ll find none other than the Benton County Historical Society's current president, Leah Wilkerson-Whitehead with her Grand Prize Winner!

Photo of 1954 Benton County Fair Dairy Winners:

Standing left to right: Governor Orval Faubus, Garney Sitton, Leah Wilkerson-Whitehead, John Adams, Richard Bell, Roger Mabry, Val Ford, unknown.

Seated: unknown, Sylvia Adams, Wayne Bell, Gary Harrell








Sources:
Benton County Fair website , "About Us"
Bentonville History Museum Facebook Post, July 25, 2017
Celebrating 100 Years: The Benton County Fair, September 14–18, 2004, Bentonville Advertising & Promotion Commission booklet

06/20/2026

06/19/2026

Did you attend Bentonville Elementary School in the 1980s? And, if so, did you work on this quilt?

This very special quilt will be on display at the Benton County Historical Society's Ice Cream Social this weekend. Created by a 5th-grade class in the 1980’s, each individual square was researched, designed, and created by a student to represent a different piece of Bentonville history.

The quilt was later donated to BCHS for preservation, but we have never had the space to properly display it—making this the first time it has been publicly shown in many years. (Many thanks to Don Barnett for designing and building the new frame that the quilt will be displayed on!)

If you helped make this quilt, or remember seeing it at school, we'd love for you to stop by, enjoy some ice cream, and share your memories with us!

Benton County Historical Society’s Ice Cream Social
June 21, 2:00-4:00p.m.
Free cream for all Benton County history lovers!

06/18/2026

The Benton County Historical Society's birthday is this week—and we have the meeting minutes to prove it! Our story started on July 15, 1954 in a room at the Masonic Youth Center.

That was when 26 people from across Northwest Arkansas gathered to discuss forming a Benton County chapter of the Arkansas Historical Society. Among those present were Alvin Seamster, Vera Key, Irene Freeman, Louise Plank, Allan Humphries, Rev. Harris, and J. Wesley Sampier.

The meeting had been called by Mr. Rose from the Arkansas Historical Society to "discuss the possibility of organizing a Benton County Chapter of the Arkansas Historical Society." (source: Minutes from the July 15, 1954 meeting. Mr. Rose then introduced two professors from the University of Arkansas. Professor Lemke explained how a chapter worked and what its purpose was, while Professor Robert Logan encouraged the group to create a publication of historical research and essays. (They must have taken him seriously because the first issue of The Benton County Pioneer was dated September 1955. It was all of 6 pages long and contained an article by Miss Vera Key and a poem by Malbie Babcock.)

The group wasted no time. They elected temporary officers and formed a committee to draft bylaws and nominate permanent officers. Then they passed the hat to collect funds to pay for that evening's hall rental (plus a tip for the janitor).

More than 70 years later, the Benton County Historical Society is still preserving and sharing the stories of our county.

If you're interested in becoming part of our story, join us for the upcoming Ice Cream Social on June 21 to say hello and get a taste of what we're all about!

Sources:
Minutes of the organizational meeting for the Benton County Historical Society, July 1954
The Benton County Pioneer, July-September 1996

06/17/2026

J. Wesley Sampier's journey to higher education began with a bicycle, a determination to learn, and 370 miles of dirt roads.

In 1996, Benton County Pioneer editor Wayne Hoog wrote about one of the Benton County Historical Society's charter members, J. Wesley Sampier. The article was published shortly after Sampier was recognized with the American Legion State Americanism Award and honored for 50 years of continuous membership in the American Legion.

But those honors represented only a very small part of a remarkable life.

John Wesley Sampier was born in Texas on September 5, 1905. Growing up in rural Wyoming, he was determined to get an education—even though the nearest high school was 40 miles away. He earned his diploma through the American School of Correspondence in Chicago, and in 1924 won a bicycle for his academic achievements.

Then he put that bicycle to good use. To attend the University of Wyoming, Sampier rode it 370 miles (on unpaved roads!) from Lightning Flat to Laramie - and it only took him five and a half days!

After graduating from the University of Wyoming in 1930 with a degree in pre-law and a commission as a Second Lieutenant through ROTC, he moved to Rogers and began building a life in Benton County.

Over the years, Sampier wore many hats. He taught school, coached basketball, and served as superintendent in Pea Ridge, Garfield, and Rogers. At the same time, he studied law, worked in law offices, passed the Arkansas Bar in 1934, and launched a successful legal career. He would later serve as a state representative, state senator, and American Legion commander, becoming a respected figure throughout Arkansas.

And then there was his military service.

Sampier spent 37 years in uniform with the U.S. Army Reserve and Arkansas National Guard. In 1937, he helped organize Battery F, 142nd Field Artillery in Rogers and became its first commander.

When World War II came, the unit was activated and sent to Fort Sill. Before deployment overseas, Sampier was transferred to the 5th Armored Division and served through five campaigns in Europe. His time in the European theater would include service with the Fifth Armored Division which, along with the Free French forces, liberated Paris. Sampier would return home with the rank of Major.

In 1951, he was called to duty again during the Korean War, serving with the 936th Field Artillery Battalion and eventually becoming Assistant Judge Advocate of the Tenth Corps. He returned home in 1953 and continued serving in the Arkansas National Guard until retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

When J. Wesley Sampier passed away in 1999 at the age of 93, he left behind a legacy that touched education, law, government, military service, and local history.







Sources:
Wayne Hoog, "J. Wesley Sampier: A Lifetime of Service to Nation, State, and City," The Benton County Pioneer, Vol. 41, Issue 3, July–September 1996
Pea Ridge Times, "Remember former basketball coach, J. Wesley Sampier," July 30, 2025
U.S. Militaria Forum, "Meet Lt. Col. John Wesley Sampier"

06/16/2026

He swam a river into enemy territory, earned the Medal of Honor, and nearly 50 years later chose a quiet Benton County hilltop over Arlington National Cemetery.

On September 3, 1967, Sgt. M. Waldo Hatler was laid to rest in the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery in Sulphur Springs, overlooking the Valley of the Moon. For many, it may seem surprising that a man eligible for burial in Arlington National Cemetery would choose this quiet spot in Northwest Arkansas. But Hatler had made his wishes clear: “I prefer this quiet mountain top to any Military Cemetery.”

His story began on January 6, 1894, in Bolivar, Missouri. Hatler went on to spend most of his life in southwest Missouri and Benton County, Arkansas. In 1919 he graduated from the University of Michigan Law School, after which he followed his father into the banking and real estate business.

When the United States entered World War I, Hatler attempted to obtain a commission in the Navy but was rejected for medical reasons. Rather than remain exempt from service, he waived his exemption and entered the Army, eventually serving as a sergeant in Company B, 356th Infantry.

In November 1918, Hatler's regiment was halted near the French village of Pouilly at the Meuse River. Critical information about German positions across the river was needed, and volunteers were requested for an extremely dangerous reconnaissance mission. According to his commander’s report, Hatler was the first to volunteer.

Hatler and another soldier started to swim the river. But sadly, Hatler’s fellow soldier was overcome by cramps and drowned. Hatler continued on alone and successfully reached the German lines where he “carefully and courageously reconnoitered the enemy's positions, which were held in force, and again successfully swam the river, bringing back information of great value." -Army Division General Order No. 74 of the Year 1919

For this action, he received the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest award for military valor. He was one of only 126 individuals awarded the Medal of Honor for service during World War I. Since the creation of the award during the Civil War, only 3,533 people have received the nation's highest military decoration.

Today, his grave rests quietly above Sulphur Springs—far from the battlefields of France, but exactly where he wished to be.








Sources:
"Sergeant M. Waldo Hatler, U.S. Army: Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient," The Benton County Pioneer, Volume 41, Issue 2, April–June 1996
Wikipedia entry for M. Waldo Hatler
Congressional Medal of Honor Society's website
Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project website

06/12/2026

Congratulations to our good friend Randy Townzen!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18yKSMsg3Q/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Join us for Pie & Public Art at the Bentonville Public Library!

We invite you to enjoy pie while we talk about public art in Bentonville — its history, the process behind it, the people who help make it happen, and how community members can get more involved. Thanks to Kyle Yazzie of Downtown Bentonville Incorporated, the program will include a special short film presentation about Bentonville’s first public mural: Randy Townzen’s Legend of Hidden Harvest, which turns 40 this month.

Saturday, June 13
2:30–4:00 pm
Bentonville Public Library
Registration not required.

Panelists include:
Dana Doughty, Bentonville History Museum
Randy Townzen, Artist and Bentonville History Museum Board Member
Shelli Kerr, The City of Bentonville Arkansas Planning Department
Tom Hoehn, Public Art Advisory Board Member
OZ Art NWA Representative

Why pie? Because pie is good. And public art is good.

Special thanks to Gooseberry Handmade Pies for donating the deliciousness 🥧

06/11/2026

This Bella Vista house had three names and a few tall tales attached to it, before someone burned it down.

Located on a hill above what is now Euston Road, the large two-story frame house was built by Wilson Brown - who named it Rago. The house featured a cupola, bedrooms on the second floor, additional sleeping space in the attic, and a first floor that served triple duty: family bedrooms, a general store, and a Post Office.

Over the years, the house acquired several names. Wilson Brown named it RAGO. Neighbors referred to it as the Wilson Brown House. And then there was the “the Stage House.”

But before we get to that story, it's worth taking a moment to appreciate Wilson Brown himself.

Brown was much more than a storekeeper and postmaster. He was also an entrepreneur, horticulturalist, and experimenter. The family maintained a large vineyard and bottled their own wine. Their orchards produced pears, peaches, and apples, which were sold fresh or turned into apple butter. They dried apples in an evaporator building, bottled catsup, canned tomatoes under the "Oh Yes" brand, and harvested honey from numerous beehives.

According to family members and friends, Brown even attempted to develop a blight-resistant chestnut by crossing chestnut trees with chinquapins after disease devastated native chestnut populations. (We were unable to find out whether the experiment succeeded.)

Now, back to the story of the "Stage House", which begins on June 23, 1965 when The Benton County Democrat published a photograph of the house with banners proclaiming: "In the 1890's This Was Known as REGO, ARKANSAS, General Store, U.S. Post Office" And "STAGECOACH & PONY EXPRESS RELAY STATION."

The accompanying caption claimed the site had once been a stagecoach stop and had even been connected to a southern route of the Pony Express. It was a great story - with just one problem…

Actually, make that three problems…

The Pony Express ceased operations in 1861—more than three decades before the house was built in 1897. The post office was named RAGO, not REGO. And there was no evidence of a stagecoach road running near the Wilson Brown farm.

In short, somebody appears to have created a very good story—and then they repeated it.

Despite being historically inaccurate, the tale proved durable. It was published again in 1971 and became attached to the house's identity for some time after.

Sadly, despite all the interesting stories connected to it, the house was burned down by vandals in 1976.










Sources:
George Phillips, "Wilson Brown and the Rago Post Office," The Benton County Pioneer, Vol. 28, Issue 1, Spring 1983
Xyta Lucas, "A House Called Rago," The Weekly Vista, February 10, 2021, https://bvwv.nwaonline.com/news/2021/feb/10/rago/