Yesterday I bought the last copy of the History of Strong,Ark,written by Ila Merle VESTAL Knox,copyright 1979.
If anyone would like to ask me about a person,place,or anything else to do with Strong and the surrounding communities of Concord, Hillsboro,LaPile,New London,Oakland,La,plus there is mention of Huttig,and other areas of SE Ar, then I would be happy to tell you what I can. The only thing I ask is patience in waiting for an answer and please try not to ask for too much at once.:-) I also live outside of Huttig and would be happy to physically go to the cemeteries around here and get such info as type of stone,verse/ scripture,etc.. or anything else on that line.I,however, don't have a digital camera and right now don't plan on doing pics. I also have a small amount of history on Huttig,but could find out more if necessary.I will also be receiving cemetery volumes I,II,and IV this next week and plan on getting the others in the future.I don't think there are but a couple of cemeteries in these books relating to the Strong area,but you've got to start somewhere.:-) In the acknowledgements of her book,Ila Merle VESTAL Knox wrote," This volume is not a documented history but a collection of facts and stories of the past and of the present as remembered by senior citizens of this community. In preparing this brief history, I have not assumed the role of a historian, not even a journalist, but I wish instead to be considered a collector of records to recall memories of the past, for we know the events of yesterday are history now." Please do not take anything I give you from this book as gospel,but as a clue or a lead to finding out more about your ancestors. Mrs.Knox goes on to say that "Regretably, not every family,club,or organization submitted its history. I apologize for any omitted or mispelled names; it was not intentional,but to the best of my knowledge and also that of others who submitted names.In the hope it might prove of interest to our children and grandchildren, this historical data was recorded; and by no means is it complete or documentary. All histories are not absolutely true or complete, but only as that particular historian understands and interprets it. I realize there could be some resentment from those left out; I am sorry to leave them out, but they did not send their records."
Mrs Knox has info on the location,population,climate,business,funny and unusual names,how Strong got its name and its "bad name" and the list goes on. Thank you for your time and I hope I can be of help to someone. I do want to say right here and now, I am not related to anyone in Union Co.,Ar. I moved here in the mid-80's because of my husband.So,except for what I can give you from these books and the cemeteries, I won't be able to help you. Dawn Dykes Petz