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LEARN
our History
1820 - 1850
Starr Hill
Around 1828, Samuel Starr was appointed Osage Indian agent and settled near what is now North Street and West Avenue in Lincoln. North Street connected to key destinations such as the Cherokee Nation at Tahlequah and the Creek (Muscogee) Nation near Fort Gibson. The area, known as Starr Hill township, is possibly named after Samuel Starr's long presence, though some attribute it to James Starr, who arrived from Illinois in the 1870s.
Many early settlers used corn and apples the most, with a lot of them coming from Native American heritage. Many settlers used vinegar as a preservative, and cider was the settler's drink of choice. Apples were very popular as they could be cooked, dried or stored.
A Great Place for an Orchard
1851-1861
The Holt family quickly noticed the soil in the area, soon to be known as Lincoln, would be very suitable for an Orchard. In 1850, Earl Holt established the very first commercial nursery for apples. His father, Jack Holt, had been cultivating apples since 1827. His brother, DeKalb, was credited for the invention of the Arkansas Black Apple. Many more well-known apples came from the area, such as the Collins Red, by George Collins, the August Beauty and Summer Champion, both by Wellington Waller.
1861-1865
The Civil War
The Battle of Prairie Grove caused Lincoln to be just miles away from conflict in the Civil War, and with men from the area fighting on both sides, it would only take time for Lincoln to become abandoned. Many settlers abandoned the area to fight in the war and join the very conflict happening only miles away.
Due to Confederate Guerillas and Union Soldiers being equally feared, the town took years to be resettled and reestablished even after the war concluded.
"Blackjack"
1866-1877
In the 1870s, a school was built in the area near what is now the Lincoln Rodeo Grounds. This school was built amid many thorny blackjack trees, and the school itself was built with blackjack trees. After this, the town became known as "Blackjack". In 1874, Joseph Carter established the area's first store, which retained the name Blackjack. Nearby, on Beaty Mountain, another community called Mt. Hayes was established in 1877, and during this period, Starr Hill Township was organized in the vicinity.
"Republican from the North"
1878 - 1900
Over time, these settlements gradually merged and expanded, eventually seeking to establish a post office in 1884 under the name Georgetown as it had become a more favorable name over "Blackjack". However, the postal service rejected this name due to its duplication in White County, Arkansas, and Madison County, Arkansas. In response, Joseph Carter proposed Lincoln, claiming he had picked it randomly after seeing it on a box. Some, however, doubted his explanation, suspecting that Carter might have intended to honor Abraham Lincoln all along, especially since he identified as a "Republican from the North." The locals ' acceptance of the name Lincoln could have been faster, particularly in the turbulent Reconstruction era following the Civil War. The Post Office later opened inside Joseph Carter's store he had established earlier.
1900-1903
Turn of the Century
After the turn of the Century, the first dean of the University of Arkansas Agriculture, William Vinceheller, built a cold storage facility and further solidified the Lincoln area's focus on apple production. in 1903 the Citizen's Bank opened after Cane Hill investors acquired a state charter, two years later the bank changed its name to Bank of Lincoln, during this time many thriving businesses were opened in Lincoln. The first Church, built by the Methodists opened in 1902.
1903 - 1907
The Frisco
The settlement remained without incorporation until the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway (commonly referred to as the Frisco) outlined plans for a branch line known as the Ozark and Cherokee Central Railway (O&CC) connecting Fayetteville to Oklahoma. During the right-of-way acquisition process, a railroad agent passed through the area and laid out a town on 22 acres of land south of the proposed railroad in 1903, with modifications to the plan in 1907. The railroad agent, Paul Easby talked with local businesses to put up $1,500 for a depot, that depot opened on January 22nd, 1902 and immediately had a positive impact on the businesses in Lincoln. Apples were among the first items to be shipped from the depot. Consequently, on November 23, 1907, Lincoln was officially incorporated with Jim Leach serving as Lincolns first mayor.
In 1915 W.C. Braly bought a tract south of town and sold lots in an auction that lasted two days, the plots sold for as little as $3.
Photo of the Train Depot in Lincoln
This photo was taken in the early 1900s and is believed to be the first train that arrived at the depot. The photo is courtesy of Shiloh Museum of Ozark History/Hallie Miller Collection.
Collapse of the Apples
1916 - 1941
During the great depression, Lincoln suffered greatly as the railroad line died, and farmers could no longer ship out apples and other produce using that line; trying to combat this, U.S. 62 was graded and graveled, later being paved in 1941.
On top of no longer being able to ship apples, some orchards suffered from disease-ridden insects, drought, and frosts that occurred out of season. Many orchards collapsed during this time; some were replaced with vineyards and even pastures for cattle. Most notable being the Pitts family who ran a summer resort south of Lincoln, converted their 400 acre orchard into a pasture for award-winning cattle.
1942 - 1951
Rise of the Broiler
World War II left Lincoln basically labor-less during its time. Washington County itself suffered over 100 casualties, some of which came from Lincoln. As soldiers returned and the war ended, a new trend was leading Lincoln and the area around it, Broiler Chickens. Broiler Chickens proved profitable as Lincoln was recovering from the war and depression it faced in the previous decades. Small farmers grew the chickens on contract for earlier pioneers in the area. Later, in 1967 the Pitts Family converted their remaining orchards to Broiler Chicken houses and named the operation "Sugar Hill Ranch".
Many residents of Lincoln left the area for Fayetteville to be closer to the city. African Americans had established a church and cemetery, but towards the end of the century, the African American population in Lincoln was 0.
Municipal Water
1951 - 1974
Lincoln developed a sewer system and a source of municipal water in the 1950s; they acquired a spring south of town. By 1960 the spring could no longer supply the town with its water needs. To combat this the city acquired funding to build a lake north of town and build a water treatment plan as well as transmission lines. Many years later, in 1974, Lincoln embarked on a much larger project to increase their treatment capacity and began offering sewer collection to better accommodate major wastewater users. This is what has made Lincoln such a large player in water and sewer accommodations in Washinton County.
1975 - 1998
The Birth of an Icon
In 1975 a group of nine citizens banded together to create the Apple Festival. They took inspiration from the Apple Blossom Festival held in Rogers, AR; the main attraction of this event was the Apple-Themed Parade which many towns entered floats in. In 1926, Lincoln won the competition for best float. The Apple Blossom Festival only took place from 1923 to 1927.
Lincoln's vast history of apples and the inspiration from the Apple Blossom Festival made the choice obvious to make this festival apple-themed. Many confused the event for a Bicentennial Celebration for America, but it was only coincidental the first one was held in 1976. Musician David Allen Coe performed at the first Apple Festival, in order to garner funds to have him perform Lincoln hosted a "Womanless Wedding" where every role was played by area politicians and businessmen.
Throughout the years the Apple Festival morphed to host different events, but never missed a parade. The 1980 Apple Festival saw the attendance of Governor Bill Clinton to crown the Apple Queen, Sandra Williams. In 1981 Governor Frank White proclaimed October to be "Arkansas Apple Month"
Photo of the Apple Blossom Festival (Pea Ridges Float)
This photo was taken in 1924, courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, Central Arkansas Library System
New Banks
1999 - 2023
The Bank of Lincoln, just four years shy of being 100 years old was sold to Simmon's First National, and later became a branch of Simmon's First. In 2001 Arvest Bank opened a location on Highway 62 in town. In 2023 Legacy Bank opened a location on Highway 62 in town.
