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This Day in Arkansas History

May 12, 1988

Arkansas mass murderer Ronald Gene Simmons was convicted in the Franklin County Circuit Court. Simmons’s killing spree is said to be the worst mass murder in Arkansas history and the worst crime involving one family in the history of the country. His six-day rampage left dead fourteen members of his immediate family and two former coworkers. He was later sentenced to death by lethal injection.

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Van Buren Sketch by William Minor Quesenbury

Born in Crawford County in 1822, William Quesenbury, known as Bill Cush, became a noted journalist, newspaper founder, and artist. Settling in Van Buren (Crawford County) in 1839, he developed his art skills by studying with traveling painter John Stanley. Throughout his lifetime, he produced full-length studies and sketches, many of which were published. Shown here is one of his sketches of the Crawford County Courthouse in Van Buren.

 

Born in Crawford County in 1822, William Quesenbury, known as Bill Cush, became a noted journalist, newspaper founder, and artist. Settling in Van Buren (Crawford County) in 1839, he developed his art skills by studying with traveling painter John Stanley. Throughout his lifetime, he produced full-length studies and sketches, many of which were published. Shown here is one of his sketches of the Crawford County Courthouse in Van Buren.

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African-American woman smiling in black top Sheryl Underwood Television and Streaming Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Side profile white man wearing striped baseball uniform and hat standing at home base in front of catcher on field holding up bat other players on field and audience members sitting in stands in background Earl “Oil” Smith Baseball Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming "Kickapoo Indian Worm Killer" flyer showing a drawing of a man in a headdress holding a child Worms [Medical Condition], Traditional Remedies Pathology Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock Close up small blooming flower with four buds fuzzy leaves held by grubby fingers Official State Flower Official State Symbols Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Multistory building with tower entrance on street corner Pine Bluff Jefferson "Saw the air ship" newspaper clipping UFO Sightings "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns Headline "Christmas comes a little early this year" above illustration of parents labeled "Arkansas Voters" handing large present with text "Better Educational Opportunities" to two children labeled "Arkansas School Kids" all four smiling School Consolidation

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"Greene County" map with borders roads cities river Oak Grove Heights Greene Wooden building beside railroad tracks with people and machinery around Norphlet Union Storefronts and cars on town street with power lines Norfork Baxter "Arkansas Traveler" store building with covered entrance Mountainburg Crawford Stone columns with white sign with red text and devil face painted on it and the words "home of the red devils donated by the classes of 93-94 and 2003" Mountain Pine Garland Two-story motel building and drug store with customers on post card Montrose Ashley "Desha County" map with borders roads cities rivers Mitchellville Desha Group of young white women holding Confederate battle flags behind group of older white men McNeil Columbia Two-story hotel building with tree on dirt road with storefronts Magazine Logan Metal sign "Welcome Madison City Limit" Madison St. Francis Single story red brick building London Pope Service station with cars, water tower "Esso. Grand opening today" Lockesburg Sevier White man and woman standing outside two-story building with screened-in porch and polka-dot paint on dirt road Lakeview Baxter African-American men standing in front of shelves in store Lake View Phillips Two story red brick building with sign saying "Sellmeyer Mercantile Company" Knobel Clay Two white men sitting on the front steps of the Kingsland post office Kingsland Cleveland

About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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