Fort Smith Lithograph & Family Relationships History

This is a lithograph from 1859 showing Fort Smith Arkansas. Fort Smith is an important historical location for Titchenals who are direct decedents Martin Tichenor. John R. Titchenal moved here in 1823 as a pioneer blacksmith. He was also engaged in raising live stock. His homestead was located just outside of the existing fort which was build around 1817. John's original log cabin was located on the eastern approach to the fort. A close up of the Lithograph shows what we believe to the original Titchenal homestead, the small dark structure in the center of the lithograph close up shown below. This would be the approximate location of the homestead if historical tradition and folklore are correct.

John and his wife Rebecca (maiden name Harbert) had a daughter, Sarah Ann, who was born on December 23, 1823. A monument to Sarah Ann, listing her as the first white child born in Fort Smith, is currently located on the grounds of the Fort Smith National Historic Site, which is part of the National Park System.

Entrance to Fort Smith National Historic Site. Fort Smith History Link.

A plague to Sarah is located near the site of the original Titchenal homestead which is located within the national historic site.

The inscription on the monument plague reads: First White Child here was born Sarah Ann Tichnell in 1826. The first white child born in Fort Smith. Erected as a Public Service by the Noon Civics Club. 1936 (It is interesting to note that 113 years after Sarah's birth, the Civic club got the date of her birth and her name wrong.)

Sarah went on to marry Jeremiah Hackett, Jr. August 12, 1841. Jeremiah Hackett was a farmer and stockman. He served in the American Civil War with the rank of Captain in Company H, 2nd Arkansas Calvary. He was later promoted to Major. After the war he held a number of civil offices and was elected to the Arkansas Legislature in 1866. All Sarah and Jeremiah's children were born in Hackett, Sebastian Co, Arkansas.

The Hackett family also has a long history in America. Jeremiah Hackett, Sr., was the son of Thomas Hackett, Jr., who was a soldier in the American Revolutionary War. Thomas, Sr. and his wife Elizabeth came to America from Ireland in 1674 and settled in Dorchester Co., MD.

A framed copy of the lithograph shown above is available from Zazzle.com by clicking this link