George Maledon, known as the Wild West's “Prince of Hangmen,” was a German-born immigrant, Union Civil War veteran, lawman, and federal-court jail guard whose name became tied to the executions conducted during Judge Isaac C. Parker’s era. Though later legends claimed he personally hanged more than 80 men, historians cannot verify the exact number; what is certain is that Maledon participated in and supervised executions at Fort Smith’s federal gallows before later operating a grocery store and touring with an exhibit built around the court’s dark history. Regardless of the unsettling question of how much of the “Prince of Hangmen” was history, and how much was legend - his name will forever remain attached to the trapdoor.

#Arkansas #History #Podcast #WildWest

This episode of the 1836 Podcast, continues the Counties of Arkansas series but profiling Cleburne County. Cleburne County was created in 1883 as the state’s youngest county. From its early days as a remote Ozark settlement and mineral-springs destination to the dramatic events of the 1918 Draft War, the rise of Heber Springs, and the construction of Greers Ferry Dam, the county’s story is one of transformation. Discover the people, places, conflicts, legends, and natural beauty that shaped Cleburne County—including Greers Ferry Lake, the Little Red River, and the mysterious Water Panther.

This episode of the 1836 Podcast continues the Governors of Arkansas series. Harris Flanagin, born in Roadstown, New Jersey, rose from Quaker-educated teacher and Illinois lawyer to Arkadelphia attorney, Whig legislator, Confederate colonel of the 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles, and seventh governor of Arkansas. Elected in 1862 over Henry Rector, he governed through invasion, shortages, and the fall of Little Rock, then led the Confederate state government in exile at Washington, Arkansas, until 1865. After the war he helped draft the 1874 Arkansas Constitution and died in Arkadelphia, where he is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Sources:

Encyclopedia of Arkansas, “Flanagin, Harris”

Encyclopedia of Arkansas, “Flanagin Law Office”

Find a Grave, “Harris Flanagin (1817–1874)”

Genealogy Trails, “Harris Flanagin of Arkansas”

National Governors Association, “Gov. Harris Flanagin”

National Register of Historic Places nomination, Flanagin Law Office

Southwest Times Record, “Gov. Harris Flanagin and the end of the Civil War in Arkansas”

Wikipedia, “1862 Arkansas gubernatorial election”

Wikipedia, “Harris Flanagin”

Wikipedia, “List of governors of Arkansas”