The first newspaper established in Pocahontas was the Herald, founded in 1858 by Prof. Norman and Dr. Brashers. About the same time, Joseph T Fisher began publication of the Pocahontas Weekly Advertiser. In 1860 the 2 newspapers were consolidated when James T Martin bought the Herald. The newspaper then became known as the Herald & Advertiser, and continued until its office was destroyed by Federal soldiers about 1863.
The Arkansas History Commission at Little Rock has in its files a single issue of the old Pocahontas Weekly Advertiser, dated 20 May 1859 and numbered Volume I, Number 22. At this time it was being published every Friday by Joseph T Fisher and Morris Lewis, and the office location was given as "on the corner of Broadway St"
In keeping with the custom of early newspapers, no local news appeared on the front page, regardless of its importance. The front page was devoted entirely to essays, anecdotes, and similar material gleaned from other publications, with one column of local news and the fourth and last page is solid advertisments.
The big story in this issue was the discovery of what appeared to be gold on the plantation of Samuel McLain, about 2 miles east of Pocahontas. Modern newspapers would give this story front-page prominence with a banner headline--but the best it could do in 1859 was a half column on page 2 along with the other local items. According to the Advertiser's account, an unnamed well digger who had been to the California gold rush discovered the gold about 10 feet below the surface. F B Kilcrease, a former deputy sheriff and a reputable witness, visited the place and gave his opinion that gold was present in large quantities. However, there was no equiptment for testing the samples, so official confirmation had to be delayed. This indeference to civic responsibilites was reflected in another local item on page 3. Some of the men had been called out by the road overseer to work on the streets and roads for 2 days. All male citizens were subject to to this duty in those days, and in this case they even had to provide their own tools. It goes without saying that it was an unpopular duty, and all those cited had tried to obtain substitutes, with very little success.
Other local news included remarks about the high water comments on several of the ads in the issue, and an announcement of a new editor for the States Rights Democrat at Helena, Andrew J Rodgers.
The editor explained the lack of of late news by saying that the high waters had prevented the arrival of the mail from the north on Wednesday. A letter from an anonymous Pocahontas resident praised the river mail, and urged the merchants to patronize the mail boats.
An advertisment of the Pioneer U. S. Mail Line on Black River, Arkansas was signed by James Timms, proprietor.
The passenger and freight steamer, "City of Knoxville" ran regularly between Jacksonport and Pocahontas. At Jacksonport it connected with the White River Mail Line for Napoleon, Memphis and New Orleans. At Pocahontas it connected with the daily stages for Iron Mountain and the railroad to St Louis. The Missouri Stage Company, R Bryant, agent, advertised in the paper but the railroad did not.
The local news on page 3 included the account of a scuffle on board the "City of Knoxville" on the previous Monday night, for which 2 principals were fined one dollar by the Mayor of Pocahontas.
Captain Thomas Bailey advertised the New Orleans White and Black River Packet "Europa", calling it a superior steamer. However, editorial comment stated that the "Eupora" had been a t Pocahontas the previous week and that "she looks rather the worse for wear'. Captain Bailey's plans were to lay the "Eupora" up for repairs at Pocahontas during the summer. These plans were enthusiastically received by the editor, for it would give Pocahontas the first boat to New Orleans this fall.
The steamer "Fortune" from Cincinnati was expected to arrive the next day with frieght for the Pocahontas area. The White River U. S. Mail Line from Jacksonport to Napoleon and thence to Memphis advertised passenger and frieght rates on its four new fast-running packets.
To handle the frieght shipped on the steamboats, three Forwarding and Commission Merchants advertised: Johnson and Peay at Napoleon, T Kendigg at Napoleon and C T Stuart at Powhatan.
Three Pocahontas hotels offered accommodations for travelers. Gault House, northwest of the public square, was kept by Mrs Charlotte James. The St Charles Hotel, kept by William Evans, was situated near the river. Bryant House was operated by Robert Bryant, and was the stand for the United States mail stages. Hotels in other town that advertised were the Tupelo Hotel at Jacksonport, kept by Isaac Kay; Ironton House in Ironton, Mo, kept by H N Tong; and Union Hall in Salem, kept by Mrs Sarah Hale.
Two saloons were flourishing in Pocahontas, both of which guaranteed to administer satisfactorily to "all the wants of the inner man", and both were backed up editorially. William J Petty, kept the Arcade Saloon, norteast of the court house. Condy Gillaspie had a new bar room called the Empire Drinking Saloon, south of the court house.
Three Pochontas law firms were among the advertisers: John McCoy, whose office was on Pyburn St; J C Marvin: and the firm of Cain and and Gray. (W R Cain and M S Gray) whose office was opposite the St Charles Hotel. Four other law firms located in other towns advertised. The fiirm of S M McCurdy of Augusta and Frank Doswell of Jacksonport, and maintained offices at both towns. The fiirm of Byers and Son of Batesville consisted of William and W P Byers. Nunn and Baber was a partnership between Green P Nunn of Powhatan and Milton C Baber of Smithville. C S Wainwright was an attorney in Smithville and P L Ligon was at Powhatan.
Only one dentist advertised, Dr J B McClure, who had permanently located at Pocahontas, and whose ads were supported by favorable editorial comment. The three physicians who advertisied were Dr M H Kibler, whose office was at his home and Dr B F Payne and Dr J H Hunter were partners, and promised to give their joint attentionto serious cases without extra charge.
J H Harrison and Co was the town's largest drug store, if we may judge by it's ads, and had been open since October 1, 1858. They carried a large variety of items, and ran seperate ads for the more popular patent medicines. W W Douthit was a wholesale and retail druggist in Pocahontas and Jones, Watkins and Co. had then Drug Emproium at Jacksonport, and J M Perciful had a similar establishment at Powhatan.
James garvin of the firm of garvin, Bell and Co. had gone to Europe for his health, and John T Fisher of Powhatan had been hired to replace him as a traveling salesman. L Hanauer and Co. had been in Arkansas for 20 years. This firm's ads filled an entire column, and boasted thatnit had one of the largest and most varied stocks in Pocahontas, imported from the eastern cities. The ads listed all kinds of dry goods, fancy goods, ready made clothing, boots and shoes, and groceries of all kinds, including whiskey. another small ad by this company offered for sale a 25 year old Negro woman and her 3 sons, the only mention of slaves in the entire paper.
R T Lindsey had all kinds of dry goods, as did Pool, Pulliam and Co., which was located in the store recently occupied by J W Proudfit. W A Inman had a Store-Boat, "Charlotte No. 2", lying at the Pocahontas Landing, where he sold spring and summer dress goods from French, English and American factories. Peter Snyder was a tailor, with a ship in the rear of Harrison's Drug Store.
The Pocahontas Male and Female Academy announced that that its 4 month summer session would begin on Monday, 18 April. Lewis T Dayton was principal, and R A Oaks and E L Urmston were trustees. The curriculum included orthography and reading, the common English branches, history, philosphy, chemistry, algebra, geomerty, Latin and Greek.
Clifton Mills at Powhatan operated by Upson and Mount, ground flour and corn meal. D J Minnis had a blacksmith shop on Main St in Pocahontas.
A man who wanted to build a home in Pocahontas could have arranged the whole thing through the newspaper's advertisers. He could buy one of the 25 town lots offered for sale by W R Hunter. He could get his lumber from James Mitchell's sawmill in Pocahontas, or from the steam sawmill of J B Arendale and T J McPherson at Powhatan. He could get S B Rockwell whose shop was near the Pocahontas church, to contract for all or part of the construction, or to show him how. He could get John W Ripley to paint the finished house. Ripley was a "house sign and ornamental painter", and in addition had photography rooms at the Galt House where his eight years' experience as an artist assured his customers of a perfect ambrotype, regardless of the weather. Finally, he could furnish his new home at the Furniture Rooms of Robert Bryant, cabinet maker, who also made coffins to order at short notice.

The above story furnished by the Arkansas History Commission, and published in the Pocahontas Star Herald on 2 November 1972.