| Notes |
- FLASHBACK, Published by the Washington County, AR Historical Society
February 1988
Mankins, Peter, SR and Rachel
by Ouida Hunter Harkreader
Peter Mankins, who lived for more than 111 years, was one of the early
pioneers in Arkansas and the progenitor of many Washington Co. families. As a
child he played near George Washington's home. He lived through The
Revolutionary War, The War of 1812, and The Civil War.
Arkansas (Indian word meaning "downstream people") became the 25th state on
June 15, 1836. Fayetteville was incorporated the same year, and a chain
bearer for the surveyors was named Mankins.
Fayetteville had few houses when the Peter Mankins family came to the
Territory. Peter cleared the cane breaks along the west fork of the White
River, built a home and lived there for the rest of his life. In 1834, three
parcels of land were listed under his name in the Township 15 29th West and
5th meridian, known as White River Township.
Peter welcomed statehood in 1836, helped build schools and churches, worked
for good government, always voted -- first as a Whig, later Democrat. He
voted for Thomas Jefferson, General Hancock and 13 others. In 1861 he saw the
division of families and friends as Arkansas joined The Confederacy. At age
90 he was taken prisoner by
Union troops. In 1868 when Arkansas was readmitted under the Reconstruction
act, Peter was present.
Peter Mankins, Sr. was born Sept. 19, 1790 at Cedar Creek, MD, almost exactly
where the Kennedy Center is now. He died Dec. 30, 1881 and is buried in the
Reese Cemetery. His death was duly reported by Col. J.H. Hoose, who wrote, "I
daresay he never uttered an untruth willfully in the whole course of his
life; there was no deceit or hypocrisy in him. He was always plain and
outspoken, honest in his dealings with his fellow man, and ever ready to
assist the needy and distressed. If he ever had an enemy he outlived them all
for he left only friends."
But Arkansas was not the only state Peter helped settle. He had watched
George Washington's army as it marched through Alexandria, VA to meet
Cornwallis.
In 1803, in Orange County, NC he married Rachel Bracken Lewis, widow of
Zachariah
Lewis and mother of three children: George, Lydia, and Bracken Lewis. Peter
and
Rachel had eleven children, six sons and five daughters. Three sons, John B.,
William and Walter (named for his uncle) were born in Orange Co. NC.
In 1809 the Mankins and the Lewis children came through the Cumberland
Gap to the Block House, a rude fort near Prestonburg in Kentucky. Peter
cleared a Beech forest and built near the fort. During the War of 1812 with
England, Mankins was in charge of Harmonies Station, repaired its blockhouses
to protect the women in case of Indian trouble. In 1827 Peter sold his farm
to Samuel Porter, went to newly opened country in Illinois for a year,
returned to Kentucky, and purchased a big farm near Paintsville. Later it
was sold to Moses Preston. He then went back to Illinois for a short stay
before moving to the White River. Rachel bore eight children in Kentucky:
Peter Jr., Henry, Samuel, Edith (Enos Mills), Rachel (Jonathan Fine), Millie
(William B. Fine), Sarah, and Elizabeth.
Rachel was the daughter of Isaac Braken and Rachel Stalcop, whose marriage is
recorded in the Old Swedes Church, Wilmington, DE, Aug. 31, 1769
Members of the Price family (owner of the farm in White River Township) think
it is Rachel who is buried on the farm they call "Homeplace".
Facts about this person:
Alt. Died December 30, 1881
Sulpher City, Washington Co. AR
Burial Unknown
Reese Cemetery, on middle fork
Name (Facts Pg)
Peter Mankins
|
1770 - 1881 (111 years)
Has no ancestors but more than 100 descendants in this family tree.
[1, 2] 
Abt 1776 - Abt 1849 (73 years)
