Timeline -- 1840s

1840
Census shows that the Fayetteville population is 425. Washington County’s population is 7,148.
Charles F. Town publishes the city’s first newspaper, The Witness, a relatively short-lived paper that carried mostly national news.

1841
Fayetteville was incorporated this year. Municipal operations were suspended during the Civil War.
The Royal Arch Masons established the Far West Chapter at Fayetteville.

1844
The Far West Seminary was incorporated on Nov. 30.
Archibald Yell and David Walker run for Congress, Yell as a Democrat and Walker as a Whig. Yell eventually won the election, his second time to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

1845
May 19 — Robert W. Mecklin and Robert Graham organize the Ozark Institute in northwest Fayetteville near Mount Comfort. The school, which had more than 100 men in attendance at its height, continued in operation until 1857.

1846
Isaac Murphy was elected as Washington County’s representative to the Arkansas General Assembly.

1847
February 22 — Archibald Yell is killed by a Mexican lance during the Battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican War.

1848
Addison Crouch establishes a carding factory on South East Avenue. The factory had the capacity to card 100 pounds of wool per day through use of a treadmill generated by horses and mules.
The Christian Church is organized by Rev. Robert Graham with about 50 members.
Isaac Murphy is re-elected as Washington County’s representative to the Arkansas General Assembly.
May 23 — The Episcopal Church is founded by Rev. W.C. Stout.

1849
Catholic congregants begin meeting together in Fayetteville although formal organization of a church wouldn’t happen until 1878.