News from October 28, 2004 issue

The number of registered voters has dropped about a half of one percent over the past four years in Crittenden County. During that same time, more new voters have registered Republican than Democrat.

Although the total number of registered voters is down a bit over the four-year period since the last presidential election, Crittenden County's voter rolls are actually up slightly since the last general election here in 2002.

Crittenden County Clerk Carolyn Byford, whose office is responsible for keeping track of voter registration, says the Motor Voter Law has been largely responsible for keeping numbers steady. The law requires vehicle licensing agents to check a person's voter registration when they apply for a new license or re-apply for a license every four years. If the licensee is not registered, the agent asks if they would like to register.

"Some decline, but most go ahead and register," said Byford. "You can also register at the health department and the Cabinet for Families and Children."

There are actually 29 fewer registered voters today than when President George W. Bush ran against then-Vice President Al Gore. Voter registrations reached a 21st century high in 2003. Last year, Crittenden had 39 more registered voters than it does today.

Republicans have seen a windfall in the number of local registrations. Since the last presidential election, the GOP has seen a net 97 voter increase on its rolls. Meanwhile, the number of registered Democrats in Crittenden County has declined by 96 voters. Independents and other third-party rolls have lost two and a half dozen voters over the last four years.

Although Republicans have made steady gains locally, Democrats still hold about a 10 percent advantage with 672 more registered voters in Crittenden County.

Both of the major parties have turned out well for the last two general elections here. In 2000, 67 percent of the registered Democrats went to the polls and 70 percent of the Republicans voted. Figures were slightly lower in the 2002 general election when several county offices were up for grabs. That year, only 53 percent of the registered Democrats voted and 57 percent of GOP voters cast ballots.

Byford thinks next week's general election will create another large turnout.

"Based on the number of people we've had voting absentee and the number of calls we've taken to answer questions like which precinct people need to vote at, it looks like a big turnout," she said.

Monday was the last day to request absentee paper ballots, unless there is a last-minute medical emergency. Voters out of the county Tuesday may vote absentee on the machine at the courthouse until 4:30 p.m., Monday. The clerk's office will be open from 8 a.m., until noon Saturday for absentee machine voting.

The county recently implemented an electioneering ordinance, prohibiting campaigning within 300 feet of a polling place on election day. Polls will be open 6 a.m., to 6 p.m., Tuesday.

Tan yard was a busy place in early Marion
BY BRENDA UNDERDOWN
Crittenden Press History Columnist

Editor's note: Read Brenda Underdown's column featuring local history every week in The Crittenden Press printed edition.

This article first appeared in The Crittenden Press in 1954. It's a story and the history about one of Marion's early enterprises. It was told by Ed B. Haynes, of Fillmore, Calif., who had an active part of the business.

One of Marion's important early enterprises was the establishment of a modern system of tanning leather. Organized under the direction of Billy Duke Haynes, under title W.D. Haynes & Company, the participating members being Robert Edwin Bigham, and Edward Black. The company proposed to incorporate the latest improved methods of processing animal skins, from the raw to the finished product, and to manufacture all products made from leather.

W.D. Haynes was a farmer in the section now called Repton. In the year 1864, he married Mary Elizabeth Black, daughter of Nathan Rice Black, one of Marion's first lawyers. Sometime in the year 1868, he bought a tract, some 10 acres of land, at the southern border of town. The Marion-Princeton road then separated the property from the old Presbyterian Church and graveyard. To the east and adjoining the property was dense forest, owned by the Robert Lycurgus Bigham estate. On the property was an ever-flowing spring of water, and a log house, two rooms, divided by open hallway, and kitchen detached.

In that day, leather and leather products were not much sold in stores. Every community supported its own shoemaker, saddler and harness maker; sometimes all three in one person, handyman. There were a few small tanneries throughout the county, the largest was, I believe of six vat capacity, located at a spring about one mile east of the of the old Piney Fork Camp Meeting Grounds, and operated by a Mr. Alexander. All together, the small tanneries could nowhere near supply the demand and none were equipped to supply but a crude leather.

With the bright prospects apparent, the company proceeded to acquire basic supplies ­ white-oak bark, to be cured without exposure to moisture, and animal skins in great quantity. For the protection of the dried bark and working space for the horse-powered bark grinding mill, an enormous size shed was erected, and curing rooms for raw hides. During the interim while the stockpile was building up, the partners followed other pursuits ­ part time.

When the stockpile became sufficient for a beginning, Mr. Haynes moved his family, wife and two children to Marion. That was in October 1869. Born in early 1866, I was then nearly four years old, and can recall quite clearly many incidents from that time forward.

Next thing, three pools, dimensions 10x10 feet and six feet deep; one pool fresh water to soak dry hides in; another, a strong lime solution to loosen the hair, and a third emersion in fresh water to neutralize the lime. Skins thoroughly rubbed to remove all foreign matter, graded according to thickness, the larger ones split in halves; the grades are separately processed.

Tan vats, 30 in all, were also lined with thick tongue and grooved lumber and water tight. Arranged in rows with working space between. Partly water-filled, a generous sprinkle of pulverized bark sufficient to support the first skin carefully spread, on which another sprinkle of bark ­ alternating the skin and bark until the vat is filled to capacity, there to remain for months in incubation, until the tanner, by test pronounces it matured.

During the period of leather incubation there are processing rooms to erect and equip. Leather leaving the tan must at once be thoroughly treated in oils to restore pliability; rubbed to a firmness, shaved to uniform thickness, and when desired, colored. For this precise operation, an expert currier is kept on duty. Extending the buildings, there are shops for the tradesmen; harness maker, saddler and long rows of benches equipped for the many shoemakers always present. It is now past mid-1870. Finished leather in good supply is coming into stock, and the shops are all occupied by the several tradesmen.

The Marion Tannery rated of much importance to the community. The trade in tanbark and hides brought in much needed revenue to Crittenden County and adjoining territory, and people came from afar for quality goods.
There are few persons living today who experienced the financial depression that followed the Civil War and lasted well through the 1870s, when there was no hard money in circulation. The government issued script in denominations ­ five cents, 10 cents and up. Shin plaster script was also scarce and trade by barter was an established rule.

The tanner traded leather and leather products at a fixed value for hides, tanbark, wheat, corn, turnips, potatoes and such. He fed the corn to the hogs, made his own meat, and the surplus meat, at the store bought sugar and coffee and a calico dress. The miller processed the wheat on a toll or share basis and the surplus flour was good trading commodity. The system was inconvenient, in that only an experienced trader could evaluate the equivalent of a bushel of potatoes to a bushel of turnips or a pound of butter, and fractions thereof. But under those conditions the tannery prospered, managing to collect sufficient script to satisfy the workers who could not use trade.

Along in the year 1873, Robert Bigham withdrew his interest in the tannery. He was a dentist up town. In the year 1875, Ed Black became incapacited and died during the early part of 1876. Thus W.D. Haynes became sole owner of the tannery.

By now I was getting to be a big boy and fitting more and more into the business. Grinding tanbark was considered a boys' job, and I fell heir to that at an earlier period in my life than might be supposed. Other chores that befell my lot included horseback deliveries into the back county. Many are the times when I left the tan yard with such a bundle of leather and supplies tied on behind my saddle as would put a Jew peddler to shame; bound for strange and distant outer reaches.

I was always lost when off the beaten path and expecting at the next turn to come face to face with some ferocious wild beast. Instead of ferocious wild beasts, in my imaginative mind, I have but pleasant memories of the many flocks of wild turkeys that were forever crossing my path; and once a panther, who at sight of me made special haste in toward the opposite direction.

The larger wild animals in the 1870s were generally thought to be extinct to the community, but a surprising number of skins were brought to the tannery; deer skins, an occasional bear skin, a panther from near old Columbia Lead Mine, an otter from lower Crooked Creek, etc. The smaller fur animals were plentiful.

Life at the tan yard was anything but dull and monotonous. People were ever coming and going, and hardly anyone in the county, or out, who came there, that we could not salute by his full name. Cheery words were in the aid and many a homey tale spun.

On the 27th of August 1879, we vacated the place and left Marion. A big mill and whiskey distillery occupied the tan yard site for a good many years and the ever-flowing spring was their source of water supply. (This area today is where Conrad's Grocery is located).