Does anyone know if there were newspapers that would have information from Ft. Smith, AR in 1885? My Gr Grandmother Charlotte Birdsong lived in S.E. OK. She was a witness to the murder of her son by a US Marshal by the name of Grant Johnson. Charlotte was taken to Ft Smith to be a witness in the trial before Judge Parker but was murdered herself before she could testify. I found her listed in an old Funeral home book in Ft. Smith. Date of death was 2 March 1885 and buried the same day in Oak Grove Cemetery in Ft. Smith. Cause of death was listed by the US Marshal office as pneumonia. A US Marshal also paid for her burial but his name was not listed on the record and the family didn't have the option of taking her back home for burial. I would like to find a newspaper that might have an account of the trial so I can get more information on what really happened. Are there court records from Judge Parkers cases? Is there a record of people buried in Oak Grove Cemetery and is Charlotte Birdsong listed. It would be nice to know the location.
Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks, Gloria

The leading newspaper in Ft. Smith at the time was "The Elevator". I believe editions of this newspaper are on microfilm at the Ft. Smith Public Library. I do not know of any other locations or publications where the newspaper can be researched. Good luck.

Thank you for the information. I will try and find someone there that can help me since I live in CA. Gloria

There is no mention of the case you indicated in the Fort Smith newspapers of that era. Records of the cases tried in
Judge Parker's court are filed in the National Archives in Fort Worth, Texas. The index does not reflect the case mentioned but there were later cases involving Marshall Grant Johnson and some involving Charlotte Birdsong.The cemetery book indicated Charlotte Birdsong is buried in the Oak Grove section of what is now Oak Cemetery. Her grave is not marked but is identified as being one of eleven graves in two rows of Lot 64. The only grave marked with a tombstone is Marshall Joseph Williams . All of these burials wer 1883-1886.

Thank you for your response. I have questions I would like to ask you regarding your reply to me. Would you mind emailing me at my address? You mentioned a Marshall Joseph Williams. Williams happens to be Charlotte's maiden name. Coincidence or not I don't know ??? My email address is: meme_luke@earthlink.net. Thanks, Gloria

Gloria, I would like to contact you again. I used to e-mail you earlier. This is about Flemuel/Flemming & Sarah Birdsong

You responded to a query re: Charlotte Birdsong. She is my GGgrandmother. You mentioned some court records under her name, and cemetery/burial records for her and Marshal Joseph Williams. Could you provide me with more information that might enable me to obtain additional records? It seems you must have a magic key to open files that I am not able to. Help?! =^).
Gwen Birdsong

Have you located any additional info related to the death of Charlotte Williams Birdsong?

Robert Birdsong

Thanks for the info on Charlotte Birdsong. Could you indicate which cases involved her? Do you have any info on her son Robert, who was twice charged with contempt by this same court? Was any of this related to the Bussell case? Thanks for any help.

Robert Birdsong