The Tutt-Everett War of Marion County, Arkansas
Nestled within the Ozark Mountains, Marion County, Arkansas, presents a landscape of rolling hills, verdant forests, and winding rivers. While many tales of the Old West revolve around disputes over land or water resources, the saga of Marion County is distinct. The Tutt-Everett War of Marion County, Arkansas, also known in some accounts as the King-Everett War or simply the Marion County War, stands as a testament to the volatile intersection of politics, ambition, and personal vendettas. This brutal conflict, ignited in 1844 and lasting until 1850, left an indelible mark on the region, claiming the lives of approximately fourteen individuals and forever shaping the county’s history.
The roots of this intense rivalry can be traced back to the very formation of Marion County. In 1836, the Arkansas legislature carved out this new territory, setting the stage for a power struggle between two prominent families: the Tutts and the Everetts. Their differing political allegiances – the Tutts aligned with the Whig Party and the Everetts with the Democratic Party – served as the initial spark. However, the feud quickly escalated beyond mere political disagreement, fueled by a relentless competition for elected offices and, ultimately, control over the burgeoning county.
The Everetts, already established residents of the area, possessed a significant advantage when Marion County was established. Originating from Kentucky, this family was characterized by their imposing physical stature and considerable influence. The brothers – John, Cimmeron "Sim," Jesse, and Bart – wielded considerable authority, shaping the early legal and social landscape of the county.
Meanwhile, the Tutts, hailing from Tennessee, had carved out a niche for themselves in Searcy County. The creation of Marion County, carved in part from Searcy County, diminished the Tutts’ sphere of influence and did not sit well with the family. Headed by R.B. Tutt and his three sons, Ben, Hansford "Hamp," and David Casey, the Tutts were known for their penchant for gambling, horse racing, and a general affinity for alcohol and brawling. Hamp Tutt further solidified the family’s presence by establishing a grocery store and saloon in the community of St. Joe. This establishment quickly became the central gathering place for the region’s whiskey drinkers, further cementing the Tutt’s social and political influence.
Adding to the complex dynamic were the Kings, another family residing in the area. "Old Billy," James, Hosea, and Solomon King, while not directly involved in the initial skirmishes, saw their sons drawn into the conflict. Jack, Loomis, and Dick King, sons of Billy, and Bill and Tom King, sons of Hosea, all became entangled in the feud. The Kings, aligning themselves with the Whig Party, naturally gravitated towards the Tutts. Voter preference, at the time, was not so much about the ideas of either party but more about what a person could get away with if "their man" was in office. Consequently, elections became hotly contested.
With a relatively small electorate of approximately 300 voters, Marion County quickly became polarized. Almost every resident found themselves aligned with either the Tutts or the Everetts, transforming political contests into personal battles. As tensions mounted, a pivotal event occurred in June 1844 in Yellville. A public debate, intended to foster civic discourse, instead devolved into a violent brawl among the spectators. This marked the official beginning of the Tutt-Everett War of Marion County, Arkansas. Abandoning firearms, the participants resorted to fists, rocks, and any available object as weapons. The melee only subsided when Alfred Burnes, a Tutt supporter, struck Sim Everett in the head with a hoe. Believing he had fatally wounded Sim, Burnes fled the scene. While the brawl resulted in significant bloodshed, Sim Everett survived, albeit with serious injuries. In the aftermath, both factions began carrying arms openly, and a barrage of lawsuits flooded the courts, further exacerbating the already strained relationship between the families.
The atmosphere in Marion County became increasingly volatile, characterized by sporadic gunplay and alcohol-fueled fistfights. This ongoing violence served only to deepen the animosity between the Tutts and the Everetts. The feud reached a critical juncture on October 9, 1848, when a shootout erupted before a town meeting in Yellville. When the smoke cleared, Sim Everett lay dead, along with several other men. In retaliation, two days later, the Everetts and their supporters ambushed the Kings, killing "Old Billy" and his son, Loomis. Young Billy King and another man known as "Cherokee Bob" sustained serious wounds but managed to escape.
By the summer of 1849, the situation in Marion County had spiraled out of control. Sheriff Jesse Mooney, a man unaffiliated with either the Tutt or Everett factions, resolved to restore order. On July 4, 1849, he and Constable Adams deputized a number of men, intending to "clean up the county." However, the Tutt faction had gathered in the saloon, while the Everetts and their supporters had taken up positions behind a building across the street. Before Sheriff Mooney could even organize his newly deputized citizens, a full-blown gunfight erupted. The battle raged throughout the afternoon, and even after ammunition ran dry, the factions continued to fight with sticks, bricks, rocks, knives, and anything else they could find.
When the dust settled, ten men lay dead, including Jack King, Bart Everett, Sim Everett, and Davis, Ben, and Lunsford Tutt. Numerous others were wounded. Dave Sinclair, a friend of the Tutts and the alleged killer of Sim Everett, fled the town immediately after the fight. However, a posse of Everett’s friends tracked him down the following day and summarily executed him. This event further fueled the flames of the Tutt-Everett War of Marion County, Arkansas.
While the Tutt-Everett War of Marion County, Arkansas caused tremendous turmoil, the conflict was not to last forever. Jesse Everett, who was in Texas at the time of the July 4th gunfight, returned to Arkansas upon hearing of his brothers’ deaths, vowing revenge. Despite several alleged attempts to assassinate Hamp Tutt, he was unsuccessful. Faced with escalating lawlessness, Sheriff Mooney sent his son Tom to Little Rock to seek assistance from the governor. Although Tom successfully secured aid, he never returned to Marion County. Weeks later, the carcass of his horse washed up at the mouth of Rush Creek, but Tom’s body was never recovered, adding another layer of tragedy to the already grim situation.
In September 1849, Arkansas Governor John Sheldon Roane dispatched General Allan Wood to Marion County to investigate the situation and, if necessary, call out the militia. Witnessing the rampant lawlessness firsthand, General Wood raised the militia in Carroll County, marched into Marion County, and relieved Sheriff Mooney of his duties.
Governor Roane ordered the arrest of the Everetts and their supporters. Several men were apprehended, and martial law was imposed on the county for six weeks. However, as winter approached, the troops were withdrawn. Within weeks of their departure, Everett supporters broke their compatriots out of jail, undermining the efforts to restore order.
The following year, in September 1850, Hamp Tutt was shot and killed. Following this pivotal event, the remaining Everetts eventually left Marion County, effectively bringing the Tutt-Everett War of Marion County, Arkansas to an end.
The Tutt-Everett War of Marion County, Arkansas remains a significant chapter in the state’s history. It stands as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of unchecked political ambition, personal vendettas, and the breakdown of law and order in the frontier. The conflict is remembered as the only great family feud known in Arkansas history.