To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 1/6/13 • Approved: 1/8/13 • Last Updated: 1/11/13 • R807206-G807205-S3
William
SERGEANT CSA
Kings Arkansas Regiment
Civil War Confederate
December 4, 1844 - April 14, 1918
Mattie
June 2, 1844 - December 25, 1917
William was sheriff of Sebastian County, Arkansas (served from 1892 to 1896). He was born in neighboring Johnson County, Arkansas to Benjamin Nicholas and Annis Tucker Bugg, formerly from Williamson Tennessee. Six children were born from their marriage: Ollie Lee, Juliett "Judy", William Benjamin, Lon Jackson, James Franklin and one infant that died at birth. Their home, originally built and owned by Martha's parents, was located in what became Fort Chaffee, near Barling, Sebastian County, Arkansas. William Thomas, Martha, and all of their children are buried at Steep Hill Cemetery.
During the Civil War, William Thomas Bugg served as a Sgt. in the King's Arkansas Regiment, Fagan's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Dept. CSA and lost a leg in the Battle of Helena. He was only 17 years of age when he joined the Confederate Army. After the war, served five years as Sebastian County sheriff (1892-1896), owned large tracts of land, and engaged in the mercantile business in Barling. He was a business partner with his brother-in-law, James William Rutherford (married to Louisa McAlester Rutherford).
William Thomas Bugg and Martha Temperance McAlester Bugg, along with Martha's sister, Louisa McAllister and her husband, James W Rutherford, purchased and donated three acres of land to expand Steep Hill Cemetery beyond the half acre that belonged to the Bugg family. Therefore, the graves of their parents and some siblings are the oldest in the cemetery.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Obituary of William Thomas Bugg:
CAPTAIN BUGG DIES OF INJURY
Capt T W Bugg, prominent old citizen of Sebastian county, died at his home in Barling Sunday evening at 9:35 o'clock from injuries received in a runaway accident several weeks ago. He was 73 years of age. Since the accident, Captain Bugg has been confined to his bed and for the past several days had been unconscious. The funeral will be held at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning from the family residence, Rev J A Moody of Barling, officiating. Interment will be in Steep Hill cemetery. Confederate veterans of Fort Smith plan to attend in a body. Captain Bugg was born in Johnson county, but removed to Barling when he was 9 years old. In the war between the states, he served with distinction in the Confederate army and lost a limb in one of his battles. Soon after the war he was married to Miss Mattie McAllister. He served three terms as sheriff of Sebastian county and then retired to his farm. He leaves three sons, Will B & L J Bugg of Barling, and J F Bugg of Lavaca; two brothers, John Bugg of California and Harve Bugg of Fort Smith and a sister, Mrs J B Williams of Fort Smith. His wife died on Dec 25, 1917.
Source: The Southwest American - Morning Edition (old Fort Smith newspaper), April 16, 1918, page 5.
Mattie was the daughter of Judge William Jackson McAlester and Elizabeth Holcomb McAlester. Martha, husband, children, and parents are all buried at Steep Hill Cemetery. Martha McAlester and William Thomas Bugg donated the land to establish Steep Hill Cemetery. Their parents graves are the oldest in the cemetery.
*Martha's actual surname was McAllister. Her brothers, James Jackson and Nathaniel (Doc), founders of McAlester Oklahoma, changed the spelling of their name to McAlester. As a result, it is seen written both ways.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Obituary of Martha Bugg:
MRS. MARTHA BUGG PASSES INTO SLEEP
"Mrs Martha T Bugg, one of the oldest residents of the county, and one of Sebastian's best known and most widely respected people, died about 1 o'clock Christmas morning, at the family home at Barling, after a rather brief illness.
Mrs Bugg was born and reared in this county, and was 73 years old at the time of her death. Her family was among the pioneers in this section, and always was prominent in the life of this part of the state. She was the wife of T W Bugg, who served his county as sheriff, with distinction and honor, and who survives her. Three sons also survive, these being W D Bugg and L J Bugg, both of Barling, & J F Bugg of Lavaca. In addition, Mrs Bugg leaves a brother, J J McAlester, of McAlester, Okla, the town having been named after the McAlester family.
The funeral will be held at 11 o'clock this morning, from the home at Barling, and interment will be in the Scoop (Steep) Hill cemetery. Scores of old friends from Fort Smith will journey to Barling this morning, to pay their last tribute of sorrow and affection to the deceased."
The Southwest American, Wednesday Morning, December 26, 1917
Contributed on 1/6/13
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 807206