(Second) Biographical Sketch of Patrick Donnelly

Source: A HISTORY OF HEMPSTEAD COUNTY by Dolphus Whitten Jr., in 1940 as taken from ARKANSAS STATE GAZETTEER describing the town of Hope in 1888:

"A prosperous incorporated town of nearly 2000 . . . . First settled in

1873 . . . .

"Among the pioneer citizens of Hope were George McClanahan, the contractor who had charge of building the railroad right of way through Hope, and Patrick Donnelly, a member of the construction crew. While the railroad tracks were being laid across the prairie, Donnelly learned that some of the land along the route was owned by the government. Realizing that this property would be very valuable, he borrowed a wagon and team from McClanahan and made an overnight trip to Camden, where the homestead office was located. The next day he returned with a claim to eighty acres, including a part of what became the business center of Hope. No one knows how or why Mr. Donnelly lost out, but he suddenly pulled up stakes and went north, a comparatively "broke" man as he sold his furniture, except one article, a dresser which he left with a friend."

Source: Letter from Mary Nell Turner of the Hempstead County Historical Society, 1998

"Patrick Donnelly is a 'legend' in our early Hope history. He gave the building and got the Catholic Church started here . . . . He sold a lot in Hope for a rick of wood . . . such being his generous nature. He supposedly left here broke.

Provided by Betty Latta Kitchen -- e-mail: Betty Kitchen

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