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This Day in Arkansas History

September 26, 1918

Caroline Tracy Dye, better known as “Aunt Caroline,” died in Newport (Jackson County). Dye was a highly respected seer whose name was recognized in Arkansas and the Mid-South in the early years of the twentieth century. Dye’s reputation lives on in two songs written by Memphis bluesman W. C. Handy. He said the gypsy mentioned in “St. Louis Blues” (1914) was Dye. In “Sundown Blues” (1923), he named the fortune teller as Aunt Caroline Dye of Newport, Arkansas. Through the years, the legend of Dye has been distorted and stretched, identifying her as a fortune teller, a “hoodoo” woman, or a “two-headed doctor” (or psychic).

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Jonas Tebbetts

Judge Jonas Tebbetts, a civic leader of Fayetteville (Washington County) from the 1840s to 1860s, is shown here. Due to his Unionist loyalties during the Civil War, Tebbetts was arrested on charges of treason and imprisoned for a brief time in Fort Smith (Sebastian County). Upon his release, he moved his family to St. Louis, Missouri. The Fayetteville home he built in 1853, today known as the Headquarters House, was used by both Union and Confederate forces. Today, it is home to the Washington County Historical Society.

 

Judge Jonas Tebbetts, a civic leader of Fayetteville (Washington County) from the 1840s to 1860s, is shown here. Due to his Unionist loyalties during the Civil War, Tebbetts was arrested on charges of treason and imprisoned for a brief time in Fort Smith (Sebastian County). Upon his release, he moved his family to St. Louis, Missouri. The Fayetteville home he built in 1853, today known as the Headquarters House, was used by both Union and Confederate forces. Today, it is home to the Washington County Historical Society.

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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