Thomas Douthit

DOUTHIT FAMILY OF SALEM SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

Thomas Douthit married Sarah (Aiburty) in 1842. After marriage, settled on a homestead in

southeast Washington County near a spring, from which Salem Springs in Washington County, Arkansas

derived its name.

Salem Springs sits between two hills forming a small valley from which a grove of oak and elm grow.

From the east hillside sprouts a clear spring. This spring has been believed to contain health

restoring properties.

As a little girl, during the 1950s, the author fondly remembers the family gathering among the

beautiful groves of trees beside the spring. Upon arrival the first thing everyone would do is head

for the spring for a succulent drink of sparkling clear water. Not because of its reported

beneficial minerals but because of its cool wonderful, clean fresh taste.

Thomas owned the first store in the late 1840s. He and Sarah had all eight children in Salem

Springs and raised them there. One of their sons, William became the second postmaster in 1889.

William N. Goddard became the first postmaster in 1882. Another son, George Nathania!, Married Mary

Elizabeth Fields in 1876. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Nancy. Benjamin owned the only hotel

in Salem Springs. It was a large two story building built by Russell Bates in the late 1840s to

accommodate those coming for health benefits provided by the nearby springs.

After marrying, George and Mary moved almost yearly, as their thirteen children were all born in a

different place of the northwest Arkansas and northeast Oklahoma areas. In their later year they

did return close to home as they are both buried at White Rock, Washington County, Arkansas.

Most of their children raised their families in the surrounding areas of northwest Arkansas, most

of them moving to Siloam Springs.

George Oscar, the fifth of their thirteen children, married Otha Ruth Allen July 8, 1908 at

Westville, Oklahoma. George followed in his father's footsteps and he too moved about a lot.

As were many of the Douthits, George was talented in many ways. He was a preacher, a singing

teacher and a part time barber. Later he became a sign and house painter.

Even in his late seventies, though, his hands were trembly, but he could still paint a sign when

the opportunity arose.

Throughout his moves, George would return to Salem Springs many times. His final move was made in

1929 to Gallia Holler, seven miles east of Siloam Springs. He built his house between the ferns and

wildflowers beside the clear spring fed creek that flowed through his ninety acres. George died in

1975.

As mentioned earlier, the Douthits were all talented. They had beautiful singing voices and could

play many of the stringed instruments, such as the violin, the guitar and the dulcimer. Their

family gatherings in Salem Springs always ended in a medley of sing along. A daughter of George and

Ruth's, Irene Williams, can recall how "the music could set your toes to tapping or your eyes to

crying, it was that beautiful."

One of George's younger sons, James lsom, also a house painter, after spending many years in

Oklahoma and California moved back to Arkansas in 1964 with his wife, Helen and three daughters,

Beverly, Diane, and Janette. They settled in Prairie Grove. Now married, with children of their

own, the girls live in and around Prairie Grove.

By: Beverly Pense