The town was named for an early pioneer Benjamin Imboden who settled here around 1828. W.C. Sloan a landowner decided upon the name as he held great respect for the Imboden Family. Benjamin was a descendant of a noble clan of Imbodens whose original homeplace were the mountains of Switzerland. The family was highly regarded for their active support of the Church, the schools, and their loyalty to government.
The first place of business was opened in 1884 by W.C Sloan, O.C. James and W.M. Childress and was named the Sloan-Mercantile Company. The Sloan-Mercantile was later re-named Sloan-Wilson Company after Childress sold his share of the store and W.J. Wilson was brought in.
Records show the town of Imboden was incorporated in April of 1889. The town consisted of three general stores, two grocery stores, two saloons, one hotel, a livery stable, a one room school, and a Catholic Church around this time.
In 1889 the saloons were voted out due to town people petitioning against them in part due to Dr. Darr a local physician being killed in a saloon on Main Street that later housed Mitchell Drug Store.
Imboden’s first hotel the Strawn, was built in approximately 1883, located on Main Street (where the old Mcleod’s store used to be). When they outgrew the building the large Delmonico Hotel was built in 1885. Within the Delmonico’s wall, a fight resulted in a man being stabbed to death.
During the 1890’s a firecracker fight burned down several businesses as there was no fire department during that time.
In October 1905 electric lights were installed in many of the Imboden homes in the section of town called Milltown.
Following the Civil War, the first ferry was owned and operated by Jacob Sherman Songer. The ferry passage ceased when a bridge was built over Spring River in 1898 based on donations of people in Imboden.
The Youngest Mayor in the United States
On May 6th of 1912, Imboden elected Joe F. Sullivan as the youngest mayor in the United States of that period. He was 21 years old and paralyzed so he relied on a goat-driven cart. Joe won the election maybe in part to his clever tactic of asking for the help of six pretty high school girls who became his campaign managers . Joe Sullivan wrote for the Imboden Gazette (the local newspaper at the time) and wrote several short stories for larger publications. Joe was quoted as saying ” For myself I am going to use three essentials to success Faith, Prayer, and Perserverence. They never fail you if you are in the right and you are already a failure if you are in the wrong.”
Joe F. Sullivan went on to write “The Unheard Cry” a book about the challenges people with disabilities face.
Another person of interest is a Byron C. Marshall who submitted specimans and information of reptiles, amphibians,and biological specimans that he collected in the Imboden area to the Smithsonian, Carnagie Institute, and many universities for further study in the 1930’s and 1940’s. He is even mentioned in a 1943 National Geographic Magazine article.
Over the years several small businesses were established such as a shoe repair, a jewelry repair, a clean and press shop, photography studio, mill , and lumber supply.
The first movie house in Imboden in the early 1920’s was an outdoor theater called the Hippodrome. It was operated during the summer months and was managed by King David Crouch and his son Otho.
Boys who wanted to see the show without paying the dime admittance would climb onto the Wilson Mercantile Store roof to watch the film across the street.
In 1938 a $225,000 concrete bridge and railroad overpass was completed. The completion of the span was possibly one of the most celebrated events in the history of Imboden. The Mayor of the time J. W. Jean called for all businesses to close between 12-4:00 pm on the day of celebration upon the bridges completion.
Imboden was plagued with fires for many years. Taken from old history of the town it is noted that most businesses were destroyed, at least once, by fire. One of the most unusual aspects of many of these fires was the fact that they occurred annually on Christmas Eve.
Another unique old tale is the story of a circus that came through Imboden. Their one and only polar bear died during their stay and was buried on the campus of Sloan-Hendrix Schools.
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I am one of four daughters born to Thomas William Todd, born Aug. 28, 1923 in Imboden, Ak. He attended local schools until his enlistment in WWII. He was the son of Will Todd and Bertha Victoria Rogers Todd. I know time is slipping away but if anyone remembers him or any of his siblings I would like to hear from you. His siblings were; Glenn Todd, Catherine Todd, Lorraine Todd, Robert (Bill) Todd.
Hello people of Imboden, I was born in Imboden on 08/10/1959 in Spring River Memorial Clinic, the 2 story rock building, and delivered by my dad , Dr. Lloyd F. Gregory when he was the town doctor. I lived in the big 2 story house on the main highway with my dad and mom, Phillis Joyce Gregory and brothers Bart and Rob Gregory and sisters, Tina and Renee, until are mom passed in 1964 or 1965, she is buried there and my wife and I are planning on visiting Imboden sometime in the summer of 2014. I remember the Clark family across the highway and am still in contact with Dan Mathews at times, because we are in the same type of business. Guess I was just wondering if anyone remembers any of us?
Hello to all the wonderful people of Imboden. My full name is Douglas Lynn Gregory, I was born in Spring River Memorial Clinic 08/10/1959 by my dad, Doctor Lloyd F. Gregory when the clinic was in the 2 story rock buildiing. Does anyone remember me or my 2 younger brothers, Bart and Rob, or 2 older sisters, Tina and Renee? Our mom was laid to rest there in 64 or 65. My wife and I will probably be visiting her this summer 2014, thanks and have a great day and God bless!
who ran the boarding house in imboden years ago?
Recently a relative sent me an old post card of “Uncle Walter’s Cabins”-On Spring River-Imboden, Arkansas. Uncle Walter was my grandfather. My grandparents, Gertie and Walter Hoaglan, were long term residents the area. Granddad owned and operated Hoaglan’s commerical laundry in the early 50’s and then the cabins. Each of the two cabins had two bedrooms separated by a common bathroom. I believe he rented the rooms for $5.00 a night. The cabins occupied part of the building site where the old hotel used yto be. Gertie and Walter also ran a rug and quilting shop in their home that over looked the Spring River Bridge.
I would love to chat with anyone who knew my grandparents.
The discovery of this site made my day.
I was born to Otho and Pauline Crouch and grew up, you might say, in that little town. I went to grade school where I had wonderful teachers, Miss Wasson, Miss Anna Mac Kamey(sp.), Mrs.Helen Henderson. When the high school burned and classes were held in the gym(10th Grade I think), my folks sent me to St. Louis to live with my grandparents Kirkpatrick and finish high school. I have many many wonderful memories of life there and swimming in the creek by the cemetery(which is in terrible condition when I last visited in2012, the graves of many family and people I knew years ago). My Aunt Myrtle Crouch took us kids swimming in Spring River also. The fun we all had on Halloween and Christmas, and the plays put on by the high school. No doubt there are still some people I went to school with around there still, and I would love to hear from them. I have lived in California since early in the 1940’s, and call it home. I will be 88 yrs. old soon, and most likely won’t be visiting Imboden again since my family that lived in Pocahontas have passed away, and I no longer feel like traveling very much.
Thanks again for having this site
Dorothy Helms
I grew up in Imboden from the ages of 5 to 13. One of my fondest memories is going to Jeff Matthews general store. My Dad, Jessie Hiter Marshall was born and raised in the area of Ravenden Springs. My family lived on the Statler farm outside of town on RR2. I remember the Bicentennial parade of 1976. I was dressed as a pioneer child, in a big bonnet, dress with an apron, and button up boots, like those worn on Little House on the Prairie. Some of my friends there Randy Archer and Mary Ellen Perseful. If they ever read this, I’d love to hear from them. Farm life was slow there from 1974 to 1982, but I wouldn’t change how I grew up with farm chores, and being around my Grandparents, Ora Oscar Marshall Sr, and Margaret Marion Marshall (Hiter). I have a few pictures of Imboden farm life, and would love to submit copies to the Historical section of this, if you’d like them. I may be contacted at markermary@yahoo.com.
My Dad Bob Ezell grew up in Imboden. He moved to St. Louis in 1950 where he lived in till 2004, when he got to move back to his childhood home Imboden. He told me stories of growing up hunting ,fishing and just being a Boy with his best friend Everett Poteet. He also told me my Grandpa Acey Ezell was the Sheriff of Lawrence County sometime during the early 1900’s. I imagined his childhood being similar to the Movie” Where The Red Firn Grows”. My Dad pasted away in his Home in Imboden in December 2009. My Mom still lives there. Imboden and Spring River have a special place in my heart as do the Poteet Family.
My husband and I are thinking of retiring to your community. Would enjoy knowing more about the winter weather.
I moved to Imboden in 1/1959 as the Signal Maintainer for the Frisco RR. The rest of my family (Joyce, Ron & Mike) followed as soon as school was out in Springfield, MO. We lived there until June 1963, my job was abolished. We loved living in Imboden, might still be there if the job hadn’t been abolished.
Gene
Does anyone remember me? I lived there from around 1960 to 1965. My stepfather was the town doctor, Lloyd Franklin Gregory. My mother’s name was Phyllis. We lived on the highway corner next to the road to the school. We knew the Clark family across the road, the Matthew bros.(one of them had a B.B. gun and loved to shoot it at ANYTHING including my sister’s butt, although I’m sure he’s forgotten about THAT). If anyone from that period is still around, feel free to touch base with an old Sloan-Hendrix Greyhound girl. WOW! Can’t believe I remember the mascot after 50 years.
Is he related to george william imboden by any chance
My grandmother was born Nora Lane, daughter of Randall and Ida Lane. I was told they lived in Imboden. There is a sketchy story about Randall – that he was a US Marshall and something about a shooting. I would like to come visit someday.
Randy Lindsay,
i’m a grandson of lloyd williams. you can reach me at
tnt (at) nagog (dot) com
terry
I was delighted to discover this site, which is a wonderful resource for connecting folks with their past. My father John Otho Crouch was born in Imboden in 1901. He and my grandfather, King David Crouch, were mentioned as the proprietors of the first movie “house”, which I was told had walls but no roof. They supposedly showed the movies on a sheet fastened to one of the walls. My mother Flora Pauline Kirkpatrick was born in Imboden in 1907 and lived to almost 102, dying in 2009. I was born in Imboden in 1946, but my family moved to nearby Pocahontas, where I grew up a few blocks from my cousin Madelyn Weir Bennett and her parents “Aunt Naomi” Crouch Weir and “Uncle Jewell” Weir. Madelyn has also left a reply on this site. I would love to see a picture of the home I was born in, which was, I believe, on the corner of the intersection of main business street and the street closest to the railroad tracks and Spring River. My mother was the telephone operator in the late 1920’s and/or early 1930’s, and the switchboard was kept in our home at that time, I believe. My brothers Donald and Gerry, and sisters Mona and Patsy were also born in Imboden (1930, 1934, 1932, 1933) and have many fond memories of life there.
If I remember correctly, I knew Danny Rowsey briefly in 1963-64 through baseball and/or common acquaintances.
Michael Crouch
Just on a whim I typed in Imboden and came up with this site.. What a shock…I recognized several names. My family moved there around 1960 when my step-father became the town doctor(Lloyd Gregory). My mother, Phyllis had 2 daughters, my younger sister Tina who played with the Sloan sisters, and myself. Mother quickly had 3 boys by my step-father. Tina lives in Co. I live in S. Ca. I have both good and bad memories of the events that occured during the 4 years I lived there until I was 14 and my mother was killed, but I always felt loved by the people of my church and community. Would enjoy corresponding with anyone who might remember me.
My great grandmother was Clara Imboden, daughter of Benjamin F. and Virginia Lucas-Imboden. We plan to visit Imboden this spring sometime. Am so excited to take a look around. Thanks for the wonderful site.
This is great. I was born in Imboden, and have a lot o good memories there. The Clements family had a lot of families in and around Imboden, Ravenden, Opposition, and Smithville Eventhough there are 3 different bunches of Clements all are related. Men and women like K.D Mcleod, Jeff Matthews, Acey Ezell, Helen Henderson, And Lehman Hackworth made the town a great town to live in.
Wow. My sister found this website. We grew up in Imboden. Patti and Mary Sloan.
An earlier post by Robert Gilbreath mentioned Mrs. Archie Perrin. I knew the Perrin’s, but while they lived in California from the late 50’s until their retirement and they moved back to their farm in Imboden.
Archie and Vivian were both teachers, as were both of my parents, and all 4, along with 2 other couples, moved from Arkansas to California to be teachers out here.
While I was born in California, my parents always took us back to Arkansas every summer during school holidays. (James family and Melton family from Ravenden Springs)
My fondest memories are of those summers in Arkansas, many of which I visited Archie and Vivian (whom I grew up referring to as Uncle Arch and Aunt Viv), and they were wonderful people. We still hear from their son, Archie jr. from time to time, who may have moved back to their property there.
A great place with great people! God Bless.
This is exciting for me to discover this website. Imboden is my maiden name, and we trace our family back to the John S. Imboden who emigrated to Pennsylvania from Switzerland as an indentured servant. This is a wonderful web site and I hope to visit your lovely community someday.
I live in Fairbanks, AK.
My father was born in Imboden. I’m hoping to find information about his mother’s side of the family – the Williams. My great grandfather was Lewis Edward Williams, I believe he went by Woody. His children were Pauline Williams, Buster Williams, and Loyd Williams. I understand that there is a Loyd Williams Rd in Imboden and maybe it’s named after him. Does anyone know about, or is related to, these Williams?
Hi there,
Does anyone remember an Erwin family in Imboden during the 20’s and 30’s??? I’m very curious. My dad, Floyd Erwin, died in 1970, when I was 10. I learned some, but not enough about his childhood and I’m hungry for more. He came from a large family. His folks were Walter and Carrie Erwin. They had 7 surviving children: Harry, Louis (Walter, died at age 3) Mary, Floyd (born 9-13-23) Barbara, Tom and Christine. They were very poor. They had a farm or were share croppers, I’m not certain. Carrie went to Church, Baptist I believe, every Sunday and insisted her children did too. I believe most if not all went to highschool. But the older ones, may not have all graduated, as they had to help out with farming. I’d be most appreciative if anyone had information about the Erwin Family in Imboden during the 20’s and 30’s. Any information would be most appreciated!!! Helene Erwin. Thank you! ps. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all of these comments and this website!
I was wondering who now owns the J.O.Hatcher house. We were there for a visit and would love to buy and restore the house back to its original condition. Can you give me any information as to whether or not this could be done or is this house not available. Any help would be appreciated , Thank you
Thanks so much for creating this website. Imboden is the childhood home of my mother. So nice to learn more about my family history!! Thank you!!
I was born in Imboden Arkansas in 1949. My grandmother, Francis Morris, was the midwife who helped deliver me in the old building that used to be a doctor’s office and clinic. My paternal grandmother lived near the area that is now a quarry. She grew her own food and lived almost entirely off the land her entire life. Would love to know of any stories or history some of you may know of my ancestors. My mother’s name was Joan Morris Davidson and my father’s name was Frank Davidson.
Reading this website brought back fond memories of my childhood growing up in Imboden. My father was Leonard (Pee Wee) Lawrence, my mother was Opal Watts. He worked on the bridge across Spring River in 1938. For several years he ran the mail route. From 1940 to 1946 he drove the school bus for Sloan Hendrix Academy, which were the same years I had attended high school. During those years we had good Football and Basketball teams. I fondly remember my teachers. Helen Henderson was the principle and also a teacher. Hope Makamy Sloan taught home economics. Marshall Matthews taught math, later taught at Arkansas State. Edith Kell and her brother Kenneth taught history. Miss Kell also was the editor of the Imboden Journal. Later she married Austin Stoval and worked together at the Journal. The local grocery was owned by Jeff Matthews. Skinny Bealer was the town Mechanic and Wilson Kell worked with him.
Thank you, I have really enjoyed this website.
Bonnie Cornell Lawrence Hughes
Fort Pierce, Florida
My father grew up in Imboden and I believe his parents were also born and raised in this area. My father is Robert Todd (nmn) born to Will Todd and Bertha Rogers-Todd. I would love to hear from any family, especially anyone who can help me put together the family history I have been working on. Thanks.
My sister and I believe that our Grandmother lived in Imboden or Fancis Ark. and that she graduated from Francis HS sometime in the early 1900s.
If anyone knows of Laura Durham and her twin Elizabeth Durham we would be grateful.
Also if there is a town historian we would like to contact them.
I was born in Imboden in 1931, the daughter of Frank Stuart and Audrey (Morris) Wells. They had five children – Frank Stuart Jr, Nettie Louise, Kathleen, John and Lewis. Mother and children moved to Lewisville, AR in Oct 1936 upon the death of our father. Our mother died in 2005 at age of 101 (almost 102); Nettie died in 2007 and Lewis, the youngest child, died in 2009. Frank still lives in Lewisville, John lives in Hammond, LA and I likve in Rhode Island. I was born on my father’s 49th birthday and would like to be cremated and my ashes buried next to my father. Our grandfather, Dr. John R Wells, and our father are both buried in Imboden. There is a large monument marking Dr. Wells’ grave but no marker for our father. I would like to know the name and telephone number of the person I should contract concerning burial.
My paternal grandmother, Gladys Morea Brown (later known as Marie G. Cobb) was born in Imboden on April 1, 1900 to Bert and Molly Brown. The family left Arkansas for Wagoner, Oklahoma when she was 7 years old. I had the pleasure of visiting Imboden in 1980. I remember it to be a charming little rural town with friendly and helpful people. I hope to visit again one day. You have a very informative website. Keep up the good work, and may God bless Imboden, Arkansas!
Could someone please give me some history of the white house on the hill pictured on Hwy 62 & 63.
Hi I am the German nephew from Heidi Brawley.
I visited Imboden in the years 1976-77-79-86-87-91.
Very nice and friendly people. I loved the Spring River going by boat,and the fishing in Lake Charles.
Now that bring back back some memories…….
Very good Site and informative work!
Greetings from Germany.
Love this site! My family lived here from 1938 and I still own the family home here. Love the old pictures. I have several issues of the Historical Society and they have a lot of pictures of the older homes in them.
I remember when the elementary school burned next to our home. The Church of Christ is on that property now. Lots of good memories of the town of Imboden. Keep up the good work.
I moved to Imboden in 1978 after living much of my life in the LA area. My Grandparents were long time residents, their names were Casper and Elsie Headrick. I just recently visited, as after my Grandparents passed away, all their surviving children have made their home on the land. That town is like a walk down memory lane. Not even the names have changed in this charming little town. I will always feel that this is home and I am proud to be a part of its history.
Really enjoyed your website. I lived in Imboden for almost a year beginning school in 1949 in the 7th grade. We lived in an upstairs apartment in the Kaiser residence. Always said this was the best year of my life growing up. Lots of friends whose names I still remember today. My teacher was Mrs. Archie Perrin. A really nice lady. We had a one room classroom with a pot belly coal stove just before you got to the gym. Plenty cold that winter. I still remember hanging out with other kids at Mr. Dewey Hill’s soda shop and talking with his son Johnny. It was just a great place to live. Good people, good hunting and fishing. Great sledding on the ice down main street toward the river. What fun and loads of memories. Again, just a great website. Thank you.
Imboden is about 2.5 hrs northeast of Little Rock.
how far is imboden from little rock arkansas?
Joe F. Sullivan’s book can be read here: http://books.google.com/books?id=iVFLAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22the+unheard+cry%22+sullivan&source=bl&ots=zMljTiUv8N&sig=-ZPf9byMNg-GHjpNmVIRvI1rOjc&hl=en&ei=vF1mS9HxJIq0NoLX7IAH&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=&f=false
I love the updates about the weather advisories on the site, it keeps me coming back !!!!! WE Love Your Work
I am so glad I found this. I was born there and King David Crouch was my maternal grandfather. Please keep up the good work and more old pictures and histories of the town..
Beautiful! Would love to see comparison of the old homes from then and now. What does it look like today? Great job!
What a flash from the past. I moved from Imboden in 1986 after my father passed away. It was nice to relive some of the history. I have some photos from his tenure as Fire Chief that I will get emailed to you should you desire to use them.
Thanks to Danny Rowsey and the Arkansas Forestry Office in Imboden for loaning us the “Old Imboden Fire Trucks” photo in the Fire Departments Photo Page.
This is fantastic ! Great job, hope to see more Historic photos.
I like how you add the “Breaking News” to the front page, very helpful
Love the pictures,Imboden has changed a lot in the last fifty years, but a lot of it is still the same.
Just wondering if we could get a little more information on the murder in the hotel. Maybe any other buildings that may have happenings, it would of great interest to our team. We are very interested in our counties history, and would love a chance to investigate these historic sites, stories.
Thank you,
Team LCPS
Wonderful Site, Great Stories and Photos. Thanks to the City and yourself for putting this together. This is something to be proud of
This is very creative and informative. Thanks for all your hard work.