The History of the Saints in the State of Arkansas USA

Elders Wilford Woodruff and Henry Brown (Elder Woodruff was not yet an Apostle) arrived as
missionaries near present day Bentonville on 28 January 1835. There were very few residents in
Arkansas at that time and some in northern Arkansas had moved there from Jackson County Missouri.
They held their first meeting four days later and preached to an attentive congregation. Later they were
confronted by an apostate member, Alexander Akeman who lived beside Petit Jean River. Akeman was
a man who earlier endured severe persecution with his sons in Missouri, but later turned bitterly against
the Church. However, Akeman died suddenly “as though struck by a thunderbolt from heaven” while
following Elder Woodruff from Akeman’s house. Elder Woodruff preached his funeral sermon. This
event, along with Woodruff's teachings led to the baptism of a Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Hubbel, the first
converts in Arkansas, on 22 February 1835. Elder Woodruff stated that he was aware of many mobbers
who faced a sudden death. Read More (PDF). Submitted by Hal Pierce