Black Newspapers of  Ft. Smith

US Marshals Museum

Black Indian Genealogy

This cemetery was destroyed in 1923, when an angry mob attacked the small community of Catcher. Three men accused of attacking a local resident and in revenge, local rage was brought upon the black residents of the area, literally driving them away with the clothes upon their backs.

The community was destroyed, property seized without cause and in anger many headstones pushed over, many bodies were removed and bones dumped into the river.  The remains of the cemetery are still in Crawford County and a few burials have been identified.

The once thriving community with peaceful citizens, Civil War veterans, ministers and former slaves, was destroyed.

An effort has been made to identify some of the few burials known to be at what was St. Paul’s.  Their resting places, though desecrated, give testament to their lives, that deserve to be honored.

The few remaining headstones have been photographed and a few additional names have come from burial records and death certificates.

May these innocent people rest in peace.