At the time when the first settlement of the county was in progress the nearest trading points on the east were on White River, fifty mile away; and on the west, Fort Smith and Fayetteville, an equal distance.

Powder and lead were the principal commodities of which the frontier population stood in need.

Business was done principally by barter. The frontiersman exchanged pelts and honey for ammunition and other supplies.

The first stores in the county were at Carrollton, and Henderson Lafferty was probably the first store-keeper. Merchandising was profitable in those days.

The tanning business soon followed. Tanning was at first effected by the most simple processes. The pelts were rubbed with ashes or lime, stretched and dried.

Charles B. Whiteley was one of the first men in the county who made tanning a business.

E. Roper, who lived upon land now (1888) owned by Prof. A. B. Johnson, was probably the first to introduce tanning by vats. At first these consisted only of log troughs, in which the hides were placed. Roper's tannery was continued five or six years.