OUTLINE OF THE LAWS GOVERNING POOR RELIEF IN THE UNITED STATES
Introductory statement
Only so much of the vast body of legislation known as pauper laws has been reproduced
as will serve to indicate for each state the kind and extent of outdoor relief furnished; under what auspices
it is dispensed; the classes of persons entitled to aid ; the methods of almshouse administration and the chief
regulations governing it; the treatment of destitute children; the extent of state supervision over almshouses;
and whatever else may help to a truer appreciation of the pauper statistics of each state.
In order to bring the matter within a reasonable compass, it was necessary to exclude from the outline
all items other than the chief points in the many special provisions occurring in the laws of some states, for
instance, those relating to settlements. For the same reason no reference has been made to statutes, either by
title or year of enactment. Further, no attempt has been made to systematize the outline according to a set
plan. Special legislation has riot been considered, and therefore the regulations in regard to poor relief which
are contained in the charters of many cities do not appear. The compilation is intended as a guide to the
interpretation of the statistics contained in this report and not as a scientific treatise. Where provisions that
are common to other states are not referred to under the laws of any particular state, it must be taken for
granted that they are not a part of the poor laws of that state.
As nearly as possible the phraseology of the existing laws has been followed:
Arkansas
Every county must relieve its own poor. Sheriffs, coroners,
constables, and justices of the peace shall give information to their
respective county courts of the poor; and the county court has the duty
of providing for such persons. If satisfied that the applicants are paupers
the county court shall order their commitment to the poorhouse,
there to remain until discharged by an order of the court. County courts
have the power to establish poorhouses, and when completed the court
shall let them out annually to the lowest responsible bidder under bond for the faithful care of the inmates. In counties without poorhouses, the court may let the care of the poor to the lowest responsible bidder. The county is not liable for the support of any pauper who refuses to accept county aid in the manner provided above. The county court may cause the employment of each able-bodied pauper on work for the county.
The above from: Paupers In Almshouses, 1904 Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Special Report...
Arkansas General Assembly, Act #247: Contracts for Poorhouses and Farms
Benton County, Arkansas Alms House Inmates...1900
Benton County, Arkansas Pauper's Farm, with map...1858
Benton County, Arkansas Poor House Inmates...1880
Boone County, Arkansas Poor Farm Inmates...1930
Clark County, Arkansas Poor Farm Inmates...1900
Cross County, Arkansas Poor House Inmates...1880
Dallas County, Arkansas Keeper of Poor House...1880
Hempstead County, Arkansas Poor House Inmates...1880
Hot Spring County, Arkansas Poor Farm Inmates...1900
Independence County, Arkansas Poor Farm Inmates...1900
Jackson County, Arkansas Poor House Inmates...1880
Johnson County, Arkansas Poor Farm Inmates...1900
Lee County, Arkansas Poor House census info...1880
Logan County, Arkansas: Girl falls into fireplace on Poor Farm...1898
Madison County, Arkansas Poor Farm Inmates...1900
Monroe County, Arkansas Poor Farm Inmates...1900
Ouachita County, Arkansas Poor House Inmates...1880
Phillips County, Arkansas Poor House Inmates...1880
Pope County, Arkansas Poor Farm Inmates...1900
Pulaski County, Arkansas Poor House, news article...1870
Pulaski County, Arkansas Bid to Keep Paupers, classified ad...1875
Sebastian County, Arkansas Appointment of Pauper Commissioner
Sharp County, Arkansas Appropriation of Funds to Purchase a Poor Farm, 1887
Sharp County, Arkansas Alms House Inmates...1900
Sharp County, Arkansas Paupers House Inmates...1910
Washington County, Arkansas Alms House Inmates...1900
Washington County, Arkansas Poor House Inmates...1880
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