Editing Newton County, Arkansas (section)

==History==
Newton County residents were divided during the Civil War, serving in both the Confederate and Union armies. John Cecil, who had served as Newton County's sheriff, served as a Confederate Captain. Jasper blacksmith James R. Vanderpool (ca. 1832–1880) served as Captain of Union Company C, [[1st Arkansas Infantry (Union)|1st Regiment Arkansas Infantry Volunteers]], while farmer and teacher John McCoy (1820–1903) served as Captain of Union Company F, [[1st Arkansas Infantry (Union)|1st Regiment Arkansas Infantry Volunteers]]. Many Newton County citizens served under each of these men, as well as in other units. As an example of how the war divided families, Confederate Captain Cecil's brother, Sam, served as a sergeant in Union Company D, [[2nd Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry (Union)|2nd Regiment Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers]]. Violence took a severe toll on the civilian population, and at one point, Captains McCoy and Vanderpool escorted 20 wagons of Unionist families from Newton County to Missouri to seek refuge.<ref name=Lackey>Lackey, Walter F. ''History of Newton County, Arkansas'', Point Lookout, MO: S of O Press, 1950.</ref>