By the 1830s, American settlers had established a community deep in the pine woods of south Arkansas known as Rough and Ready. That community was near what later became the city of Monticello.

"Descriptions of Rough and Ready included tales of feuds ending in brawls or killings, likely the origin of the village's name," Mary Heady writes for the Central Arkansas Library System's Encyclopedia of Arkansas. "Court proceedings were established in this area, and agricultural opportunities attracted additional settlers. Cotton, corn, wheat and hay--as well as fruits such as apples, peaches and pears--were grown. By the 1880s, timber was also a major industry."

Drew County was established in 1846, a decade after Arkansas became a state. It was named for Thomas Stevenson Drew, who had served as governor. Drew County was carved out of Bradley County and Arkansas County.

Parts of Drew County were given to Ashley County in 1848. Parts of Desha County were added to Drew County in 1861 and 1873. And it was 1873 before a boundary dispute between Drew and Chicot counties was settled.

"Schools in the area included the Rodgers Schoolhouse (1836) near Union Ridge, Gaster Schoolhouse (1842) near Gaster Hill and Brandon School (1849) near Rock Springs," Heady writes. "Phi Kappa Sigma Male College, established by James William Barrow in 1859, was burned by Union troops in 1864. Rodger's Female Academy, established in 1859, evolved into the co-educational Whaley Elementary School.

"In 1849, Fountain and Polly Austin donated 83 acres to establish a new town site. This site, Monticello, was incorporated in 1852. At the center of that acreage, the county's first courthouse was built in 1851."

The Austins were early settlers in the area. It's believed that they named the county seat after Thomas Jefferson's Virginia estate. A larger courthouse was constructed in 1857. Lots were donated for Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian churches. Since education was important to area residents, male and female academies were established. A library opened inside the courthouse in 1857.

"The earliest newspaper, the Sage of Monticello, began publishing in 1857," writes southeast Arkansas historian Rebecca........

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