History

Welcome to Leslie, Arkansas, a historic town in southern Searcy County, where the past and present weave a captivating story. Founded in February 1903 and named after Samuel Leslie, its first postmaster, Leslie was originally known as Wiley’s Cove, named for a local Indian chief, Wiley, who lived peacefully alongside another chief, Al, in the nearby Rumley area. French explorers in the 17th and 18th centuries noted prosperous Indian encampments along Cove Creek and Dancing Rabbit Creek (now Begleys Creek), and the area remained under Indian rights until the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 brought it under U.S. control. Arkansas became a state in 1836, just two years before Samuel Leslie arrived in 1838.

Samuel Leslie, a pivotal figure, built a small temporary home before constructing a two-story Southern-style residence with a separate kitchen and slave quarters, located where the Legion Hut now stands, with its original well still visible. He also ran a store and trading post, generously giving away land to attract settlers. His son, Andrew Jackson Leslie, successfully petitioned the Postal Department to rename Wiley’s Cove to Leslie on November 9, 1887, in honor of his father. Notably, Herbert Hoover surveyed land here, and early merchant G.W. Smith worked under him.

The arrival of the Missouri & North Arkansas Railway in August 1903 sparked a boom, turning Leslie into a hub for the timber industry. The road north of town, leading to Shiloh, Happy Hollow, Baker, and Marshall, bordered the massive stave mills and timber operations, including the Williams Cooperage Company, the world’s largest barrel manufacturer by 1910. The company built the “Dinky Line,” a 20-mile railroad to support its lumber camps. At its peak, Leslie’s population reportedly reached around 10,000, with a stone depot, built in 1913 and still standing behind Derickson’s Lumber Company, and thriving communities in surrounding hollows.

As deforestation and the Great Depression took their toll, the timber industry declined, and the railroad made its final run in 1946. The population dwindled to about 485 today, and the town may seem quiet compared to its bustling past. Yet, Leslie is poised for a revival, with newcomers drawn to the natural beauty of Searcy County’s hills and the simplicity of small-town life. Stand by the historic depot or explore nearby hamlets like Arlburg, Rumley, or Elba, where the faint traces of old railroad paths evoke the steam and spirit of the early 1900s. Leslie invites you to discover its rich history, from Indian encampments to industrial glory, and to embrace its promising future.