1. Archibald Yell was an American politician and lawyer who served as the US representative from Arkansas from 1836 to 1839, and 1845 to 1846.
25 Facts About Archibald Yell
1. 2.
Archibald Yell was the second governor of Arkansas, serving from 1840 to 1844.
3.
Archibald Yell was likely born in Kentucky or Tennessee, although his headstone lists North Carolina as his birthplace.
4.
Archibald Yell returned to Tennessee, and read law as a legal apprentice.
5.
Archibald Yell was admitted to the bar in Fayetteville, Tennessee.
6.
Archibald Yell was active in freemasonry, and was the Grand Master of the Tennessee Lodge in 1830.
7.
Active in the Democratic Party, Archibald Yell moved to the Arkansas Territory in 1831 to head the federal land office in Little Rock.
8.
On March 21,1832, Archibald Yell was appointed adjutant general of the Arkansas Territory with the rank of Colonel in place of Colonel Whorton Rector who had resigned.
9.
Archibald Yell was a strong supporter and personal friend of President James K Polk.
10.
Archibald Yell is reported to have single-handedly retrieved a criminal from a local saloon and physically brought him to his court.
11.
Archibald Yell was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1836, after Arkansas was admitted to the Union.
12.
Archibald Yell served one term, from December 5,1836, to March 3,1839.
13.
Archibald Yell focused on internal improvements, as infrastructure was needed to benefit planters and farmers.
14.
Archibald Yell worked to better control banks and supported public education.
15.
Archibald Yell resigned his post as governor to run again for Congress in 1844 at age 47, and won the seat.
16.
Archibald Yell is reported to have been the consummate campaigner.
17.
Archibald Yell returned to Arkansas and formed the Arkansas Mounted Infantry Regiment.
18.
Archibald Yell's men included the future governor John Selden Roane, and future Confederate generals Albert Pike, Solon Borland, and James Fleming Fagan.
19.
On February 23,1847, Archibald Yell was killed in action at the Battle of Buena Vista at age 49.
20.
Archibald Yell was originally buried on the battlefield in Mexico.
21.
Archibald Yell's body was removed and returned to Arkansas for burial at Waxhaws Cemetery in Fayetteville.
22.
Archibald Yell met Mary Scott in Bedford County, Tennessee, where they were neighbors.
23.
Archibald Yell had one daughter, Mary, who was born January 5,1823.
24.
Mary Scott Archibald Yell died from complications following their daughter's birth.
25.
Archibald Yell's legacy was reexamined during a construction project on the roadway; the city council renamed the road Nelson Hackett Boulevard.