Arab in Marshall County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Stephen Tuttle Thompson
(1832-1912)
— Founder of the Town of Arab —
Photographed By Judith Barber, February 6, 2011
1. Stephen Tuttle Thompson Marker
Inscription.
Stephen Tuttle Thompson. Indirectly responsible for the naming of the town, Stephen Tuttle Thompson was born Feb. 22, 1832, in Rhea County, Tennessee. He moved to west Marshall County with his parents about 1840 and relocated in 1858 to what became Thompson’s Village and later the Town of Arab. Named Arab’s first postmaster in 1882, he was required to submit three proposed names for the new post office to the U.S. Postal Department. Desiring that the post office be named after his son, Ranson Arad Riley Thompson, he submitted “Ink,” “Blue Bird,” and “Arad”. The postal department chose “Arad,” but, as the result of a clerical error in Washington, D.C., it was misspelled “Arab”. Stephen Tuttle Thompson also served as deputy tax assessor and as a county commissioner, elected on the Republican ticket. Thompson’s son, J.R.N. Thompson, became the first mayor when Arab was incorporated in 1892. Much of the original Town of Arab now stands on land that was formerly the Thompson family farm. Stephen Tuttle Thompson died March 1, 1912, and is buried in the Methodist Church Cemetery.
Indirectly responsible for the naming of the town, Stephen Tuttle Thompson was born Feb. 22, 1832, in Rhea County, Tennessee. He moved to west Marshall County with his parents about 1840 and relocated in 1858 to what became Thompson’s Village and later the Town of Arab. Named Arab’s first postmaster in 1882, he was required to submit three proposed names for the new post office to the U.S. Postal Department. Desiring that the post office be named after his son, Ranson Arad Riley Thompson, he submitted “Ink,” “Blue Bird,” and “Arad”. The postal department chose “Arad,” but, as the result of a clerical error in Washington, D.C., it was misspelled “Arab”. Stephen Tuttle Thompson also served as deputy tax assessor and as a county commissioner, elected on the Republican ticket. Thompson’s son, J.R.N. Thompson, became the first mayor when Arab was incorporated in 1892. Much of the original Town of Arab now stands on land that was formerly the Thompson family farm. Stephen Tuttle Thompson died March 1, 1912, and is buried in the Methodist Church Cemetery.
Erected 2008 by Alabama Historical Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers.
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In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1840.
Location. 34° 19′ N, 86° 29.755′ W. Marker is in Arab, Alabama, in Marshall County. Marker is at the intersection of South Main Street and Cullman Road (Alabama Route 69), on the right when traveling south on South Main Street. Marker is located in Stephen Tuttle Thompson Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Arab AL 35016, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on February 22, 2011, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,256 times since then and 47 times this year. Last updated on July 20, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on February 28, 2011, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
