William L. Lovely

William L. Lovely. Indian Agent Lovely and his wife, Persis, established a home in this immediate vicinity following his designation as agent for the Western Cherokees in 1813. He served as agent until his death in 1817. Lovely was born in Ireland, but came to the Virginia Colony at an early age. Part of his boyhood life was spent in the home of James Madison, later 4th President of the U.S. As a member of Colonial forces, he participated in battles at Saratoga, Stony Point and Yorktown. , Major Lovely's plan to reduce the Indian frictions in this territory resulted in the Osage Indians relinquishing claim to the area now designated as N.W. Ark. and N.E. Okla.; and a U.S. edict that all whites (except Mrs. Lovely) vacate this area, then inhabited by the Cherokees. (History identifies the Osage transaction as the Lovely Purchase.) , In 1827 the Ark. Territorial Legislature organized the area to be vacated by the Cherokees as Lovely County. The nearby shoals on the Illinois Bayou were known as the Lovely Shoals. Following her husband's death, Persis Lovely continued to live in this area until her death in 1842.