Arab in Marshall County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Stephen Tuttle Thompson

(1832-1912)

— Founder of the Town of Arab —

Stephen Tuttle Thompson Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Judith Barber, February 6, 2011

1. Stephen Tuttle Thompson Marker

Inscription. 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

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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. 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. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At

Stephen Tuttle Thompson Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Judith Barber, February 6, 2011

2. Stephen Tuttle Thompson Park

least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Farmer's Exchange (within shouting distance of this marker); 1883 Methodist Church Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Arab Town Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Baptist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); First United Methodist Church (approx. 1.3 miles away); Bear Meat Cabin Road (approx. 1.7 miles away); Gilliam Springs Baptist Church (approx. 1.8 miles away); Brashier's Chapel Cemetery (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arab.

Another marker is no longer nearby. First Arab High School / First Arab Auditorium (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Statue of Stephen Tuttle Thompson image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Judith Barber, February 6, 2011

3. Statue of Stephen Tuttle Thompson

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 2,226 times since then and 169 times this year. Last updated on July 20, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 28, 2011, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.