On Monday, January 2, 1826, Little Rock voters elected their first Board of Trustees. This five member governing body was authorized by the Arkansas General Assembly in October 1825. The five men getting the most votes were Bernard Smith, Isaac Watkins, James C. Collins, Ezra Owens and Sam C. Roane.
The evening of the election, the Board of Trustees held their first meeting. They chose Mr. Smith (a former US Congressman from New Jersey) as the president. To serve as the clerk, the men selected Jesse Brown, who was Little Rock’s first school teacher.
In June 1826, Robert Crittenden was appointed to fill out the remainder of Mr. Owens’ term. The latter had resigned, though media accounts do not indicate why.
Mr. Smith, whose job was as secretary to the governor of Arkansas, would serve on the Board through 1828. Mr. Watkins served until his murder in December 1827. Mr. Collins served in 1826 and again in 1828. Mr. Roane only served in 1826. Mr. Crittenden served a full term in 1827 and then again in 1830 and 1831.
The Little Rock Board of Trustees was disbanded with the January 1832 election of Little Rock’s first mayor and aldermen.