Archibald Yell was an American soldier, congressman, and governor of Arkansas. He was a politician who served as the U. S. Representative from Arkansas from 1836 to 1839, and 1845 to 1846. He was also the second Governor of Arkansas, serving from 1840 to 1844.
Background
Yell was born on August 9, 1797 in North Carolina, United States. Practically nothing is known of his ancestors except that they came to America before the Revolution. His family first settled in Jefferson County in the eastern part of the state, then moved to Rutherford in Middle Tennessee, and finally settled in Bedford County to the south.
Career
Yell migrated to Tennessee and served with Andrew Jackson against the Indians and against the British at New Orleans. After reading law and being admitted to the bar, he served under Jackson against the Seminoles in Florida. His courage won the admiration of "Old Hickory, " who as president rewarded him by a succession of federal appointments.
After a term in the Tennessee legislature as representative of Bedford County, Yell moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, to take charge of the federal land office under an appointment confirmed December 21, 1831. In a few months he resigned to resume the practice of law, but in January 1835 was appointed territorial judge in Arkansas. He is reputed to have been as fearless on the bench as on the field of battle.
When Arkansas was admitted to statehood in 1836, Yell was elected the first representative in Congress and served until 1839. He was elected governor in 1840 but resigned in 1844, at the request of the Democratic convention, to run again for Congress in opposition to David Walker. In this campaign Yell demonstrated that he could be all things to all men. At a shooting match he won the beef, donated it to the poorest widow in the neighborhood, and ordered a jug of whiskey for the crowd; while at the next place, where a camp meeting was in progress, he was soon in the "Amen corner" leading the singing. He was elected, and took his seat in 1845, but at the outbreak of the Mexican War left Congress without resigning and was commissioned colonel of the 1st Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry.
In the fall of 1846 - still without resigning - Yell chose to remain in the field. Treating his seat as vacant, Governor Drew ordered an election, and Thomas W. Newton presented his certificate of election to the House on February 6, 1847. The committee on elections reported favorably to Newton, but the House refused (March 3, the last day of the session) to take up the report; nine days earlier Yell had been killed at the battle of Buena Vista while leading a charge of his troops. As a member of Congress Yell supported the annexation of Texas and Polk's Oregon policy and was interested in strengthening the army and in public lands.
As governor he demanded strong measures for the control of the State Bank and the Real Estate Bank, which had been created in the previous administration, and had already suspended specie payments. He recommended a board of internal improvements, made appeals for education, and recommended agricultural schools, based upon the liberal donations of the national government, as the type best suited to the needs of an agricultural society. He was attached to the common law and vetoed a bill giving married women control of their own property, among other reasons because the bill as drawn left the husband liable for his wife's debts.
Achievements
Membership
Yell was a member of the U. S. House of Representatives
Personality
Yell was five feet ten inches high, had auburn hair and piercing eyes, and was considered a handsome man.
Connections
Yell married three times and was the father of five children. His first wife, Mary Scott, died in Tennessee; the second, Nancy, died October 3, 1835; the third, Marie, October 14, 1838.