As printed in the Stone County Leader October 29, 2025:
A historical marker was installed and publicly unveiled at the John and Lucy Hinkle Homestead at Rushing on October 11, 2025. The marker was acquired through the Arkansas Heritage Historical Marker Program with the cost shared between the agency and the property owners who are the children of Hinkle great-grandson, Rodney Rushing (1934-2020) and his wife Angalee (1938-2022). Stone County Historical Society served as sponsor of the marker application with member Renee Carr submitting the application. The marker is now available for public viewing near the Stone/Van Buren County line on Highway 9. QR codes mounted on the split rail fence provide links to three videos including Dave Smith describing the restoration of the cabin, Wendell Hinesley and Rodney Rushing sharing stories of their Hinkle ancestors, and the 2024 Hinkle Homestead Homecoming. The videos are found on the FoxArkansas YouTube channel. The narrative on the front side of the permanent marker chronicles the Hinkle family’s migration from northern Alabama to homestead 154 acres acquired through the U.S. land patent process.
Side two focuses on key historical events in the community including establishment of the Rushing Post Office by Justice of the Peace Ephraim O. Rushing in 1882 and the Rushing Cemetery by trustees John W. Hinkle, Ephraim O. Rushing, and Thomas Ross in 1885. Daniel Hinkle, the youngest child of John and Lucy Hinkle, was born in the cabin in 1876 and later lived there with his wife and children. Descendants of Daniel and Sally Hinkle in attendance were grandson Phillip Hinkle and his wife Tammy from Harrisburg AR, grandson Allen Hinkle and his wife Pam from Judsonia, AR, and family members of another grandson, the late Tommy Hinkle, all from south Texas: Cyndi Hinkle, Rachel Hinkle, Shai Holmes, Khloe Federlein and Shelby Jordan. Also in attendance were three of the four living grandchildren of Nioma Hinkle Rushing who was a four year-old when her family built the cabin: Wendell Hinesley of Fairfield Bay, Anthel Rushing of Benton, and Frieda Rushing Pryor of Damascus. Wendell, accompanied by his wife, Juanema, was recognized as the last child born in the cabin in 1932. Former residents of the cabin, the late Will and Hallie (Hinesley) Rhoden, were represented by their grandson Gary McClelland and his wife, Ruth, of Sunnyland. Roy Hinesley was the last person to live in the cabin, from the 1970’s to his death in 1991. He was represented by nephew Wendell Hinesley and grandnieces, Pat Sweeney Caston and Rita Hinesley Luningham.