Thanksgiving – Family Council

How Arkansas Helped Pave the Way for the Thanksgiving Holiday

Nov 27, 2025Jerry CoxThanksgivingThanksgiving

On October 12, 1847, Arkansas Gov. Thomas Drew issued the state’s very first Thanksgiving proclamation.

Gov. Drew’s proclamation is significant because it came at a time when Thanksgiving was not formally recognized by Congress or the President. Each state had to decide whether or not to set aside a day for giving thanks.

In his proclamation, Gov. Drew highlighted the many blessings Arkansas had enjoyed—including Arkansas’ great people, abundant crops, prosperity, and good health.

He concluded by calling on Arkansans to thank God for these blessings.

Below is a copy of Gov. Drew’s proclamation:

Whereas, an all wise and merciful Providence has dispensed blessings of the most bountiful and diversified character among the people of this state, in the abundance of the various agricultural crops, the universal prosperity of our people and their unexampled good health, it is deemed worthy of a greatful people to make public manifestation of their sense of the renewed obligations under which we have been placed, by the appointment of a day of general THANKSGIVING throughout the state.

Be it known, therefore, that I, Thomas S. Drew, Governor of the State of Arkansas, have appointed Thursday, the 9th day of December next as a day of THANKSGIVING, which is hereby proclaimed and recommended to the good of people in every county and town in the state as a fit day and proper time to acquit ourselves, each and every one, of a high and praiseworthy duty to the Bountiful and Merciful Providence.

Given under my hand at Little Rock and to which is affixed the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas, this 12th day of October, 1847, and the Independence of the United States the seventy-second year.

By the Governor,
Thomas S. Drew

Of course, the question everyone always asks when we talk about that first Thanksgiving is, “What did Arkansans eat at that first Thanksgiving?“

The Department of Arkansas Heritage has said that families likely ate bacon, beef, mutton, pork, veal, and geese.

Butter, eggs, cheese, honey, potatoes, onions, beets, apples, and turnips would have been plentiful as well.

Because states like Arkansas recognized Thanksgiving, the federal government eventually made it an official holiday for the entire nation. Without proclamations like Gov. Drew’s, Thanksgiving as we know it might not exist.

As we take time to give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy, it’s good to know Arkansas played a part in the history of one of the most important holidays that our country observes.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Here is What Our Founding Fathers Had to Say About Thanksgiving

Nov 26, 2025Jerry CoxThanksgivingChurch Ambassador Network, Thanksgiving

When people think about the history of Thanksgiving, they probably imagine the Pilgrims at “the first Thanksgiving.” That’s a major part of Thanksgiving’s history, but there’s a lot more to it than that.

Before it became a federal holiday, Thanksgiving was a day appointed by Congress, the President, or the state legislatures.

In fact, early in our nation’s history, Congress sometimes appointed more than one “Thanksgiving Day” in a year, because these were meant to be days of prayer. In fact, virtually every early Thanksgiving proclamation included calls to prayer and fasting, corporate worship, confession of sin, or something similar.

Below are excerpts from a few Thanksgiving proclamations issued from 1775 to 1813. I hope they give you an idea of what Thanksgiving was meant to be in this country, and I hope you and your family have a truly happy Thanksgiving!

“And it is recommended to Christians, of all denominations, to assemble for public worship, and to abstain from servile labour and recreations on said day.”

–Proclamation by the Continental Congress, June 12, 1775

“Therefore the CONGRESS hereby RESOLVE,

“That it be recommended to all the States, as soon as possible to appoint a Day of solemn Fasting and Humiliation, to implore of Almighty GOD the Forgiveness of the many Sins prevailing among all Ranks, and to beg the Countenance and Assistance of his Providence in the Prosecution of this just and necessary War.”

–Proclamation by the Continental Congress, December 11, 1776

“Resolved, That it be recommended to the United States of America to set apart Wednesday, the 22d day of April next, to be observed as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer; that at one time, and with one voice, the inhabitants may acknowledge the righteous dispensations of Divine Providence, and confess their iniquities and transgressions, for which the land mourneth;”

–Proclamation by the Continental Congress, March 7, 1778

“Resolved, that it be recommended to the several states to appoint THURSDAY the 9th of December next, to be a day of publick and solemn THANKSGIVING to Almighty God, for his mercies, and of PRAYER, for the continuance of his favour and protection to these United States; to beseech him that he would be graciously pleased to influence our publick Councils, and bless them with wisdom from on high, with unanimity, firmness and success;”

–Proclamation by the Continental Congress, October 20, 1779

“Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be;”

–George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation, October 3, 1789

“I do therefore by authority from the General Assembly issue this my proclamation, hereby appointing Thursday the 9th day of December next, a day of publick and solemn thanksgiving and prayer to Almighty God, earnestly recommending to all the good people of this commonwealth, to set apart the said day for those purposes, and to the several Ministers of religion to meet their respective societies thereon, to assist them in their prayers, edify them with their discourses, and generally to perform the sacred duties of their function, proper for the occasion.”

–Thomas Jefferson, November 11, 1779

“In consideration of the many undeserved Blessings conferred upon us by GOD, the Father of all Mercies; it becomes us not only in our private and usual devotion, to express our obligations to Him, as well as our dependence upon Him; but also specially to set a part a Day to be employed for this great and important Purpose:”

–John Hancock’s Thanksgiving Proclamation, October 5, 1791

“And finally I recommend, that on the said day; the duties of humiliation and prayer be accompanied by fervent Thanksgiving to the bestower of every good gift, not only for having hitherto protected and preserved the people of these United States in the independent enjoyment of their religious and civil freedom, but also for having prospered them in a wonderful progress of population, and for conferring on them many and great favours conducive to the happiness and prosperity of a nation.”

–John Adams, March 23, 1798

“I do hereby recommend accordingly, that Thursday, the Twenty-fifth day of April next, be observed throughout the United States of America as a day of solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer. – That the citizens on that day abstain as far as may be from their secular occupations, devote the time to the sacred duties of religion in public and in private:”

–John Adams, March 19, 1799

“I do therefore issue this my proclamation, recommending to all who shall be piously disposed to unite their hearts and voices in addressing at one and the same time their vows and adorations to the Great Parent and Sovereign of the Universe that they assemble on the second Thursday of September next in their respective religious congregations to render Him thanks for the many blessings He has bestowed on the people of the United States;”

–James Madison, July 23, 1813

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Remembering Arkansas’ First Official Thanksgiving

Nov 22, 2023Jerry CoxThanksgivingThanksgiving

In October of 1847, Arkansas’ third governor, Gov. Thomas Drew, issued Arkansas’ very first Thanksgiving proclamation.

The proclamation set aside Thursday, December 9, 1847, as a day of thanksgiving.

In his proclamation, Gov. Drew highlighted the many blessings Arkansas had enjoyed—including Arkansas’ great people, abundant crops, prosperity, and good health.

He concluded by calling on Arkansans to thank God for these blessings.

Below is a copy of Gov. Drew’s proclamation.

Whereas, an all wise and merciful Providence has dispensed blessings of the most bountiful and diversified character among the people of this state, in the abundance of the various agricultural crops, the universal prosperity of our people and their unexampled good health, it is deemed worthy of a greatful people to make public manifestation of their sense of the renewed obligations under which we have been placed, by the appointment of a day of general THANKSGIVING throughout the state.

Be it known, therefore, that I, Thomas S. Drew, Governor of the State of Arkansas, have appointed Thursday, the 9th day of December next as a day of THANKSGIVING, which is hereby proclaimed and recommended to the good of people in every county and town in the state as a fit day and proper time to acquit ourselves, each and every one, of a high and praiseworthy duty to the Bountiful and Merciful Providence.

Given under my hand at Little Rock and to which is affixed the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas, this 12th day of October, 1847, and the Independence of the United States the seventy-second year.

By the Governor,
Thomas S. Drew

Gov. Drew’s proclamation is significant, because it came at a time when Thanksgiving was not formally recognized by Congress or the President. It was up to each state to decide whether or not to recognize Thanksgiving.

Of course, the question everyone always asks when we talk about that first Thanksgiving is, What did Arkansans eat at that first Thanksgiving?

The Department of Arkansas Heritage writes that families likely ate bacon, beef, mutton, pork, veal and geese.

Butter, eggs, cheese, honey, potatoes, onions, beets, apples, and turnips also would have been plentiful.

Because states like Arkansas recognized Thanksgiving year after year, the federal government eventually made it an official holiday for the entire nation.

It’s good to know Arkansas played a part in the history of one of the most important holidays that our country observes.