Family Members Pay Off 170-Year-Old Debt

Family Members Pay Off 170-Year-Old Debt
Descendants Pay Great-Great-Great Uncle's Debt

YELLVILLE, Ark. -- It took them nearly 170 years, but two men have paid off their great-great-great uncle's debt.

Their ancestor, Archibald Yell, told leaders of Shawneetown, Ark., that he would give them $50 if they named the town after them.

They did, and Shawneetown became Yellville.

But Yell never paid.

Descendants David Yell of Lapeer, Mich., and William Yell of Monticello, Ga., were researching their family history when they found out.

So the Yell cousins traveled to Yellville on Thursday to settle the debt.

The mayor of Yellville was kind enough to waive interest on the debt or the Yells would have owed $803,000.