In 1818, French trapper Joseph Bonne landed on the south bank of the Arkansas River with his dog and gun near the site of the original Jefferson County Courthouse. After flood waters threatened his homesite at Arkansas Post, Bonne and his family moved to this high bluff, built a cabin, and became among the first white settlers in the region that became Pine Bluff. The hand-constructed log cabin served as the first seat of government, and Joseph Bonne reportedly operated the first tavern in the area.