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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ashley County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Capt. J. P. Clark has devoted his attention to planting, the greater part of his life, and is now the owner of two fine plantations, comprising 1,600 acres, of which 600 acres are under cultivation, finely improved. He was born in Meigs County, Tenn., September 25, 1834, to Alexander and Elizabeth (Peoples) Clark, the former of whom was born in Bledsoe County, Tenn., about 1812. A great uncle, Gen. George Rodgers Clark, was under Washington during the Revolutionary War, and the father of Alexander Clark. John Clark, commanded a company under Gen. Jackson, in the War of 1812, and was with that general at New Orleans, also participating in the battle of Horseshoe Bend against the Creek Indians. Capt. J. P. Clark was reared principally in Shelby County, Mo., his father having moved there in 1847, and although his early schooling was limited, he succeeded in obtaining a fair education. At the age of seventeen years he left Missouri and came to Crittenden County, Ark., where he farmed and taught vocal music for some time, then went to Independence County, returning after a short time to Crittenden County, and in 1854 to Chicot County, where he made his home in the woods, working at deadening timber for about five years. During this time he made his home by himself, and gathered some curious pets about him, among which were a pair of panthers that stayed in his shanty and were as tame and playful as kittens. Pet coons and squirrels were as a matter of course, and an alligator was added to his collection in later years. During this time he made about $6,000, with which he bought six negro men and went to farming, opening up a plantation, and at the breaking out of the war he had refused $30,000 for his place and what he had. In September, 1861, he raised a company of men, the second in the county, which became a part of the Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry, and took part in the following battles: Belmont, Shiloh, Richmond (Ky.), Perryville, Murfreesboro, where he was wounded and was off duty for a month or so, afterward rejoining his command and taking part in the battle of Chickamauga. He was then transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department, after which he raised a company from Chicot and Ashley Counties, and became a part of the Second Arkansas Mounted Infantry, and was with Fagan’s division on Price’s raid into Missouri, and took an active part in all the engagements of that campaign. He left the main command in the Indian Territory, and came home for a short time. He rejoined his command in Union County, but was shortly afterward disbanded at Shreveport, La. Coming home after the war he speculated in cotton, made considerable money, and again went to farming on the Mississippi River, but was drowned out, after which he came to Gum Ridge, and here has lived ever since. In 1886 he was elected sheriff of Ashley County, Ark., was re-elected two years later and still holds the office. He is a Mason, a K. of P. and also belongs to the K. & L. of H. He has been married twice, first in 1865 to Mrs. (Moore) Butler, but she lived only fourteen months after her marriage, dying in September, 1866. His second marriage took place in July, 1868, to Mrs. Turner, widow of Dr. Turner. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, and he is treasurer of the Board of Finance of the Annual Conference.

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This family biography is one of 97 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ashley County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Ashley County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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