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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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W. J. Dew is the owner of a fine farm of 300 acres of creek bottom land, and on this he raises on an average 1,000 pounds of cotton and fifteen bushels of corn to the acre, besides all varieties of fruit, with the exception of pears, blackberries, strawberries, etc., growing wild. His birth occurred in the State of Mississippi, in 1854, to John Dew, a native of South Carolina, who died in 1871, the grandfather, Reuben Dew, being of English descent. In 1861 W. J. Dew came to Arkansas, and here he attained manhood, but received a rather limited early education. In 1878 he began an independent career, farming on the land he now owns, which was given to his wife by her mother, their union having taken place the year before. Her maiden name was Miss Williams, a daughter of Benjamin Williams, a pioneer magistrate of Ashley County, who died about 1861 or 1862. To Mr. and Mrs. Dew a family of five children have been born: Howard E., Ernest, Harry, Jewell and Mary, all of whom are living. Mr. Dew has always been a Democrat, and on this ticket was elected to the position of constable of his township, in 1878, and filled the position very successfully for two years. He has always been much interested in farming, and is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, he and Mrs. Dew being worthy members of the Baptist Church.

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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

To view additional Ashley County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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