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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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William T. Evans (deceased) was a man who commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew him, for not only was he honorable and upright in every particular, but he was liberal, kindly in disposition and of undoubted intelligence. He was born in Maryland March 8, 1839, and under the directions of his father, Eli Evans, he was made familiar with farming from his earliest boyhood. The latter (William) received no early education, but after his marriage acquired a good education, his wife being his teacher, and under her able instruction he soon acquired an excellent knowledge of the common English branches. He passed from life in 1878 an honored, esteemed and regretted citizen. The immediate subject of this sketch spent his early life in the State of Missouri, tilling his fathers’ land, during the war, but in 1864 took up the trade of a blacksmith, at which he soon became an expert, afterward becoming an engineer. In 1862 he joined the Confederate army, being first with Gen. Price and afterward with Gen. Marmaduke, and in 1865 surrendered with Gen. Lee at Appomattox Court House. In July, 1865, he came to Arkansas, and was married here on December 26, 1865, to Miss Mary Ann Lowry, a daughter of Samuel Lowry, and a native of South Carolina, and a pioneer planter of Arkansas. He served in the Civil War, and is still residing in Ashley County. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Evans a family of five children has been born: Willie (who married Miss Ella Ahrens, of Monticello), Thomas Jackson, Edward Lee, May Evans, and Charley and Jennie and Gussie deceased. Mr. Evans purchased 200 acres of land in Mill Creek Township, but in January moved to the farm on which his wife and children now reside, which consists of 280 acres, with seventy-five under cultivation. Mr. Evans’ ability was recognized in 1874, and by his many friends he was elected to the position of county treasurer, a position he held for about one year, when he was accidentally killed by the falling of a lumber kiln, the immediate cause of his death being the bursting of a blood vessel. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. His widow and children still reside on the farm which he purchased, the former successfully managing the same. She remained a widow, for three years, and was then united in the bonds of matrimony to J. W. Hendricks, of Ashley County, a worthy member of the Free Will Baptist Church. To this second union three children have been born: Callie, Florence and Emma. Mr. Hendricks is an enterprising and well- to-do citizen, is a liberal giver to public enterprises, and owing to his many admirable qualities has many friends. Although he and his wife agree excellently, they each live on their own farms, as both have large families.

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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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