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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Bradley 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. R. Watson, sheriff and collector, Warren, Ark. There are some men in the county at the present day in whose lives there are but few thrilling incidents or remarkable events, yet whose success has been a steady and constant growth, and who, possessed of excellent judgment, strong, common sense and indomitable energy, have evinced in their lives and character great symmetry, completeness and moral standing of a high order. To this class belongs Mr. Watson, who owes his nativity to Lowndes County, Miss., where his birth occurred September 14, 1848. His father, Finis Watson, was a native of Kentucky, and was married to Miss Mary Bell, a native of Tennessee, after which, in 1838, they moved to Mississippi, and here the father cultivated the soil. In 1854 they moved to Arkansas, located in Union County, Dear Mount Holly, and there both passed the closing scenes of their life. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living at the present time: John B., Ann (wife of J. R. Rogers), William R., Alonzo E. and Dora (wife of W. F. Culbuth). At the age of eight years W. R. Watson came to Arkansas with his parents, and received his education in the common schools of Union County. He was early initiated into the duties of the farm, and assisted his father on the home place until eighteen years of age, after which he started out for himself as clerk in a store. In 1871 he began merchandising for himself at Moro Bay, and continued business until 1886, when he sold out. In 1888 he was elected to his present position, and removed to Warren, where he now resides. By his marriage, which occurred in 1872, to Miss Ella V. Richardson, he became the father of two children: Larkin T. and Mary L. Mrs. Watson died in 1879. Mr. Watson is a member of the K. of P. and Master at Arms. He is one of the most prominent men of Bradley County.

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This family biography is one of 64 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Bradley County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Bradley County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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