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Below is a family biography included in The History of Carroll County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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. William S. Poynor was born in Franklin County, Ill., on December 16, 1831, and is a son of William Poynor, a native of Virginia, and Elizabeth Campbell, a native of North Carolina. The parents settled in Franklin Count, Ill., about 1820, and removed from there to Arkansas in 1839, and settled near Carrollton. Later they removed to Jasper, Newton County, and it was there that the father died in 1861. The father served in the War of 1812, and also in the Black Hawk War. Dr. Poynor now has the gourd in which his father carried powder during the late war. Being but a lad of eight years when his father settled in Carroll County, Dr. Poynor was chiefly raised here. When twenty-two years of age he began studying medicine at Carrollton, in the office of Dr. John F. Seaman, and continued four years. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Sixteenth Arkansas Infantry, under Col. John F. Hill, and served over three years, participating in the battles of Wilson’s Creek, Pea Ridge, Iuka, Corinth and the siege of Port Hudson. At the last named place the whole regiment was captured, but after five days Capt. Poynor made his escape, and afterward joined Prince’s army, and was in the fight at Jenkins’ Ferry, and in other lesser engagements. In a raid in Scott County, Ark., his right arm was shot to pieces, which disabled it permanently. His regiment was disbanded at Shreveport, La., and he returned home in 1865. Dr. Poynor was made captain of his company at his first enlistment, in 1861. In 1866 he resumed the study of medicine, and soon after began practicing his profession with Dr. McKennon, of Carrollton. The next year he opened an office at Kingston, Madison County, and controlled a large practice there until 1875, when he removed to his present location, he having since practiced in Carroll County. The Doctor has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married in 1857, was Sarah M. Oliver, a native of Tennessee, who was reared in Arkansas. She died in 1877, leaving five children, viz.: Isaac P., a physician; Lucinda E., Mrs. James W. Kenner; Horace Greeley, Maud and Sarah L. On December 5, 1881, the Doctor married Mattie Crump, a native of Kentucky. She was reared in Harlan County, Ky., to the age of sixteen years. Her parents are John G. and Eliza G. Crump, now residents of Boone County, Ark. For the last thirty-five years the Doctor has been a member of the Masonic fraternity. Besides his professional duties he manages his large farm.

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of Carroll County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Carroll County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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