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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Columbia 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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James Warren Hartsfield, farmer, McNeil, Ark. It is doubtless owing entirely to the industrious and persevering manner with which Mr. Hartsfield has adhered to the pursuit of agriculture that he has risen to such a substantial position in farm affairs in this county. Born in Butts County, Ga., November 24, 1838, he is the son of Godfrey Millige Hartsfield, who was born in Meriwether County, Ga., on March 4, 1812. He emigrated to this county from Monroe County, Ga , in 1859, and arrived here in October. Previous to coming to this county he had held the position of county assessor of Monroe County, was justice of the peace eight years, and was a prominent citizen. He was married to Miss Hicksie W. Sledge, a native of Twiggs County, Ga., born in September, 1818, and died December 1, 1880. He died on November 20, 1887. He was the son of John A. Hartsfield, who died in Georgia when his son was but ten years of age. He was of Irish descent. James Warren Hartsfield, the second of ten children—eight sons and two daughters—three sons and two daughters living, was reared in Monroe County, Ga., after four years of age until twenty, when he came with the rest of the family to this county. Here he has since made his home. His sympathies were with the South during the late unpleasantness, and on September 21, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Fifteenth Arkansas Regiment Infantry, and served all through the war, holding the rank of first sergeant. He was in the New Madrid (Mo.) regiment, and was captured near Island No. 10 in 1862. He was taken to Springfield, Ill., remained there about six months, and was then brought to Vicksburg for exchange. He never received a wound and was a good, faithful soldier. He was in the battles of Port Hudson, Mark’s Mill, Jenkins’ Ferry, etc., and was in the cavalry seven months. He surrendered at Marshall, Texas, in May, 1865. Returning to Columbia County after the war he was married to Miss Nancy Jane Westerbrook on June 11 of that year. She was born near Memphis, Tenn., on September 15, 1842, and is a daughter of Albert Westerbrook and Jane S. (Thompson) Westerbrook, both of whom died in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Hartsfield were born five children—three sons and two daughters: Infant (deceased), Emma J. (wife of William Whaley), Mary E. (wife of John Yarbor), Willie S. (deceased), and James R. (deceased). Mr. Hartsfield purchased the farm he now owns September 6, 1866, which then consisted of 160 acres, with twenty-five acres under cultivation. He is now the owner of 300 acres, and has 125 under cultivation. His place is located eight and a half miles north of the county seat, and is a good, improved farm. Mr. Hartsfield erected a frame dwelling in 1879, at a cost of about $1,000, and his outbuildings, etc., are all in good condition. He has a good orchard, and everything about his place shows that hard work and industry have not been spared to make it pleasant and attractive. He and wife are members of the Primitive Baptist Church, and he is a deacon in the same, having been a member since 1863, and having been licensed to preach. He has been road overseer, school director, etc., many a time and oft.

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This family biography is one of 106 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Columbia County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Columbia County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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