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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Garland 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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Dr. Joseph W. Shaw, one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Garland County, located in Mountain Township, eighteen miles northwest of Hot Springs, was born in Walker County, Ga., in 1844, and is a son of Hiram M. and Elizabeth (Arnold) Shaw, born in Georgia in 1805 and in South Carolina in 1811, respectively. The parents were married in the former State, and resided there until the year 1858; then moved to Saline County, Ark., making this their home until 1874, in which year the father died. He was a prosperous farmer, and one whose energy and good management made his calling a success. While residing in Georgia he served as clerk of Walker County for three terms, and was afterward elected sheriff and served two terms in that office. In 1856 he was elected county judge of Catoosa County, Ga., his residence being in that county since 1853. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and a leader of his party in that county, and in religious faith had been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church a great many years. His father was Haily G. Shaw, also a farmer, and during life a survivor of the Revolution, in which event he was wounded at the battle of Yorktown. The Shaw family are of Scotch origin. Jacob Arnold, the maternal grandfather, was also a prominent farmer of Walker County, Ga., who died in that place a believer in the Missionary Baptist Church. The mother is still living, and resides in Saline County. She is a gentle, kindly, Christian woman, much loved by those around her, and a member of the same church. Ten children were born to the parents, of whom Joseph W. was the seventh, and seven yet living, two sons and five daughters. The other three sons lost their lives while fighting under the Stars and Bars. James H. was a member of the Twenty-sixth Arkansas, as was also Martin A. Both brothers were taken sick at the evacuation of Corinth, and were never afterward heard from. Virgil N. served in the First Arkansas, and was wounded at the battle of Shiloh and discharged. He afterward joined the Third Arkansas, of the Trans Mississippi department, and was killed by bushwhackers in South Missouri, during Price’s memorable raid through that State. Dr. Joseph W. also served in the same company and regiment, from June, 1862, until the close of the war, taking part in the battles at Prairie Grove, Mark’s Mill, Poison Springs, Camden and a great number of others. At Pilot Knob he was left with the wounded, and while there was captured, but after one week’s confinement be made his escape, and rejoined his company, shortly after surrendering at Little Rock. On the day of Gen. Lee’s surrender, April 9, 1865, he was married to Mary E., daughter of Lucillus and Mary L. Bryan, of Tennessee and Georgia, respectively. Mr. Bryan died in Georgia, on June 4, 1860, and in the same year the family moved to what is now Grant County, Ark. Mrs. Bryan died two years after her daughter’s marriage. Six children were born to the Doctor and his wife, of whom five are living. Soon after the war Mr. Shaw commenced the study of medicine, in Saline County, with Dr. Joseph Harvey, and, after a close application to that profession, he graduated, in 1870, from the University of Louisville, Ky., and located at Cedar Glades, in Montgomery County. The following year he moved to Red Bluff, in Jefferson County, where he resided for two years, but was compelled to leave on account of his health. Since then Dr. Shaw has lived in Garland County, and on his present farm since 1878, where he owns about 240 acres of very productive land, with some ninety acres under cultivation, making one of the best farms on Blakely Creek. This he has accumulated by his own industry and judicious management, and made most of the improvements himself, the land only having twenty acres cleared on his arrival. Dr. Shaw is one of the most successful physicians in Garland County. This he owes, not to his wonderful knack of winning friends wherever he goes, but to his skill, which has attained a widespread reputation. He is also one of the oldest practicing physicians and surgeons in Garland, having an experience of twenty years in his profession. In politics he is Independent. In 1888 he was placed in nomination by the various Labor organizations and Independents, for the office of State senator for the Thirty-first senatorial district, and, though making a creditable race, was defeated by the Democratic nominee. He has been a member of Henderson Lodge No. 147, at Cedar Glade, for twenty years, and is the present Master, besides holding, at different times, nearly all the offices. In religious belief the Doctor and wife attend the Missionary Baptist Church, and are liberal in their aid to all religious and educational enterprises.

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This family biography is one of 55 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Garland County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Garland County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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