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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Izard 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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A. A. Marchant, farmer, Melbourne, Ark. Among the leading men of Mill Creek Township none are more prominently identified with the farming and stock raising interests of the same than Mr. Marchant, who by his industry, perseverence and integrity, is considered one of its first-class farmers. He was born in Bedford County, Tenn., in 1841, and when nineteen years of age started out in life for himself, his first venture being to hire out to one man as a farm hand for two years. When twenty-one years of age he donned his suit of blue, and enlisted in the First Arkansas Infantry, United States Army, Company C, and served for six months, when he was discharged at St. Louis, Mo., in December, 1863. After this he drove a team for the government, and acted as guide until 1864, when he enlisted in the Forty-eighth Missouri, Company E, for twelve months, and served only nine months, when he was discharged again at St. Louis, on the 1st of July, 1865. At the close of the war he was at Chicago, Ill., guarding the prisoners. After cessation of hostilities he came home and engaged in farming, which he followed on rented land until 1871, when he bought land in Baxter County. He only remained on this land one year, but continued in the county until 1874, when he moved to Izard County, and, in 1879, bought his present property consisting of 163 acres, with about 100 acres under cultivation. At the close of the war he had only about $50 or $60 in money, and not a horse, hog or cow. On the 16th of July, 1865, he wedded Miss Amanda F. Dixon, a native of Izard County, although they were married in Miller County, Mo. They became the parents of these children: W. B., lives in the Choctaw Nation; T. J. (deceased); J. W., at home; Rufus, at home, and Minnie M. Mr. Marchant is a member of the I. O. O. F., is a member of the Christian Church, and is a Republican in his political views. Mrs. Marchant belongs to the Baptist Church. The parents of Mr. Marchant, W. B. and Nancy (Byler) Marchant, were natives of Alabama and Tennessee, respectively. After reaching manhood W. B. Marchant went to Tennessee, but left that State in 1850, and came on a flat-boat to Napoleon, thence by steamer to Little Rock, and from there with teams overland to Izard County. He settled on Hidden Creek, bought an improved piece of land and there resided for six years. He then sold out and bought a farm close to where Melbourne now is, remaining there only two years, when he traded his farm for one close to Calico Rock, in Izard County. In 1862 he joined the United States Army, and was sent to St. Louis, where he died in the hospital. He was married three times; first, to Susan Cox, who bore him four children, three living: W. B., Minerva and T. J. After her death, Mr. Marchant married Miss Nancy Byler, mother of the subject of this sketch. Three children were born to this marriage, only one, A. A., now living. Mrs. Marchant died in 1844, at the age of twenty-eight years. She was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. In 1845 Mr. Marchant married Miss Ena Taylor, of Tennessee, and by her became the father of nine children, eight now living: W. S., Richard E., Mary T., Silas A., Joseph E., Martin B., Susan A. and A. M. The oldest child, Martha, was killed on the road from Little Rock to Melbourne, having accidentally fallen out of the wagon, by which she was run over. This was in 1850, and she was buried in White County. Mr. Marchant was an old line Whig, but was not active in politics. He was once a member of the Know-Nothing party, was a member of the Baptist Church, and at one time was constable of Rocky Bayou. His last wife still resides near Calico Rock, and is a member of the Baptist Church. The maternal grandfather of A. A. Marchant, John Byler, was a private in the War of 1812, and was in the battle of New Orleans. He died about 1871, at the age of eighty-five years.

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This family biography is one of 98 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Izard County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Izard County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Izard County, Arkansas family biographies here: Izard County, Arkansas Biographies

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