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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson 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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W. J. Cole, an industrious, enterprising citizen of Jefferson County, owes his nativity to Wayne County, Tenn., where his birth occurred January 16, 1847. His father, George B. Cole, was also born in Wayne County, Tenn., in the year 1820. The latter was reared in his native State, and after growing up, married Miss Bettie A. Curtis, of Tennessee origin. Their union was blessed by the birth of eight children, five sons and three daughters, five of whom are still living, and four are residents of this State. One is located in Missouri. George B. Cole was a successful agriculturist, and owned about 220 acres of good land in Washington and Izard Counties. He served in the late war, and was at the battle of Vicksburg, receiving his discharge in the fall of 1863, after which he returned home and resumed his former occupation of tilling the soil. He subsequently went on a visit to Tennessee, where his father was living, and was killed while on his return in 1864. The mother died in 1885 in Jackson County, Ark. Both were members of the Methodist Church. W. J. Cole was educated at Fayetteville, Washington County, Ark., but from there went to Izard County, and removed from there to Jackson County in 1865. In 1870 he came to Jefferson County, where he married Miss Mary Jane King, a native of Tennessee, on February 4, 1874, and the fruits of this union are five children, two sons and three daughters—George W., Roxanna, James H., Mattie C. and Mary E. Four are now living, and all reside at home. Mr. Cole has two orphan boys living with him, and they are the sons of Joseph and Elizabeth King. He has been occupied all his life in tilling the soil, is the owner of about seventy acres of land, and has about sixty-five acres under cultivation. He is also engaged in running a grist mill and a cotton gin. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and during the three years of his membership he has filled the office of tyler of the lodge. He is a member and has held the office of treasurer in the Agricultural Wheel for one term. He and wife belong to the Methodist Church, and both are active church workers. He has at this time sold out in Jefferson County, Ark., and has bought a 160-acre farm in Conway County, Ark., paying $1,500 cash for same, and has other property to the amount of $2,500, and is entirely clear of debt. His post office after January 1, 1890, will be Springfield, Conway County, Ark.

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This family biography is one of 136 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Jefferson County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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