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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lincoln 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. J. G. Simmons, prominent planter, of Lincoln County, Ark. Chief among the worthy men, who by their ability, nobleness and energy, have raised the standard of business and social life to a high plane, ranks he whose name heads this sketch. He is a son of Henry P. Simmons, a native of North Carolina, and in that State the subject of the present writing was born. His father was the youngest of a large family of children, passed his youth in Montgomery County, N. C, and there married Miss Dolly Burnett. He died in the year 1880, and the mother lives with Dr. Simmons. Of the five children born to their union only J. B. Simmons, of Pine Bluff and J. G. are now living. The subject of this sketch attained his majority in Franklin County, worked to obtain enough money to attend Oak Grove College for twenty months, and in 1857 engaged in the grocery business in Moscow for a period of two years, after which he commenced the study of medicine, graduating February 24, 1859, from the Medical Department of the University of Nashville, Tenn. In Springdale, Miss., the Doctor practiced until the fall of 1860, at which date he came to his present home, practicing his profession until 1875, when he concluded to devote all his attention to farming. He acted as surgeon in the Morgan regiment. Dr. Simmons is the fortunate possessor of a fine farm of about 300 acres that is excellently cultivated. He was elected Representative from his county in 1878, being the first Democrat ever elected from that place. Dr. Simmons married Miss Mary M. Smith, daughter of John Smith, of Drew County, and their union has been blessed with eleven children, six of whom are still living. Dr. Simmons is an Universalist in belief, his wife and daughters being members of the Presbyterian Church.

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This family biography is one of 44 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lincoln County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Lincoln County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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