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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Nevada 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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John T. W. Gill, farmer, is one of the oldest living settlers of Nevada County, being identified with this county since 1856, at which time, after traveling all over the South, from the Atlantic as far west in Texas as there were any habitations, he located the farm on which he now lives, on Section 29, Township 11, Range 22. He considers this the garden spot of the State. March 2, 1858, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Steele, daughter of Jehu and Christinna Steele, of Ouachita County, born in Tennessee, in 1838, and by this union there are six children living, viz.: Ella (married T. H. Cobb, a furniture dealer of Texarkana), Mattie L. (is the wife of James A. M. Smith, a merchant of Texarkana, having control of the Alliance store at that place), John M. F. (graduated at Tulare and New Orleans, is practicing medicine in Texarkana), E. Keener (is attending Trinity University of Texas), and James O. and Percy G. (at home). The subject of this sketch is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Gill was a Mason and a Democrat until Tilden’s election, since which time he has allied himself with the Union Labor party. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Monroe’s regiment of Cavalry, in which he served until 1863, when at Pine Bluff he carried off the flag (the flag bearer being killed), and was then promoted to lieutenant in Col. Crawford’s regiment, McMillan’s company, and was engaged in the battles of Prairie Grove, Pine Bluff, Fayetteville, and several in Indian Nation, besides many skirmishes. At Mount Elba, March 30, 1864, he was so severely wounded while commanding his company as to incapacitate him for duty the balance of the war. Mr. Gill was born in York District, S. C, July 7, 1831, the seventh of eight children, three of whom are still living, born to John G. and Ann Rebecca (King) Gill, natives of South Carolina. They were married in their native State, lived there all their lives, the father died in that State when nearly eighty years of age. The mother died about twenty years previous to the death of her husband, while on a visit to Clark County, Ark. Both were members of the Independent Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Gill was an earnest Christian woman, and took great interest in church affairs. Her family (the Kings) formed a colony in Mississippi, afterward known as the Kingdom. John Gill was the son of James Gill, who was one of seven brothers of South Carolina who took part in the Revolutionary War, and were known far and wide for their zeal in the cause. They had a sister who was also very zealous for this cause, carrying provisions and making clothing for the soldiers. The brothers took part in a great many battles, and were often complimented for their bravery and daring. John G. was a farmer by occupation, and as such was very successful, owning about 100 slaves. The Gills are of Irish descent, while the Kings are French, and have been farmers for generations. Of the three children still living, Mary (wife of T. Lysander Wallace a farmer and millwright, resides in Perry County, Ala), James M. (a farmer of Prescott), and John T. (the subject of this sketch). Mr. Gill received an academic course at Blairesville Academy, and in 1851 came to Arkansas, locating in Clark County, on Beech Creek, where he engaged in farming, remaining there until 1856, at that time locating on his present farm of 640 acres, which was then in the woods. Before the war he had cleared one-quarter section of this land, and has since enlarged it to 200 acres. He is one of the substantial agriculturists of this county.

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This family biography is one of 96 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Nevada County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Nevada County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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