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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita 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 B. Pearce, a progressive and enterprising planter of Ouachita County, Ark., was born in Hardeman County, Tenn., August 28, 1836, being a son of Lorenzo D. and Nancy L. (Beevers) Pearce, who were born in Tennessee, March 28, 1809, and November 15, 1811, respectively, and became the parents of five children, four now living: John B., Betsey J. (wife of J. L. Meeks, a farmer of the county), Beckey A. (wife of W. A. Gates, a farmer of the county), and Fredonia A. (wife of G. R. Craig, a farmer of Clark County, Ark.). Lorenzo D. Pearce removed from Shelby County, Tenn., to Arkansas, in 1849, and from this county, he enlisted in the Confederate Infantry, in 1862, but died while in the service in 1863. He was a Mason, and he and wife were members of the Baptist Church, the latter’s death occurring August 25, 1842. John B. Pearce, the immediate subject of this sketch, was married in 1857, to Miss Martha D. Meeks, by whom he became the father of seven children, four now living: James M., William C, Florence M. (wife of N. B. Key), and Amanda L. Mrs. Pearce was born in Alabama, April 6, 1837, and she, as well as Mr. Pearce, is an earnest member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Pearce is the owner of 120 acres of fertile farming land, with seventy acres under cultivation, and in his political views he has always been a Democrat. In 1861 he enlisted in Company C, Arkansas Infantry, under Capt. Joe White, and served until 1863, when he was taken prisoner at Camden, and was kept in captivity at Rock Island, Ill., for about eight months, obtaining his release in 1864. He then returned to his home, and has since devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits.

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This family biography is one of 91 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Ouachita County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Ouachita County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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