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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Perry 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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Capt. William Wilson, one of the oldest citizens of Perry County, was born in Guilford County, N. C., January 6, 1815. His grandfather, Andrew Wilson, was born in Ireland, and came to the United States at the age of nineteen years. His father, Andrew Wilson, a farmer, was of North Carolina origin, his birth occurring about 1790. He married Parmelia Denny, of Guilford County, who was born in 1792 and died in 1854. Not far from 1857 he came to Perry County, where he died in October, 1866. In their family were eleven children, three now living: Robert D. (residing in Tennessee), Jane McGee and our subject, who was the second child. William was raised in the State of his birth, there receiving a limited education in the common schools. In 1838 he came to Perry County and married Mary Ann, a daughter of J. and Rebecca Rankin, who was born in 1819. Going to Tennessee, he settled up his business, returning to Perry County in 1839. His wife died about 1874, having been the mother of seven children, one of whom is living in Louisiana, George Washington by name. Mr. Wilson’s second wife was Mrs. Gill (widow), born in Madison County, Tenn. She died January 3, 1867, leaving two children: James T. and Laura P. His third wife was Mrs. Amanda Scott (widow), who was born in Tennessee in 1825. In July, 1861, our subject raised a company of infantry for the Tenth Arkansas Infantry, and commanded at the battle of Shiloh, when he was wounded just below the right eye, on this account being discharged. Returning to Perry County, he entered the State service and served till the close of the war, when he resumed farming and stock-raising. He has now 200 acres of land, about seventy under cultivation. In an early day he was elected treasurer of Perry County, and during the war was elected to the State legislature, as Confederate representative. He also held the office of justice of the peace before the war. He is one of Perry County’s most honored citizens, a Master Mason and a member of Aplin Lodge No. 444, having been made a Mason before the war at Dardanelle, Yell County, Ark. He is now a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Harrison, being a Whig in those days. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and his wife is a believer in the Primitive Baptist faith. The Captain is a liberal supporter of all enterprises pertaining to the good of the county, and is entitled to an honorable representation in any worthy history of the community. The respect shown him is as wide as his acquaintance.

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This family biography is one of 53 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Perry County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Perry County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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