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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pike 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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William M. Gould, a successful planter and an influential citizen of Pike County, was born in this county May 4, 1848. His parents, William B. and Sarah (Campbell) Gould, the former a native of Philadelphia, and a farmer by occupation, had a family of nine children—seven girls and two boys— all of whom grew to maturity with the exception of one, viz.: Isabella, Cassandria, Sophronia, Susana, Annie, Lizzie, Jerome and William. The family emigrated to Arkansas at a very early day, settling in Hempstead County, where they resided for several years, and then emigrated to Pike County. Mr. Gould was a member of the Masonic fraternity, Pike Lodge No. 91, in which he held all the principal offices. He served as representative of Pike County for several years. In July, 1861, he entered a home company, was elected first lieutenant of the company, marched to Van Buren, where they were organized into the Fourth Regiment, under Capt. Black, and participated in the battle of Pea Ridge. Their captain died and Mr. Gould was elected, in his stead, but he resigned this commission in 1862, on account of ill health, and returned home, where he remained until his death, May 25, 1874. He was born October 15, 1816. His widow still survives, and is residing with her oldest daughter. The immediate subject of this sketch was reared in Pike County, and remained at home until he attained his majority, when he took his belongings, which consisted of a horse and saddle, and started in life for himself, choosing farming as his vocation. July 11, 1876, he married Miss Mary Branch, a native of Tennessee, by whom he has six children, viz.: Willie, Lula (deceased), Johnnie, Frank, Laura and Katie. Mr. Gould is now the owner of a well-stocked farm of 280 acres of good land, sixty acres of which are under an excellent state of cultivation. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Pike Lodge No. 91, and takes an active part in furthering the interests of the community. Mrs. Gould is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

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This family biography is one of 71 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pike County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Pike County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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