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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Poinsett 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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Judge John T. Roy, Poinsett, Ark. Judge Roy is a man who needs no introduction to the readers of this volume. His birth occurred in Shelby County, Tenn., April 15, 1834, and he is the son of Merida and Susan (Gentry) Roy, natives of South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. To the parents were born ten children, eight of whom lived to be grown. They are named as follows: John Thomas; W. A., farmer and stock raiser, lives in Jackson County, Ark., and is justice of the peace; Eliza, wife of Lemuel Crane, a farmer residing in Shelby County, Tenn.; Frances, wife of William Crarage, a book-keeper; Jesse; Merida, a farmer, and resides in the house where he was born; Alfred, a farmer, who lives in Scott Township; Daniel, farmer, living in Scott Township; Nathaniel G., died at the age of seven years, and Elmira, died in childhood. The father of these children, Merida Roy, was born September 19, 1805, and died May 1, 1885. He was well educated, was a farmer, and followed tilling the soil all his life. He was also a minister in the Primitive Baptist Church, a member of the Masonic order, and in politics a Democrat. His wife, Susan (Gentry) Roy, was the daughter of Thomas Gentry, a native of Virginia, and a near relative of Merideth Gently, the famous senator from Tennessee. Judge John T. Roy assisted his father on the farm until grown, and December 3, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Frances Goswick, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter of George W. Goswick, a native of South Carolina. To the Judge and wife were born eight children, five of whom are now living: Susan, wife of W. D. Gray, a farmer, living in Poinsett County; Theodosia A., married to Joseph Cooper; Martha M., wife of Joshua Curtis, farmer; Frances, wife of William Bledsoe, merchant, of the firm of Bledsoe & Tillery, at Bay Village, Cross County, Ark., and William Edward, at home. The children deceased were named: Annie D., Luella and Ophelia P. The mother of these children died in June, 1876. She was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. Mr. Roy has remained single since that time. He came with his family to Poinsett County in 1872, and bought 160 acres of land, which he cleared and improved. He has forty-five acres under cultivation, has a good orchard, and is one of the representative farmers of the county. He has served as a school director for nine years, and in 1880 was elected presiding judge of the county court, serving two years. In 1888 he was again elected to the same office, which position he still holds. He is a man whose decisions are not made carelessly and without study, but are the result of much care and painstaking, so that all feel that he can be relied upon. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, Capt. J. Hazlewood, Twelfth Tennessee Cavalry, but in July, 1864, left the army on account of sickness, and was in the hospital until in November of the same year. He then returned home, and served as a courier and recruiter until the close of the war, and consequently participated in very few engagements. Judge Roy is a man honored and respected by all acquainted with him, and is a liberal supporter of all schools and churches and all laudable public enterprises. In his political views he is Democratic.

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This family biography is one of 70 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Poinsett County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Poinsett County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Poinsett County, Arkansas family biographies here: Poinsett County, Arkansas Biographies

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