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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Polk County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891.  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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Dr. Wiley S. Stinnett, physician, Eagle Hill, Ark. Few, if any, industrial or professional pursuits have within the last few years made such rapid strides as that of the profession of medicine, and among the leading physicians of Polk County, Ark., who have availed themselves of all new ideas and put them in practice, may be mentioned Dr. Stinnett. He was born in Marion County, Tenn., on September 7, 1826, and is the son of Hiram and Sarah (Walker) Stinnett, natives of Pike County, Tenn., and Botetourt County, Va., respectively. When a girl the mother was taken to Marion County, Tenn., by her parents, and there when grown she was married to Mr. Stinnett. In 1836 Mr. and Mrs. Stinnett moved to De Kalb County, Ala., thence in 1845 to Polk County, Ark., and settled in a wilderness on Mountain Fork. There they received their final summons, the father in 1865 at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother in 1862 at the age of fifty-four. The father was an extensive and successful farmer, and in his political views was a Democrat. He was the son of Marion Stinnett, who was a native of South Carolina and a farmer. The latter served in the War of 1812 and was in the battle of New Orleans. He died in Tennessee. Of the ten children born to his parents Dr. Stinnett is the elder of the two now living. His brother, Silas M., is a farmer and resides on the old homestead. Dr. Stinnett was educated in Marion County, Tenn., and De Kalb County, Ala. After growing up he turned his attention to farming, and this occupation he has continued to the present day. On June 20, 1846, he joined Col. Yell’s regiment in the Mexican War, and was near when Col. Yell was killed. He was in the Buena Vista battle, and was discharged from the service on June 20, 1847, at Camargo, Mexico. He returned home by New Orleans. He then commenced to teach school in this county and carried this on in connection with farming for ten years. At the same time he read medicine, and in connection with tilling the soil has practiced his profession ever since. He has been very successful, and has a lucrative practice. During the late war he was not a secessionist, and remained out of the ranks on account of being justice of the peace in the county, but he was elected captain of a company of militia in the county. He was elected justice of the peace in 1854, and held the office twenty-five consecutive years or until he positively refused to serve any longer. On August 29, 1849, he married Miss Malinda S. Winton, daughter of George Winton, one of the first settlers of the county, coming here from Tennessee as early as 1832. To this union were born eight children, three of whom are now living: George M. (a farmer of this county), Ben F. (also a farmer of this county), and Anna Belle (wife of H. A. Learned). Those deceased were Frances M., Hiram M., Helen M., Martha C. and G. G., all of whom lived to be grown except the last named. Dr. Stinnett is a member of the Christian Church, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Mountain Meadow Lodge No. 218, and has been master of his lodge a number of times. He is decidedly a Republican in politics.

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This family biography is one of 32 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Polk County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Polk County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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