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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pope 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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James C. Bonds is one among the substantial farmers of Pope County, and is a man of recognized worth and progressive spirit. He was born on the farm on which he now lives, two and a half miles west of Dover, January 24, 1837, to Robert and Mary E. (Dickson) Bonds, who were born in Dickson County, Tenn., in 1811 and 1814, respectively. In 1834 they came to Arkansas, and settled on the farm on which James C. is now living, where they reared their family consisting of three sons, James C., Robert C. and Hugh D., and one daughter, Sarah A. A., of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, and the only one now living. Although his early opportunities were very limited, he obtained such an education as to enable him to carry on the business of the farm successfully, and being reared from his earliest youth to a knowledge of the business he has been successful. The year following his father’s death, which occurred in 1852, he went to California, and was engaged in farming and mining for nine years, but with no very favorable financial result, and in 1866 he returned home and once more began following the plow on the old homestead, where he has remained up to the present time. In his early days he walked three miles to school, the same being held in a log building erected for the purpose of holding meetings and schools, and his first teacher was Andrew J. Bayliss. This building was about one mile north of Dover at the graveyard. Logs split in halves formed the seats, and the cabin was without windows. The books used were mostly the old blue-backed speller or elementary spelling book of Webster. The year of his return from California, Mr. Bonds married and settled down to life on his mother’s farm. At the end of three years she divided the land among her three sons for farming purposes, although she was still the owner, and each paid rent for the use of the same. She afterward deeded her place, which consisted of 240 acres to her four children, and until her death, which occurred in 1877, made her home with her son, James C. The latter has since purchased 160 acres adjoining his land, and on this farm he raises cotton, corn, oats, hay, potatoes, etc., diversifying the crops as much as possible. His marriage, which took place on November 21, 1866, was to Miss Lavina Elizabeth Rye, a daughter of Tristram and Peggy G. Rye, who were among the earliest settlers of this county. To Mr. Bonds’ union the following children have been born: Jessie Viola and Jeania Leola (twins, born September 4, 1867, the former being married to Samuel W. Winingham of this county, and the latter to Prof. J. A. Evans also residing here), Maggie A. (was born June 27, 1869, and was married to P. F. Winingham, a dealer in general merchandise at Morrilton), and Mary E. (born February 24, 1873, still residing with her parents, and is president of the Young People’s Christian Endeavor.) The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Bonds holds the office of ruling elder. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the K. of H. and the Farmers’ Alliance; in the former he has filled every station in the lodge. He is Sunday-school superintendent, a Democrat, and as he and his wife are hospitable and kindly, they are highly respected in this community. Mr. Bonds’ grandfather, Drury Bonds, and wife Sarah came to this country in 1834. The family consisted of the following children: Dobert, James G., Drury K., Sarah E., Mary and George J. The latter and Drury K. became ministers of the gospel. The grandfather built the first water-mill in Pope County, it being two and one-half miles west of the town of Dover, and consisted of a cotton-gin and grist-mill. He died in 1855, and his widow in 1863. Robert Bonds, the father of the immediate subject of this sketch, became associated in the general mercantile business with John Wilson and T. J. Paxton immediately after coming here, and continued thus associated a number of years.

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This family biography is one of 96 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pope County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Pope County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Pope County, Arkansas family biographies here: Pope County, Arkansas

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