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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Saline 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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J. L. Canada, farmer and stock raiser of Beaver Township, was born in Smith County, Tenn., in 1833, being the son of David and Tamer (Key) Canada, natives of North Carolina. The former moved to Tennessee, when a young man, and settled in Smith County, there becoming married in 1825. His school days were spent in North Carolina, where he was colonel of the State militia. He was a farmer by occupation, and farmed after his marriage in Smith County until 1845, when he moved to West Tennessee, settling in Obion County, having traded his farm in the former county for 512 acres in Obion. The new place was all raw land, but here he lived until his death in 1882, improving his home. He was at that time, eighty-six years old. He had been married four times, the first union (in 1825) resulting in the birth of seven children, four of whom are living: Eliza (in this State), Elizabeth (wife of Mr. Colton, near Mayfield, Ky.), Jacob (in Tennessee) and J. L. (the subject of this sketch). Mrs. Canada was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in 1845. Her husband was later married to Emeline Hall in 1846, who bore him one child, Emily J., now deceased. The second Mrs. Canada was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and died about 1849. Mr. Canada’s third marriage was to Adline Shelby, in 1856. She became the mother of ten children, five now living: David (who resides in Colorado), Olive (wife of John Morrow), Nannie (wife of L. Langister), Henry, Benjamin and Lenora (also married). Mrs. Canada, who was connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, survived until about 1868. The fourth wife of Mr. Canada, was Miss Smith, to whom he was united in 1870. One child was given to them, Robert. The mother is still living in Tennessee. Mr. Canada took quite an active interest in politics of his time, voting with the Whig party before the war, and with the Democratic party when that conflict closed. He had also acquired considerable valuable property. J. L. worked with his father on the farm from his twenty-first to his twenty-fifth year, when, in 1858, he went to Southeastern Missouri, settling in Scott County. Here he remained until 1861, farming on rented land. He then moved to Dunklin County, the same State, where he remained till after the war, having in that struggle attached himself to the company of Capt. Walker, afterward Col. Walker, father to James Walker, member of Congress from Southeastern Missouri. In 1865, Mr. Canada moved to Cape Girardeau, Mo., where he clerked for some time for Albert and Judge Imarr. Leaving there in 1865, he came to Saline County, Ark., and bought forty acres close to where Benton now stands; but soon selling that, he purchased the place on which he now lives, consisting of 160 acres, with thirty acres improved. Since, by adding eighty acres, he has acquired a fine place of 240 acres, with forty or fifty acres under cultivation. It is mostly bottom land, and as a farming tract is not excelled, in this section. In 1867 Mr. Canada was married to Miss Mary Allen, who bore him seven children: Alonzo and W. J. (at home), Henry N. and Lillian Dale (deceased), Lenoro, W. D. and Viola M. Mr. Canada is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and with his wife belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Canada is a Democrat politically. He is a party to all public improvements and a liberal supporter of schools.

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This family biography is one of 100 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Saline County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Saline County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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