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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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William W. White, farmer and stock raiser, of Saline Township, owns a fine farm in Sections 31 and 32, his residence being in the former. He was born in Greene County, Ga., in 1822, and was the oldest in a family of ten children of Colman and Nancy (Allen) White. Colman White was a native of Union District, S. C., and his wife of Greene County, Ga. When a young man he emigrated to Georgia, and settled in Greene County, where he was engaged in superintending a large plantation. In 1826 he moved to Morgan County, Ala., entered land and opened up a farm, remaining there until 1842, when he moved to Tippah County, Miss., where his wife died in the fall of 1843. In the following year Mr. White came to Arkansas and settled in Hot Spring (now Saline) County, in Saline Township, where he continued to live until his death, in 1854. He was a regular enlisted soldier in the United States Army, and was in the Florida War. His father was in the Revolutionary War. Colman White’s family, at the time of his removal to Saline County, consisted of William W. (the subject of this sketch), Matilda (married to Daniel Hudgens; her death occurring years ago), John F. (married and resides in Smith County), S. T. (now resides in Henderson County, Tex.), R. A. (who enlisted in 1861 in the Third Arkansas Infantry, being mustered in Lynchburg, Va., and who received his death wound October 13, 1864, in the Virginia campaign). Jackson (who died in infancy), Elisha (died when young), and Mary (died in Mississippi). William W. was twenty-two years of age when he came to this county. He was reared to farm life in Northern Alabama, obtaining an education in the district schools of that State, and commenced agricultural labor as soon as Arkansas was reached. He married in Saline County, January 8, 1846, Miss Elizabeth Montgomery, a native of this county, and daughter of Thomas and Mary (Clanton) Montgomery. Mr. Montgomery was a native of Tennessee, and came to this county at an early date. His death occurred in 1856, his wife surviving until December, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. White are the parents of the following children: Nancy J. (born January 14, 1847, now Mrs. Dawdy, of Erath County, Tex.), Thomas C. (born April 16, 1849, married, and resides in Saline County), Mary C. (born August 21, 1851, died September 20, 1860), John A. (born April 18, 1854, a widower, resides in Saline Township), Margaret A. (born August 11, 1856, now Mrs. W. H. Collat, of Benton), Louisa E. (born January 30, 1859, now Mrs. Stirman, whose husband died March 28, 1885), Sarah A. (born August 23, 1861, now Mrs. Allen, of Shaw Township), Thirza E. (born July 6, 1864, now Mrs. Ray, of Benton), and George W. (born July 11, 1868; still resides on the home farm). Mr. White was married the second time in Saline County, December 7, 1880, to Mrs. Permelia Croxton, nee Shaw, wife of John L. Croxton, who enlisted in 1862 in Capt. Brown’s company, and served under Gen. Price at the battle of Pilot Knob, where he was wounded. He recovered and started for home in the latter part of 1864, but has never been heard of since. Mrs. White was a native of Georgia, and a daughter of Hiram M. and Elizabeth (Arnold) Shaw, natives of Georgia and South Carolina, respectively. Her father was married in Georgia, after which he removed to Saline County, Ark., in 1858, settling in what is now Shaw Township, named in his honor. He opened up a farm, and made that his home until his death, which occurred in 1872. He served as justice of the peace for several years. His wife still survives and lives on the old homestead in Shaw Township. The family of Mr. Shaw consisted of the following persons: James H. (who enlisted in 1862, and was taken sick at Corinth and died), Martin E. (enlisted in the same regiment, and also died at Corinth in 1863), Virgil N. (enlisted in 1861 in Capt. Henderson’s company of cavalry, served during the first two years in the Virginia campaigns, was wounded at Lynchburg, Va., and returned home; afterward joined Col. Price’s forces, was wounded at Pilot Knob, and again started for home, but was never heard from), Joseph W. (served in same company with Virgil N., which he joined in 1863, was left as nurse at prison and escaped, returned to Saline County, and now resides in Montgomery County, Ark.), Emily E. (now Mrs. Anderson, of Ringgold, Ga.), Blanche B. (married a Mr. Barns, of Shaw Township, Saline County, where she now resides, he being dead), Rebecca C. (now Mrs. Howard), Martha C. (Mrs. Miller), and Carlton H. (married); all in Shaw Township. Mr. White settled on his present farm in 1846, which consisted of 200 acres, sixteen acres being cleared, and also entered 160 acres adjoining, making a fine farm of 360 acres; of this eighty acres are cleared, and under a high state of cultivation. He enlisted in 1863 in Company I, under Capt. McCray, and was in the general skirmishes in Southern Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. Being paroled at Marshall, Tex., in 1865, he returned to Saline County. Mr. and Mrs. White are members of the Baptist Church, and have always taken an active part in church work. He does not enter especially into politics, but is a strong Democrat.

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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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