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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Union County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  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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Harrison L. Dearing. Within the limits of Union County, Ark., there is no man possessing more energetic habits or greater personal popularity than Mr. Dearing, and he is recognized by all as one of the progressive spirits of this section. He was born in Lynchburg, Va., on June 8, 1827, being the third child of Joel and Charity (Bennett) Dearing, who were also born in that State and there resided until their deaths, the former’s occurring in 1863 at the age of seventy-nine years, and the mother’s the same year at the age of seventy-six years. Harrison L. had five sisters and four brothers, only one of whom is living. Catherine, wife of George Morgan, a resident of Georgetown, Mo. Mr. Dearing was reared on Virginia soil, and prior to his sixteenth year was an attendant of the common schools, after which he entered the college at Athens, Ga., which he attended for twelve months. In 1847 he came to Union County, Ark., where he has since made his home, and although the occupation of farming has received the greater part of his attention, he spent some time in working at the carpenter’s trade after reaching this State. In connection with his farming operations he followed mercantile pursuits, but at the expiration of five years he discontinued the latter calling, and has since devoted his time and attention to farming alone. His estate comprises 540 acres, of which 140 acres are under cultivation and yields an average crop. He has been married twice, first in 1851 to Mrs. Sarah W. (Jones) Gorman, and by her he became the father of five children: Sarah C, William P., Annie, Harrison L., and one that died in infancy. The mother of these children was called to her long home in 1879, and in 1881 Mr. Dearing wedded his present wife, Miss Annie Gorman, a daughter of Michael Gorman of Alabama. To them four daughters have been born: Laura (who died in 1884), Daisy D., Minnie and Bessie. Mr. Dearing enlisted in the Confederate army at the opening of the Rebellion, joining Company I, Third Arkansas Regiment, but from this was honorably discharged in the early part of 1862. The same year he re-enlisted in the army, this time as adjutant in the Nineteenth Arkansas, and a few months later was put on the secret service, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. He was in no important battle except Shiloh, but was in numerous skirmishes, and after the close of the war he returned home, turning his sword into a plowshare, and has since devoted his attention to this work. In 1854 he was elected to the position of magistrate, but after serving four years he resigned the position, declining re-election. He has always been an active Democrat in politics, and is one of the oldest Masons in Union County, having joined in 1847 the Mount Carmel Lodge, located at Wilmington, Ark. At present he is a member of Polk Lodge No. 26, at Hillsboro. He is a member of the Farmers’ Union, which he joined in 1887, and is well-known throughout the county as a liberal supporter of worthy public enterprises. He and his wife own 3,200 acres of land in different parts of Texas, only a small amount of which is under cultivation.

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This family biography is one of 84 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Union County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Union County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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