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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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Dr. William J. Thurman, physician and surgeon, Lisbon, Ark. Dr. Thurman is one of the leading practitioners of Union County, and is a physician of decided intelligence and ability. He was born in Georgia, June 21, 1834, to the union of James C. and Ann M. (Adair) Thurman, natives of South Carolina and Georgia, respectively, the father born in 1810 and the mother in 1816. The parents were married in 1828, and the father was a mechanic by trade, but also carried on farming. In 1869 he emigrated from Georgia to Arkansas, settled at Lisbon, Union County, and there resided until his death. He was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church for about thirty years, and was a good man in the fullest sense of the word. His wife was a member of the same church. He was drafted in the Florida War, but hired a substitute. His death occurred October 6, 1877, and the mother died April 5, 1880. Their family consisted of fourteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity, and eleven are still living: Mary J., Hester A. E., Mahala E., Isabella C, Catherine A., Maria L., Mildred V., James T., Mildred F., and Henry C. Dr. William J. Thurman was educated in the private schools of Decatur, Ga., and received his medical education at Legrand, Ala. Subsequently he returned to Georgia, assisted in running machinery, and after coming to Arkansas, in 1860, he began practicing medicine, which he has continued successfully ever since. On July 7, 1861, he was married to Miss Margaret Taylor, a native of North Carolina, and in 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate army, Company C, Twenty-fourth Arkansas Regiment, under Gen. Churchill, and his first battle was Arkansas Post. There he was captured and carried to Chicago, where he remained three months, being exchanged April 3, 1863. After this he was engaged in hospital work, until 1864, when he received a furlough and returned to Georgia. There he was captured again and carried to Bloomington, Ind., where he remained until the surrender. Returning to Arkansas, he began practicing, and has been thus engaged ever since. He is a Mason, and a member of the Mount Moriah Lodge No. 18, in which he has held all the offices. He was school trustee for two years, also held the office of deputy sheriff for a short time, and is one of the progressive and esteemed citizens of the county. He and Mrs. Thurman are members of the Methodist Protestant Church.

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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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