My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Washington 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 Madison Simmons, a member of the firm of Simmons & Ferguson, liverymen of Fayetteville, Ark., was born in DeSoto County, Miss., December 5, 1848, and is a son of Charles L. and Margaret A. (Roach) Simmons, who were born in South Carolina and Alabama, respectively. They were both reared and married in Alabama, their ancestors being originally from South Carolina. Nathaniel Roach, the maternal grandfather, served in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War. William H. Simmons was reared to manhood in Mississippi, and was married in his native county to Miss Julia H. Boyce, who died there, leaving one daughter, Ellen. After coming to Arkansas he married his present wife, Miss Nora Mayes, a daughter of W. Z. Mayes, by whom he has two daughters: Jeanita and Claudine. Mrs. Simmons is a consistent Christian and is an honored and valuable member of the Missionary Baptist Church and the Woman’s Aid Society. Mr. Simmons belongs to the K. of B. and the Masonic fraternities.

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This family biography is one of 300 biographies included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Washington County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Washington County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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