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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 S. Deaver was born in Maryland on the 14th of April, 1813, and September 21, 1842, was married, in Virginia, to Sarah M. Martin, who was born on the 8th of June, 1823. In 1850 they started out to seek their fortunes in the far West, and located in Arkansas, where they resided until their respective deaths, May 9, 1876, and January 9, 1853. They were the parents of five children: John Richard, Mary Elizabeth, George William, Benjamin Franklin and David Wilson, out of which only three are living, the two oldest boys, J. R. and G. W. having lost their lives in the Southern army. After his wife’s death William S. Deaver was married to Sarah E., a daughter of Jacob Pearson, of Elm Springs, their union taking place August 11, 1853. This wife died on the 29th of May, 1887, leaving one son, J. P. Deaver. Benjamin Franklin Deaver, a son born to the first marriage, was born in the “Old Dominion” December 27, 1849, and came to Arkansas with his parents. He resided in Elm Springs until eight years of age, and then was taken to a farm about two miles east of that place, where he resided until 1880. October 11, 1874, he was married to Miss Ellen, daughter of William H. and Rebecca Holcomb, and by her became the father of three children, only one of whom is living, Bertha S., who was born May 14, 1879. Mrs. Deaver died on the 19th of June, 1882. In 1881 Mr. Deaver moved to Springdale, Ark., and engaged in merchandising being the senior member of the general dry goods firm of B. F. Deaver & Co. He has sole charge of the store, and is the first dry goods merchant of the town. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1878; was made a Mason at Elm Spring Lodge No. 154 in l875; has been a member of Springdale Lodge No. 316 since 1881; since that time has served as W. M. four years. In his political views he supports the principles of the Democratic party. On the 4th of June, 1884, Mr. Deaver married his second wife, Mary B. Putman, a daughter of Dr. R. and Elizabeth Putman, of Fayetteville, Ark. She was born four miles south of Fayetteville August 27, 1859. She lived and was principally educated at the State University of Fayetteville, and graduated at Woodland College, Independence, Mo., June 7, 1881. She became the mother of one child that was born and died September 10, 1881.

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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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