My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the Woodruff County portion of Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 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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N. D. Byrd, a prominent merchant of De View Township, who, by his pleasing and affable manner and keen sense of honor, has won many friends, is the son of Bryan and Sallie (Ross) Byrd, of Henry County, Tenn., nativity, being born in 1826. Bryan Byrd, N. D.’s father, was born in Chester County, S. C, and reared to farm life; was a carpenter by trade, and eventually became a minister of the Baptist Church. He immigrated from Tennessee to Arkansas in 1855, locating in Yell County. His marriage with Miss Ross was solemnized in North Carolina and by her became the father of twelve children; only one of that large family is now living, N. D., the subject of this sketch. The senior Byrd was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died in Yell County in 1856, his wife surviving him until 1864. He and his wife were connected with the Baptist Church. N. D. Byrd started out in the world for himself in 1847, his first venture was farming on rented land in Tennessee in which he was quite successful. On December 30, 1847, he was united in holy matrimony with Miss Frances J. True, and to them were born six children, four boys and two girls, three of them now living: Josephine (the wife of L. B. Smith), Leonidas and Thomas C. Mrs. Byrd died in 1855 in full faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Byrd remained a widower until 1865, then married Miss Alice Crook, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Crook, of Marshall County, Miss. Mr. Byrd came to Arkansas from Tennessee in 1870, locating in Van Buren, Crawford County, residing here one year, then came to this place where he engaged in farming until 1886. Since 1886 he has been occupied in the mercantile business and has established a most lucrative trade. He served in the late war, enlisting in the cavalry in 1863, and received his discharge after one year of brave and chivalrous service. Mr. and Mrs. Byrd are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and are highly esteemed by all who are fortunate in knowing them.

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This family biography is one of 69 biographies included in the Woodruff County portion of Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Woodruff County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Woodruff County, Arkansas family biographies here: Woodruff County, Arkansas

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