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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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William T. Echols, one of the leading cotton dealers in Woodruff County, and a member of the firm of Henderson, Echols & Co., dealers in farm implements, wagons and general merchandise, of Cotton Plant, first saw the light of this world in De Soto County, Miss., in 1844, and is a son of J. M. and Mary E. (Henderson) Echols. Mr. J. M. Echols was of French origin and was born in Virginia, coming to St. Francis County in 1848, where he followed the pursuits of farming and real estate. His wife died in 1862. In religion she was a Baptist, having belonged to this church for a number of years. William T. enlisted in the Confederate army, in the Second Arkansas Cavalry, and served with Gen. Price in his raid throughout Missouri and Kansas. After the war he returned to Woodruff County, where he again took up farming, following this until 1869, when he moved to Cross Roads, near Cotton Plant. He was married in 1871 to Isabella Davies (a native of Virginia, and who died in 1877, leaving two children, now deceased). He was married the second time in 1880 to Mrs. Mattie Blakemore (originally of Mississippi). Mr. Echols entered into business with the present firm of Henderson, Echols & Co. in 1875, at Cross Roads, and in 1879 removed to Cotton Plant, where they are now doing a large business, and have a capital stock of $12,000. Mr. Echols is one among the largest land owners in Woodruff County, having over 1,000 acres, with about 600 under cultivation, all of which he owes to his own industry. Politically he is a strong Democrat, and was appointed postmaster of Cotton Plant, holding this office four years. Mr. and Mrs. Echols are members of the Presbyterian Church.

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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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