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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Yell County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891.  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. H. P. Bruton, the well-known eclectic physician, and a member of the popular firm of Bruton & Lynch, general merchants of Bellville, was born in Pope County, in 1840, his parents, James and Sarah (Angel) Bruton, of Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively, but were married in the latter State, came to Arkansas in 1836, bought, entered and improved the land on which they made their home till their deaths, his wife’s occurring in 1856, and he following her demise in 1862. He was an active politician, being in the Lower House of the General Assembly for a number of years, and was one of the commissioners to locate the seat of justice of Pope County at Dover, and for many years officiated as a Baptist preacher, and was familiarly known throughout all Western Arkansas. The Doctor’s early boyhood was spent on a farm, attending the private schools, and when sixteen years old began teaching, and for several years taught and attended school. When nineteen he engaged as clerk in a drug store, and there laid the foundation of his medical profession, by reading medicine in connection with his duties at the store. In 1860-61 he enrolled himself as a student of the Eclectic Medical Institute, afterward graduating, and at once beginning to practice. Locating in Danville, in 1867, he opened an office, and in 1872 started the first drug store in town, withdrawing from this to enter into the general merchandise business. Going to Russellville in 1878, he engaged in his profession and in merchandising, and remained till 1881, when he came to Bellville, where he has established his present lucrative business and built up a good practice. In 1889 he was president of the State Eclectic Medical Society, held at Hot Springs, and in January, 1890, took into partnership T. C. Lynch. His individual property consists of a good dwelling and 160 acres of land, partially cultivated. He was three times married, the first time to Miss Ella Fowler, in 1873, who died in a few years, leaving him one child, Lee; and again in 1878, Miss Stafford, daughter of Dr. Stafford, became his wife. She died, leaving him one child, Arthur, and in 1885 he celebrated his third marriage, Miss Jones being the contracting party, and who bore him two children: Bertha and Myrtle. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

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This family biography is one of 124 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Yell County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Yell County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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