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Below is a family biography from the book, The History of Crawford 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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H. L. Pesterfield was born in East Tennessee in 1827, and is a son of David and Esther (Dunham) Pesterfield, both natives of East Tennessee, also. The father was by trade a cabinet-maker. The mother died in Washington County, Ark., in 1887. The grandfather, Henry Pesterfield, was born in Germany, and after coming to America passed his life in Illinois. He was a mechanic. Our subject obtained his education while working in the field, and in 1857 married Nancy Gant, daughter of John and Adeline (Dowsey) Gant. The marriage took place in Nashville, Tenn., while, with her parents, Mrs. Pesterfield was journeying from Tennessee to Texas. In 1866 they moved from Texas to Arkansas, where Mr. Pesterfield has since lived. To them four children were born: Esther A. Irwin, Sarah Ann Burgess, Mary Frances McAllister and Josephine Bacon, all of whom live near home. Mrs. Pesterfield died August 16, 1866, and in 1871 Mr. Pesterfield married Miss Susan McMaster, daughter of W. J. and Margaret (Harris) McMaster, who was born in North Carolina in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. McMaster were born in North Carolina in 1813 and 1827, respectively. In 1854 they left their native State and went to Missouri; in 1860 went to Texas, and in 1863 came to Arkansas. Mr. McMaster was a minister in the Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Pesterfield have seven children, three being boys and four girls. During the days of the Whig party Mr. Pesterfield always voted that ticket, being strongly partisan, even at the tender age of ten, and since the organization of the Republican party he has been a stanch Republican.
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This family biography is one of 222 biographies included in The History of Crawford County, Arkansas published in 1889. For the complete description, click here: Crawford County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps
View additional Crawford County, Arkansas family biographies here: Crawford County, Arkansas
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