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Below is a family biography from the book,  The History of Franklin 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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Col. W. S. O’Kane, one of the leading citizens of Altus, Franklin Co., Ark., was born in White County, Ind., March 5, 1832, and is the son of John and Martha (Ver Brike) O’Kane, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. The father was born in Rockingham County, and died in Pike County, Mo., 1883, at the age of seventy-nine years. The mother is still living, is a resident of Pike County, Mo., and is sixty-nine or seventy years of age. They were married in Ohio, moved from there to Maysville, Ky., then to Indiana, then to Kentucky again, then back to Marion County, Ind., and in 1858 he moved to Independence County, Mo. After the war he moved to Pike County, Mo. He was a Christian minister, and traveled a great deal for the church, organizing as an evangelist, and as such was very successful. He was on the bright lights of the church, and was frequently with Alexander Campbell, etc. He was a highly educated gentleman, and was thoroughly versed in theology. His father had charge of one of the best schools of learning in Virginia. He at one time was a member of the I. O. O. F., and during the Jackson campaign made stump speeches for the General, being a thorough Democrat himself. The O’Kane family descended from Irish ancestors, and the great-grandfather was an Irish nobleman. Our subject’s grandfather edited an Irish paper at Dublin, and was obliged to leave Ireland on account of some disloyalty toward the English. There is a county in Ireland named for this family. The Ver Brike family were of Dutch descent, and were among the first settlers of New Jersey. They afterward settled in Ohio, where the Colonel’s mother was born. She has also been a life-long member of the Christian Church. There were born to their marriage nine children, six now living: Lavinia, wife of M. W. Miller, principal of the Wesleyan schools at St. Louis; Martha, wife of Mr. Philkner, of St. Louis; Lelia, at home in Missouri; Hattie, at home; James, who is captain in the United States Navy, where he has been for the past thirty years, and W. S. The last named received a very liberal education in Kentucky and Indiana, and remained at home until twenty-five years of age, engaged in clerking. In 1857 he went to the “Golden State,” where he remained until 1859, prospecting and trading in stock, which he continued until the breaking out of the war. He then organized a company of infantry, and joined Oakland’s regiment, Confederate battalion. He was mustered out in Missouri, and was detached to serve on Gen. Parson’s staff, and then on Gen. Marmaduke’s staff. He remained in service until captured and sent to Johnson’s Island, where he remained a prisoner until a short time before the surrender. He was in the following battles: Coal Camp, Elkhorn, Farmington, first siege of Vicksburg, Prairie Grove, Helena, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Pine Bluff, and others. He was taken prisoner early in the battle of Fayetteville, and sent to Alton, where he remained confined for three months, and was then sent to Vicksburg, where he was exchanged. After the battle of Pine Bluff he was again taken prisoner and sent to Johnson’s Island. At Dead Wood he was slightly wounded by a musket ball, and his horse was killed. After the war Col. O’Kane located in St. Louis, and traveled for a boot and shoe house for two years. Later he located at Roseville, Logan County, Ark., where he engaged in merchandising. In 1884 he came to Altus. On May 13, 1860, he married Miss Ada Fittsworth, daughter of John Fittsworth, a native of Kentucky, but an early settler of Arkansas. She was born in Logan County, Ark., July 27, 1842, and by her marriage became the mother of two children, Ollie and Walter S., Jr. Ollie is now attending school at Lexington, Mo., and Walter is at home. Col. O’Kane is a stanch Democrat in his political opinions, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

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This family biography is one of 163 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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