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Below is a family biography included in The History of Madison 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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Elisha McGinnis, farmer of Prairie Township, was born May 11, 1844, and is a son of Thomas and Lavinia (Pickett) McGinnis. The father was a native of Illinois, and a farmer, who came to Madison County, Ark., early in its history, married and located upon a farm. His death occurred in 1854. The mother was born and reared in Tennessee, and is the mother of five children, four of whom are living: James, Elisha, Mary (wife of Robert Shaw) and Julia (wife of John Vaughn). Mrs. McGinnis makes her home with our subject. He received his early education in the common schools of Madison County, and in 1862 enlisted in Company L, First Arkansas Cavalry, doing active service some fifteen months, when he was discharged on account of disability. He then went to Linn County, Kas., engaged in farming and was married in February, 1865, to Catherine Clark, of Lincoln County, Kas., afterward locating upon a farm in Madison County, Ark. Mrs. McGinnis was born and reared in Madison County, and is the mother of the following children: Frank, Louisa (wife of James Herndon), Samantha (wife of William Zimberlake), Charles, James, Lavinia, George and Allen. Mr. McGinnis owns a nice farm of seventy-six acres which is well cared for, and is considered one of the prosperous citizens of the township. In politics he is a Republican.
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This family biography is one of 99 biographies included in The History of Madison County, Arkansas published in 1889. For the complete description, click here: Madison County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps
View additional Madison County, Arkansas family biographies here: Madison County, Arkansas
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