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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Nevada County, 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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John G. Purifoy. Prominent among those who have added to the glory of Nevada County, is he whose name heads this sketch, and who is at present a planter of considerable note. He was born in Wilcox County, Ala., December 14, 1837, and is the son of Leroy and Elizabeth Purifoy, the former being a native of Georgia, and born in 1817; the mother of the same State, and born in 1819. They were the parents of ten children—seven sons and three daughters—the following of whom only are living at the present time, viz.: John G., Francis W., Marshall L., Martha M. (wife of A. B. Moody), and Elizabeth C. The family emigrated from Alabama to Arkansas, December, 1847, settling in Ouachita County. The father died in 1870, and was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and a minister. The mother is living in this county, is seventy years old, and an active member of the Baptist Church. The subject of this sketch married Miss Mary L. Battle in 1840. She is a daughter of John N. and Savilla battle, and was born in Mississippi, September 12, 1840. To them were born two children, one daughter, and a son now living, viz.: John L. Mrs. Purifoy died on July 19,1862, and Mr. Purifoy married, on March 17, 1864, Mrs. Harriett J. Greer, widow of Sidney A. Greer. They had one son, viz.: Thomas. Greer. Mr. and Mrs. Purifoy have nine children—four sons and five daughters—of whom seven are now living, viz.: Mary E. (wife of W. A. Godley), Beulah E., William A., Marshall W., Keron E., Mattie J., Lawrence L. Mr. Purifoy was in the late war under Capt. W. C. Thompson, and engaged in the battles of Corinth, Bakers’ Creek, Vicksburg, Jenkins’ Ferry, and numerous others. He received a wound in the head at the battle of Vicksburg, and a wound in the hip at Corinth, but served until the close of the war, surrendering at Camden, Ark., in 1865. At the close of the war the subject of this sketch returned home, devoting his attention to farming, an occupation he has followed constantly to the present time. He is a Mason and has held public positions at different periods of his life, and always gave immense satisfaction to the people with whom he is deservedly popular. He owns a large and valuable farm.

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This family biography is one of 96 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Nevada County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Nevada County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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