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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ashley 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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Joseph W. Gilliam, farmer and stock raiser, Petersburg, Ark. In Tippah County, Miss., in 1837, there was born to the union of Thomas B. and Elizabeth (Wilkinson) Gilliam, a son, whom we will now take as the subject of this sketch. Joseph W. was reared in De Soto County, Miss., and Shelby County, Tenn., received a good education in the common schools and finishing in the State University of Mississippi. During the second year of the war he entered Ballantine Regiment, Col. Armstrong’s brigade, Jackson’s division, and was in the battles of Shiloh, Atlanta, Dalton, Jackson, Miss., and others. His regiment was the last to leave at Atlanta. At Oxford, Miss., he was captured with his squadron, and for twelve months was kept at Uncle Sam’s expense at Alton, Ill. He was exchanged at Petersburg, Va., went from there to Jackson, Miss., and from Dalton back was engaged in many battles and skirmishes. He surrendered at Gainesville, Ga., returned home and remained two years on the farm, after which he came to Ashley County. He purchased 200 acres of land and is still the owner of seventy acres, which he has under cultivation. He taught school for some time after coming here, and was magistrate for six years. In 1859 his marriage to Miss Mary E. Baker was solemnized. Her father, Rev. German Baker, was a native of De Soto County, Miss. Mr. Gilliam is a public spirited citizen, contributes liberally to all enterprises worthy of attention, and in politics affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Meridian Lodge No. 214. His wife is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Gilliam’s parents were natives of Sussex County, Va., and they moved first to Alabama and then to Mississippi. They reared four children, two now living—John, residing at Weldon, Ark. The father was a farmer, and this occupation carried on all his life. He and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Church. His death occurred in Ashley County in 1861, and his wife died in 1856.

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This family biography is one of 97 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ashley County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Ashley County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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