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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Calhoun 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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J. I. Earnest, another prominent farmer of Dallas Township, was born in Alabama, Walker County, in 1829, the second in a family of ten children born to Richard and Epon (Pate) Earnest, natives of Alabama. His father was engaged in farming in Alabama for forty years, and died in that State in 1874. The mother died long before. Our subject was reared on the farm, and attended the country schools for a short time. He commenced working for himself when he attained his majority, and in 1855 he came to Arkansas, and settled in Calhoun County. In 1862 he bought his present farm of 380 acres, and the same year enlisted in McKnight’s Company K, Fourth Arkansas Infantry, serving in the Trans-Mississippi Department, and was in the battle of Pleasant Hill. His regiment surrendered at Marshall, Tex., in 1865, and he at once came back to Arkansas, and engaged in farming. His wife and children had made their living in his absence by farming. He at once commenced clearing his land, and erected buildings, and now has about 100 acres under cultivation, raising cotton principally, which averages one-half bale to the acre, and last year made three bales on five acres. He was married, in 1852, to Miss Millie Simpson, a native of Alabama, by whom he had nine children, viz.: Robert, J. H., Alie, Ann, Neoma, Mary E., William Thomas (died in 1863 at the age of one year), John R. (died in infancy), and another also died in infancy. Mrs. Earnest died in 1884, and in 1886 he was married to Mrs. Melissa Pealer, by whom he had one child, David Cleveland. Mr. Earnest is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Southern Star Lodge, also of the Dallas Lodge 1227. He takes a deep interest in educational matters, as well as in the advancement of all public interests.

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This family biography is one of 67 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Calhoun County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Calhoun County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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