My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography from the book,  The History of Crawford 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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John Q. West was born April 13, 1843, in Crawford County, Ark., and is a son of Miram H. and Mary A. (Stevenson) West. The father was born in Kentucky, and when a young man came to Washington County, Ark., and farmed until 1840, when he came to Crawford County. In 1842 he married Mary A. Stevenson, daughter of James G. and Jane Stevenson, pioneer settlers of the county, who came here about 1830. To Mr. and Mrs. West six children were born: John Q., James G., Miram H., Lavinia J., wife of L. W. Thomas, of Indian Territory; Anna, wife of Louis J. Keifer, of the same place, and Susan, wife of Fred Kiefer, Peru, Kas. Mr. West represented the county in the House of Representatives in 1856. He died in 1860, and his wife in 1887, she being sixty-one years of age. James Stephenson, the maternal grandfather, came to Crawford County from Cape Girardeau, Mo., represented the county in 1865, and was also justice of the peace. He died December 1, 1865, and his wife in 1888, at the age of eighty. Our subject attended the log cabin school-house during his youth, but has since become well informed by study and observation. When twenty-five years of age he left the paternal roof and enlisted in Company L, Second Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry, United States Army, as quartermaster-sergeant, serving two years. The most important battles in which he participated were Boonville, Big Blue, Upshaw, and Jefferson City. He was discharged at LaGrange, Tenn. In 1865 Mr. West married Mary E. Campbell, daughter of Anderson and Nancy C. Campbell, and a native of Lawrence County, Ark. This union was blessed with ten children, seven now living: James W., Nettie, Florence, Etta, Benie, Bessie and Fannie. Nannie, Louella and Nora are deceased. After his marriage Mr. West began farming, and in 1875 was ordained in the Christian Church, although he had preached prior to his ordination. He has been of great assistance in building up that denomination in the county, and has charge of the Antioch, Van Buren and Philadelphia Churches. In 1882 he was elected assessor on the Republican ticket in a Democratic county, and held that office four years. He is a Republican, but also a worker in the Prohibition cause. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W., and his wife and two children have become identified with the Christian Church. For years he served as justice of the peace.

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This family biography is one of 222 biographies included in The History of Crawford County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Crawford County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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