My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Dallas 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.

* * * *

John Nutt, general merchant, Fordyce, Ark. This gentleman is a member of the firm of Nutt & Son, general merchants of Fordyce, and is one of the prominent business men of that city. He owes his nativity to Alabama, where his birth occurred in 1828, and is the son of Rev. Lampson and Mary (Spears) Nutt, who were probably born in Alabama, and who removed to Shelby County, Tenn., when our subject was an infant. There they resided until about 1848, when they came to Dallas County, Ark., settled in the woods, improved a good farm, and there received their final summons, she dying during the war, and he afterward. Both were members of the Baptist Church for many years. Mr. Nutt was a ginwright by trade, and was also a minister for many years, preaching the gospel all over Southern Arkansas. His father, William Nutt, died in Greene County, Ark. The maternal grandfather of our subject, John Spears, died in Dallas County, Ark., at the age of one hundred and five years, and his wife also died in that county at an advanced age. John Nutt was the second of seven sons and three daughters, and grew to mature years with limited educational advantages. He came with his parents to Arkansas, and was married there on September 10, 1850, to Miss Josephine Eagle, whose father died when she was still quite young. This union resulted in the birth of eight children, four sons and one daughter now living. Mrs. Nutt died in April, 1883, and Mr. Nutt’s second marriage was in 1885, to Miss Emily Fortune, daughter of Walter and Polly Fortune, formerly of Alabama. Mr. Fortune came to Arkansas about 1848, settled in Dallas County, and there died at the age of eighty-three years. Mrs. Nutt was born in Alabama, and by her marriage became the mother of one son. Mr. Nutt is one of the early settlers of the county, where he has improved several good farms. He is the owner of nearly 500 acres of land, and has considerable property in Fordyce, all the fruits of his own labor since the war. During that eventful period he served for three years in the Confederate army, Company K, of Col. Grinstead’s regiment of infantry, and operated in Arkansas and Louisiana. He was in the siege of Vicksburg, but was home on a furlough at the time of the surrender. In politics he has been Democratic all his life, and his first presidential vote was cast for Franklin Pierce in 1852. Mr. Nutt is one of the pioneer and sturdy farmers and stock-raisers of Dallas County, and is well known as an honest, industrious citizen. For years he and wife have been honorary members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 55 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Dallas County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Dallas County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Dallas County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.