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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha 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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Reuben A. Pickens. As a man of business Mr. Pickens’ name and fame is co-extensive with Desha County and the surrounding country for, ever since starting out in life for himself, he has been engaged in the mercantile business either for himself or as a clerk. He was born in Fayette County, Tenn., October 14, 1852, and is a son of William H. Pickens, who was probably born in Mississippi, his birth occurring August 14, 1821, and died in Attala County, of that State, December 22, 1883. His wife, a very estimable lady, was born in Tipton County, Tenn., but was reared in Fayette County, being a daughter of Reuben and Susanna (Hunter) Stanley, both of whom were Virginians, the former’s death occurring December 22, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Pickens were married near Summerville, Tenn., September 30, 1849, and in time a family of two sons and six daughters was born to them: Martha D. (wife of R. S. Wright, a machinist and miller of Drew County), Reuben A., Lucy K. (wife of Samuel M. Kellam, a farmer of Drew County), and William S. (a salesman at Tillar, in Drew County). The following children are deceased: Margaret J., Mary R., and twin daughters, Sarah M. and Susan A., who died in infancy. Mrs. Pickens removed to Arkansas in 1869 and settled in Drew County, but is now living with her son Reuben A., at Walnut Lake in Desha County. The latter’s youth was spent in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas and his educational advantages were fair. When twenty-three years of age he began farming for himself, but only continued a short time, when he became a salesman in a mercantile establishment. In January, 1882, he began for himself, opening an establishment at Tillar but after remaining there one year he went to Texas on a prospecting tour, but returned to Arkansas and settled permanently at Walnut Lake, where he has since made his home. He conducts business under the firm name of R. A. Pickens & Co., and the stock of goods is supposed to be worth between $5,000 and $8,000. They do an exceptionally good business for a small place, and are perfectly honorable in all their dealings with their patrons. This firm also owns 400 acres of fertile land near the town and the sixty acres which are under cultivation are devoted to the raising of cotton and corn. Mr. Pickens owns a handsome residence in Walnut Lake besides other valuable town property. He has been married twice, first in Drew County, Ark., January 3, 1878, to Miss Susan Potts, a native of Louisiana, although reared and educated in Arkansas, but March 8, 1883, he was called upon to mourn her death, she having borne him a family of three children: Burton C., Kate M. and Eddie S. The latter died November 1, 1882. His second marriage took place September 1, 1887, to Miss Lucy M. Bickers. She was born in Arkansas County, Ark., and is a daughter of John W. and Dolly J. (Mallory) Bickers, the father, a Virginian, died in 1860, and the mother, a native of Tennessee, died in 1874. Mr. Pickens supports the principles of the Democrat party and socially is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the I. O. O. F., the K. of P. and the K. of H., occupying a prominent and useful position in these orders. He takes an abiding interest in educational matters, and has been a member of the local school board for a number of years.

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This family biography is one of 80 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Desha County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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