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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Drew 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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Thomas W. Gulledge of Monticello, Ark., was born in Pike County, Miss., November 29, 1827, being a son of Joel and Hannah Gulledge of Mississippi, both of whom are deceased. He was a resident of Holmes County, Miss., until he was twenty-one years of age, but in 1849 started for California in search of gold, and suffered all the hardships and privations incident to the “forty-niners.” He returned to his home in 1851, the journey taking six months, and after remaining in Mississippi until 1854, he came to Arkansas, entered land, and began life here in the typical pioneer fashion. He now owns over 2,000 acres of Drew County soil, a large saw-mill, two steam grist mills, two steam cotton-gins, and other valuable property. In 1854 he was married to a daughter of Abner Erwin, Miss Mary Jane Erwin, who gave birth to two children, one dying at the age of twenty years, and the other now the wife of Mr. Morgan, a merchant of Monticello. For his second wife Mr. Gulledge took Miss Mary T. Loe, by whom he became the father of six children, all living with the exception of Lafayette, who was born September 19, 1862, and died September 3, 1867. Those living are: William Thomas (born January 24, 1868), Eugene S. (born September 2, 1869), Mary L. (born February 16, 1872), Richmond E. (born July 25, 1874), and John Loe (born June 8,1877). Mr. Gulledge’s third marriage was to the widow of John Thompson, of Drew County, she being formerly a Miss Crook, a daughter of Wyley Crook, who was elected to represent Drew County, in the State Legislature, in 1852. Mr. Gulledge became the father of two children by his third wife: Fannie Blanche (born November 12, 1883), and James Clifton (born March 28, 1885). His next wife was Mrs. Alice V. Lamb, who died a few months after her marriage. He enlisted in the Confederate Infantry, in July, 1864, under Capt. Caldwell of the Twenty-sixth Arkansas, and served until the war was over, but was not called upon to take part in any actual battle. His company was disbanded in Texas, and he reached home in May, 1865. He was elected to the office of county surveyor in the year 1858, and this position held for sixteen years in succession, after which he was elected school director, and has held that office continuously. He is a Democrat in his political views, and although he gives freely to all religious denominations he is not a member of any church.

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This family biography is one of 83 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Drew County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Drew County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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