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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Grant 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 W. Lybrand. It is justly conceded that Mr. Lybrand is among the most influential citizens of Grant County, and as such deserves more than passing notice. He was born in Lexington District, S. C, on October 1, 1845, as the son of Jacob and Nancy (Taylor) Lybrand, natives of Lexington District. Jacob Lybrand and his wife moved to Jefferson County, Ark., in 1847, where he died in 1873, at the age of sixty-six, his wife passing away in 1881 at the age of sixty-eight years. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, while she was a Baptist. When a young man, he learned the carpenter trade, and followed the same in connection with farming, until his death. The portion of Jefferson County in which he settled was then a wilderness; but he opened up a farm and reared his family. His father was a native of Germany, coming to this country and settling on a farm in South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Lybrand became the parents of six children, five of whom are now living: Catharine (wife of D. R. Williams, farmer and merchant at Grapevine), the principal of this sketch, Beda Elizabeth (wife of P. F. Taylor, farmer of Grant County), Joseph G. (farmer of Cleveland County, Ark), Reuben (a farmer, died in the Confederate army in 1862) and William H. Judge Lybrand received his education at home and after marriage. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Ninth Arkansas Infantry, in which he served until the battle of Corinth, when he was taken prisoner. Being paroled, he returned home and enlisted in the Second Texas Cavalry, Company D, in which he served until shortly before the close of the war, when he was again taken prisoner and held until the close of the war. He participated in many battles, among them being Shiloh, Baton Rouge and the skirmishes around Corinth. While in the Texas Cavalry, he was engaged in a number of battles: Bervick’s Bay, Donelsonville on the Mississippi River, and Franklin, La. He went with Gen. Price on his raid from Pilot Knob to Independence and thence through Indian Territory, his last battle being at Washington, Ark. During his service, he was wounded three times. At Shiloh and Corinth he received but slight wounds; at Vermillionville, La., he was seriously wounded in the knee, disabling him from service for three months. His service to the South was a credit to him, as he was loyal to the cause, bravely daring anything for his country’s sake. After the war he returned to his old county, without even a good suit of clothes. Turning his attention to farming, he leased land for one year, when his father gave him property. His first purchase was 200 acres. Since then he has added the balance, 750 acres of as good land as can be found in Grant County. In 1872 he was elected the first treasurer of Grant County, serving two years. In 1882 he was chosen as probate and county judge, holding the office four years, and was also elected to represent Grant County in the General Assembly. December 28, 1865, Judge Lybrand married Sarah J. Ellis, daughter of Samuel Ellis, of Grant County. She was born in North Carolina and died in this county in 1881, at the age of forty years. She became the mother of six children, all surviving their mother. They are Nancy Gully (wife of Jesse Ashcraft, farmer of Grant County), John E. (living at home), Lycurgus C., Joseph S., William T. and Lot H. On March 6, 1883, Mr. Lybrand was again married, to Fanny Macon, of Hot Spring County, a native of Tennessee, and daughter of John T. Macon, of North Carolina. She was on a visit to her sister when the Judge met and married her. By this marriage there were two children: Rudolph F. and Mary McKee. The Judge and his wife are both members of the Missionary Baptist Church, he officiating as deacon and clerk at the Sardes Church. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Wheel and the Alliance, being president of the county Wheel and secretary of the local Wheel. He is a Democrat and one of the wide-awake citizens of the county. In 1887 he went into the mill business and in 1885 embarked on the sea of mercantile life at Grapevine. He has been very successful all through his career. This he attributes to industry and business ability.

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This family biography is one of 68 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Grant County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Grant County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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