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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Hempstead 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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James L. White, farmer and stock trader, Hope, Ark. Mr. White was born in Hempstead County, Ark., in 1857, to the union of Zachary and Martha (Nance) White, and was the fourth in order of birth of ten children. The father was born in 1829 and came with his mother to Arkansas in 1841. After arriving at years of discretion he engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he continued until his death, which occurred in April, 1883. He was a private in the Confederate army, and was a man universally respected. His brother, Joseph R. White, was sheriff of Nevada County for eight years, and was also a captain in the Confederate service. Zachary was one among the most prominent men of the county until his death. The mother of our subject, who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died in February, 1883, and his grandfather, Zachary White, Sr., was among the very earliest settlers of Tennessee. James L. White was reared on his father’s farm, received his education in the schools of this county, and when twenty years of age commenced farming for himself on rented land. One year later he bought an unimproved farm, which he immediately commenced to improve, but five years later sold this and bought several farms. He continued to till the soil until 1885, when, in connection with this industry, he engaged in stock-dealing, confining himself principally to fine horses, mules and jacks. He is an extensive stockholder in the Fair Association of this county, and his exhibits yearly are the pride of the people. He has one of the handsomest residences in Hope, and is one of the most successful men of that city. He is the architect of his own fortune, having made all he has by his own exertions, and is one of the best financiers in Hempstead County. Mr. White has been twice married—first in December, 1876, to Miss Joe Cornelious, daughter of Reuben Cornelious, who was one of the oldest settlers of this county. To Mr. and Mrs. White were born three children: Lillie, Martha and Joe S. (deceased). Mrs. White died on October 11, 1887. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. On June 12, 1888, Mr. White married Miss Eliza Allen, daughter of John M. Allen, of this county, and the result of this union was one child, Allen. Mrs. White is a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church. Mr. White is a member of the K. of P., Hempstead County Lodge No. 14. Louis Nance, the paternal grandfather of our subject, came to this State very early in the eighteenth century, and his daughter (the mother of our subject) was born in this county within eight miles of Hope, in 1830. Her youthful days were spent here in the wilds of an almost unbroken country when the Indians were plentiful. She was educated in Washington, Ark., and wedded Mr. White in 1850. Her father was a farmer, and was celebrated far and wide for his famous bear-hunting expeditions. Although a farmer, he spent a great portion of his time hunting, and many a wonderful story and hairbreadth escape has he recounted, people coming from more civilized portions of the country to listen to him.

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This family biography is one of 131 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Hempstead County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Hempstead County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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