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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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Rufus A. Leslie. Among the families who early became settled in the Territory of Arkansas, was that of which the subject of this sketch is a worthy representative. He was born in Phillips County, Ark., in 1836, and was brought up to a farm experience in Hempstead County, a calling which he has ever followed with success. His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Withers) Leslie, were born in Spartanburg District, S. C, and Granville County, N. C., in 1808 and 1816, respectively, were married in Henderson County, Tenn., in 1830, and at once removed to Phillips County, Ark., and in 1837 came to Hempstead County, first residing one year at White Oak Shoals, Mr. Leslie acting in the capacity of plantation overseer. He then removed to near where Bingen is, and settled on a woodland farm, which he improved, and on which he lived for ten years, then moved to another farm nearby, on which he died in 1855. He and wife were Methodists for many years, and the latter is still living. Samuel Leslie, the paternal grandfather, was a South Carolinian, who died in Henderson County, Tenn., of Scotch ancestry, and a farmer. Capt. John Withers, the mother’s father, was a Frenchman by descent, was born in the Old North State and died there, a tiller of the soil. He represented Granville County in the State Legislature for some years, was a man of considerable wealth until middle aged, then became very dissipated and died in that condition, although he had at one time been a worthy and able minister of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Leslie left home at the age of ten years to visit friends, and never returned or saw her parents again. Rufus A. Leslie was the third of seven sons and three daughters, and with his brothers and sisters was reared on a farm and attended the district schools. In 1860 he wedded the daughter of Augustus S. and Isabella J. Hutchinson, who were born, reared and married in Laurens District, S. C. From there they went to Pike County, Ark., in 1859, where Mr. Hutchinson died in 1886 and his wife in 1883. Mr. Hutchinson was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Mrs. Hutchinson a member of the Presbyterian Church, at the time of their death, the former a farmer by occupation and justice of the peace. Their daughter, Mrs. Mary C. Leslie, was born in Laurens District, S. C., and by Mr. Leslie has become the mother of three sons and five daughters. Soon after their marriage they settled on their present farm near Bingen, which comprises 197 acres of land, 120 of which are under cultivation, well improved with excellent residence and barns. In 1862 Mr. Leslie joined Company D, First Arkansas Cavalry, and was in the engagements at Cane Hill, Fayetteville, Helena, Pine Bluff, Jenkins’ Ferry, Mark’s Mill, Poison Springs, Prairie Grove, and was in the engagements in which Price participated on his raid through Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and the Indian Territory. He held the rank of lieutenant, but commanded his company for three years. His company was disbanded at Washington, where he had been mustered into the service, and he returned to his farm. He is an active worker for the Democrat party, Bell receiving his first presidential vote, and he has frequently been a delegate to county and Congressional conventions, and for the past twenty years has ably filled the office of justice of the peace, during which time only one case has been appealed that came up before him. He was nominated in 1870 by the Democratic party for sheriff, and in 1888 for county and probate judge of Hempstead County, but he was defeated both years, as the whole party ticket was defeated. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Pleasant Valley Lodge No. 30, at Nashville, and he has been senior warden and junior deacon; he was also a member of the Agricultural Wheel. He and wife have been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for twenty years.

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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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