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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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S. R. Watson, one of the most successful farmers and stock-raisers of Hempstead County, resides in De Roane Township, and was born in Georgia, on September 11, 1844, the third in a family of seven children born to William and Eliza (Lain) Watson, the former of whom is still living at the ripe old age of seventy-four years, and the latter died in 1855. The father, a farmer by occupation, came to Arkansas in 1868, settling in this county, where he has ever, since made his home. Of the seven children born to them, only three survive, viz.: S. R. (the subject of this sketch), Mary F. (wife of M. M. Baxter of this county), and Martha (wife of W. J. McAdams). In 1861 the subject of this sketch enlisted in the Confederate cause, joining Company H, Nineteenth Georgia Regiment of Infantry, and served under Stonewall Jackson until his death, participating in all the battles fought by that general, with the exception of Harpers Ferry, after which he served in the Army of Virginia, and was in all the battles fought by that army except Jonesboro N. C. He was at Fort Sumter at the time it was blown up, and in the battle of Lake City, Fla., being in Gen. Coquitt’s Georgia brigade, and Mr. Watson says that for the length of time of the engagement, and the size of the army, this last was the hardest and hottest fight he was ever in. At Gaines Mill, Va., he was shot through the left arm, breaking the bone, which incapacitated him for duty but a short time, indeed he was only out of the service six weeks during the whole war. In the latter part of 1863 Mr. Watson was commissioned first lieutenant of his company, and served as such until the close of the war, being one of the youngest commissioned officers in the army, and at the close of the war was in command of three companies. His company surrendered in North Carolina, after which he returned to his home, and remained there until 1868, when he came to Arkansas and for one year after his arrival farmed on rented land; he then purchased an improved farm, on which he resided for three years, and then, in 1877, he bought his present farm of 640 acres, all of which was then wild, unimproved land. He has 260 acres of this land under a high state of cultivation, well improved with a splendid residence, neat and substantial buildings, etc. He is extensively engaged in stock-raising, and turns off quite a number of horses, mules and cattle each year. In 1886 he engaged in the mercantile business in Hope, and conducted an extensive business there for two years. In 1871 he was united in marriage to Miss Emma D. Huckaby, daughter of William and Nancy H. Huckaby, both of whom were born in Georgia, by whom he became the father of seven children, six of whom are still living, viz.: Alice (wife of John Bryant), William M., Roxie, J. W., T. Elmore and J. A. After a happy wedded life of fourteen years, Mr. Watson was called upon to mourn his wife’s death October 11, 1885. She was a worthy member of the Baptist Church, and a devout Christian lady. Mr. Watson is a member of Whitefield Lodge of the A. F. & A. M., at Hope, Ark.

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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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