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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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Dr. Virgil A. Wood. Wallaceburg, Hempstead County, is indebted to the State of Georgia, for one of its best physicians, as well as one of its leading merchants, V. A. Wood, who during his residence here of about thirty-four years, has proven himself to be upright and conscientious, and well worthy the confidence and trust reposed in him. He was born in Bartow County, Ga., August 12, 1849, and is the second of seventeen children born to James and Mary A. (Turner) Wood, the former born in North Carolina, in 1825, and the latter in Georgia, in 1830. They were married in the latter State, in 1840, and made their home there for some three years, moving to Texas in 1849. They remained in Texas for two years, and then, in 1851, came to Arkansas, and settled on a farm, in Hempstead County, near which they now live. The father was born and reared on a farm, and has followed agricultural pursuits very successfully all his life. Of the seventeen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wood, only five survive: Charles F., Oliver M., Virgil A., William W. and Robert E. They are both church members, but belong to different denominations, the father believing in the tenets of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the mother in those of the Baptist Church. The father also belongs to the Masonic order, and the K. of H He served in the late war, enlisting in the Confederate cause, in 1862, and served until the close of the war. Dr. Virgil A. Wood, the immediate subject of this sketch, has been a resident of Arkansas since his second year, at which time his parents brought him to this State. He was reared on his father’s farm in Hempstead County, and remained at home until he had attained his twenty-first year. He then commenced teaching, and continued in that occupation for a number of years. In 1883 he took up the study of medicine, and during the year of 1883 attended the Louisville Medical College. In 1884 he took another course of lectures at the Kentucky School of Medicine, from which he was graduated the same year. Immediately after his graduation he entered upon the active practice of his profession in Nevada County, Ark., but continued there only two years, and then came to Wallaceburg, where he has ever since resided, building up a very lucrative practice. In 1889 he commenced merchandising, in connection with his practice, and now has a good share of the neighboring trade. His marriage to Miss Sarah C. Robins, daughter of Samuel H. and Sarah (Turner) Robins, was consummated October 4, 1874, and eight children have been given to them, two of whom have since died. Those living are: Beulah L., Minnie O., Edna E., Robert H. and Okla and Homa, twins. Mrs. Wood was born on November 3, 1855, and she and her husband are both worthy members of the Methodist Protestant Church. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics votes the Union Labor ticket.

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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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