My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson 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.

* * * *

James H. Winters, another leading planter in Jefferson County, was born in Tishomingo County, Miss., December 2, 1847, and is a son of Moses and Caroline (Brady) Winters, the father a native of North Carolina, and the mother from Kentucky. The parents were married in Mississippi, and resided for several years in that State, and at an early period settled in what now forms a portion of Lincoln County, Ark., where they resided until the father’s death on December 27, 1869. On his arrival in Arkansas, the father entered a large tract of land from the Government, and commenced clearing and improving it. The country was then a complete wilderness and thickly populated by wild animals, but in spite of the difficulties he established his home and opened up a very productive farm. He served some time with distinction in the Civil War, and on one occasion was captured and confined at Pine Bluff. Nine children were born to the parents, of whom eight are yet living: James H., Susan, Marion S., Tennessee, Henrietta, Lou, Samuel and Fannie C. James H., the principal of this sketch, was very small when his parents brought him to Arkansas, and on account of the newness of the country, he received a limited education in his youth, the log cabin school-house being the only one he could attend. He continued on the farm with his parents until reaching his maturity, and in the spring of 1864 enlisted in the Confederate service, acting as courier until the surrender. He then returned home, remaining with his parents until his marriage when he sought out a home of his own and located four miles southwest of Pine Bluff. He opened up and operated a farm with success until the spring of 1889, and then moved to Pine Bluff, where he built a fine residence. Mr. Winters was married in 1874 to Miss Tenney Griffin, by whom he has had three children: James S., Marion G. and Tenney G. This wife died January 27, 1878, and on December 7, 1883, he was married to Miss Rebecca Brethwait, of Alabama, who has borne two children, Eunice and Richard. Mrs. Winters is a daughter of Richard Brethwait, a native of Ireland, one of the earliest settlers of Claiborne County, Ark. She is a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, and deeply interested in all religious and charitable work connected with her community. Mr. Winters has been very successful in his farming operations and now owns about 800 acres of productive land with some 300 acres under cultivation, all of which he has accumulated by energy, good management and enterprise.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 136 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Jefferson County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Jefferson County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.