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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.

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John W. Tucker, one of Arkansas’ enterprising merchants and planters, was born in Morgan County, Ala., February 22, 1845, and is a son of Charles and Anna O. (Drake) Tucker, who were married against the wishes of Miss Drake’s parents. Soon after their union the parents of John W. moved to Alabama where they resided until the father’s death in 1856, at the age of fifty-six years, and the mother in 1865, in her fifty-ninth year. The elder Tucker was a well-known farmer and schoolteacher and in politics a Whig. His family were of Scotch origin. Twelve children were born to their marriage, of whom six are still living. John W., the next but one to the youngest, was educated in the schools of Northern Alabama, and had hardly finished his studies when the war induced him to join the ranks of the Confederate army, becoming a member of Company I, Fifth Alabama Cavalry, commanded by Gen. Forrest. He took part in a number of battles, some of them being at Pulaski, Tenn., Athens, Ala., Sulphur Tressle, Ala., in which engagement he was wounded, as also at Selma, Ala. His record through the war is one that reflects the greatest credit on himself, for its heroic action in time of danger, and many times he has received the cheers of his comrades for performing some daring piece of work. After the war was over he removed to Arkansas and located in Jefferson County, where he commenced farming on Maj. W. H. Davis’ place at Colton Center. Four years later he purchased 200 acres of land; prosperity’s kindly smile beamed down on him, and today he is the owner of about 920 acres and has placed some 500 acres under cultivation. For the last six years he has been actively engaged in the general merchandise business, and since 1888 he has had a saw-mill in operation. He first started his cotton-gin in 1880, and it is one of the best in the county. September 20, 1871, he was married to Miss Sallie Morrow, a daughter of John W. Morrow, and the following year moved to his present location, where he has built one of the most commodious residences in that section. Mrs. Tucker was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., on May 11, 1853, and by her marriage became the mother of seven children, of whom two have died. Those yet living are Mary E., Charles S., D. Everett, Bessie and Anna W., and the two deceased are John W. D. and Clifton W. Mr. Tucker served for several years as postmaster, and his work in this office as well as his character as a citizen won him such popularity that Tucker Station was named in his honor. He is a member of the Knights of Honor at Pine Bluff. Mrs. Tucker belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and is deeply interested in religious and educational work.

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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

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