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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Johnson County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891.  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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James M. Prim, one of the early settlers of Johnson County, Lee Township, came to this country with his widowed mother when he was about twenty-four years of age, he being the eldest of her seven children. A large share of the support of this family devolved upon him at an early age, and after coming to this county and township in 1841, he began farming on rented land, but in a few years bought a tract of land, upon which he is now residing—200 acres, 80 acres of which are in a good state of improvement. In his youth he never received over sixteen days of schooling, but at odd times he picked up sufficient education to admit of his transacting the ordinary affairs of business. In 1842 he was elected to the position of justice of the peace, and in that capacity served for fourteen years, making a faithful and efficient officer. His marriage, which occurred in 1844, was to Miss Maranda Patty, a daughter of Eli and Rebecca Patty, natives of Tipton County, Tenn., who became the parents of ten children that grew to maturity. Mr. Prim was born on April 28, 1818, in Tennessee, near Nashville, but went with his father to Alabama, Limestone County, where he died about the time Mr. Prim was fourteen years of age, and although he has as a farmer, followed in his father’s footsteps, he at one time gave some attention to wagon-making. His land, aside from that which he has under cultivation, is heavily covered with timber, and on the same are some valuable stone quarries. His crops are principally corn and cotton, and near his residence is a good bearing orchard. He and his wife have a family of five sons and three daughters, all of whom are married, but the two youngest sons who are still residing with their parents. The others are settled near the old homestead. Although Mr. Prim is seventy-two years of age he still cultivates a portion of his land, and he and his wife are well preserved and in the enjoyment of good health. They are well pleased with their home in Arkansas, and desire no better place in which to pass their declining years.

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This family biography is one of 65 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Johnson County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Johnson County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Johnson County, Arkansas family biographies here: Johnson County, Arkansas

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