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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Little River 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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Jesse G. Billingsley is one of the substantial, well-to-do agriculturists of Caney Township, Little River County, and as such, a brief outline of his life will not be out of place in this volume, and will be read with interest. He was ushered into the world in Tennessee, in 1834, being a son of John C. and Catherine (Brooks) Billingsley, who were born, reared and married in Tennessee. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Billingsley, was a native of Ireland. The mother died in Illinois in 1840, and in 1846 the father immigrated to this county, where he was one of the early settlers, and here he made his home. He received his final summons in this county in 1873. Of the five children —four sons and one daughter born to their marriage, only three -two sons and one daughter—are now living. Jesse G. Billingsley came to this county with his father in his tenth year, and here he attained his growth, and obtained his education in the common schools. He selected Miss Julian Alford as his life companion, and they were united in matrimonial bonds in 1860. She passed from life in 1882, leaving the following children: John A., James (deceased), Robert E. (deceased), Edgar, Oscar, Virginia L. (wife of George Brazzil), Lulu (wife of James Brazzil) and Jessie (at home). In 1883 Mr. Billingsley took Miss Eliza Kington, a native of Columbia County, Ark., as his second wife, and the fruits of their union have been two children: Charles C. and Grover. He owns a valuable farm of 400 acres, seventy acres of which are under cultivation, lying about twenty-five miles northwest of Richmond. At the outbreak of the late war he enlisted in Company D, Monroe's regiment, and served until its close, and during this time took part in the battles of Jenkins' Ferry, Prairie Spring and Mark's Mills, and was with Gen. Price on his famous raid through Missouri. After the surrender he returned to this county, and resumed his farming operations, which he has conducted with marked success ever since. He joined the Masonic Order in 1870, and now affiliates with Oak Grove Lodge No. 391. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, as was his first wife, and in politics is a stanch Democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Buchanan. He takes an active interest in the welfare of the community, and aids so far as he is able all laudable public enterprises.

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This family biography is one of 38 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Little River County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Little River County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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