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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi 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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W. P. West. This name carries with it an essence of fortitude and courage, and the owner of it is a man who has gone through the dangers of war and the vexations of after-life, and come out triumphant at the end. He is a planter near Pecan Point, and was born in 1839 at Selma, Ala. He was the oldest child born to John and Louisa (McLean) West, the father being a well-known planter and merchant in Alabama, and the grandfather one of the pioneers of Dallas County, Ala. Mr. West remained at home and attended school until his twentieth year. At the outbreak of the war he entered the Confederate army and enlisted in Company A, Fourth Infantry, and was assigned to duty in Virginia. At Manassas his regiment had the honor of supporting Gen. Jackson, when the remark was made that gave that general the soubriquet of “Stonewall” and made him famous in history, namely: “There stands Jackson and the Virginians like a stone wall.” Mr. West was badly wounded at this battle, and unable to fight any longer. Consequently he was discharged and returned home to recover. In October of the same year he re-enlisted, becoming a member of Company E, Seventeenth Alabama Regiment, and was assigned to the Western army under Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston. He took part in the battle of Shiloh, and was again severely wounded and sent home to recuperate, but though on the brink of death in two instances, it did not dampen his ardor for battle in the least, and he joined the army a third time, entering into the ranks of the Twenty-fourth Alabama Battalion as a lieutenant of cavalry, and taking part in the battles of Resaca, Ga., Kenesaw Mountain, New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro, and in an almost innumerable number of minor engagements. His bravery won for him the rank of adjutant-general of his brigade, and at the cessation of war he was surrendered by Gen. Lee at Columbia, S. C. After peace had been established he returned to his home in Autauga County, Ala., where he was engaged in planting and farming for five years. On the 14th of April, 1861, he was married to Miss Bettie Zeigler, who died in 1865, and left one son, William McLean, now a contractor on the Georgia Pacific Railroad. His second wife was Miss Laura Hoffman, of Alabama, whom he married on the 11th of October, 1868, but after a short and happy married life of nine months this lady died. In 1869 Mr. West moved to the State of Mississippi, and settled on the Yazoo River, where he met and was married to Miss Matilda Booth, of Mississippi, a daughter of William Booth, who built the first frame house on the Yazoo River above Yazoo City. Mr. Booth was also one of the projectors of the Mississippi Central Railroad, and after its completion was for several years a director of that road, and one of the most popular railroad men in the South. He held the office of sheriff of Carroll County a number of terms, and was also representative from that county, and later on State senator. Mr. Booth came originally from New York State to Mississippi,, in 1818, and was one of its most influential and valued citizens for many years. Capt. West left the Yazoo River in 1880, and moved to Coahoma County, where he bought a plantation of 1,800 acres, and placed 350 acres under cultivation, besides making a great many improvements. In 1886 he sold out his place and came to Mississippi County, Ark., settling at Pecan Point, where he farmed on rented land for one year, and then moved to Phillips County. After a short residence in the latter place, he returned to this county and bought 600 acres of land, which he is now clearing, and expects to have 500 acres under cultivation next year. The Captain is very striking in appearance, and would not fail to be noticed in any company. He is six feet tall, hearty and robust, and carries with him that courteous, pleasing address, that is always evident in the true Southern gentleman. He has not escaped his full share of misfortune, and on one occasion he was almost ruined by the Yazoo River floods, being compelled to sell a fine plantation in Le Flore County, Miss., in order to obtain a fresh start. But he possesses that spirit of enterprise and an indomitable will that are steadily overcoming all obstacles, and carving a fortune out of the green woods of Mississippi County. Capt. West has but recently purchased his land, but on every side men are at work clearing away the timber, and erecting buildings for the crop of 1890. He will erect a fine dwelling for himself on an elevated site near the river bank, with a grove of noble trees to make a natural park, and expects to have one of the most comfortable homes on the Mississippi River. His present crop of 300 acres of cotton has been well cultivated, and shows the watchful eye of a man who has made cotton-planting the business of his life. Mr. and Mrs. West are the parents of seven children, three of them having died in infancy: Henry, Minnie and Robert; and those still living are Ludie, Ida, Robert and Mary. He has an interesting family, in which he takes great pride, and wants nothing to complete his happiness, unless it is to have his two daughters, who are attending school in Kentucky, by his side at home. Capt. West is a member of the K. of O., and Mrs. West, a devout Christian lady, attends the Presbyterian Church.

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This family biography is one of 162 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Mississippi County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Mississippi County, Arkansas family biographies here: Mississippi County, Arkansas Biographies

View a map of 1889 Mississippi County, Arkansas here: Mississippi County, Arkansas Map

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