My Genealogy Hound

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

* * * *

G. W. Hurst, at the early age of fifteen, was made overseer of an extensive plantation, and had the full management of the same, in Monroe County, Miss., for over three years. After this he took charge of a large gang of negroes for James Erwin, being thus engaged until the opening of the war, when he enlisted in the Eleventh Mississippi. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Gettysburg, and removed to Ohio, where he was held for seven months, when he escaped and went to Buffalo, and a number of other cities, but was unable to join his regiment. G. W. Hurst was born in Franklin County, Ala., in 1840, being a son of Henry and Mary (Austin) Hurst, natives of Georgia and Alabama, respectively. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom are still living: G. W., Richard, Henry, William and Elizabeth (the wife of David Hooker, of Mississippi). Mr. Hurst was a member of the A. F. & A M., and of the Baptist Church, as was also his wife. He died in 1853 or 1854, and his worthy companion in 1849. At the close of the war the principal of this sketch returned to Franklin County, Ala., where he was married to Miss Mary E. Askew, daughter of Josiah and Permelia Askew, natives of that county. The following year they removed to Arkansas and located in Monroe County, and engaged in farming. They had a family of eight children, five of whom are living: Mary J. (the wife of W. H. Odon, of Ellis County, Tex.), James F., Clara J., George A. and John H. Mr. Hurst is a member of the K. of P., and his wife of the Baptist Church.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 86 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Monroe County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Monroe County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Monroe 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.