My Genealogy Hound

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

* * * *

Willis G. Herring, merchant of Willisville, Taylor Township, Nevada County, Ark., was born December 28, 1846, within ten miles of Pine Bluff, and is a son of Bud T. and Belinda (Powell) Herring, natives of North Carolina and Georgia, respectively. The father was born January 8. 1814, and is of English descent, and by choice and profession was a farmer, being at the present writing a resident of Parker Township, Nevada County. He moved to this county, at that time a portion of Columbia County, in the spring of 1849, and here married his wife, a daughter of Caleb Powell, of North Carolina. Both the father and mother were members of the Baptist Church, the former being also a member of the Masonic order. They are the parents of twelve children, five of whom are now living, viz.: Willis Herring, Mary (Mrs. Baily), Cornelia (Mrs. Beyers), Carolina (Mrs. Cordell, of Texas), and Philias H. The subject of this sketch has resided in this county since his fourth year, and was too young to serve in the Civil War in camp service. He commenced farming for himself in 1867; was married in 1868, to Miss Sallie Mattison, a daughter of Wiley and Mahalie Mattison, of Alabama, and of this union have been born eleven children, nine of whom are still living: George, Mary, Chester, Finesse, Effie, Ed, Fletcher, Otto and Lizzie. Mr. Herring engaged in the mercantile business in 1885, forming a partnership with H. S. Watson, who sold out to Mr. Herring in 1887, after which W. H. Bull was admitted to a partnership in the firm which read, Herring& Bull, until January, 1890, when they sold an interest to J. D. Reason, and changed the firm name to W. G. Herring & Co. They have a good business, and carry a very select stock of a general character. Besides this store the subject of this sketch owns about 800 acres of valuable land, and a large steam gin. Mrs. Herring is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Herring belongs to the Masonic order, is a prominent man in the village of Willisville, which was named for him, is a school director and a strong Democrat.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 96 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Nevada County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Nevada County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Nevada 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.