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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita 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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John A. Toney. Wherever Mr. Toney’s name is known he is recognized among the people of the county and the surrounding country as one of her leading citizens and oldest residents. He was born in Smith County, Tenn., October 7, 1822, and is a son of Elijah and Mary (Rucks) Toney, who were born in Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively, and were married in Smith County, of the latter State, where they made their home until 1835. They then moved to Jackson County, Ala., in which State the father died in 1875, when eighty-four years of age, the mother dying in 1828. He was a merchant and farmer, and as such was quite successful. While in Tennessee he served as treasurer of Smith County, and in Alabama filled the position of justice of the peace, being a Whig in his political views. John A. Toney is the youngest of his three children, and his youthful days were spent in Sumner and Wilson Counties, Tenn., his literary education being received there also. On first coming to Arkansas in 1844, he located in Dallas County, and in 1850 moved to Ouachita County, but remained here only a short time when he returned to Dallas County. Since 1861 he has resided on his present farm, which consists of 400 acres, in Ouachita County, and he has about 150 acres prepared for cultivation. In 1862 he joined the Eighteenth Arkansas Infantry, and served until the battle of Corinth, when he was wounded, taken prisoner, paroled and returned home. He has served as justice of the peace of his township for two years, and has twice been re-elected, but would not serve. His marriage to Miss Virginia High took place in 1844, she being a daughter of Samuel High, and a native of Smith County, Tenn., born July 15, 1828. They have one daughter living, Jane A. (wife of Dr. W. H. Folden, of Holly Springs, Dallas County, Ark.), Mary R. (the wife of Hartwell T. Wright, a farmer of Jefferson County, Ark., died in early womanhood). Mr. and Mrs. Toney are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is a Mason, and in his political views a Democrat.

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This family biography is one of 91 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Ouachita County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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