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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pike 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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Abner N. Henderson, Missouri Township, Brockton post-office, Pike County. This prominent planter was born in Morgan County, Ala., May 4, 1838, a son of Abner and Levica (Alford) Henderson, natives of North Carolina and Alabama, respectively. His parents had a family of six children—four boys and two girls—viz.: John W.(married Miss Elizabeth Covington),William P. (married Miss Caroline Burkit), Abner N. (the subject of this sketch), Martha A. (deceased), Lewis M. (married Victoria Erlum), Andrew J. (deceased), and Mary A. (deceased). The father was a farmer and millwright by occupation, and at his death owned 320 acres of land. He emigrated from Alabama to Arkansas, in December, 1844, locating in Pike County, and was prominently identified with the interests of this county until his death, which occurred in 1865; his widow followed him in 1881. He and wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The subject of this sketch was reared in Arkansas, and received such an education as the schools of that time afforded. After attaining his majority he engaged in agricultural pursuits. December 31, 1857, he married Miss Matilda Davis, a native of Tennessee (born August 19, 1837), by whom he has a family of nine children, viz..: John M. (deceased), Emeriah D. (deceased), Abner L. (married Catherine Deal), Lucy A. and Richard F. (twins, married David M. Watson and Elizabeth Allen), Alcie A. (married Robert O. Patterson), Flora A., Samuel, J. T., and Rosa L. (deceased). Mr. Henderson now owns a well-stocked farm of 240 acres of land, with ninety acres under cultivation. He served in the Confederate army in the late war, enlisting July 18, 1862, under Gen. Churchill, and participated in many of the principal battles of that war. He was captured at Arkansas Post, and carried to Chicago, where he remained for four months. He was exchanged at City Point, Va., then went to Tennessee, and joined the Tennessee army, and fell back with the army into Georgia, being detailed as cook, at the time of the Chickamauga battle. Again he was with the army, participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Ga., and at Atlanta, was again captured at Jonesboro, Ga., and was carried to Nashville Tenn., being just one month away from his command. After his exchange he went with the command on the raid into Tennessee; one month after he was a prisoner at Nashville. He was with his command in the battle of Nashville, and fell back with the army, and crossed the Tennessee River on Christmas day, 1864, the army falling back to Corinth, Miss. There he obtained a furlough and returned home, where he found nothing but his wife and one child. He soon resumed farming. Both Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which he serves as class-leader. Mr. Henderson has served as justice of the peace for eleven years, and as postmaster, at Brockton, for twenty four years. He is a good citizen, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

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This family biography is one of 71 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pike County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Pike County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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