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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Saline 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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Winfrey G. Scott, one of the well-known dealers in general merchandise at Benton, Ark., was born in Saline Township, Saline County, in 1837, and is a son of William M. and Anna Scott, who were born in 1794 and 1799, respectively. The parents were married and moved to Saline County in 1833, settling at a point about five miles northwest of where Benton now stands. The surrounding country at that time was a wilderness, and Little Rock itself nothing but a trading post. They resided at that place for about two years, and then settled on the military road, a small improved tract of land some three miles northeast of Benton, where the father died in 1857. The mother followed him in 1875, dying in the town of Benton. The elder Scott was a farmer of wide acquaintance during his life, and, as elsewhere mentioned, a botanical physician of extensive reputation. He served as county judge for some years, and was also elected to the legislature. He was a self-made man in every respect, and was highly esteemed throughout the surrounding country. He was a prominent member of the A. F. & A. M. for many years. Winfrey G. Scott was the tenth of eleven children born to his parents, and attended private schools about three months of the year. During the Civil War he served three years in the Confederate army, and was a member of Company E, First Arkansas Infantry, for about one year. He was discharged from this company on account of ill health, but on recovering joined a company of cavalry in Gen. Fagan’s army, and operated one year in Arkansas, serving until July, 1864, when he was captured in Arkansas and confined for nearly three months at Little Rock, and from there taken to Alton, Ill., and kept a prisoner until the close of the war. He took part in many skirmishes, the last one being the occasion of bravery, which was rewarded with a promotion to lieutenant. In 1867 he was married to Sarah Frances, a daughter of William S. and Mary Lee, who moved from Tennessee, their native State, to Saline County, Ark., where they passed the remainder of their days. Mrs. Scott departed this life in 1875, and in 1876 Mr. Scott was married to Sarah Emeline, a daughter of Thomas and Marium R. Poe, who died in what is now Grant County. This marriage gave Mr. and Mrs. Scott one son, Thomas M. Mr. Scott and his family continued to reside on the old homestead until the year 1883, when he moved to Benton, where he has accumulated considerable good business property, and also owns a nice cottage residence, all of it having been made by his own energy and business tact. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and a stout upholder of that party since he cast his first presidential vote for Breckenridge in 1860. He also belongs to the Knights of Honor, Saline Lodge No. 1319, and is chaplain of that lodge. He and wife are both members of the Methodist Church, to which the former has belonged for over thirty years.

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This family biography is one of 100 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Saline County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Saline County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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