My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Washington 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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Preston Johnson, a retired merchant of Fayetteville Ark., was born in Lawrence County, Ark., April 26, 1824, and is a son of William and Elizabeth Ann (Conway) Johnson, who were born in Tennessee and North Carolina, respectively. The former was born and reared near Nashville, and was a son of John Johnson, who was a farmer by occupation, a native of Ireland, and of Scotch-Irish birth. In 1824 William Johnson removed with his wife and five children to Lawrence County, Ark. (now called Sharp County), and two years later came to Washington County, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their days. Preston Johnson engaged in farming and stock-raising in his early manhood, which occupation he pursued until 1870, when he came to Fayetteville and engaged in general merchandising. He abandoned this business in 1879, and retired from active business life, and is now enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. He is a Democrat in politics, and has always been noted for his liberality, and by his many excellent traits of character has secured the confidence and respect of all. In 1879 he lost his wife, whose maiden name was Miss B. C. Reddick, a daughter of Shadrock Reddick. She left one son and four daughters to mourn her loss: Mary Jane (wife of J. S. Thurman), Sarah C. (wife of Z. A. Thomas), Eliza Catherine (the deceased wife of J. L. Keener), Elizabeth Donaldson, a widow, and William (a stock dealer, of Kansas City).

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This family biography is one of 300 biographies included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Washington County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Washington County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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