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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Robert J. Mayes, a prominent farmer residing one and a half miles west of Goshen, and the son of William H. and Louisa (Joyce) Mayes, was born in East Tennessee April 29, 1856. The father was born in the same State in January, 1832, was reared there, and there married Miss Joyce, who is a native of Tennessee, born in 1833. They remained in that State until 1858, when they moved to Brush Creek, Washington Co., Ark., near their present residence, and here the father has carried on farming, and is one of the prominent citizens of Brush Creek Township. The mother is also living. Robert J. cultivated the soil on his father’s farm until the age of twenty-two, or until December 22, 1879, when he married Mrs. Patie L. (Weatherred) McNeely, a native of Middle Tennessee. They have two children, Robert E. and Waller M. After marriage Mr. Mayes engaged in farming and stock-raising on the farm where he now resides, and has been very successful. His wife owns an interest in the farm they now live on of 240 acres of valley land, 130 of which are under cultivation, and also has interest in another farm in Little Rock, this State, and one in West Tennessee, near Memphis. He has another farm of 120 acres, seventy being under cultivation. Mr. Mayes is a Republican in his political views, and has always voted that ticket. He is an excellent citizen, and is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, while Mrs. Mayes is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

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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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