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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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William Mayes, farmer, stock raiser, and native of Washington County, Ark., was born April 19, 1841, and is a son of Samuel and Lucinda (Miller) Mayes, who were born in Illinois, and came to Arkansas in 1832, where they spent the remainder of their days. The father was a farmer, and after coming to Arkansas served as justice of the peace for number of years. William Mayes is the fourth of their seven children, and received his education in the common schools and the Arkansas College, engaging in agricultural pursuits after leaving the latter institution. Two years later the war broke out, and he was forced to join the Confederate army, but succeeded in making his escape about three months later, at the battle of Prairie Grove, and joined the Union army, and for faithful service was promoted to the post of orderly-sergeant of the First Arkansas Battery. At a later period he was promoted to second lieutenant, serving in this capacity until the close of the war, when he was mustered out at Ft. Smith, Ark., and returned home. During eight months just before the close of the war he commanded the First Arkansas Battery, though only lieutenant commanding. He was appointed and commissioned captain of Company A, Washington County State Guards, by Gov. Powell Clayton, 1866-67. He and a Mr. Johnson erected a large grist-mill at Johnson, Ark. He served in this capacity for seventeen years, and then sold his share to Mr. Johnson, and retired to his farm, which now consists of 300 acres of good land. He is a stanch Republican in his political views, and is commander of the G. A. R., Post 34, Springdale, Ark. He also belongs to the A. F. & A. M. In 1869 he was married to Miss Amanda E. Pierson, who was born in Washington County. Ark., in 1841, and by her became the father of three sons: Charles S. (a student in the State University of Arkansas), Robert C. and Etter M. (deceased when an infant.)

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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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