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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Arkansas 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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Morris D. Williams is the efficient postmaster of Goldman Station and was born in Wales in 1825, being a son of Daniel and Eleanor (Williams) Williams, the former a native of that country and a stone mason by trade, also a farmer, stock raiser and dairyman. To himself and wife, who was also born in Wales, a family of ten children were born, six sons and four daughters, of whom eight are now living: Thomas, Robert, Morris, Abiah, John A. (ex-circuit judge of Pine Bluff, Ark.), Elizabeth (wife of William Wright, of New York), Margaret (wife of Rollin Pridard, of Dakota) and Catherine (wife of William Roberts, of Missouri). Mary is deceased. Daniel Williams removed with his family from Wales to the United States in 1829, and landed in New York, locating in Oneida County of that State, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and died in full communion with this church in 1876, his demise occurring in the State of New York. His wife also belonged to that church, and died in 1880. Morris D. Williams was married in the State of New York, in 1865, to Miss Martha E. Thompson, a daughter of Abicutt and Axie Thompson, and their union resulted in the birth of one child: Maurice S. After the mother’s death, which occurred in 1883, Mr. Williams resolved to emigrate westward, and in 1888 came to Arkansas and settled in Arkansas County, and was first engaged in hay pressing, being one of the leading dealers in hay in this section of the country, and this season (1889) put up about 150 tons of pressed hay. Since the election of Gen. Harrison to the presidency he has been postmaster of Goldman. He was a participant in the late war having enlisted in the Heavy Artillery, Fifth New York, in 1862, but owing to poor health was compelled to give up service at about the end of six months. He was first lieutenant of Company I, Newport Artillery, and had circumstances permitted would have made a gallant soldier.

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This family biography is one of 50 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Arkansas County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Arkansas County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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