My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ashley 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.

* * * *

Burell Willis is the owner of a good farm twelve miles west, of Hamburg, which first amounted to eighty acres, but now comprises 280 acres, of which about seventy five acres are under cultivation, devoted to the usual crops. He was born in Monroe County, Miss., March 27, 1826, to Henry Willis, a pioneer justice of the peace, who died in 1863. Burell Willis left the parental roof in 1849, and in the month of February, 1850, reached Arkansas. He was married here on February 14, 1850, to Miss Rutha Simpson, a daughter of Richmond Simpson, of Ashley County, who died in this county the year prior to the opening of the war. To Mr. Willis and his wife a family of twelve children were born, eight of whom are living: Susan F. (born December 30, 1856, wife of Louis Gardner, and the mother of four children). Martha A. (born October 11, 1860, wife of George Ware, and the mother of four children), Sarepta E. (born August 27, 1862, died December 8, 1866), Willis (born August 27, 1862, died December 8, 1866), Harvey R. (born June 21, 1864), Robert J. (born September 11, 1866), Nancy J. (born October 17, 1870), Rebecca A. (born December 20, 1872), Savilla R. (born January 30, 1874), Burell Franklin (born May 30, 1876), Willie E. (born April 16, 1879). Annie A. (born March 31, 1883, died June 3, 1883). Mr. Willis served in the Confederate army in Company A, Sam Bell’s regiment, and was in the engagements at Helena, Cane Hill, Little Rock, and went, from there to Marshall, Tex., from which place he came home at the close of the war, and resumed the occupation of farming on his land, which had been badly neglected during his absence. He has supported the men and measures of the Democratic party for many years, is a well-known and highly esteemed citizen, and three of his children as well as himself and wife are members of the Baptist Church. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was with Jackson at the battle of New Orleans.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 97 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ashley County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Ashley County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.