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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.

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Dr. Roderick A. Bethune, physician, Snyder, Ark. The humanizing influences of Christianity are shown in thousands of directions, but in none to a more marked degree than that of medical and surgical science. Snyder has a number of fine physicians, among whom may be mentioned Dr. Bethune, who was born in South Carolina, in Sumter County, on April 16, 1834. His parents, John and Frances (Shaw) Bethune, were natives of Scotland and South Carolina, respectively, and they were married in the mother’s native State. There they resided until 1840, when they emigrated to Alabama, settled in Pike County, where the father farmed until his death, which occurred in 1844. He was active in his support of schools and churches, and was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church at the time of his death. The mother died in 1842, and was a member of the same church. Their family consisted of the following children: Rebecca, Roderick, Samuel, David, and one who died in infancy. There is but one besides our subject now living, David, who is practicing law at Union Springs, Ala. Samuel was the first of the family to emigrate to Arkansas, and thirteen years after locating in that State his death occurred. Dr. Roderick A. Bethune received a good practical education in Alabama, and later attended medical lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating in March, 1854. He then returned to Alabama, began practicing, and after remaining there nearly one year, in November, 1854, moved to South Carolina, where he continued his practice. He selected as his companion in life Miss Margaret Mayes, a native of South Carolina, and the daughter of Hon. M. P. Mayes, and their nuptials were celebrated November 24, 1857. To them were born seven children—four sons and three daughters: John, James, Roderick (deceased), David, Lilly, Hennie and Maggie M. (deceased). Five of these children are now living, and four reside in this county. Dr. Bethune has been practicing medicine for thirty-six years, and is an able and very successful practitioner. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Bearhouse Lodge No. 209, R. A. M. He has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge several times, and has held all the offices from worshipful master down. He is also ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church, which was organized in September, 1889, and was one of the leaders in organizing the same. He was in the Confederate army during the late war, and his principal battles were in Virginia. He was discharged in 1864, and then entered the medical department, where he remained until the cessation of hostilities. In January, 1866, he removed to Alabama, Bullock County, practiced there until 1872, and then emigrated to Arkansas, where he has practiced since. Mrs. Bethune is also a member of the Presbyterian Church, but the children are all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

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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

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