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Below is a family biography included in The History of Benton 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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Dr. A. R. Bills, son of Pascal W. and Drusilla (Barlow) Bills, was born June 12, 1850, in Bourbon County, Ky. The father was born in the same county, and there grew to manhood. He was well educated, having attended Millersburgh Academy of Kentucky, but never completed his course. While in that State he taught school for a number of years, and afterward graduated at Bryant & Stratton’s Commercial College. He then kept books for Waide, Extine & Co., wholesale druggists of Cincinnati, for two years, after which he went to New Orleans and kept books in that city for some time. He had traveled quite extensively, going through Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee as collecting agent. Mr. Bills then returned to Kentucky, and was married to Miss Drusilla Barlow August 23, 1849. To them were born seven children, six now living: Alvin R., Mrs. Ann Eliza Rheinhordt, John H., Mrs. Mary L. Burney, Mrs. Lillie O. Bird, Laura and Mary (deceased). After marriage Mr. Bills taught school, and in connection carried on farming in Bourbon County, Ky., until 1854, when he removed to Cass County, Mo., settled about three miles from Lone Jack, and there he has since lived. His wife was also born and reared in Bourbon County, Ky., and like her husband received a good education, being educated at North Middleton. Alvin W. Bills, grandfather of Dr. A. R. Bills, was born in North Carolina in 1806, but immigrated to Tennessee with his parents when but a lad. He was there educated, and was a classmate of James K. Polk. After graduation he began the study of medicine at Lexington, Ky., graduated from the Transylvanian College, and then followed his profession in that State until his death, which occurred in 1848. His wife, the grandmother of Dr. A. R. Bills, Mary N. (Simms) Bills, was born in Culpeper County, Va., and when about twelve or fourteen years of age removed to Kentucky, and was there afterward married. The maternal grandparents, Alvin W. and Mary (Fisher) Barlow were both natives of Kentucky, and the grandfather was a soldier in the War of l812. Dr. A. R. Bills remained at home until ten years of age, and was then placed in school, where he remained until the breaking out of the war. During that eventful period he remained at home and made himself generally useful around the farm, carrying provisions to the army. After the close of hostilities he returned to his books and entered the school at Lone Jack, Mo., where he remained from 1866 to 1867. He then began teaching, and this continued for eight years in the public schools of Jackson, Cass, Lafayette and Johnson Counties, Mo., teaching ten months out of each year and in three years had taught thirty-three months. During that time Dr. Bills began the study of medicine, teaching himself, but under the preceptorship at Dr. Andrew O’Conner. He took one course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Kansas, and then took one course at the Medical Department of the University of Kansas City, graduating in March, 1882. Dr. Bills then removed to Maysville, Ark., and began the practice of his profession. Here he has since lived and has built up a large and successful practice. He became a member of the County and State Medical Societies shortly after removing to Maysville, and has since retained his membership. November 7, 1871, he married Miss Johanna Jones, a native of Scott County, Ky., and the daughter of Joseph and Rachel A, Jones. To this marriage were born three children: Ethelyne, John Warren and Beulah. The doctor is a stanch Democrat in politics, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

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This family biography is one of 240 biographies included in The History of Benton County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Benton County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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