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Below is a family biography included in The History of Carroll 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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Wilson A. Beaver, Sr., one of the old settlers and leading citizens of Carroll County, Ark., was born in North Carolina on June 7, 1831. In 1835 he was taken by his parents to Tennessee, where he was reared to manhood, coming to Arkansas when about twenty years of age. He first settled near what is now Beaver’s Station, and in 1855 located on the place where he now resides. He has been a farmer all his life, and now owns 348 acres of fine land. He parents were Martin and Christian (Pendergrass) Beaver, both natives of North Carolina. Martin B. Beaver was born on May 4, 1800, and was reared in his native State. About 1835 he removed to Tennessee, and remained until 1851, when he came to Lawrence County, Ark., where he died soon after. His wife was born on February 14, 1801. After her husband’s death she removed to Carroll County, Ark., and remained till her death, which occurred after the war. Wilson A. Beaver, Sr., was married, in 1852, to Emeline Waits, by whom he is the father of ten children, three of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Almissha, Mrs. Allen Beller; George A.; Demarius, wife of a Mr. Quick, of Fort Smith; Wilson A., Jr., a merchant at Beaver Station; Christian E, Mrs. Frank Seger, of Garden Plains, Kas., and Joseph A. This wife died in 1877, and in 1878 he was united in marriage with Martha Perkins, who is still living. She is a consistent Christian, and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Beaver is a stanch Democrat. For fourteen years he has filled the office of justice of the peace at Beaver in a manner most satisfactory to all. The post-office here, which is now called beaver, was originally called Beaver’s Ferry, at which time he served as postmaster. Mr. Beaver is an influential and one of the most honored citizens of his community. On his land is a fine stone quarry, from which the stone was taken to build the Crescent Hotel at Eureka Springs, the bridge at Fort Smith, and the Sebastian County Court-house. His residence, which was built in 1836, is one of the pioneer landmarks of the county. It is built of logs which were prepared with the broad-ax, and the lumber in it was sawed with a whip-saw. It was the “Old Confederate House” in time of the war. During the war Mr. Beaver served six months in the Confederate army as a member of Hunter’s regiment of Arkansas Confederate Infantry.

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of Carroll County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Carroll County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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