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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Clark 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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John Edwards, a prominent merchant of Clark County, is a native of Scotland, born in Kincardineshire in 1842, where his family is well connected. His father, Alexander Edwards, a weaver and farmer by occupation, married Miss Ann Thompson, and in 1866 he with his family emigrated to America. He died at sea on the banks of Newfoundland at the age of forty years. His wife died in Huron County, Mich., in 1882, in her sixty-fifth year. Both he and wife were members of the Presbyterian Church (then Free Church). The subject of this sketch was the oldest of six children, viz.: John (the subject of this sketch), James (a carpenter residing in Gait, Canada), Alexander (a farmer of Huron County, Mich.), William (a farmer living near Harrisville, Alcona County, Mich.), Margaret (a graduate of a normal school, is now teaching in Canada) and Jennie (keeping house for her brother in Huron County, Mich.). The subject of this brief biography spent his school days in Scotland and in Wentworth County, Beverly Township, Canada, coming with his parents to America in 1866, and at his father's death, he being the oldest child, it devolved upon him to care and provide for the balance of the family. He farmed in summer and got out staves in winter in Canada for ten years. In 1877 he came to the United States, locating in Lapeer County, Mich., where he remained for six years, and then went to Arkansas, locating in Pulaski County, soon after coming to Beirne, Clark County. He was then in the employ of the Little Rock Cooperage Company, and is at present identified with that concern as general superintendent and paymaster. The company does a large business, getting out from 2,010,000 to 3,000,000 staves per annum. He opened up his present business at Bierne in 1887, and his success has since been wonderful, far exceeding his most sanguine expectations. He was married, March 10, 1867, to Miss Hannah White, a native of Middlesex County, Canada, of Scotch descent, by whom he had five children, three of whom are still living. They are John, Rosa, and Minnie, at home, and Hattie Mary Ann and Ella are deceased. Mrs. Edwards died near Little Rock, Ark., in 1883. July 21, 1886, Mr. Edwards was again married, this time to Miss Hattie Beirne, a daughter of Capt. Beirne of this place, and by this union has had two children, but one of whom, a son, Henry C, is living. Both Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In his political views Mr. Edwards is a Republican.

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This family biography is one of 99 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Clark County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Clark County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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