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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Clay 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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Sylvanus Bishop, wagon-maker, painter and farmer, is a son of Stephen M. and Caroline (Bunnell) Bishop, and was born in Crawford County, Penn., March 1, 1841. His parents were also born in that State, and in 1837 emigrated to Indiana, but, after remaining there a short time, returned to Pennsylvania. About 1844 they again came to Indiana, where they made their home until 1880, then moving to Peabody, Kas., where Mr. Bishop died in 1886. His widow still survives. To them were born fifteen children, eleven of whom are living: Jefferson, Sylvanus, Stephen W., Adeline, David, Elmira J., Merriman, Silas, Delilah, Monroe and Daniel S. Sylvanus Bishop attained his growth in Indiana, and in 1861 enlisted in Company E, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and served until the close of the war, participating in the following engagements: Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Liberty Gap and others. At the battle of Shiloh he was wounded by a gun-shot in the left arm. At Stone River he was captured, but succeeded in making his escape, and, after a time, was discharged for disability, owing to the effects of small-pox, which he had contracted in the service. From that time until 1877 he was engaged in learning and working at his trade in Indiana, and then came to Clay County, Ark., and has since resided at Corning. He owns a small farm adjoining the town, which is in a good state of cultivation and well improved, and this he conducts in connection with carrying on his trade. In January, 1886, he was married to Miss Mary E. Benedict, a native of New York State, by whom he has five children: Anna M., John L., Amy W., Elsie V. and A. McDonald. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop are members of the Baptist Church, and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He has been a school director for about eleven years, and is interested in all public enterprises. For some ten years he was engaged in the undertaker’s business, his profits amounting to about $1,500 per year. He now gives his attention to his shop, and is doing well. His son, John L., is an intelligent young man, and is one of the first teachers in the county.

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This family biography is one of 124 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Clay County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Clay County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Clay County, Arkansas family biographies here: Clay County, Arkansas Biographies

View a map of 1889 Clay County, Arkansas here: Clay County, Arkansas Map

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