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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Cleveland 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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Joseph J. T. Kendrick, merchant of New Edinburg, Ark. The degree of success which has been achieved by Mr. Kendrick since the establishment of his mercantile house, fully warrants the assertion that it is firmly established in public favor and has become a worthy representative of trade. He established his business in 1872, and his trade has gradually but surely increased until it has assumed extensive proportions. Mr. Kendrick was born in Franklin, Heard County, Ga., December 23, 1838, and is a son of Hezekiah and Nancy (Cook) Kendrick, natives respectively of Virginia and Georgia, who died in Calhoun County, Ark., the former’s death occurring in 1853 at the age of sixty years, and the latter when about fifty-five years of age. When a young man the father removed from the Old Dominion to Georgia, which State was his home until 1847, at which time he came to Calhoun County, Ark., and here made his permanent home. He was a successful farmer, and he and his wife were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and in his political views he was a Democrat. Joseph J. T. Kendrick was the fifth of their six children—five sons and one daughter—and his school days were spent at Chambersville, Calhoun County, Ark. After he had reached manhood his parents passed from life, and he then commenced the battle of life for himself as a merchant’s clerk at Hopeville, but in 1861 gave up this work to join the Confederate army, enlisting in the month of June in the Third Arkansas Cavalry, with which he remained until the close of the war, participating in the battles of Corinth, the celebrated retreat through Georgia, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Knoxville. He was taken prisoner near where the battle of Franklin was fought, but he was soon released. After the war he began working at the tanner’s trade in Calhoun County, continuing until the latter part of 1866, when he came to Cleveland County and tilled the soil until 1871. The following year, as above stated, he engaged in his present business, and the property he has accumulated has all been earned since the war. He was married in 1868 to Miss Martha Vance, a daughter of J. J. Vance, of Bradley County (now Cleveland County), and their union has resulted in the birth of a daughter named Annie. Mrs. Kendrick is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Kendrick is a Democrat in his political views, and has always supported the men and measures of that party.

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This family biography is one of 75 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Cleveland County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Cleveland County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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