My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Columbia 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.

* * * *

James M. Whaley is a retired merchant of Magnolia, and although he has been a resident of Arkansas since 1857, he was born in Georgia in 1829, being the fourth in a family of nine children, born to John and Martha (Smith) Whaley, also Georgians, the father a farmer by occupation. Upon their arrival in Arkansas in 1857 Mr. Whaley entered land, and at the time of his death, in 1863, was an extensive real estate holder. He was about seventy years of age, and his widow was sixty-seven at the time of her death, which occurred in 1879. James M. Whaley never received many advantages in the way of an education, but being possessed with a determination to become a good scholar many of his evenings were spent in study by the firelight, thereby thoroughly fitting himself for the practical duties of life. A short time prior to the war he entered a medical college of Memphis, Tenn., but after attending one course the war broke out, and he left school, and in 1862 joined Company E, Thirty-first Louisiana Infantry, he being a resident of Claiborne Parish, La., at that time. Although he joined the army as a private, he held a number of offices, and was assistant surgeon the most of the time. He was at Chickamauga, Vicksburg, Port Hudson and others, and at the siege and surrender of Vicksburg he was taken prisoner, but was afterward paroled and returned home. The latter part of the war he served west of the Mississippi River, and surrendered at Mansfield, La., in June, 1865. Upon his return home he resumed farming, but in 1872 began merchandising at State Line post-office, where he remained for eleven years, serving as postmaster. In 1880 he took up his abode in Magnolia and established a general mercantile store, and has done a business of from $50,000 to $60,000 annually. He also buys from $80,000 to $40,000 worth of cotton yearly, and this has proved a very remunerative investment. He retired from active business life January 1, 1890, and is now enjoying the fruits of his early toil. His marriage, which occurred in 1858 was to Miss Mary Williamson, of Georgia, their union taking place in Drew County. She is a daughter of T. J. and Hannah (Cook) Williamson, and has borne her husband twelve children: Loomis (a merchant of Magnolia), James (also a merchant of this place), Alec, Delia, John T., George W., W. S., Odwin, Ulta, Lizzie, Diamond and Gould, all of whom have been reared and educated in Arkansas. Mr. Whaley is a Democrat, and as a business man has been enterprising, honorable and upright in all his dealings.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 106 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Columbia County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Columbia County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.