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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha 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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Dr. Stephen J. Peoples is a physician of acknowledged merit in Desha County, Ark., and during his years of practice has done skillful work in alleviating the pains and ailments to which the human body is heir. A native of Gibson County, Tenn., he was born September 20, 1840, and is a son of George Peoples, a Scotchman by descent and a native of Tennessee, born in 1809. He was a merchant and farmer at Shady Grove, a small town in Gibson County, Tenn., but died at Hot Springs, Ark., while there for his health, in 1867. His wife, Nancy Jordan, was born in Tennessee, in 1818, a daughter of Burton Jordan, and died at Humboldt, Tenn., in 1887. Of seven children born to their union, three are now living: Mattie E. (wife D. H. C. Moore, a resident of Humboldt, and a successful lawyer), Mary J. (widow of A. G. Campbell of Austin, Tex.), and Dr. Stephen J.; Nathan B. (died in 1867), George (in 1872), Bettie (in 1881), and Francis (in 1860). Dr. Stephen J. Peoples, was reared in Gibson and Carroll Counties, Tenn., and in that State received an exceptionally good education, being an attendant at Bluff Spring College, in which institution he made rapid progress. After reading medicine with Dr. J. P. King, of Shade Grove, during 1857-58-59, he entered the Nashville Medical College, and after attending this institution during 1859-60-61, he graduated with high honors. Upon leaving his alma mater he returned home, and joined the Confederate army in Desha County, becoming a member of Company D, First Arkansas Regiment, and was in Holmes’ division of the Army of Virginia, and was appointed assistant surgeon in Fagan’s regiment, in 1862, which position he held until April, 1863, when he was detailed to return to Arkansas to recruit the cavalry forces of the Confederacy. He raised a company in Desha, and Jefferson Counties, which was attached to Col. Carlton’s regiment, of which he became lieutenant-colonel, and was in the battles of Manassas, Corinth, Arkansas Post, Jenkins’ Ferry and Poison Springs, besides many sharp engagements and skirmishes of less note. While in Missouri with Gen. Price, he was slightly wounded, and was afterward captured on the Arkansas River, near Red Fork, by a scouting party from Pine Bluff, under the command of Capt. Davis, and was incarcerated in the Federal prison, at Little Rock for eight months, or until the close of the war, at which time he was paroled, and returned home to Desha County. Here he entered upon the practice of the medical profession, and as he has ever commanded the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact, he has a large and lucrative practice. He gives considerable attention to tilling his farm of 210 acres on the Arkansas River, his principal crops being cotton and corn. He was married at Red Fork, Ark., October 15, 1868, to Miss Sallie M. L. Jones, a native of Arkansas County, Ark., born December 6, 1849, a daughter of John L. and Matinza (Drake) Jones, the father having been born in Virginia, and removed to Arkansas, in 1828, settling at Arkansas Post, where he became prominent, and filled the office of sheriff of Arkansas County, for twelve consecutive years. He died in 1852, and his widow in 1881. Dr. and Mrs. Peoples are the parents of five living children: Lillian L. J., Josie J., J. Edward S., Georgena W. and St. Claire J. Two children are dead: Mai A., who died in January, 1884, and Bertram whose death occurred in 1885. Dr. Peoples and wife are members of the Catholic Church, and in his political views he is a Democrat, and during the sessions of 1877-78, he represented Desha County, in the State Legislature. He was a member of the County Medical Board, and for two years, during 1881-82, he was president of this society.

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This family biography is one of 80 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Desha County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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