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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Drew 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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James A. Daniel, who has long been connected with the agricultural affairs of Drew County, Ark., was born November 19, 1837, being a son of Dudley D. and Emeline (Curtis) Daniel, who were born in North Carolina, June 1, 1804, and August 6, 1816, respectively, their marriage taking place October 13, 1831. In 1851, they removed from North Carolina to Arkansas, and became wealthy citizens of Drew County, the father being worth, at the time of his death, in 1870, about $50,000. He was a worthy citizen in every respect, and was deeply interested in the progress and development of Drew County, contributing liberally of his means in its support. He was a Whig in politics, and socially a R. A. M., belonging to Lacey Lodge No. 40. He is still survived by his widow, who is now seventy-three years of age, and resides in Monticello with her daughter, Mrs. E. A. Pruit. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and became parents of the following children: Margaret (wife of W. D. Killiam), James A., Eliza (wife of George Spencer), Amanda (wife of Benjamin Pruit), and Mary E. (wife of Dr. Thomas Pruit). James A. Daniel was educated in the schools of Monticello, but in 1861, full of enthusiasm for the land of chivalry, he enlisted in Company I, First Arkansas Regiment, Monticello Guards, but was afterward sent on duty to Virginia, where he remained ten months. He was afterward transferred to the Army of the Tennessee, under Albert Sidney Johnston, and the first important engagement in which he participated was Shiloh, where he received quite a severe wound. After remaining at home on furlough for about one year, he joined the First Arkansas Cavalry, after which he was in the battles of Pine Bluff, Poison Springs and Mark’s Mill, being wounded in the right leg in the last-named engagement. After remaining at home for eight weeks he rejoined his command, and was with Price on his raid through Missouri, participating in nearly all the engagements in which this famous general took part. He was captured at Little Osage, and after being kept over-night in the prison at Fort Scott, he was taken to Warrensburg, from thence to St. Louis, and thence to Johnson’s Island, in Lake Erie. He was released at this place and returned home, where he was married, in 1867, to Miss Lucy Nunn, a native of Louisiana, and a daughter of S. B. Nunn. They had one child, Dudley D., who died when ten months old. The mother of this child, having died, on September 15, 1869, Mr. Daniel wedded his present wife, a daughter of Henry and Eliza Walthall, his wife, Ida, being a native of Virginia. A family of five children has been born to them, but three died in infancy, and one on November 1, 1888, and another on the fifth of the same month, aged eighteen and fourteen, respectively. By industry and good management Mr. Daniel has become the owner of 465 acres of fertile farming land, and has 125 acres under the plow. He has held the office of justice of the peace, is a Mason, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

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This family biography is one of 83 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Drew County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Drew County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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