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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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Capt. William H. Isom was born in Middle Tennessee, August 31, 1833, and when eighteen months old was taken by his parents to Marshall County, Miss. His father, John Isom, was born in Virginia, but was reared in Maury County, Tenn., and from there enlisted in the War of 1812, and was with Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. His father, Alexander Isom, was a Revolutionary soldier, and served in the Southern Division under Gen. Nathaniel Greene. Capt. William H. Isom was bred up to the usual life of a farmer’s boy, and in his youth received the advantages of the common schools. Upon the death of the father in 1852 the old homestead was sold, and the proceeds divided, and Capt. William H. began farming with his share, and in 1858 came to Drew County, Ark., and purchased a farm of 160 acres six miles from Monticello, and here made his home until after the Rebellion. In 1861 he joined the Confederate army, having raised and organized a company of seventy-five or eighty men, and was embodied in the Ninth Arkansas Regiment, and was sent east of the Mississippi River, participating in the engagement at Belmont; was at the evacuation of Bowling Green, and in the battle of Shiloh was wounded in the left shoulder and breast, which confined him to the hospital for twelve months. He next went to Memphis, and was on the last transport that left that place, and was then assigned to post duty in Cherokee County, Tex. He surrendered and was paroled at Shreveport, La., but on his return home he found his farm completely laid waste and all his stock driven off. He made some purchases on credit, and got along as best he could for about two years, then sold out and purchased 400 acres of land on Bayou Bartholomew, where he has since made his home. He first devoted his attention to the cultivation of cotton for about fourteen years, then began raising mules, and finally cattle and hogs, and now owns 105 horses and mules outside of his farm animals, fifty head of cattle and 400 hogs. He keeps his own breeding stock, among which is a fine jack, a full-blooded Maltese brought from Kentucky, and his cattle and hogs are Durham and Berkshire, respectively. He is now the owner of 800 acres of land, and 150 acres are under cultivation. His residence is nicely located, and is situated about one-half mile from Bayou Bartholomew. The Captain was married June 21, 1859, to Miss D. A. Ervin, and as they have no children of their own they have adopted a little girl. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of the Masonic order, which he joined in 1859, and in his political views is a Democrat. Mr. Isom made Drew County his home during the dark days of the Civil War, and also during the dark days that followed, but has lived to see the dawning of a brighter day.

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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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