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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Fulton County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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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J. M. Pickren, one of the most extensive and prominent farmers of Fulton County, Ark., is a native of the county, born November 15, 1848. His father, John Pickren, was a native of Italy, born in 1798, and when only nine years of age took passage in a vessel and worked his way to America. He landed in New York, remained there for a short time, and then went to Pennsylvania, whence, after a stay of five or six years, he journeyed to North Carolina, continuing there until about 1840, when he came to Fulton County, Ark. Previous to his advent into North Carolina he had followed various occupations, but while in that State he had charge and superintended the hands working in the gold mines of that State. After coming to Arkansas he settled on the tract of land owned by his son J. M., and followed agricultural pursuits successfully for a number of years. He was killed in 1863 by the Jayhawkers, who claimed to be United States soldiers. He was married in 1841, and was sixty-five years of age at the time of his death. He was married in North Carolina to Miss Mary Stoop, a native of North Carolina, and of German origin. Five children were the fruits of this union, two of whom died when small and one was killed at the same time as the father, when sixteen years of age. Those living are: Mary, wife of H. Tracey, and is now living in North Carolina, and J. M., the subject of this sketch. The latter commenced work for himself as a farmer in 1872, and cultivated the old home stead, which consisted of 510 acres, 150 under improvement. He was married November 7 of the same year to Miss Nancy Farril, a native of Missouri, and seven children have been the result of this union: Maud, born August 4, 1874; John, born January 4, 1876; Harry, born April 21, 1878; Minnie, born February 12, 1879; Luther, born April 15, 1881; Myrtie, born June 7, 1885, and Cuthbert, born May 20, 1887. Mrs. Pickren is the daughter of Wilson and Mary (Grubb) Farril, and one of ten children, six now living: George, John, Mary, Nancy and Hardie, besides one in Ozark County. Mr. Pickren is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the I. O. O F.; and in his political views he is with the Democrats.

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This family biography is one of 70 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Fulton County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Fulton County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Fulton County, Arkansas family biographies here: Fulton County, Arkansas Biographies

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