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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Grant 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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James M. Nall. One of the prominent men of Merry Green Township is James M. Nall, who was born in Saline (afterward Grant) County, Ark., April 19, 1854, and is the son of Capt. Nathan and Elizabeth (Shepherd) Nall, natives of Alabama and Arkansas, respectively. Mrs. Nall was the daughter of Isaac Shepherd, one of the pioneers of this county. Nathan Nall first came to Arkansas when a young man about the year 1850, but remained only a short time, as his interests were centered at that time in Alabama. After his marriage, in 1852, he returned to this State and located in what is now Grant County, in DeKalb Township, and two years later moved three miles west of Sheridan, where he improved a farm and reared his family. He served some three years in the Confederate army, and was captain of a company. After the war he returned to his home and family and continued farming until his death, in 1889. Of a family of six children, three boys and three girls, all married and having families of their own, J. M. is the oldest son. He remained with his father until his marriage, which occurred in December, 1873, when he was twenty years of age, to Miss Julia J. McDonald. She was a native of Mississippi, but was educated in Arkansas. After his union Mr. Nall located on a farm adjoining his father’s, and a short time later moved to the place where he now resides. Although there are many fine estates in the surrounding country, that of Mr. Nall is by no means an inferior one. He has eighty acres highly cultivated and twenty five acres of excellent pasturage. In connection with this he also owns 120 acres of heavy timber land. A comfortable house and good barn and other buildings, all in good condition give evidence that the “Lord of the Manor’’ is a wide-awake and industrious man. To Mr. and Mrs. Nall have been born six children: Ida Belle (a young lady), Estella, Elizabeth, Leona, Mary Iler and Jane Nall. Mrs. Nall and her oldest daughter are members of the Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 68 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Grant County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Grant County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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