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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence 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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Benjamin R. Bush, farmer and stock raiser, of Lawrence County, was born in Wilson County, Tenn., February 19, 1838. His parents were S. L. and Elizabeth (Tate) Bush, of the same State, who immigrated to Arkansas in 1840, and settled in Lawrence County, where the father practiced medicine up to the time of his death, about the year 1852. He reared a family of three sons and one daughter, all of whom lived until their maturity. Benjamin R. remained with his mother until his twentieth year, when he married and purchased a farm of his own. His bride was Miss Mary Orr, a young lady who was reared in this county, who proved a useful helpmate and faithful wife. Mr. Bush farmed on his land for several years, and then bought more and added to it from time to time, until he now owns about 400 acres of the best land in Arkansas, with 150 acres cleared, and all of it situated four miles west of Minturn. There is a good residence, two barns, two cribs, and all other necessaries upon the land, besides a fine orchard of three acres, with peach and apple trees. He had almost nothing he could call his own when he first started in life, and has accumulated his fine property by shrewdness, good judgment and industry, and has set a worthy example for others to follow. In 1862 he enlisted in Col. Lindsay’s company (afterward Col. Baber’s), and served one year. He then joined Col. Reeves’ regiment, and remained with it until the close of the war, when he surrendered, and was paroled June 5, 1865, at Jacksonport. He took part in the engagements at Cane Hill, Ark., and Price’s raids through Missouri, also the fight at Pilot Knob, besides numerous other sharp encounters, bearing himself in a soldierly manner through the entire campaign. Mr. Bush lost his first wife in 1880, and afterward married Miss Ellen Guthry. Five children were born to him by his first wife: Joseph W., George R., Sanford, Charles, and Mary Elizabeth, wife of William McClure; also two children by his second wife, whose names are Clarence and Katie. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Bush is a member of the K. of H. and the Agricultural Wheel.

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This family biography is one of 111 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Lawrence County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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