My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Madison 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.

* * * *

Dr. William P. Dabney, a leading physician of Delaney, Madison Co., Ark., and the son of Nathan and Kezzia (Ellis) Dabney, is a native of Macon County, Mo., born February 8, 1842. The parents were born in Lynchburgh, Va., and Wayne County, Ky., respectively. The father was born February 27, 1798, and died in Macon County, Mo., in 1874. He was a successful physician, having attended medical lectures at Louisville, Ky., and in connection with this carried on farming. Previous to the war he was a Whig in politics, but after that event he was a Republican. The mother was born in 1802, and died in Macon County, Mo., in 1870. They were wedded in Wayne County, Ky., and moved to Missouri at an early date (1828), and here passed the remainder of their lives. They were for many years members of the Primitive Baptist Church. To their marriage were born eight children, three now living. They are named as follows: J. W. (is an undertaker at Atlanta, Mo.), E. B. (deceased), Mercena (deceased), Nathan (deceased), Irena (deceased), W. P., Andrew J. (deceased), and Malinda, who is the eldest child living, and the wife of Martin Sears, farmer of Macon County, Mo. Dr. William P. Dabney received a liberal education in the schools at College Mound, Mo., and at Ashland College, Ky. In the early part of 1862 he enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Missouri Infantry, Fifteenth Army Corps, Federal service, as hospital steward and served throughout the war in that capacity. During this time he studied medicine slowly, and after the war he removed to Polk County, Mo., where he formed a partnership with Dr. J. M. Keith, and practiced with him two years. He then moved to Stone County, Mo., and practiced there seven years, after which he located where he is now living. In connection with his practice he is engaged in the drug business at Delaney, and besides this also carries on farming. In 1867 he attended lectures at Ashland, Ky., and is now one of the most successful physicians of the county. November 6, 1866, he married Miss Martha Sears, daughter of Martin Sears, and a native of Macon County, Mo., born February 5, 1852. This union has been blessed by the birth of four children: Thomas C., Miner O., Willis E. and Annie L. Mr. Dabney is a Master Mason, is also a member of the K. of L., and a Republican politically.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 99 biographies included in The History of Madison County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Madison County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Madison County, Arkansas family biographies here: Madison County, Arkansas

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.