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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Monroe 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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J. P. Ridout, whose prosperity and enterprise as a planter of Monroe County is well known, is a native of Tennessee, and a son of John and Lucy (Williams) Ridout, who came originally from Virginia and Tennessee, respectively. They removed to Arkansas in 1858, settling in Monroe County, Mr. Ridout being the owner, at the time of his death, in 1866, of 640 acres of land. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M. Of a family of eight children, four are still living: J. P., Martha G., Eliza (now Mrs. Hambrick) and Amanda (the wife of W. A. Roads). J. P. Ridout, the subject of this sketch, began farming for himself in 1866, after his father’s demise, on rented land. In 1880 he moved to this county, and bought 240 acres of land, with seventy-five acres under cultivation. He was married in 1869 to Miss Sena Williams, whose birth occurred in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1852. They became the parents of eight children, four of whom are still living: Jennie, Luther, Joel R. and James P. Mr. and Mrs. Ridout are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, and is a prominent factor in the Democracy of Cache Township. He owes his nativity to Fayette County, Tenn., where he was born in 1852.

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This family biography is one of 86 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Monroe County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Monroe County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Monroe County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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