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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Nevada 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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Guy Nelson, one of the legal lights of Prescott, was born in Oglethorpe County, Ga., March 3, 1856. His parents, John R. and Julia (Holland) Nelson, natives of Georgia, emigrated to Arkansas about 1860, locating at Ozark, in Franklin County, where they remained until 1863, when they removed to Miller County, Ark., and settled within one-half mile of where Texarkana is now located. They took all their negroes with them, but they were shortly afterward set free. Here they resided until 1865, when they removed to Falcon (now Nevada County), where they owned property, and they remained here and at Washington County until 1875, when they removed to near Prescott. Here the father put up a Government distillery, which he ran for several years, it being the first and only distillery near Prescott. He died in 1886, and the mother is still living, residing in Prescott. They had a family of six children, four of whom are still living, viz.: Mrs. A. Watson (of Clarksville, Tex.), Mrs. Riley, Guy and May. The subject of this sketch was raised principally in Arkansas, receiving his education in the common schools of Washington, Falcon and Camden, and at the age of eighteen years he came to Prescott and embarked in the mercantile business which he continued for about two years. He then engaged in the wholesale liquor business for his father, running eight saloons. He continued in this business for five years, reading law at spare moments. In 1879 he entered the law office of Attorney Gen. Atkinson & Weber, and in 1884 was admitted to the bar, and has ever since been in practice at Prescott. He is a fine lawyer and a fluent speaker, and his services are much sought for. He has a large and lucrative practice, extending over the Eighth and Ninth Judicial Circuits. He was married in 1885, to Miss Ida Willingham, by whom he has one son, Shelton. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are members of the Christian Church. When Mr. Nelson quit the liquor business he was $10,000 in debt, but this account he has settled, paying this out of the proceeds of his profession. He certainly deserves considerable credit for ability in managing his financial, as well as his professional affairs. He is not actively engaged in politics, as he is so deeply engrossed with his profession. He has served two terms as mayor of Prescott.

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This family biography is one of 96 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Nevada County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Nevada County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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