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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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James S. Marlar, farmer, Rosston, Ark. Mr. Marlar was born in Tennessee on April 6, 1834, and is the son of William T. Marlar, who was born in Jarvis County, Tenn., on February 16, 1810, and died November 28, 1868. The maiden name of the mother was Caroline C. Baxter, who was born in Alabama in 1812, and who died in 1845. The parents were married in Fayette County, Tenn., in January, 1833, and to them were born eight children, two now living—John T. and Elizabeth. The mother of these children died in 1845, and the father took for his second wife Prudence Davis, who was born in North Carolina in 1810, and who died in 1868. Seven children were born to this union, the following now living: Cyrus T., Sarah M., Jesse D., Charles and Dorcas. Mr. Marlar’s third marriage was to Cynthia Hixon, who was born in South Carolina in 1810, and who died in 1882. His first and second wives were natives of Tennessee, but the third was a native of Arkansas. The father moved to Arkansas in 1853. and engaged in tilling the soil in Nevada County. He was a member of the Sons of Temperance, and he and the mother of our subject were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. James S. Marlar spent his school boy days in the common schools of Tennessee, and started out to fight life’s battles for himself when twenty-one years of age. He began farming in Nevada County, and here he has since continued to reside, honored and esteemed by all acquainted with him. He was married on May 6, 1855, to Miss Elizabeth Hixon, daughter of John and Cynthia Hixon, and a native of Alabama, born on February 10, 1832. Eight children were born to this marriage, the following now living: Virginia E., William S., Mary J., Amanda I., Daniel A., Elizabeth C. and Eugene A. The father was a lieutenant in Col. Hawthorn’s regiment, Arkansas Army, and was under Gen. Price. He was in the battle of Jenkins Ferry, and came home from the army physically disabled. He went to farming in Nevada County; is also the owner of 100 acres of excellent Arkansas land elsewhere. He is at present clerking in Hendrick’s general store at Rosston. James S. Marlar is a very old settler of the county, and is well acquainted with its history. He has always contributed to all worthy enterprises, and is a pleasant, sociable gentleman, being well liked by every one. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and in politics affiliates with the Union Labor party. Strange as it may seem, four of Mr. Marlar’s oldest children saw the marriage of their own grandfather and grandmother. The explanation is that his father married his wife’s mother.

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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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