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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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Hon. Rufus K. Garland (deceased) was one of the prominent men of the State. He was born in Tipton County, Tenn., May 22, 1830, a son of Rufus K., Sr., and Barbara (Hill) Garland, both of Tennessee. When he was but four years of age his parents moved to Arkansas (in 1834), locating in Washington, Hempstead County, where Rufus K. was reared. He received a fine education, graduating at St. Joseph’s College, at Bairdstown, Ky. On completing his education he returned to Arkansas, and in 1858-59 was elected to the Legislature from Hempstead County, and again served in 1860-61, and at the called session of 1861. During the early part of the war he served as a captain of Confederate infantry, but in the fall of 1862 was elected to the Confederate Congress, in which body he served with distinction. At the close of the war he settled down on his farm in Prairie De Anne, in Hempstead (now Nevada) County, where he lived the life of a plain farmer. In 1874 he was a delegate to the convention that framed the present constitution, and took a prominent part in the debates of that body. In 1879 he left the Democratic party and became the acknowledged leader of the Greenback movement, of which he was one of the founders, and in 1882 was this party’s candidate for governor against Gov. Berry. He was a brilliant and talented man, and stood high in the estimation of the public. He was married in February, 1853, to Miss Isabella, daughter of the late Dr. James H. Walker, a highly accomplished lady, who survives him. He died in December, 1886, leaving his widow and a host of friends to mourn their loss.

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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

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

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