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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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William McLelland, a representative farmer and stock-raiser of Nevada County, as well as one of its oldest residents, is a native of Arkansas, born near Prescott, June 16, 1824. His father was born in North Carolina, and when a young man, in 1814, he came to Hempstead County, Ark., being among the very first settlers of this part of the State. He was a farmer and hunter, and died in Nevada County, in 1836, aged thirty-eight years. He married Miss Hulda Grayson, a native of Kentucky, who came to Arkansas with her parents, when she was twelve years of age. Her parents died in Louisiana. She was an earnest Christian woman, and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. She lived to a ripe old age, dying February 21, 1871, in her seventy-first year. By her union with Mr. McLelland, she was the mother of seven children, the subject of this sketch being the fourth child, two of whom are now living, viz.: William (our subject), and Emily (now the wife of M. T. McClain, a farmer of this county). The subject of this short sketch spent his school days here and in Texas. When he was fourteen years of age he went with a brother-in-law to La Grange, Tex., remaining there four years, going to school, riding races, etc. At the end of that time he came back to Arkansas, and commenced to farm for himself, at which he has continued ever since. He has always been interested in stock, fine horses, etc., and has always had the best brought to this county, and as good as any in the State. He is the owner of about 1,000 acres of land, a good portion of which is under an excellent state of cultivation. When a boy he was unfortunate enough to lose one of his limbs (his left leg). When he was seven years old he was in company with a man on the prairie, who was riding a stallion. The vicious animal made a dash at young McLelland’s horse, and caught him by the leg, dragging him from his position. The stallion reared up on his hind legs, holding the boy in his mouth until he fell under the horse, the horse running away with the boy’s leg in his mouth, which he carried one-half mile before he dropped it. Although unable to take an active part in the late war, our subject served his cause faithfully by remaining at home and looking after those who were unable to go into the service, seeing that they were provided with something to eat, etc. Before the war he had accumulated considerable property, and although he lost heavily during that period, he has regained all he lost. Ho served as justice of the peace, for twelve years, and as bailiff for six years before the war. August 12, 1847, he was married, selecting as his companion in life Miss Hannah De Woody, a native of Tennessee, born in 1827. This union has resulted in the birth of four children, still living, viz.: Mary C. (wife of James A. Pagan, a farmer of this county), Ella L. (wife of W. S. Hesterly, a farmer of this county), Fredericks, and George W. (at home). Of those dead, John E. died in his twentieth year, while the rest died in infancy. Mrs. McLelland has been a member of the Protestant Methodist Church for many years. Mr. McLelland is a member of the Alliance. He is a Jeffersonian Democrat, and now votes for what he considers the best man. He is one of the county’s enterprising and best citizens, and at all times takes a deep interest in educational matters, and all enterprises for the good of the community, and is a liberal contributor to the same.

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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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