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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita 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. James W. Juniel is a member of the State Legislature, is State agent for the Memphis fertilizer, and is a prominent planter of Freeo Township. He was born in Halifax County, Va., April 22, 1844, and is a son of John and Julia (Wilkins) Juniel, the former a native of Virginia, born in 1817. They were married near Halifax Court House, and in 1850 came to Ouachita County, Ark., settling on a farm. He is one of the pioneers, and one of the oldest men in the county, and on coming here the nearest trading point was Camden, then a mere village. The mother died on August 12, 1856. The paternal grandfather, John Juniel, was born in Virginia, and died in Ouachita County, in 1861, his wife dying in 1858. The great-grandfather, Sulvester by name, was born in England, and died in Virginia a few months after coming to the United States. Rev. John Wilkins, the maternal grandfather, was probably born in Virginia, and there died a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and he and his wife died when Mrs. Juniel was very small. Hon. James W. Juniel was the eldest of six children, and was reared on a farm, receiving his education in McKenzie College, of Texas, and was in the junior class when the war broke out. He immediately left school and joined Company G, Twelfth Arkansas Infantry, but was disabled at Belmont, was discharged and returned home. After recovering he joined Company G, Third Arkansas Cavalry, and served under Gens. Forrest and Wheeler until December, 1863, when he was placed in the secret service on account of his success as a scout, and acted as a spy for the Confederacy until the close of the war under Capt. A. M. Shannon, and operated in Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. He was wounded twice at Murfreesboro, was captured three times, but managed soon to make his escape each time. After the general surrender his command was ordered to escort Jeff Davis to the sea, and was with him at Atlanta, Ga., for the last time. He came home in August, 1865, and began farming and merchandising at Holly Springs, and was there married on November 8, 1866, to Mary, daughter of Judge James and Mary A. (Hudson) McDaniel, the former of whom was born in North Carolina. At the age of sixteen he went to Alabama, and began as a laborer near Montgomery, but afterward came to New Edinburg, Ark., and here spent the rest of his life, becoming a wealthy citizen. He was probate judge of Bradley County for a number of years, and for a great many years was justice of the peace and postmaster at Eagle Creek. He was a prominent Mason, and was one of the first settlers of his vicinity. He and his wife died in 1887, after having reared a large family of children. Mrs. Juniel was born near New Edinburg, and has borne Mr. Juniel three children, a son and daughter now living: James W. and M. E. Edna. Mr. Juniel has about 3,500 acres of land on Ouachita County, and his wife has over 500 acres in Cleveland County. He has resided on his farm since 1870, and is one of the leading planters in this portion of the State. He is a Democrat in politics, and in 1888 he was elected to the State Legislature from this county, and was chairman of a number of important committees. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., St. John’s Lodge, at Holly Springs, and is a member of the K. of P. Lodge, at Camden, also the K. of H., of that place. He belongs to the Agricultural Wheel, and has been a delegate to the State Wheels on a number of occasions.

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This family biography is one of 91 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Ouachita County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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