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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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John L. Proffitt, although a native of McNairy County, Tenn., born July 22, 1846, has been a resident of Ouachita County, Ark., since about 1869, and has fully identified himself with every interest of the same. His parents, William F. and Senia (Lott) Proffitt, were born in Virginia and Kentucky, respectively, but the former died in the Lone Star State during the Rebellion, when forty-five years of age. He was about twenty-two years old when he left his native State, and was a resident of a number of different States before locating in McNairy County, Tenn. Here he was married, and in 1849 came with his family to Calhoun County, Ark., and here continued to make his home until his removal to Texas, in 1865. After the war his widow returned to Calhoun County, Ark., and here she is now residing, aged about seventy-three or seventy-four years. In his early days Mr. Proffitt acted as an overseer, but in later years turned his attention to mercantile pursuits and farming, becoming quite wealthy, but lost all during the war. He was a Democrat, was justice of the peace in Calhoun County, and he and wife were members of the Primitive Baptist Church. Of a family of six children born to them, four are now living, three being residents of Ouachita County, and one of Calhoun County: H. G. (is a butcher at Camden), William H. (is a farmer of Calhoun County), Sarah (is the wife of James McDonald), and John L. (is a farmer of this county). The latter spent his school days in Calhoun County, and in 1864 joined the Nineteenth Texas Infantry, Confederate States Army, and remained in the service until May, 1865, during which time he was not wounded or taken prisoner. After the war he remained in Texas until 1867; then came back to Arkansas, and, in 1869, located on his present farm. He was married in 1869 to Catharine Yeager, a daughter of Judge Michael Yeager, of Calhoun County. She was born in Ouachita County, Ark., in 1847, and died on March 21, 1871, having been an earnest member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Three and one-half years later Mr. Proffitt wedded Miss Gatsey Pate, a daughter of William Pate, of Calhoun County, formerly, now of this county. She was born in Alabama in 1851, and by Mr. Proffitt she is the mother of six children: Lou, Laura, Mary, Sallie, William C. and Ella. Mrs. Proffitt is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is a Democrat, and since his residence in this county he has been coroner two years.

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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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