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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Perry County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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 W. Magie. The farming and mercantile interests of the southwest part of this county are ably represented by Mr. Magie, who is located at Hollis, twenty-five miles from the county seat. He is the son of Benjamin and Nancy Ann (Hickman) Magie. The former, of English descent, was born in Illinois, and at the age of sixteen left his parents, who had removed to Ohio, and came to Saline County, Ark., where he married. Here John W. was born, April 13, 1851. His father died in 1872, in Saline County; his wife, a native of Tennessee, departing this life in June, 1871. She was the mother of seven children, two of whom are now living: Davis and our subject. James W. was reared in Saline County, but, as the war broke out when he was about to attend school, he was deprived of an education. At the age of twenty-one years he left home, and went to Texas, where he herded cattle for a while, and then worked on a farm. After nine months he returned to Saline County. In 1876 he removed to Perry County, and in 1882 opened a general store. Selling out in 1884, he again went to Texas, tarried there till October of the same year, then returned again to Perry County, and in 1885 embarked in the mercantile business at Hollis. He is still occupied in this branch of trade, and carries a stock worth $300. His first store was in McCool Township. He has 160 acres of land, about sixty under cultivation. Mr. Magie has been a member of Aplin Lodge No. 444, A. F. & A. M., since 1882. He is a Democrat and a good citizen, taking great interest in promoting the welfare of the county. In September, 1873, he married Miss Nancy M. Adz, who was born in Saline County in 1854. They have had six children, five of whom are living: Ethel J., John M., Rhoda A., William M. and Hattie A.

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This family biography is one of 53 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Perry County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Perry County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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