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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Phillips 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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E. D. Pillow, sheriff, Helena, Ark. Mr. Pillow the popular sheriff of Phillips County, though born in Columbia, Tenn., on May 17, 1846, has been a resident of Phillips County, Ark., since 1866, and the confidence which the people have in him, is therefore intelligently placed, for in that time they have had every opportunity to judge of his character and qualifications. His parents, Jerome B. and Elvira (Dale) Pillow, were both natives of Middle Tennessee, and the grandparents were among the early settlers of that State. The paternal grandfather was in the War of 1812. The father of E. D. Pillow, Jerome Pillow, was a brother of Gen. Gideon J. Pillow, who made a lasting reputation in the Mexican War. Jerome B. was a farmer, and sometime in the 40’s he came to Phillips County and invested largely in real estate, although he never resided in the county. He is still living in Tennessee, and is in his eightieth year. The mother died in 1889. They were the parents of seven children: Mrs. J. W. Q. Ridley, Mrs. Lena Long, Mrs. W. D; Bethel, Mrs. John M. Gray, Mrs. Minter Parker, Edward D. and Jerome B. Edward D. Pillow, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Tennessee, and received a limited education in that State. When in his sixteenth year, or in 1862, he enlisted in Company E, First Tennessee, and served until the surrender, being but nineteen years of age when the war closed. He was in many hard fought battles, and was a brave and daring soldier. In 1866 he came to Helena and engaged in farming, which pursuit he has since continued. He is the owner of about 3,000 acres of land, has about 1,600 acres under cultivation, and is deeply interested in the raising of cotton. In 1884 he was elected sheriff, re-elected in 1886 and 1888, and is now serving his third term. He was married to Miss Emma Rice, a daughter of Dr. F. H. Rice, and to this union were born three children: William B., Edward Rice and Camille Polk.

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This family biography is one of 103 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Phillips County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Phillips County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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