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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pope County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891.  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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P. J. Harvill. Among the many sturdy “sons of the soil” of Pope County, Ark., who have attained a good competency in their calling by the sweat of their brow and who command an enviable social position, is Mr. Harvill, who was born in this county October 15, 1847, to M. W. and Elizabeth (Luton) Harvill, both of whom were born in Tennessee, the former in 1812. He was a farmer and was married in this county, his union resulting in the birth of five children—two sons and three daughters—of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, and the only child now living. Those dead are Polly A., Sarah E., Nancy and one unnamed. The mother of these children was called from the scene of her earthly labors in 1856, and two years later Mr. Harvill married Mrs. Jane Ross, and of the following named children born to them, five are now living: William R., G. J., Elizabeth (wife of G. T. Brooks), Edgar and Tennessee. M. W., John, Louis and a child unnamed are deceased. At the time of her death, in 1882, Mrs. Harvill was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and in 1889 Mr. Harvill married a third time, his wife being Mrs. Mary Gilmore, a member, as was her husband, of the Primitive Baptist Church. On March 17, 1890, he was called from life. He had come to this State from Tennessee in 1836, and until his demise was a resident of Pope County, and helped carry the surveyor’s chain over the whole of the southern part of this State. His son, P. J. Harvill, was married in Pope County March 5, 1871, to Miss Cynthia S. Brooks. She was born in this county, October 10, 1853, a daughter of J. H. and Harriet (Yarberry) Brooks, who were Tennesseans, and came to Arkansas with their parents, their marriage taking place in Pope County and five of their nine children survive them: James C. O., Cynthia S. (wife of Mr. Harvill), G. T., Henry F. and T. A. Martha L., Laura, Willie E. and Effie T. are deceased. The father died in 1871 and the mother in 1876, the latter having been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Harvill nine children have been born: George H. (born January 10, 1872), Eler E. (born August 9, 1874, and died October 9, 1874), Ollie (born December 18, 1875), Nora (born July 30, 1878), Sarah (born November 11, 1880), S. M. (born March 21, 1883), Ider P. (born October 7, 1885 and died July 19, 1886), Floyd E. (born May 28, 1887), and Hattie F. (born March 18, 1890). In 1863 Mr. Harvill enlisted in the Federal Army in the Third Arkansas Cavalry, Company A, and served until 1865, being at one time wounded in the right arm by a pistol shot. Since the war he has devoted his attention to farming and is now the owner of 200 acres of land with eighty under cultivation. In 1882 he erected thereon a nice frame residence and besides this his farm is otherwise improved with good barns and an excellent young orchard of about two acres. He has served as justice of the peace six years, and for the last seventeen years has been a school director in his district. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which he is steward and trustee, and he is a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to Russellville Lodge No. 274.

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This family biography is one of 96 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pope County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Pope County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Pope County, Arkansas family biographies here: Pope County, Arkansas

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