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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Prairie 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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Prof. Hugh McQ. Lynn, the well-known postmaster of Des Arc, Ark., was born in Chester County, S. C, April 10, 1837, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (McQuiston) Lynn, also natives of the Palmetto State, where they were reared, educated and married. In December, 1837, they moved to Tennessee, and settled in Tipton County, where the father followed agricultural pursuits until his death in January, 1886, his wife following him to the grave in April, 1889. Prof. Lynn’s early youth was spent in Tipton County, and he acquired an education far beyond the average farmer’s boy, owing to the fact that he was studious and persevering, and received superior advantages. He entered Erskine College, S. C., and graduated from this institution when twenty-two years of age, after which he engaged in teaching in Tipton County, holding the position of principal of an academy. After coming to Arkansas, in 1872, he engaged in teaching school in Lonoke County, continuing one year, then followed the same occupation in Des Arc for nine years, and also taught for some time at Hazen. He is an educator of more than local celebrity, and up to the spring of 1889 his entire time and attention was given to his profession, but since then he has held the position of postmaster of Des Arc, but only entered actively upon his duties on September 1, 1889. He was married in Tennessee, April 10, 1862, to Miss Martha S. Simpson, a native of that State, and by her became the father of two sons and one daughter: Dr. J. R. (of Hazen), W. C. (a book-keeper by profession) and Nannie E. (a young lady, and Mr. Lynn’s principal assistant in the post-office). At the opening of the Civil War, Mr. Lynn espoused the Confederate cause, and in May, 1861, joined the Ninth Tennessee Infantry, as a private, and served until the close of the war, being paroled at Memphis, Tenn., in July, 1865. He was in the fights at Chickamauga and Franklin, but the most of the time served on detached duty in the ordnance department. Prof. Lynn has shown his brotherly spirit by becoming a member of the Masonic fraternity, and the K. of H., and in the former organization has attained the Royal Arch degree, and has been Worshipful Master and High Priest, and in the latter order is Past Dictator. He and family are members of the Old School Presbyterian Church, and he is an elder in the same.

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This family biography is one of 94 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Prairie County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Prairie County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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