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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Randolph 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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William DeClerk is an example of the industrious and progressive farmer, and like all his countrymen he is prudent and frugal. He was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1850, and at the age of six years he was put to school and was kept at his books until he attained his sixteenth year. In his youth he learned the intricacies of farm life from his father, a shrewd, practical tiller of the soil, but also gave a considerable portion of his attention to the miller’s trade, with which he became thoroughly familiar. He was married in his native land to Miss Mary C. Frenken, whose birth occurred in 1852, and their union has been blessed in the birth of two children: Joseph, and Mary, who died at the age of seven months. In 1880, with the intention of bettering his position, he emigrated to the United States, landing at New York City, and came directly to Pocahontas, and, as he had a comfortable sum of money with which to start in life in a new country, he purchased a farm comprising 200 acres of land, which he is putting in good shape for farming. His parents, Joseph and Agnes (Mechels) DeClerk, were born in the Kingdom of Prussia, and of their two children our subject is the elder. Grandfather DeClerk is a farmer of Germany. The father served in the regular army, and he and his wife died in their native land. The grandfather was a Frenchman, and the maternal grandfather was a miller by trade as were his ancestors as far back as they can be traced.

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This family biography is one of 110 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Randolph County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Randolph County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Randolph County, Arkansas family biographies here: Randolph County, Arkansas Biographies

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