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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Saline 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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Dr. J. W. Walton, physician and surgeon, of Traskwood Township, was born in Saline (now Grant) County, January 23, 1863, and is the son of James and Angelena (Poe) Walton, natives of Mississippi and Arkansas, respectively. James Walton came to Arkansas in 1860 and followed the occupation of a carpenter for one year, but afterward engaged in farming. He enlisted in the army at the commencement of hostilities, and was killed at or near Atlanta, Ga. His body, like many others, fills an unknown grave. Mrs. Walton was a daughter of Simon B. Poe, a farmer and native of North Carolina, and a distant relative of Edgar Allen Poe. Mrs. Walton’s death occurred in 1866, she leaving two small children to fight life’s battles for themselves. Newton J. Walton, the older of the brothers, is now married and resides in Lonoke County, Ark. Dr. J. W. Walton lived with his maternal grandparents, S. B. Poe and wife, the latter’s death occurring in 1874. He then cared for his grandmother, the support of her and a daughter devolving upon him for eight years. When Miss Poe was married J. W. was free to act for himself. From six to eleven years of age he attended school in Little Rock, and from his eleventh to his twenty-second year passed through the experiences mentioned. During the years 1882 and 1884 he worked at farming and stock trading, but in the spring of 1885 entered the Redfield school at Redfield, Jefferson County, Ark. In 1886 and 1887 he attended the Benton graded school. Long before this time young Walton had decided that he should study medicine, so from the latter part of 1887 until the fall of 1888 he studied faithfully, and in 1889 took a course in the medical department of the Arkansas Industrial University at Little Rock. In April, 1889, he became the partner of Dr. D. N. Fisher, and in that connection is rapidly building up an enviable reputation. One of the harder features of his work is driving to surrounding localities, but this he does not mind, being assured a hearty welcome, and the country at large look upon him as the direct alleviation of their suffering. Dr. Walton owns 140 acres of land in Grant County, thirty of which are cultivated, the balance being covered with good timber. He also owns a fine farm of forty acres of timber land near the Mississippi River and eight miles below Helena. Dr. Walton votes with the Democratic party. He is public spirited and progressive, giving his support to schools, churches, and any enterprise designed for the public good.

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This family biography is one of 100 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Saline County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Saline County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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