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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Union 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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John G. Bull is accounted a prosperous farmer of Union County, Ark., and like the majority of native Alabamians he is progressive in his views and possesses an energetic temperament. The estate which he is now engaged in tilling comprises 360 acres of land, and of this 140 acres are under cultivation, yielding an average amount of grain and cotton. In addition to this calling, which has received his attention the greater part of his life, he has on his farm an excellent cotton-gin, to which he devoted a considerable portion of his time during the season. He is a native of Talladega County, Ala., born March 8, 1843, and is the third of five children born to Martin T. and Martha (Gray) Bull, who were for a number of years residents of Alabama. The father died in Cherokee County, Tex., in 1882, at the age of seventy-four, and the mother in 1848, at an early age, both members of the Presbyterian Church. The paternal grandfather was one of the earliest settlers of Alabama, and was killed by an Indian. John G. Bull’s early education was quite limited, and at the age of eighteen years he began doing for himself, soon after joining the Confederate army as a private in Company K, Tenth Alabama Infantry, and served thus for two years, when he was promoted to sergeant, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. He was in the battle of Seven Pines, both battles of Fredericksburg, the Wilderness and a number of other important engagements in Virginia. He received three slight wounds, but was not taken prisoner at any time, and after the war returned to his home in Alabama, where he remained a short time, then came to Union County, Ark., and here has since made his home. His marriage, which occurred March 24, 1867, to Miss Fannie J. Gray, has resulted in the birth of nine children, the following of whom are living: William W., James M., Mattie S., Mary F. and Susan C. Mrs. Bull’s parents, E. M. and Sophronia (Rodgers) Gray, were born in Alabama. Mr. Bull is a Democrat, and in 1874 was elected to the office of magistrate, and has filled the position up to the present time, with the exception of 1880-81. He and his wife are worthy members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 84 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Union County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Union County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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