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Below is a sample of a family biography
included in the Biographical and Historical
Memoirs of Howard County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed in 1890.
These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing
ancestors or filling in the details in 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.
John K. Props, born in Hempstead County, Ark., January 22, 1830, is now a
prominent planter of Holley Creek, Howard County, Ark. His father, John H.
Props, a native of Tennessee, married Miss Line Scoby, also of that State.
They had eleven children, of whom J. K, M. S., Elizabeth, Sarah B. and Mary B.
are now living. Mr. Props' two grandfathers were the first settlers in
Southern Arkansas, in what is now known as Howard County. He passed his youth
in Centre Point, commencing business on his own behalf at the age of
twenty-four. He was married to Miss Nancy E. Briscoe, who was born February
13, 1834; and died April 30, 1857, in Western Texas. They had two children:
Henderson L. and Nancy C., both of whom are dead. Mr. Props married Miss
Hannah Price, July 22, 1858. She was the daughter of Robert and Mary Price,
and was born December 11, 1825. Mrs. Props is living at the present writing.
Of their children Montgomery and Laura C. are dead; Robert W. and Cerro Gordo
P. are living. Soon after his marriage Mr. Props moved to Texas, devoting his
attention to agriculture, but in a short time returned to Arkansas, settling
in what was then Pike County. At the end of eleven years he sold his property
there, buying at the same time his present valuable farm of 200 acres. He
enlisted June, 1862, in an Arkansas regiment, under Col. Dawson, but became
disabled from sickness and was discharged, after which he served with the Home
Guards until the close of the war. Then he again turned his attention to
farming, and is also very much interested in stock. In politics he is a
Democrat; is a member of the Methodist Church, and a Master Mason. George L.
Rector is a prominent merchant of the town of Nashville, and having lived in
this county from the time he was seven years of age, is well known and highly
respected. His birth occurred in Tennessee, in 1851, being the second of five
children born to William H. and Augusta M. (Cox) Rector, who were also native
Tennesseans, the former a successful merchant of Philadelphia. He began the
battle of life for himself when quite a young man, and after his marriage
moved to Post Oak Springs, where he did a good business for about five years,
after which he removed to Texas, and a year later to what was Hempstead
County, Ark., now Howard County. He settled on a farm on the present site of
Nashville, which comprises 200 acres of fine land, and here he continued to
make purchases from time to time, until he became the owner of 800 acres. In
1860 he opened a store in Nashville, being one of the first merchants of the
town, and here he continued in business until he was closed out by the war. In
the fall of 1865 he reopened his mercantile establishment, in partnership with
W. C. Sypert, the firm name being Rector & Sypert, and this connection lasted
until Mr. Rector's death, in January, 1868. He was a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church for many years, taking an active part and holding offices in
the same, but a few months prior to his death he united with the Christian
Church. His widow survives him, and is in the enjoyment of good health. The
paternal grandfather, Jesse Rector, was a prosperous planter, his land being
situated on the Tennessee River in Tennessee, and here he passed a quiet,
unassuming and truly Christian life until his death in 1862. The immediate
subject of this sketch has been a resident of Nashville, Ark., from his
earliest youth, but his education was received in his native State and in
Virginia, attending Hiwassee College of the former State and Emery and Henry
of the latter. He then spent three years as a clerk in a shoe store in
Louisville, Ky., thus laying the foundation for his business education. In
1876 he returned to Nashville, Ark., and, in partnership with F. P. Holt,
opened a general supply store, which he continued for one year, at the end of
which time he formed a partnership with J. G. W. Yowell, the name of the firm
being Rector & Yowell for six years. They were very successful during this
time, but Mr. Rector withdrew and started a hardware business, now known as
the Rector Hardware Company, his stock being valued at $17,000. He keeps all
kinds of farming implements, including carriages, buggies and wagons, and he
also sells entire saw-mill plants, and has a trade that extends throughout the
adjoining counties and into Indian Territory. His annual sales amount to
$40,000. He is an earnest advocate of public schools, and is at the head of
all enterprises that promise to benefit Nashville, and was an earnest worker
for the building of the railroad through the county, being sent to Memphis at
the railroad convention. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
his wife, who was formerly Miss Willie Kelley, and whom he married in 1883, is
an Episcopalian. She was born in Missouri, a daughter of Dr. William Kelley,
who was a surgeon in the Confederate army and died while in the service. Mr.
and Mrs. Rector are the parents of four children: Henry, Nellie, Lillian and
Jesse.
This family biography is one of 116 biographies
included in the Biographical and
Historical Memoirs of Howard County, Arkansas published
in 1890. For the complete description, click here:
Howard County Arkansas History, Genealogy
and Maps
View additional Howard County,
Arkansas biographies here:
Howard County, Arkansas Genealogy
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