My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Poinsett 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.

* * * *

B. F. Powell is a well-to-do planter of the county, this occupation having received his attention from early boyhood, and after his marriage, which occurred in Poinsett County, Ark., in 1872, he purchased a timber tract embracing 160 acres of land, and now has 100 acres cleared and under cultivation, which he devotes to raising cotton and corn. He is independent in his political views, but is an active advocate of schools, and has been a member of the school board in his district for twelve years, in every respect being a public-spirited citizen. On the 26th of February, 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Twenty third Arkansas Infantry, and was a participant in the battles of Corinth, Iuka, Port Hudson and others, remaining on active duty until the close of the war. The maiden name of his wife was Miss S. L. J. Clampet, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Henry and Mary (Riley) Clampet, also of that State, who came to Arkansas at an early day. The mother died a few years ago, but the father is still living, a resident of this county. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Powell was blessed in the birth of eight children, five now living: Mary H., Sue E., Arthur Lee, David C. and Daisy, Those deceased are Laura M., who died in 1882, at the age of eight years; Anna Jane, whose death occurred in 1885, at the age of five years, and Henry E., who died in 1889, at the age of eleven years. Mr. Powell was born in Greene County, Ala., in 1845, and is the fifth in a family of eight children born to James E. and Harriet H. (Burton) Powell, who were born in the “Palmetto State,’’ but settled in Alabama, and in 1849 removed to Poinsett County, Ark., making this State their permanent abode until their respective deaths, March 4, 1861, and June 27, 1861. The father was a farmer throughout life.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 70 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Poinsett County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Poinsett County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.