William F. Avants, a planter, living on Petit Jean Mountain, in Cedar Falls Township, is a native of Conway County, born April 24, 1865. He is a son of Cary and Elizabeth W. Higgins Avants; father is a native of Anderson County, Tennessee, where he was born September 4, 1830, and has always followed the occupation of farmer; mother is a native of Hempstead County, Arkansas; born March 23, 1832. They were married in Conway County, Arkansas, April 19, 1863. To this union was born four children, three sons and one daughter, two of whom have died, William F., James N., Clara (deceased). Mr. Avants, Sr., enlisted in the Confederate service in 1862, and served in the infantry until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Prairie Grove, Fayetteville, Little Rock, Ilelena and almost innumerable skirmishes. On his return from the war, he engaged actively in farming and has followed that occupation since. He has always taken an active part in laudable enterprises for the advancement of the community in which he resides. He served as Justice of Higgins Township for four years, and was school director for twelve years or more. He now lives on his well improved and pleasant farm of eighty acres, with sixty under a high state of cultivation, of which his son William has the main supervision and care. He lost his excellent wife in 1889. This worthy couple for years held membership in the Presbyterian Church. Mr. William Avants was married December 26, 1887, to Miss Maggie M. Deeter. She is a daughter of Daniel and Hannah Love Deeter, and was born in Pennsylvania, April 26, 1868; parents are natives of Pennsylvania, and were born (father) in 1834 and (mother) 1830. They were married in Pennsylvania in 1854, and were the parents of eight children, six of whom are now living; George W., Mary E. (deceased), Clara A., Charles P., Andrew E. (deceased), Maggie M., Lucy E., and William S. Mrs. Deeter died in Pennsylvania, February 27, 1884; father and family came to Arkansas the next year, and settled in Conway County, where he now resides. Mother was and father is, a member of the M. E. Church. To the union of our subject and his wife have been born two interesting children, named William C. and James D. The family hold membership in the Methodist Church, South.

Lisa Hamilton submitted the above data from Goodspeeds; she did so to help others, is not researching the above person or families mentioned therein.

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