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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ashley 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 F. Ramsaur, planter, Hamburg, Ark. This prominent agriculturist was originally from North Carolina, his birth occurring in that State on January 17, 1819, and is one of the old and much esteemed citizens of this county. His father, Jonas Ramsaur, was a pioneer planter of North Carolina. In that State our subject grew to manhood, and as public schools were few and academies and colleges almost unknown, as a matter of course his education was limited. When he reached twenty-one years of age, he engaged in the tannery business, which he carried on for ten years. In 1847 he went to Mississippi, located in Marshall County, near Holly Springs, and there farmed for about ten years. Not being altogether satisfied, he moved to Arkansas in the winter of 1858-59, bought land and added to this until he owned 1,200 acres of beautiful hill land. At the present time he is the owner of 800 acres of land, and has 100 acres under cultivation. He was married on January 15, 1846, to Miss Sarah Ramsaur, a cousin, and they became the parents of one child. Mrs. Ramsaur died in June, 1848, and her little daughter is now grown, and the wife of W. P. Shuford, of Fort Smith, Ark. Mr. Ramsaur was married, the second time, in 1851, to Miss C. P. Wellborn, of Mississippi, and the daughter of Maj. W. W. Wellborn, who was a noted participant in the Creek and Seminole War. To Mr. and Mrs. Ramsaur have been born seven children, three of whom are living: Clark W. (born November 29, 1851); Susan E. (born January 6, 1856), and Willie E. (born in October, 1868). Clark W. married Miss Dora, daughter of Gen. J. L. Hawkins, and to them were born six children. Susan E. is now the wife of W. A. Lawson, married in 1880, and is now the mother of four children. Mr. Ramsaur has been an honored member of the Presbyterian Church for forty years, and is at this time an elder in the same. He helped to build and did most of the organizing of the first church in Ashley County, and is a man who takes a first place in all enterprises for the good of the same.

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This family biography is one of 97 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ashley County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Ashley County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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