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Below is a family biography included in The History of Benton 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.

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Raphiel W. Hansard, photographer, of Bentonville, was born in Knox County, Tenn., in 1838, son of Samuel H. and Armenia L. (Weir) Hansard, and grandson of William Hansard, who was a native of Virginia, was a farmer and miller by occupation, owning a mill on Bull Run Creek, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He died in 1845 at the age of eighty-three years. Samuel H. was born in Knox County, Tenn., and was a tiller of the soil. He moved to Polk County, Mo., in 1846, and in a few years moved to Cedar County, where he was killed in his own house by the State Militia, in 1863. His wife, Armenia L. Weir, was born in Knox County, Tenn., in 1816, and was of French-Irish extraction. Her death occurred in 1864. She was the mother of eleven children, nine of whom are now living. Raphiel W. Hansard was but a small boy when his parents moved to Missouri, and was educated in the schools of that State. He attained his growth on the farm, and at the age of twenty years commenced teaching and followed that occupation for five terms in Missouri and two terms in Arkansas. April, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Third Regiment Missouri Cavalry, under Gen. Price, in the State Guards. In 1862, while at Cane Hill, he enlisted in Jackman’s company, but later he enlisted in Company C, Third Regiment Cavalry, under Gen. Shelby. He was in the battles of Wilson’s Creek, Dry Wood, Lexington, Marks’ Mill and a great many skirmishes. He surrendered at Shreveport, La., June, 1865. He entered as a private, but in 1863 he was made third lieutenant of Company C. After the war Mr. Hansard located in Lawrence County, Mo., and commenced learning photography in July, 1866, at Verona. He took up the business on his own ingenuity, only being taught how to make a few pictures by his brother, J. W. Hansard. In November, 1866, Mr. Hansard became a resident of Bentonville, established a gallery and has since continued at the business. In 1867 he married Mrs. Sarah C. Railey, nee Fergusson, daughter of John N. Fergusson. Mrs. Hansard was born in Marion County, Mo., April 26, 1842, and by her marriage became the mother of three children: Ida L., Armenia May and Author R. Mrs. Hansard has two children by a former marriage: Edward A. Railey and Laura, wife of W. V. Steel. Mr. Hansard is a first-class artist, and was the only one in Bentonville until a year ago. He thoroughly understands the science and art of photography, and makes pictures equal to any outside of Little Rock, He does all kinds of enlarging, and not only has a reputation at home, but abroad as well, as being a first class artist, but his work speaks for itself. Mr. Hansard was coroner of Benton County two years, was alderman in Bentonville two terms, is a member of the I. O. O. F. , is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he is Democratic in his political views.

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This family biography is one of 240 biographies included in The History of Benton County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Benton County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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