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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Calhoun 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 E. York. In writing a history of Calhoun County, mention should be made of the man whose name heads this sketch. He was born in this county July 30, 1855, being the eldest child of Thomas M. and Nancy J. York, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Tennessee. They were married in this county about 1854, and here they continued until the death of the father. The mother is still living in this county. The subject of this sketch was reared and schooled in this county, receiving a fair education in the common county schools, and at the age of twenty-one years began doing for himself, selecting farming as his occupation. He now owns eighty acres of land, thirty-five of which are under an excellent state of cultivation. He was married in Calhoun County, Ark., in 1876, to Miss Viola Ritchie, fifth child of Samuel and Elizabeth Ritchie, who moved from Pontotoc County, Miss., settling in Calhoun County, Ark. Mr. and Mrs. York have had born to them four children, viz.: Anna I., Thomas S., Harvey A. and William B., all of whom are living. Mr. York does not take an active part in politics, and votes with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Farmers’ Union, which he joined about 1886. Both Mr. and Mrs. York are members of the Presbyterian Church, the former joined in 1888 and the latter in 1875. Mr. York takes a deep interest in all public matters, and is highly esteemed and respected by his neighbors.

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This family biography is one of 67 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Calhoun County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Calhoun County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Calhoun County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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