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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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William Jasper Craven is a resident of Calhoun County, Summersville post-office, Jackson Township, and was born June 29, 1849. His parents, George W. and Agnes M. (Webb) Craven; came from Bibb County, Ala., to Union County, Ark., about 1849, and here it was that our subject was born, the eldest of a family of five children, viz.: William J., Elizabeth, Amanda, Mary Jane and Columbus. The latter died in July, 1863. The subject of this short sketch commenced doing for himself at the age of twenty-one years, selecting farming as his occupation. He owns a farm of 240 acres, with eighty under cultivation. Mr. Craven was married in 1873, to Miss Martha L. Ricks, a daughter of J. D. and Martha M. Ricks, who came from North Carolina about 1848, and settled in Calhoun County. To this union have been born six children, all living, viz.: Martha A., James David, William A., Annetta M., Robert J., and Carrie L. Although taking no active part in the politics of his county, Mr. Craven is a stanch Democrat. He is at present serving as magistrate; was first elected in 1874, and has served ever since, with the exception of two years, when he was elected, but resigned. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also of the Farmers’ Alliance and Industrial Union. Mr. Craven takes a deep interest in all things that concern the welfare of the community in which he resides.

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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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