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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha 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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James B. Amburn, proprietor of the Hotel Saloon, and a farmer of Franklin Township, was born in East Tennessee in 1858, and is the son of Gabriel and Elizabeth J. (Haynes) Amburn, natives, also, of Tennessee. Gabriel Amburn moved to Louisiana in 1859, engaged in the blacksmith’s trade, but of late years has been tilling the soil successfully in connection. He moved to Arkansas on January 8, 1870, settled where he now lives in Chicot County, and is now busily employed upon his farm. Although he is now getting along in years, and is quite well fixed in this world’s goods, he still does a little smithing for his neighbors and himself. Of the four children born to his marriage, two only are now living: Robert F. H. and James B. Those deceased were named: Frankie L. (died at the age of five years), and Sallie Ann (died at the age of twenty-six years, and was the wife S. M. Raborn, of Chicot County). The mother of these children died on July 19, 1889, at the age of sixty-six years. By a former marriage she became the mother of three children: Joe (now residing in Bowie, Montague County, Tex.), Elizabeth J. (widow of a Mr. Rogers), and W. B. F. (who resides at Point Comfort, Chicot County, Ark., and is an extensive planter). James B. Amburn was principally educated in Chicot County, Ark., but finished in Desha County. He began farming on his father’s place at the age of twenty-two years, and rented land of him for two years. In 1882 he engaged as clerk for J. C. Crenshaw, and was with him but one year, when he went to Little Rock, and engaged in the dairy business for one year. In 1884 he embarked in the saloon business at Trippe Station, as partner of R. D. Crenshaw, but was there only one year, when he moved to Arkansas City (1885), following the same occupation as before. He has been very successful at this, has one of the finest bars in the city, and has a large trade. He is gentlemanly and courteous in his intercourse with the public, and extends a warm welcome to the stranger entering his place of business. He is also interested in farming, and owns a nice farm of 156 acres, in Chicot County, with forty acres under cultivation. He is also renting in this county a large plantation of 600 acres, known as the Duffin Place, and devotes much of his time to this farm, while he rents his own. He was married in September, 1888, to Miss Ida May Leverett, of Arkansas City. She was born in Desha County in 1865. Mr. Amburn is a member of the K. of P., Valley Lodge No. 21, and is treasurer of the Uniformed Rank, Division 12. He is a member of the Grand Lodge of this State. He was elected coroner of the county in 1884, which position he filled in a satisfactory manner. He gives his hearty support to all enterprises that tend to develop the resources of his county, and is one of the thorough business men of the place.

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This family biography is one of 80 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Desha County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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