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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Garland 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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S. H. Stitt, proprietor Arlington Hotel, Hot Springs, Ark. There is nothing adds so much to the prestige of a city, in the estimation of a stranger, as first-class hotel accommodations. Prominent among those of Hot Springs comes the old and familiar Arlington House, which name has about it the ring of a familiar and tried friend. The proprietor, Mr. Stitt, is a native of Tennessee, was reared in Nashville, and there received his education in the public schools. At the age of sixteen years he engaged in business, principally the hotel occupation, and in 1867 came to Little Rock, where he was in the ice trade until 1869. He then located at Hot Springs, and in 1870 opened the Hot Springs Hotel, associated with Maj. W. H. Gaines, and ran this until 1874, when he sold out. Then in connection with Col. W. S. Fordyce, president of the St. Louis & Texas Railroad, he erected the Arlington Hotel, which is now the most popular house at Hot Springs. It is located near bath-houses and has every convenience. The house contains 180 rooms, and special rates are made to commercial men. Mr. Stitt is a prince among hotel men, is naturally suited and adapted for it; he keeps his help constantly under supervision, and sees that guests are properly cared for. His marriage took place in 1875 to Miss Augusta, daughter of Maj. W. H. Gaines, and by her became the father of five children. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the I. O. O. F. He was born at Bridgeport, England, but came to America with his parents when an infant, and located in Nashville, Tenn.

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This family biography is one of 55 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Garland County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Garland County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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