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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Grant 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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W. C. C. Dorough. One of the most popular men of Sheridan is W. C. C. Dorough, whose social nature renders him welcome anywhere. In the discharge of the duties of his office, he is accurate and energetic, being unremitting in the conduct of business. He was born in Coahoma County, Miss., April 11, 1843, and is the son of W. W. and Catherine (Cain) Dorough, natives of Georgia and Tennessee, respectively. W. W. Dorough spent his younger days in Georgia, but went to Tennessee and taught school for a time. He was a man of unusually fine aptitude for teaching, and those who secured his services considered themselves very fortunate. He moved to Alabama for a time, but returned to East Tennessee, in 1830, going to Coahoma County, Miss., in 1841 or 1842. His death occurred in that State December 5, 1845, his wife surviving him until September, 1853. W. C. C. Dorough was left an orphan at the age of ten years. He made his home with a brother in Mississippi till 1859, and then came to Arkansas and located also with a brother in Pulaski County. Besides receiving the best education to be had at the common and select schools, he was tutored by a teacher of no mean ability. That he profited by the advantages given him is demonstrated beyond a doubt, and is shown by his career since then. Upon coming to Arkansas he engaged in his profession in this and adjoining counties and met with desirable success. Mr. Dorough enlisted in the Confederate army (Eleventh Arkansas Infantry) in 1861, and the last two years was in the mounted infantry. He was promoted to sergeantship and served until the close of the war, when he was paroled at Jackson, Miss., having participated in the fight at Island No. 10, Jackson (La.), Keller’s Lane (La.), Bolton’s Depot and Clinton (Miss.). This was a fight through the State, and lasted thirty-one days. After the close of the war he returned to Saline County, where he engaged in teaching and farming up to 1875. He was then elected assessor of Grant County and served an unexpired term of a resigned assessor, being elected in 1878 as sheriff and collector of the county. From 1880 to 1882 he served as deputy clerk, and in the fall of 1882 was appointed county examiner by the county court, and served that term. In the fall of 1884 ho was again elected sheriff, at the expiration of which term he was reelected, and again in 1888, and is now serving his fourth term as sheriff. Mr. Dorough was associated in the mercantile business for about one year with one Mr. Shepherd. His first marriage occurred in Saline (now Grant) County October 5, 1865, to Cynthia A. Streeter, a native of Mississippi. She died January 5, 1888, leaving five children, three having died in infancy. His second choice was Mary Ella Bird (nee Posey), a pleasant and accomplished lady and a native of Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Dorough are consistent members of the Baptist Church. The former belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is now secretary of his lodge.

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This family biography is one of 68 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Grant County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Grant County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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