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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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William E. Poe, farmer, merchant and postmaster and a resident of DeKalb Township, was born July 21, 1853, and is the son of Judge W. T. and Sarah E. (Reynolds) Poe, both natives of Alabama. Judge Poe resided in Alabama until 1850, when he moved to Arkansas and settled on the place where his son now resides. He started a store here about 1804, and established a post-office and served as postmaster until his death in 1884. His wife died when William was an infant. He was married three times, his first wife being the mother of William E. Judge Poe served as county judge both of Saline and Grant Counties after the division of the territory, and also held other official offices, discharging his trusts in a capable manner. William E. received an excellent education in the common schools, and was afterward sent to the university at Fayetteville. After completing his literary learning he returned home and remained with his father until his marriage, which occurred December 27, 1876, to Miss Sarah E. Holiman, a daughter of Joshua Holiman (whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume). After this event Mr. Poe located on the same tract of land on which he now resides, and has been carrying on farming quite extensively since that time. One might think that his farming operations would occupy all his time and attention, but he succeeded his father as postmaster at Belfast, and has held that office to the entire satisfaction of the community. Mr. Poe engaged in the mercantile business in 1884, and that he has made a success of it in every way is evinced by the large and substantial trade he has established. The connection of the name of Judge Poe with any business transaction is a guarantee of perfect satisfaction to all concerned. He was elected justice of the peace of DeKalb Township, Grant County, in 1884, was re-elected in 1886, and again in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Poe have six children: Minnie Lee, Dora, Samuel A., Alma, Walter and Mellie. They are members of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Poe is a Master Mason, in which order he is Junior Warden.

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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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