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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Howard 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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Hon. James D. Shaver, attorney, Centre Point Ark. Prominent among the young men of Howard County, whose career thus far has been both honorable and successful, is the subject of the present sketch. He was born at Reed's Creek, Ark., on February 28, 1861, and is the second of eight children born to Col. R. G. and Adelaide L. (Ringgold) Shaver, the father a native of Sullivan County, Tenn., and the mother of Batesville, Ark. The father resides at Nashville, Ark., and is a noted representative of the legal profession. He figured conspicuously in the late war. James D. Shaver attained his growth in Arkansas, and received a good practical education in the common schools, which he increased very materially by his individual efforts. He began the study of law under his father in 1882, and in 1884 was admitted to the bar at Centre Point, practicing his profession in partnership with his father until 1889. Then by mutual consent they dissolved partnership, James D. remaining in Centre Point, where he has since practiced by himself. While with his father in the law business, they were engaged by the defendants in the noted Brooks murder case, in which they cleared their clients. They were also engaged in the Bussell murder case, in which the jury failed to agree. He was elected to represent this county on the Democratic ticket in the General Assembly for the term of 1888 and 1890, and to say that his official duties were discharged in a satisfactory manner would be superfluous, for it is known that his career in the House was a marked one. He introduced a bill for an amendment to the constitution changing the mode and manner of levying and collecting school tax, in the passage of which he was unsuccessful. He also introduced a bill putting all writings under seal upon the same footings as writings not under seal, so far as statute of limitation is concerned. This bill became a law. Mr. Shaver was married, on December 16, 1884, to Miss Sallie H. Borden, an accomplished lady of Somerset, Ky., and a daughter of the late Benjamin J. Borden, who was for a number of years editor of the Little Rock Gazette. Mr. Borden was for some time principal of the high school at Tulip, and also filled a chair at the Fayetteville University. Early in life he was engaged in the legal profession, and was at one time Supreme Court reporter. Later he became a celebrated local divine in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in 1888 at the age of seventy-four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Shaver has been born one bright boy, Robert Benjamin. Mr. Shaver is a Democrat, and takes an active part in politics, having served as chairman of the Democratic Central Committee. He has also filled the position of mayor of Centre Point two terms.

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This family biography is one of 116 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Howard County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Howard County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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