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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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Samuel Kelley, the subject of this sketch, is a prominent planter and minister of Muddy Fork Township, Howard County, Ark., and was born May 5, 1817, in Clark County, Louisiana Territory, which is now Pike County, Ark. He is a son of William and Rebecca (McMann) Kelley, who were married in Illinois in 1814, and moved from Illinois to Arkansas, in the fall of 1815. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812, under Whitesides, being made paymaster-general in Jackson's administration. Afterward he was justice of the peace for many years; was also probate judge of Pike County, and by profession a Baptist minister, who finally changed his views, uniting with the Christian Church, and a practicing physician for many years. The subject of our sketch spent his youth in Arkansas, attending school, beginning business for himself when twenty-one years old, by farming on the home farm. In 1838 he went to Illinois, and was married to Rebecca McMann, a daughter of Isaac K. and Catherine McMann, June 4, 1839. To them were born eight children, of which only three are living: Daniel W., Rebecca C, and Stephen N. C. Mr. Kelley commenced the study of theology in his early youth, taking it up with renewed interest after his marriage; was licensed by the Methodist Episcopal Church as an exhorter; continued with that denomination some time, after ward changing to the Baptist Church, in which he was ordained in 1848. The next year the family moved to Arkansas, where Mr. Kelley entered the milling business and bought a tract of 368 acres of land in Pike County. In 1852 he was elected to the Legislature from that county, serving one term. He introduced an amendment to the administrator's law, which was passed (this was the first Arkansas Legislature to introduce the idea of local option), also a bill which separates the county and probate courts. Returning from the Legislature, the subject of this sketch took up farming and preaching again, until he was elected on the Union ticket a member of the Arkansas Seceding Convention. About 1853 he commenced to build up the Church of Christ, according to the Scriptures. The war interfered with this work, but afterward he worked with renewed activity, establishing a large church. July 27, 1876, he married Mrs. Nancy Horton of Arkansas, who is still living. Their one child died in infancy. He moved upon his present farm in 1876, is a Master Mason, is an active Democrat and a highly successful man.

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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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