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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence 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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Sam. H. Ball, a prominent merchant of Ravenden, Lawrence County, was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., in November, 1850, and is a son of William J. Ball, whose adventurous career has been portrayed in the sketch preceding this. Mr. Ball remained with his father in his store until he reached his twenty-eighth year. He then established a store for himself in 1879, at Opposition, Ark., and carried on a profitable business up to the year 1882. In 1883 he moved to Ravenden, built a magnificent residence and a large, commodious store, and put in a large stock of merchandise, where he has been holding forth ever since. His store is two stories in height, the upper story being devoted to furniture, under takers’ goods, clothing, etc.; the lower, dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries and general plantation supplies. He handles both cotton and stock to a great extent, and altogether does a business of $35,000 to $40,000 annually. He is also interested in a large cotton-gin, and besides owns two large farms, situated on Spring River, one in Lawrence and the other in Randolph County, being a farmer as well as a successful merchant. The third business house opened in Ravenden, after the location of the Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis Railroad, was by Mr. Ball, and he is the leading man of the place. In November, 1878, he was married to Mrs. Margaret Williford, of Randolph County, a charming widow. Since then five children have been added to the family: Cleo, Luther, Marvin, Ernest and Lillian. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ball are consistent members of the Christian Church. The former is a Democrat politically, a Mason and a member of Ravenden Lodge No. 451, of which he is Junior Warden.

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This family biography is one of 111 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Lawrence County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Lawrence County, Arkansas family biographies here: Lawrence County, Arkansas Biographies

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