My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Little River 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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C. A. Schuman, a substantial planter of Rocky Comfort, was born in Dresden, Germany, on August 19, 1848, being a son of Augustus and Christina (Hempel) Schuman, both natives of Dresden, the former born on January 16, 1821. He was a son of John Schuman, a native of Dresden, born about 1782, who departed this life in 1858. Augustus Schuman was an architect by occupation, and both he and wife received their final summons in their native city, he in 1858, and she in 1884. They were the parents of three children—two sons and one daughter—viz.: C. A., Adolph and Clara. The latter is now living in Dresden, Germany. C. A. Schuman was educated in the technical school of his native city, and engaged in technics in his native country until 1869, when he emigrated to the United States. Upon landing at New York he came directly through to Little Rock, Ark., but remained there only six months, and then, after visiting New Orleans, La., and St. Louis, Mo., with a view to locating, he finally selected Jacksonport, Ark., as the scene of his labors, and here he established his residence. He purchased a gun shop, and sent for his brother, Adolph, who was a gunsmith by trade, and they conducted this business very successfully until in November, 1873, when their place was visited by fire and entirely destroyed. They then started for Paris, Tex., but on their way, stopped at Rocky Comfort, and being pleased with the location, they opened a gun shop, and took up their residence at this place. They soon added a line of general merchandise, and were conducting these interests, when on May 24, 1870, their store was entered by burglars, and in defending his property, the brother, Adolph, was killed. The following December, Mr. Schuman commenced business on his own responsibility, dealing in general merchandise, and carried on this business very successfully until 1883, when he gave it up to engage in farming. He owns about 840 acres of land in this county, about 400 acres being under cultivation, and eighty acres lying within four miles of Little Rock. Since coming to this place Mr. Schuman has taken a prominent part in the affairs of this county, having served as tax collector, and he is now acting as school director of his district, having been elected for a term of nine years. He belongs to the K. of H., and both he and wife are church members, he belonging to the German Lutheran, and she to the Episcopal Church. His wife was formerly Miss Eliza Simpson, a native of this county, and they were married on December 19, 1877. One child, Clara, has been born to this marriage.

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