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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Miller 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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Ben M. Foreman, of Texarkana, Miller County, Ark., was born in 1866 in Washington, Hempstead County, Ark. His father, George R. Foreman, was a native of Texas; his mother a native of Arkansas. The latter being left a widow, she moved to Texarkana in 1875, where her son Ben received a common-school education. In 1879 he attended school in Little Rock. His mother being in limited circumstances, he worked for his board after school hours and on Saturdays. He came back to Texarkana, and was engaged for a short time as clerk in a store. In 1880 he was appointed local agent at Texarkana for the Narrow Gauge Railway, now the Cotton Belt, under Supt. J. W. Brown, and remained during his administration. He next opened a small grocery store, but after a few months sold out this business, and opened a real estate and collecting office, which he carried on until the latter part of 1882. At the age of sixteen he became active in politics. Although not being old enough to vote, he became a warm supporter of C. E. Dixon, who was elected as an Independent candidate for sheriff. In 1885 the majority of the Independents, including himself, joined the Republican party. In 1886, having been selected chairman of the campaign committee, he took an active part in electing Hon. C. E. Mitchel circuit judge over Hon A. B. Williams -by 1,500 majority, as well as electing the entire Republican county ticket, and this for the first time in ten years. Since that time Mr. Foreman has served several times as a delegate to the Republican State Convention. He chartered a special car from Texarkana with friends who attended the Chicago National Convention, and was chairman of the delegation. He spent a great deal of his time in the East before the election, remaining for some time at Republican headquarters in Washington, D. C. He returned home in time to vote, and was one of the few who believed so strong that Harrison would be elected, bet considerable money on his election. Though of Southern birth, Mr. Foreman has always been in opposition to Democracy. In the city election of 1890, he was the only Republican elected. In 1886 he organized and founded the Texarkana Street Railway Company, from which time he has been a director and general manager of the road. In 1887 in connection with Maj. Deutchman, he opened a real estate and loan office, in which business they are still engaged. In February, 1889, he organized the Inter-State Land and Building Company, with a capital of $50,000, of which he is a large stockholder as well as a director and business manager. He is deputy United States marshal, Texarkana division of the Eastern district of Arkansas. In January, 1890, he was elected a director in the First National Bank; the oldest and largest bank in the city, and of which he is a large stockholder. He was also elected a director in the cotton and woolen-mills; is treasurer of the Texarkana Soap Works; director in the Texarkana Board of Trade and Texarkana Building & Loan Association. He was married in 1889 to Miss Nannie Kelley, daughter of Col. William R. Kelley, who for many years has been the leader of the Democratic party in Miller County. Mr. Foreman has made most of his money speculating in real estate. His success is due to his integrity and enterprise, and he stands today one of the leaders of Miller County. Although not yet twenty-four years of age, he has thus far made life a complete success.

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This family biography is one of 35 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Miller County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Miller County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Miller County, Arkansas family biographies: Miller County, Arkansas Biographies

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