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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi 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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Benjamin H. Bacchus, a prominent druggist and farmer of Osceola, Ark., is a native of Kent County, Md., born at Chestertown on October 15, 1848, and of the six children born to his parents, William and Harriet (Greenwood) Bacchus, Benjamin H. was the fifth in order of birth. The parents were natives of Maryland, and the father for a long time was a miller and farmer of that place. The mother died in 1856, and in 1859 the father married Miss Susan Arthur. He died in 1872, having during the latter years of his life lived in retirement. Benjamin H. Bacchus passed his youth in Chestertown, and received an exceptionally good education in public and private schools, supplementing the same by a two years’ attendance at the college at Chestertown. He then took a course of instruction at Bryant, Stratton & Sadler’s Business College, at Baltimore, and left that institution fully equipped to enter upon any pursuit. He followed the teacher’s profession for one term, and in 1867 went to Memphis, where he engaged in the cotton and oil business. At the end of one and one-half years he came to Mississippi County, Ark., and commenced farming at Elmot, where he continued until 1880. In 1878 Mr. Bacchus was elected county surveyor, and in 1880 he was elected clerk of the supreme court, ex-officio clerk of the county and probate courts, and recorder. So well did he fill this position that he was re-elected in 1882. In 1887 he was elected mayor of the city of Osceola. At this time the city was heavily in debt, and its warrants were worthless; but at the expiration of Mr. Bacchus’ term of office the debt of the city was wiped out, and the warrants were worth their face value. In July, 1885, Mr. Bacchus engaged in the drug business in Osceola, and in 1888 he erected a fine store-house, into which he moved in February, 1889. The new quarters are neat, tasty and ornamental, and contain a complete line of fresh drugs. Mr. Bacchus selected Miss Katie M. Williams as his companion in life, and was wedded to her in 1871. She was born in Mississippi County, and is the daughter of James H. Williams, who was formerly from Tennessee, and one of the old settlers of Mississippi County. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bacchus were born seven children: Alice W., Lallie C., Lena S., Benjamin H., Jr., J. Greenwood, Minnie Avery and Mary Kate. Mr. Bacchus is a member of the Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Bacchus of the Methodist Episcopal. Mr. Bacchus is a member of Masonic Lodge No. 27, Osceola, occupying an official position. He was school commissioner of the county from 1872 to 1880, and takes a decided interest in all school matters.

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This family biography is one of 162 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Mississippi County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

View a map of 1889 Mississippi County, Arkansas here: Mississippi County, Arkansas Map

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