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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Phillips 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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Edward Sonfield, merchant, Poplar Grove, Ark. Mr. Sonfield owes his nativity to Cincinnati, Ohio, where his birth occurred on May 30, 1854, and is the eldest of eleven children, the result of the union of Henry and Rosa (Kornik) Sonfield, natives of Germany. The father came to this country and settled in Cincinnati in 1850 or 1851, and was engaged in the jewelry business, following the same for ten or eleven years. He then moved to Nashville, Tenn., in 1861, embarked in the dry-goods business, which he followed until 1865, when he moved to Memphis, here continuing the same occupation. He died in that city on July 27, 1873, a much, respected and honored citizen. Mrs. Sonfield still resides in Memphis, where she was married in 1879 or 1880 to S. Eichwald. To Mr. and Mrs. Sonfield were born eleven children, eight now living: Edward, Annie (wife of D. Zellner, of Memphis), Sarah (wife of M. Hirshberg, of Boston), William (salesman at Memphis), Sallie and Jennie (at home), Eugene and Leon. Those deceased were Henrietta (died when small), Julia (was accidentally burned to death at Cincinnati in 1874) and Morris (died at Memphis, in 1881, in his twenty-third year). Edward Sonfield was educated at Cincinnati and Memphis, and at the age of thirteen years was employed as cash boy for Menken Bros., of Memphis. He was then employed as salesman for several years, and from 1873 to 1876 was traveling salesman for Otto Schwill & Co. In 1870 Mr. Sonfield moved to Trenton, Phillips County, Ark., and was salesman here for several years, traveling a portion of the time. In March, 1885, he commenced merchandising for himself at Poplar Grove with a small capital, and has since done a good business, his annual sales being about $6,000. He owns a fine store-house and dwelling. He chose for his companion in life Miss Alice Myers, of Helena, Ark., the daughter of Alex, and Mary (Poe) Myers, and was united in marriage to her on March 3, 1881. Her parents were natives of Germany and Mississippi, respectively. The father came to America when a young man, settled in Holly Springs, Miss., was married there and became the father of a family of children, seven now living: Blakly (residing in Memphis), Minnie (wife of Ben. Wiley, of Helena), Alice, Samuel, Lucy, Susie and Alex (the four last at home). To Mr. and Mrs. Sonfield were born four children: The eldest, an infant, died December 21, 1881; Henrietta (died October 6, 1883), Henry (born October 29, 1884) and Julia (born December 14, 1886). Mr. and Mrs. Sonfield are both of the Jewish faith. Mr. Sonfield is a member and Reporter of the K. of H., Poplar Grove Lodge No. 2442; also Secretary of the American Legion of Honor, Hendrix Council 737, and is notary public of this county. Politically he is a Democrat.

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This family biography is one of 103 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Phillips County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Phillips County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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