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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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H. P. Coolidge (deceased) was born in the State of Maine, February 7, 1812, and while still in his early youth was taken by his parents to the Buckeye State, settling near Cincinnati, where he was left an orphan at an early age. When about seventeen years of age he went to Louisiana and during a residence of several years in New Orleans was a boss mechanic, being considered the complete master of his trade. While in that city he was married to Elizabeth J. Legier, a French lady, and in 1842 came with her and his infant son, C. R. Coolidge, to Helena, Ark., making the trip on a flat-boat, intending to journey on to New Orleans for permanent residence there. The sheriff of the county determined to make him pay annual license for selling his goods, but he thought it a wanton injustice, and, although intending to remain at Helena for one month, he paid his license and determined to settle here. He rented a store building, put in a stock of goods and soon built up a very extensive trade, so large in fact that he determined to stay here, although his original intention had been to go back to New Orleans. Helena continued to be his home until his death, which occurred April 23, 1872, his wife dying November 17, 1880. Of nine children born to them, two only lived to be grown. A daughter who married Dr. F. N. Barke, now a resident of Helena, died January, 1887, leaving an infant daughter, Mary E. Burke, who lives mainly with her uncle, C. R. Coolidge, in Helena. Only one, C. R. Coolidge, is now living. Mr. Coolidge became known all over this section of the country, not only in his business capacity, but in local political matters as well, and for some time served as county and probate judge, although he was no office seeker. He was a man who attended strictly to his own affairs and for his many sterling business and social qualities was beloved by all who knew him. At one time he was offered 400 acres of land, which is now in the heart of Memphis, Tenn., for a small sum of money, and if he had closed the bargain he would have been worth millions of dollars. He was very liberal with his wealth and always gave liberally to the poor and distressed, also to schools and churches, and all worthy public enterprises. He was very progressive in his ideas and always endeavored to keep out of the beaten path, and was ever ready to adopt new ideas. He was a stanch Union man during the war and expressed his thoughts and opinions freely and without fear. He was a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Such a man, liberal and progressive in his views, enterprising, industrious and public-spirited, is a blessing to any community and deserves the highest praise which can be given him. His son, Charles R., has erected a monument to his memory which was made in Italy at a cost of $6,000. It is twenty-nine feet six inches in height and is surmounted by a life-size statue of Mr. Coolidge, which is very finely executed. Charles R. Coolidge was born in New Orleans in November, 1836, and came to Helena with his parents. He was brought up in the mercantile business, which he has always followed. He has been very successful in all his business undertakings and has one of the handsomest residences in the city of Helena. Like his father he is enterprising and public-spirited and is one of the foremost citizens of Phillips County. He was married in 1866 to Miss Elizabeth T. Ellis, a native of Middle Tennessee, by whom he has ten children, nine living: Henry, Charles R., Jr., Willie, Eva, Lizzie, Andrew, Ellis, Walter and Mary. Eva, his second child, is deceased, and a younger daughter was named for her. Mr. Coolidge was an Odd Fellow for many years and served sometime in the late war and was at one time taken prisoner.

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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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