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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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Maj. J. A. Tappan, hardware merchant, Helena. Ark. In Fayette County, Tenn., in January, 1847, there was born to Capt. E. S. and Sarah E. (Williamson) Tappan, a son, J. A. Tappan. The parents were both natives of Tennessee, and the father was a merchant by vocation. He was a prominent politician of Tennessee, and was a member of the legislature several terms. He was a captain in the War of 1812. J. A. Tappan was reared to maturity in his native county, receiving his education there and when only sixteen years of age, or, in 1863, he enlisted in Company A, Sixth Tennessee Regiment, and served until the surrender. He then learned civil engineering, following the same for years, and engineered the St. Louis & St. Joe Railroad; also the Missouri, Kansas & Topeka Railroad. In 1870 he came to Helena and built the Arkansas Midland Railroad, being chief engineer of the same. He then took charge of and reconstructed the gas-works, which were $8,000 in debt, got them in good shape and turned them over with $2,500 cash. He represents W. H. Brown & Co., at Pittsburg, the largest coal dealers in the world. He engaged in the hardware business in January, 1889, and is doing a good business, carrying a large stock of goods. Their coal business is an extensive one, selling about 500,000 bushels annually. It is shipped both by river and railroad. He is a stockholder in the Fair Association. He was married in 1878 to Miss Maggie Lambert, and the fruits of this union have been three children: Maggie, Mattie and Bessie. Mr. Tappan is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, and is one of the leading and prominent men of Helena. He has done a great deal in the way of improving the city.

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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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