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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pope County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891.  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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E. A. Darr, merchant, Atkins, La. This popular and very successful business man was originally from North Carolina, his birth occurring in 1835, and was the third in a family of six children born to Henry R. and Ann (Blackburn) Darr, both of whom were natives also of North Carolina. The father was a farmer, was quite a prominent citizen, and held several county offices of trust. He died in his native State in 1845. The mother is also deceased. The paternal grandfather, Henry Darr, was of German descent, and was a farmer by pursuit. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His wife lived to be ninety-nine years of age, and often told her grandson, E. A. Darr, many interesting events of the Revolution. She had a number of relics of that eventful period. The maternal grandfather, David Blackburn, was of English descent, and was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War. E. A. Darr was taught the rudiments of farm labor, but at an early age he learned the trade of bricklayer and mason. He was married in 1870 to Miss L. C. Plott, a native of the Old Tar State, and to them were born eight children, five now living: Guy, Ida (died at the age of sixteen years), Roy (died in infancy), Fay, Ora, Ira, Ree and Ott (who died in infancy). After learning his trade Mr. Darr worked at that until 1860. He came to Arkansas in 1858, settled near Atkins with mother and family, and at the breaking out of the war in 1861 enlisted in the Confederate Army, Company B, Second Arkansas Mounted Riflemen. He was in the battles of Oak Hill (Mo.), Pea Ridge (Ark.), and the command then crossed the Mississippi, where Mr. Darr was in the battles of Farmington and Richmond, Ky. He was wounded at the last-named place on August 30, 1862, and reached home in 1863. After the war he worked at his trade for a year, and then engaged as clerk for R. A. Dowdle, at Galla Rock. The next year he became a member of the firm, and has since been an active merchant. In 1873 he came to Atkins, cleared the land, and was the first to make a settlement. He was among the first merchants. In 1880 he erected his fine brick store, 25x140 feet, and carries a full line of general merchandise and plantation supplies. He carries a stock of goods valued at $12,000, and does an annual business of from $50,000 to $75,000. He is an energetic business man, abundantly worthy of the large measure of success achieved. Aside from this he is the owner of about 2,000 acres in different tracts, with considerable under cultivation and all of which he rents. He was made postmaster at Atkins in 1873, and was also the first railroad agent at that place. He owns one of the best residences in the town, and a number of other residences. Mr. Darr is a self-made man in the fullest sense of that much-abused term, and is enterprising, progressive and public spirited. He is a member of the A. F. &A. M., Galla Rock Lodge No. 172, is a K. of P., of Arcadia Lodge No. 24, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 38. He is an active supporter of the principles of Democracy.

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This family biography is one of 96 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pope County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Pope County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Pope County, Arkansas family biographies here: Pope County, Arkansas

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