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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pulaski 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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Isaac A. Dale, one of the oldest living citizens of Little Rock, and one of the eminently respectable men of the county, was born in Middle Tennessee on January 1, 1823, and reared on the farm, where he remained until eighteen years of age. He then served an apprenticeship at the carpenter’s trade, working at this until 1847 in Nashville, Tenn., after which he commenced steam-boating as an engineer. He settled in Little Rock, January, 1849, and traveled up and down the Mississippi River and all its tributaries for twenty years, and can relate many interesting incidents connected with his trips. He then took charge of the steam fire-engine at Little Rock, ran it over twenty years, when he had to give it up on account of failing health. To prevent ennui, he erected a small store, and this he conducted for some time. During the late war he was a member of the State militia. He selected for his companion in life Miss Nancy F. Long, of Nashville, Tenn., whom he married October 8, 1846, and four children are the fruits of this union: Drucilla R. (wife of L. M. Kumpe), Matthias A., John L. and Horace G. Mr. Dale is the son of John E. and Anna F. (Green) Dale, natives of Eastern Maryland, born in 1785 and 1795, respectively. The parents moved to Tennessee in 1809, and there the father followed agricultural pursuits. He was a powerful man, was six feet one inch in height, and weighed 205 pounds. He died in 1840. The mother’s death occurred in 1873. Twelve children were born to this union, nine of whom grew to maturity. The paternal grandfather was of Welsh descent, and lived for many years in Snowhill, Md., and served four years in the Revolutionary War. Isaac A. Dale has a powder horn used by his grandfather at that time. The maternal grandfather was captain of a ship, and died and was buried at sea.

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This family biography is one of 156 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pulaski County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Pulaski County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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