My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography from the book,  The History of Crawford 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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William and John Obar have farmed in River Township since 1869, and own a large tract of land, situated in Crawford, Franklin and Sebastian Counties. In 1859 they located in the last named county, and there lived ten years, running a ferry across the Arkansas River. They then came to this county, and are now two of its wealthy citizens. William joined the New Mexico and Arizona brigade in Texas, and served two years in the army. In 1875 he married Mrs. Frances J. Mangram, by whom he has had eight children, five of whom are living. In politics he is a Democrat. John was drafted in the Confederate States Army, and served until the close of the war. He was married in 1862 the first time, and is now living with his second wife. Our subjects, William and John Obar, were born in Warren County, Tenn., in 1825 and 1828, respectively, their parents being Constance and Elizabeth (Tedford) Obar. In 1836 the family went to Hamilton County, Tenn., and in 1852 to Dade County, Ga., where they lived until 1858, at which time the mother, with our two subjects, came to Sebastian County, Ark., where the former died in 1865. The father had previously died while in Hamilton County. The grandfather came to America from Germany prior to the Revolution and was killed in that war.

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This family biography is one of 222 biographies included in The History of Crawford County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Crawford County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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