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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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John F. Calef, proprietor of the Capital Hotel, the largest and most popular hotel of Little Rock, is a native of Alabama and the son of Josiah Bartlett Calef, who was a prominent merchant in Mobile for over thirty years. He is also a direct descendant of Josiah Bartlett, one of the memorial signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was born and lived in Mobile, Ala., and up to 1883 was engaged in the cotton business in Mobile and Little Rock, coming to this city in 1881, where he still gives his attention to cotton interests. In the spring of 1884, Mr. Calef, in company with John W. Deshon, purchased the Capital Hotel, and continued in partnership until 1888, when he bought his partner’s interest, and has since conducted the business alone. Mr. Calef was married in 1885 to Miss Emily Churchill, daughter of ex-Gov. Churchill, one of the well-known citizens of Arkansas, and a man who has been called upon to serve his native State in various prominent official capacities. The Capital is probably the best-known hotel south of St. Louis, being very large, well-arranged, and fitted with all modern improvements. Indeed, it is to Little Rock what the Palmer House is to Chicago, and the Southern Hotel to St. Louis. The popularity of this “home-comfort hostelry” is largely due to the personal supervision of the proprietor, who understands exactly the wants of his guests.

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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

To view additional Pulaski County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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