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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ashley 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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Christopher C. Allen was born in Heard County, Ga., on December 6, 1847, his father, W. H. Allen, being also a Georgian and the father of four children, three of whom are living and reside in Ashley County, Ark., a daughter having died in 1880. The father was a farmer in his native State, and being lured by the sale of cheap and fertile lands he came to Arkansas in 1860, and with his family settled on a small farm in Ashley County. From 1868 to 1874 he was assessor of the county, but since the last named date has devoted his attention exclusively to the successful management of his real estate, and is now one of the well-to-do men of this section. His wife passed from life on August 3, 1882. After leaving Georgia Christopher C. Allen had no opportunities for attending school, and during the Civil War he spent the most of the time on the home farm. During the years of 1871-72 he sold goods at Pine Hill, and in 1889 he was appointed postmaster of Hamburg, to which place he moved his family that his children might enjoy the advantages which the town schools afforded. While a tiller of the soil he was one of the few farmers that believed in diversified farming, and puts the theory into practice, raising not only cotton, but corn, oats, etc., and also breeds and raises horses, mules, cattle and hogs. He has been, and is a successful farmer, and of the 1,200 acres of land that he owns he has 300 acres under cultivation, well improved, with good buildings, orchard, etc. Throughout his life he has been an energetic, progressive man, thoroughly alive to every duty as a citizen, and has filled his place in the world well. He belongs to the Baptist Church, and is a Mason, and a member of the Republican party. He has been associate county judge on the board of registration, justice of the peace, and had the honor of being director of the first public school ever taught in the county.

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This family biography is one of 97 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ashley County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Ashley County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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