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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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Dr. H. L. Anthony, physician, Sunshine, Ark., Dr. Anthony is a native Virginian, his birth occurring about 1830, and is of English descent. He traces his ancestry back to 1640, at which time the Anthonys made their advent into this county, and were among the earliest settlers of Hanover County, Va. The great-grandfather of our subject moved to Buckingham County, when that county covered the western half of the State, and there passed the remainder of his days. John A. Anthony was a captain in the Revolutionary War. He had five sons: John, James, Mark, Banks and Charley. John and Banks were in the War of 1812, William A., the son of John, volunteered in the place of his father, and filled his place during the war. Banks was a major in Jackson’s division, and fell at the battle of New Orleans. William A. married Sarah Echols, September 12, 1824, and reared a family of eight children, but three of whom are now living: William L., at Covington, Ky., and Virginia E., wife of I. L. Harris, at Hackett City, Ark. The father resided for sixty years in Virginia, and then went to Mississippi, where his death occurred in October, 1866. His wife died in Virginia in 1852. Dr. H. L. Anthony passed his youthful days in Virginia, attended Valley Union College, and while there was an under graduate. After leaving college he began the study of medicine under his father, and graduated from the Virginia Medical College in 1851. He first began practicing near Pittsylvania Court House, remained there until January, 1853, and then went to Mississippi, where he practiced twenty-one consecutive years, including his army life. He was surgeon in Armstrong’s brigade, and then had charge of the field hospital. Later he was transferred to Jackson, Miss., afterward to Atlanta, Ga., and then returned home, where he remained until January, 1874, when he came to Ashley County, Ark. Since then he has divided his time between the practice of his profession and planting. The latter occupation he followed quite extensively until about 1885, and is the owner of 620 acres of land with 170 acres under cultivation. During his life he has traveled quite extensively, and is a cultured and refined gentleman of the old school. He is now living with his sixth wife, who was formerly a Miss Augusta Shelton, of Louisiana. They have no children. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was born and reared a Whig, and still holds to that faith. The county is singularly free from epidemics. Pulmonary diseases develop slowly, and cases are rare. Malarial diseases are about all that are to be combated here, seldom proving fatal except through August and September.

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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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