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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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James R. Franklin, planter and mechanic, Hamburg, Ark. Mr. Franklin is a gentleman who attends closely to his own affairs, and for this reason, if no other, merits the esteem of all. He is at present residing on his fine farm of 320 acres, seventy-five acres under cultivation, situated five miles southwest of Hamburg, and is considered one of the substantial men of the county. He was born in South Carolina on November 22, 1823, and is the son of G. M. Franklin, a pioneer farmer of South Carolina (his native State), and a private in the Revolutionary War. About 1832 the father moved to Alabama, where our subject received the principal part of his education. The latter remained in Alabama until 1842, and then went to Illinois, where he was superintendent of a workshop for some time. He then went to Memphis, followed the trade of wagon-maker for some time, and then went to Lake Point, where he continued the same business for a period of five years. In 1850 Mr. Franklin settled in Arkansas, entered 160 acres of land, and afterward entered land to the amount of 320 acres. He was married on August 9, 1850, to Miss Louisa Werland, daughter of John Werland, of Mississippi. Mrs. Franklin bore her husband nine children, all living: Martha E. (born September 21, 1851. now the wife of C. P. Mann, a planter), Gillis M. (born January 18, 1855, and who married Miss Lula Goodwin of Hamburg, Ark.), Charles A. (born September 49, 1856, and married Miss Lillie Honeycott, of Ashley County, Ark.), John H. (born November 15, 1859, married Miss Grace Miller), Sallie J. (born March 17, 1862, and the wife of William P. Hooker), James E. (born October 1, 1864, married Miss Ella Maxwell). William C. (born June 2, 1867, and married Miss Kittie Carter, of Ashley County), Susan Ann (born July 25, 1870, now the wife of J. C. Wright), and Robert L. (born January 26, 1876). Mr. Franklin acted as marshal of Hamburg one year, and was frequently elected justice of the peace. He is also a member of the A. F. & A. M., having tilled all the offices in the lodge. In politics he is Democratic, but liberal and impartial in his views. He owns and runs a steam saw mill, grist-mill and cotton-gin. Mr. Franklin is one of the honest, upright citizens of the county, never gave a mortgage, nor had a law suit in his life.

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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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