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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Clark 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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Joseph Doby has an extended acquaintance in Clark County for he has made his home here since 1860, and has prominently identified himself with the farming interests hereabouts. His birth occurred in Roane County, N. C, in 1825, and he is a son of John M. and Elizabeth (Crawford) Doby, who were born in Camden, S. C., in 1801, and Cabarrus County, N. C, respectively. They were married in Lancaster District, S. C., but after a few years they removed to Roane County, N. C. After again residing successively in South Carolina and North Carolina they removed to Dallas County, Ark., in 1856, and to Clark County in 1860, where the father passed from life in 1878. He was married twice, his first wife being the mother of the subject of this sketch, her death occurring in South Carolina in 1833, she, as well as her husband, being a member of the Presbyterian Church. Joseph Doby, the paternal grandfather, was of Scotch descent, and died in his native State of South Carolina. William Crawford, the maternal grandfather, died in Lancaster District, S. C. Joseph Doby, the subject of this biography, was the eldest of four sons and one daughter, and besides attending to farm labor during his youth, he attended the district schools, and was so fortunate as to finish his education in Davidson College, Mecklenburg County, N. C, taking a regular course in the languages. After leaving college his time was occupied in mercantile pursuits for a few years, after which he came with his father to Arkansas. In 1845 he was married to Margaret M., daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Harris. She was born in Mecklenburg County, N. C, and died in Clark County, Ark, in 1860, having borne two children: Elizabeth C. (wife of C. K. Boswell) and Margaret (wife of G. W. Davies). Mr. Doby's second marriage took place in 1861, his wife, Ann Eliza, being a daughter of Rev. Samuel and Jane Williamson, natives of York District, where they were reared and married, moving to North Carolina after the last-named event, and to Hempstead County, Ark., in 1856. The father's death occurred here in 1881 and the mother's in 1880. Mr. Williamson was a Presbyterian minister for about fifty years, and was president of Davidson College, N. C., for about fifteen years, but himself graduated from a college in Columbia, S.C. His daughter, Mrs. Doby, was born in Mecklenburg County, N. C. Mr. Doby has an excellent lot of land, comprising 900 acres, and by his own efforts has 400 acres of the same in an advanced state of cultivation. He served for about twelve months in the State troops in 1863, and with his company participated in the engagements at Poison Springs, Mark's Mill and Jenkins' Ferry. He has been a Democrat all his life, and his first vote was cast for Lewis Cass, of Michigan, for the presidency in 1848. He and Mrs. Doby have been members of the Presbyterian Church for about forty years. Mr. Doby commenced running a mercantile establishment in 1867, and continued some nine years, the place where he held forth bearing the name of Dobyville. Since then he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits.

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This family biography is one of 99 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Clark County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Clark County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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