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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Grant 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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Henry Bales, one of the leading citizens of Grant County, and a popular merchant at Sheridan, was born in Adams County, Ill., August 25, 1855, and is a son of Jacob and Catharine Bales, of Germany, who settled in Quincy, Ill., on their arrival to this country, going thence to Louisville, Ky., where the father resides at present. He was an expert mechanic, and followed that calling for a great many years. His son, Henry, grew to maturity in Louisville, Ky., and was instructed by him in all the arts and devices of a mechanical nature. After reaching Louisville, Henry worked at his trade until the year 1874, and then located at Little Rock, where he established a chair factory, in partnership with a Mr. E. Keohler. He carried on this business for almost two years, with fair success, and then sold out his interest. In 1876 he moved to Sheridan, Ark., and embarked in mercantile life, starting in with a limited capital of $500. Since then, by careful management, strict attention to business and enterprise, he has built up a large patronage, and is one of the most successful merchants in that county. He owns one of the finest establishments in Sheridan, and carries a stock that cannot be surpassed in Central Arkansas, in the way of general merchandise. His annual sales amount to $20,000, and are increasing every year. Besides his commercial interests, Mr. Bales owns 2,000 acres of the most fertile land in that section, and considerable business and residence property in the city. He is looked upon as one of the most substantial men in Grant County, and is proud in the thought that his prosperity has been accumulated by his own efforts and enterprise alone. On April 30, 1876, he was married to Mrs. Nancey C. Manuel, an estimable widow of Arkansas, and a devout member of the Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 68 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Grant County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Grant County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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