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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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R. M. Dorn, whose prominence as a citizen of Grant County, no less than his reputation as one of the leading planters in that section, is well known, was born in the State of Mississippi, on November 16, 1848. His father was Solomon Dorn, a native of South Carolina, and born in Edgefield District, where he was also educated and married to Miss Nancy Conelly. Nine children were born to the parents, three boys and six girls, of whom there are but two living, and both reside in Grant County. The father was a well-known and very successful planter, owning altogether about 1,800 acres of very productive land. In religious belief he and wife were both members of the Baptist Church, but, on account of some disagreement with other members, he resigned, and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Shortly afterward he wrote and published what is known as the Dorn Pamphlets, which contained a cutting satire against what was said to be the Babylonian Baptists, and which created a great sensation at that period. He served with distinction through the late war, and escaped unharmed, but after returning home was shot through the lower limbs, and severely wounded, by an unknown enemy. He recovered from the would be assassin’s bullet, however, and lived until December 17, 1879, when his health failed him, and he died, his estimable wife preceding him a few years before. Their son, R. M. Dorn, the principal of this sketch, was educated in the schools of Grant County, and received a good moral training from his parents. On January 17, 1867, he was married to Miss Sarah Atchley, a daughter of Seth and Elizabeth Atchley, prominent residents of that county. Eight children were born to this union, four boys and four girls: Elbert D., Lula M., Elizabeth N., Seth E., Robert H., Florence R., Grover C. and Ida. Of this number seven are yet living, and all reside at home. Mr. Dorn was thoroughly instructed in the duties of farm life in his youth, and the excellent training he received has proved to be of valuable assistance in his after life. He now owns about 270 acres of some of the most productive land in that section, and has placed seventy-five acres under cultivation. He has held a membership in the Masonic fraternity for about ten years, and stands high in that order. In religious belief both he and wife belong to the Methodist denomination, and are always among the foremost to aid in any laudable enterprise, especially in religious and educational matters.

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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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