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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Izard 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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Sandford Hames, of the saw-milling firm of Hames & Kanky, was born in Georgia, in 1832, and is a son of Thomas H. and Annice (Robinson) Hames, who were born in South Carolina. Thomas Hames removed to Georgia at an early day, and there reared a family of ten children, three of whom are now living: John, Jasper and Sandford. The father was a soldier in the Mexican War, and was a miner by occupation, working in the gold mines of Georgia, acquiring considerable wealth in this enterprise. He passed from life in 1862, and his wife died in 1884. Sandford Hames was reared in a mining camp, and worked in the mines for some time before coming to Arkansas, in 1861. He purchased the place where he is now living, which had then fifteen or sixteen acres under cultivation, but he now has seventy-five acres under the plow, and in excellent farming condition. Besides this he owns a one-half interest in a saw mill worth at least $2,000, and also has a farm of 216 acres in Fulton County, with fifty or sixty acres under cultivation and well stocked. He is a man who will assist in the advancement of any community in which he may reside, and gives liberally of his means in support of worthy enterprises. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and in his political views is a Democrat. In 1855 he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Montgomery, and by her is the father of seven children: Martha, wife of John Hagar; Mahala, wife of James Martin; Thomas H., William, Docia, wife of George Gray, and John. One child is deceased. J. M. Kanky, like his partner, is also a farmer, and since the age of sixteen years he has been fighting the battle of life for himself. He was first engaged in tilling his own land in Kentucky, but afterward sold out, and rented land for one or two years. In 1873 he came with his father to Arkansas, and after renting land for one year he purchased a tract of land comprising 130 acres, of which there were about twenty-five or thirty acres in a tillable condition. He now has sixty-five acres of land cleared, and also owns a one-half interest in the above mentioned mill. He was born in the State of Indiana, in 1852, and in 1882 was united in marriage to Miss Mekay Hames, who died in 1888, leaving one child, Annie. Mr. Kanky is a Democrat, and is a son of J. M. and Annie H. (Davis) Kanky, whose native place was in the “Old Dominion.” The father removed to Indiana in 1845, and after removing to Kentucky was married in that State, in 1848. Of four children born to them two are now living: J. M. and Thomas. Mr. Kanky removed to Arkansas in 1873, and in this State has since made his home. He is the post master at Wideman, Ark., is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F., and has now attained the advanced age of seventy-five years, and although quite feeble in body his mind is still clear and active. His wife died in 1875.

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This family biography is one of 98 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Izard County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Izard County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Izard County, Arkansas family biographies here: Izard County, Arkansas Biographies

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