My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson 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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D. Aschaffenburg, city clerk and justice of the peace, Pine Bluff, Ark. This prominent and much respected citizen was born in Albersweiler, Rhine Bavaria, Germany, on September 27, 1831, and is one of twelve children, nine now living, born to the union of Henry and Nanett (Meyer) Aschaffenburg, natives of Germany. The father was a Jewish minister and followed his professional duties until his death in 1870. The mother died in her native country nine years later. Of their nine children now living, three sons and one daughter are in America, and two sons and three daughters are in Germany. D. Aschaffenburg attained his growth and received his education in the land of his nativity, and when nineteen years of age left that country and sailed for America, taking passage at the city of Havre. He landed in New Orleans, remained there for a short time, and in 1852 went to Jackson, Miss., where he was engaged in teaching music, but soon after was made deputy clerk of the United States circuit court. In October, 1854, he came to Pine Bluff, Ark., remaining there until 1855, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there kept books for a wholesale liquor house until 1860. He again returned to Arkansas and stopped at Napoleon until April, 1862, after which he came to Pine Bluff with the post quartermaster and remained there as chief clerk for the quartermaster’s department until after the close of the war. For a time after the cessation of hostilities he was occupied in merchandising, and this continued until November, 1869, when he was appointed justice of the peace of Jefferson County, having since held the office with a short intermission. In 1871 he was elected city clerk, the duties of which position he has continued to discharge. He is also United States commissioner for the district of Arkansas, and is one of the representative men of the county. Mr. Aschaffenburg was married in 1857 to Miss Hannah Sommers, by whom he has six children: Fannie (wife of Emil Meyer), Lena (wife of Phil Simmons), Theresa, Rosa, Victor and Harry. Mr. Aschaffenburg is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Independent Order of B’nai Brith, and the Improved Order of Free Sons of Israel.

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This family biography is one of 136 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Jefferson County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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