My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Little River 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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R. S. Chaytor, a prominent resident and ex-county and circuit clerk of Little River County, was born in St. Louis in 1855. His father, Joseph Chaytor, left his native State (Maryland) in early manhood and went to St. Louis, where he met, and afterward married Miss Theresa Snodgrass, a native of that city, and the subject of this sketch is one of two surviving members of their family of four children, all boys. His brother D. O. (mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume), resides at Fulton. The maternal grandfather, Jacob Snodgrass, was one of the earliest settlers of St. Louis, and was prominently identified with the early history of that city. Among the possessions of the Snodgrass family in St. Louis is a lot in the city cemetery, in which all their family, and that of the Chaytors have been buried for two generations, and it is there that both Joseph Chaytor and wife are at rest. The latter passed from life in 1872, and her death was followed two years later by that of her husband, who received his final summons while on a visit to St. Louis. Joseph Chaytor enlisted in the Confederate cause during the late war, serving under Gen. Price. He was a member of Gen. Marmaduke's staff, with the rank of captain. At the close of the war he moved to Texas, and in 1867 came to this county, where he was occupied in farming until his death. R. S. Chaytor was educated in the Webster School in St. Louis, until his eleventh year, when his father came South, and his education was completed at Ladonia, Fannin County, Tex. At the early age of sixteen he engaged as a clerk in the dry goods store of J. M. Perry, of this place, in whose employ he remained for two years. Next he served as deputy clerk of this county for one year, and one year also as deputy sheriff. In 1875 he engaged in the mercantile business for himself, which he was conducting very successfully until in March, 1878, his establishment was visited by fire and entirely destroyed. The same year he was elected to the office of county and circuit clerk of this county, and he discharged the duties of this office very ably until 1888. For the last seven years he has been general manager of William Snodgrass' general store at this place. In 1877 his marriage to Miss M. F. Hawkins, daughter of B. F. and Mary J. Hawkins, was celebrated, and she died in 1879 after a brief wedded life, leaving a little daughter, Emma. In 1880 Mr. Chaytor was again united in marriage, this time to Miss M. F. Sandefur, daughter of P. J. and Mary Sandefur, early pioneers of this county. Her father was born in Alabama in 1829, and came to this State with his parents when he was eight years of age, and here he has resided ever since. The first wife was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, but the present Mrs. Chaytor believes in the doctrines of the Old School Presbyterian Church. In secret societies Mr. Chaytor affiliates with Red River Lodge No. 174, A. F. &A. M., and Richmond Lodge No. 3420, K. of H.

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