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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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S. W. McKneely. Among the many honored citizens of Little River County, none are more deserving of prominent mention than he whose name heads this sketch. Originally from Louisiana, he first saw the light on September 16, 1853, being the son of Alec T. and Martha P. (Skipwith) McKneely, of Scotch-Irish extraction. The maternal grandfather was one of the leading physicians in the State of Louisiana. The father, Alec T. McKneely, was born in Louisiana about 1824, whither his parents had moved from South Carolina. His brother, Samuel W. McKneely, was a soldier in the Mexican War, and since then, while living in this State, took an active part in politics. He also served in the State Legislature of Louisiana, and at one time was quite prominent, politically, in the State of Texas, being one of the leading politicians of Bowie County. He died in Texarkana, February 17, 1889, in his seventy-second year, and at the time of his death was one of the most prominent men in this portion of the State. Alec T. McKneely served during the latter part of the late war. He is a farmer and cotton planter, and resides in his home in Pointe Coupee Parish, La., where he is numbered among the leading men of that section; his wife, who was born June 14, 1838, is still living. They were the parents of five children, viz.: S. W., Appalona (wife of W. C. Germany, of Louisiana), Eustia J. (wife of Rich Scarborough, of Louisiana), Mattie P. and Alec T., Jr. (both of Louisiana). S. W. McKneely grew to mature years and was educated in Louisiana, and at the age of twenty-one engaged in farming in this county, whither he had previously moved. He first carried on his farming operations on rented land, but after three years he purchased 650 acres of good land on Red River, about 500 of which are under cultivation, on which he raises from 150 to 200 bales of cotton annually, besides plenty of corn. He is also extensively occupied in breeding horses and mules, and is conceded to be one of the leading farmers of this locality. He is one of the foremost Democrats in this county, and takes an active interest in local politics. In 1881 Miss Sallie Sandefur, daughter of P. J. and Mary Sandefur, old and respected citizens of this county, became his wife, and the fruits of their married life were two children: Samuel S. and Mariah L. Mrs. McKneely, whose death occurred May 11, 1890, was a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church.

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This family biography is one of 38 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Little River County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Little River County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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