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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Logan County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891.  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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George L. Craven, miller and ginner, Blaine, Ark. This prominent and very successful miller and ginner was originally from Georgia, in which State his parents, W. M. and Sarah (Dobbins) Craven, were also born. His birth occurred in 1857, and when eleven years of age he removed with his parents to Texas, they being at the present time residents of that State. In 1877 George L. came to Arkansas and engaged in the saw mill business (without friends or money), which he continued for three years, when he purchased a third interest in a saw-mill in Yell County. In 1880 Mr. Craven was married to Miss Caledonia McAllister, a native of Yell County, Ark., born in 1858, and the daughter of L. T. McAllister. To this union have been born three children: Luella May (born in 1880), Claude Eugene (born in 1882), and Ruby Ruth (born in 1885). In 1884, together with his partner, Mr. J. W. Blevins, Mr. Craven came to Logan County and erected a saw mill, planer and shingle-mill at Wild Cat Hollow, where they remained about two years. They then removed to Delaware Township and remained there also two years. In 1889 they removed to Blaine, in Shoal Creek Township and taking another partner, Mr. H. S. Cline, they added new machinery and divided their establishment, placing a saw-mill one and one-half miles south of Blaine Post-office. To their planing-mill, they have added a gin and steam press and another planer, re-saw and corn mill, and have connected the two establishments by a tram road one and one-half miles long, upon which they run an engine of their own construction. The capacity of their saw-mill is 25,000 feet per day, and is run by a sixty-horse power engine, having gang edgers, etc. The capacity of their flooring planer is about 6,000 feet per day, and their surfacing planer about 20,000 to 30,000 per day. The capacity of the shingle machine is 18,000 per day, the capacity of the corn-mill is 120 bushels, and the gin 12 bales per day (using direct steam press), and 40 horse power engine, and employ when running full force, about 20 men. This company has about 2,500 to 3,000 acres of timberland contracted for upon which there is timber to keep them supplied for four years or more. Mr. Craven and his partner, Mr. Blevins, are members of Bright Star Lodge No. 213, A. F. & A.M., at Dardanelle. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

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This family biography is one of 92 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Logan County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Logan County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Logan County, Arkansas family biographies here: Logan County, Arkansas

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