My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Miller 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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C. C. Dorrian, mayor, Texarkana, Ark. This prominent and much respected citizen owes his nativity to North Ireland, where his birth occurred in May, 1853, and is the son of Charles and Catherine (Hagerty) Dorrian, both natives of the Emerald Isle. The father is deceased, but the mother is still living and resides in her native country. C. C. Dorrian was educated principally in the United States, whither he had emigrated in 1869, when sixteen years of age, and attended school at Rock Hill College, Ellicott City, Md., graduating in 1875. The same year he came to Texarkana, embarked in the grocery business (which was the first start made for himself), and in this he was very successful, continuing it until September, 1889, when he retired from business. He started on a letter of introduction as his capital in Texarkana, and he now ranks among the wealthiest men of Miller County, Ark. As a merchant he was successful beyond his most sanguine expectations. He owns a vast amount of real estate in the city of Texarkana, and is one of the leading citizens of the county. He is identified with almost every public enterprise in the city; is director in the First National Bank, vice-president of the Texarkana Car & Foundry Company, and is interested in several other enterprises. Mr. Dorrian owns one of the handsomest residences in Texarkana, which has just been completed at a considerable outlay. He has been mayor of the town for one term, and was a candidate for re-election in 1890. He was married in 1877, in Texarkana, Ark., to Miss Lizzie Morton, a native of Richmond, Ray County, Mo.

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