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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Scott 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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James P. Chiles. No name is more properly placed in the history of Scott County than that of Mr. Chiles, who is not only one of the most enterprising farmers of this section, but is of such a social, genial nature that he has made many friends. He was born in Tennessee to Roland and Margaret N. (Blair) Chiles, for a history of whom see sketch of Roland Chiles. Until he attained his fifteenth year James P. was a resident of his native State, but since 1870 he has been a resident of Arkansas, and was given a good education in the University of the State, at Fayetteville. On July 3, 1887, he was married to Miss Emma Roland, a native of Scott County, and a daughter of Elijah Roland, who was one of the early settlers of this State. In 1884 he purchased his present farm of 315 acres, and by hard work has put fifty acres under cultivation, the rest being covered with timber of an excellent and valuable quality. In October, 1886, he bought his present cotton-gin, grist and saw-mill, all of which he is operating with success, his saw-mill averaging about 5,000 feet of lumber per day. Besides this property he is the owner of a good dwelling-house and three tenement houses, and in addition to his other duties he is somewhat interested in stock-raising and speculating, in fact, is wide-awake and enterprising in all matters pertaining to his calling. He and his family are members of the Christian Church; he purchased all the materials for erecting a church and school-house, deeding the property for the site. He has at all times tried to further the cause of education, and for years has faithfully discharged the duties of school director of his district. He is a warm Republican in politics, and is an active worker in that party.

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This family biography is one of 62 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Scott County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Scott County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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