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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Yell 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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Dr. Daniel F. Huckaby. Among the self-made men of Arkansas and Yell County, is the subject of this interesting sketch. Although not a native Arkansan, he is one whom Yell County has every reason to be proud of, for coming to this State in the early days of 1839, he has done much to advance its growth, and is recognized by the old pioneers as one of the founders of the county. He was born in Union District, S. C., October 4, 1813, and is a son of Robert and Susan (Fitch) Huckaby, also of South Carolina. He was raised on a farm and given but a few weeks’ schooling, and when twenty years old his father gave him his freedom, when he went to Reedstown on Broad River, and apprenticed himself for two years to a cabinet-maker; working for him a year and a half he bought his time and went to Pinckneyville, and accepted a position at his trade at $40 per month. At the expiration of fourteen months left this position to accept one at Packilett River, where he remained three years, and during this time (October 25, 1838) he married Cynthia E., daughter of John Haney, of South Carolina, and she became the mother of four children: Helen, Dolphus, Rebecca and Myrtle. About a year after his marriage, he and nine families from his neighborhood made up a train of nine wagons and started overland to Arkansas. They were seven weeks on the way, the weather being all they could wish and everything in their favor they arrived safely at Danville, this State, thence journeyed to Spring Creek, near the present site of Bellville; here the colony settled, and our subject went to Pittsburgh, Johnson County, and worked one year at his trade; subsequently returning to his 160 acres of land, which he had pre-empted, he began improving it, alternating this with work at his trade or at carpentering. About this time the settlement petitioned the Legislature to divide Pope County, and form a new one; this being granted, Yell County was organized; meeting with such success, they also prayed the United States Government to bring their land into market. Then came the momentous question of deciding the location of the county seat, which was finally settled at Monroe and afterward moved to Danville. The Doctor soon received an appointment from the Government as commissioner of public building, and let the contract for the erection of a court house, he himself being one of the workmen. By this time the farms of the colony were yielding good crops of cotton, which were conveyed to the nearest gin (six miles away), and ginned and baled, one-tenth of the cotton being paid as toll for ginning, and $1 per bale for baling. This was hauled twenty-two miles to the river, and shipped on the “Governor Moorhead” to New Orleans, and exchanged for the necessary commodities of pioneer life. On September 22, 1857, the Doctor was called upon to part with his loving and faithful wife, and remaining a widower till October 4, 1858, married Miss Sarah Meers, who bore him the following children: Fannie, Anna, Minerva and Effie, all living near their parents. He began his medical studies in Pickneyville, S. C., while a resident in the home of Dr. McGovern, devoting all his spare time to his studies, and in 1861 attended lectures at McDowells’ Medical College at St. Louis, but being taken ill was obliged to abandon his studies and leave for home, and while going down the river to Memphis was captured and compelled to take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government, after which he was permitted to return home, where he fully recovered his health, and began his practice; but war having been declared, and the country in a fearful state of agitation, he, a sworn defender of the United States Government, was obliged to flee to the Red River country, where he practiced till the cessation of hostilities, and in May, 1865, returned to Yell County, where his family had been during the entire struggle. On the succeeding year he entered the Medical University of Louisiana at New Orleans, where he took a regular course, then returned to his farm, which he worked in connection with his practice, attending lectures from time to time till 1882, when he left his farm (280 acres of land, with 100 under improvement and with good buildings, it being to a great extent the work of his own hands), and moved to the village of Bellville and opened an office. In 1853 he was elected to the Legislature by a large majority, and was an efficient and active worker for the good of his State, and in 1873 was again sent to represent it in the Legislative body. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in religion, and a Democrat, politically; is a public-spirited citizen, and a hospitable entertainer of his many friends.

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This family biography is one of 124 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Yell County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Yell County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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