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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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Simeon R. Chambers, farmer, Briggsville, Ark. All his life Mr. Chambers has followed, with substantial success, the occupation to which he was reared, and in which he is now engaged—farming. A very extensive land owner of Briggsville Township, he is also one of its recognized leading agriculturists, and as a man, no less than as a citizen, he is highly esteemed. He is a native of this State, born near Little Rock, on January 28, 1842, and his earliest recollections were of working on the farm. In 1863 he came to this county with his mother and her other children, she being the widow of Edward M. Chambers, of Georgia. Mrs. Chambers settled near Briggsville, and her sons worked a farm for the support of the family. About a year after their arrival the mother died, and soon after Simeon bought 160 acres of land, one of the finest tracts in the valley. This he paid for in about five years, and during that time he saved sufficient money to buy eighty acres more, paying $700 for it. Later yet he bought forty acres for $175, and in 1889 he purchased eighty acres of well-improved land, paying $1,000 for this. All his land has been paid off the profits of the farm, for Mr. Chambers has been engaged in no other business. He has good buildings on each farm, and besides the cultivated portion of his land, he has many acres of valuable timber lying in the valley near Briggsville. He keeps a good breed of cattle (Durham), and in the management of every thing connected with his farm he displays excellent judgment and thoroughness. On April 20, 1871, he married Miss Laura Hamilton, a native of Texas, born November 9, 1852, and who came with her father, John Hamilton, of Red River County, Tex., to this county in 1867. Eight children were born to this marriage: Martha C., John E., Simeon L., Amanda C., Rebecca, Thomas, Warren and Winnie. Mr. Chambers has never been active in politics, but takes a decided interest in educational matters, having been director for several terms. In 1862 he volunteered in the army, and was in Capt. Conley’s company of Gen. Price’s army. Six months later he was discharged for disability, but one year from that time he re-enlisted and remained in service until the close of the war. Pleasant and charitable to all, Mr. Chambers is respected and esteemed by the many with whom he comes in contact.

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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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