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Below is a family biography from the book,  The History of Crawford County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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 M. Dick was born in Wayne County, Ky., in 1851, and is a son of Thomas and Nancy (Foster) Dick, natives of the same county. The father is now eighty-seven years of age, and is engaged in farming in his native county in connection with stock raising. He has been twice married. John Dick, the grandfather, was born in Virginia, and in an early day went Wayne County, where he died. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. The mother of our subject died about 1875. Her father, Fred Foster, was a native of Virginia, and an early settler of Wayne County, where he died in 1836. James M. Dick was the eldest of seven children, and during his youth received a common-school education. In 1871 he married Amelder, daughter of Cyrus and Zenovia Barrer, who came to Crawford County, Ark., from Kentucky in 1872 with Mr. Dick. He farmed on rented land in different parts of the county for some years, collecting a large herd of cattle in the meantime, and in 1883 purchased a tract of bottom land, which he proceeded to improve. He now has 220 acres of well-improved land, and is successfully engaged in farming and the lumber business, besides owning a cotton-gin. He has accumulated his property by industry and good management, and is one of the self-made men of the county. He is a law-abiding citizen, and has done good service as deputy sheriff and deputy Unites States Marshal in driving away lawless persons. In 1887 her was commissioned revenue director, but on account of poor health resigned. In August 1888, he was appointed agent of the “Lone Star Detective and Information Agency.” In politics he is conservative, but cast his first presidential vote for Greeley in 1872.

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This family biography is one of 222 biographies included in The History of Crawford County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Crawford County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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