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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Cross 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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J. B. Hamilton, sheriff, Cross County, Ark. Were one to ask the leading characteristics of Mr. Hamilton as a man, the answer would come almost involuntary that he is brave and fearless, honest, but unpretending, and a man who has been tried, but not found wanting, and one capable of discharging his official and private duties with competency. J. B. Hamilton was born in Cross County, Ark., in 1862, and is the son of John and Parmesia (Shaver) Hamilton. [For further particulars see sketch of father.] He passed his boyhood days in assisting on the farm and in attending the common schools, finishing his education by a course in the Commercial College at Memphis, Tenn. In 1880 he went to Poinsett County, where he was in business in Harrisburg for two years. In 1885 he started a livery stable at Wittsburg, but in 1886 moved his business to Wynne, and continued to follow this occupation in that city until in June, 1889, when he sold out. Mr. Hamilton has always taken a deep interest in politics, served as deputy sheriff for two years under Sheriff J. W. Killough, and in 1888 was elected sheriff and collector of Cross County. At the time of his election he was just twenty-seven years of age, and is the youngest sheriff ever elected to that office in Arkansas. Mr. Hamilton was married December 19, 1888, to Miss Rena Cogbill, a native of Cross County, and the daughter of W. H. Cogbill, who has been a citizen of Cross County for some time. Mr. Hamilton is a member of the K. of P., and is one of the brightest young men of the county. He is pleasant and courteous, and his abilities have been recognized by the people as may be seen from the office to which they have elected him. To his marriage has been born one child, a daughter, Margery.

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This family biography is one of 103 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Cross County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Cross County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Cross County, Arkansas family biographies here: Cross County, Arkansas Biographies

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