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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Dallas 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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Robert F. Sisson, farmer and stockman, Ramsey, Ark. The subject of this sketch, a widely known and respected influential citizen of this township, was born in Arkansas in 1848, and is the only child of Thomas W. and Mary L. (Craft) Sisson. Mrs. Sisson was probably born in Alabama, where she was married to a Mr. Neel, and by him became the mother of nine children, one, Franklin Neel, now of Texas. It was at a very early day when Mr. and Mrs. Neel came to what is now Dallas County, and there Mr. Neel received his final summons. Mrs. Neel then married Mr. Sisson, who was born in Alabama in 1811, and who came to Dallas County, Ark., when a young man. After his marriage in that State, he located in the woods, where his son now resides, and there spent the balance of his days as an honest, industrious farmer and stockman. He was a great hunter and sportsman. He was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and socially was a Royal Arch Mason. After his death Mrs. Sisson married Thomas Gibson, and removed to Pine Bluff, to educate her son, Robert F. About this time the war broke out, and they returned to the farm, where Mrs. Gibson died in 1881, at the age of about seventy-three years. She was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Robert F. Sisson received his education in the country schools and at Pine Bluff, and during the latter part of the war served as courier for Gen. Churchill. He surrendered at Marshall, Tex. On April 22, 1865, he married Miss Nancy Wammack, a native of Alabama, and the daughter of Kinchen and Mary Wammack. Mr. Wammack died in Alabama, and afterward Mrs. Wammack moved to Dallas County, Ark., and there her life terminated. To Mr. and Mrs. Sisson were born nine children—three sons and six daughters—all living. Mr. Sisson has spent nearly all his life on the farm of his birth, and still preserves the log-house in which he was born, and in which his father died, although he recently has built a large and commodious frame house. He is the owner of about 500 acres of land, raises lots of sheep, cattle, horses and mules. In politics he has been a Democrat all his life, and still adheres to that party. He is a member of the Farmers’ Alliance, and a man respected and esteemed by all. His wife was formerly a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 55 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Dallas County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Dallas County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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