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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha 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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D. O. Porter, saloon-keeper, Arkansas City. Mr. Porter, proprietor of the Senate Saloon of Arkansas City, was born in Chester County, S. C., in 1851, and is the third of a family of four children, the result of the union of W. A. and Martha (Cherry) Porter, natives of South Carolina. W. A. Porter was a wheelwright by trade, and manufactured buggies, carriages, etc. This shop was located in Landsfoot, where he died in 1853, and where his widow survived him until 1886. Their children are all now living: W. A. (resides at Pendleton), Mary E. (wife of J. B. Jackson), D. O., and E. M. (who resides in this county, and is engaged in the lumber business). D. O. Porter was educated in South Carolina and in Drew County, Ark., whither he came in company with his mother in 1869. He commenced for himself as the manager of a farm for A. W. Blackemore, when twenty-five years of age, having, previous to that time, remained with his mother, conducted the plantation for Mr. Blackemore for four years, and then took charge of a plantation for Quilling & Goza for two years. After this he rented a plantation and ran the same for one year at Pendleton, and then became manager of Dr. Taylor’s place for some time at South Bend, Lincoln County, where he remained until coming to Arkansas City, in 1884. He then engaged in the saloon business at this place, and does an annual business of from $6,000 to $8,000. He has been successful in all his enterprises, and is a first-class business man. At the present time he is one of the aldermen of Arkansas City, and was elected to this position in April, 1889. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.

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This family biography is one of 80 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Desha County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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