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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lafayette 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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George W. Dobson, planter, Lafayette County, Ark. It is the aim of this work to give a true history of the county and its representative citizens, and to accomplish this object mention must be made of Mr. Dobson, one of the leading men of the county, as well as one of its substantial agriculturists. He is a native of Georgia, born in 1840, the elder of two children born to John and Mary (Formby) Dobson, natives of Georgia. John Dobson was a land speculator, and was one of the prominent men of his section, representing his county in the (Georgia) State Legislature for one term, and also serving one term as sheriff. He was a soldier in the War of 1836, and in 1843 he died, leaving a widow and two children, viz.: George W. (the subject of this sketch), and Ruth (wife of R. C. Dickson). After his death, his widow married Amos Corn, and together they came to this State, locating in Ouachita County, in 1854, residing here for one year, and then moved to Columbia, where Mr. Corn purchased the farm on which he died in 1876. Mrs. Corn died in 1889. The paternal great-grandfather was Rufus S. Dobson, who served in the Revolutionary War, as did also the maternal great-grandfather, Matthew M. A. Formby. The subject of this sketch removed with his mother to this State, where he attended for a short time the schools of Columbia County, and at the age of twenty-one he left his home to enter the Confederate service, joining the Invincible Guards of Columbia County in 1861, in which he served until September 3, when the regiment was reorganized, and he then went into the heavy artillery, P. T. Dimmick, commander. He participated in many battles, the most important of which were Columbus, and the battle of Belmont. At Island No. 10 he and all his company were captured (with the exception of six) and made their escape by barges. They stole out and crossed over to Red Foot Lake, making their way to Obion Station, on the Humbolt & Columbus Road, making their way to Memphis, and from there back to Fort Pillow; thence to Vicksburg, where they engaged in the siege, and were surrendered and paroled; came home and went into parole camps at Washington, and from there to Alexander, La., where they surrendered. At the close of the war he came back to Columbia and engaged in tilling the soil on a very small scale, he and one hand being the only workers. He resided in that county until 1871, then moved to this county, where he had previously purchased a farm, situated on Red River, consisting of 228 acres, 115 of which were under cultivation. To this he has since added until he is now the owner of 1,400 acres, with about 300 (bottom land) under an excellent state of cultivation, and about 175 acres in the hills also under cultivation. This he devotes chiefly to the cultivation of cotton, raising some 400 bales of this commodity per annum. He does his own ginning, having a fine steam gin and mill attached. In 1876-78 he served as assessor of this county, and in 1880 was elected sheriff, being re-elected in 1882. In 1861 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary I. Dickson, daughter of Josiah and Mary L. Dickson, natives of North Carolina and Alabama, respectively. Mrs. Dobson was an earnest Christian lady, a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and died in 1876, leaving two children, viz.: John H. (a farmer), and G. W., Jr. (a merchant and postmaster of this place). In 1881 Miss Carrie V. DuBoise became Mrs. Dobson, and this later union resulted in the birth of one child, a son, Edwin D. Mr. Dobson is a member of Lewisville Lodge No. 24, A. F. & A. M., a member of the Magnolia Chapter No. 11, R. A. M., and of Magnolia Lodge No. 24,1. O. O. F., and also a member of Magnolia Lodge No. 81, K. of H. Mr. Dobson has been very successful in life, chiefly the result of his own industry and good management, and is a liberal contributor to and supporter of all enterprises tending to the advancement of society.

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This family biography is one of 44 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lafayette County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Lafayette County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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