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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence 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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Swan C. Dowell, dealer in drugs, books and stationery, Walnut Ridge, Ark. It is to the skill and science of the druggist that suffering humanity look for alleviation from pain. The physician may successfully diagnose, but it is the chemist who prepares the remedy. Mr. Dowell has been engaged in the above business since 1880, and in that time a trade has been built up second to no other drug house in the city. His birth occurred in Breckinridge County, Ky., on October 26, 1856, and he is the son of Christopher M. Dowell, also a native of the Blue Grass State, who came to Arkansas in February, 1867, and who located near Clover Bend, in Lawrence County, where he remained for four or five years. He first rented land, but afterwards bought 160 acres, and subsequently (in 1876) went to Minturn to live near his two sons, J. T. and Swan, who were there in business, and there he passed the remainder of his days. He was a pioneer settler and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Ann Brandenburg, a native of Brandenburg, Ky., and the daughter of Solomon Brandenburg, who was a native of Hampshire County, West Va. To them were born five children, two now living — John Thomas, proprietor of an hotel in Minturn, on the Iron Mountain Railroad, and Swan C. (the subject of this sketch). The latter became familiar with the duties on the farm in early life, and received his education in the common schools. When fifteen years of age, he went to Clover Bend and engaged as a clerk for his cousin, J. H. Dowell, by whom, subsequently, he was promoted to book-keeper. Five years later he went to Minturn, and with his brother formed a partnership in a general store under the firm name of J. T. Dowell & Bro. In 1880 they dissolved partnership, and Swan C. came to Walnut Ridge, where he engaged in the drug business. He has been fairly successful in his calling, and for the last three years has been engaged in the real estate business with J. P. Coffin, of Powhatan, under the firm name of Coffin & Dowell, and they control about 2,500 acres of land for sale. Mr. Dowell individually owns 5,000 acres. He is a Democrat in politics, and at present is mayor of the city. His marriage was consummated in 1878 to Miss Alice Wall, a native of St. Louis, Mo., and the daughter of William Wall (deceased). The fruits of this union were five children — Walter, Mamie, Agnes, Oliver and Alysius. Mrs. Dowell is a member of the Catholic Church.

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This family biography is one of 111 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Lawrence County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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