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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Saline 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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Capt. J. C. Flynn, one of the principal lumber dealers in Saline County, and a manufacturer of yellow pine, oak, ash, gum and hickory timber, the first named being a specialty, was born in New York in 1833, and is a son of Henry and Ellen (Colbert) Flynn, natives of Ireland. They came to the United States in 1830, and resided in New York State, until their removal to Washtenaw County, Mich., where the father died, when J. C. was sixteen years old. Three years later the family moved to Ludington, Mich., where the mother died in 1885, a member of the Catholic Church. J. C. Flynn, the third of seven children born to his parents, received a limited education in his youth, his only instructors being his older sisters. When sixteen years old he commenced in life for himself and farmed for a short time, but later he sailed on the great lakes, his principal run being from Chicago to Buffalo, N. Y. For two years he acted in the capacity of mate, and the last years of his sailing life were passed as captain. His brother, in the meantime, was managing the farm in Michigan. In 1858 J. C. went to Texas, where he worked at the carpenter’s trade until 1860, then coming to Clark County, Ark. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in Company B, Twelfth Arkansas Infantry, as a private, but after three months’ service he was made a corporal, and later on promoted to sergeant-major of the regiment, taking part in the battles at Belmont, Island No. 10, and Fort Pillow. He was then furloughed for sixty days, and sent to Arkansas in charge of the sick and wounded of the regiment. When about to return to his command he was ordered by Gen. Hindman to organize, which he did, and was made captain of Company H, Thirty-third Arkansas Infantry, and remained in that capacity until the close of the war, taking part in the fights at Prairie Grove, near Vicksburg, Little Rock, Mansfield, La., Pleasant Hill, La., Jenkins’ Ferry, and a great number of skirmishes. He was wounded several times, and at Jenkins’ Ferry was captured and taken to Johnson’s Island, where he was confined for eleven months, but was finally exchanged and rejoined his command at Shreveport, La., and surrendered at Marshall, Tex., in May, 1865. After the war was over he returned to Clark County, Ark., with only five cents in his pockets, but immediately set to work with an energy that soon brought its reward. Sometime later he was enabled to build a water, flour and corn mill, which he operated successfully for about two years, and then moved to Pulaski County, and farmed for one year. Capt. Flynn then entered into business at Little Rock, and also operated saw-mills in different parts of Pulaski County, until 1880, when he came to his present place, which was established in 1881, and is now one of the largest industries in Saline County, the mill having a capacity of 20,000 feet per day, with a planing-mill attached, and employing on an average of fourteen people. He also owns four ox teams and one horse team to haul his logs, and has about 1,100 acres of the best timber land in that section. Capt. Flynn was married in January, 1867, in Clark County, to Miss Dusky V., daughter of Henry M. and Virginia Ivy, of Mississippi and Alabama, respectively, who were among the earliest settlers of Pulaski County, where the father died about 1878. Four children were born to the Captain and his wife, three of whom are living, and all having received the best education their father could obtain for them. In politics Capt. Flynn is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce. He was the first sheriff in Mason County, Mich., and was also justice of the peace in that same county. In secret societies he is a member of Pennington Lodge No. 273, A. F. & A. M., at Hensley, and also belongs to Royal Arch Chapter No. 2, at Little Rock, and Lodge No. 452, Knights of Honor, at the same place. He is also a member of Quapaw Council No. 97, Royal Arcanum, at Little Rock. In all enterprises connected with his county, which offer to develop and advance its interests, Capt. Flynn is one of the foremost citizens to give his valuable aid.

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This family biography is one of 100 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Saline County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Saline County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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