CROSS CO, AR - ARCHIE S. CASBEER - Bio

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Submitted by: Jason Presley <daclyde@usa.net>
        Date: 16 Sept 2009
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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SOURCE:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 
Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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     Archie S. Casbeer began life as a saloon keeper at Wittsburg in 1870.
In 1874 he commenced clerking in the store, and in March 1879, opened a
general merchandise establishment, which he continued for three years,
after which he conducted a saloon and grocery combined.  In 1886 he 
started his present store, carrying a small stock of general merchandise
valued at about $1,000.  He also owns 587 acres of land in this county,
and forty acres in St. Francis County.  Mr. Casbeer was born in St. Francis
County, October 13, 1844, being a son of Thomas M. and Martha A. (May).  The
former was born in Maury County, Tenn., on July 4, 1813, and was of German
parentage.  Thomas Casbeer, Sr., the grandfather of our subject, immigrated
to Arkansas in 1817, and was one of the early settlers of St. Francis County.
Thomas Casbeer, Sr., was a farmer, blacksmith and proprietor of a large saw-
mill.  He was married Seprebber 13, 1838, and died on September 25, 1872.  
Mrs. Casbeer first saw the light in North Carolina, September 25, 1820, and
died October 2, 1867; she was the mother of thirteen children, five of whom
are now living.  Archie S. Casbeer enlisted in the Confederate service in a
cavalry regiment during the war, in which he served one year, and was in the
battles of Big Creek, near Helena, Pilot Knob, Fort Scott, and a number of
skirmishes.  Mr. Casbeer is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F., 
also of the Knights of Honor and Knights and Ladies of Honor.  He is a strong
Democrat, and has held the offices of constable and debuty sheriff.  January
7, 1874, he was married to Delana Block, a native of this county, who died
June 28, 1887, having become the mother of two children, one of whom is
living.  She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.  Mr.
Casbeer has a goard dated 1766, which was used as a powder-flask by his
granfather, T. M. Casbeer, Sr., at the battle of New Orleans.