Benton Co., AR - Biographies - Raphiel W. Hansard

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Raphiel W. Hansard, photographer, of Bentonville, was born in Knox 
County, Tenn., in 1838, son of Samuel H. and Armenia L. (Weir) 
Hansard, and grandson of William Hansard, who was a native of 
Virginia, was a farmer and miller by occupation, owning a mill on Bull 
Run Creek, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He died in 1845 
at the age of eighty-three years. Samuel H. was born in Knox County, 
Tenn., and was a tiller of the soil. He moved to Polk County, Mo., in 
1846, and in a few years moved to Cedar County, where he was killed in 
his own house by the State Militia, in 1863. His wife, Armenia L. 
Weir, was born in Knox County, Tenn., in 1816, and was of French-Irish 
extraction. Her death occurred in 1864. She was the mother of eleven 
children, nine of whom are now living. Raphiel W. Hansard was but a 
small boy when his parents moved to Missouri, and was educated in the 
schools of that State. He attained his growth on the farm, and at the 
age of twenty years commenced teaching and followed that occupation 
for five terms in Missouri and two terms in Arkansas. April, 1861, he 
enlisted in Company A. Third Regiment Missouri Cavalry, under Gen. 
Price, in the State Guards. In 1862, while at Cane Hill, he enlisted 
in Jackman's company, but later he enlisted in Company C, Third 
Regiment Cavalry, under Gen. Shelby. He was in the battles of Wilson's 
Creek, Dry Wood, Lexington, Marks' Mill and a great many skirmishes. 
He surrendered at Shreveport, La., June, 1865. He entered as a 
private, but in 1863 he was made third lieutenant of Company C. After 
the war Mr. Hansard [p.844] located in Lawrence County, Mo., and 
commenced learning photography in July, 1866, at Verona. He took up 
the business on his own ingenuity, only being taught how to make a few 
pictures by his brother, J. W. Hansard. In November, 1866, Mr. Hansard 
became a resident of Bentonville, established a gallery and has since 
continued at the business. In 1867 he married Mrs. Sarah C. Railey, 
nee Fergusson, daughter of John N. Fergusson. Mrs. Hansard was born in 
Marion County, Mo., April 26, 1842, and by her marriage became the 
mother of three children: Ida L., Armenia May and Author R. Mrs. 
Hansard has two children by a former marriage: Edward A. Railey and 
Laura, wife of W. V. Steel. Mr. Hansard is a first-class artist, and 
was the only one in Bentonville until a year ago. He thoroughly 
understands the science and art of photography, and makes pictures 
equal to any outside of Little Rock. He does all kinds of enlarging, 
and not only has a reputation at home, but abroad as well, as being a 
first-class artist, but his work speaks for itself. Mr. Hansard was 
coroner of Benton County two years, was alderman in Bentonville two 
terms, is a member of the I. O. O. F., is a member of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church, and he is Democratic in his political views.