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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Columbia 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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Thomas J. Blewster, of the mercantile firm of Conch, Blewster & Co., Magnolia, Ark., is a native of Georgia, having been born in Crawford County in that State, February 3, 1857. He was the third of six children born to Leonidas and Martha (Parham) Blewster, his parents, who were also Georgians. His father is a prosperous farmer still living in Houston County, Ga., where he has recently served as one of the commissioners of said county. He has been married three times, Thomas J. being the son of his first wife, who died January 28, 1872, leaving the following children: Nancy C. (wife of E. S. Wellons, clerk of the Superior court of Houston County, Ga.), Robert G. (a farmer of that county), Lizzie (now deceased wife of H. E. Murray), W. C. (a resident of Magnolia, Ark.),William M. (of Fort Valley, Ga.), and Thomas J. (whose name heads this sketch). By his second wife Mr. L. Blewster had three children: Raymond (now deceased), Lula M. (wife of A. J. Johnson, of Crawford County, Ga.), and Lee (who is yet with his father). He has also four small children by his present wife. Thomas J. Blewster was raised upon a farm, where he did efficient service, generally working two years, and going to school one, attending the country schools convenient to his father’s home. In 1878 he came to Arkansas, where he has since resided. By hard efforts he obtained money sufficient to attend Bales’ Commercial College, Little Rock, Ark., where he graduated in July, 1879. He then located in Magnolia, entering the employ of J. M. Beasley as a clerk, where he continued from 1880 to 1882. Although Mr. Blewster had nothing when he left college, by his close attention to duty, and his sterling business qualities he inspired such confidence, that in 1882 he was taken as a partner by J. M. Whaley, a good business man, the firm being J. M. Whaley & Co. Of this firm he was a member for four years, selling out at the end of that time to Mr. Whaley. In 1886 the firm of Blewster & Couch was formed, and continued one year, when Mr. S. O. Couch was added to the firm and the firm name changed to Couch, Blewster & Co. Since that time the firm has remained the same, and they have been doing an excellent business, their annual sales amounting to from $65,000 to $75,000, and their stock of goods being valued at from $8,000 to $15,000. They buy more cotton than any mercantile firm in the city, having purchased during the season of 1887-88 about 4,000 bales. They carry a full line of all goods needed by farmers, as well as people in the city, their stock, both of dry goods and groceries being exceptionally select and complete. Mr. Blewster was married in 1883 to Miss Lou Sharman, of Magnolia, a daughter of Mr. R. R. Sharman, now deceased, and by her he has four children: Susie (who died in 1885), Clyde, Leta, and an infant not named. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and socially he belongs to the K. of P., Columbia Lodge No. 24, and the K. of H., Magnolia Lodge No. 3150. He has no political aspirations, preferring to devote his time and attention to his business. Through the partiality of his friends, however, he has been compelled to serve as a member of the Board of Aldermen of his adopted town.

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This family biography is one of 106 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Columbia County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Columbia County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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