My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography from the book,  The History of Franklin 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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Matt F. Greer is a native of Rome, Ga., and was born January 21, 1851, his parents being E. T. and Rebecca T. (Wright) Greer, natives of Georgia, where they were reared and married. The father was a contractor and builder, and in 1882 came to Arkansas, where he died in 1883. His wife is still living. Matt T. grew to manhood in his native State, and became a mechanic under his father’s instruction, serving as his father’s foreman until eighteen years of age. In 1878 he located in Ozark, Ark., and engaged in contracting and building, since which time he has erected many houses here and in the adjoining country. In 1881 he became the owner of a planing mill, to which he afterward added undertaker’s goods. He then put in a large stock of lumber, and shortly after bought a flour mill, which was soon supplemented with a large cotton-gin. He continues business in the various lines mentioned with increasing success, and in 1887 purchased a large hardware stock. He was the builder and one of the incorporators of the Ozark Canning Factory, and is on the board of directors. He is one of the most enterprising business men of Ozark, and owns nine good residence and tenement buildings, and a business block, besides the mills and property above mentioned. Returning to Georgia, he was married October 12, 1882, to Ella Spillman, a native of Tennessee, and daughter of Newton Spillman, formerly of that State. Mrs. Greer was reared and educated in Tennessee and Georgia, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Greer one child has been born, Leta Pearl, who is now five years old. Our subject is a member of the K. of P.

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This family biography is one of 163 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Franklin County, Arkansas family biographies here: Franklin County, Arkansas

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