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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Grant 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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John Messenger, retired merchant of Prattsville, was born in the State of Alabama, March 31, 1823, his father, Ralph Messenger, being a native of the old Nutmeg State (Connecticut), and coming south when a young man, settling and marrying in Alabama. His wife was Charlotte Montgomery, a native of the latter State. In 1825 they moved to Nashville, where Mr. Messenger engaged in the mercantile business until his death, about 1833. Soon after, Mrs. Messenger returned to Alabama, settling at Florence, where she lived a number of years. Her son, John, remained with her until he had reached his manhood, when he left home and led a wandering life for three or four years. When he settled again it was at Fulton, Miss., there engaging in the newspaper business, which he followed for nearly ten years, or until being elected a clerk of the vice-chancery court. He served three years, when the office was abolished, after which, adopting the business of his father, he remained one year in Fulton. In the year 1860 he moved to Arkansas, and located on a farm in what is now Grant County, which he worked for about two years. During the war he moved to Arkadelphia, was again engaged in newspaper work for about three years, and then in connection with Rev. J. E. Cobb, removed the paper to Little Rock. Mr. Messenger relinquished his portion of the publication, and returned to his farm in Grant County. Several years were here passed in cultivating the soil and rearing his family. In 1881 he re-engaged in the mercantile business, but after about eight years, he sold out to his son. Mr. Messenger was married at Fulton, Miss., in 1850, to Esther Wood, a native of that State, and daughter of James Wood. They have reared two children: J. L. [whose sketch follows this] and E. F. They have lost three in infancy, and J. O. Messenger, who died in about 1878, in his twenty-first year. Mr. and Mrs. Messenger are both active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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This family biography is one of 68 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Grant County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Grant County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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