My Genealogy Hound

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.

* * * *

William Franklin Brashears, numbered among Grant County’s leading citizens, was born on the farm where he now lives October 10, 1853, and is the son of Philip R. and Mary E. (Brown) Brashears, natives of Alabama and Georgia, respectively. The parents were married in this neighborhood, having come to Arkansas when but children. He was a farmer and as such was very successful, accumulating considerable property before the war. In the Confederate service he served about three years, being a non-commissioned officer. He was a participant in many battles, among which were the siege of Vicksburg, Chickamauga, and others. When the war closed, he again set to work to regain what he had lost by the struggle. He was a hard-working man, and ere death overtook him, had pretty well re-stablished his fallen fortune. He and his wife were members of the Missionary Baptist Church—he serving as clerk and deacon. Coming with his father to this county in 1840, he was one of the earliest settlers. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brashears died in Grant County, leaving a family of seven children, three now living: W. F. (our subject), Philip Martin (a farmer of Grant County) and Ben Bruce (a farmer and teacher of this county). William Franklin received his education on Brush Creek, and being the eldest son, at the death of the father willingly assumed the responsibility which devolved upon him to provide for and educate the other members of the family. By hard work and good management, backed by indomitable will, he has since been very successful, owning now a farm of 164 acres of as good land as can be found in Grant County. He was married in 1878 to Miss Fredonia E Deer, daughter of Ebenezer Deer, of Grant County. She was born in Hot Spring County, November 12, 1862. By this marriage there was a family of six children, all of whom are living: Felix, Ebba, Cleveland, Hattie, Lee and an infant son. Mary E. (deceased) was in her third year. Mr. Brashears is a firm believer in the principles of Democracy, and is prominent in all public enterprises. Together with his wife he is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

* * * *

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

To view additional Grant County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.