My Genealogy Hound

Abraham Gossett is the proprietor of Distillery No. 154, at Newark, Independence County, Ark., which was established in November, 1888, and has a capacity of fifty gallons per day, which, it is expected, will soon be increased to seventy-five gallons per day, consuming all the surplus corn raised in that portion of the county. Mr. Gossett is a native of Independence County, and was born February 2, 1862. His parents are Allen and Charlotte (Brannan) Gossett, both natives of Tennessee, who, in early life, removed with their parents to Arkansas, where they married. They are active members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and are among the most prominent residents of Independence County, where they now reside. Allen Gossett was in the Confederate service four years during the late Civil War, serving a greater portion of the time as orderly sergeant; he has been a farmer all his life, and has been most successful in his chosen occupation. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and his political sympathies are with the Democratic party. Nine children have been born to the parents of our subject, viz.: Abraham, Robert M., Cassandra, Florence (wife of William Kenman, a farmer of Independence County), Williamson and John (twins), Madison, Lena and Sarah (deceased); the latter was married to William Bruce, and died at the age of twenty-two years. Abraham Gossett received a common-school education, and at the age of twenty-one years began farming for himself, but after one year, abandoned the farm, and engaged in trading, in which he was successful for a time. In 1881 he turned his attention to the mercantile business in Johnsonville, Humphreys County, Tenn., and two years later removed to Newark, Ark., where he engaged in the same business, and built the second business house in that place. He continued merchandising until January 1, 1889, when he determined to devote his entire time and attention to distilling, of which he is making a great success. April 22, 1885, Mr. Gossett married Miss Blackhead Tomblinson, a daughter of John N. Tomblinson. Mrs. Gossett is a native of Independence County. They have two children: Owen and Newel. Mr. Gossett is a member of the Baptist Church, the I. O. O. F., and Masonic fraternity.