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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Independence 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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M. R. Craig, proprietor of meat market, Batesville. Dealing in articles necessary for our daily sustenance, it is not surprising that the number of those engaged in the butchering business should be large, but this field of enterprise is also a large one. Among those engaged in this pursuit is Mr. Craig, a native of Greenbriar Township, Independence County, Ark., born on the 16th of March, 1851, and the son of John L. Craig, who was a native of Tennessee. The father came to Batesville when a young man, taught school for several years, and was married in Independence County, to Miss Margaret Harding, a native of Arkansas. They then located in Oil Trough Bottom, and afterward moved to Greenbriar Township, where he purchased a farm, and there died in 1864. The mother is still living, and resides on the old home stead, in Greenbriar Township. They were the parents of eight children, seven now living: John, was killed in Tennessee, while serving in the army; Lizzie, wife of P. Tucker; Joseph, Andrew, James, Mark R., Laura, wife of W. L. Dunaway, and Jane, wife of William Cullens. M. R. Craig attained his growth in Greenbriar Township, and assisted on the farm until twenty-one years of age. At about 1875 he engaged in the butcher’s business in Batesville, and has since carried it on. He owns a timber tract of land of forty acres, and is also the owner of town property in Batesville. He has been a member of the council of Batesville. In the year 1871 he selected Miss Sarah Elms as his companion in life, and the fruits of this marriage are four living children: Baswell W., Maggie, Andrew J. and Abernathy. One, deceased, was named Robert Henry. Mr. Craig is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the K. of H.

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This family biography is one of 158 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Independence County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Independence County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Independence County, Arkansas family biographies here: Independence County, Arkansas Biographies

View a map of 1889 Independence County, Arkansas here: Independence County, Arkansas Map

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