My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence 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.

* * * *

Greene P. Dean, an enterprising and prosperous farmer of Dent Township, was born in Lawrence County, in the year 1848. He is the son of William and Hettie (Roney) Dean, natives of Tennessee and Arkansas, respectively. His father settled in the latter State at the age of eighteen years, having started in life for himself at an early age, and established a good blacksmith trade, which he followed until the time of his death, in 1861. He was an active politician and a noted temperance worker in his day, and was a member of the society known as Sons of Temperance. He was one of the main pillars of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and also filled the office of justice of the peace for a number of years. The mother died in 1854. She was a descendant of one of the oldest families in Arkansas, and a lady universally loved for her many excellent qualities. This couple had nine children, seven of them living to maturity, since which time two have died. Mr. Greene P. Dean was the fourth child, and has grown right up with the county he resides in. He started in to learn his father’s trade at the age of fifteen, and after his death he worked with Madison Smith, of this county, for three and one-half years. He is a self-made man, and even during the busiest portion of his younger days found time to apply himself to his books. He hired himself out on a farm after leaving the blacksmith trade, and attended school for several years, and, in the fall of 1867, turned tutor himself, and opened a private school. He met with splendid success, and continued his teaching until 1871. He also had charge of a school in Duty Township, this county, in 1877. Mr. Dean was married in December, 1870, to Miss Elizabeth T. Phillips, of Arkansas, whose parents came to that State from Tennessee, in 1849, and settled in Lawrence County. Mrs. Dean’s grandparents were at one time the most extensive iron dealers in Tennessee, controlling several of the largest foundries in that State. Ten children were born to this couple: William A., Thomas Oscar, Nettie Oberia, Eugene D., Asa Belle, Francis Marion, Mary Edna, John Foster, Homer Lee and Ernest D. Mr. and Mrs. Dean are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Dean of the Farmers’ Alliance. He takes a deep interest in politics, and is a Democrat. The office of justice of the peace has been filled by him in Duty Township, and he has also occupied several local positions, besides being a director in the schools. Mr. Dean is one of Lawrence County’s most influential and prosperous men. He has 300 acres under cultivation, and owns considerable other land in different sections.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 111 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Lawrence County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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