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Below is a family biography included in The History of Madison 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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James C. Brashears was born in Perry County, Ky., in 1837, his parents being Sampson and Margaret (Bright) Brashears. The father was born December 21, 1789, in Tennessee, a son of Samuel Brashears, and of Irish descent. Samuel was an officer in the Revolutionary War, and served as captain in one of the French and Indian wars. Sampson was reared in Tennessee, served in the war of 1812, in the Thirteenth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, and in 1819 with his wife and eight children immigrated to Kentucky on pack-horses. There he entered 10,000 acres of land, a portion of which he improved. He became the largest land owner in that section of the country, dealt largely in stock, and was considered a leading man. In 1872 he retired from active life, divided his property among his children, and made his home with one of his sons until his death, in 1878. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. The mother of our subject was born August 23, 1797, in Washington County, Va., was reared in Tennessee, and died in 1866. She was the mother of thirteen children, eight now living: Isaac (deceased), John, James, Sarah A. (deceased), Ezekiel (deceased), Elizabeth, Samson (deceased), Robert S. (deceased), Louisa, Harvey G., Jesse C., William R. and Hezekiah. The four last named live in Madison County, and the remainder who survive, in Kentucky. Jesse C. remained with his parents until eighteen years of age, and then attended school in Lee County, Va. When twenty-two years old he married and went to live upon some land given him by his father. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate army, served until the close of the war, and then resumed his farming. In 1882 he came to Arkansas, purchased land in Madison County, and in February, 1883, removed his family to his present place of residence. December 25, 1858, he married Elizabeth J. Hogg, a native of Kentucky, born in 1838, by whom he has nine children: Martha A., wife of John Combs; Harvey G., Lizzie, Mary L., Kelly, William H., Cynthia J., James J. and Robert H. The four eldest are school-teachers. Mr. Brashears is a successful farmer and stock raiser, the owner of 450 acres of good land, 150 of which are finely cultivated. He was postmaster at Jesse Post-office, Perry Co., Ky., from 1881 to 1882, which post-office was named after him. He has been justice of the peace, and is a Democrat.
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This family biography is one of 99 biographies included in The History of Madison County, Arkansas published in 1889. For the complete description, click here: Madison County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps
View additional Madison County, Arkansas family biographies here: Madison County, Arkansas
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