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Below is a family biography included in the Woodruff County portion of Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  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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E. J. Crossett, a leading merchant and a very prominent citizen of De View, was born in Carroll County, Tenn., in 1845. J. K. Crossett, his father, was born in South Carolina, in 1815, and was reared and educated to farm life, which occupation he never departed from. In 1836 Mr. Crossett led to the hymeneal altar, Miss Elizabeth Cupp, of Carroll County, Tenn., originally from South Carolina, her parents being from that State. To Mr. Crossett’s marriage a family of eight children was born, six of them now living: W. R., J. J., R. B., C. M., Emma (the wife of W. A. Chaney) and E. J. They immigrated from Tennessee to De Soto County, Miss., in 1845, thence to Arkansas in 1853, locating in this county. Mr. Crossett purchased 160 acres of land, which he brought to a successful state of cultivation. Mrs. Crossett died in 1860, a consistent Christian and an earnest worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she was a member. In 1861 Mr. Crossett was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Corley, of St. Francis County, Ark., and to their union two children were born: Addie and Ida (the wife of J. D. Parttow). Mr. Crossett was a constituent of the I. O. O. F., and died in 1887, at his home in this county. E. J. began life for himself in 1865. His war record, though not a brilliant one, will always be remembered by him as one on which there is not a blemish, and he has the satisfaction of knowing that he was earnest in the discharge of his duties. He enlisted under Capt. Wilson, in the Twenty-second Arkansas Cavalry Regiment (B), entering service in 1863, remaining until the surrender in 1865, at Wittsburg, Ark. He then returned home, and for one year farmed, at the end of which time he learned and became skilled in the carpenter’s trade, which occupation he followed until 1871. Subsequently dropping his trade, he again resumed the tilling of the soil, continuing in this up to the year 1878, at which time he embarked in the mercantile business in De View, remaining in this place ever since. Mr. Crossett was united in marriage with Miss Mattie McMurtry in 1870, and to their union four children were born. Mrs. Crossett was born in Tennessee, in 1853, and came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Moses McMurtry, to this county when about two years old. Mr. McMurtry was a native of Ohio, and his wife was born in Mississippi. Both died in 1878, in full communion with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Crossett votes with the Democratic party. Himself and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a courteous, hospitable gentleman, making numerous friends, few if any enemies, and enjoys with his estimable wife, the respect of all.

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This family biography is one of 69 biographies included in the Woodruff County portion of Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Woodruff County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Woodruff County, Arkansas family biographies here: Woodruff County, Arkansas

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