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Below is a family biography from the book,  The History of Franklin 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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Dr. Thomas A. Carter, retired physician of Ozark, was born in Amherst County, Va., March 31, 1819. He is a descendant of one of the first families of Virginia, in which State his father, Thomas S., and his grandfather, John C., who was a captain in the Revolutionary army, were born. The father grew to manhood in Virginia, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was married in his native State to Harriet H. Aldridge, also a descendant of a prominent family, and in 1824 moved to Alabama, where he engaged in farming at Tuscumbia, until his death in 1833. Our subject lived in Alabama until seventeen, and received a good education in that State and Tennessee. When a young man he lived in Cartersville, Miss., some time, and studied medicine under Dr. Brayton for two years. In the winters of 1846 and 1847 he attended lectures at the University of Louisville, Ky., and in the latter year located at Hickory Plains, Miss., and established himself in his profession. Three years later he removed to Marietta, Miss., and in 1857 finally settled in Ozark, Ark., where for over twenty years he enjoyed a lucrative and extensive practice, which was only interrupted by his withdrawing from active practice, having acquired a competency, leaving the field to a younger generation. During the war Dr. Carter practiced in Texas, but in 1868 returned to Ozark. In October, 1843, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth B. Dotson, a native of Tennessee, and daughter of Samuel Dotson, of Tennessee. This lady was left an orphan during her childhood, and was reared and educated by an aunt. After thirty-four years of wedded happiness she died, leaving two sons and four daughters: J. B., cashier of the Ozark Bank; Henry C., of Ozark; Harriet E., wife of W. F. Crabtree; Mattie A., wife of M. G. Butler, of Indian Territory; Mary U., wife of Capt. Fleeman, of Ozark, and Edna T., a young lady at home. In April, 1833, the Doctor was married in Van Buren to Miss Mary C. Hodges, who was born in Louisville, Ky., but reared and educated at Van Buren. Mrs. Carter is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and the Doctor is a member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry, of which he was Master a number of years, and also belongs to Carter Chapter No. 57, at Ozark, and has held the highest positions in the same.

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This family biography is one of 163 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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