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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lincoln County, 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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Joseph F. Banks. He whose name heads this sketch is a merchant of special prominence in Douglas, Lincoln County, Ark., and keeps at his store everything needed by farmers. The firm name under which this business is conducted is Banks Bros. Joseph is the son of Thomas and Fannie R. (Lavender) Banks, and his birth occurred in Williamson County, Tenn., where the family lived previous to his emigrating to Arkansas. The father is now in the wholesale hat business at Nashville, Tenn., and was also general merchant at Thompson Station, Williamson County. Thomas Banks figured conspicuously in the late war, under Gen. Forrest, and was severely wounded in the leg. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Nelson Lavender, was a Virginian by birth, and lived many years in Williamson County, Tenn., where he owned a large plantation. He was of Irish descent. Joseph is the eldest of the six children born to his parents, all of whom are living. His education was limited because of the fact that his father’s property suffered destruction during the war, in 1862. Mr. Banks moved to Arkansas in 1872, but after a short while went to Tennessee. However, in 1874, he returned to Arkansas, locating at Auburn. In 1881 he sold his stock of goods at the above-named place, and this time settled at his present stand in Douglas. Mr. Banks was married in the month of August, 1879, to Miss Inez Dodson, daughter of Paul and Nannie Dodson of Maury County, Tenn. The brother and partner of the subject of the sketch, William L. Banks, was also born in Williamson County, Tenn., in the year 1861. After receiving a common-school education, he came to Lincoln County, clerking in different stores, until such time as he entered into partnership with Joseph Banks. They are both thoroughgoing wide-awake business men, and are very popular.

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This family biography is one of 44 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lincoln County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Lincoln County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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