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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi 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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Abner Driver. As one of the enterprising younger members of the agricultural circle of Monroe Township we cannot fail to mention Abner Driver, who, having been identified with the interests of Mississippi County from his birth, is now one of its foremost agriculturists, although young in years. In 1882 he began life for himself, and a tract of 1,600 acres of land was placed at his disposal by his father, who is one of the wealthiest men of the county, and, with the exception of 100 acres, all of it was heavily covered with timber. Being a “chip of the old block” he entered heart and soul into clearing this land and getting it into good shape for farming, and up to the present time has put about 300 acres under the plow, and has erected twenty dwelling-houses on the place, among which is his own handsome residence, a well-finished two-story house in T shape, the main part of the building being 35x48 feet and the annex being 25x48 feet. In addition to this he has a fine barn and a cotton-gin and saw-mill, the latter two enterprises giving employment to about twelve men. The different branches of work on his plantation call for the labor of at least seventy people, and Mr. Driver is compelled to work early and late to attend to his big farm and keep the wheels of fortune moving. In early life his means and opportunities for acquiring an education were excellent, and after attending the schools of Cape Girardeau, Mo., he entered the East Tennessee University, located at Knoxville, where he pursued his studies assiduously. His wife, a lady of much culture and refinement, was a Miss Matie Williamson and a native of Mississippi County, her parents being Miss Letha Hale and Mr. B. Williamson. Mrs. Driver is a member of the Baptist Church at Winchester, Tenn., where she received her education, and he is a Mason, both being members of the Kallorama Lodge of the Knights and Ladies of Honor, of Osceola. They have two very interesting little children, Harry Lee and Ida May, who add much happiness to their pleasant home.

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This family biography is one of 162 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Mississippi County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

View a map of 1889 Mississippi County, Arkansas here: Mississippi County, Arkansas Map

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