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Below is a family biography included in The History of Carroll 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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J. C. Fraker was born in Illinois on February 26, 1831. About 1838 his parents removed to Indiana, and it was there that he was educated in the common schools. In 1858 he removed to Kansas, and the next year located at Emporia, where he soon after engaged in the hardware business, in partnership with Asa Gillett and Senator P. B. Plumb. Later the firm comprised Judge Peyton, Senator Plumb and Mr. Fraker. They did a large wholesale and retail business, at that time the largest in Southeast Kansas. In 1868 Mr. Fraker sold his interest, and removed to Wichita, and in 1871 engaged in the milling business, which he continued until 1880, when his mill burned. The next year he removed to Carroll County, Ark., and engaged in saw-milling and the lumber trade. He also retained an interest in a lumber business at Wichita. At first he located at Winona Springs, but in 1885 he came to Eureka Springs. Until last year he did a large wholesale and retail business, but since then he has been doing a wholesale business exclusively, as a member of the firm of Spencer & Fraker. Their business in 1887 amounted to $50,000. In 1852 Mr. Fraker was united in marriage with Susan M. Nicholls, of Greencastle, Ind. She died on September 1, 1874, leaving three children, viz.: Frank F., Hattie and Birdie. On September 1, 1875, he wedded Miss E. M. Foote, of Nottawa, Mich. Both he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His first wife was also a member of the same church. In politics Mr. Fraker is a Prohibitionist, and is the present secretary of the Prohibition State Central Committee. His wife is president of the W. C. T. U. of Eureka Springs.

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of Carroll County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Carroll County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Carroll County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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