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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Clay 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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John M. Gleghorn was born in Independence County, Ark., near Batesville, December 10, 1843, being a son of John and Sisley (Coleman) Gleghorn, who were both natives of South Carolina, the mother being principally reared in Alabama. John Gleghorn removed to Tennessee when a young man and there remained until 1842, when he emigrated with his family to Independence County, Ark., coming on the first steamer that sailed up the White River. He entered land in that county, on which he remained until 1859, subsequently coming to Greene County, Ark., and residing on a farm near Gainesville until his death, which occurred in April, 1866. His widow is yet living and resides in Marion County, in her eightieth year. The paternal grandfather was born in Scotland and emigrated to America at an early day, when only twelve years old, locating first in South Carolina, then in Middle Tennessee, where he spent the remainder of his days. The maternal grandfather was born and raised in South Carolina, and later spent some time in Alabama, dying in Limestone County of that State. John M. Gleghorn is one of seven surviving members of a family of twelve children, their names being as follows: Rhoda E., wife of Samuel Pool; Stephen C., Lucretia, widow of William Jones; Melissa, wife of J. A. Pool; John M., James K., and Marietta, wife of David Gouch. John M. Gleghorn was reared and educated in Independence County, and was in his sixteenth year when he went to Greene County with his parents. From early boyhood he has been familiar with farm life, and when the war broke out he left the plow to engage in that struggle, enlisting in November, 1861, in Capt. Morgan’s company, in which he served until 1863, then being discharged on account of disability, at Readyville, Tenn. He returned home but afterward enlisted in Marmaduke’s brigade, and served until the war closed, having taken an active part in the battles of Corinth, Fort Pillow, Murfreesboro, Bragg’s raid through Kentucky, Harrisburg, and a number of other hard fights. He was wounded by a pistol shot while with Price at Big Blue. He surrendered at Shreveport, La., June 8, 1865, and returned to Greene County, Ark., and was engaged in farming there until February, 1871, when he came to Clay County, Ark., and located near Knobel, where he farmed on rented land until January, 1881, then purchasing his present farm of 325 acres, about 140 of which are under cultivation. He has a good two-story frame house and has made other valuable improvements. His principal crop is corn, but he also raises some cotton, and gives much attention to stock-raising, both buying and selling. In November, 1865, he was married to Mary Arnold, a native of Tennessee, by whom he has had ten children, five living: Mary J., Lindsey C. Etta, Amanda, and James R. Those deceased were: Luther L., William, Walter, John and Anna, the last two twins. Mrs. Gleghorn died in November, 1887, having been a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a number of years. Mr. Gleghorn is a Democrat, but has never been an office seeker. He has done a great deal to build up his section of the country and has been the cause of many worthy men locating here, having furnished them with land, and grain with which to make a start.

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This family biography is one of 124 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Clay County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Clay County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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

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