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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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Thomas J. Crews, farmer and stock raiser of St. Francis Township, Clay County, Ark., was born in Bedford County, Tenn., August 1, 1847, and is the son of Dr. John Crews, a native of Virginia, and Mary A. (Tribble) Crews. Dr. John Crews was reared in his native State and was married twice, his first wife bearing him two sons and three daughters, all now deceased but one, a daughter. His second marriage was to the mother of our subject, who bore him four children, two sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to mature years. The Doctor moved from Bedford to Weakley County, residing there some nine years, engaged in farming, and then, about 1857, he moved with his family to Arkansas, locating in what is now Clay County, made a farm and there resided until his death, which occurred in December, 1876. Thomas J. Crews grew to manhood on the farm in Clay County, remaining with his parents until grown, and was married in that county September 1, 1872, to Miss Mary J. Lively, a native of Arkansas, and the daughter of William Lively, and sister of Rev. Lively, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. After his marriage Mr. Crews settled in the neighborhood where he now lives, and after his father’s death he came to the old home and bought out the heirs. He has 250 acres of land with about 125 fenced and under cultivation. Mrs. Crews died February 12, 1878, and since then Mr. Crews’ mother, who is still living, has been his housekeeper. Mr. Crews is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Wisdom Lodge No. 343, and has filled all the official positions in his lodge. He has represented the lodge in the grand lodge two different times. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 56, at Piggott, and is Noble Grand of this lodge. He has served as district deputy for four years, and has represented this lodge and Clark Bluff a number of times. He is a prominent man and an excellent citizen.

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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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