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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Columbia 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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Thomas S. Phillips, farmer, Waldo, Ark. Like a large portion of the people of Columbia County, and especially in this vicinity, Mr. Phillips is a native of Alabama, his birth occurring November 2, 1839, and is the son of Greenberry Phillips and Emily (Backen) Phillips, both natives also of Alabama. In 1850 the family started to Arkansas, but had only traveled fifteen miles when the father was taken sick and died. The remainder of the family returned to the old homestead in Alabama, and there resided for one year. In 1851 they started out again for Arkansas and located in Columbia County, where our subject has since resided, his mother making her home with him. Thomas S. was the eldest of five children—four sons and one daughter—three sons and one daughter now living. He was nine years of age when he came with his mother to Arkansas, and here he received all his schooling. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate army, Company A, Thirty-third Arkansas Infantry Regiment, and served until the surrender. He was in the battles of Little Rock, Mansfield, etc., and after peace was declared he returned to this county. In 1878 he was married to Miss Mary Clark, a native of Columbia County, and they have three children- a son and two daughters: Emily E., Amanda C. and Thomas F. Mr. Phillips resides on the farm entered by his mother when they first came to Arkansas, nearly forty years ago, and struck the first blow toward clearing said farm, which at that time was covered with wood. This farm is situated five miles northeast of Waldo, and Mr. Phillips has eighty acres under cultivation and fifty acres under fence. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and are honest, industrious people. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.

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This family biography is one of 106 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Columbia County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Columbia County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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