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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Craighead 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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A. Thomas Gatlin, a successful self-made farmer of Craighead County, was born in Tennessee December 16, 1849, and is the son of Hardy and Mary (Gullett) Gatlin, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Mississippi. The father moved to Tennessee when a young man and there married and remained for several years; then, about 1856, came to Arkansas, locating near Jonesboro, where he remained until his death, in 1860. After his father’s death Mr. Gatlin went to Kentucky with his mother, who is still living, and remained there until after the Rebellion. In 1873 he returned to Craighead County, this time selecting a location on Cane Island, where, by the fruits of his own labor, he has become the foremost farmer. The land was covered with heavy timber, but now he has 120 acres cleared and under cultivation and sixty acres yet timbered. In connection with his farm he is owner and proprietor of a cotton-gin, which he built in 1885, and with which in 1887 he ginned over 200 bales of cotton. In 1868 was consummated his marriage with Amanda Gibson (now deceased), who bore him three children: Riley, Hardy and Lovenia. Mr. Gatlin married his present wife on this Island in July of 1878. She was a daughter of William Bennett (her maiden name Sallie Bennett), and a native of Alabama. Mr. Gatlin is noted as one of the most energetic and industrious farmers of the county. He is a member of the Masonic order and is master of the lodge at Lake City.

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This family biography is one of 98 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Craighead County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Craighead County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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