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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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Joseph W. Moss, a leading farmer and stock dealer of Craighead County, whose parents, Willis and Sarah (Mullinax) Moss, were both natives of South Carolina, was born in that State August 25, 1829. His father died in his native State, his mother in Tennessee. He was reared on a farm, and had but limited educational advantages. When, in 1851, his brother Barnett came on a prospecting tour to Arkansas, and located in Poinsett (now Craighead) County, Joseph W. came with him, and for a while made his brother’s house his home. He at first bought fifty-two acres, and has since added to it, until he now owns about 1,000 acres, mostly woodland. He began $60 in debt, but by industry, economy and thrift, he has cancelled this indebtedness and accumulated a competency, which he has from time to time invested in land and stock. He lost fifty fine horses in the disastrous overflow of 1882. He was married, in 1853, to Mary Simonds, a native of Illinois, and to this union was born one child, Henry, married to Mattie Wilson. His first wife died, and Mr. Moss was married again, in 1861, to Lousina Kelsoe, a native of Tennessee. This union was blessed with nine children, all living: John R. (married to Florence Stotts), Sarah (wife of Morgan Denham), Joseph L. (married to Jane Patterson), Mary (wife of Theodore Johnson), Carroll, Barnett, Hettie, Newton B. and Wallace. Mrs. Moss died in 1880, and Mr. Moss married Mrs. Martha Patterson, a native of the county, and daughter of Andrew Stotts (now deceased), an early settler of the county. Mr. Moss is a Democrat in politics, has held various offices, and takes great interest in educational matters.

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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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