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Below is a family biography from the book,  The History of Crawford 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 T. Byars, chief of police of Alma, was born in what is now Tate County, Miss., in 1845, and is a son of Abraham and Sarah (Moreland) Byars. [See sketch of L. B. Byars.] He was the ninth of a family of ten children, and during his boyhood attended the common schools of the neighborhood. When but sixteen years of age he joined Company B, of Wood’s regiment of Mississippi cavalry, and was in active service nearly all the time until the close of the war, serving in Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana and Alabama. He surrendered near Gainesville, Ala., in April, 1865. In 1868 he married Blanche Cathy, of Mississippi, who died at Alma in 1871, leaving one child, also deceased. In 1876 Mr. Byars was married a second time, to Maty Byars, a native of Tennessee, who came with her parents to Fort Smith, Ark., prior to the war. To them four children have been born, all save one now living. Mr. Byars came to Crawford County, Ark., in 1870, and settled five miles southeast of Alma, where he lived seven years. He is now the owner of 160 acres of well-cultivated land, situated near Alma, which is the result of his industry and business ability. Having farmed until 1867 his health became impaired, and he has since made his home in Alma. He is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Seymour. In 1888 he was elected chief of police, and is now holding that position. Since 1868 he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity and K. of H. He is a member of the Christian Church, and Mrs. Byars is a member of the Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 222 biographies included in The History of Crawford County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Crawford County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Crawford County, Arkansas family biographies here: Crawford County, Arkansas

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