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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Monroe 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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J. M. and A. Flora. The business interests of this portion of the country are well represented by these gentlemen, who have been located in the town (since 1883) long enough to become thoroughly established. Their stock of goods is valued at some $6,500, the annual sales reach $20,000 and the establishment is conducted with ability and success. J. M. and A. Flora, the proprietors, were born in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1852 and 1861, respectively, and J. M. is a son of William and Elizabeth (Wood) Flora, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Virginia. Their union was consummated in Shelby County, Tenn., and there Mrs. Flora died when her children were small. Mr. Flora afterward married Sallie E. White, by whom he became the father of A. Flora, one of the members of the above-named firm. Mr. Flora was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1864. J. M. Flora, the youngest of the four children born to his first union, was denied the privilege of more than a common-school education, but by contact with the world and close application to business he has added to his early schooling and has become thoroughly posted on the current topics of the day. In 1881 he began merchandising at Henning, Tenn., continuing until 1884 and he then became connected with his brother, A. Flora, who had established their present mercantile establishment in Brinkley in 1883. Their union has been very prosperous and their stock of goods is of excellent quality and is sold at reasonable prices. In 1888 they built a two-story brick business block, containing two store-rooms, which are well and conveniently fitted up. Both these gentlemen were reared to farm life and have acquired the greater portion of their property since 1881. J. M. Flora is a Democrat, a member of the Christian Church, and of the children born to his parents, one brother only is now living, John. A. Flora has one sister living, who is Mrs. Bettie Rogers, of Shelby County, Tenn. Micager Wood, the maternal grandfather of J. M. Flora, was a pioneer farmer of West Tennessee, and died there.

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This family biography is one of 86 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Monroe County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Monroe County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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