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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Poinsett 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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Foster Freeman is the efficient postmaster at Harrisburg, and is now serving his second consecutive term, having previously served in this capacity under Garfield’s administration. For about twelve years he was editor and proprietor of Freeman’s Express, the last paper being issued on the 15th of October, 1888. He was born in Griffin, Ga., in 1842, and is the eldest of a family of six children born to Robert K. and Mary E. (Sessions) Freeman, who were also natives of the State of Georgia, but moved to Northern Alabama in 1850, where the father became a well-known medical practitioner. In 1866 he came to Jonesboro, Ark., but his death occurred in Poinsett County, two years later, his excellent wife surviving him until 1888. Their children are L. C. (Mrs. G. W. Baxter, residing in Stanton, Tenn.), Robert K. (deceased), Mary N. (Mrs. Griffin), L. D. (who resides at Wynne, and is editor of the Wynne Ripsaw), and Foster. From his earliest recollections up to 1861, the latter’s time was occupied with the monotonous duties of farm life, and in the meantime he acquired a fair education in the public schools in the vicinity of his home. Upon the bursting of the war cloud which had threatened the country for some time, he laid down the implements of farm life to don the rebel uniform, and enlisted from St. Clair County, Ala., in Company A, Tenth Alabama Volunteer Infantry, Confederate States Army, and went directly to Virginia, becoming a member of Wilcox’s Brigade. He was in the entire Virginia campaign, and surrendered on the 9th of April, 1865, at Appomattox Court-House, Mr. Freeman then returned to St. Clair County, Ala., and was married there, in 1867, to Miss Elizabeth J. Gibson, a native of that State. He was engaged in farming there until 1868, when he removed to Tennessee, and the following year settled in Poinsett County, Ark., where he purchased and improved a farm of 160 acres. He also gave considerable of his attention to grist and saw-milling, but recently exchanged his mills for the old homestead in Alabama. He is rather conservative in politics, but usually casts his vote with the Democratic party, and is now a member of the county central committee; he has been county school examiner two terms, and in this capacity did much to raise the standard of schools. He has always been interested in every worthy movement, and has aided materially in the general development of the county. He is a member of Lodge No. 184 of the A. F. & A. M., and is now holding the position of secretary of that lodge. He and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and to their union were born the following children: R. L., Elizabeth D., S. C, Sally B. and Foster. Elizabeth D. is the wife of Mr. Beards, and is residing in the county.

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This family biography is one of 70 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Poinsett County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Poinsett County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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