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Below is a family biography included in The History of Sebastian 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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Lieut. George N. Spradling, merchant of Greenwood, and ex-county clerk of Sebastian County, Ark., is a native of Hickman County, Tenn., born in 1840, and the son of Leonard and Elizabeth (Norris) Spradling, and the grandson of David and Ann Spradling. Leonard Spradling was born in the State of North Carolina in 1806, and was of German descent. At the age of twelve years he moved with his parents to Alabama and about 1822 he moved to Hickman County, Tenn., where David Spradling and his wife received their final summons. Leonard Spradling was a young man when he went to Hickman County, Tenn., and here he was married about 1829. In 1842 he became a resident of Crawford (now Sebastian) county, Ark., and located eight miles north of Greenwood. He was a farmer, and entered 200 acres. In 1845 he moved and settled seven miles north of the county seat, where he passed the remainder of his days. He was commissioner of the county, and was one of three men who located the county seat, the other two being Jeremiah Bell and Green F. Bethell. This was in 1856, and was the second location of the county seat. Leonard Spradling died in November, 1858. His wife was born in North Carolina in 1806, and died two weeks previous to the death of her husband. They were the parents of nine children who lived to be grown, four of whom are now living: Ephraim, Nancy E., George N., and Martha M., wife of Thomas Wingfield. George N. Spradling was but one and one-half years old when his parents moved to Sebastian County, Ark., was reared and grew to manhood on a farm, and remained with his parents until their deaths. In 1859 he attended school, and afterward became employed as book-keeper in Fort Smith, about the time of the breaking out of the late war. In February, 1863, he went to Springfield, Mo., where he enlisted in Company E, First Arkansas Infantry, in the Federal army, and in the summer of the same year he returned with the army to his home. In October, 1863, he raised a company for the Second Arkansas Infantry, went out as private, and in a few months was commissioned as second lieutenant, and served during the remainder of the war. He was in the battle of Prairie Grove, at Jenkins’ Ferry, and at the last fight was acting aide-de-camp for Gen. Edwards, who commanded the brigade. He was in the Federal army, and was discharged at Clarksville, Ark., August 8, 1865. After the war Mr. Spradling established a general store at Clarksville, Ark., but later engaged in merchandising at Greenwood. In 1872 he sold out, and was elected county clerk, holding that position two years. The following six years he was proprietor of a grist-mill at Greenwood, but sold the mill in 1879 and again resumed merchandising, which he has since continued. In January, 1865, he married Miss Mary A. King, of Johnson County, Ark., where she was born in 1845. To them were born nine children, four of whom are still surviving, viz.: Maggie, wife of W. J. Hodgens; Lulu, George B. and Rebecca McCord. Mr. Spradling lost his wife in February, 1888. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was an excellent woman. Mr. Spradling is a member of the Masonic order, of the K. T., a member of the K. of H., and is a Republican in his political views.

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This family biography is one of 217 biographies included in The History of Sebastian County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Sebastian County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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