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Below is a family biography included in The History of Washington 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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Hon. Samuel Ervin Marrs. Among the prominent and highly respected citizens of Washington County stands the name of Samuel E. Marrs, who is a native of Arkansas, born on a farm in Marrs Hill Township, Washington County, April 15, 1853, and the son of ‘Squire Brooks and Matilda (Ervin) Marrs. His grandfather, James Marrs, left his Kentucky home at an early date, and settled in Lawrence County, Ark., about 1822. Subsequently, about 1827, he moved to Washington County, of the same State, when his son, ‘Squire Brooks Marrs, was about sixteen yean of age. Samuel E. Marrs grew to manhood on the farm, and after obtaining a good common-school education in public schools supplemented it with a literary and scientific course at the State University. He taught school for some time after graduation, and while engaged in this occupation at Viney Grove was elected to the Twenty-third General Assembly of the Arkansas Legislature in 1880, and re-elected the following term. In the meantime he applied himself to the study of law, and was admitted to the Arkansas bar in 1884. He was then elected mayor of Fayetteville, and filled this position one term. In December, 1884, he made the purchase of the Fayetteville Democrat, in company with J. N. Tillman, and since that time Mr. Marrs has been proprietor and editor of this paper.

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This family biography is one of 300 biographies included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Washington County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Washington County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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