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Below is a family biography from the book, The History of Franklin 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. William R. McLane was born in Trigg County, Ky., July 8, 1832, and is a son of Samuel R. and Martha (Sholar) McLane, who were also born in Trigg County. The father was a farmer and tobacco manufacturer, and acquired a goodly fortune in pursuing these callings. He was a minister of the Missionary Baptist church, a Democrat in politics, and after his wife’s death, which occurred in Trigg County, Ky., when her son, William R., was an infant, he was married to Nancy Jane Lacy, who died in Callaway County, Ky. William R. McLane is the only child by his father’s first union, but he has a half- sister and two half-brothers, who are living: Martha B., now Mrs. Adkins, of Henry County, Tenn.; Thomas J., also of Henry County, and Henry H., a farmer of Kansas. William R. made his father’s house his home until 1854, and acquired a good English education in the common school near his home, and at Conyersville (Tenn.) Academy. After leaving home he went to St. Clair County, Mo., in 1856, where he was engaged in farming until 1862, and then went to Saline County of the same State, in which he made his home for seven years. He then resided in Bates County, Mo., for one year, since which time Franklin County, Ark., has been his home. In 1850 he joined the Missionary Baptist Church, and in 1858 was ordained a minster of that denomination by J. B. Box, J. C. Brashear and Obadiah Smith. During his career as a minister he has organized many churches in Missouri and Arkansas, and is now pastor of Reboboth and Shiloh Churches. November 8, 1854, he was married to Mary H., daughter of Slaton Bourland. She was born in Kentucky, May 1, 1838, and became the mother of ten children, nine of whom are living: Albert M., Ella A. (wife of J. L. Swaim), James G., John A., Minnie (wife of John W. Lancaster), Charles L., Samuel S., Mary C. and William Paul. Malissie T. died in infancy. Mr. McLean is a Democrat; in 1884 he was elected on the Brothers of Freedom ticket (a farmer’s organization, of which he was a member at that time, though none the less a Democrat), to represent Franklin County in the State Legislature, filling the office one term. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a man who commands the respect and esteem of all who know him.
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This family biography is one of 163 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Arkansas published in 1889. For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps
View additional Franklin County, Arkansas family biographies here: Franklin County, Arkansas
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