Goodspeed's Biography of William Franklin Brashears, Grant Co, AR

***********************************************************
Submitted by: Jackie Dill <JJDILL1@aol.com>
        Date: 27 Jul 2003

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
***********************************************************

William Franklin Brashears, numbered among Grant County's leading
citizens, was born on the farm where he now lives October 10,1853,
and is the son of Philip R. and Mary E. (Brown) Brashears, natives
of Alabama and Georgia, respectively.  The parents were married in
this neighborhood, having come to Arkansas when but children.  He
was a farmer and as such was very successful, accumulating
considerable property before the war.  In the Confederate service he
served about three years, being a non-commissioned officer.  He was
a participant in many battles, among which were the siege of
Vicksburg, Chickamauga, and others.  When the war closed, he again
set to work to regain what he had lost by the struggle.  He was a
hard working man, and ere death overtook him, had pretty well re-
established his fallen fortune.  He and his wife were members of the
Missionary Baptist Church - he serving as clerk and deacon.  Coming
with his father to this county in 1840, he was one of the earliest
settlers.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Breshears died in Grant County, leaving
a family of seven children, three now living: W. F. (our subject),
Philip Martin (a farmer of Grant County) and Ben Bruce (a farmer and
teacher of the county).  William Franklin received his education on
Brush Creek, and being the eldest son, at the death of the father
willingly assumed the responsibility which devolved upon him to
provide for and educate the other members of the family.  By hard
work and good management, backed by indomitable will, he has since
been very successful, owning now a farm of 164 acres of as good land
as can be found in Grant County.  He was married in 1878 to Fredonia
E. Deer, daughter of Ebenezer Deer, of Grant County.  She was born
in Hot Spring County, November 12, 1862.  By this marriage there was
a family of six children, all of whom are living: Felix, Ebba,
Cleveland, Hattie, Lee and an infant son.  Mary E. (deceased) was in
her third year.  Mr. Brashears is a firm believer in the principles
of Democracy, and is prominent in all public enterprises.  Together
with his wife he is a member  of the Missionary Baptist Church.