Biography of Abraham Gossett, Independence Co, AR

***********************************************
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
Archives by: Michael Brown
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgenwebarchives.org
***********************************************

----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. 
Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

page 670 

Abraham Gossett is the proprietor of Distillery No. 154, at Newark,
Independence County, Ark., which was established in November, 1888, and has a
capacity of fifty gallons per day, which, it is expected, will soon be
increased to seventy-five gallons per day, consuming all the surplus corn
raised in that portion of the county. Mr. Gossett is a native of Independence
County, and was born February 2, 1862. His parents are Allen and Charlotte
(Brannan) Gossett, both natives of Tennessee, who, in early life, removed with
their parents to Arkansas, where they married. They are active members of the
Missionary Baptist Church, and are among the most prominent residents of
Independence County, where they now reside. [p.670] Allen Gossett was in the
Confederate service four years during the late Civil War, serving a greater
portion of the time as orderly sergeant: he has been a farmer all his life, and
has been most successful in his chosen occupation. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity, and his political sympathies are with the Democratic party.
Nine children have been born to the parents of our subject, viz.: Abraham,
Robert M., Cassandra, Florence (wife of William Kenman, a farmer of
Independence County), Williamson and John (twins), Madison, Lena and Sarah
(deceased); the latter was married to William Bruce, and died at the age of
twenty-two years. Abraham Gossett received a common-school education, and at
the age of twenty one years began farming for himself. but after one year,
abandoned the farm. and engaged in trading. in which he was successful for a
time. In 1881 he turned his attention to the mercantile business in
Johnsonville, Humphreys County, Tenn., and two years later removed to Newark,
Ark., where he engaged in the same business, and built the second business
house in that place. He continued merchandising until January 1, 1889, when he
determined to devote his entire time and attention to distilling, of which he
is making a great success. April 22, 1885, Mr. Gossett married Miss Blackhead
Tomblinson, a daughter of John N. Tomblinson. Mrs. Gossett is a native of
Independence County. They have two children: Owen and Newel. Mr. Gossett is a
member of the Baptist Church, the I. O. O. F., and Masonic fraternity.