Biography of George N Spradling, Sebastian Co, AR

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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
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page 1367

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  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 wife received their final summons. Leonard  [p.1367]
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 thearmy 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, Ark. He
sold out at Clarksville, and returned to Sebastian County in February, 1867,
where he again 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.