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Below is a family biography included in The History of Bedford County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  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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BENJAMIN B. YELL, farmer, was born in Bedford County, Tenn., July 25, 1829, son of James and Jerusha (Barton) Yell, and of English descent. The father was born in 1791, and he and his brother Archibald Yell were volunteer soldiers in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of New Orleans. Archibald Yell was at one time governor of the State of Arkansas, and on a monument, erected to his memory at Fayetteville, may be seen the following: “Born in North Carolina, August, 1797; A volunteer in the battle of New Orleans; District Judge of Arkansas Territory in 1832; First member of Congress from the State; Governor, 1840; Again elected to Congress in 1844; Resigned and accepted a Colonelcy of Arkansas for the Mexican war, in 1846; Killed at Buena Vista, February 22, 1847; a gallant, soldier, an upright Judge, a fearless champion of popular rights, a sincere friend, and an honest man.” The father of our subject died at his residence in Coffee County, Tenn., November 20, 1839. The mother was born in Georgia, in 1797, and was a member of the Methodist Church South. Our subject was reared on the farm and educated in common schools, January 12, 1848, to Miss Ann B. Waite, and the result of this union was four children: George C., Abner W., Bettie A., and Edith N. Mr. Yell is a Democrat, a Mason, and he and wife are members of the Separate Baptist Church. He has a farm of 280 acres of fine land, which he devotes to the cultivation of cereals and the raising of stock.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in The History of Bedford County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Bedford County was included within The History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Beford and Marshall Counties of Tennessee

View additional Bedford County, Tennessee family biographies here

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