My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Cannon 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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Hon. J. H. Cumings, of Woodbury, attorney at law, is a native of Warren County, Tenn., and was born in 1839. His parents were Warren and Orlend Cumings, both natives of Warren County, the former having been born in 1814, is a farmer by occupation and held the office of sheriff of Cannon County six years. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1870, and now resides at Woodbury, Tenn. The subject of this sketch received his literary education at Woodbury, and in 1872 began the study of the law with T. B. Murry of McMinnville, Tenn., and afterward attended the law department of the Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tenn. He was admitted to the bar in 1873 and has since been engaged in the practice of the law at Woodbury. In November, 1885, he was elected to the Legislature. He enjoys an extensive and lucrative practice, and in politics he is an ardent Democrat. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Eighteenth Tennessee (Confederate) Infantry, under Capt. H. J. St. John. He was with the company three years and engaged in some of the heavy battles of the war. During the last year of the war he was with the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, commanded by Col. Baxter Smith of Nashville. H. A. Wiley of Woodville was his captain. He participated in numerous engagements, was captured once but soon paroled, and returned home in 1865.

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This family biography is one of 9 biographies included in The History of Cannon County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of Cannon County was included within The History of Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Warren & White Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Warren, White Counties of Tennessee

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