My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Coffee 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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George W. Davidson, one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Tullahoma, and a member of the Coffee County bar, was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., June 21,1826, and is the son of Joel and Elizebeth (Henry) Davidson. The father was born at Beon’s Station, Granger County, Tenn., in July, 1799, and died in August in 1848. The mother was born in Hillsboro, Orange Co., N. C., January 5, 1800, and died in November, 1883. Both were members of the Old School Presbyterian Church. Our subject was reared on a farm, and received a limited education. He learned the cabinet-maker’s trade at the age of sixteen years, and followed the same for about four years. Until the breaking out of the war he was engaged at contracting and building. He then became drill master for first one and then the other army in the mountain counties of Tennessee, and in 1863 entered the Federal quartermaster’s department, and served in the capacity of clerk until the close of the war. He was soon appointed postmaster at Tullahoma, and held the office until his resignation in November, 1885. During his postmastership he was also United States commissioner, and holds the office at present, together with that of recorder of Tullahoma. For several years he held the following offices at one and the same time: Postmaster, United States commissioner, recorder, justice of the peace, public school director, and notary public. Mr. Davidson was married February 24, 1864, to S. W. Cleveland, who was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., in 1844, To them have been born five children: Robert H. born May 17, 1865; Joan, September 10, 1869; Abraham L., May 27, 1873; William J. September 16, 1875, and Maud, January 25, 1879. Robert H. is at present deputy post master at Tullahoma. In 1870 our subject was licensed as an attorney by Judges Steele and Tillman. He is a Republican, but was a Whig previous to the war. He is conservative in his political views and has warm friends in both parties. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church North, while his wife belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

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This family biography is one of 59 biographies included in The History of Coffee County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of Coffee 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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