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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Crockett County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1886.  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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R. F. Smith, merchant at Friendship, of the firm of J. D. Smith & Bros., was born October 4, 1856, and was one of a family of ten children, eight of whom are now living. His parents are Dr. J. D. and Vestury Smith. The father was born in North Carolina in 1828, and came to Tennessee with his widowed mother when but a boy. They located in Henderson County and remained there until 1850, when he located at Friendship and continued the practice of medicine, having chosen that as his profession when a young man. He was in the Confederate service throughout the war, and served as assistant surgeon under Gen. Cheatham. The Doctor remained at Friendship until 1882, when he moved to Dyersburg, and practiced medicine there until the spring of 1886, when he moved to Paducah, Ky., where he now resides. He is a very skillful physician, and always had an extensive practice. Our subject’s mother’s maiden name was White. She was born in Tennessee in 1832, and was the mother of an interesting and intelligent family. Our subject received his education at the military university of Knoxville, Tenn. In 1878 he married Miss Alice, daughter of John Buckley, and a native of Chester County, born in 1855. This union resulted in the birth of four children: Irene, Gertrude, Orion and Richard B. In 1873 Mr. Smith engaged in the mercantile business at Friendship, where he remained for five years, since which time, until recently (when he again entered commercial pursuits), he has been farming. He and his brother, J. D., carry a general stock of dry goods and groceries, and have a good trade. He is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is one of the first men of the place, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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This family biography is one of 72 biographies included in the book,  The History of Crockett County, Tennessee published in 1886 by Goodspeed.  The History of Crockett County was included within The History of Lauderdale, Tipton, Haywood, and Crockett Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Lauderdale, Tipton, Haywood, and Crockett Counties, Tennessee

View additional Crockett County, Tennessee family biographies here: Crockett County, Tennessee

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