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Below is a family biography included in The History of Dyer 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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Allen Rawles was born in North Carolina. December 8, 1826, and is now engaged in fanning in the Tenth District of Dyer County. His parents were Reuben and Minerva Rawles, and he was one of five children, two of whom are now living. His father was born in North Carolina, November 27, 1786, was married and resided in his native State until 1833, when he moved to Haywood County, and then in a year to Dyer County. He was one of the early settlers, there being at the time only seventy-three on the muster roll. He was a farmer, and died in 1857. Our subject’s mother was also born in North Carolina, in 1799, and died in 1879. Mr. Rawles was educated at home, and in 1855 married Lucy daughter of Isaac and Lovey Bunnell. Mrs. Rawles was born in North Carolina September 27, 1829, and died October 31, 1884. They had five children: Dr. I. N., W. A., E. E., N. D. Forest and Samuel. December, 1865, he located at his present home. It consists of 282 acres of productive land four miles west of Dyersburg. Mr. Rawles is much interested in the cause of education. All of his children have received collegiate educations. He has acquired by his own efforts what he has in the way of money, and a good farm, and is a Democrat, casting his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor. He was formerly a Whig. He belongs to the Odd Fellows, and is always interested in everything that tends to the progress of Dyer County.

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This family biography is one of 128 biographies included in The History of Dyer County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Dyer County was included within The History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley & Lake Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley, and Lake Counties of Tennessee

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