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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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John Hicks, farmer in the Tenth District of Dyer County, was born in Hawkins County, Tenn., March 28, 1836, and was one of eight children born to Absalom and Mary Hicks. His father was born in North Carolina about 1811, married there, and soon afterward moved to Tennessee locating in Henderson County, and then moved to Gibson County, where he died in 1850. He was a blacksmith by trade. Mr. Hick’s mother was born in North Carolina, and was a few years older than her husband, and is still living with her son, W. P. Hicks, at Finley, Dyer County. Our subject was educated in Gibson County. October 1, 1859, he married Miss T. C., daughter of A. C. Anderson. Mrs. Hicks was born in Middle Tennessee, August 12, 1839, and they have eight children: Etta, wife of E. E. Rawls; Ella, wife of A. E. Herd; John, James, Annie1 B., Ezra, Maud and Montazuma. In 1857 Mr. Hicks located near Friendship, Tenn., in the part of Dyer County known as “Rich Wood,” and remained there until 1875, when he moved to his present home, and for five years engaged in merchandising. He is now engaged in farming and has 300 acres of valuable land. In 1885 he was elected to the position of magistrate. He is a Democrat, and first voted for Mr. Filmore. In 1881 he enlisted in Col. Wadkin’s company, and soon after was transferred to Capt. George Miller’s Company C, Forty-seventh Tennessee Infantry; was at Shiloh when Capt. Miller was wounded and carried off the field by Mr. Hicks. His wife and himself are members of the Christian Church. He is an enterprising man, active in any work to promote the good of his county, and has given his children fine educational advantages.

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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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