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Below is a family biography included in The History of Fayette 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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James A. Clay, a farmer of Fayette County, was born in Gibson County, Tenn., January 12, 1837 and is a son of John W. and Sarah M. (McCree) Clay. The father was born in Halifax County, Va., October 24, 1813, and died in Fayette County June 9, 1859. The mother was born in Iredell County, N. C., June 5, 1816, and died in Fayette County July 29, 1866. They married January26, 1836, in Rutherford County, Tenn., and moved from Middle Tennessee to Gibson County, but two years later moved to Fayette County and settled at La Grange, where they lived until they died. They were both strict members of the Methodist Church. Our subject was the oldest of ten children; he was educated at La Grange College. His parents moved to the county when he was a child and he has since lived in it. He began farming quite young. November 20, 1867, he married Miss Anna J. Cartwright, a native of Fayette County, born February 11, 1844. They have had three children: Maggie L., born June 11, 1869; Annie O., born March 12, 1871, and James N., born January 7, 1874. December, 1869, he purchased the farm where he now lives, fifteen miles southwest of Somerville, and now owns 800 acres of land in Fayette County clear of all incumbrances. Politically Mr. Clay is an Independent, but is usually in sympathy with the Democratic party. He does not belong to any church but is by preference a Methodist. Mrs. Clay and all of the children belong to the Methodist Church. Mr. Clay holds the respect and confidence of the community and is a man of unblemished integrity.
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This family biography is one of 77 biographies included in The History of Fayette County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed. The History of Fayette County was included within The History of Fayette and Hardeman Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Fayette and Hardeman Counties, Tennessee
View additional Fayette County, Tennessee family biographies here: Fayette County, Tennessee
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