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Below is a family biography included in The History of Franklin 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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W. W. BRITTAIN, fruit grower and nurseryman, was born June 18, 1827, in Rutherford County, Tenn. His father, John Brittain, was born in North Carolina, in 1791, and in 1812, came to Rutherford County, Tenn., where he lived and died. In his early day, he, the father, was a cabinet-maker and also an extensive fruit grower and nurseryman, and at his death, in 1859, left an orchard of sixty acres. He was the first man to peddle fruit in Nashville; and was at one time awarded a ten-dollar silver cup as first premium on grape wine at the State Fair. The mother, nee Martha M. Smith, was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., in 1802 and lived all her life in her native county, her death occurring in May, 1882. The subject of this sketch was the third of a family of eight children. He came to Franklin County, Tenn., in 1856, and began farming and fruit-growing, which he has continued very successfully, now owning 140 acres in Franklin County, and 80 acres in Florida on which is an orange grove. He has the most extensive nursery in the county, and an orchard of about 20 acres. He was married in about 1855, to Sarah H. W. Blair, of Rutherford County, the result of this union being three children, two of whom are now living—Martha Ann, John (deceased) and William. The mother of these children died in August, 1864, and in December, 1871, Mr. B. was married to Elizabeth T. Lyons, who is the mother of these children—Ethel, Columbus L., James D., Elmer and Floyd. Mr. B. is a Master Mason and an active Democrat in politics. He enlisted in May, 1862, in Company F, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, and served three years, receiving a gunshot wound in the knee. He is an enterprising and highly respected citizen of the county.

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This family biography is one of 83 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Tennessee published in 1886.  The History of Franklin County was included within The History of Giles, Lincoln, Franklin & Moore Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Giles, Lincoln, Franklin , Moore Counties of Tennessee

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