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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Hardeman 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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Edwin R. Drake, a prominent farmer of the Fourth District, was born in Southampton County, Va., February 6, 1839. His parents were John and Mary (Doyle) Drake, both natives of Virginia. The father is of English descent, born in 1807. After marriage, and in 1842, they came to Hardeman County. The family consisted of six children, five of whom lived to reach maturity. Mr. Drake has never united with any church, but has always led an honest, upright life. Previous to the war he was a Whig, but has since affiliated with the Republican party. For nearly eighteen years he served as magistrate—by occupation, a farmer, in which he was most successful. In 1863 he moved to Illinois. He is nearly eighty years of age. His wife, who was born in 1814, departed this life in 1881. The grandfather Drake was a gallant soldier of the Revolutionary war. Edwin R., our subject, was reared on a farm and received a good, common-school education. He was a kind and devoted son, remaining at home and assisting his parents until his twenty-fourth year, when he engaged in farming. In 1864 he married Miss Frances M. Kinney, born April 17, 1840, in Haywood County. Their union resulted in the birth of two children: George W. and John K. (deceased). In national politics Mr. Drake is a thorough Republican, but in county affairs votes for the man, not the party. He has always been successful in his agricultural pursuits; by hard work, he now owns 314 acres of good land. He is an esteemed and worthy man.

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This family biography is one of 101 biographies included in the book,  The History of Hardeman County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Hardeman 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 Hardeman County, Tennessee family biographies here: Hardeman County, Tennessee

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