My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of East 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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A. P. Dukes was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., July 26, 1837, the son of Wylie and Elizabeth (Parker) Dukes. The father was a native of North Carolina, born in November, 1807, the son of Henry Dukes, a native of North Carolina, who immigrated to Tennessee at an early date, and was one of the pioneers of Jefferson County. The father was a farmer by vocation, and a prominent citizen of the county. He went to Missouri about 1859, where he followed farming. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and died in 1884, after a long and useful life. The mother was also born in North Carolina, in 1814, the daughter of Allen and Sarah Parker, who immigrated to Tennessee in company with our subject’s family. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and died in 1884, ten days after her husband. Our subject was reared on the farm, and attended school at Dumplin, where he secured a good practical education. He learned the carpenter’s trade after finishing school, and followed that trade for about twenty-seven years in Jefferson, Sevier and Knox Counties. He purchased his present farm soon after the close of the late war, and moved to it in 1865. His farm comprises 264 acres of good land, in Dumplin Valley, of which about 125 acres are in cultivation. He is a liberal and public-spirited citizen, always encourages all worthy public enterprises, has taken a deep interest in school and church matters, and has contributed his means toward the support of both. For several years he served as school commissioner of his district. He is enterprising and progressive, and stands well in the esteem of his neighbors and fellow citizens. He was married in 1861 to Mary Cate, born in Jefferson County, Tenn., in 1840, the daughter of Joseph Cate. To this union twelve children have been born, eleven of whom are living. Our subject is a member of the Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 938 biographies included in The History of East Tennessee published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: History of East Tennessee

To view additional Jefferson County, Tennessee family biographies, click here

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