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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J. B. Franklin, traveling salesman, and a citizen of Talbott, was born near the latter place October 23, 1848, and is the son of Hezekiah and Elizabeth (Duncan) Franklin. The father, a native of North Carolina and of English origin, came to Jefferson County when of age, and settled where he now lives. He is a reserved, sober, industrious mechanic and farmer, successful in all he undertakes, and is a highly respected member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother, a native of this county, was an intelligent and noble Christian woman of all motherly and wifely graces, and died in September, 1881. She was the mother of four sons and four daughters. Our subject was reared on the farm and educated at Carson College, Jefferson County. Up to the age of fourteen he worked on the farm, and then learned carpentering and became an able mechanic. In 1878 he became a member of the firm of Franklin, Dunahoo & Co., merchants at Talbott, and in 1880 sold his interest to his partners, and began traveling for Rodgers & Cook, wholesale druggists, Knoxville. Three years later he engaged with Chapman, White, Lyons & Co., wholesale druggists of Knoxville. December 14, 1873, he married Elizabeth J., a daughter of Haynes Walker, of Jefferson County, and born September 5, 1847. Their children are Georgie I., born October 11, 1874; Mamie K, born March 15, 1876; Lucy E., born April 19, 1879, and Nannie F., born May 30, 1882. His wife is a devoted Christian, of the Baptist faith. Our subject is a self-made man and a successful salesman, and is connected with Porter C. Bettis & Co., C. C. Parker & Co., and a stockholder in the Morristown Stove Works. He is the inventor of the Franklin Convertible Clothes Boiler and Washing Machine (patented June 25, 1878; No. 205259), to which the highest medal was awarded at the State Exposition of Georgia, in 1879.

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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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