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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William C. Fox, one of the leading farmers of the Sixteenth Civil District, of Jefferson County, Tenn., was born in Sevier County, Tenn., January 2, 1852, and removed to Jefferson County with his parents five years later. He is the son of Eli and Hattie (Bird) Fox. The father was born in Sevier County, Tenn., in 1816, and is the son of George Fox, a native of Tennessee. He has followed farming as a life-time vocation, and is now one of the oldest and most respected farmers of the Sixteenth District of Jefferson County. The mother was born in Sevier County in 1818, and is the daughter of Louis Bird. The parents are pious Christian people, and are members of the Methodist Church. Our subject was reared on the farm, and acquired his education in the schools of the county and at Dandridge. He has followed farming as a vocation, has made a success of life, and now owns and cultivates a fine river farm of 280 acres. He is a public spirited man, and enjoys the esteem and respect of all who know him. He realizes and appreciates the benefit of public schools, and has always contributed his mite to the advancement and progress of education, and has served as school commissioner of Cedar Dale School. He was married September 22, 1875, to Ellen Zirkle, who was born in Jefferson County December 25, 1851, and is the daughter of Reuben Zirkle, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of the Sixteenth Civil District of Jefferson County. To this union six children have been born, as follows: Hattie, born June 25, 1876; William K, born December 29, 1877; Marietta, born August 25, 1879; Alonzo E., born October 18, 1881; Lora B., born October 22, 1883, and George R., born January 13, 1886. Both our subject and wife are members of the Methodist 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
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