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.

* * * *

Wirt C. Watkins was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., March 27, 1853, the son of John M. and Belvadra N. (Combs) Watkins, natives of Tennessee. The father is a farmer of Hamblen County, and the mother died in February, 1865. Our subject was reared on the farm and educated at Mossy Creek. When of age he began for himself as a merchant at Talbott in 1879. After four years of mercantile life he returned to the plow and sickle and has followed agricultural pursuits ever since. His beginnings were small, but he has succeeded and now owns 160 acres of well improved land. A Miss Kate King became his wife in January, 1883, and Charles is the only child of their union.

* * * *

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

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.