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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Lauderdale County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1886. 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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Daniel P. Shoffner, a very prominent manufacturer and saw-mill owner of Lauderdale County, was born in Carroll County, Tenn., January 25, 1839. His parents were Joel and Matilda Shoffner; the father was born in North Carolina, and was one of the pioneers, of West Tennessee. He married in Carroll County, where he lived until 1840, then moved to Bedford County, where he died in 1862. The mother was also a native of North Carolina, and is still living, with her daughter, Mrs. J. B. Woosley, of Obion County. Our subject is the fifth of ten children—seven sons and three daughters; he was raised on a farm, and while his educational advantages were limited, he has, by his energy and close application to business, brought himself to the front as one of the self-made, practical business men of the county. When quite young he began steam saw-milling, and has since continued it; his father was one of the pioneers in the business in West Tennessee. Mr. Shoffner moved from Bedford County to West Tennessee, and settled in Union City, in 1867, and has been largely interested in manufacturing interests, especially in Union City, where he has been one of the founders of most of the manufacturing interests of the place. Mr. Shoffner went into the Confederate Army and was sergeant-major of the Seventeenth Tennessee Infantry, and was acting adjutant and major during Bragg’s raid through Kentucky, and was at the battles of Fishing Creek, Ky., Wild Cat, back of Cumberland Gap, Murfreesboro, and Perryville; he was wounded twice at Murfreesboro, and was captured at Chattanooga, and held as a prisoner, then paroled after three years, hard service. Mr. Shoffner was married in Bedford County, December 28, 1865, to Miss Mary B. Howard, a daughter of Maj. Howard of Lincoln County, Tenn.; she was born in that county, May 23, 1842. Florence M. and Lotta D. were the two children born to this marriage. Our subject is neutral in politics; he is a member of the F. & A. M., of the K. of P., and the K. of H., and was president of the C. B. A., two years. Himself and family belong to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His home is at Union City, but his milling and lumber interests are at Hall’s Station on the Newport News & Mississippi Valley Railroad.
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This family biography is one of 116 biographies included in the book, The History of Lauderdale County, Tennessee published in 1886 by Goodspeed. The History of Lauderdale County was included within The History of Lauderdale, Tipton, Haywood, and Crockett Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Lauderdale, Tipton, Haywood, and Crockett Counties, Tennessee
View additional Lauderdale County, Tennessee family biographies here: Lauderdale County, Tennessee
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