My Genealogy Hound

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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H. W. Keller, a farmer of Lauderdale County, is a son of Imri and Virginia H, (Posey) Keller. His father was born in Abbeville, S. C., in 1808, and the mother in 1812. They were married in Tipton County, Tenn., in 1832, and of four children born to them our subject is the only one living. Mrs. Keller died June 10, 1837, and with her husband belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. After her death Mr. Keller, Sr., took charge of a plantation in Mississippi, where he met an untimely death at the hands of a negro slave in 1838. In politics he was a Whig. Our subject, H. W. Keller, is of Scotch-Irish descent on his father’s side, and was born in what is now Lauderdale County, Tenn., December 13, 1835, just before the organization of the county from Tipton County. He was raised on a farm by his uncle, Col. H. C. Keller, as his parents died when he was small. He received a good education. December 19, 1860, he married Miss Roberta C. Burks, who was born in Haywood County, Tenn., in February, 1840, and they had eleven children—four sons and seven daughters—three sons and four daughters are now living. In 1862 Mr. Keller enlisted in Haywood’s company, Seventh Tennessee Cavalry (Confederate Army), and was in the service until 1863, receiving no wounds. After the siege of Vicksburg, he returned home and resumed farming. Mr. and Mrs. Keller belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In politics he is a Democrat. He owns 400 acres of very rich land, and has been a resident of Lauderdale County all his life, being well known all over the county, and greatly respected by all who know him. He is a Mason, having taken the Royal Arch degree, also a member of the Henning Lodge, K. of H.

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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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