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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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James S. Maclin, a prominent farmer of Lauderdale County, is a son of Maj. R. P. and Frances (Read) Maclin. The father was a native of Virginia, born in 1813, and the mother of North Carolina, born in 1824. They were among the early settlers of Haywood County. Mr. Maclin, Sr., was one of the founders and first merchants of Brownsville, being one of the two firms that survived the panic of 1837. Only two of the six children born to them lived to be grown, and in 1863 the mother died and two years later Mr. Maclin married Emily Maclin, daughter of Capt. William Maclin, of Haywood County, and by this marriage had six children. In 1866 they moved to Tipton County, where they still live. They are members of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he was an old line Whig, but is now a Democrat. Most of Maj. Maclin’s life has been spent in mercantile pursuits, but of late years he has been farming. He is of Scotch-Irish descent on both sides. James S. Maclin, our subject, was born in Brownsville, Tenn., June 26, 1842. He received a common school education, and in 1861 volunteered in Company M, of the Seventh Tennessee Cavalry (Confederate Army); was a brave soldier for three years, and served without being captured or wounded. In 1864 he married Helen Read, born July 15, 1847, in Haywood County, and they have had ten children—six sons and four daughters. After the war Mr. Maclin turned his attention to farming. In 1866 he moved to Lauderdale County, and settled in his present home, being the place originally settled by Col. Jett at an early day. Both himself and wife are Presbyterians, and in politics he is a Democrat. He has been quite successful as a farmer, owning 387 acres of good land, and besides this has a half interest in a cotton-gin, under the firm name of Maclin & West. Mr. Maclin has resided in Lauderdale County for twenty years, and stands high as a citizen and a man of integrity.

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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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