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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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Richard A. Blackwell, a prominent citizen of Lauderdale County, was born in South Carolina, May 6, 1833. His father, Thomas Blackwell, was a native of North Carolina, and came to Tennessee in 1837, settling in Hardin County on the east side of the Tennessee River, where he engaged in farming, and had a saw and grist-mill. He was married twice in South Carolina. Our subject was the fourth child born to the last marriage. After living four years in Hardin County he moved to Haywood, and two years later to Lauderdale County, where he died in February, 1867. Our subject’s mother died September, 1876. Richard Blackwell was raised on the farm, and engaged in farming and saw-milling. In 1858 he went to South Carolina on a visit and remained until 1861, when he enlisted in South Carolina Cavalry (Confederate Army), and served through the war. He was at the siege of Port Royal, and in the battles of Grahamville, Waterboro and other places; his command was disbanded at Greensboro, N. C., January 7, 1863. He was married to Miss L. C. Buche, a daughter of A, A. Buche, a prominent rice planter. To this marriage were born Alonzo P., at Mathews Bluff, while on the retreat, before Sherman’s army, December 26, 1864; Thomas A., May 27, 1866; Edgar M., November 15, 1867; Mary E., in Georgia, December 15, 1868, and Allie May, in West Tennessee, December 31, 1879. Mrs. Blackwell was born in Buford District, S. C., April 8, 1841. After the war he moved to Georgia, and remained four years; then settled in Haywood County, Tenn., and in 1874 moved to Lauderdale and located at his present homestead. In 1882 he erected a saw­mill at a cost of $4,000, and in October, 1884, it was destroyed by fire, but in less than three months he had built another mill, costing $5,000, with a capacity of 20,000 feet a day. Mr. Blackwell owns 242 acres of land with a handsome new residence on it. He is a Democrat and a Mason and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mrs. Blackwell is a Missionary Baptist. He is one of the substantial, influential men of his county.

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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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