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Below is a family biography included in The History of Lincoln 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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JOSEPH M. GREER is a son of Joseph and Mary (Harmon) Greer, and is one of eleven children and of Irish descent. The father was born in the "Keystone State" in 1754, and was an early pioneer of Tennessee, coming in 1790 and entering about 10,000 acres of land. They suffered all the hardships incident to pioneer life, but, unlike many of the early settlers, had the good will of the Indians. Mr. Greer was a farmer and merchant at Knoxville, Tenn., and was clerk of the first chancery court after the organization of the county. He died in 1835. Our subject was reared in Tennessee when there were no schools, consequently his education was acquired at home mainly through his own exertions. In 1847 he married Mary Edmiston, who departed this life September 19, 1858. They had one son—Joseph M.—who resides on the old home-place and looks after his father’s farm. He was born September 13, 1858, and was educated at Petersburg and Fayetteville, and is now the owner of 535 acres of fine land, and is noted for his generosity and honesty. He votes with the Democratic party, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
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This family biography is one of 137 biographies included in The History of Lincoln County, Tennessee published in 1886. The History of Lincoln County was included within The History of Giles, Lincoln, Franklin & Moore Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Giles, Lincoln, Franklin , Moore Counties of Tennessee
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