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Below is a family biography included in The History of Macon County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  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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T. J. Gregory, county clerk of Macon County, and of the firm — the La Fayette Handle Company — was born in Jackson County in 1851, the fourth of seven children, our subject and a younger sister only, living. His parents were W. T. and Sabrina (McDuffy) Gregory, the former born about 1820 in Smith County, the son of Pitts Gregory. The father, W. T., chiefly self-educated, enabled himself to become a teacher for several years. When about twenty-one he married, and soon removed to Jackson County, and in 1851 removed to Macon County, and was engaged in farming, and afterward at La Fayette in merchandising. For several years constable, he was elected as sheriff, serving six years, after which he was elected magistrate, and also engaged as a merchant. He died in 1871, an able and well-informed man. The mother, born in Smith County about 1825, died in 1876, and was a member of the Christian Church. Educated at La Fayette, our subject began for himself when nineteen years of age, as a teacher, after which he was clerk for Marshall & Tuck, La Fayette, and soon after began merchandising for himself until 1874. He was then elected to his present office at the age of twenty-three, serving ever since, being re-elected against a usual 200 majority in favor of his political opponents. The war and his father’s death left his mother and four sisters mainly dependent on our subject’s own efforts; but besides caring for them until their death, he has become a financial success. In October, 1875, he married Letha, daughter of W. H. and Angeline Wright, of Macon County. Their three children are Maude Almer, William Taylor and Verner Odell. Mrs. Gregory was born in 1854 in Macon County. Besides his fine home, he owns 100 acres near town. Politically, an ardent Democrat, his first vote was for Greeley. He is a member of the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., K. of H. and I. O. G. T. orders. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church.

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This family biography is one of 24 biographies included in The History of Macon County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of Macon County was included within The History of Sumner, Smith, Macon & Trousdale Counties of Tennessee. View the complete description here: History of Sumner, Smith, Macon and Trousdale Counties of Tennessee

View additional Macon County, Tennessee family biographies here: Macon County, Tennessee

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