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Below is a family biography included in The History of Maury 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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JOHN H. GILLIAM, one of Maury County’s oldest and most respected citizens, was born in Charlotte, Va., Nov. 24, 1800, and is the son of Thomas and Sarah (Pettnes) Gilliam. They were both born in Charlotte County, Va. The father in April 12, 1778, and the mother in 1782. The father came to Tennessee in 1806 and located in Rutherford County where he engaged in farming very successfully for two years. He then moved to Maury County and locating at Rock Springs resumed his occupation of farming. In 1812 he built the first saw-mill that was ever built on Duck River, known as the Wallace Mill. He lived there seven years and then purchased a tract of land north of Rock Spring and engaged in farming. He was a “Hardshell” Baptist and a Democrat. His death occurred October l, 1844. The mother died September 6, 1833. Our subject began business for himself at the age of twenty-one as a farmer. January 6, 1822, he married Martha Gilliam, a native of Charlotte County, Va., born October 30, 1799, and the daughter of Robert and Estella (Marshy) Gilliam, both natives of Charlotte County, Va. By this marriage our subject became the father of four children: Sarah P., born in 1824; Edward H., born in 1825; Stephen M. born in 1828, and Charles W., born in 1833. The mother of these children died September 27, 1863, and January 6, 1867, our subject married Julia C. Jones, her former name being Martin. She was born in Maury County March 24, 1824, and is a member of the Christian Church. Our subject enjoys very good health, although in his eighty-sixth year, and has voted the Democratic ticket for many years.
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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in The History of Maury County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed. The History of Maury County was included within The History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Beford and Marshall Counties of Tennessee
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