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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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DR. JOSEPH W. SHARBER, a prominent citizen and physician of Maury County, Tenn., was born in this State November 4, 1818, and is one of the children born to John E. and Parthenia (Jones) Sharber. The father was born in North Carolina, and was one of the early settlers of Williamson County, Tenn. He was a farmer by occupation and was quite successful in that pursuit. His death occurred in 1859. The mother was a native of Tennessee and died in 1833. Our subject was a farmer boy and remained with his parents until he was eighteen years of age. He then attended school at Murfreesboro for three sessions, after which he taught two sessions of school at Mount Vernon and half a session at Dogwood Grove, Bedford County. While teaching at Mount Vernon he began the study of medicine with a view of making it a profession, and about 1841 began studying medicine with Dr. Boskett, and in 1843 began practicing with the above named physician. At the end of a year he, located at Eagleville and practiced medicine for three years. He then attended one course of lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated from that institution in 1845. He then returned to Eagleville and resumed the practice of medicine. In 1847 he moved to his present place and practiced medicine, and also farmed to some extent. His reputation as a learned and skillful physician spreads far and wide, and his practice covers a large scope of country. In 1846 he wedded Mary J. Porter, a native of this county, and a daughter of James B. Porter. To them were born nine children, only one of whom is living. Her name is Fannie P. James P. died in 1848; John P. died in 1855; Joseph W. died in 1855; Lura died in 1865: Mary E. died in 1865; Dr. Wiliam B. died in 1879; Walter S. died in 1879, and E. Burk, died in 1883. Dr. Sharber has been a Mason for eighteen years and an Ancient Odd Fellow for nearly forty years. He is a Democrat, and himself and family are leading members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, he being an elder in that church for about forty-four 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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