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Below is a family biography included in The History of Obion 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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Z. R. Berry was born in Northampton County, N. C. August 1, 1835, and there resided until fifteen years of age, when he and his parents immigrated to Tennessee. His parents were Zachariah and S. (Martin) Berry. After they had resided in Madison County about two months, they removed to Gibson County, where the father now resides, about one hundred years of age. The mother died several years ago. Z. R. Berry assisted his father on his farm until about twenty-three years of age, when he started in life for himself $76 in debt. Since 1858, by hard labor and judicious management, he has accumulated the snug little fortune of $4,000. September 17, 1858, he and Martha M. Rogers, daughter of O. V. and Sallie Rogers, were united in marriage, and their union resulted in the birth of seven children: James William, Sarah Emily (Mrs. John Dean), Mary Frances (Mrs. Tom Litchford), Thomas Henry, John Harrison, George Zachariah and Martha Elizabeth. His early educational advantages were very limited, but by his own efforts and contact with business life in later years, he has obtained a fair business education. He is a Democrat.

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This family biography is one of 179 biographies included in The History of Obion County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Obion County was included within The History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley & Lake Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley, and Lake Counties of Tennessee

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