My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Perry 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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Thomas O. Gray is a well-to-do farmer of Perry County, Tenn., and was born September 3, 1850, in Stewart County, and is one of ten children, five of whom are living, born to the marriage of Martin J. Gray and Louisa Arnold, who were born in Virginia and North Carolina, respectively, and were early settlers of Bedford County, Tenn. They were married in the latter county, but soon moved to Stewart County, where they farmed several years, and came to Perry County in 1852, locating near Standing Rock, a perpendicular bluff 300 feet high on the west bank of Buffalo Creek. The mother died March 14, 1884, followed by the father August 14, 1884. After attaining his majority our subject located on a farm in Humphreys County, where he remained until 1881, when he came to this county and purchased a farm of 140 acres, and here has since resided. He was married to Sarah Owens, and five children have blessed their union: William Martin, Jesse Franklin, Walter Edward, Margaret Emily and Madison Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 46 biographies included in The History of Perry County, Tennessee published in 1886.  The History of Perry County was included within The History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman & Lewis Counties of Tennessee. View the complete description here: History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman and Lewis Counties of Tennessee

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

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