My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Rutherford 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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REV. JOHN J. MARTIN, a retired minister of Milton, Rutherford Co., Tenn., was born in Wilson County, Tenn., March 24, 1811, being a son of Jacob and Mary (Wallace) Martin, both of whom were born in South Carolina. The father was of German parentage and came to this State in 1810, being one of the early settlers of Wilson County, and a farmer by occupation. He was an old-time Whig and was magistrate in his county for upward of twenty years. His death occurred in 1864 and the mother’s in 1873. The subject, John J., was reared by his parents on the farm, where he remained until he was twenty-one years of age, securing but a limited education in early days. He subsequently attended the Lascasas Academy with a view to making school-teaching his profession, and afterward taught the young idea in that vicinity for fifteen years, also giving part of his attention to ministerial work. He afterward gave all his attention to the ministry until his health failed in 1885. In February, 1849, he wedded Mrs. Elizabeth Winsepp, his first wife being Miss North Vaughan. She died in 1848. To them were born two children, both of whom are dead. Mr. Martin has a wide-spread reputation as a learned minister of the gospel and is recognized as an excellent citizen.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in The History of Rutherford County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Rutherford 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

View additional Rutherford County, Tennessee family biographies here

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