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Below is a family biography included in The History of Smith 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. R. W. King, a leading practicing physician of Gordonsville, was born in Wilson County in 1849. He is one of the four living children of a family of eleven, born to Ira W. and Deborah (Brown) King. His father is of Scotch-Irish descent, born in North Carolina about 1819. When a boy he located in West Tennessee with his father. He is a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. In 1852 he settled in Smith County, and was elected trustee, which office he held about six years. He is now in the drug business in Alexandria. The mother was born in Wilson County in 1818 and died in November, 1874. The subject of this sketch was educated at the New Middleton Academy. He began the study of medicine in 1873. He attended the Vanderbilt University at Nashville during 1876-77. After his return home and remaining a short length of time, he went to Silver Springs, Wilson County, where he practiced about two years, then came to Gordonsville, where he has since had an extensive and lucrative practice. In 1879 he married Miss Mary, the daughter of John and Lucy Simpson. Mrs. King was born in Smith County in 1854. She is a sincere and respected member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Dr. King is a Republican. He is a skillful and popular physician and widely esteemed citizen.

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This family biography is one of 62 biographies included in The History of Smith County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of Smith County was included within The History of Sumner, Smith, Macon & Trousdale Counties of Tennessee. View the complete description here: History of Sumner, Smith, Macon and Trousdale Counties of Tennessee

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

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