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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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Hon. T. J. Fisher, Sr., attorney at law, of Carthage, was born in De Kalb County, Tenn., February 22, 1847. He was a son of James and Rachel (Plunkett) Fisher. The father was born in Smith (now De Kalb) County in 1810. He was a prosperous farmer, owning 300 acres of land. He died in 1873 in the county where he was born and married. His parents were natives of North Carolina. His wife was also born in De Kalb County and died in 1864, at the age of forty-five. Their family consisted of seven sons and seven daughters, of whom twelve are living, our subject being the third child. He remained at home until his nineteenth year. His educational advantages had been meager and his desire to gain information great. He soon entered the New Middleton Institute, where, by application, his efforts were crowned with success. His means were limited, which occasioned him to leave school now and then to earn the necessary funds for the continuation of his education. For eighteen months he taught at Shop Springs, Wilson County, and then returned to his studies. During his last session he was assistant instructor. In 1871 he graduated with high honor, being the valedictorian and receiving the degree of A. M. He resumed teaching, but this time in the Geneva Academy at Carthage, and six months at Campbell’s Institute, during which time he also studied law, his preceptor being Col. W. H. Dewitt, now of Chattanooga. He was admitted to the bar in 1873, and same year became superintendent of public instruction. He organized the schools under the present system and served a year and a half. In 1876 he was elected to the State Legislature, serving in the Ways and Means Committee, also taking an active part in passing the “four-mile law.” In 1884 he was elected attorney-general of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Tennessee, to fill an unexpired term of H. C. Snodgrass, who resigned. In 1886 he was a candidate for chancellor; was defeated on account of there being six Democratic candidates, which so divided the vote that a Republican was elected. Our subject received more votes than any of his competitors in his party, 4,597 being the number, his next competitor receiving about 2,300 votes. September 2, 1875, he married Amelia, daughter of Nelson J. and Minerva Bryan, of Wilson County. Mrs. Fisher was born November 12, 1848, and educated at the Mary Sharpe College, graduating in 1875. To this union six children have been born: Albert Ernest, James Nelson, Minnie, Virgie, Alice and Thomas J. Our subject is one of the leading and most able lawyers in the county and has an extensive practice. In private life he is courteous and highly esteemed. He is a Council Mason., He and his wife are earnest members of the Baptist Church.

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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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