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Below is a family biography included in The History of Sumner 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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Harris Brown, clerk of the Sumner County Court, was born in said county in 1858. He is one of four (three living) children born to William B. and M. J. (Harris) Brown. Both parents were of English descent and natives of Sumner County, born in 1825 and 1838 respectively. The father was an agriculturist. In 1861 he enlisted in Company D, Second Tennessee Regiment of Cavalry, Bennett’s brigade, and was elected orderly sergeant. At the battle of Harrisburg, Miss., in 1863, he received a wound in the leg, from the effects of which he died a few days later. In 1883 his widow married the Hon. W. G. Pond, an ex-member of the State Legislature. The grandfather of subject, George T. Brown, was a native of Albemarle County, Va. He came to Sumner County at an early day, and was magistrate of the First District for thirty years. Harris Brown received an excellent education at the University of Tennessee, at Knoxville. He graduated in 1877, with the highest honors of his class; also of the military department, being captain of Company A, the banner company of the school. He returned to his native home and taught school two years. In 1879 he became bookkeeper for C. Levy & Bro., Gallatin, remaining with them two years. In 1881, in partnership with his brother-in-law, J. H. Butler, he established a grocery store, continuing in the business fifteen months. From 1883 to 1885 he clerked for C. Levy & Bro. In August, 1886, he was elected to his present position by a majority of 206 over two of Sumner County’s strongest men. April 29, 1881, he married Miss Carrie H., daughter of John A. Patterson. Mrs. Brown was born in Sumner County, in 1859, and is the mother of two children: John P. and William T. Capt. Brown is a man of fine morals, a worthy, respected citizen. He is a stanch Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Hancock, in 1880.

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This family biography is one of 115 biographies included in The History of Sumner County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of Sumner 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 Sumner County, Tennessee family biographies here: Sumner County, Tennessee

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