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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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Robert T. Bush, M. D. a practicing physician, surgeon and farmer, was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1836, at his uncle’s, Robert Neal, and is one of thirteen children born to Dr. Thacker V. and Narcissus (Neal) Bush. The father was born in Clark County, Ky., in 1797, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. At an early age he began studying medicine, attending lectures at Lexington, Ky., and at Cincinnati, Ohio. He established himself in business near Brownsboro, Ky., on a farm and remained here until sometime between 1847 and 1850, when he moved to Sumner County, Tenn. He here purchased 327 acres near Castalian Springs, where he practiced dentistry in connection with his profession and farming. He afterward sold out and purchased a lot in Gallatin. After the war he sold this lot and went to live with his son, W. A. Bush, who lived on the upper Nashville pike, four miles west of Gallatin, where he died in 1871. The mother was born in Clark County, Ky., in 1802, and died on the farm in 1845. Our subject began his literary education at Rural Academy, Sumner County, and finished at Franklin College, Davidson County, Tenn. He then taught one term, and afterward engaged in the saw-milling business for three or four years. He then attended two courses of medical lectures at Nashville, and tendered his services to the military hospital at the same place, where he remained a few months. He then went as a supernumerary surgeon in the Seventh Tennessee Regiment to Virginia, and remained there about one year, when he came back to Tennessee. He then went in the same capacity to Mississippi in the Second Tennessee Cavalry. After five or six months’ vacation interim of receiving his medical education at New York, he was assistant surgeon for three months at Soldiers’ Retreat Hospital, situated at Alexandria, Va. After graduating he came back to Tennessee, and in a few years purchased the farm of 365 acres, where he now resides. He has practiced from that time up to the present date. In 1872 he married Miss Nettie E. Dobbins, daughter of Carson and Minerva E. (Roberts) Dobbins. She was born in 1846. As a result of the marriage two children were born: Robert is the only living child. Although commencing with very little of this world’s goods, Dr. Bush has succeeded unusually well in all his undertakings. He has a large and lucrative practice, and his large farm is clear of debt, and is in a good state of cultivation. He is a Democrat, a dimitted member of I. O. O. F., Howard Lodge, and is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, King Solomon Lodge. He and Mrs. Bush are members of the Christian Church.

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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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