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Below is a family biography included in The History of Warren 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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Oliver Towles, farmer and merchant, is a son of John W. and Lucinda (Wilson) Towles. The father was born in Culpepper County, Va., March 30, 1819, and is now a resident of Warren County, Tenn. His parents came to Tennessee when John W. was quite young and settled in McMinnville, which was a very small place at that time. John W. has followed the occupation of a farmer, though at one time he was engaged in the mercantile and milling business. He has been a very successful man although he met with reverses during the late war. He is a member of the Christian Church, and a Democrat in politics. His wife was born in Warren County, Tenn., and although not a member of any church believes in the teachings of the Bible. Our subject was born near McMinnville, Warren Co., Tenn., March 14, 1856, and is the third of four children. In 1877 he and his brother formed a partnership and engaged in merchandising at Jessie, Warren Co., Tenn.; at the end of two years our subject sold his interest and moved to Daylight in the same county, where he formed a partnership with W. A. Robinson, and continued in business for one year. He then purchased the whole stock and continued by himself for two years, when his father purchased a half interest. At the end of one year he purchased his father’s interest and came to his present location at Gath. In connection with his store he is also engaged in farming, and owns 153 acres in the Thirteenth District of Warren County, Tenn. March 11, 1880, he married Miss Isabel Wheeler, a native of Warren County, born about 1861 and died in 1881, leaving no issue. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. December 24, 1885, he married Miss S. L. Womack, a native of Warren County, born September 15, 1866, and to them was born one son, John W. Towles, Jr. Mr. Towles is a member of the order of I. O. O. F. and is a young, wide-awake business man.

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This family biography is one of 55 biographies included in The History of Warren County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of Warren County was included within The History of Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Warren & White Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Warren, White Counties of Tennessee

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