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Below is a family biography included in The History of Wayne County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1886.  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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John Grimes is a Williamson County Tennessean, born in 1811, son of William and Sallie (Little) Grimes. The father was born in South Carolina, and came to Tennessee when quite young, locating in Nashville. He was a farmer and one of the Rangers who, during the war of 1812, assisted in keeping the Indians within their boundary, and for his services drew a land warrant. He was a Whig, and a member of the church from early manhood. His wife died in 1817, and he then married Martha (Akins) Roah. She died in 1841, and the father in 1855. At the early age of sixteen our subject began doing for himself. He did farm work for several years, and made his first purchase of land on Hardin Creek. After living on this, and another farm which he had purchased, he removed to Arkansas, but returned after a short time. In 1860 he purchased the farm on which he now resides, containing 800 acres, 100 acres being in a fine state of cultivation. He has served the people as magistrate almost continuously since 1836, making a good and efficient officer. He is a Republican, and was a strong Union man during the late Rebellion, furnishing three sons for the Federal Army. In 1836 he married Elizabeth M. Stubblefield, daughter of Peter and Sallie (Harris) Stubblefield. Mrs. Grimes was born in Georgia in 1817, and is the mother of thirteen children: William P., who died in 1838; Sarah A. E., who died in 1859; James G.; Robert N., who died in 1863; John M.; Martha E.; Mary J.; Amanda C.; Millard F.; Henry C., who died in 1882; Benjamin F.; Eliza F., and an infant deceased, not named. Mr. Grimes is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and his wife of the Methodist Church. The Grimes family is of Irish descent.

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This family biography is one of 76 biographies included in The History of Wayne County, Tennessee published in 1886.  The History of Lawrence County was included within The History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman & Lewis Counties of Tennessee. View the complete description here: History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman and Lewis Counties of Tennessee

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

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