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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 R. Davis, Sr., is a Tennessean, born in 1823. His parents, Anderson and Annie Davis, were born in Virginia and North Carolina, respectively, and came to Tennessee with their parents when young. The father was a farmer and a pioneer citizen of the county, and departed this life in 1873. His wife died four years later. Our subject lived with his parents until twenty-one years of age, at which time he was united in marriage to Jemima Hill, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Felkins) Hill. She was born in Tennessee in 1825, and is the mother of ten children: Annie C., Nancy E., Henry E., Mary J., John J. J., Joseph A., Catherine O., an infant (deceased, not named), Parlee (deceased), and Anderson (deceased). Since his marriage Mr. Davis has farmed in different portions of the county and in Missouri, being in the latter place about four years. In 1878 he purchased the farm, of 188 acres, on which he now lives. It lies about nine miles from the county seat, and is in a good state of cultivation. In 1883 he erected a water-power, saw and grist-mill on his farm, the same having proved quite successful. He has held the office of justice of the peace since 1868, and is a Democrat. He and Mrs. Davis are members of the Christian Church.
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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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