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Below is a family biography included in The History of Weakley 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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Col. M. Z. Hankins first saw the light of day in Henry County, in 1837. He was one of five children and is now the only surviving member of the family of S. W. and Caroline Hankins, born in North and South Carolina, November 9, 1809, and October 4, 1804, respectively. They were married in Tipton County, Tenn., August 23, 1836. The father, who was a Methodist Episcopal minister, began expounding the Gospel October 12, 1833, and was ordained deacon by J. O. Andrew, in Macon, Ga., January 17, 1836, and was afterward ordained elder at Granada, Mississippi, by Bishops Thomas and Morris. At the time of his death, in 1843, he was sojourning in Florida for his health. He was a minister of no little ability and distinction and did much to aid the cause of Christianity. Our subject’s grandfather, Samuel Hankins, was a minister and an early pioneer of Tennessee. He owned about 14,000 acres of land in Henry County, besides 5,000 acres in the extreme western part of the State. He became possessor of these lands through his wife, who was a Miss Howe. The immediate subject of our sketch went to Mississippi with his parents when about six years old, and was educated at the Masonic College at Granada, Miss. In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, Fifteenth Mississippi Infantry, being captain of the same at first and afterward colonel. He was at Shiloh, Baton Rouge, Corinth and Harrisburg, where he received a severe wound, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. He returned home in May, 1865. In 1867 he married Lou M. Gardner. She was born in Weakley County, in 1843, and is a daughter of Col. John A. Gardner, and has borne her husband four children: Berah, Joseph G., Zadi and Zerle. Since 1837 Mr. Hankins has been a resident of Weakley County. He owns 200 acres of valuable land near Martin. In 1870 he was elected constable, and has been twice re-elected. He was then chosen magistrate, and is still filling the duties of that office, giving entire satisfaction to all. He is a Democrat and his first presidential vote was cast for John Bell. He is a Mason, and a member of the K. of H. He and wife belong to the Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 108 biographies included in The History of Weakley County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Weakley County was included within The History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley & Lake Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley, and Lake Counties of Tennessee

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