My Genealogy Hound
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.
* * * *
W. H. Smalley is one of six children born to John and Elizabeth Smalley, and was born in Franklin County, Tenn., in 1818. The father was born in North Carolina in 1797, and came to Tennessee at an early day. He died in December, 1865. His wife was born in Virginia in 1796, and died the same month and year as her husband. Our subject was educated in Benton County, where his parents moved in 1822, and was married in 1850 to Martha W., daughter of Thomas and Louisa Jones. Mrs. Smalley was born in Benton County in 1832, and became the mother of eight children: Cora (Mrs. A. J. Jeffress), Laura, Orlando, Belle (Mrs. Thomas H. Elder), Thomas, Lillie, Oella and Sallie. Until 1864 Mr. Smalley farmed near Camden. He then came to Weakley County and located near Gardner on a farm which at that time was heavily timbered. Mr. Smalley is a good business manager, and has given his children good educational advantages. He served as magistrate in Benton County a number of years, and is a man well known and respected throughout the county. He is a Democrat, and has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1849, and has been Master of the Lodge for one year. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
* * * *
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
To view additional Weakley County, Tennessee family biographies, click here
Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.