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Below is a family biography included in The History of White 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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W. W. Gooch, a well known merchant and farmer of Goochville, was born in 1844 in White County. He is of Irish-Dutch descent, a son of Joseph and Lavinia W. (O’Connor) Gooch. The father was born in 1793 in North Carolina and immigrated to White County at an early date, where he died about 1847. The mother was born in White County in 1815, and died in Texas in 1868. The subject of this sketch spent his early days on a farm and received a good education in the country schools. He was in the Confederate Army, Company I, Eighth Tennessee Cavalry. He served during the entire war, and although he took part in many of the famous battles, was neither wounded nor captured. After receiving an honorable discharge he returned home and began farming. In 1878, in connection with his agricultural interests, he engaged in merchandising. He is a man of untiring energy and ability. He now owns 240 acres of valuable and productive land, on the Calf Killer River. He is a Democrat, a member of the I. O. O. F. and one of White County’s best men. In 1868 he married Melcena, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Gist. To this union have been born Joseph J., James W., Henry L., Wyman D., Addella M., Dora A., Wade H., Everett B. and Haden E.

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This family biography is one of 38 biographies included in The History of White County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of White 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

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

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