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Below is a family biography included in The History of Williamson 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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GEORGE W. SMITHSON, of the firm of Smithson, Kenneday, Hodge & Co., is a native of Lunenburg County, Va., his birthday being December 30, 1838, son of William G. and Mary Smithson, whose maiden name was Crenshaw. The parents were born in Virginia, the father in 1819 and the mother in 1820. The family is of English extraction and came to Tennessee about 1840. There the mother of our subject died in 1846 and the father in 1852. Our subject lived on a farm until he reached the age of thirteen, when he began clerking in the store of Charles W. Smithson at Peytonsville, this county. He continued as clerk until 1859, when he engaged in business for himself at Peytonsville in partnership with John C. Helms, and remained in this business until 1861. He then enlisted in Capt. Ewing’s company, First Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry. He was twice wounded, once at Paducah, Ky., and again at the battle of Franklin, Tenn. In 1865 he came to Franklin and engaged in the dry goods business and the same he now continues. From October, 1883, to March, 1885, he was cashier of the Farmers’ National Bank, of Franklin. In the spring of 1885 he became a partner of the firm, Smithson, Kenneday, Hodge & Co. This is the most extensive dry goods store in Franklin, and is doing a large trade. In 1871 he wedded Miss Sallie M. Henderson, daughter of Dr. Samuel Henderson of this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Smithson were born four children: Janey, George H., Mary and Sallie Mr. Smithson is a first-class citizen, a Democrat, a Royal Arch Mason, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in The History of Williamson County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Williamson County was included within The History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Beford and Marshall Counties of Tennessee

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