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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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JOHN M. NEVILS, sheriff of Williamson County, was born in Maury County, Tenn., October 3, 1835, son of Josiah and Sarah (Beech) Nevils, and of Dutch-English descent. Our subject was reared on the farm and secured a good practical education in the common schools. He followed the occupation of a farmer until the beginning of the late war, when he enlisted in the Confederate Army, Company B, Eleventh Tennessee Regiment, and served four years. In 1865 he engaged in merchandising in Nashville, but soon removed to Peytonsville, this county, and continued farming and merchandising. In 1868 he wedded Lydia A. Lowe, who died in 1878. In 1879 he wedded Alice Merritt, and to them were born three children: Emmett, Annie C. and an infant unnamed. To his first marriage were born two children: Robert H. and Edward M. Mr. Nevils is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the I. O. O. F. He has made one of the best sheriffs the county has ever had. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is one of the prominent men of this county. Mrs. Nevils is a member of the Christian Church.
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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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