My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Gibson 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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James M. Draper is a Tennessean, born in 1840, one of eight children of Philip and Elizabeth (Pate) Draper, natives of this State, where they have always resided. Philip Draper was with Jackson in the Florida war, and was very prosperous in life. He and wife now reside at Dyer Station, Tenn. In 1861 James M. enlisted in the Confederate Service, Twelfth Tennessee Regiment, and served three years and two months. At the battle of Peach Tree Creek he was so severely wounded that he was unfitted for further service and returned home. He had received a wound previous to this. He was a resident of Texas about five years and was, engaged in farming and stock trading. He returned to Tennessee, and in 1877 located permanently on the home farm, which contains 109 acres of fairly improved land. In 1875 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Turner, a daughter of James and Julia (West) Turner. She was born in Tennessee in 1859, and is the mother of four children, three daughters and one son. Mr. and Mrs. Draper are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and in politics he is a Democrat. The Draper family were originally from Ireland.

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This family biography is one of 242 biographies included in The History of Gibson County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of Gibson 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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