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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Hardeman 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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Squire J. W. Wilson, a prominent resident of Middleton, was born March 23, 1834, in South Carolina. His father, Ashley H., was born in same State February 10, 1810. He immigrated to Tennessee in 1840 and one year later moved to Tippah County, Miss., where he still lives an old and respected man and extensive farmer. The mother, Martha P. (Janes) Wilson, was born in 1810 and departed this life in April, 1872. She was the daughter of John Janes, an Englishman. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Wilson, was a native of Ireland. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm and worked at that occupation until 1854. He then taught school until date of the late war. He entered the Confederate service in 1861 in the Thirty-second Mississippi. He was appointed recruiting officer and returned to Mississippi where he organized a company, being elected first lieutenant of the same. They were called Company K, Tenth Mississippi Regiment. He was wounded September 20, 1863, at the battle of Chickamauga, receiving a shot through the right thigh which disabled him for further service and since that time for manual labor. After the restoration of peace he resumed teaching which, with the exception of two years in the drug business, he has followed altogether. He was married in November, 1862, to Martha A., the daughter of Joseph and Annie Janes. To the union six children were born, four of whom are still living: Cora, Maurice, John and Joseph Ashley. Mr. Wilson is a good man and respected citizen, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is connected with the Masonic order and a true Democrat. In August, 1876, he was elected magistrate and has retained the office since that time. He is also notary public for this end of the county.

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This family biography is one of 101 biographies included in the book,  The History of Hardeman County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Hardeman County was included within The History of Fayette and Hardeman Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Fayette and Hardeman Counties, Tennessee

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

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