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Below is a family biography included in The History of Obion 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. Ownby, of the firm of Ownby & Co., founders and machinists, was born in Robertson County, Tenn., May 20, 1850; son of James P. and grandson of Roland Ownby, who was born in Virginia. He came to Robertson County, Tenn., as early as 1812 and died in Missouri. James P. Ownby was born in Robertson County, Tenn., in 1825, and served in the late war in Company C, Forty-ninth Tennessee Confederate States Army and was commissioned captain in 1864. He was captured at Fort Donelson and taken to Camp Douglas, where he was kept a prisoner of war for seven months. He was paroled at Houston, Texas, in July, 1865. The mother of our subject, Carrie A. Ownby, was born in Sumner County, Tenn., in 1826. Her father, Jos. R. Boyles, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Our subject is one of eight children and was educated at Liberty Academy in Robertson County. In 1869 he began learning the boiler-maker’s trade and in 1868 the family came to Obion County, and here our subject has since resided. He began his present business in 1879 and is doing well financially. He is a fine mechanic, and in 1872 was married to Tabitha E. Green, who was born in Carroll County, April 11, 1852, and is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. They have four children: Ethel, Max P., Mabel and George S. Mr. Ownby is a Democrat and belongs to the K. of P. and K. of H.

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This family biography is one of 179 biographies included in The History of Obion County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Obion 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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