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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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JOEL CHAMPION may be mentioned as a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Williamson County, Tenn. He was born in Hancock County, Ga., son of Alexander and Mary (Benson) Champion, who were also born in Georgia, and were married about 1810, and to them were born these three children: Joel, Nancy and Rebecca, The family came to Tennessee in 1822. The father died in Putnam County, Ga., in 1817, and the mother in Maury County, Tenn., in 1850. Joel Champion’s early education was limited. His early days were spent on a farm, and agriculture has been his chosen calling through life, at which he has been fairly prosperous, as he started in life with little or no money. He owns 140 acres of land on which he settled in 1840, and which is in a good state of cultivation. December 2, 1851, he married Elizabeth C. McMahon, who was born December 9, 1827, and became the mother of these children: Ann E., Louisa J., Susan I., John R., Mary F. and Minnie J. Both husband and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in political views our subject is a Democrat.

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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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