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Below is a family biography included in The History of Dyer 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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A. Finley, a prominent citizen and farmer residing in the village of Finley, was born in Carroll County, Tenn., August 26, 1827, being one of eleven children, two of whom are living, their parents being Thomas and Mary Finley. His father was born in Robertson County, Tenn., in 1800, was married there, and moved to Carroll County; in 1854 he moved to Dyer County. He was a wagon-maker by trade, and followed that until his death in 1878. Mr. A. Finley’s mother was born in Robertson County about 1802 and died in 1876. He was educated at Dyersburg Academy, and in 1851 he married Mary, daughter of David Doyle. Mrs. Finley was born in Mississippi in 1832 and died in 1866. Four of their children are living: Carroll T., James B., Mary (wife of Robert Bradshaw), and Ella (wife of Britton Pickard). In 1858 Mr. Finley moved to a farm nine miles west of Dyersburg, and lived there until 1875, when he moved to his present home. He owns about 500 acres of land, and since moving to this place has been in the mercantile business, and had a post office established at his store, which is named after himself, and at that point there are several stores. It is surrounded by perhaps the best farming land in the county. In 1870 he married Bettie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hardie. Mrs. Finley was born in Madison County in 1852; they have five children: Samuel, Bettie S., John, Chester and Egbert. Mr. Finley has been school director of his home school for fourteen years; he is an enterprising man, and known all over the county. He is a Methodist, and does all he can to advance school or church interests, and has always been a Democrat.
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This family biography is one of 128 biographies included in The History of Dyer County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed. The History of Dyer 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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