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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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Josiah S. House, farmer and cotton dealer of the Fifteenth District, was born in Gibson County, in 1843. His father, Moses A. House, was of Irish ancestry and born in Union County, N. C., in 1803. His parents died when he was quite young and he was raised by a Mr. Stewart, and received a good education, which enabled him to engage in teaching for many years. When of age he moved to Madison County, Tenn., and in 1833 married Miss Mary Ann Pettus. He farmed in Madison County three years after his marriage, then moved to Gibson County, Tenn., bought a farm and engaged in farming and teaching until his death in 1873. He was elected to the office of magistrate in Gibson County. His wife was a native of York District, S. C., born in 1818, and is still living in Gibson County. Our subject, Mr. Josiah House, was raised and educated at home. He enlisted in the Confederate Army in Company H, Forty-seventh Tennessee Infantry, and was in the battles of Richmond, Chickamauga, Murfreesboro, Perryville, Jonesboro, Atlanta, Franklin and Nashville. Mr. House was severely wounded at Chickamauga, and furloughed for eight months; then he surrendered at Memphis May 28, 1865, after four years’ hard service. June 24, 1866, he married Miss Abigail, daughter of Anderson and Anna Jones, and has four children: Ada E., Enoch C., William A. and Althea B. After his marriage he located on his present farm, one and three-fourth miles southeast of Trimble. He is a Democrat, and his first presidential vote was for Horace Greeley. His wife and himself are very popular, and among the influential members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

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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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