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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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Dr. W. R. Hayes, druggist of Dyersburg, was born in 1851, in Columbia, Maury Co., Tenn., and is a son of Dr. William P. and Portia (Thomas) Hayes; the former is of English-Scotch descent, and was born in Franklin, Tenn., in 1830. His father, William Hayes, was a native of Virginia, but came to Tennessee at an early date, locating in Williamson County. William P. Hayes received his medical education at Transylvania Medical College, at Lexington, Ky., and graduated when about twenty-one years of age. He resided in Madison and Maury Counties, but the greater part of his life was spent in Williamson County. He now resides in Dyer County, practicing his profession. During the late war, he served as surgeon in the Confederate Army, for about one year. His wife was of Scotch-Irish descent, born in Maury County, Tenn., in 1830, and died in 1878. Of their seven children, five are living: W. R., Nathaniel C., Ellen D. (Mrs. John B. Howe), Ida M. (Mrs. H. T. Wood) and Portia Lee. Dr. William Hayes was married to Lizzie White, in 1883. Our subject, Dr. W. R. Hayes, was educated in Franklin, Tenn. In 1867 he went to Jackson, Tenn., and began clerking in a drug store, continuing until 1873. During this time, he began the study of dentistry and medicine, and in 1870-72 attended the St. Louis Medical and Missouri Dental Colleges. In 1873 he came to Dyersburg, and began practicing dentistry, but not liking the business, gave it up in 1877, and established a drug store. In December, 1874, he married Louella Chamblin, who died in June, 1876. In December, 1878, he wedded Miss Sallie E. Fakes, daughter of John M. Fakes. Mrs. Hayes was born in Dyersburg, in 1859, and is the mother of two children: Merrett M. and Portia May. Dr. Hayes is skillful in preparing prescriptions, and is well versed as a pharmacist. He has been a life-long Democrat, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Hess Lodge, No. 93, and the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 65. He is also a K. of H., and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

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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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